Thank you everyone for liking and appreciating the concept. Here's the 2nd chapter. Enjoy reading.
Chapter Two
During the heavy silence, Zoya listened to the knocking of her own heart. She tried to keep her face composed for the kid's sake, but it was difficult. After several seconds she nervously glanced at Asad Ahmad Khan. He was staring at Sahir. Disbelief was starkly evident on his handsome feature.
It was Sahir who finally spoke. "Holy Crap, you're Asad Ahmad Khan!"
"Sahir, I've asked you not to use that word."
"Sorry, mom, but it's ASAD AHMAD KHAN. Asad Ahmad Khan in our house."
The astronaut replaced the skeptical expression on his face with his famous smile. "Sahir? Pleased to meet you." He stepped forward and shook the teenager's hand.
Across the room. Zoya gripped the edge of her table for support. Sahir looked almost identical like Asad. His eyes just as dark blue like his. Fortunately Sahir was so dumbstruck to find the astronaut under his roof that he didn't notice the resemblance.
"I've got your poster in my room. Would you autograph it for me? I can't believe this. What are you doing here? My birthday is still weeks away."
He looked at Zoya and laughed. "Is this the special present you've been hinting at? Oh, wait, I know. Did you talk him into posing for you? That's it right?"
Asad turned his back to the boy and faced her. His stare could burn her. She flinched beneath it but kept her expression defiant. Asad's expression was a mix of suspicion and puzzlement. "Posing?"
"I...I..."
"Actually my mom's making a pitch to do the cover of the People's magazine. The other night she said she ought to get you to pose for the astronaut representing ISRO(Indian Space Research Organization)."
"Hmmm. Did she say why?"
"She thinks you're the best looking, I guess," Sahir said, grinning. "She knows you're the most famous."
"I see," Asad said quietly. "I'm flattered."
"Will you do it?"
Asad released Zoya from his stare and turned back to Sahir. "Sure I'll pose. Why not?"
"Wow, that's terrific."
"It really isn't necessary," Zoya interrupted. I've already done a preliminary sketch." She gestured toward the sketches on the floor.
"Let's see them."
"They're not ready for anybody to see."
"Weren't you planning to show them to the agent?"
"Yes, but he's in the business. He knows the difference between a rough sketch and the finished product."
"So do I. And I'd like to see them." Asad was issuing her a challenge. Aware of Sahir's curious eyes and knowing how insightful he was, Zoya had no choice but to go along.
"Okay sure." In contrast to her pleasant voice, her smile felt weak as she passed some of the sketches to Asad.
"See, there you are!" Sahir exclaimed, pointing down at the sketch. "Looks just like you, doesn't it?"
"It certainly does." Asad said, giving Zoya another of those penetrating stares. "Almost as though she knew my face intimately."
"She's good. The best," Sahir boasted. She even got the space suit right."
Zoya snatched the drawings back. "Since my drawings meet with your approval, there's really no reason to hold you back, Lieutenant Khan. Thank you so much for stopping..."
The doorbell cut her off.
"I'll get it," Sahir shouted. "My friend is calling me outside...I'll be back soon. I hope you won't leave before I get back, will you?"
"No," Asad told him. I'll be here for a while."
"Great! Mom I'll be back shortly." Sahir ran toward the door where his friend kept ringing the bell.
Asad cornered Zoya and took her by both arms. In hushed but angry tone he hissed, "I thought you said you'd never had a son."
"I haven't."
"What do you call that?"
"I am not his mother."
"He calls you mom."
"Yes, but..."
"And he resembles me."
"He..."
"But, gosh, I don't remember sleeping with you."
"You didn't! You didn't remember me on sight, did you?"
"Not on sight. But some things I never forget." He said while yanking her hard against him.
A sudden desire shot through Zoya and Asad.
He looked at her with astonishment before pushing her away.
It all transpired within a matter of seconds, which was good since Sahir was leading her most potentially important client toward the studio.
By the time they reached, Asad was sitting against the edge of her desk.
"Mr. Sethi," she said breathlessly, "please forgive my appearance. I was working in the yard when..." She gestured toward Asad. "When Lieutenant Khan surprised us by stopping by."
Zoya didn't need to worry about her appearance as Mr. Sethi didn't even notice her. "It's an honor to meet you, sir," the advertising agency executive stepped forward to shake the astronaut's hand.
