Well I'm back with an update and it's quite a long one (for my kindergarten standards 😆) but it might be a tad bit boring Co z there's a lot of talking and stuff so yeah. Also, there's an important note at the end of this post so please read that too. And this will be a three shot so there will be another part to it but as for now, part 2's here and I hope u guys like it!:
Asad stormed into his room, slamming the door shut, behind him. He slumped down on his bed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Too much had happened in one day for him to take in. Her words rung in his ears ceaselessly. He just couldn't dismiss how effortlessly she made it seem like everything between them was always non existent. Fake. Asad had thought she'd begun to like him. He agreed that he was the one who had insisted for quite a while on this whole 'nakli nikaah' fiasco but he for some reason assumed that they had come into an unvoiced concord in the past few days between themselves. But he couldn't blame her, he was forever shifting between moods making it almost impossible to read his feelings. He had took quite a while to realize his own feelings for her and now that he had, he didn't wanna risk losing her. Maybe she had started to dislike him. Maybe he should have listened to his ammi and confessed when he could have. He wanted to make things alright again. He had to do something.
As if on cue, he heard things rattling and hitting the floor, outside his window. Ayaan. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Ayaan did his classic monkey jump through the window and landed on the perfectly arranged settee, scattering everything on it in the process. Asad groaned. He dragged Ayaan off the settee by his feet, making him squeal which was weirdly cute for a guy and dusted the spot his feet had landed on. Ayaan rolled his eyes. "Bhaijaan, aap kyun na OCD se hi nikaah kar lete? Aap dono zindagi bhar khush rahenge. At least Zoya will be saved from you," he teased. Asad furrowed his eyebrows. "Oh yeah? And what makes you think l'm that tetchy?", he snapped. Ayaan stared at him blankly for a few seconds before a cheeky grin started appearing on his face. "Aye hayye, seems like someone is very very possessive of Mona darling," he quipped. Asad had to force himself to bite back the smile which threatened to tumble out onto his face. "Bhaijaan, why can't you just unzip that permanently sealed mouth of yours and tell Zoya that you love her?", Ayaan asked, suddenly a little more serious than he seemed a few seconds ago. Asad's eyes widened. How the heck did he find out?, he thought. Asad looked around hastily, he wouldn't hear the end of it if Ayaan found out. He would tease him mercilessly. But practically, he was going to find out in a few days himself, anyways - not that he already didn't know. "Uhh. I'm not sure," Asad said really fast, not wanting him to hear it. But alas, his brother was never the type to leave things unprobed, at least not when it came to him. "Not sure about what? You don't think you like her?", he postulated. "No!", he said. Ayaan arched an eyebrow at him. Asad cowered, turning away, he was never the type to have an open conversation about his feelings, be it with his ammi or Ayaan and now that he was forced into doing so, he simply didn't know what he was supposed to say. "Okay look, I won't force you into admitting anything but I know as a matter of fact that you love her. You both simply couldn't take your eyes off each other, yesterday, at the sangeet. And when that chandelier nearly fell on Zoya, you were so frightened, that she might be hurt. And trust me, it's not just you. Asad Ahmed Khan seems to be the only topic of interest for a certain Zoya Farooqui, these days. She is always talking - well, more like ranting, but in a cute way. So anyways, where was I?", Ayaan scratched his temple, trying to recall where he'd left off, "Oh yeah, like I was saying, she is always talking about you. It's always 'Mr. Khan did this', 'Mr. Khan said that' and the list goes on forever. Basically, the point is, it is so evident that you both are crazy for each other but neither of you are willing to accept it and it is just so frustrating!" Ayaan stomped his foot, emphasising his frustration. Asad was now gaping. Firstly, his brother had never before spoken with such maturity and secondly, according to Ayaan, Zoya liked him. Zoya liked him. This time, Asad couldn't suppress the grin plastered onto his face. "See bhaijaan? Just look at how you're smiling! I knew you liked her!", he piped. Asad ruffled Ayaan's hair, smiling. "Well, so are you going to tell her or what?", he asked, impatiently. "Tell her what?", Asad asked, scrunching his eyebrows. Ayaan crossed his arms over his chest and stared at him stoically, tapping his foot on the floor, with the, 'And I thought I was the stupid one,' look. Asad's mouth formed the classic 'oh' look. "Bhaijaan
, you from now have officially lost the right to call a genius like me bewakoof," Ayaan declared. Asad pinched the bridge of his nose, "Look, Ayaan, I kinda...umm, messed up." Ayaan looked at him quizzically, "Let me guess, you and Zoya fought again." Asad stared at his feet, uncomfortably. "Well, not exactly fought but...," an involuntary sigh escaped his lips, "I might have said something which hurt her." Ayaan rolled his eyes, "Well in that case, you'd better make it up to her." "But what exactly am I supposed to do? I tried apologizing but she doesn't even wanna talk to me," Asad complained.
"You'll have to do something, then."
"You aren't gonna help me?"
"Nope."
"Why is that?"
"I have a feeling you might to do a better job on your own."
"And what makes you say that?"
