Chapter 14
Zoya was trying to pack her things as there were only few more days for her nikaah. She had mixed feelings. This house has given her so many memories. Though Razia had always hated her, Humaira has always been a amazing sister and support and Gaffur had been a good father. He had provided her with everything that a daughter should have. Yes, he was a little strict and reprimanded her for her lively nature and modern values, but at the end of the day, he had been a father to her. She will miss them! On the other hand, she had these new hope for a life with Asad. His family, the new relations and responsibilites made her a little nervous but she was also happy that she has gotten such a good husband and family to share the rest of her life with. She just hoped that Dadi will understand and accept her situation. Since yesterday, her mind wandered through dreadful thoughts. May be Dadi will reject her? And will it be right to go against her for this wedding? Allah miyan, please meri madad kijiye, she thought. And Mr. Khan wasn't making her crazy thoughts any better by not answering her phone calls. Her thoughts were interrupted with her phone ringing. She saw the name and got annoyed. "subhe se main itne phone karahi thi lekin nahi uthaya aur aabh phone karahe hai," she said to herself and cut the call. Asad was surprised when his phone got cut in the middle. She was mad, he thought. He quickly typed a message and sent it to her. "I know keh tum gussa ho, main subhe se busy tha. Sorry nahi bolunga lekin please mujhe tumse bahut zaroori baat. Answer the phone," she read it. The next minute, he called her and she answered on the first ring. "Kya huwa Mr. Khan? Dadi nahi maani?" she asked tensed. "Dadi maan gayi lekin mujhe tumse kuch aur bol na hai. peeche aake milo," Asad told her. "Mr. Khan aap normal insaan ki taara subhe nahi mil sakthe, kya aapko sirf raat mein baatein yaad aati hai," Zoya teased him. "I am waiting," he said as he ended the call. Zoya sighned. "Kya Allah miyan, mujhe hi milana tha aisa ajeeb insaan se jisse sirf raat mein baat karni hai," she told herself. Minutes later, she sneaked out of the house and met Asad leaning on the back of his car. Before she could say anything, "yeh tumare liye," he said handing her a hand full of candies. "Thanks Mr. Khan! Agar aap aise hi mujhe chocolates dehte rahenge toh aap phone nahi utayenge toh chalega," Zoya said beaming. She jumped on top of the car trunk and took a seat. He looked at her and she motioned him to take a seat with her. He nodded his head as a no. "Oh come on Mr. Khan, baitiye," she encouraged. He sighed. Stubborn wasn't she! He reminded himself as he jumped on the trunk with her.
They both sat on the car. Zoya was watching the stars, waiting for him to speak. Had something wrong happened? Why wasn't he saying anything? She thought. Asad, on the other hand, didn't know how to start. This was the part of his life that he had buried away. This was the part that he always ignored but today, here he was wanting to tell her what happened. Why? Because she had the right to know, his heart told him. And, also she told you everything from her past to start this relationship on a fresh slate, his mind supported. Didn't she deserve the same respect that she had given you and this relationship? Asad thought. Zoya could see his hands balled in fists and tension on his face. She placed her hand on his fist and he turned to look at her. "sabh theek haina? Agar aap baatana nahi chathe toh its ok," she said. "Nahi Zoya, main chathta hoon tume yeh baat maloom ho," Asad told her. "Lekin Mr. Khan...aap itne pareshaan...," Zoya was saying when he interupted her. "Teen saal phele mera nikaah hone wala tha," he said as she looked at him shocked. She felt as if a bolt of thunder had struck her head. Her hand squeezed his unsure if she wanted to hear what he wanted to say. "Woh meri best friend thi," Asad said as he started to share the most painful part of his life.
