One
Asad got out of his car and stood in front of the school his mother Dilshad Ahmed Khan founded a number of years ago.
The School of Harmony was a small school that taught music to the underprivileged, Dilshad who had a great love for music opened the school in memory of her loving husband, Rashid Ahmed Khan.
Rashid Ahmed Khan was a well-known man; he was the owner and managing director of Khan Group of Industries, one of the top ten richest in all of India.
Rashid passed away leaving his empire to his one and only son Asad and his beloved wife Dilshad. After many years of trying to stay in India and continue life without Rashid, Dilshad started to fall deeper and deeper into depression. Her son who at a young age had to take over his father's business empire almost became non-existent; he worked so hard he almost seemed to forget he had a mother waiting at home for him.
Asad loved his mother more than anything in the world, but his devotion to keeping his father's name alive seemed to overpower him. Asad finally decided to send Dilshad to live with her sister in Italy.
That was almost three years ago. Every year on this day Asad came to the school to present them a cheque so they could continue with their hard work, work that meant the world to his mother.
'Asad, you come every year, give me this piece of paper and leave, and then I don't see you for another whole year...will you not stay today...just for a little while, the children have an assembly where they will be playing...please come and join us'
Asad took off his sunglasses and looked at Mrs Braganza 'maybe just for a few minutes'. Mrs Braganza smiled whole heartedly as she led him to the assembly hall.
Asad was always reserved; he was very serious in his manner. But after his father passed away his seriousness, his reserved personality only heightened, he was a man of principle, at the age of 26 he knew nothing other than how to work and work harder. With no social life and little friends the only people skills Asad had was across a board room table where he was able to strike up deals worth millions of dollars within seconds. Outside his work life what it meant to enjoy life and be care free he didn't know.
Asad stood towards the back of the hall, which was filled with parents, teachers and members from the local community. Asad kept looking at his watch wanting to get out of there; he had seen two performances already, as much as he clapped he didn't really know what he was appreciating. As the third act was about to start Asad turned around to walk out only to be stopped by what he heard.
The notes of the piano played soft music and with it came a voice that could only be described as heavenly. For someone who didn't listen to songs or understood the world of music Asad found himself rooted by what echoed around him.
All he could see was the back of a girl, who he assumed was a teacher sitting at the piano singing a song he had never heard before.
Main hoon gumsum tu bhi khamosh hai
Sach hai samay ka hi sab dosh hai
Dhadkan dhadkan ik gham rehta hai
Jaane kyu phir bhi dil kehta hai
Jee le zara, jee le zaraa
Kehta hai dil jee le zara
Aye humsafar, aye humnawa
Aa paas aa jee le zara
Hai zindagi mana dard bhari
Phir bhi isme ye raahat bhi hai
Main hoon tera aur tu hai meri
Yunhi rahe hum, ye chahat bhi hai
Phir dil ke dil se, pul kyu toote hain
Kyun hum jeene se itne roothe hain
Aa dil ke darwaaze hum khole
Aa hum dono jee bhar ke ro le
Jee le zara, jee le zaraa
Kehta hai dil jee le zara
Aye humsafar, aye humnawa
Aa paas aa jee le zaraa
Gham ke ye baadal guzar jaane de
Ab zindagi ko nikhar jaane de
Chhod de ab yaadon ke dukh sehnaa
Sun bhi le jo dil ka hai kehnaa
Jee le zaraa, jee le zaraa
Kehta hai dil jee le zaraa
Aye humsafar, aye humnawa
Aa paas aa jee le Zar
He almost felt that the song was giving him a message telling him to live, saying that no matter what 'jee le zara'. The more he stood there the more he seemed to lose himself in the melody and before he knew it the whole hall had erupted in a loud applause, coming back to the present Asad put on his glasses and started to walk out.
'Asad...Asad, wait' Asad turned around to see Mrs Braganza run towards him 'thank you for staying...could I ask for a few more minutes of your time? I would love to introduce you to everyone, the people here know of Dilshad and her work, it would be a great honour for them to meet you' Asad showed reluctance and was about to politely decline when she grabbed his hand and started to lead him to the front.
Asad stood in front a hall full of smiling faces as Mrs Braganza introduced him. Trying hard to reciprocate their smiles Asad looked back at Mrs Braganza 'I really do have to go now' of course...but wait just one minute, I would like you to meet out teachers' Mrs Braganza called up her members of staff.
