Twenty One
Asad flew out to London leaving Dilshad with Zack 'Aunty I have to meet Angel, I am taking her down to Musicology' 'that's fine; I will see you two tonight'.
Zoya waited for Zack in Atul's office as he finished his telephone conversation 'is everything ok? 'Yes, it was Mona, Leo's PA I need her to forward me a few emails'. After Ronit arrived they started their meeting, even though all the legalities of the contract had been sorted out Zack still accompanied Angel to support her.
Since she moved in with them they started a relationship that got stronger by the day, Zack was an amazing friend to her, he always stood by her and supported her emotionally. The only thing that saddened him was her eyes, as much as she smiled as much as she laughed her eyes never seemed to, it was like they were contradicting everything she said or did, there as a void and Zoya to this day refused to talk to him about what it was that pulled tugged her heart so painfully.
'Ok Angel, the album will consist of ten songs, and one of them we want to release by the end of November, so you will need to spend much of your time here' 'that's fine, I can do that' 'good, we have chosen a title...well Leo has chosen a title for your album' Zoya looked at him 'don't I get a say, I have chosen one too...seeing it is my album I think it's only fair that I chose, why Leo?'
'Of course, let me pull out his email...You can tell me what you like and I will put forward the idea to him...I am sure he won't mind' Atul said as he looked at through his inbox'
'Angel, what did you want to name it?' Zack asked 'Just One Glimpse' Zoya looked at Atul wide eyed 'H...how did you know?' Atul looked at her confused 'how did I know what?' 'Just One Glimpse...how did you know I wanted to call it that?' 'I didn't...I was reading Leo's email, it's the title he suggested?' Zack looked at her 'you chose the same thing...what a coincidence' Zoya looked between him and Atul, she felt her heart pick up an extra beat 'like they say great minds think alike...well at least we have the name of your album sorted and confirmed, I can get our team to sort out a photo shoot for the cover, will you be able to do that before you go back to Switzerland?' Zoya who was still lost in thought didn't respond 'Angel' Zack said tapping her shoulder 'huh...oh...yeah...that's fine I can postpone by return by a couple of days if needs be' 'that's great, I am sure we will be done Saturday the latest'.
Zoya felt her head spin in every direction possible 'Angel, what's wrong, you have been quiet the whole way?' Zack said 'nothing...just tired I guess, will Leo's mum be ok with us staying I mean...' 'of course she will she will be more offended if we don't'.
Dilshad opened the door and welcomed them in 'Beta, please go and freshen up I will get dinner on' 'Aunty please don't fuss, come and sit first' Zack said.
As Dilshad and Zack engrossed in conversation Zoya kept her eyes on Dilshad, she knew she had never met her before but she couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that she somehow knew her, her voice sounded so familiar.
Dilshad had set up the two guest rooms for both Zack and Zoya 'I will see you in the morning, sleep well' Dilshad retired to her room leaving them sitting in the living room 'Angel, I need to go over a few emails, am going to be in the study if you want you can hang out here or...' 'No, I am going to hit the sack too, see you in the morning' Zack and Zoya gave each other a high five, something they always did, and then went to her room.
As the night grew Zoya started to become increasingly restless, giving up she jumped out of her bed and walked back outside. She opened the door to the study hoping that Zack would still be there but he had gone.
Zoya walked further in, she looked around admiring the room 'the man definitely has good taste' she said to herself. She looked through his book collection which was huge; she continued walking the length of the room then came to a sudden stop.
