Thank you so so much for liking the last chapter and for all your amazing feedback, apologies have not been a able to get back to you on this occasion.
Please see below for chapter 8, I really hope you like it.
Eight
Asad walked in and froze; his whole body broke out into a shiver, his eyes darkened as he continued to look at her.
'Zoya' he whispered. Zoya quickly turned around to face him 'have you never heard off knocking?' Ignoring what she had just said Asad walked up to her, he raised his hands to hold her but stopped when Zoya flinched taking a step back. Keeping his eye locked with hers he raised his hands again and placed them on her shoulders, slowly turning her around.
Zoya closed her eyes as she hitched a breath 'Asad...please don't' she pleaded but there was no stopping him. With her back now towards him Zoya's eyes burned with unshed tears, Asad grazed his fingers over her bare back 'what the hell did they do to you Zoya...who did this to you?' Zoya's back was covered with scars; Asad had never seen anything like it. Zoya started crying 'Asad please...just tie up my top' Asad swallowed hard as he took the two strings of her hospital gown and tied it up, covering her. Zoya slowly turned around to meet his moist eyes 'what happened to you...what are you hiding from me?' Zoya threw her arms around him and completely broke down, Asad held her close, his eyes crying with hers 'please Zoya...I can't bear to see you like this...please tell me what happened to you'.
Asad sat Zoya down in the bed but kept his arms securely around her 'I was 12 when my parents sent me to boarding school...' Zoya explained how her parents started to resent her and ignore her, and when they had enough they thought it was easier to send her away.
'Did they do this to you?' 'No...not them...but it was because of them...at the school I was isolated, I had no friends, I tried so hard to fit in and do as I was told...but I missed my parents and when I started calling them begging them to take me home they complained to the matron...she was an evil woman. From that day every time she felt or thought I was being disobedient she took out her belt, her whip, her stick...anything she could lay her hands on. Once she beat me unconscious, I woke up in hospital...when I looked up I saw my parents standing there, I cried with happiness seeing them, I stretched out my arms craving their touch...but they didn't move. They looked at me as if I was a monster...my mum shook her head at me...she said 'we sent you here, paid all this money so you could sort your none sense out...but instead you end up being punished...what is wrong with you Zoya, why are you so adamant on bringing shame upon us, we have given you everything...all this because you are jealous of your brother' I couldn't believe what she was saying...that was the first time I wished death upon myself...I hated her but I hated myself more. After I returned to the school I found out that the matron had been suspended, a new teacher Mrs Young had come in her place, she took me under her wing and helped me get to where I am today...I will never forgive them Asad...never'.
Asad was too shocked to say anything; he had never heard anything so horrific, his heart went out to her and liked her he hated her parents for being so merciless. 'I saw your file Zoya, that day when you were ill, I dropped it and saw the pictures...I wanted to ask you then but didn't know how to...Aleena told me you have nightmares...this is what you see?' Zoya nodded her head as new tears fell down her face 'it doesn't matter how much I try to block it out it doesn't go away Asad...please tell me what I did so wrong...am I really that bad?' Asad wiped her tears with the tips of his thumbs 'No Zoya...don't ever think that...I'm so sorry Zoya...I'm sorry you had to endure that...I wish I could take away the memories...the pain but I can't...what I can do is promise you that I will never let anything hurt you again...'
Zoya tightened her arms around him and as she did he kissed the top of her head.
Later that evening Zoya was ready to go back to campus, Aleena, Zack and Asad had come to pick her up 'you ready?' Aleena said hugging her 'yeah...am ready' Zoya looked up at Asad and gave him a smile; Asad walked up to her and held his hand out, which she took and held in an instant. Zack looked at Aleena and gave her a wink 'is there something you two want to tell us?' Aleena said wiggling her eyebrows and then pointing to their entwined hands 'not just yet Aleena...let's get Zoya home first' Asad said and then started walking with Zoya following behind, as she passed Aleena she looked at her confused making her smile to no end.
