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Part 4 (a)
Asad's smile that he had put on started to fade as Aman drove off, he was left feeling void, like his insides were hollow. Asad dropped Humera back to the hospital 'Humera can you ask Dr. Shah to take over my clinic for this afternoon...I will see you tomorrow' Humera looked at him intently 'are you ok...I mean you never...' Asad started smiling 'I am fine Humera, just a little tired...and I just thought it would be better to let someone else take over...I'll see you soon'.
Over the next few days Aman worked with Zoya to prepare her for the court case, her one to one sessions were going really well and she has started to really open up in some of the group sessions. Aman saw a new Zoya starting to emerge, he managed to help her capture all the positives and develop on them further.
Zoya packed a small bag, Sasha had come in to inform her that Haider and Asad were on their way to come and pick her up. As she waited she sat on her bed thinking about him, one of the things that she was able to do during her sessions was clear her thoughts. Whatever seemed logical to her then she knew it was far from it. She had managed to understand and convince herself that there was no relationship between her and Asad, all this time he was doing his job, and as she was going through a phase which made her see and believe something totally different.
The emotions, the sensations that she felt had started to fade, she was ready to face him without falling apart from within.
Asad stepped outside the car, he led Haider inside to Aman's office 'is she ready, you think she will be ok?' Hiader asked 'she most certainly is...Asad when you see her you will notice the difference...she really has done so well' Asad smiled and nodded 'I guess we should call her'.
Zoya walked out wearing blue faded denim jeans with a grey hooded top. Asad mentally tripped over himself seeing her, he knew exactly what Aman meant. Zoya did look different, she was no longer the same girl that he met almost a month ago. Zoya greeted Haider and smiled at Asad 'Zoya, it is really good to see you doing so well' Haider said 'thank you inspector, I have to say that I have had the best professional help, more than I could ever have asked for' 'if you are ready we should get a move one'.
Zoya sat behind Asad as Haider drove them back. For Asad the journey was no less that torturous as he sat in total silence, Zoya and Haider engaged in various conversations, he couldn't help feeling a sharp pang deep down. She was ignoring him, it was obvious but what he didn't understand was why, but more than that why it was affecting him so much, after the court case he wasn't going to ever see her again.
Haider pulled up outside a beautiful bungalow Asad stepped out of the car and opened the door to her 'thank you... I am staying here?' she said looking around admiring what she saw 'yes' was his short answer. Zoya stepped away from him and walked around she was mesmerised by the sheer beauty of the building she stood in front of and its immediate surroundings 'Inspector Haider, what kind of a hotel is this...its stunning' Haider started to chuckle 'Zoya this is not a hotel, its Asad's house, his place' Zoya shot her head around to look at him and then to look back at Asad 'Dr. Kh...Khan's house' she said with a visible change in expression 'yes, we thought it would be good for you to stay here, even though no one knows about you coming we didn't want to take any chances' Haider explained. Asad kept his eyes on Zoya he could see the discomfort in her face, something that had started to bother him 'Zoya...you don't need to worry, I will call Humera to stay with you...I have a maid and a security officer who also stay here...you will be safe' Asad said trying to reassure her.
Zoya felt her insides turn, she realised why Asad had said what he just did. She felt bad that her reaction must have upset him 'As...I mean Dr. Khan, please you don't need to call Humera...I will be ok' Zoya lowered her head as she could no longer take the way he continued to look at her.
'Asad, I guess I will leave you guys to it...Zoya I will be here by 8 in the morning to pick you up' Zoya gave him a little smile 'Allah Hafiz'.
Zoya and Asad both bent forward to pick up her bag, they both stopped a few inches apart 'its ok, please let me' he said in a low voice. Zoya stood back up again and let him take her bag, she followed him in and was left totally spell bound by what she saw.
'Masha'Allah...your house is beautiful' she said looking from left to right 'thank you...me and my Ammi designed it' 'wow... a brilliant architect as well as a doctor' Asad didn't respond but smiled instead.
'Salaam Sir...you are home?' Asad looked back to see Maya walk towards them 'Salaam Maya...Maya this is Zoya, she will be staying with us for today and tonight, can you please show her to the guest room' 'yes of course sir...welcome Ma'am' she said. Zoya smiled at her politeness 'thank you Maya...and please call me Zoya'.
Asad walked towards his room as Maya walked off with Zoya. He closed his eyes and hit his head against the door 'less than 24 hours Asad...just hold in there'. Asad had reluctantly agreed to allow Zoya stay with him, Haider and Aman insisted that she needed to be around someone familiar just in case her anxiety started to build up to a level that couldn't be controlled.
Maya pulled back the curtains 'you have the room with the best view' Zoya walked up to the double doors, she was right. The door opened up to a a swimming pool and beyond that a beautiful and immaculate garden. As she thought about it everything was immaculate, not a thing out of place. 'You know ma'am since his Ammi passed away he has never had anyone to come and visit him or stay here...it's nice to have someone else around...if you need anything please let me know'.
Zoya waited for Maya to leave before she started walking around the room, for a guest room it was huge, she could only imagine what the rest of the house was like. The one thing that stood out was that there was no colour, the hall way, the main lounge and even her room, everything was white. She wondered why someone like Asad wouldn't have any colour in his life, Zoya started to unpack her bag when she heard a knock at the door 'yes...come in'.
Maya walked in with two other people 'Ma'am...oops sorry I mean Zoya, this is Ramu Kaka, he is the gardener and this is Badshah, he is our security guard...sir wanted me to introduce you to them so you knew who everyone was...oh before I leave...I will be serving lunch soon, so please do come and join us'.
