Salaam All
Please see below for Chapter 17, it's not as long as the previous chapters have been. Hope you like it, please let me know what you think.
This chapter goes out to
Einstein, good luck with your exams and studying
ChocoBerry, hope this one puts a smile on your face
Gowtu, for bring so sweet and encouraging
Vinita, a little Angel
Rarepearl, a beautiful sister
Raneeb, the best Api in the world
And my favourite little Api's
Bano, Asyaarshilover and Maha
Chapter 17
'Answer me Asad' Asad swallowed hard as he looked at her 'Zoya, we really need to get going we can have this conversation later' Asad walked passed her to sit back in when she stopped him, he looked down at her hand that held his securely in hers 'just give me that reassurance Asad, you will be with me, won't you?' Asad placed his hand over hers 'Zoya I have been with you from the very first day I heard you play' Zoya closed her eyes and took in a breath 'ok, we can go now' Asad sat behind the wheel, feeling guilty, he hadn't lied to her but he hadn't told her the truth neither.
Back in Delhi Humera started to pack her bags 'so where in Banglore are you staying?' Humera jumped on hearing his voice 'Kamran, hey...come in...um just for a week or so' that wasn't what I asked...but a week...don't you think you are getting a little carried away with your packing, all this for just one week?' Humera gave him a nervous smile 'you know what girls are like you can never have enough clothes and accessories' 'you leave the day after tomorrow?' 'yes, I do' 'good, I will leave with you, I remembered that I have a few things I need to attend to as well...' 'le...leave with me...but I am going with my college' 'that doesn't matter, I am sure that they won't mind...you are flying out I presume?' 'flying...yes of course' 'well then, that's settled'.
Humera started to panic, she called Haider straight away but only to be met with his voice mail 'Ya Allah, now what...Ammi, I will have to go and speak to her' Humera zipped up he suitcase and ran out towards Haider's house unaware of the eyes that followed her 'I thought that might result in a reaction...I am 100% sure you know Humera...you will lead me to Zoya' Kamran said as he smiled inwardly. As Humera spoke to Dilshad Kamran received a call from Ravi 'he hasn't been at the Gallery for a couple of days, apparently he is on annual leave' 'No he is not on leave he is in hiding with Zoya, I am sure of it. Ravi I want you to follow Haider, I want his every move tracked, I will take care of my cousin'.
'Humera, wait until Haider comes home beta, I have no idea what we can do...Ya Allah, everything was going so well, why did he have to come now' Dilshad rubbed her hand together looking extremely distressed. 'Ammi don't worry Haider will think of something...and the best part is that Api will be reaching the Valley any minute, Kamran thinks that she is still here and is going to Banglore, so we still are a few steps ahead of him'
Humera and Dilshad waited patiently for Haider to come back. When he did come back it didn't take him long to figure out something was wrong. 'You two are stressing for nothing, don't worry...it just means we will have to move our plans up. Ammi, I want you to take the next flight out and go to the Valley, I will book you in for tonight. Humera, you carry on as if you are going to Banglore...' 'But Haider...' 'I know he will be expecting to see your college mates there...you tell him that your flight is at 10.30am, I will offer to drop you off...' 'and what will that do?' 'Humera are you forgetting what Thursday is? It's the annual youth carnival, the roads will be grid locked, I will get you to the airport but a little late, so you will have missed the flight. I will book the both of us on the next flight out and let Kamran know that...when it comes to departures...well Delhi International is a big place...people can get lost'. Although it seemed feasible Humera was still not content 'Haider you under estimate him, think about it, if he can track Api to Delhi, it won't take him long to figure out what we are up to' Haider went to hold Humera 'I agree, he will figure it out, but I promise you Humera by the time he does, it will have been too late' 'I hope you are right'.
