Twenty Five
'Ammi, did you talk to her?' Asad asked as she came into her room 'Yes, I did...she didn't explicitly tell me exactly what had happened but at least I know a little more...you know how brave that girl is, she has been through so much and still she stands tall facing the world with so much confidence'
'Ammi what happened to her?' Dilshad cupped the side of Asad's face 'Like you Leo, she loved and lost. Asma told me that they found her fighting for her life in the aftermath of the floods and earthquake...' Dilshad went on to tell Asad everything she knew and everything that Zoya had just told her.
'Wow, Zack mentioned a little but never told me all this...you know I questioned his decision to marrying her as well and he gave me the same answer...in this day and age to give up what you want for your parents is a big thing' 'Yes it is and I know Allah will reward them greatly for respecting and loving their parents unconditionally'.
'Ammi...can I ask you something?' 'Of course, what is it' Asad led Dilshad to the small couch on the balcony and sat down 'Ammi, since the day you told me about Zoya...I have been...I can't explain it, I feel like someone has grabbed me here and is constantly twisting it around, I have tried to remember, becoming more and more angry at myself...Ammi if my love was so deep so pure then why is Zoya not in here' he said tapping the side of his head?
Dilshad took his hand and held it gently 'she is Leo, she is in there...she is imprinted on every part of your body, you just have to find her...and I know the day you do everything will come rushing back to you' 'everything but her...when I remember her I won't have her...she has gone Ammi' Dilshad didn't know what to say to her son, she felt helpless. Life had played such a cruel joke on him, she thought about him and Angel, they both had lost someone so close to them so dear to them on the day that mother nature decided to turn against mankind.
Over the next two days the house was full of activity getting ready for the grand celebrations. Asad locked himself away in Zack's study catching up on a lot of work he was missing by being out of the country.
Having worked three hours solid Asad stood up to stretch his muscles as he started to walk around the study he heard a humming sound. He opened the side door which led into another room. Asad poked his head around to see her standing on a ladder trying to reach a box. As he stepped in Zoya's hand that was stretching upwards stopped as did her melodious humming.
Zoya's pupils started to dilate as she felt his presence, she quickly turned around and lost her balance, Asad saw her falter and ran towards her managing to catch her just in time. Asad held her in his arms, both tried to breathe as their erratic hearts started to beat out of control.
Asad looked down at her, she had her eyes squeezed shut 'are you ok?' Zoya's body that was slightly trembling stopped, she shot her eyes open and looked at him 'well are you?' he asked again.
Zoya's eyes widened, they expressed an unknown fear, a wave of confusion. She jumped out of his arms making him stumble forward. He looked at her with narrowed eyes not understanding her reaction.
'Who are you?' she asked 'excuse me' Zoya closed her eyes as she felt something pierce her heart she opened her eyes that were now on the verge of crying 'your voice...who are you?' she asked again just about managing to speak 'did you hit your head or something...it me Leo' 'no...you're not Leo...your voice...it can't be...you can't be' Asad started to get a little annoyed with her weird behaviour 'do you need to me to get you a doctor, looks like you did hit your head...I am Leo, owner of Musicology, the production house that just signed you...remember...look move out the way I will get that box down for you' Asad walked past her and climbed on the ladder to get the box down.
'Here you...where the hell did she go now' he said as he found no one there 'weirdo'.
Zoya started to hyperventilate, his scent his voice everything about him started to create a whirlwind of emotions that she couldn't control, she felt her body go limp 'Ya Allah...why are you doing this to me...why is this happening to me...please just stop. I can't take it anymore...you hear me stop' she screamed looking up into the heavens above.
For the rest of the day Zoya kept herself away from everyone, she didn't have it in her to answer the never ending questions that were going to be thrown at her for having red swollen eyes.
