The story was told using a song so link for the song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjG7_wt7dIc
Since two readers were curious to know how Asya met I wrote a second shot- https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/125346899 - Page 3
"What are you looking at?" He always rejoiced in the feel of her warm body pressed closer to him whenever he slipped his arm around her waist and inhaled her fragranced skin. The scent of her was always peculiar. It was of cupcakes, muffins, cakes, icing, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry... It was the Kaleidoscope of scents which followed her even after she left the bakery where she worked. He loved it completely for it was the scent of his love, his Zoya. His eyes followed her beautiful brown gaze and saw the she was staring at the simple diamond ring in the display case.
"It's nothing.."- she had told him with a small smile, her eyes immediately leaving the object and meeting his black gaze- "I made some cupcakes especially for you today. Do you want to try them now?"
He kissed her softly in reply and together they walked past the jewelry shop but the image of the ring was already memorized in his mind.
Asad gulped down the tenth bottle of beer and threw the empty bottle aside, his fingers gripping his hair in absolute frustration as the early morning rays trickled in through the window. The blood from the bruises to his forehead and his brows were trickling down the side of his temple and onto his cheeks once more but he did not care. His physical wounds were nothing compared to the bleeding pieces of his shattered heart and the crippling agony which was making his very soul cry. Everything had gone wrong... so very wrong...
The crowd was alive in the room, the loud voices cheering on every blow which was delivered to the boxers in the ring. Asad was cornered. His opponent continued to deliver devastating blows to his face and his stomach and all he could do was try to defend the punches from disfiguring his face.
"Time time!"- the referee shouted and he forced the two boxers apart. Asad staggered over to his stool, the medical team trying to quell the bleeding from the cut about his eyes and his bruised cheeks. His vision was blurry and the voice of his coach was barely audible in his ears.
"What are you doing Asad! You are going to get yourself killed! I did not want to give you this fight because I know you have been out of this for too long! I am going to throw in the towel Asas! I will not watch you die!"
"No!!" - Asad shouted amidst the loud cheering of the crowd- "No I have to fight! I will win! I have to!"
"Then fight Asad!"- his coach encouraged- "Beat the bas***d! I know you have it in you!"
The bell rang and the referee gestured for the boxers to begin the final fight. Asad stood, pure determination burning in his eyes. He had to win. He needed the money. He had to win for his Zoya..
The fight resumed and this time he fought like a man with a mission. He defended every blow that was dealt his way before he overcame his opponent, his powerful punches connecting with the man's body at all the critical spots. When the bell rang, only one name was being chanted in the crowd.. Asad! Asad! Asad!
"You did it!"- his coach's voice rang in his ears as the man embraced him tightly. His head was pounding, his body was bleeding, there was pain everywhere but his heart... his heart was happy... It was celebrating for he was successful... he had won for his Zoya...
The bottle shattered to pieces as it crashed against the wall, an anguished scream leaving him as the raw memories continued to replay in his mind.
It was late when he finally exited the elevator to the floor of his apartment. There were bandages wrapped around his head and his knuckles but still a smile was playing on his lips. A tingling warmth clung to his skin where the object was pressed against his vest from the pocket of the black jacket he was wearing. With a tired sigh, he opened the door and entered his apartment. However, when his eyes met the beautiful brown gaze which was riddled with tears and hurt, his face paled in panic and fear. Zoya? She was here at this hour? The absolute look of betrayal which shadowed her face made Asad's heart constrict in pain and he took a step closer to her only to pause when she held out her hand to stop him.
"I knew it..."- she muttered, the tears breaking the boundaries of her eyes- "When you did not answer you phone I knew it! I hoped against hope that my instinct was wrong but... you have proven it right!"
"Zoya just let me explain..."- he said with desperation as he moved closer to her and held onto her arms- "It was this one time... just this one time!"
"You promised me Asad!"- Zoya shouted at him as she gripped onto the lapels of his jacket- "You promised me you would give up boxing! You know I can't bear it! It kills me everytime I know you are in that ring Asad! I told you this countless times! And you promised me! You promised me you wouldn't! You are already working on the docks! We were happy... we don't need much Asad... Then why!"- she pushed against his chest but he held onto her, his bandaged hands cupping her cheek.
"Zoya, believe me. It was just this one time. There was something I needed to do..."- he tried to explain but she pushed him away from her, causing him to stumble back, her action stinging him painfully.