Ayaan flashed an impish smile, "Intuition?"
Asad glared at him, "I'm your brother."
"Uh huh."
Asad glowered at him, again. "Look, bro. Those angry looks aren't really gonna play with my mind, you know."
In the morning...
Asad sat at the table, with his usual morning coffee and newspaper, reading it... more like trying to read it. He peeked above the newspaper occasionally, casting a glance at Zoya's closed door before hiding his face back behind the newspaper. And this certainly didn't go unnoticed by the other two Khan ladies who stared at him in amusement. "Bhaijaan," Najma chirped, "Looking for someone?" Asad spluttered on his coffee, looking hassled. "N...no," he mumbled. Dilshaad flashed him a sly smile before reaching towards his newspaper and grabbing it. Asad stared at her baffled. Dilshaad turned it upside down - correction, downside up. Asad looked away, mortified while his mother and sister burst into splits of laughter. "Asad, I didn't know you could read things upside down," Dilshaad said in between her rounds of laughter. Asad looked around trying to find an object of distraction to avoid his mother and sister.
And there she was, a tiny smile playing on her lips. Asad couldn't help but stare at her. She was dressed in her usual jeans and shirt but there was always a flourish to her and it stole his breath away, every single time. Dilshaad and Najma followed his gaze and no surprise, it was Zoya by whom Asad seemed excessively smitten and they decided to use the opportunity to harass him just a teensy bit more.
Dilshaad turned to Zoya, "Zoya, why're you standing there? Come, sit down." Zoya nodded and made her way towards the table. Asad internally groaned, he knew his ammi would leave no stone unturned to tease him, especially since Zoya was now at the table too. But Asad decided he wouldn't concentrate on that. He smiled at Zoya, who threw him an annoyed glance before turning away and taking the seat the farthest away from him.
"Zoya," Najma began. Zoya looked up at her. Najma gave Asad a devious smile before turning back to Zoya, "Do you know, ammi and I came to know of a very interesting talent that my bhaijaan possesses." Damned. Asad scowled at her, almost like a warning look by which she seemed totally unperturbed. Zoya stared at Najma, curiously. Najma continued, "Well, before you came to the table, bhaijaan was seemingly reading the newspaper." Zoya furrowed her eyebrows, obviously not understanding what this whole talent had to do with him a reading a newspaper. Asad coughed into his fist, in a futile attempt to stop his sister. Najma was about to start speaking again before Asad rushed in, "Najma, aren't you getting late for college? Come on, I'll drop you." Najma raised an eyebrow at him. "Its Saturday," she stated. Damned again. "Uhh, right. Okay umm, excuse me, I... I'll just go check on Tannu." Asad hurried off his seat. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed Zoya's face fall. Sensing his eyes on her, Zoya looked down at her plate, so her hair fell to the sides blocking the view of her face. One look at her and Asad could tell she felt hurt. Asad immediately regretted saying that, he could have just said he has a call or something. Asad knew he couldn't really sit back down now so he had no choice but to walk away.
Once he was gone, both Najma and Dilshaad cracked up again, clutching their stomachs as they tried to regain composure. Zoya looked on at them, baffled. "Why're you two laughing like that? And what was that talent you we're talking about?", she asked. "Nothing!", they chorused.
Zoya walked out of her room, towards the main door, only to run into a very very familiar wall. Asad. She hollered as the impact pushed her back, causing her to slip. But then she realized she had frozen 60 degrees midway. Asad's arms had instinctively wrapped around her waist, belaying the fall. Zoya found herself drowning in his deep brown orbs once again. And she wished she hadn't. Her hands rested on his chest, like it was the most natural thing ever, like they belonged there. Asad tightened his grip and pulled her closer to him, as he straightened up but, he still held on to her. He didn't want to let go of her. Zoya's breath hitched, as he tugged her closer, her fingers pressing into his shoulders. Asad's eyes fell to her lips. And then the butterflies erupted. Zoya knew where this was heading and hell no, was she gonna give in so easily. She cleared her throat, bringing Asad out of the little trance he seemed to have been lost in. He reluctantly pulled away and stepped back. Zoya turned away and headed towards the door again, before being stopped by a curious Asad, "Are you going somewhere?" She nodded. "Where?", he asked. "And why will that be your concern?", she snapped. "Because I'll know where to look if you end up disappearing for hours like you usually do every time you step out of the house on your own," he said. "You only said that I couldn't be out after seven and I will be back way before that so it shouldn't be bothering you," she countered. "Zoya, I'm only asking you to tell me where you're going. I didn't tell you not to go," he exasperated. She glowered at him and tried walking past but he caught her by her elbow and yanked her back towards him. "Zoya, stop it," he warned. Her eyes stung with tears. "Just because I do not want to tell you, doesn't mean I didn't tell anyone else," she snapped. "Okay so are you gonna lose an arm or something if you tell me? What exactly is your problem?", he hurled back. Zoya stared at him, obstinately, "I think you know just exactly what my problem is."