Her name was Tanveer. Asad, Tanveer, and Nikhat were friends since they were kids. They were each few years apart in age and their parents were best friends which made it seem like things were meant to be. Nikhat was Tanveer's cousin. Her parents were killed in a plane crash when she was ten and she lived with Tanveer and her dad. Nikhat and Tanveer spent most of the time in Asad's house. As they grew up, Nikhat had started to like Farhan. When the family found out, they fixed Nikhat and Farhan's marriage. During the ceremonies, Dilshad had suggested that even Asad get married. Asad didn't really care about marriage but for his mother, he had agreed. Tanveer's dad had bought the rishta and the family had agreed since they knew her since she was a kid and she was Asad's best friend. In Farhan's wedding, Asad and Tanveer were engaged. He was unsure about the relationship because he didn't love her but he did respect and trust her. She was his childhood friend and partner, may be he will learn to love her as something more, he had expected. After that, Asad had started to believe that may be Tanveer was the right choice for him. After all, she knew his family and understood them like her own. Who better than his best friend to be life partner? He had thought. But, he had been wrong! He had been decived by that same best friend. Asad has gone to London to finish his last year of MBA. They were supposed to get married once he returned. He had planned to return a week before he had told her to surprise her. But he was the one who had been surprised, more like shocked. He had bought flowers and walked into her house. He ran upstairs to her room and opened the door to find her in bed with someone else. Asad was shattered!. The girl he had taken to be his best friend and his life partner had deceived him. Not only him, his whole family. On being asked, she had told him that the only reason she wanted to marry him was for his money. The guy she was with now was more rich and was settled in America. The relationship had ended there and so did their parents' friendship. Tanveer had ran off with the guy to the US while her father had become extremely sick a year later and died. Everyone had taunted Dilshad and the family for making a wrong decision. They had told them maybe the family did something to make Tanveer take such a drastic step. Afterall, everyone knew her as a traditional, quiet, proper girl fit to be a wife of any man and perfect daughter-in-law of any family. The khan family didn't want to put a girl's honor in danger so they decided to tell everyone that the wedding has been ended and the reasons behind it were left for assumptions. The world had speculated and blamed the family with all sorts of reasons as to why it could have happened. "But I swear Zoya, she doesn't mean anything! I have no feelings for her. All I have for her is hate and I feel stupid for trusting her and making my family go through all this," he ended.
Zoya was shocked. How could someone be so cheap? How could she decieve such good people? For the first time in her life, Zoya felt hatred for someone and that too someone who she hasn't even met. And she knew very well how it felt to be blamed for something you havent even done. She felt Asad's hand curl up around hers. She could feel his anger. Zoya looked up to see his face turning red and the vein on his temple throbbing. She placed her other hand on top of their interwined hands. "I am sorry Mr. Khan, you didn't deserve that!" she said. "but, thanks Mr. Khan. Mujhe aap ne yeh sabh baataya, it means a lot to me." Zoya honestly told him. Her words soothed him. His anger seem to melt. "sorry toh mujhe kehna chahiye, I should have told you earlier." Asad said. "maine bhi toh aapko apne baare mein phele nahi baataya," she told him. "well I guess we are even then," he stated. Zoya nodded, "Mr. Khan, Dadi ne kya kaha? Woh saach mein maangayi?" she asked. "woh actually, maan toh gayi hai lekin unne thoda waqt chahiye, tume jaan ne kehliye," he honestly told her. "what? Phir toh pakka problem hojayegi," Zoya said. "kyun?" he asked confused. "Mr. Khan, come on! Dadi koh toh kohi susheel silent ladki chahiye hogi na jaise woh movies aur shows ki heroines hoti hai, aur main toh bilkul bhi waisi nahi hoon. Mujhe toh kuch bhi nahi aata, agar woh chai mangegi toh main woh garam paani deh dongi. Aur agar samose mangegi toh shayad kheema bhi nahi deh paungi. Main tehari bichari abla nari," Zoya exaggarted. Her hand was on her forehead and her face was sulking. Asad actually burst out laughing at her facial expressions. Her drama made him forget everything and just laugh, from his heart. Zoya was happy that she had made him laugh. She was hoping for a smile but this was even better. She just sat there staring at him. This was the first time, she had seen him laugh. This made her heart feel content for some reason. Catching her looking at him, "sorry," Asad said, thinking she was upset that he was laughing at her. "Mr. Khan agar aap aise hi mujhe sorry bol the rahenge toh main chocolate khake moti hojaungi," she said as he chuckled. "honestly Mr. Khan, main jaanti hoon yeh sabh aap kehliye bahut mushkil raha hoga lekin ek baat bolo," she said and he nodded. "hum humare beete hua kal koh badal toh nahi sakthe lekin usse accept karke aur usse seek le keh aage zaroor badh sakthe hai. Asaan nahi hai aage badh na lekin agar aap aage badh na chathe toh main aap ke saath ho Mr. Khan, main aapki madad karongi," she told him. They sat together hand in hand as time passed. Suddenly, they heard Asad's stomach grumble and Zoya giggled. "lagtha hai aap ne khana nahi khaya hai Mr. Khan. Chaliye kuch khate hai, mujhe bhi bhook lagrahi hai," she said. "kyun aap ne kuch khaya nahi?" he asked. "theek se nahi khaya. Woh aapne phone nahi utaya toh pareshaan hogayi thi aur jab main pareshaan hoti hoon toh mujhe bhook nahi lagthi. Lekin aabh jab sabh theek hogaya hai toh mujhe bhook lagrahi hai," Zoya told him as Asad smirked. "bahut raat hogayi, aabh kaha jayenge?" Asad said. "mujhe paata hai chaliye," she said as she jumped off the car and quickly got into the passenger seat. Asad had no choice. He too got off and got into the driver's seat.
