New Kabhi/Asya fiction - Qubool Hai PART 1 up - Page 3

A Milestone - Bhopal 2 Kms

"Kaisa city hai? Koi dikh nahi raha hai, aur vo taxi wala, muje yahan chod ke chala gaya, ab Dilshad Constructions ka raasta main kahan se doondungi? Muje tho iss shahar ke bare main koi idea nahi hai, ab kya karoon" She kept her hands on her head and showed a lift sign for the approaching vehicles. After trying for some time, she was walked towards Bhopal along the road, damn tired, she stopped near a tea stall and asked the shop wala about the address, but he said he doesn't know more about the city as he stays next to his shop only and mostly he visits only the market area, probably some body in city can help. She stomped her foot and bought a water bottle from there. She opened the bottle and emptied the bottle on her head to calm herself. She was wiping her face with a towel walking in the middle of the road hoping to stop some vehicle which passes by and which may help her to reach the city. Soon she heard a horn and turned back to see a SUV coming. She was happy, she waved her hands before the vehicle asking it to stop. But the speed with which the vehicle was nearing her, she got a hint that the vehicle was not going to stop and the moment she jumped off the road to save herself and fell down and hurt herself badly.

"Driver kya hua, what happnd? Tumne gaadi iss tarah se kyun chalayi?" Driver "kuch nahi saab, ek ladki gaadi ke saamne agayi thi, aaj kal yeh ek fashion hai, gaadi ke saamne aakar, behcari ban natak karna fir paise etna, do din pehle hi aise hi ek ladki ne takkar mari thi aur mujse 10,000 rupiaye le gayi" The person at the back turned back to see if anything happpned to that girl and saw that she was lying on the road clutching her leg tightly. "Driver gaadi roko,who ladki, uss ladki ko chot lagi hai" Par Saab" "tumse jaisa kaha jaaye vaisa karo samje, zyadaa smart banne ki kosish mat karo" Teek hai saab" "Gaadi ghumao," Driver looked at him wide eyed "Saab agar koi locha hua tho" "tumhe baat samaj main nahi aati hai, maine kahan turn the vehicle damn it" Driver quietly obeyed seeing the anger of his boss.

He approached the girl, she was wincing in pain, her leg was profusely bleeding and there was a cut on her forehead too which he held by the towel which had turned into red color. "Aap teekh hai" The girl shot her head up to meet one of the most captivating eyes, they shared a eye lock for the split of a second. Man "aap aur yahan, kaise, I mean aap to uss din gaadi main thi, I mean that accident, you didnt meet me also before going" Zoya "Excuse me, do you know me already?" He helped her to get up and asked the driver to take the things and put in the car. "Yes, that day you had gate crashed my cottage in Lonavla and then vanished into thin air without even meeting me" Zoya was perplexed "excuse me, as far as I know I m meeting you for the first time man and I hd never been to this Lonavla in my lifetime, so how can I know you, whats is your name etc." Now he was more puzzled, how come she cannot remember anything, agreed she was unconscious but then how did she disappear in the morning and also she was saying she had never been to Lonavla. He felt something strange but nevethless he asked "How can I help you Miss...? he trailed off as he didnt know her name" "Miss Farooqui, Zoya Farooqui," she extended her hand towards him for a handshake to which he too obliged "Hi I m Khan, As..." The driver came with the first aid kit "Sir, first aid" Zoya looked at the driver and lashed out "Gadha kahin ka, kya yeh aapka driver hai, aisa gaadi chalata hai koi, agar main jump nahi marti tho yeh janab aaj muje gaadi se udadiya hota, irresponsible fellow, you should change your driver, Awww, ouch, it hurts ." Asad "shhh, just 2 mins, hold it," he rubbed spirit and cleaned the wounds. He put a band aid on her head and then bandaged the wound on her leg. The cut was a bit deep and hence she was limping. Asad offered her his shoulders to lean on which she took without any hesitation as she knew that she cant do it all alone. Asad led her to the vehicle and made her sit comfortable on the seat. "Driver chalo". Driver gulped seeing Zoya's anger through the mirror. He mouthed a sorry to her before starting and she turned her head disapprovingly.

