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No more talking, here's the next part and hope it will be liked. Look forward to your comments and feedback.
Chapter 15
Standing on the balcony, Zoya held on to her racing heart, her eyes closed and her body still erupting in goosebumps from the effect of the song. She knew this was as bare as he could have put his heart, soul and his feelings in front of her. The moment he had started singing to the moment the song ended she knew that with this confession Asad had broken all her resolve and she knew in her mind and heart that now she wouldn't be able to keep up the pretence of not being affected by him. Wanting to embrace him and all his love with open arms Zoya turned around wanting to go back to him but stood still watching him standing right behind her. Their eye locked, they stood there neither saying a word but their eyes in a conversation of their own. She could feel her eyes pricking with tears and her vision blurring, she closed her eyes tight to let the tears fall wanting to clear her vision. As she opened them she saw her pain emitting from Asad's eyes. His eyes too were red and brimming with tears.
Not able to hold on any more she threw her arms around him, one circling his neck and the other going around his torso holding him close to herself. As soon as she felt his arms wrap around her waist, she pressed her cheek against his chest listening to the drum like beat of his heart that was as fast and loud as she knew her heart was beating. Holding onto him tightly, she let her tears flow freely, feeling relief and light with every tear that escaped her lashes. As if every tear that rolled down her cheeks took away with it the pain and agony that she had kept inside for all these years. Every tear down her cheeks took away the weight of all the loss she had suffered emotionally and when all the pain, agony and loss were taken away, all she felt was her heart filling up with love for the man in her arms, who she knew loved her unconditionally. Sniffing against his chest she tightened her hold on him and felt him do the same.
As she tightened her hold on him, she knew that this is what will tell Asad that she was ready to move forward with him and that is what he understood. Him tightening his arms around her told her that he understood what she couldn't say. After a few minutes She looked up at him and saw him smile at her. A smile that she hadn't seen earlier, a smile she hadn't seen during their seminar days either. Smiling back at him she rose on her toes trying to reach up to his ear wanting to say what she felt for him, what she had wanted to say a long time back and what he wanted to hear. Just as she was about to say what he had been wanting to hear she saw the balcony door open and Rashid walking in. She immediately pulled away from him, feeling extremely embarrassed at being seen in that position by his father. Confused, he looked at her, scared that she could be retreating into her shell again but the blush on her cheeks told him otherwise. He saw her eyes moving past him in the direction of the door and he turned around to see what it was.
Asad turned around to see his father standing there smiling wide at the two of them. Rashid walked up to Asad and immediately embraced his son patting his back whispering a quick congratulations into his ear. Moving away he looked at them both smiling and with his eyes twinkling with happiness he gently caressed the top of Zoya's head. "Asad, am taking a ride back with Mr. Kapoor, you can take the car" he looked from Asad to Zoya and continued "I know you would want the car. You take your time, no need to hurry back home. I will tell your Ammi". Asad looked at Zoya, who was blushing profusely and held her hand in his. She looked up at him in surprise and then back at Rashid. She tried pulling her hand back but Asad held onto it tightly. Seeing this exchange, Rashid chuckled at them and said "He's not going to let go this time Zoya, don't even try it and please beta, there is no need to feel embarrassed. You both aren't doing anything wrong. Its love... and its the most sacred feeling Allah has created for us humans to feel. Bless you beta with all the happiness in the world".
As Zoya heard these words a tear rolled down her cheek. Rashid saw it and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion "What is it beta? Why the tears? Are you not happy?" Zoya felt a lump forming in her throat and shook her head in the negative. She opened her mouth to say something but only a soft sob escaped from her lips. Concern taking over his being Asad wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to himself. Zoya looked up into his eyes that emitted his concern. Raising his hand he wiped the tear off her cheek and asked her "What is it Zoya? Why are you crying?" She shook her head in the negative and then looking at Rashid she said "It's been more than three years that I've truly felt an Abbu's love in my life... Just overwhelmed". Rashid took a step closer to her and cupped her face, he kissed her forehead gently and said "Get used to it beta. This is not even a fraction of what you deserve and you will get from both Me and his Ammi" he finished, smiling at her. Zoya smiled her dazzling smile feeling immense love and happiness bubbling within.
