Four
Still half asleep Zoya and Aleena managed to make it to their lectures on time, Zoya saw Asad sitting with Maddy engrossed in conversation. She wondered why he asked her for a study session together, when he had his girlfriend with him.
After a long and testing hour and half Zoya got up and walked out, as she turned into the corridor she heard Asad call out after her. Zoya turned around 'hi, how are you?' He asked smiling at her her 'I'm good...had a late night so still tired' 'you still up for a study session later?' 'Sure, I'll meet you in the library around three'. Zoya gave him another smile before she turned around and walked away.
'What was that about...meeting at three?' Zoya slowed her steps down as she heard Maddy's voice 'oh nothing...just going to the library' 'why?' 'To study...why else would you go to the library' Zoya walked off towards her next lecture feeling awkward.
Zoya was in two minds, what she wanted to do was call him and say that she had other plans or pull a sicky on him. By the time her thought processes caught up with her she looked up to see Asad standing before her 'hi' he said smiling at her 'hi...I was just about to call you' Asad looked at his watch 'am I late?' 'No...no...I mean' Asad sat down opposite her 'then what?' Zoya took in a deep breath 'look I am not really sure why you wanted to study together...but the last thing I want is to come between you and your girlfriend' Asad chocked on the air that he just inhaled 'girl...girlfriend...Zoya what ever gave you the idea I have a girlfriend...I mean if I have one it's news to me' Zoya looked at him a little confused 'Maddy is not your girlfriend?' Asad looked at her almost in disgust 'Maddy and my girlfriend...are you crazy?' Zoya felt a little stupid and looked rather embarrassed 'I'm sorry I just thought...I mean the way she is around you I assumed...' 'No, me and Maddy are good friends, she is a little crazy but I assure you she is just a friend who happens to be a girl' 'oh...so no girlfriend' 'absolutely not...umm...how about you...boyfriend?' Zoya shook her head vigorously 'no...never...my love and passion is for this only' she said picking up her book. Asad gave her a smile 'well now that's sorted out...maybe we can study' the both of them sat there engrossed in their text books, spending the first half hour in an awkward silence. It was strange how under everything they both felt a sense of relief to know that the other was single and had not been in a relationship.
'Can I ask you something?' Asad said putting his pen down 'sure' 'I know your the quiet reserved kind...but honestly...' 'No' Asad sat up and looked at her intently 'how did you know what I was going to ask?' 'Your face, it's a give away...yes I am a little quiet and reserved but I am not at all strange...and no I don't have a problem with you...at all' Asad let out a little laugh 'that's good to know' Asad held out his hand in front of her 'friends' Zoya slowly reached to meet his hand half way 'friends' she replied shaking it.
Even though they had shook hands and agreed to be friends there was still an awkwardness between them. Asad tried to initiate conversation but Zoya wasn't very forthcoming and mainly spoke about their assignment and pending exams.
Zoya put her book down and rubbed her tired eyes 'you want to call it a day?' 'That would be good, what time is it?' Asad looked at his watch 'nearly six thirty' 'wow, that late already...I think it's safe to call it a day' as they put their things away and stood up to walk out Asad stopped 'would you like to go out?' Zoya looked at him a little stunned, gauging her reaction he realised how it must have sounded 'I mean out to get something to eat' 'oh...um...' 'Its just to get a bite to eat Zoya' 'yeah, sure' she said reluctantly.
Asad and Zoya took their seats 'here is the menu, I'll give you a few minutes' the waitress said 'what do you fancy?' Zoya looked over the menu 'chicken salad looks good...what you going for?' 'Hmmm, mushroom ravioli'. Having placed their orders they both sat back on their seats, where Asad was looking directly at her Zoya's eyes roamed around the restaurant 'why biomedical sciences?' Zoya looked at him 'not sure...I guess I was always good at sciences, obvious choice was to go into medicine but then didn't really follow that' 'is it still an option?' 'Maybe, let's see how I do with this, I would like to work towards becoming a scientist...how about you?' 'Both my parents are doctors...like you it was the obvious career path but wasn't feeling it at the time. What do your parents do?' 'Zoya felt her throat dry up instantly 'they have their own business empire' 'and?' 'And that's it' 'no siblings?' 'Older sister and younger brother' she said with no emotion at all.