'Lie down Zoya' Asad ordered 'please I have been lying down all day...I am ok...promise' 'ok...but at least sit...I will get you something to eat' Asad was about to turn around when he stopped, her words started to echo in his head.
'Zoya...you said you were pushed...at the beach' Zoya looked at him 'I can't swear by it...it seems like a distant memory...I mean...I felt like someone pushed me...I felt a hand on my upper back...it happened so fast...I really don't know Asad' Asad nodded 'ok...look Aleena will be up in a minute, I'll be back soon'.
Aleena and Zack sat down with Zoya. Zoya couldn't stop laughing at their antics; they were truly crazy 'thank you for helping me Zack...' 'Me...I didn't do anything Zoya, it was all Asad he is the one who gave you mouth to mouth and helped you regain consciousness' Zoya almost fell off the bed as and looked at him in shock 'seriously am glad he knew what he was doing...poor guy was so scared...it was like he felt guilty for doing it' Zoya felt her heart dip, she slowly raised her hands and touched her lips 'Ya Allah...Asad kissed me...his lips...' Zoya's chain of thought was brought to a halt when the door opened.
Asad walked in with a bag full of food and drinks 'looks like the party starts here' Zack said enthusiastically. As the three of them took out the food and place it on the table Zoya couldn't keep her eyes off of him, she felt her heart pick up pace as her cheeks started to turn pink at just the thought. 'Allah...what is this...why am I feeling like this?' All she wanted to do was go up to him and wrap her arms around him, she had never come across a guy like him before, and felt blessed to have him, Aleena and Zack in her life.
'If you guys have stopped with your over protectiveness you mind if I go out for some fresh air...the humidity is getting to me' Asad started laughing 'sure...I'll come with you'.
As they walked around the campus grounds Zoya stopped 'what happened...are you feeling ok...do you want to go back?' Zoya started rolling her eyes 'I am totally fine Asad...please stop fussing...I wanted to talk to you...can we sit for a bit' and said pointing to the side bench.
'What did you want to talk about?' 'I wanted to say thank you...Zack told me how you saved me...and...and how hard it was for you' Asad lowered his head and then looked up to meet her eyes 'I'm sorry Zoya...' 'No...please don't say sorry...you did what was necessary...right?' 'Yes...but still...it's not how I planned it' Zoya was about to reply then realised what he had just said 'not the way you planned it...what do you mean' 'you really want to know?' 'Yes...I do' 'promise not to freak out' 'Asad just tell me'.
Asad took in a deep breath 'I love you...I love you Zoya, I have done for some time but never really knew what it was that I felt...and today after what happened at the beach and at the hospital...it all made sense it started to make sense to me...I kissed you...ok technically it wasn't a kiss but nevertheless...I wanted it to be different'.
Zoya couldn't bring herself to breath yet alone respond to what he had just said 'Zoya please say something...' But Zoya said nothing all that kept ringing in her head was 'I love you Zoya'. Asad closed his eyes and then stood up feeling like he had opened his mouth too soon 'maybe we should go back inside...come' as he started to walk away Zoya stood up 'Asad wait...please' she called out after him. Asad turned around and braced himself for her rejection 'I'm sorry...just don't freak out on me...its ok...I mean it's what I feel and it's my problem...and seriously...'
Zoya placed her finger on his lips 'will you at least give me a chance to speak' Asad nodded against her touch 'in all honesty I don't know what it means to be in love or love someone...but if it is what I have been feeling all day...actually make that a few days then I guess...well I love you too...I think' Asad couldn't help smiling 'you think?' He said trying not to laugh, Zoya shrugged her shoulders 'yes I think...I love you too Asad' Asad stepped towards her and lifted her off her feet making her let out a scream 'Ya Allah...will you please put me down' Asad put her down and cupped her face 'thank you Zoya...I can't tell you how happy I am...' 'Me too...oh my gosh...I can't believe it...I have fallen in love...with you' she said with a happy disbelief 'is this what love is...I mean this what we have between us?' 'It's my first time too remember...we will just have to take one moment at a time'.