Zoya told him the directions and Asad drove accordingly. He couldn't believe she had taken the matter so lightly and accepted it. She didn't push him for further details nor did they question him about why he hasn't told her before. She was different. She made things seem to be better than they were and that nature of hers was unique. Zoya was just happy that their relationship was starting on a clean slate. They now knew about each other's past and could move forward. She trusted him. She trusted him not to hurt her. May be it was because he had saved her before or not, she didn't know. It meant a lot that he had shared his painful past with her. She had come to know he didn't say much and the fact that he did open up to her, may be he was starting to accept this rishta. They finally reached a place on the highway. It was a punjabi dhaba decorated in colorful cloths and lights. It seemed like it was daytime and not night one o'clock. All the people, music, the lights, were vibrant and happy. "Zoya, hum yaha?" Asad asked. "Mr. Khan, yeh Pratap Bhaiya ka dhaba hai. yaha ka khana bahut hi baadiya hota hai, chaliye" Zoya said excitedly. They walked in and Zoya introduced Pratap to Asad. She ordered rice, dal, butter chicken, and some rotis for the both of them. Dressed in a maroon two piece night suit and bangs were pinned back, her face radiated under the moon. Looking at her made him feel alive. She had so much she had lost in life still she made others smile. Asad couldn't believe he was smiling and acting normal with her. He had expected her to be upset at him for hiding the truth about his past. But, she seemed so understanding and even had made him see a different point of view today. Soon, their food arrived and they both enjoyed together. Zoya ordered rasgulle for both of them as dessert. She took a bite and savored it while he just sat there looking at her. "kya huwa Mr. Khan? Khayiye na?" she said as she ordered him a bite. He was surprised but later smiled as he ate from her hands. As she finished eating, Pratap insisted that she sing for them as she had come with her to be husband. "nahi nahi Bhaiya, main kaise?" Zoya said. "Asad beta, tum kaho na. Zoya bitiya bahut hi accha ghati hai," Pratap said. "ghao na Zoya," Asad requested. Zoya smiled and agreed.
Na Kuch Poocha, Na Kuch Manga
Tune Dil Se Diya Jo Diya
Na Kuch Bola, Na Kuch Tola
Muskura Ke Diya Jo Diya
Tu Hi Dhoop, Tu Hi Chau
Tu Hi Apna Paraya
Aur Kuch Na Janu, Bas Itna Hi Janu
Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karun
Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karun
As she finished, all the people applauded along with Asad. "Wow...aap toh bahut accha ghati hain," Asad told her. Zoya felt touched. Till date, only Humaira had appreciated and supported her talent. Today, someone other than her sister has appreciated her and that too Asad which meant a lot to her. "Thanks Mr. Khan!" Zoya said with a smile. Later, on the drive back, Asad watched as Zoya indulged on the chocolates he had given her. For some reason, he felt relieved today after so many years. It made him more confident that telling her was the right thing to do. But, he was still trying to cope with her reaction. She was so relax about everything. He found it hard to believe that Allah had bought two poles apart people together, in a relationship that was supposed to be a life time. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't realize how they had reached home. "Zoya, ghar aagaya," he said. Turning towards the passenger seat, he saw her cuddled in the seat with sleep on her eyes. She had a bit of chocolate smudged at the corner of her lips which he bent down to wipe off with his fingers. He smiled seeing her sleep like a kid. He saw the chocolate was melting in her hands so he removed it and threw it away. He took some tissues and wiped her hands carefully. The night breeze blew her hair on her face. He carefully tucked her hair behind as not to disturb her. He debated what to do for a few minutes. Not having the heart to wake her up, he got down, went to the other side and fixed her seat so she can sleep peacefully. Climbing back into the driver's seat, he adjusted his seat too and closed his eyes.
So flashback finally revealed! What do you guys think? Let me know!
Thanks for all the lovely comments, your comments encourage me to write more and better chapters 😳😃 And also thanks for the concerns, I am doing much better now 😊
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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