Where Haider and Humera were putting their plans into motion on the other side Asad and Zoya had finally reached the Valley. Ayaan hugged Asad as if his life depended on it 'it is so so good to see you Asad, I can't believe you are here' Asad felt chocked as he met his brother for all intents and purposes, he hugged Shireen and then turned around to introduce Zoya. Shireen looked at her with moist eyes 'our Princess, our Queen, welcome to our home Princess Zoya' Zoya looked at Asad and then at Ghaffur Chacha not understanding. Asad explained who Shireen was and her connection with Barakah valley, Ghaffur who remembered Ayaan's father very well, hugged Ayaan again with renewed emotions.
'Aunty, I need to keep both Zoya and Ghaffur Chacha out of sight, can you please put them into the back of the hotel?' Ayaan picked up their belongings and led them to the last two room as the end of the corridor 'Zoya you guys make yourself comfortable, if you come out you need to with your veil, I can't risk anyone seeing you' Zoya nodded and then closed the door.
By the time they had settled in Asad had managed to fill Ayaan and Shireen in with everything 'Asad, Dilshad is on her way, I spoke to her a little while ago, she said there had been a change of plans and that she was travelling alone, and that Humera and Haider were going to follow soon after' Asad pulled out his phone immediately 'Ayaan, I will be back in a minute' Asad called Haider and got the latest from him 'Haider, you need to be careful, I am sure he is having eyes kept on you, whatever you do don't go to drop Ammi off to the airport, get the driver to take her to the Colony and from there she can take another car to the airport, do whatever you can to continue to mislead them...if Kamran gets here before we get to Barkah Valley giving Zoya back her life will become impossible' 'don't worry, I have got it all in order, you just hold tight for a couple of days, and please get Ayaan to pick Ammi up, I don't want you going out unnecessarily'
Once Asad had news of Dilshad having safely boarded the plane he managed to finally sigh a sigh of relief. 'Asad it is late why don't you go and rest, you have been driving for god knows how many hours' 'I am ok aunty, I think I will just sit and chill with Ayaan for bit' 'umm...maybe tomorrow...my sister in law gets first spot' Ayaan said as she stood up and looked behind Asad. 'It's ok Ayaan, I just came to say good night' 'no Zoya please...stay...I will catch up with him in the morning'.
Zoya sat on the small sofa that looked out onto the garden, she unwrapped her veil and let her hair fall loose 'you must be exhausted' she said in a low voice 'nothing a good nights' sleep won't fix' Asad replied as he took the seat next to her. 'how does it feel to be back here?' 'like I never left...apart from the fact that I am actually getting to see another side of it...I was always at the cottage and that is all I ever saw'. Asad placed his hand over hers and squeezed it reassuringly 'it's ok Zoya, you may have come back here but this time it is not to go into hiding but it's to come out into the open and go back home' Zoya looked up at him, the dim light didn't help as she couldn't see him properly 'I am scared...what if I can't do this...what if I fail...what if something goes wrong?' 'that's a lot of if's Zoya...you need to remain positive and have faith, you have come this far...just one more hurdle to cross, as soon as Humera and Haider are here we will take that step that will lead you straight home' Zoya withdrew her hand 'us Asad...will lead us home, why do you keep excluding yourself from everything you say...you reassured me that you will be with me...so it's us, it's we, there is no you and I separately'.
'Zoya, calm down, I was only saying...getting you home back to your people has always been my priority and should be yours too' Zoya stood up, she took a step forward and turned around 'you all made it my priority, I wanted none of this remember...and OUR priority Asad should be getting married, why is that not even being spoken about, its why we came here, its why Humera, Haider and Ammi are coming here...isn't it?'
Asad stood up and stood in front of her 'Zoya, please...let's just get you home...' Zoya pushed back his hand that he lifted to hold her 'you have no intention of marrying me do you?' Zoya felt her heart dip as the words escaped her mouth 'Zoya..' 'Answer me Asad, you are going to take me home and then what...you are going to just walk away...leave me there by myself...if that is what you wanted to do then why come all the way here, why come back in to my life...why give me the hope of living with you, living a life of freedom, in which I can love and be loved with no strings attached'. Zoya wiped her tears and turned away from him feeling tormented, feeling broken once again.