Asad wiped the tear that just escaped the corner of her eye 'no more tears Zoya, not now...not ever' Zoya nodded and as she did Asad lowered his head, realising what he was about to do Zoya's lips parted as she closed her eyes. Asad couldn't help smiling and then without wasting another second he placed his lips over hers. Zoya held on to his forearms with firm hands as he continued to kiss her sweetly. His warm breath, his heavenly scent, his soft lips started making her feel dizzy, Zoya continued to hold on to her breath as she kissed him back, neither of them wanted this moment to end but it did. Asad rested his forehead against hers 'now that's exactly how I planned it' Zoya started to blush profusely 'I think we need to go back inside and tell the other two what's going on'
Zack and Aleena were ecstatic, they were over joyed to know that their best friend had finally found someone he could call his own, his girl, his love.
Asad and Zoya spent every moment they could with one another, with their end of semester exams and Christmas holidays just a couple of weeks away they made sure they studied hard as well as worked to strengthen their relationship.
Walking out of the examination hall Zoya let out a deep sigh of relief, they had just sat their last exams. 'I so flunked that one' Zack said looking gloomy 'am sure you didn't...don't think about it Zack it was our last one...all you need to do now is concentrate on your holiday' Zack started smiling immediately 'trust me am looking forward to going home...am glad you agreed to join us, you will finally get to meet our families' Zoya felt her stomach summersault, Aleena had invited her to stay with her and her parents and Asad had also said that he wanted to introduce her to his, to say Zoya was nervous was an understatement.
Asad and Aleena stood outside waiting for them to return, as soon as Zoya reached his side he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in placing a soft kiss on her temple 'how did it go?' 'Just glad it's over' 'hungry?' 'Starving'.
As the four of them made their way the city for a well-deserved treat they were stopped by Maddy who stood in front of them. 'I really can't believe it, my three so called best friends dumping me like I am some kind of rubbish...what did I do to deserve such treatment?'
Aleena stepped forwards 'Maddy, it's not like that...how many times have I called you, invited you to come and join us...but you keep refusing' Maddy ignored what she had said and looked towards Asad and Zoya who were holding hands 'and when exactly were YOU going to tell me about your little love affair...you make me SICK Asad...of all people I never expected you to be like this all these years I have been waiting for you and as soon as some new bird comes along you drop me...what the hell does she have that I don't...' 'Maddy...stop it' Aleena tried to interject only for Maddy to hold her hand up to her 'I haven't finished Aleena...and you...Zoya Farooqui...you think you can waltz in her and take what is mine' Asad's hold on Zoya's hand tightened, pulling her so she stood behind him Asad stepped forward 'you have something to say you say it to me...leave her out of it...and just so you get your facts in order, I was never yours Maddy...I never will be, what part of that do you not understand...I can't keep having the same damn conversation with you over and over again...' Asad felt exhausted speaking to her about the same never ending subject
Look Maddy you are still a part of us...can't we just go back to the way we were?' Maddy gave him an exaggerated smile 'of course Asad, I am ready to if you are...all you have to do is get rid of that thing hiding behind you' Zoya felt anger and hurt at Maddy's words, she wanted to say something but with the three of them standing in front of her like a protective sheild she stayed quiet. Asad felt his blood boil 'that thing has a name...her name is Zoya, she is the girl that I am with, the girl that I love...so get over it' Asad walked off with Zoya leaving Zack and Aleena looking at her 'Maddy...please just let go...we are not in high school or college anymore' 'trust me Aleena, I will let go...but only after I get what is mine...that girl has messed with the wrong girl...she thinks Asad is hers...she is mistaken' Maddy walked of enraged 'she is beginning to scare me Zack, I have never seen her like this' 'I agree...look let's not continue to spoil our day...I hope Zoya is ok'.
Anupamaa
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