SS - Worlds Apart: Ch 10 - Pg 109 - Page 61

Zoya woke up the next morning with a beautiful smile adorning her face, she got ready and walked downstairs 'good morning' she said rather cheerfully 'good morning beta, how are you feeling?' Hamid asked 'much better' 'good, Zoya, I need to to come with me to sign some legal documents after which you are go free to leave, I will book you return flight for Sunday morning' Zoya gulped, her eyes instantly started roaming around looking for Karan but he was no where to be seen 'Mamoon, where is Karan?' 'He is checking the cars outside...why don't you finish your breakfast and then we can leave, our appointment to with the judge and legal team is at ten'

Zoya could to bring herself to eat anything as the thought of her leaving Karan started to upset her. She waited for him to come in but there was no sign of him, pushing her bowl of cereal away she stood up 'I am ready when you are' she said to Hamid looking sombre.

Zoya walked outside to see Karan standing in his signature pose with his back to her. Karan sensed her behind him as he turned around to face her Hamid called out to Zoya making her turn around the same time. Not being able to understand how he felt or what to think Karan walked around the car and sat in.

'Where the hell did he go?' 'Where did who go?' Aisha Bibi asked as she came to stand next to her 'oh...um...Karan, he was here a second a go' 'He is already sitting in the car'.

Zoya sat behind him, and so badly wanted to talk to him,ask him if he was ok, she had this horrible feeling that after last night everything was going to change and that it was going to create a distance between them, which is not what she wanted.

'Karan beta, you are very quite today, is everything ok?' Aisha Bibi asked Zoya looked at her then at the head that she saw sitting in front if her 'I am ok Aisha Bibi...just a little tired' 'am not surprised you hardly sleep...and even this morning you were working out at the crack of dawn' Zoya tried to say something to join in the conversation but every time she opened her mouth to speak words failed her.

Karan got out of the car and opened the door for Zoya 'thank you' Karan nodded his head, he was about to walk off when Zoya grabbed his arm 'Karan wait...please' 'not now Zoya' he said and stepped away from her as Hamid came to stand by her 'you ready Zoya...it won't take long' 'yes, I'm ready'.

Zoya sat next to Aisha Bibi but the whole time she was looking at Karan who stood a few feet away from her, with his glasses on it was hard for her to read anything, his expression was totally blank. Zoya was called in, Karan was asked to stay outside with Aisha Bibi whilst Zoya went in to finish what she had come to India for.

'You want to tell me what's going on?' Karan looked at Aisha Bibi 'please don't say nothing' Karan started smiling 'I don't really know...when I figure it out I will let you know' 'anything I can help with?' 'No...but if and when I do need help you will be the first person I talk to' 'promise?' Karan nodded.

Zoya walked out with Hamid and their lawyer, Aisha Bibi stood up and put her arm around her 'you ok?' 'Yes, am just glad it's over with' 'Zoya I have to go, I won't be back until tomorrow afternoon, I have booked your tickets for Sunday morning, so please be packed and ready by tomorrow evening' 'yes Mamoon'.

Zoya looked at Karan from the corner of her eye hoping that he would have reacted to the news but there was nothing. Feeling dejected she walked off and went and stood by the car 'why is he behaving like this...what did I do wrong?' And asked herself, she could feel herself becoming emotional.

Zoya saw Karan walk towards the car but before he reached she opened the door and banged it shut. The journey home was filled with silence, just by seeing the two of them Aisha Bibi knew there was something going on but held back a a she did to want to say anything in front if the driver. As soon as they walked inside Zoya ran up to her room she closed the door and let the tears of frustration she had been holding back escape.

Downstairs Aisha Bibi pulled at Karan's arm 'did you two have a fight?' Karan looked at her giving very little away 'no, not at all...why?' 'Hmmm well something is going on, both of you are acting odd' 'I can assure you nothing is going on...I need to make a few phone calls, will that be all' 'yes...for now...wait can you do me a favour, can you ask her what's wrong I know she won't tell me' Karan didn't know how to respond, he knew he had to talk to her, he couldn't avoid her forever but what was he going to say to her 'yes, I will...excuse me' he said walking away immediately.