"There is nothing that can justify this! Look at you.."- she stared at him, her eyes lingering on the bruises on his face, her voice agonized- "Do you think it makes me happy to see you like this? Do you think it makes me happy knowing you are hurting?"
"Zoya please..."- Asad pleaded but Zoya bowed her head, her hands covering her face.
"It's over... It's done... We're done.."- she muttered and Asad felt his world crumble apart at her words. He stared at her in paralyzed shock, the tears biting his eyes as her distressed gaze met his- "I can't do this anymore.."
"Zoya..." -he choked out, his throat constricting in fear at the reality that was slapping his conscious mind- "Zoya what are you saying..."
"I can't be with someone who is going to risk their lives like this. I am not going to watch you get yourself killed Asad."- Zoya said through the tears, her body shaking with the tumultuous emotions that were coursing through her veins.
"No..."- Asad replied, anger slipping into his tormented gaze- "No... you can't do this.."
"We're over.." - Zoya muttered as she looked away from him and moved to walk past him.
"No Zoya wait! Zoya!"- he grabbed onto her arm and tried to pull her closer to him but she pushed him away and walked out the door- "Zoya! You can't do this!"- he rushed out the room and down the corridor, his panicked eyes connecting with Zoya's as she entered the elevator. He lunged at the door but they closed on his face and the last he saw was Zoya sinking to the floor in the elevator, her fingers gripping her hair in complete despair.
His wounded heart continued to thunder against his chest as he rushed to the stairs and hurried down the steps but by the time he reached the last floor she was no where in sight. Regardless of the many times he rang her phone, she did not answer until eventually he was met with the message that her number was unavailable.
The bottle slipped from his fingers as he sank to the floor, his eyes burning red from the unshed tears. The person who had been his saviour had now deserted him and all he felt was a desolate emptiness in his heart and soul. His mind was only filled with memories of her and his every being craved to see her smiling face standing in front of him once more.
I miss the sound of your voice
And I miss the rush of your skin
And I miss the still of the silence
As you breathe out and I breathe in
He closed his eyes an allowed himself to be washed away in the powerful current of his memories, his bleeding heart crying at the aching desire to feel her lips upon his. He wanted to run his fingers through the silky locks of her long dark brown hair and he craved the warmth of her skin upon his mouth as he tasted the ravishing skin on her neck.
If I could walk on water
If I could tell you what's next
I'd make you believe
I'd make you forget
Oh how he wished he could make her forget about what he did... how he wished he could wipe the memory from her mind that he had broken his promise. If only she had allowed him explain. If only she had heard WHY he entered that ring again. But he had seen the resignation in her eyes. He had seen the hurt he had caused her. Yet all he wanted to do was pull her in his arms and love her in his strong embrace so that the hardships and cruelties of the world around them would never touch her.
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire and the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
He could not survive without her love. He knew he couldn't. She was his oxygen... She was the reason why his heart continued to beat against his chest. The moment she broke off the relationship, he was shattered and dead inside. His Zoya was his life...she was his everything. The simple taste of her lips upon his was enough to make him feel formidable and indestructible. Her love was his drug and he was addicted to it. He was addicted to her.
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire and the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
A few minutes later, he stood, a single tear descending his cheek as he grabbed the jacket from the couch and left the apartment. He wasn't going to let her leave him. They were meant to be together. Regardless of all the trials and tribulations they had always remained together. Yes, he had broken his promise but he wasn't going to lose her. His Zoya was /his/ and his alone. And he was going to get her back. All his life he had been a fighter. He was a fighter in the boxing ring, he was even a fighter on the docks he worked on everyday loading heavy cargo onto the boats. Life had made him a fighter and he wasn't going to let it defeat him and take away the one thing he couldn't live without.
I miss the sound of your voice
Loudest thing in my head
And I ache to remember
All the violent, sweet
Perfect words that you said
Zoya had just finished the placing the freshly baked cupcakes into the glass casings in the small bakery where she worked at. She was usually the first one to arrive at mornings but today she had arrived even earlier than usual. Her body felt exhausted after the roller coaster of emotions she had endured the night before following her break up with Asad. Even though it had been /her/ decision to leave him, a part of her had silently regretted the words the moment it left her lips. The look of utmost devastation on his injured face had destroyed her and she missed him immensely... God.. she missed him so much but she had been the cause of her own sorrow.
The bells at the door chimed musically signaling the entry of a customer and though it was still very early for customers, she glanced at the door, her anguished heart leaping in surprise when she beheld the familiar face.