Asad didn't miss how her eyes darkened and her whole posture tensed up 'sore subject?' 'Something like that...you mind if we change the subject?' 'Sure...ummm tell me about...umm your school did you enjoy it?' 'Another sore subject' Asad let out a sigh 'why you so secretive?' 'I am not...I just don't like talking about myself' 'ok Miss Zoya, what would you like to talk about?' Zoya was just about to answer when the waitress came with their order 'enjoy your meal, please let me know if you need anything else' Asad smiled at her politely 'we will and thank you'.
Before Asad could say anything else Zoya started to fill her mouth with her salad. The next half hour was filled again with that awkward silence, the minute Zoya finished her last mouthful she sipped her water and looked up at him 'ready?' Feeling a little annoyed Asad just nodded, he called the waitress and asked for the bill. Zoya took out her purse 'seriously Zoya...please out that away, I'm paying for it' 'why...I like to pay for my own food' 'it's good that you do...but this was my invite...so my treat...if it bothers you so much you can pay next time' Zoya didn't argue any further and out her purse back in her bag.
As soon as they reached their halls Asad turned around to face her 'thank you for the company' he said 'thank you for dinner...I guess I owe you one back' 'no, not really but if you do maybe it can be a day when you are more open to conversation' Zoya gave him an odd look, not liking what he was saying 'look I'm a nice guy, so I get told...I didn't mean to pry or make you feel uncomfortable...it was only conversation. I get that you don't like talking and a lot of subject are no go areas but there is a little thing called common curtsey...I thought we were friends and isn't that what friends do...talk' Zoya farrowed her eyes 'just because I said friends it doesn't equal a given right for you to know everything, especially things that don't concern you...what I share or say about myself is up to me...there is no need to be like that' 'fine...I guess I'll leave you to it' Asad turned around and walked away from her feeling more than annoyed.
Zoya opened the door to see Aleena playing on her phone 'hey, where have you been?' She asked beaming her cute smile. Zoya walked past her and slumped herself on the bed. Aleena got up and went and sat down next to her 'Zoya what happened' 'he must think I'm such an idiot...no not idiot an arrogant spoilt foolish stuck up idiot' Aleena's face scrunched up 'are you feeling ok...who would think that?' 'Asad' 'Asad...no way, the guy is to nice to think anything bad about anyone...but why do you say that?' Zoya told her about their study session and the dinner as well as the conversation that took place some moments ago.
Aleena placed her hand over her shoulder 'Zoya, firstly, Asad isn't like that, he genuinely is a lovely person, secondly I know you have been through so much...but isn't it time that you let go, your life is here now, the only thing you should focus on is your future, don't you want to be happy?' Zoya's eyes filled up with tears 'of course I do...being like this is the only way I know how...I didn't mean to be rude to him, it's not easy for me Aleena, you guys are so care free...you make friends, laugh have fun...and me it's like I keep...' Aleena wiped the stray tear that just escaped the corner of her eye 'you underestimate yourself Zoya, look at us we have become good friends, you are close to Zack...you have the confidence and know how, you just need to believe in yourself' Zoya gave her a faint smile 'he is still going to think I'm an idiot' 'no he is not...and just to make sure you are going to call him' Zoya started to shake her head 'no...no I can't' 'ok...don't call...you can at least text him'.
Zoya got changed and jumped into her bed, she pulled out her phone and started to text him
Hi, thank you for this afternoon, and for the meal. I am sorry it ended on a sour note, I didn't mean to be rude...I hope you will give me a chance to make it up to you...I do owe you a treat back
Asad read her message and stated smiling, all the odd feeling that had started to absorb him seemed to disappear
Hi back. Please don't apologise, am sure we can start over...making it up to me over a treat sounds good. Seeing you are in a starting over again mood I am going to push my luck and say something. I am not sure what life experiences you have had and I promise I will never ask you, unless you want to tell me, there is one thing that my father used to say to me and that was Allah always tests his people and every test in life we face either makes us bitter or better, every problem we face either breaks us or makes us, in all of this we have a choice Zoya, whether we lose faith and become victims or look at life in the eye and become victorious. Life's journey is long, make the right choices, be the better person, be the one that overcomes every hurdle. Be the one that stands up and says despite everything I am happy, I am content and I love my life
Zoya read and re read his message a hundred times over and very time she read it it filled her up with a new emotion.
Biomedical sciences...you sure, philosophy would definitely have suited. Thank you, your words of wisdom are very much appreciated. Good night
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