Chapter 4
4 Years later
'Ayaan, I am not going to ask you again, can you please get down now' Zoya shouted for the second time 'Ammi...I am already here...why do you always have to shout so much' Zoya smiled at her little man 'because you never seem to want to listen the first time I ask you to do something...now come here' Zoya gave him a big hug 'you have fun at school, I will see you after I get home' 'does that mean you will be late again?' he said looking sad 'no...not today, I will be home by the time you get here' 'ok Ammi, I love you' 'love you beta'.
Zoya stood up and looked at her son running off with the driver.
'Zoe, you have a meeting with your clients in twenty minutes we need to get a move on' Zoya turned around to face her most loyal employee and most trusted friend Seema 'I know...I tell you that Ayaan, never lets me get anything done on time...come on lets shoot'.
Today Zoya Farooqui stood up in the middle of the fashion world as Zoe. Her hard work and dedication to her studies during her time in Dehradun had truly paid off, she was a designer sought out by every international body you could think of. In the last year she had signed a contract worth over a million dollars, she had moved to Mumbai and was living her life as she had always wished for, especially for her son Ayaan. Zoya had a small office in the heart of Mumbai City, she had a small group of people that she befriended and then opened up her own company, it was very rare to see someone excel as fast as Zoya did.
Today Zoya had everything anyone could ever dream of but her eyes never showed off the happiness the contentment a woman would feel of her stature and calibre, there was always something missing. The only thing that made Zoya smile was her son, the only thing that made her want to be successful and live on was her son, if it wasn't for him Zoya would have ceased to exist. It was Ayaan that brought her back to life, after having lost Asad, her Baba, her family and friends there was nothing left for her. The people she met and stayed with helped her find her lost courage, the confidence she needed and the will power to continue on living.
She had been away from her loved ones but she always kept up to date with what was going on with them, she knew her Baba was ok and that Asad had graduated, she also knew that he was engaged to Suhana. As much as it saddened her she kept on smiling knowing that he had moved on and was happy. But was he?
Where Zoya knew everything about Asad, he knew nothing. After she left he went crazy looking for her, all his mum said was that she had run away, she had found someone and left. Asad didn't believe her, he couldn't, he knew Zoya loved him and there couldn't be anyone else. After Dilshad had broken the news to her father he disowned her immediately it took a long time for Rashid to help his friend back on his own two feet.
Asad, never managed to, he withdrew himself completely and drowned himself into his studies, his hurt and sorrow soon started to turn into anger, to a point where he couldn't even bear to hear her name. it was easy for him to say yes to Suhana after everything that had happened, he wasn't happy and as much as he tried he couldn't form an attachment to her but he was going to marry her nevertheless.
Asad had started practicing law, he was one of the youngest and most dynamic lawyers. His inner bitterness and change in personality made him ruthless, although this helped him in his line of work it wasn't something his parents could accustom to, Dilshad saw how she had lost her son, and thinking that it was all Zoya's fault made her hate her even more.
'Zoe, I have had a call from Afreen's Fashion House, it's their third call this week' Zoya looked at Seema' 'I know...and I promise I will call her back' 'Zoe, this is big, Afreen is one of India's biggest fashion designers, and she wants you to work on her bridal collection...fashion week is only a few months away' 'Seema, I know...you know what dial her number I will talk to her now' Seema started smiling 'Hello, Afreen, its Zoe...I am sorry it's taken me so long...no that is totally fine. I just wanted to confirm that I am willing to sign the contract and work with you...yes...ok, I will come to meet with you ummm how about Friday...ok, see you then'.
Zoya looked up at Seema 'you can stop smiling like a fool now, I have said yes...I am the one who has to say yes and do all the hard work just so you can travel' Seema started laughing 'of course...and why not...thank you' 'get out of here please...and let me know when the clients arrive' working with Afreen meant that Zoya had to travel, Fashion week was starting off in Mumbai, but then was going to Delhi and then international. After Delhi they would need to travel to Dubai and South Africa. Zoya didn't mind travelling, she enjoyed her work the only thing she did mind was being away from Ayaan, on more than one occasion she made him travel with her but it was too much for him.