"So where should I drop you, are you new here Miss Zoya?" Asad asked. Zoya explained that she had come from Mumbai to renovate her old bunglow and the taxi driver dumped her on the outskirts of the Bhopal because of some personal problem and then she took out a card and showed that she needed to meet this person. She had called him many a times but couldn't reach him as he never took her call. Asad looked at his own card and then smiled. "Kya aap inhe jaanti hain" Zoya looked at him "aapko kya lagta hai, agar main inhe jaanti hoti, tho yahan bait kar, aapse baat nahi kar rahi hoti" Asad smiled again , she looked too cute when she was irritated, her little nose went all red." Asad unknowingly said "Mashallah..." Zoya "what?" Asad got out of his trance "vo main keh raha tha ki mashallah apki zubaan bohot hi tez hai" Zoya " I m quite a spicy girl you know, poora package hoon main, anyway, kya aap inhe jaante hai" Asad replied cautiously just to play her around, for a change he was feeling that she was playing him when she told she was meeting him for the first time when he had cited the accident to her so he too intended to play upon her. " jee nahi, par muje address pata hai, main apko vahan tak chod doonga" Driver "gaadi seedha ghar nahi par seedha DC ke office lekar jaana" Driver just nodded "jee saab"

After sometime, the vehicle came to a halt before one of the best buildings in Bhopal. Zoya got out limping and was mesmerised by the beauty of the building. Asad said "jee main abhi aya, aap yahi wait kijiye" he called somebody and briefed something over phone. Zoya was searching for him and found him coming towards her. "woh register main entry karne gaya tha, come lets go inside to meet the Asad Ahmed Khan." Zoya nodded "chaliye, vaise yeh office bohot hi shaandaar hai, akhir Bhopal ke best architect jo there" Asad "apko pasand aya" Zoya "bohot, in fact I loved it so much" Asad smiled hearing that. As Asad was walking everybody was standing up to greet him and he was simply nodding acknowledging all the greetings while walking towards Asad's cabin. He took her also inside with him. But he sat along with her not in his seat as though he too was waiting for Asad to come. After sometime a gentleman came and Asad motioned him to sit on his chair, He reluctantly did it. Asad rolled his eyes at him and asking him to do as he said.

Zoya looked at him. He was an ordinary man wearing plain and simple clothes and the choice of the color to say was very bad for Zoya. She looked at him from head to toe, he had curly hairs like small snakes hanging, he was adjusting his tie in order to ease out, he was sweating lightly too. Zoya just stood up and gave him a tissue to wipe his sweat off. Then she said "Sir, nice to meet you, my papa, Gaffur Farooqui might have talked with you regarding the renovation of our old bunglow, actually I m new to this city and dont know anybody here, papa had arranged a room in a nearby hotel for me, if you could come and inspect and start the work soon, it will be so helpful, since my papa is planning to shift with my elder sister within a month" The man didnt say anything but looked at Asad. Asad signalled him with his eyes to reject the offer. He did it very nervously. Zoya was furious now, she lost her control. She just stood up from her seat and yelled straight into his face "See Mr .. job hi hai aap, I thought ki aap ek business man hai but sorry to say aap aise business chaleyenge tho bohot jald aap sadak par ayenge, clients se aise baat karte hai, arrogant ass, and architects ki koi kami nahi hai yahan Bhopal main, main aaj hi papa se baat karke ek naya architect ko hire karne ki baat karungi, aaj main keh rahi hoon, kal baaki clients bhi kahenge, you got it Mr... Arrogant." Asad flinched hearing it as it was verbally lashed out at him only but the person in front of her was trembling like a leaf, he had become pale, he loosened his tie and opened almost 3-4 buttons of his shirt. Zoya saw that "vaise aapko dekhkar lagta nahi ki aap ek businessman hai, poora ka poora sadak chaap dikhte hai, well muje kya, ur life,ur business, and my house, my architect, Good bye" Asad too got up and followed her. Again all the staff sitting outside were getting up and greeting him. Zoya noticed that again. She nudged him "vaise yeh log apko greet kyun kar rahe hain" Asad quickly replied "kyunki they know me, I m also into designing of houses" Zoya "kya aap bhi ek architect hai" Asad "jee, lekin chota mota, AAK ki tarah not a big shot, lekin mera bhi naam hai, issliye saare staff muje acknowledge kar rahe the" Zoya "Oh, tho mera problem tho solve hogaya, mainto naya architect doondne ki soch rahi thi, yeh tho aisa hua bagal main ghora, aur sheher main dhindora" Asad opened his mouth "Miss Zoya, Ghora nahi chora" Zoya "whatever, now coming to the point, kya aap mere bunglow ka resdesigning contract sign karenge Mr Khan?" Asad "vo main... actually... I need to think I will tell in a days time" Zoya "okay, I dont know anybody here, sorry for troubling you like this, I know you are a busy architect but can u drop me to my hotel, my leg is paining too much." Asad felt bad for her and again he was playing her too, what will happen if she comes to know that he is the AAK, he brushed off the thoughts and said