On Tuesday Zoya made sure that the two guest rooms were ready for Jai and Ruby, she couldn't wait to see them. They were the only ones who knew everything about her. When they heard that she was still alive they rushed to be by her side, the person they saw in front of them was not Zoya but someone who had lost everything, the pain they felt at seeing her in the state she was hurt them but they couldn't do anything to help her. Zoya who had to start learning everything as if it was for the first time found it hard to cope, she walked around searching the muddy broken streets of Delhi calling his name out, she made Ruby and Jai go half-crazy too looking for him, only to be told time and time again that he was no more. Something she wasn't ready to accept, something she defied for a long time. She cried tears of pain, she questioned her Allah why? If she had wanted to see it was for him only and without him her ability to see meant nothing.
She still remembered the day she went to his office, well what was left of it to find no one there, they were told that Khan Group of industries no longer existed and that the office was now permanently closed. Little did Zoya know that Asad had the name of his company changed and had relocated to Mumbai.
When everything failed, when she was ready to give up on life Asma and Rehaan Malik took her away, and gave her that new lease of life she needed.
'Angel, we are ready, come beta we will be late' Asma called out 'one second Ammi' Zoya said as she came running out of her room, as she did she bumped into him, as her body fell back he held her hand to stop her from falling . Zoya's heart jumped several beats together 'are you blind, do you never watch what you are doing? Zoya looked at him with narrowed eyes, she pulled herself back and jerked her hand away 'how dare you talk to me like that...what kind of an insensitive comment is that' she almost shouted Asad was losing his patience with her weird and erratic behaviour was annoying him 'will you get over yourself, what is wrong with you' 'nothing...what is wrong with you' Asad pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration 'don't you have to be somewhere...I am sure I just heard your Ammi call for you...you should go'. Zoya gave him a stern look before she pushed past him 'Ya Allah...why me...I always end up working with the weirdo's...spoilt brat'.
Whislt all the ladies went to buy new outfits for the party Asad sat in front of his lap top talking to Mona about various projects 'Mona I will be back early next week, as soon as I want a meeting with Atul about Musicology and then a board meeting to cover our other investments...no Zack won't be coming back with me, not just yet...I have no idea and to be honest I don't care when she is coming that is for Atul and Ronit to deal with I can't tolerate her on a personal level yet a lone professional one'. Mona started to giggle 'something funny...good...now get back to work'.
Asad sat back on his chair leaning his head against the soft leather, he closed his eyes in an attempt to give them a rest but before he knew it he has started to drift off into a deep sleep. Asad found himself surrounding in white crisp snow, he could hear the echoes of a sweet laughter around him. He ran through the woods chasing the shadow that teased him with little giggles 'who's there...come out...please' he called out again and again 'Asad' Asad turned around as he heard a soft whisper against his ear, he could feel his heart beat picking up pace 'who's there...why won't you show yourself' 'Asad...its me' he heard the whisper again.
Asad carried on running forward until he came out onto an open field that was covered in a thin layer of snow, a short distance away a small figure held its hands out twirling around and around. Asad stopped, he started to take slow measure steps towards her, as she saw him come she stopped and started to step back 'no wait...don't go please...who are you?'
The girl took a few steps closer to him, her face was covered with her hair, as much as he tried to see her face he couldn't.
'Why do you call me Asad...what is your name?' The girl held out her hand 'you are my Asad...Zoya's Asad...all I wanted was just one glimpse of the man I love...I love you Asad' Asad couldn't bring himself to move his head started to spin 'Zoya...Zoya' he whispered, he tried to take a step forward and as he did he felt himself falling into a deep black hole.
'Zoya' Asad screamed as he jumped up, he held the side of the table trying to stop himself from falling, his face was covered in a cold sweat and his body was trembling. On hearing his loud scream Zack and his father ran to the study to find Asad falling 'Dad quick'.
Dilsad ran to see him; Zack had called her as soon as Rehaan had settled him down 'what happened to him...what happened to him Zack?' 'I don't know Aunty, he was working and then I heard him scream out...like he was calling out a name' Dilshad looked up at Zack, she slowly stood up 'a name...did you hear what name he called out?' 'No...but he definitely called out for someone...Aunty, maybe we should take him back home, he needs to see the doctor there, something is obviously happening to him' 'I agree...I think maybe on Sunday morning...can you please book our return flight'.
Edited by Saima-Syed - 10 years ago
Cricket
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