Zoya jerked her arm away from his grip and marched back to her room. Asad watched her retreating form, flustered. He knew she was vexed at him but he simply didn't get what her problem was in answering such a simple question. Asad ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. He debated on whether he should talk to her or just let her be. He decided on the latter. "I never told her not to go, it's her fault she chose not to tell me," he told himself.
"Asad, is Zoya back yet?", Dilshaad asked, walking over to him. Asad looked up at her, "From where?" "She said she was going to Hilltop Garden. I thought she might have told you?", Dilshaad said, surprised. Asad rolled his eyes, that explained why she refused to tell him, considering their last encounter there. "Well, she didn't go in the first place," Asad muttered, typing away on his laptop . Dilshaad looked puzzled, "But why? She said today was her ammi's birthday?" Asad's eyes shot up towards her. "What? But wait, what has that got to do with her going to Hilltop Garden?", Asad questioned, unable to comprehend the connection. "Zeenat and Zoya's ammi used to study in the same school, they were good friends, apparently. They parted ways once Zainab entered college, since Zeenat was younger. So neither Zoya or Zeenat know where her ammi's grave is but she said Hilltop Garden was one of her ammi's favourite places as a kid. She said she just wanted to spend some time over there. I wonder why she didn't go, though."
Asad stared at his ammi, numb. Asad's eyes rolled backwards as he shut his eyes. "...Maybe she decided to go later," he lied. Dilshaad nodded, concurringly, "Maybe. Anyways, I was just going to the market, I need to buy a few things for lunch. Allah hafiz, Asad."
Asad sighed. "She could have just told me," he mumbled. He got off the sofa and walked over to Zoya's room whose door was slightly ajar, already. He peered in. She was sitting on her bed, her back facing him. "Zoya?", he called. She didn't respond. Asad sighed and walked in and stopped right behind her. "Zoya, look, I know you're upset and I'm sorry I hurt you but you could have just told me where you were going. It's not like I would've stopped you. And ammi told me its your ammi's birthday today. If you'd told me, I would've come along with you," Asad said, furtively. Asad crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her as he again failed to gain any response from her. Zoya turned towards him, oblivious to the fact that he was even there. She jumped, startled as she noticed him. Asad eyebrows scrunched up, as he looked on at her, bemused. Zoya plucked her earphones off and glared at him. "Allah miyan! What's wrong with you, Mr. Khan? Chup chupke aap jasoosi kar rahe hai mere peeche?!", she rebuked. Asad stared at her incredulously. "What?! No! I didn't know you had your earphones on. I just thought you weren't reacting 'cause you were upset," he rationalized. Zoya eyed him skeptically, for a few seconds, "Whatever," she mumbled, reaching for her earphones again. But Asad was faster. He snatched them away and held it behind his back. She scowled at him in annoyance, "Kya kar rahe hai aap? Give that back to me, please." "Pehle baat suniye meri." Zoya sighed, "Fine. What?" Asad slumped down beside her. Zoya edged away from him. "Zoya, I'm sorry. I just wanted you to tell me where you were going. And that was only because I wanted you to be safe. I didn't know it was your Ammi's birthday today. You know I wouldn't have stopped you from going, if you'd told me," he explained. "I did tell you, I told phuppi," she retorted . "No you didn't, you only said you told 'someone'. How am I supposed to know who 'someone is?" "Oh really?", she sassed, "Aapko kya laga? Maine kissi booth se kaha ki main bahaar jaa rahi hoon?" A smile threatened to spill out onto his face. "Shayad. Aapka to koi bharosa nahi hai," he fuelled, with a lop sided smile. Zoya glared at him. "Hogayi aapki baat? Ab aap jaaiye yahan se." Asad sighed in exasperation. He shifted his hand over to Zoya's and gently clasped it, "Zoya, I'm really really sorry. I know I should have heard you out about Tanveer but you know, I seriously didn't mean it. I would never intentionally hurt you and you know that too. I know this isn't the first time I've hurt you but I promise it won't happen again. Forgive me just this once, Zoya," he implored. Zoya wrenched her arm away from him. "Whether I forgive you or not, it shouldn't be if your concern. I hope you remember, you were the one who insisted on this nakli nikaah. Is your resolve so weak?", she said, almost tauntingly. Asad's heart plummeted down so low, he failed to form a coherent chain of words. A long silence followed. "Zoya, I'm trying to make things alright between us. And you are simply intending on making things worse," Asad said. "Mr. Khan, please remind me, when were things ever alright between us?", Zoya asked. And he knew she was right, all they'd pretty much done since the time they met each other was fight and argue and never be on terms with each other. But he wanted those things to change, he wanted to see her smile because of him. "Maybe you're right, but I don't want this to become our forever. I want to keep you happy," he said in a timorous voice. Asad inhaled a deep breath. "Zoya, I want to marry you...for real."
Hehe cliffy! 😆 So that was it and I hoped u guys liked it! Next update will come soonish. I guess. 😆 Plz plz do leave ur likes and comments behind! Trust me, they matter a lot to every writer out there. So plz plz plz do comment comment! And as for the note I mentioned earlier, here u go:
Cricket
CID
126