Mine; Always & Forever. An AsYa ff. Chapter 13 updated on pg 86. - Page 16

Chapter 3:

The atmosphere in Khan mansion's lounge changed drastically with the arrival of a stranger at the door.

"Hey Rahul, come. What took you so long?" Zoya walked up to him and pulled him inside linking their arms.

"Hey guys, I want to introduce you all to Rahul Garewal, my best friend. He's the one who made my survival possible over there. He has been my rock all throughout." She said looking at him with a warm smile.

Rahul could feel the tension in the air and recognized the look of apprehension on the faces of her friends. Maybe they weren't so open about welcoming a stranger amidst them. It was fine by him. He was here only for Zoya and would stay till she needed him. He stepped ahead and greeted them with a wide smile. Everyone looked surprised as he knew their names but quickly got over it and shook hands with him.

"Umm sorry, are you also Zoe's friend? I don't remember seeing your snap or her talking about you." Rahul asked Asad.

"It's okay, maybe I wasn't worth mentioning." Asad mumbled dejectedly, his eyes locking with Zoya's momentarily. Her heart constricted in pain on seeing the hurt expressions on his face. Everyone looked between Asad and Zoya, their eyes in silent conversation. They could feel the tension between them but didn't interfere.

"Rahul, he's Asad Ahmed Khan. Umm.. Rashid uncle's son." Riddhima said hesitantly. Rahul looked at her sharply as she smiled meekly. His one glare was enough for her to know that they were going to have a talk, very soon, much to her dislike.

"Oh so now I'm only Rashid uncle's son for you, not even worth calling your friend. Thanks for the reality check." Asad thought sadly.

"I'm sorry buddy. She mentioned all of you daily but I just forgot. It's really nice to meet you too." Rahul said shaking hands with Asad to which he nodded with a small smile.

"Nice to meet you too Rahul. Thanks alot for taking care of our Zoya." He couldn't blame the guy, who genuinely looked ashamed, if she hadn't mentioned about him.

"You don't have to thank me. I would do anything for Zoe, afterall she's the only family I have." Rahul said looking down at her.

"Only family?" Inaaya asked incredulously.

"I meant Zoe was the only one I had abroad, Inaaya." Rahul replied turning to look at her.

"It better be otherwise I'm going to report you to Papa." She said making him shake his head from side to side.

"OMG, she's so adorable. Bi can I hold her?" Zoya rushed over to Bi as she brought Zaina out after nap.

"No you can't." Hadia replied.

"Don't be silly Hadia. Of course you can hold her, Zoe." Eesa spoke.

"No means no. You didn't have time for any of us all these years, ab achanak itna pyaar kyun?" Hadia said in a voice laced with hurt. They had all missed her so much but she didn't have time to visit them even once during all these long years.

"Of course I have the rights, after all main Phoophi hoon." Zoya said spreading her arms to take Zaina.

"Aww mela baby. She's a cutie pie. Hi, I'm your Phoophi. I'm sorry I couldn't come to see you earlier but I love you a lot my Shona." Everyone smiled as Zoya showered kisses on the baby's chubby face.

"Zoya are you sure you'll need all this stuff for a stay over?" Noor asked as Rahul and Eesa wheeled in two suitcases. Zoya quickly made Zaina sit in her lap as she unpacked her bags. She handed over the gifts to everyone but pouted at Rahul and he rolled his eyes in response.

"Kya hua? You want something?" Hadia asked looking at her face.

"Yes. My remaining things are in Rahul's bag and he left it at home." She complained zipping the bags.

"Why does Rahul have your things?" Eesa asked with confusion.

"Her poor bags were exploding due to excessive luggage so I put the rest of it in my bags. You know our Princess went on a shopping spree at the airport as well, despite having paid luggage tax. We had to get a small bag separately for it." Rahul teased her.

"Tum dono paas rehte ho?" Hadia inquired.

"Yup, just next doors. But majority of times he's at my place because there's no room to keep a step in his place, so messy." Zoya answered twisting her nose.

"Look whose talking? Should I tell them the state of your guest room or bedroom? You can't walk there without tripping on something." Rahul retorted.

"I'm not messy. Woh tou packing karni thi is liye cheezien bahar rakhi thin."