"Asad.." - she breathed out, her heart thumping furiously against her chest.
He held her gaze, his tormented eyes shattering her heart to a million painful pieces but she did not look away.
If I could walk on water
If I could tell you what's next
I'd make you believe
I'd make you forget
Before she could even realize what was happening, he was striding towards, his eyes burning with determination as he leaped over the small door adjoining the counter. She gulped at the intensity with which his gaze lingered on hers and before she could react, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely, the taste of the alcohol on his lips intoxicating Zoya's own mouth.
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire and the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
His fingers dug into her hips and but his hand was gentle upon her face as they deepened the kiss, Zoya's arms wrapping around his neck and pulling her closer to him, their warm embrace silently healing the wounds in their hearts.
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire and the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
However, regardless of the rush of emotions which was charging through their bodies, a voice of reality infiltrated the mist Zoya's thoughts had become and she immediately broke the kiss and leaned away from him, her palms pressed against his strong chest. "No Asad no..." - she muttered and she tried to remove his hand from her waist but he only tightened his grip- "We can't do this!"- she all but shouted at him through the tears that were already pooling in her eyes.
"I'm not letting you go.."- Asad said firmly, his serious eyes boring into hers- "You can't leave me. I won't let you..." - his lips inched closer to hers, his warm breath caressing her skin- "I missed you..."
The pain in his voice made Zoya bow her head and close her eyes, the tears travelling down her cheeks at the sincere plea in his tone as he continued to speak...
"I know I hurt you and I'm sorry Zoya... I'm so sorry... but don't punish me so severely... please.."
I miss the pull of your heart
I taste the sparks on your tongue
I see angels and devils
And God, when you come on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Before she could even reply, he hastily dug into the pockets of his jacket and withdrew a small red velvet box. Zoya looked on speechless as he opened the box and she was greeted with the sight of the diamond ring she had been watching in the mall a week before.
"I saw you looking at it..."- Asad said quickly and Zoya covered her mouth to silence the sobs that were leaving her body- "We don't have much but I wanted you to have this Zoya. You deserve all the riches in the world which I can't give you right now but still... you should have this atleast. I stepped into that ring so that I could get you /this/ ring, Zoya. I wanted to see this ring on your finger so much." -her eyes met his and he held her gaze, the silent plea burning in his dark gaze- "Please Zoya... believe me... this is the only reason why I would enter that boxing ring again.. I won't anymore. I won't... "
" Oh Asad..."- Zoya muttered, her soft eyes lingering on his- "Why can't you realize it Asad? /You/ are the only wealth I care about. This is why I can't see you hurt. Your health is more important than these material things. I would never want you to risk your life for this... when are you going to realize it?"
Her words touched Asad to the core and he glanced down at the ring in the box before he cupped her cheek, his intense gaze holding her tearful eyes- "I understand..." -he said quietly- "But /you/ are /my life/. And I don't want /my life/ to lack anything she desires." - he lowered his hand from her face and removed the ring from the box. Wordlessly he slipped the ring onto her ring finger in her left hand before he raised her hand to lips and kissed her fingers.
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire and the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire and the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me, drown me in love
"I want you to marry me Zoya.."- he said softly and Zoya felt any resolve she had to stay away from him crumbling completely. It was impossible to be apart from him, truly impossible. He cupped her cheeks, pure unwavering affection in his gentle gaze- "I will not hear about separations. We are already one and nothing can separate us. Marry me..."- he said quietly- "We have talked about it, we have spoken about all the reasons why it wasn't the right time but I am going to tell you one reason why it IS the right time."- his thumbs brushed her cheeks adoringly, the words leaving his lips with palpable affection- "I love you... and you love me... and that's all that matters..."
The tears from Zoya's eyes dropped onto his hands and unable to resist him anymore, she buried her face into his chest, her arms wrapping around his neck as he lifted her off her feet and hugged her close, the feel of their bodies together warming their hearts with the comfort they had been denied during their hours of separation.
It's all wrong, it's all wrong
It's all wrong,
IT'S SO RIGHT
So come on, get higher
So come on and get higher
"Yes..." - her whisper caressed his neck and Asad looked at her face, his now joyous eyes meeting her loving gaze. She touched his slightly bearded cheek and kissed him softly, Asad smiling into the kiss before her soft voice caressed his ears once more- "I will marry you.."
'Cause everything works, love
Everything works in your arms.
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