"Thank you."
Only then did he acknowledge Zoya. "Miss Faaroqui, you didn't tell you knew our latest national hero."
"Would you like to see the drawings I've made so far, Mr. Sethi?"
"While you're doing that," Asad said, I'm going to take Sahir for a drive."
"You mean in the Porsche?" The boy asked excitedly. "I've got my learners' permit, you know," he called back. "I'll get my license in just a few more weeks."
"Sahir, don't you touch Lieutenant Khan's car," Zoya said in a worried tone.
"He'll be alright," said Asad.
"But where are you going?"
"Around the block," he said giving a casual shrug. "No place special."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Awhile."
She wanted to scream at him for giving her vague answers. She wanted to put her foot down and say no, Sahir wasn't going anywhere with him. She wanted to run after Sahir and grab hold tightly.
But with Mr. Sethi standing there, she had no alternative but to be gracious. Knowing that, Asad took full advantage of the situation.
"Have you known Lieutenant Khan long?" Mr. Sethi asked tentatively.
Zoya turned and saw that the man was dying of curiosity. Coolly she replied, "I've known him awhile."
Mr. Sethi left twenty minutes later. She felt confident that he liked her preliminary sketches. He warned her, however, that there were two other artists being considered and that the final decision would be left up to a committee of agency and magazine executives.
She walked to the front door scanning the street for a sign of the Porsche. It was nowhere in sight. Worriedly she clasped her hands. Where had they gone? What were they talking about? Was Asad bombarding Sahir with questions he wouldn't know the answers to?
Before she worked herself up, she decided to take a long overdue shower. Shortly she emerged from her bedroom dressed, wearing light makeup, and feeling more relaxed.
She was relieved to hear voices coming from Sahir's room. She saw him listening to Asad's stories.
"Weren't you scared?" Sahir asked.
"No. By the time we got up there, we'd rehearsed everything so many times, I knew exactly what to expect."
"But something could have gone wrong."
"It could have. But I knew I had a crew in the ship and another on the ground making sure that nothing did."
"What's it like when you blast off?"
Asad squeezed his eyes shut. "Thrilling. Like nothing else."
Sahir inched closer. "What were you thinking?
"I was thinking, 'this is it'...This is what I've always wanted to do. This is what I was born for. It's here. I'm living it."
"Wow."
The worshipful look on Sahir's face alarmed Zoya. "I hate to break this up," she said from the doorway, "but I've got to go to the rest home now. And, Sahir, if you don't leave soon, you'll be late for your soccer practice.
Sahir rolled off his bed and landed on his feet. "Mom you'll never believe this! He let me drive! It was terrific, Mom. You should've been with us." Then looking guilty for being so caught up in his own excitement, he asked, "how'd your meeting with Mr. Sethi go?"
"He liked my rough sketches but made no promises." She looked at her watch. "You'd better go, Sahir."
"You play soccer? Asad had been sitting on the edge of Sahir's bed.
"I play for my school team. We're going to be city champs."
"I like that tone of confidence," Asad said with a broad smile.
"To make sure we win, the coach is working us double time."
"Then you'd better not be late for practice." They moved toward the door where Zoya was waiting,
"Will you be here when I get back?"
"No, he won't." When Zoya curtly answered the question that had been intended for Asad, both pair of eyes turned on her. She gave a weak smile. "I'm sure Lieutenant Khan has other things to do, Sahir. Run along now. But be careful. Got your house key?"
"Yes, Mom. Well, bye, Lieutenant Khan. I can't believe I got to meet you. Thanks for autographing my poster."
"It was my pleasure, Sahir." They shook hands.
"I really do need to leave for the rest home now. My Ammi's not doing well, and if I'm not there when she expects me, she..."
He blocked her path. The charm he had turned on for Sahir had disappeared with the boy. "I want the truth from you. I want it now." He took a quick breath. "Is he my son?"
Her eyes filled with tears when she said "He's my son," she whispered again. "Mine."
"Somebody fathered him." Keeping a finger beneath her chin, he tilted her head up. "Is he my son?"
Zoya looked directly into his eyes and answered, "Yes."
Sampoorna
Current Affairs
CID
Hindi TV Shows
125