Karan stood outside her room and took a few deep breaths before he knocked 'go away' a voice filled with irritation came out. Karan opened the door and walked inside 'I said go awa...you...what do you want?' She said looking at him in anger. 'I came to talk to you' 'really...you want to talk now...you have been ignoring me since this morning and NOW you want to talk...well Mr bodyguard I don't want to talk to you' Karan suppressed his smile as she contained to show off her cute sarcasm and tantrum.

'Ok, if you don't want to talk that's fine, I will be downstairs' Zoya looked at him not believing what was happening, she didn't think he would give up that easily and start walking away. Silently growling she closed her eyes and as he reached the door she called out to him, Karan straightened his face and turned around 'what happened...you changed your mind?' 'Reverse psychology...stop playing games Karan...why are you doing this to me..what did I do or say so wrong?'

Karan closed the door and walked towards her, he grabbed her hand and took her outside on the balcony 'you want to sit?' 'No...just answer my questions...what is wrong with you...why have you been acting all weird?' 'How did you expect me to act Zoya, I am sorry for what I did yesterday it was wrong, totally out of order, it shouldn't have happened...but it did and I don't know why...but after that...what knocked me for six was your reaction...I thought you would be livid...Zoya I am a common man who works hard to earn an honest living, I am my own person with nothing...you said it yourself we are Worlds Apart, look at the two of us...take your pick religion, status, lifestyles, the countries we reside in. I am not going to be accused of taking advantage and abusing the position I was given' Zoya looked at him intently as he continued to shoot his mouth off with one negative response and reason after another.

'You finished?' Karan nodded 'good...just answer me one question' 'what?' 'Do you like me?' 'Of course I do, I have no reason not to like you' 'Karan stop playing dumb, you know what I mean...I am not talking as a person, or a friend...do you like me?' Karan slowly looked away 'no, not in the way you think' 'look at me and say that' Karan fisted his hand he slowly turned around and looked at her face which was turning pale 'no...I don't...' Zoya hitched a painful breath as her insides twisted once more 'ok...that's all...you may leave now' 'Zoya please' Karan said stepping forward, Zoya took a step away from him 'I mean it Karan...you can leave now, I have nothing more to say to you'

Karan looked at her back that she turned towards him, he closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Turning around he walked across the balcony and went to his room. Throwing his phone on the bed he sat down holding his head in his hands. He knew he had made the right decision the right choice but why did it feel so wrong 'no...stop it Karan...stop being stupid' he kept saying to himself, trying to convince his heart that he was right.

The next morning he came downstairs and did what he always did, check everything and then take his position. Hours passed and there was still no sign of her, upon asking Iram about Aisha Bibi he found out that she had gone to the Dargah 'Karan Sir, Zoya has not had breakfast...I tried calling her but she wouldn't answer...' 'Its ok I will call her, you lay the table'.

Knowing she wouldn't answer the door Karan walked through his room and across the balcony. He looked through her bedroom window to see her lying on the floor 'Zoya' he called out in panic as he ran in to her side 'Zoya...wake up..Zoya' he kept calling out as he tapped her face repeatedly. Zoya started to open her eyes, she looked disorientated 'Zoya look at me...what happened are you ok?' Zoya looked at the worry on his face then down at the position she as in, she was lying on the floor with her head in his lap, she jolted up and moved away from him 'what are you doing here?' 'Zoya what happened...you were lying on the floor'.

Zoya turned away from him, Karan didn't miss her face which was stained with dried tears nor the soreness in her eyes 'Zoya, please' 'I am ok, I must have fallen asleep on the floor...you may leave' she said in an irritated voice, as Karan held his hand out Zoya stood up and walked off into the bathroom. Karan felt like his insides were going to explode he didn't know what to think, and what ever he was feeling made no sense to him, the more he tried to figure it out the more frustrated he became.

He thought about waiting for her to come out so he could try and talk to her but what was he going to say, there was nothing he could say, he had to bear it for another 12 hours and then she would leave, go back to England never to see him again.