Zoya put down her bag and wondered off outside, as she walked along the polished marbled floor she looked down and then stopped. Along with her own reflection she could see his too. Zoya slowly lifted her head up to see him standing in front of her 'Hi' she said smiling at him nervously 'hi...I hope you have managed to find what you need...' 'yes...thank you...it was nice of you to offer...I mean letting me stay here' 'that's ok...come I think Maya has lunch ready' Zoya stood still and looked at him 'it was so I wouldn't get scared...wasn't it?' Asad stopped and turned back around 'you asked Maya to introduce me to everyone...it was so I wouldn't get scared seeing new faces...in an unfamiliar place' Asad nodded and then held his hand out in the direction of the dinner table.
Zoya sat opposite him 'Maya...where are your plates?' Asad asked 'Sir, I thought with your guest you would want to have some privacy'. Zoya looked at him questioningly 'because its only me...whenever I am home and it's time to eat I always get them to eat with me...'
Zoya felt her stomach dip, she had never thought about Asad or his lifestyle, she had only seen the side of him that had helped her immensely, the side that she formed an attachment to. It pained her to think about how he lived outside the hospital, he was alone, he had no one.
Both of them sat in front of each other eating in silence, the only noises that echoed was that of their forks hitting against the base of their plates 'I hope that was ok...I am not very adventurous with food...if there is anything in particular you would like for dinner, please let Maya know' Zoya put her fork down 'this was really nice...I am not a fussy eater...whatever she has on the menu will be fine...' Asad drank the last of his water before he stood up 'you are free to do what you like, I have a library just over there...a gym at the back and a swimming pool...' Zoya interrupted him as he spoke 'how about a walk...with you in the garden?' Asad looked at her, he was going to say no making up some plausible excuse but the words that escaped his mouth were totally the opposite 'umm...yeah sure'.
Asad and Zoya walked around his garden, Zoya admired the flowers beds 'your house is beautiful...almost like something out of a fairy tale' Asad started to laugh 'thank you' 'but you don't have any colour...why is everything white?' Asad sucked in a breath 'I guess I don't see my life in colour...everything is the either black or white...'
Zoya looked at him confused 'the Asad you saw in a white doctors coat to the Asad you see here is very different...in my personal life...let's just say that I like things simple and...' 'and lonely...you like being by yourself?' 'when you live life in a certain way for so long...the lines become blurred, you can't tell the difference anymore...before Ammi passed away I only had her, my life revolved around studying, working and looking after her...and after she left everything I did ceased...all that was left was my life at the hospital' 'you don't have friends?' 'I don't have time for friends Zoya, the people I work with are very close to me and then at home, Maya and the rest of them, they are like my family'. Zoya couldn't help becoming emotional as she thought about him and then the life she had lived.
'I guess we are not so different Dr. Khan...I live in a hostel with 45 other young girls but even amongst them I have always been alone. I got moved around from one orphanage to another...and never complain as to me it was what my life was about, I thought it was normal...I couldn't make friends or sustain them as I was always moving around. I have been in the hostel for 4 years the longest time I have ever been in one place...my studies, my work is all that keeps me going...Dr. Khan, you are an amazing person, I don't think I will ever come across another medical professional like you no matter what part of the world I go...you have been so kind to me, have gone out your way to support me, I will forever be grateful'.
Asad stopped 'why the formality Zoya' Zoya who was still walking stopped upon hearing his question, she turned around and faced him 'how do you mean' 'you know exactly what I mean...what with all this formality...thanking me and talking to me like...' 'like you are my doctor and I am your patient...I am talking to you in exactly the way I should be' Asad felt himself getting worked up in his own confused state of mind he didn't know what to say to her, yes what she was saying was right then why diid it seem so wrong?
'I am sorry...I seemed to have overlooked the lines of my boundaries...yes, you are right...it should be formal...you carry on...I need to catch up on some reading...please feel free to do what you like'. Asad turned around and walked away leaving her looking at his retreating back with tears stinging her eyes.
Zoya sat by the pool, she dipped her legs in and played with the water. 'Zoya' Zoya turned around to see Maya with a small tray in her hand 'Sir asked me to give you this, it's your medication' Zoya took the glass of water and took her pills 'thank you Maya' Maya put the tray down 'are you ok...I know it's none of my business but...' Zoya shook her head 'please don't apologise...I have a to go to the police station tomorrow, so am just a little nervous' 'why don't you talk to Sir, he will help you...he is good at doing that' Zoya smiled 'yes he is' 'you said police station...dos that mean you will leave once it is over?' 'Yes...once the whole court case is over I will...I am a patient at Dr. Asad's clinic...I will go back there and once I have been discharged by Dr. Aman I will return home, back to Bhopal' 'oh' Maya said looking a little sad.
'What?' Zoya questioned seeing her face change expression 'nothing...I should get back' Zoya pulled on her arm 'please stay...and tell me'. Maya slipped her shoes off and sat next to her 'you going to tell me why you wearing that sad face?' Maya started to laugh 'I just wish you were not his patient...Sir has never had many friends...he has never paid any girl any attention, we are always on his back asking him to find someone to settle down...but he won't...you are the first girl he has ever looked at in that way' Zoya stopped swaying her feet and looked up at her 'in what way?' 'You really don't see it...he will never admit it because he is bound by his own protocols...in all the years I have been here I have never seen him worry so much for anyone, at the time I didn't know it was you but every spare moment he had he would be calling Dr Aman and asking about you, the way he smiled when he heard you were doing well, the concern, the panic he displayed when he heard something bad...if I didn't know any better Zoya I would say that Dr. Asad Ahmed Khan has fallen for you'.
Health and Fitness
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