"OK now you two, off you go to catch up on all your lost time... But yes! No getting carried away!" He said winking at Asad. Asad's eyes widened and Zoya blushed harder listening to Rashid. "Abbu! What are you saying? Kya sochegi Zoya about the family she's going to be a part of?" Rashid looked at Zoya who was still looking everywhere except at him. Smiling he said "Yehi, that what a cool Abbu she has and what a cool family she has". The three of them started laughing and with that Rashid left them both to spend some much needed time together. Rashid walked into the hall feeling excited and then quickly went over to where Shipra and Mr. Kapoor were waiting for him. Excited like a 5 yr old, he told them about the success of their plan and that Asad and Zoya were now together. Feeling elated the three decided to celebrate a little more at the party.
As Asad saw his father close the door behind him he pulled Zoya into another hug, which she willingly accepted. Both held onto each other for a couple more minutes before Asad pulled away. He looked into her eyes and sighed in relief seeing his feelings being reciprocated openly, no pretence, no hiding behind masks and no denying. Looking deep into her eyes he whispered "I love you" so softly that she barely could hear him. Leaning forward she tried listening to what he'd said when she lost her balance a little and tripped falling against his chest and her lips brushing against his neck, coming to a stop on his shoulder. Asad sucked in a breath and Zoya felt him tighten his hold onto her, slowly he pulled her flush against himself. Only when she felt the warmth of his body seeping into hers, did she realize that she was standing between his legs and Asad was holding her tight against himself. Her hands moved up his arms then back down and then back up only to go around his neck. She could feel his heartbeat increasing and his breathing shallow. Closing her eyes tight Zoya took in a couple deep breaths which filled her completely with his intoxicating smell, trying to control her heart beat she took one more deep breath. She placed her hands on his chest pushing away a little trying to create some distance between them. Sensing her move away, Asad gulped hard and took a deep breath calming his heart as much as he could.
As Zoya stepped back a little, Asad looked at her flushed face and felt his cheeks burning up a little too. Reluctantly removing his hands from around her waist Asad placed his hands on her shoulders giving them a little squeeze. She looked up at him her eyes telling him how nervous she was for what had just happened between them. His eyes emitting love for her he smiled nervously at her and clearing his throat he said "Its OK. Ho jaata hai... Especially since we have been harboring thses feelings for a long time now. It's OK. Don't... Don't think too much of it all" he finished softly, trying his best to remove the uneasiness that had enveloped them. Standing there nervously she didn't know what to do so asked him "So! Umm... What are we going to do now?" After thinking for a moment Asad smiled and raising his eyebrows said "A drive and an ice cream?" Nodding her head Zoya started walking towards the door when she heard his hurried footsteps and then she felt him slip his hand into hers, intertwining their fingers.
Settling into the car, they looked at each other smiling nervously not knowing what to do and what to say. They fidgeted for a couple of minutes in silence when Zoya finally spoke. "OK! This is so weird... Why are we acting so nervous about being together in the car? It's not like its the first time we're meeting. We've known each other for a long time and have been spending so much time together on the project, then why are we feeling so awkward? Nothing has changed between us". Hearing that Asad held her hand that she had just raised to brush back her hair from her face. Surprised by his sudden action she looked at him shocked but her expression changed seeing the seriousness in his eyes. "Everything between us has changed. Everything" he said with such intensity that she felt a wave of cold air wash over her. Still holding onto her hand Asad ignited the engine and put the car into motion. Zoya let him hold her hand in his while he drove onto the street.
Both enjoyed the drive with a peaceful silence between them, only wanting to relish the company of the other. Zoya looked at him and saw how he looked so serious while driving. Unknowingly she had been staring at him when Asad looked at her and smiled wide winking at her. Her eyes widening, she smacked him on his arm muttering a shameless. Watching her reaction Asad laughed loudly the car filling with the sound of his boisterous laughter. As they drove ahead, Zoya noticed that he had turned onto the freeway. She looked at him "Where are we going? That's the expressway!" "Yes it is and we are going to drive along here, there is a beautiful spot a few kilometers down that I know off. I want you to see it too, its a beautiful view". Zoya smiled and relaxed back into the seat and enjoyed the ride with Asad glancing at her every now and then.
