This chapter is dedicated to SBanoMalik, Anopoma, Saranaya for their wonderful feedback 🤗
Chapter 7
Mubaarakein Tumhe Ke Tum, Kisi Ke Noor Ho Gaye
Kisi Ke Itne Paas Ho, Ke Sab Se Door Ho Gaye
Kisi Ka Pyaar Leke Tum, Naya Jahan Basaaoge
Yeh Shaam Jab Bhi Aayegi, Tum Humko Yaad Aaoge
Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh, Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam
Yeh Manzile Hai Kaunsi, Na Woh Samajh Sake Na Hum
"I cannot believe that she is our Zoya Bhabhi" said an exasperated Farhaan. Asad slumped on the couch beside him, running his hand through his hairs. "I never thought at all I would get her back in this way, Farhaan" said an impatient Asad.
"Bhaijaan, let's face the truth! The soon we will face it the soon we will get out of this insecurities" Farhaan slumped on the couch too and faced at Asad. Asad nodded subtly.
"After knowing the truth Zoya will be with you, I am sure; she is very loving and compassionate. I know that" Farhaan assured Asad.
"And that is my only fear now. You know I went to Azmeer Sharif just to get back an answer. Why Allah punished me with this. If he wants to punish more then why he sent her here just infront of me? Then I got the answer! You know I need to be punished. What I did her in those six months that was inhumane! I am ashamed of myself for accusing her for every mistake. Not only that I hurt her beyond repair many times!! And I need to be punished because she was punished by watching me and that filthy woman close every time. I told her misfit." Asad's voice broke a little but he was determined.
"But Bhaijaan, if you tell her all of a sudden, can she take it? I mean it will be immense pressure on her brain" Farhaan explained.
"I thought about that too Farhaan. I will go slowly but I need to tell her! Truth that she should know" Asad said again. At that moment Z.F chose to enter Farhaan's cabin and as usual she did not knock and barged in his cabin.
"Farhaan I need the password for the storage files.." Zoya stopped talking when she saw Farhaan was looking wide eyed to her and Mr. Khan was having a cheesy smile over his lips and mumbling' "still does this! Something cannot be changed I guess, weird woman"
"Oh hello Mr. Khan I heard that" Zoya screamed placing her hand over her hips.
"Ya Allah! Not again. This is an office Ms. Farooqui not your house please behave" Asad said out of his habit and then he realized he was not supposed to tell this, He shut his mouth immediately.
"Oh! Really? You will teach me the office etiquette's? You know I am an international hacker! I do no manners! Because I need to go country to country and deal with them and moreover this is Farhaan's cabin not yours. If he has no problem then you also should not" Zoya said loudly to Asad and stormed out.
Farhaan and Asad stood their boggled thinking about what just happened. Zoya definitely was not rude before he met her. But this accident surely changed something her inside. Asad shook his head and looked at Faarhan. He was looking intently at Asad. Asad adjusted at his collar and gave a helpless shrug. He was not expecting this outburst from her after his wonderful encounter with Zoya just in this morning. "I guess today we can't talk anymore. She needs time" Asad left the cabin immediately.
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Zoya ran to her cabin and looked the door. Tears made their way to her cheeks and she felt barren once again. Why she overreacted to Mr. Khan? She could not understand. He was no one to her. She did not know him them why the mere teasing made her enraged to the core. He wrote to her that he knew her before but that did not give her the right to shout on him without any reason, especially when he was teasing her. Zoya felt her heart constricted when she memorized Asad's flinched look at that time. He was bewildered and pained. Something he was trying to calculate. She whimpered loudly. His pain did something to her. She cried more. The knock on her door made her stop.
"Ms Farooqui, you okay?" it was him. The concern in his voice was audibled. "I am really sorry Ms. Farooqui. It had slipped from my tongue. My intention was not hurting you. I am sorry again. Hope you will forgive for the last time." Asad stood there from sometimes but when she did not get answers he left the office and went to his working station "Dilshad Constructions."
Here Zoya was thinking about what said to her. "For the last time" what did he mean by that? Did we fight before like this? Was our relation that close that we used to fight? To get her answer she ran to the door. Unlocking it she looked at the spare space. His aftershave lingered in the air. He was gone. She ran to the reception asking about him. The receptionist informed her that he did not come there daily. He used to come there when he was needed and about once a week. Zoya was heartbroken! One week she had to wait for him!
Zoya entered her cabin and the ping sound on her I-pad brought a small smile over her face.
"Hey how are you honey? Is everything okay? You look sad"
Shut up. Tell me how are you? Are feeling okay now? I want get these things fix as soon as possible and be with you" She said impatiently.
"Awww...poor baby. I want a hug from you." He pouted.