She looked back to see a picture frame in the glass cabinet, Zoya opened the cabinet door and pulled out the frame. She looked at the guy that stood next to Dilshad, the more she looked the more she felt her insides waver, before she could gauge her own reaction she found her fingers grazing over his face, she couldn't understand why she was feeling like she did 'so you are Leo...finally I get to see what you look like...Ya Allah...if just looking at his picture is making me go in to a tiz, what will I be like when I come face to face with him' 'he is not that bad?' Zoya jumped nearly dropping the frame 'Ya Allah...Zack you trying to give me a heart attack' Zack started laughing he walked up to her and put his arm around her 'I am sorry didn't mean to scare you' 'this is Leo right?' 'Yes...you know I still can't believe in all this time you two have never met...I mean my best friend and my fianc...how did we miss that?' Zoya moved his arm down and turned to face him 'well if you remember I wasn't...you know well and by the time I started to come round I was so engrossed in my work at the church and with Ammi and dad...and then with Ronit...and plus you have always said that he is a bit of a loner, doesn't like to mix in with others' Zack took in a deep breath 'yeah I guess...he has changed so much over the years...sometimes it's hard to keep up...but no matter what he is still my best friend one guy that is as important to me as my family'.
'Well, by next week I will have met him...and seeing I am signed by his music house he is indirectly my boss too' Zack started laughing 'God help you' was all he said.
Twenty Two
After a long 4 hours Zoya's photo shoot finally came to an end, after packing up she met with Zack 'have you heard from Leo, did he manage to sort his thing out?' 'Yes he did, I told him to take next flight out to Ammi and dad...' 'that's good, we are leaving tomorrow as it is...I can see that aunty misses him so much' 'yes she does...after what happened she hates being away from him...over protective and all' Zoya looked at him quizzically 'after what happened...?' Zack closed his eyes mentally kicking himself 'oh nothing...he made aunty live in Italy with her sister for ages...and when he finally decided to move to Mumbai she moved back with him'
The way Zoya was looking at him, he knew she was not buying what he was saying and being a lawyer he thought twisting his words would come so easy 'ok...if you say so...anyway our flight is early morning so make sure you are up and ready...don't make me come after you with ice water again' Zack shuddered as he remembered the last time she tipped ice water on him 'you are pure evil...I hope you know that' Zoya started laughing 'the Angel with a devil inside' she said giving him a wink.
Zoya went running into Asma's arms 'its so good to be home Ammi, I missed you' Asma cupped her face and kissed her forehead 'and I you'. Asma went to meet Dilshad and then helped her settle in 'Asad...is he here?' Asma looked at Dilshad with moist eyes 'Asad...Dilshad when will he become our Asad again, it pains me so much to see him like this' As,a said as she lowered her gaze trying hard to swallow the lump in her throat she continued talking 'umm...he flew in last night...you know I haven't seen him for so long...the pain the hurt never seems to go away...as much as he has continued on living he has become...he is just Leo' Dilshad took in a deep breath and tried to stop herself from crying 'I have faith in Allah, He will give me my son back'.
'Leo' Zack called out, Asad hugged him 'well done, Mona told me you secured the deal' 'thank you...yes I did, all thanks to your hard work' 'our hard work...come your mum is with Ammi'
Asad hugged his mum and then followed Zack into the lawn 'Leo, we finalised the name for Angel's album...and the amazing thing is that both of you had thought of the same name, Just One Glimpse' Asad looked at Zack wide eyed 'really, that is what Angel had thought of as well...how random is that?...Well at least it has been sorted. By the way where is this Angel of yours its high time I met her'.
'You will, she stopped by the church to meet the Father, someone she has grown quite close to...he has really helped her' Asad looked at him with a blank expression and then realised what he was referring to 'you mentioned Angel having gone through a difficult time...but you never told me what, is she ok?' he asked with genuine concern 'not really, on the face of it she always is but I know deep down she isn't' 'have you not tried talking to her?' 'Of course I have but it's not something she wants to talk about. When Ammi and dad brought her here she lived like a recluse, she hardly spoke, mainly kept herself locked up in darkness. It took us a long time to bring her out of her shell. Once she did she slowly started to live life but not in totality there was always a part of her missing and I guess still is' 'Zack...can I ask you a question?' 'Sure' 'do you love her...I mean...' Zack held his breath as Asad continues to ask him a question he often found asking himself.