A few minutes later Asad swerved his car to the side bringing it to a stop. Zoya looked over at him with questions in her eyes as all she saw around them was darkness. Asad had parked his car in a dark corner of the freeway. Unbuckling his seat belt he said "We're here" as he stepped out his car and moved towards her side opening the door for her. Stepping out, Zoya slipped her hand into his bringing a smile to his lips. Holding her hand in a firm grip, Asad walked her a few steps towards the edge of the road. As she looked ahead, her breath hitched as she was greeted with a sight that she had never seen before. She looked back at him and with surprise in her eyes and in her voice she said "Asad! You? How? I mean... Aah! This is so beautiful". What lay in front of them was a hill top view of the city they called home. For the first time in three years Zoya saw the city in its full glory. She saw that they were standing on the edge of the road with a steep fall to it that led to a deep dark abyss. This abyss merged into the city which slowly started to come alive with its millions of lights. She could see the lights illuminating every corner of the city and the skies above it.
This was a sight she had never seen and never expected that it could be true. She had seen such sights only on the television and in films and did feel her insides tingling with happiness. Asad felt giddy himself seeing her so happy. He couldn't stop himself from smiling wide for he was the reason behind her happiness at this moment. Standing next to her, their fingers still entwined, he nudged at her hand a little and she willingly stepped close to him. Removing his hand from hers, Asad wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she, just like that, leaned into him. They stood there enjoying the view and more importantly each other's company. For them, their silence spoke more than their words. They stood there for a while, holding onto each other, watching the lights twinkling like the stars in the sky when Zoya felt him shift a little and she looked up at him meeting his eyes that held love for her but something more which she couldn't read.
"What is it?"
"Nothing"
" No. Something definitely going up there". She said raising her eyes to his head and then looking back into his eyes. He felt nervous and tried looking away but Zoya was quick to cup his face gently in her palms and asked him again in a soft whisper "What is it? Something I did that bothered you?" Asad saw the change in her eyes and he immediately held onto her hands and shook his head in the negative. "No. Zoya, you cannot do anything that would bother me or unsettle me. It's something I did...or...or rather felt..." . Feeling nervous Asad tried to look away but Zoya held on to him even tighter. She looked deep into his eyes, worry, anxiety, nervousness and confusion all taking over her being. "What is it then Asad? Please tell me. You're making me worried" she said with fear in her voice. Sensing how worried his behavior was making her he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He looked into her eyes and without giving himself another moment to think about it, he whispered "I Love you Zoya Farooqui. I love you more than I've loved anyone ever" and with that Asad claimed her lips into a soft kiss.
As Zoya felt his lips over her's, her body broke into a million goosebumps and her eyes fluttered close. With her hands still on his cheeks, Zoya felt him step closer to her winding his arms around her waist and pulling her body flush against his. Their first kiss expressed, in every way, what they felt for each other. The kiss, transporting them to a world of their own. With his sweet torture still playing havoc with her senses, Zoya didn't realize when he pulled back. She opened her eyes only when she heard a mere whisper of her name. Opening her eyes She looked deep in to his, drowning in the immense love that she knew was for her. Asad's eyes moved from hers down to her lips and back up caressing her face without even touching it. She trembled as a shiver ran down her spine and immediately her eyes closed and her head tilted up in anticipation for what was to come. Seeing that she wanted it too, Asad leaned in and claimed her lips into a soul shattering kiss once again.
Breaking the kiss, they leaned in, their foreheads resting against each others, both gasping for air. Once their breathing and their heartbeats had come down to normal, Asad whispered "I Love you Zoya..." Blushing like a new bride Zoya opened her mouth to reply, to say what he wanted to hear and what she had wanted to say to him for a long long time, but at the same moment she heard her cell phone ring. Looking apologetically at him she stepped away from him and walked to the car. As she pulled her phone out from the purse, she saw her Ammi's name flashing on it. Taking just a minute to speak with her Zoya turned around and found Asad standing right behind her.
"It was Ammi, she was getting worried as it's quite late. Can we go now?"
Though Asad didn't want to let her go so soon, he had little choice. Nodding his head he gestured for her to take her seat and he walked towards the drivers door. Once settled he drove off in the direction of her house.
P.S. Look forward to a whole lot of likes and feedback guys. Please do leave me some encouragement behind. Next update I will start writing as soon as I get 85 likes.
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