"Miss Zoya, hotel main kyun, vo apki pair main chot lagi hain, aur jab thak vo teek nahi hota, aap mere saath mere ghar chaliye, meri ammi abbu hai aur meri choti behen bhi hain, vo sab apko dekh kar bohot khush honge" Zoya said " its okay Mr Khan, I will manage, thanks for the concern" And she walked to open the door limping and while she was about to open the door of the vehicle, she tripped and fell. Asad immediately came and picked her up and mumbled "Ziddi" Zoya looked at him and the position they were in, his hands were on her petitie waist and her hands gripping his neck and there was hardly any room for air to pass through their bodies. Zoya straightened up wriggling out of his hold and stood erect "see I m okay, now will you please drop me at the hotel, if you dont mind, otherwise I will hire a cab or something" Asad shook his head and said "okay". He dismissed the driver and sat on the drivers seat and Zoya on the passenger seat. On the way, Asad was into thoughts how to make her agree to come with him to his house, he was feeling guilty that it was becoz of his drivers fault she was hurt and then he hid his true identity from her, he wanted to make some amends, at least take care of her when she was here, But why? Why did he want so?

Her hotel came and she was about to get down Asad quickly asked "you asked me whether I will redesign your bunglow, I can but on one condition?" Zoya " and the condition is like..." Asad "you will stay at my house till you are well" Zoya jaws dropped "how come staying at your house and designing my house are connected Mister?" Asad "you got hurt becoz of my drivers fault let me do at least this for you Miss Zoya, and trust me it will be a better place than a hotel for you, my mom's food is very delicious, you know" Zoya thought a little and tapped her finger under her chin and then said "okay Mr Khan, I m coming with you, but only till my foot becomes okay, after that I will shift to a hotel" Asad for the meanwhile said okay as he was happy that she was coming with him and for the time being thats was enough for him. And anyway they are going to meet again and again in bunglow renovation work. He whistled a tune and drove off and Zoya looked at him like "has he gone mad or what? Achanak so happy?" she told in her mind. And told this part a bit loud "Wierd Man" Asad "jee kuch kaha aapne" in fact he heard what she said but still he wanted to continue the convo. Zoya "jee kuch nahi, I said that ki aaj mausam bohot hi acha hai" Asad gave one of his rare smiles and God that was a killer one. Zoya was totally smitten by his smile that she kept on looking at him without blinking and came out only when the vehicle stopped before a white beautiful mansion. "Mashallah" was the word came out of her mouth seeing it.

Asad led her inside, she was again awestruck at the beauty of the house. It was pure white and sparkling clean also. "Zoya" Asad tapped her shoulder to bring her out of the thoughts and she said "uhh" "Meet my ammi, Dilshad Khan and my abbu Rashid Khan" Zoya did a salam to them saying "AV" Both of them "VA" "beta yeh" "ammi she is my new client, inka ek bunglow hain yahan jo renovate hone wala hai aur uska kaam main kar raha hoon" Dilshad "oh acha, maine socha ki..." Asad cut her in between and said "ammi inke pair par chot lagi hai, tho inhe main ghar le aya , she is new to Bhopal aur yahan kissi ko jaanti nahi hai" "Rashid "tumne teek kiya beta, chalo Zoya, Najma aaa... Zoya ko guest room main lekar jao" Najma took her to the guest room and arranged for her stay there.

In the evening

Everybody assembled for dinner at the table. Zoya was still in the room. Her pain had doubled now and she unable to move her foot. She was wincing in pain. She didnt know how to get up and she was struggling gritting her teeth, that Asad knocked on the door "Miss Zoya, dinner is ready" Zoya called out "jee muje bhook nahi hain" Asad tapped the door but it was locked. "Miss Zoya are you okay? Aap darwaza kyun nahi khol rahi" Zoya called out "voh I m tired and already called it a day, I m in bed and sleepy too, please you have dinner its okay I m not hungry" Asad was now worried becoz her voice was breaking in btwn, so he decided to check her from the window. Zoya was sitting holding her leg which has now become double in size due to swelling on the bed. Asad shook his head and called out from the window and asked her to open it. She did it with great difficulty. Asad jumped in and immediately went to her. "Miss Zoya why didnt you open the door?" "Mr Khan, I m not able to move my foot, its paining a lot, see now its all swelled up too." Asad "Miss Zoya, you need to have medcinies and for having medicines you need to have something, well I will bring some soup and rotis for you" Asad got up and went and opened the door, soon he came with a tray of food. Zoya was very much hungry and she literally gobbled up everything and took the medicines too. She was now feeling better due to the effect of pain killers she started dozing off. Asad helped her lie on her back and then tucked her and patted her head and soon she dozed off. Asad stood up and was going to go that he got remembered of the night he saw her and how he had bandaged her wounds. He thought "why is it that I always get to bandage her wounds whenever I meet her?" He laughed out on his thoughts and whispered a "good nite" to her and tucked a strand of her hair which was disturbing her. She stirred but then again dozed off due the effect of medicines. Asad closed the window behind and locked it and went towards the door and gave a half smile and closed it softly so as not to disturb her sleep.