"On the serious note I want to say thank you. You saved our reputation despite of being fear of loneliness" he was serious all of a sudden
"Mr. Maheer Ahmed Raihaan Khaleque!! Just go to hell." Zoya yelled.
Aaah! Thank you so much Zoya after so many years I am hearing my name from anyone's mouth. Otherwise all are acknowledging me Mark and I literally forgot my real name." Mark said dramatically which made Zoya smiled.
"You know how to cheer me up always" Zoya mumbled.
"So why are friends for? Helping each other!" Zerin plopped down next to Mark and looked at the screen.
Zoya we are going to Mark's parents place within 15 days. Doctors suggested him bed rest about two months and we decided to move there. I will come here to check works. In that time Omar will take care of here." Zerin said in one go. Zoya nodded absentmindedly.
"Are you here Zoya? You can manage right?" Mark snapped his fingers.
"Hmmm.. of course besides I am not an office person there, my work is hacking so I have actually no problem" Zoya smiled widely.
"How is Asad Ahmed Khan by the way?" Zerin blurted from nowhere and Marked squeezed her hand to alert. Zerin wanted to comfort Zoya but she had to face her past and take the right decision. Mark and Zerin left it to her on only, besides Asad took a promise from Zerin. And they don't want to be the reason for which Zoya would turn out. They knew Zoya thinks they made her what she is today also she thinks she owes to them for this. But reality is far different from her views and actually their company now almost depended on her. Thus they decided to leave it on Zoya. Zoya's eyebrow narrowed hearing her sudden question about Asad.
"From where does he come here?" She asked at Zerin suspiciously.
"Haawww...I can ask that, the sexy handsome of mine" Zerin answered mischievously. Marked hit her arms hardly and glared at her. Zerin stuffed her smile.
"Umm Zoya ! Remember one thing. Life always does not go with our terms. Sometimes we need to accept some truths against which we do not have anything to fight with, so please be careful and try to decide anything after judging it carefully. We need to back off and need to understand others point of view too." Mark again said something.
Zoya could not understand what was on them today. She looked at them with disbelief and said "Seriously? What happened to you both today? Are you okay? Why this long lectures on life? What happened?"
"Nothing yaar! Chill. Okay we need to go to bed now. We have many things to do before the vacation." They grinned at each other.
"Okay! Bye" Zoya frowned a little at their weird behavior and concentrated on her work.
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Five Days Later
Zoya was going crazy. She had read Asad's note many times and also remembers his talk. He certainly knew about her past and that made her crazy. But she could not contact him. She was feeling uneasy because of her recent behavior.
Like seriously I am that desperate to meet him? What happened to me? He neither came office after that incident nor Farhaan is spilling something up about him. Do I need to be shameless and ask about him? Okay this is only because I want to know my past from him, that's why I am looking for him. Please Mr. Khan. Come to the office. I need you.
As if on cue her cabin door opened. Farhaan entered her room and said "Zoya, I need to go London for some days. Nikhat suddenly became sick. I am really sorry for this sudden incident" He was lost and acting like a maniac. Zoya is his responsibility now and he did not want to feel her uncomfortable.
"Farhaan here take some water. You go please and don't worry about me I will be okay. I will pray for her too" Zoya reassured him.
Farhaan nodded meekly and asked "Do you have problem with Asad Bhaijaan if he works here without of my presence?"
Suddenly Zoya's breathe become shallow and her cheeks turned into slightly pink "no why do I have a problem with him? It is his office and he can come here anytime"
Farhaan was relieved at once hearing her. "Thanks a lot Zoya"
"It is okay. Go to your wife" She smiled at him.
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Three Days later
Asad had come to "Khan and Qureshi Software" for the fourth day. He literally avoided Zoya as he wanted to feel her free. Zoya tried every time to say sorry to him but could not. Finally determined she made her way to his cabin. Asad was talking to Zinia that time when she knocked on his door. He told her to get in but was not facing at the person at his cabin door. Zoya stood silently as Asad was talking with his child like a childish manner. She felt a pang inside her heart but ignored it. Asad did not expecting Zoya that time at all as he continued to talk.
"No my babuni, I cannot come there now. Try to understand. Go with choti Ammi." Zoya listened to him to say. Then again silent! Zoya could not hear other side ofcourse.
"You can see your "ammi didan" on the eid babuni. How exciting no? Please babuni I cannot come. Okay I will talk to you when I will go to your Ammi's house okay? Now this is working time, Okay." Asad smiled, hearing from other side and cut the call.
When he turned there stood Zoya with moistened eyes. Zoya was overwhelmed watching the father-child bond. Sometimes she craved for love now-a-days. She was missing Zeenat-Anwar. Asad was alarmed. "Zoya. What happened? What did I do again?"