'Because of you' Asad finally said braking his silence Zoya turned around and looked at him with narrowed eyes 'because of me...I don't understand' 'that day when you were talking to Ammi and Humera, I heard what you aid Zoya, I will never put you in a position you don't want to be in, I will never compel you to do anything you are not 100% sure about, I don't doubt that you love me...but I know you are scared and that this is not what you want at this moment in time...I want you to stand up I front of the people you will lead, will rule over without any hesitations' Zoya looked on at him in disbelief 'you heard me express my concerns and then decided on your own that you were going to back out and abandon me?' 'No Zoya' Asad said as he closed the gap between them 'I would never abandon you, I just don't want to put you in a position where you feel you have to compromise, I just thought that taking you home and having what is rightfully your returned to you should be my first most aim, once you had settled in your new role, and became accustomed to leading your people, then and only then I would stand up and ask for your hand in marriage'.
Zoya couldn't work out if she was angry with him or if her love and respect for him had just increased ten-fold. 'Asad, I am sorry...yes I did have reservations, but it was because everything was happening so fast...I told you that it is not a marriage of convenience and the day that I stand up in front of Barakah Valley as their Queen I want you by my side as their King, I am not going to do this without you Asad...if I am here today it is because of you, if I found strength within me to continue breathing it was because of you, I am not going anywhere without you. Asad, you will marry me, the minute Haider and Humera get here the very next moment you will say Qubool Hai...please promise me that no matter how many times I question anything, doubt anything you will not leave me you will not turn away from me'.
Asad started smiling, he cupped her face and kissed her forehead 'your wish is my command Princess...I love you' 'I love you too...and next time you plan on making a big decision like this you talk to me...understood?' 'loud and clear' Zoya wrapped her around him and held him tightly 'come let me take you to your room'.
Asad walked Zoya back to her room 'you two still awake?' Shireen said as she came out to get a glass of water 'yes..I was just walking Zoya to her room, can I get you anything? Asad asked 'no beta, I am ok, just wanted some water...good night'.
'Mr Asad Ahmed Khan, I think I can take it from here...you go and get some sleep too' As soon as Zoya called out his full name Shireen stopped 'Asad Ahmed Khan...I thought his name was...' Shireen started to think back and then realised she never knew Asad's full name 'why does his name sound so familiar...' she thought to herself, not being able to think any more as she continued to yawn she returned to her bedroom.
'Zoya it's only a few doors down, let me just walk you' Zoya entwined her fingers with him and then opened her door, she stepped inside with him and then turned towards him 'there...now you can go' she said smiling, Asad tapped the tip of her nose making her blink and giggle 'good night...I am only a few doors away' 'I know...Asad...we are ok...aren't we?' Asad steeped up to her and cupped the side of her face 'yes, we are...' He said as he kissed her forehead again. Zoya held on to the collar of his top as he did and as his lips parted she gently leant up to brush her cheek with his. Asad took in her sweet scent, he closed his eyes and then wrapped his arm around her waist, as Zoya stood flushed against him her heart started to race, Asad's warm breath started to fan her cheeks creating a whirlwind of emotions within her. Asad leaned his forehead against hers 'Zoya...I...are you...' Zoya nodded at his unfinished questions. Asad closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, Zoya's anticipating lips started to tremble with nervousness but nothing came. Asad tilted his head and kissed her tenderly on her cheek 'I love you and respect the boundaries of our relation too much to do this Zoya...I promise you, the day I say Qubool Hai is the day I will mark your body and soul as mine only...but until then Princess you will have to make do ...I love you' Zoya looked at him lovingly 'I love you too Asad...good night'.
Edited by Saima-Syed - 11 years ago
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Shiv Shakti
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