As soon as Asad came out he saw his ammi standing with one hand on her hips and a cocked eye brow. Asad avoided her gaze. She asked "Asad whats that you are upto, dont think I dont understand anything" Asad "ammi its not like that what you think, she is actually my client and due to Mujeeb's mistake she was accidentally hit and so I brought her to house on humanitarian grounds" Dilshad was not convinced "ho sakta hai jo tum keh rahe ho vo sach hai, lekin kabhi kabhi sach thoda gehra hota, jo dikhta hai usse bhi gehra, the real truth lies deep within which will come up only when the time is right" Asad scratched his head "ammi I feeling sleepy" Dilshad taunted "hmm , you should feel sleepy, after all, you have done a lot of job today, like... you brought her home, you fed her, you went through the window and I see that you are too heavy on emotions today so I guess you will feel tired right" Asad without saying a word just went away from the scene unable to take any sarcasm from his mother. Dilshad smiled and said "love happens beta, and you are now experiencing the first prick of love and soon you will start realising it too"

Next day morning

Gaffur attended a phone call "are you sure about this? The voice from other side "yes sir, the case has been handed over to Inspector Haider Sheikh who will soon reporting and taking over all the documents from Mr. Pathak" Gaffur said "acha teek hai, keep in the loop about the developments of the case" Okay sir I will" Gaffur hung up.

Back at Bhopal

Everybody assembled at the breakfast table. Dilshad asked Najma to call Zoya. Asad as usual was out for jogging. Najma came inside and saw that Zoya was already in washroom. Najma knocked the door "Zoya "jee 5 mins, I m coming" Zoya came out and greeted her, Najma greeted her back " How's your foot now? " Zoya " better" Najma "good, ammi is calling you for breakfast" Zoya "yah tell her I m coming and thanks" Najma smiled "you are welcome" A little later Zoya joined everybody for breakfast and she searched for him. Dilshad noticed it and said "he is not here, will come soon, he has gone for jogging" Zoya "oh, who actually I dont know you all so I was feeling a little bit of uneasiness without him" Dilshad smiled "so what we can get introduced now, you know I m Asad's ammi and this is his abbu and this is..." Najma cut her and said "Mrs Najma Haider Shiekh, glad to meet you Zoya" Zoya laughed a little "Yah I m Zoya Farooqui, daughter of Gaffur Farookhi, ex police commissioner of Mumbai, I have an elder sister Nikhat who is at present at Mumbai with my papa" Dilshad was stunned "you are daughter of ex police commissioner of Mumbai, then your father must be knowing my son in law I mean Najmas husband, in fact Najma came here because Haider got a sudden transfer to Mumbai to solve a case and it was not at all planned, so Najma will go back once he settles there" Zoya "oh, may be papa may know him, he knows many officers, they all meet in Police Club" Rashid "Oh, since they are in the same fraternity they may get to know each other if they are familiar yet." Rashid asked "Wheres Asad? He is late for breakfast today?" Zoya again noticed that they were calling him Asad. Zoya asked "Asad?" I mean Mr Khan, his full name is Asad Khan?" Najma "koi shaque hai kya, vaise bhaijaan didnt tell you his name?" Zoya "yah he told me that he is Khan, and I never asked his first name" Dilshad "yah so much happened yesterday maybe you would have missed to ask him." By the time Driver Mujeeb came inside and Zoya glared him. Mujeeb became uncomfortable under Zoya glare. He started to stammer "sir, who gaadi workshop, dena hai..." He literally swallowed some words seeing Zoya there. Rashid "Mujeeb tum kabse haqlana shuru kiya?" Zoya "jabse inhone muje gadi se thok diya" Dilshad pressed her lips to suppress her laughter. Rashid looked at Dilshad and she signalled with her eyes. Rashid a bit angry "kya hai yeh sab Mujeeb, tumne Zoya ko gadi se thok diyaa, issliye bechari ka pair main chot ayi" Mujeeb lowered his head indicating its true. Zoya said "andha hai kya, main sadak ke beech khadi thi, dono haath hila rahi thi, gadha kahin ka, inhone aise gaadi tez raftaar se ghumaya ki muje almost ek long jump karna pada aur main gir gayi, how irresponsible" Mujeeb "sorry madam, who do din pehle aise hi ek ladki ne gaadi ke saamne khud kar, muje 10,000 rupaiey et liya tha, tho maine socha ki aap bhi aise ek ladki hain, issliye..." Zoya burst into fits of laughter and also the whole family and thats when Asad entered.

Precap: Haider doing some inspection at Akram's resort and gets some clue and evidence which were not previously taken. As usual Asad manages to hide his identity from Zoya, some asya moments coming up too.