"Nothing" She mumbled. She wiped the tears hastily and gave her a weak smile. "I suddenly remember someone"
Hearing this Asad's steps halted. You can remember this world Zoya, Why you cannot remember me and us once. Please remember me! Please!
"Mr. Khan, I came here to apologize to you for that day's behavior. I don't know why I overreacted that day. I am really very sorry" Zoya's voice made him to come reality.
Asad shook his head "No need Ms. Farooqui. It's over and I forgot that already." He continued to check the file but Zoya did not budge.
After sometime Asad looked at her confused "Do you have something more to tell me? Sorry! I was not attentive. Please tell me you need something?"
Zoya nodded her head in affirmation and Asad asked "What?"
"Remember you left a note in my room that night where you wrote you knew me before. I want to know how? I mean do you know my past where I was in India before? Do you know my Appi-Jiju. I mean do you know me personally or professionally. I mean..I...I.." Zoya trailed off. She fidgeted with her scarf that was hanging from her neck.
"I knew you personally Ms; Farooqui and I will tell all but not now. Please finish your work and we will discuss it after the office time" Asad concluded.
Asad inhaled a sharp breath. He did not expect it. So finally the day had come. He needed to be a mirror for Zoya's past. He was determined but he was scared too. Did he have much strength to explain the truth and to stand again if she rejected him? He needed some time to compose himself.
Zoya nodded and went from his cabin, Asad slumped on his chair hiding his face with hi palms.
Remember me Zoya please, If not then choose me after hearing the whole, I still do not have the strength which I think I have. Please choose your Mr. Imperfect husband.
His mind chanted!
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Zoya sat there and hiccuped uncontrollably. She did not know what to say or what to do after hearing the past from Asad. It's been two hours that they were at the lake side beside her flat. Asad was a bad speaker as always. He did tell her the past incident but with most of "who actually'. Asad disclosed that she was with his family and she loved his family a lot. He told how she landed his house for searching her father. Tanveer's story, Mona-Rabbart story and last but not the least their hate story. He told how his mother made them to marry and they were married. But he did not disclose about Razia- Gaffur much. He decided he would disclose it when she was ready to be here. He ofcourse gave her a hint that he loves her but that was a mere hint only. He avoided most of the parts which could bind her with him as a compromise. To make this he had to cut those into an irregular story which Zoya could not decipher. He let her cry her heart out. Zoya started crying when she heard that his father was no more and then she cried because she left his house, now she was crying and thinking this man never trusted her that time and sent her to the edge to make a joke of her Nikaah. She felt hatred towards him. He was telling he loved him then why he did not trust her that time. Asad had returned those most precious things, the music ball and those photographs and her mother's earrings. She should have some respect to him but she was feeling hatred. When Asad tried to ask her she kept her hand in the air.
"Enough! I do not want to hear your lie that you love me! Blah! Blah! But I am clearly not interested. From what I am hearing from my past you don't know how to love, how to respect woman. I don't know why I forgave you that time but if it would happen now I would never do that. You are pathetic Mr. Khan" Zoya ran from there taking those belongings with her.
Asad stood there watching her go. Rain started to pour but he did not budge. He knew it, did not he. Then why his heart is aching this much. Why he is feeling his world in no more! Why? Why? Why? He cried but rain washed it away! No one could feel what he was going through!
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Humaira needed to go to USA for her yearly checkup. She has heart problems and Asad made sure that she got the proper treatment. Asad wanted Zinia would go with Humaira as her vacation had started. He could not give her time as he had to take care of two companies. So Zinia was going to USA and also Ayaan was going to USA from London to accompany Humaira there. They will be back after the Eid only. Asad did not tell anything to Humaira. Asad started to pack Zinia's things in her small suitcase as he returned to home after clearing everything to Zoya. Everything is cleared now between them and he knew he was now nowhere in her life, she hated him!
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Next Day
Asad went to Farhaan's office to take an important document which he left last night. He had accepted his fate as he promised almighty that he would accept his decision. He had an important meeting and he needed more work to comfort himself. He was coming out of his cabin when he heard Zoya's voice form other side. Curious he went near her! He could not hear other side but suddenly Zoya exclaimed "Omar!" Then he became totally numb when she said loudly that, "I love you too". His fate was finally decided. He finally needed to prepare the divorce paper and let her go.
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A/N- Look who is here! 😎 Yeah I am with an update only. 🤓 A sad one again
This story is going to have mostly flashbacks. Flashback will come necessarily with the flow of the story, mostly reminisced by Asad. You will feel bored sometimes as I will take help from the real story from the show.
Now tell me how you all find it? Share your views with me also. Please do like and comment.
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Lots of love 🤗
Swapno
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