'I love her dearly, but only as my friend, my best friend and I would do anything for her and her happiness' Asad looked at him with great surprise 'you don't love her...as in you know...' 'No and she doesn't love me either' 'then why the hell are you two going through this, it doesn't make sense' Zack let out a deep sigh 'because it is what our parents want, because we both couldn't bring ourselves to say no, we know that what we will have between us is a compromise...Leo I know what you are thinking and maybe you are not wrong, but this was a mutual decision and one that we are both happy with'.
Asad had loved and knew what it meant to be in love but Leo had never loved so couldn't understand the dynamics and what it would mean to live life as a compromise 'Well I hope it works out for you man, it seems like you are taking a bit of a risk'.
'Zack, Leo time you two got ready?' Zack looked back at Asma 'for what Ammi?' 'I have arranged for a small get together this evening' Zack rolled his eyes 'not another one...' 'Zack stop with the whining and get up'. Asad looked at Zack 'I didn't pack for a get together...' 'Don't worry, we can go and pick something up'.
Dilshad hugged Angel dearly, something she felt compelled to do every time she met her 'Ammi, I am going to get changed, where is Zack?' 'He has gone out with Leo to pick up a few things they will be back soon' 'Finally I get to meet him...ok, I am going to get ready'.
The Malik house started to fill up with guests, Zoya was put some final touches to herself when she felt like someone had physically grabbed hold of her insides and twisted them relentlessly. Zoya grabbed hold of her stomach as she tried to breath, she closed her eyes letting tear drops fall to the ground, what she was feeling couldn't be real, there had to be another reason 'stop...please stop' she begged herself as she started feel herself spiral out of control.
As Zoya stood up she felt her heart take several dips together 'Asad' she whispered his name. Zoya quickly turned around and ran outside, she ran down the stairs as fast as she could and stood into the room that was filled with people. Zoya's heart raced as her eyes kept on searching, she knew she was looking for the impossible she knew that she was wrong but the pain; the force of what she was feeling was making her lose all logic.
Zoya wiped her tears and moved from one side of the room to the other, she kept turning around and around until she hit a hard surface. The minute she came into contact with his body she closed her eyes, she took in a breath that had his scent embedded in every part of him. Zoya stopped breathing with her eyes still shut she started to shake her head, mentally telling herself to stop, she felt as if she was going crazy.
Zack placed his hand on her shoulder 'Angel are you ok, did you lose your way or something' he joked. Zoya jerked herself back and met the eyes of the person who she bumped into. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she continued to stare at him. Asad gave her a nervous smile 'Angel' Zack called out again. Zoya looked towards him 'are you ok?' 'y...yeah'.
Zack put his arm around her 'this is Leo...and Leo this is Angel' Asad looked back at her and the more he looked the more he felt his heart beat out of sync 'you would normally say hi at this point' Zack said making them break their eye lock. 'Hi' she said nervously to which Asad smiled and nodded.
'Leo, I will be back in a minute, Angel come' As Zack led her away Zoya kept turning back to look at him 'Zack wait' Zack stopped and turned towards her 'Leo...is he...I mean do I...no has he...' Zack started to laugh 'Angel did you hit your head or something...what happened...what about Leo?' Zoya inhaled as much oxygen as she could, she needed to calm herself down, every part of her was screaming out to her telling her what couldn't be true. Zoya closed her eyes and then looked at Zack 'nothing...I guess I am not feeling too well'.
As the evening progressed Asad found himself constantly looking at her, something was stirring inside and he couldn't figure it out Asa...sorry I mean Leo, beta come and sit with us, why are you standing her on your own' Asad looked at Dilshad 'nothing Ammi, was just...you know I don't like these big informal gatherings' 'I know beta...come and sit with me'.
If Asad was constantly looking at her then so was she. The last time she felt like this was on that fateful day, the day that life took away everything from her. If Zoya was able to hold on to anything from her life as it was before now it was his essence, her heart never failed her then why was it playing this cruel game with her now.
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Hi
Hope u liked the chapters, and I haven't disappointed you with their first meet
Please do let me know what you think
Love Saima
Edited by Saima-Syed - 11 years ago
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