Zoya finalised her deal with Afreen and signed on the dotted line 'Zoe, I am attending a party tomorrow, and I would like to invite you' ''omorrow...it's a bit short notice' she said honestly' 'I know but every one of the fashion world will be there, it's a charity event, I think it would be good for you to network and meet people, there will be a lot of people there...and it will be fun' Zoya smiled 'ok, if you send Seema the details I will meet you there'.
Seema loved Ayaan as much as Zoya did, she was looking forward to spending time with him. As Zoya continued to throw instructions at them they sat there and rolled their eyes 'here she goes again...Ammi thinks that we suffer from short term memory' Ayaan started laughing 'what's that Khala?' Seema patted him on the head 'I will explain later, let's get her out of here so we can start our own party' she said winking at him.
Zoya came out of her room and as she did Seema and Ayaan stood still and looked at her up and down 'what...is it too much' she said looking worried 'Ammi, you look like a princess...' 'he is absolutely right...Zoe, you look amazing' Zoya was wearing a long read and black maxi dress that she had designed and she looked stunning.
Zoya's driver pulled up outside the venue, all Zoya could see were bright lights flashing as the media tried to capture every celebrity they could see 'Akash, can you take the car around the corner, I don't really want to walk through this crowd' 'yes Ma'am'.
As Zoya stepped out of the car she started to walk towards the main entrance when she heard her name being called out. Zoya turned around to see Afreen with a man 'Hi, am so glad you could make it...you look gorgeous..one of your own creations i guess' 'yes...thank you...actually am glad I met you here, wasn't looking forward to going in by myself' 'Zoe, I would like you to meet my husband Imran Sheikh' 'Assalam O Alaikum' Zoya greeted him 'Wa Alaikum Asalam' he replied as Zoya walked off Imran looked at Afreen 'is she Muslim?' 'No...well I don't think so...how can she be her name is Zoe...come on lets go'.
Zoya never used her real name and she never used her surname she was only ever known as Zoe, and as popular as she was amongst the fashion world no one really knew anything about her
Zoya walked in with Afreen, the hall was truly a sight for sore eyes, it was grand in every sense. Walking through the crowds of people Zoya managed to sit at her table, the loud chatter and laughter mixed with the music was beginning to suffocate her. it wasn't as if she wasn't used to big events, the number of fashion shows she had worked with would make anyone think she was a social bee. Zoya kept looking around, she couldn't understand why she was feeling the way she was, as if her airflow was becoming restricted 'Zoe, are you ok, you look a little pale' 'yes am ok...may be I just need a drink' Afreen looked at Imran who gestured for a waiter to come to their table 'what would you like?' 'just a sparkling water, thank you'.
It wasn't long after the event had finally started the facilitators took to the mic and welcomed everyone, the money that they were going to raise was for three main projects, orphans, education and supporting institutions that worked with disabled children. After the event Zoya was about to leave when Afreen asked her stay for the after party 'come on Zoe, please just for a little while, it's not like you have anyone to go home to' Zoya gave her a faint smile, apart from Seema and Akash, her driver no one knew she had a son 'one minute' Zoya called Seema to check on Ayaan 'he is fast asleep...and I am nodding off too, so please knock yourself out...its ok Zoe, just relax and enjoy yourself' 'thanks Seema'.
Zoya sat in a corner and looked on to the people that surrounded her, as much as she chose this profession and loved what she did, she did feel that it was a world that sometimes felt alien and artificial.
'Afreen...you are kidding me...oh please...you have to introduce her to me...I want her to design my wedding dress...please...' Afreen calmed her friend down 'ok...I will introduce you...but before then where is your handsome prince, it's been ages since I last saw him' 'wait right here, I will go and get him'.
Imran walked up to Afreen 'look who I found' Afreen turned around and smiled 'I just sent your fianc off to look for you' 'Hey Afreen, how are you' 'I am very well...come I have managed to find someone to design your wedding outfits...'
Zoya saw Afreen walk towards her as she did she stood up 'Zoe...come I want you to meet someone' Zoya smiled and walked behind her 'Zoe, please meet Asad Ahmed Khan...Asad this is my new designer Zoe' Zoya and Asad stood face to face after so many years there they were standing a few metres apart. Zoya and Asad's eyes lit up, smiles almost played on their lips before their past came rushing back clouding their entire beings.
Edited by Saima-Syed - 11 years ago
Tum Se Tum Tak
Debate Mansion
47