'Asad please meet Ruby, Annie, Jai and Zoya, Zoya is our new recruit she has only been here for a few months...an Angel with a voice that comes straight from heaven, don't you think?'
Asad looked at the girl who stood at the end smiling, he figured it was her who sang the last song 'its nice meeting you all, Mrs Braganza I will ask Ammi to call you, am sure she would like to catch up...I will take your leave now' before Mrs Braganza could stop him further or say anything more he walked away.
'Not is he only the youngest and richest guy in all of India but also the most handsome of them all' Ruby said still swaying from side to side in admiration. 'Ruby, you think everyone is good looking...come one we need to get the afternoon lessons prepared' Zoya said.
'Always have kill my moment...fine, come on lets go...but before then I need you to lead out the younger kids, their coach is already here'. Ruby said walking of in a huff 'wait...I'll go, you stay here' Zoya offered.
Zoya gathered the group of children who were heading out on a visit to the Royal Opera House. 'What is all that noise?' she complained as all that could be heard was the blaring horns of cars around her.
'Api, there is a traffic jam...I think the signals have stopped working again' on of the children said 'ok...not to worry, you guys are heading in the opposite direction...come on let's do a head count'. All the pupils stood in line as Zoya counted them ...14, 15...ok who is missing, there should be 16 of you?' the kids stated looking around at one another 'Anju...Anju is missing' Zoya let out a sigh 'I tell you that girl can never be anywhere on time'
Zoya was just about to step away to go and look for her when she was stopped 'Api...she is there by the sweet shop...shall I go and get her?' Zoya narrowed her eyes 'Anju...you are in so much trouble missy' she said making the other children laugh 'it's ok you guys sit in the coach I will get her'
Zoya stepped out into the street and walked towards the sweet shop 'Ya Allah, what is going on' she said as the noise pollution started to annoy her. Where she was getting annoyed a few yards away Asad sat in his car slowly losing his patience 'Arif, turn the car around and take the back route, at this rate we will be here forever' 'yes Sir'.
Arif turned his car around as soon as he did Zoya stepped in front of him 'Arif, watch out' Asad shouted, Arif managed to press on the breaks just in time. Asad jumped out of the car and ran to her, he held her by the elbow and turned her around 'are you blind, don't you know how to cross a road without looking properly' he chided her in a harsh tone. Zoya who lost her balance fell against his chest, she closed her eyes as her breathing started to spiral out of control, Asad who looked even more annoyed lifted his hands up to move her back.
Asad he reached for her shoulders a gentle breeze that brushed past them blew her hair back, it was then he realised who it was. Asad felt as if his heart had skipped a beat, her fair complexion, her watery eyes and trembling lips, everything about her seemed to stand out, as if everything else around became blurry and distant. Z...Zoya right?' Zoya stood up straight, by this time Mrs Braganza, Johnathan and Ruby came running up to her 'Oh Lord Jesus, are you ok Zoya...' Asad looked at her waiting for her to respond 'I am fine Mrs Braganza, just made me jump that's all...I came looking for Anju' Mrs Braganza looked ahead of her and saw Anju standing a few yards away crying 'Jai please go and get her, and sit her on the coach...Asad, thank you for helping'.
'Helping...Mrs Braganza my driver nearly ran her over...you should really watch where you are going' he said to her, Zoya was taken aback by his continued harshness 'I...I'm sorry' she said in a low whisper before she turned around 'Ruby, let's go we are getting late' Ruby linked her arm with hers and started to walk back towards the school.
'Asad, my child that girl you see there walking away, the one you just scolded...you asked her watch where she was going...she can't, she is blind'.
Asad looked at her with his eyes wide open in shock, he felt a cold air brush past him that made him suck in a breath that seemed to prick every part of his airway and ended with a dull pain in the pit of his stomach.
'She...She is blind?' he asked, as if he needed confirmation 'yes Asad, Mr Neil and I met her almost 3 months ago, she works and lives in an orphanage that she grew up in, when we heard her sing...well there was no way I was going to take no for an answer, she works here 3 days a week and the rest of the time she stays at the orphanage'
If finding out she was blind wasn't bad enough but she was an orphan too. 'I...I'm sor...I mean if I had known I...' 'It's ok Asad...like you said you didn't know, you take care...I guess I will see you next year'.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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