"Chup. Bilkul chup. Don't start here. You guys won't believe how these two quarrel. Yesterday they brought the whole room down within minutes." Inaaya told everyone.

"I can't believe it. Zoya can't fight or be messy. Not possible." Noor said with determination.

"You're right Noor, I don't fight or make a mess. Aapi I told you na, yeh Rahul mujhe tung kar raha tha, is ne mujh pe pani phenka tha. Maine kuch nahin kiya tha." Zoya complained.

"You sure, you didn't do anything Sleeping Beauty? Why weren't you waking up when I kept calling your name." Rahul asked with a raised eye brow.

"Rahul don't lie. Mujhe pata hai tum har baar aise hi kartey ho. You simply enjoy irritating me." She grumbled.

"Didn't I just tell you not to fight? So stop it now." Inaaya scolded them again making their friends laugh at their antics.

Asad left from there not being able to take in more. His heart broke seeing Zoya so frank and free with everything except him. He carried all the boxes from her room back to his. They were all her gifts from him on all occasions since she left. He had waited for her to return so that he could show them to her, share everything that had went on with him during these long seven years but today he felt as if they would only act as a hurdle for her to overcome her past, which she seemed keen on forgetting, and he didn't want to hold her back by force. He looked up and prayed for strength and patience to fight this battle of hearts.

Everyone changed into their night suits and gathered in the hall again. Zoya had taken upon herself to do everything for Zaina, who was enjoying the shower of affection on her by her new phupphi.

"Finally you've got competition haan? Ab Zaina tumhari taraf dekh bhi nahin rahi. She has changed her favorite person." Eesa joked with Asad.

"There's nobody who can give me competition and I will always be Zaina's favorite." Asad replied confidently and whistled. Both Zainah and Zoya directly looked at him. The baby squealed and clapped as he made funny faces, whereas Zoya smiled at the interaction between the duo but just after 5 minutes she turned Zaina to the other side so that she couldn't see Asad. She glared at him as he whistled again to gain her attention. He laughed softly at her reaction.

The night went on with lots of talking and munching on snacks. They devoured kulfis with Chocolate sauce which Eesa had brought in just then and Zoya enjoyed her vanilla and strawberry ice creme with almond crunch like always.

"Hmm Asad." Zoya said forwarding her hand with the ice creme tub and licking her lips clean, her eyes still glued to the screen where the male lead fought the goons. Asad along with the others looked at her in shock. It was an old habit of hers to share her ice creme with him, only him. No one else could take a bite from it. She looked at him with wide eyes as her words sunk in and then around her. Her stance visibily relaxed as everyone was busy eating, that meant no one would tease her the rest of the night. What she had missed was Asad's shake of head to signal his friends to not embarrass her now.

"Lao do." He took the tub from her hands and relished it just like always, completely ignoring her curious looks.

"Hey, how's your game going?" Zoya asked Eesa.

"Great. Am about to win the third round as well." He showed a thumbs up.

"Does that mean Asad still hasn't picked up on your tricks in all these years?" She bent down to whisper in his ear to which he shook his head negatively with a smirk.

"Array Bi, main khud le loon gi, ap kyun pareshan ho rahi hain?" Zoya said as Bi brought out a tray laden with snacks.

"Mujhe koi pareshani nahin hui. Tum baitho or enjoy karo." She said placing it on the dining table.

"Thank you Bi. I love you!" Zoe said kissing her cheek.

"Umm Zoe, you go and eat in the kitchen." Eesa said quickly picking up their cups of coffee and chips from the tray while Zoya stuffed her mouth with a big bite of pizza.

"Why? Main kyun jaaon?" Zoya asked wiping tomato ketchup from her lips with the back the back of her hand making him cringe.

"Go and eat with the girls, it looks like they need your help." He said gesturing towards the girls who were huddled together on a sofa going through different fashion magazines.

"You can tell me directly if you don't want me to sit here, no need to make excuses." Zoya said with a pout. She picked the pizza box dropping crumbs on the table.

"5,4,3.." Rahul looked at Hassan confusedly as he counted on his fingers. These two were sitting at the coffee table palying a game of chess. Everyone had accepted him except Asad, who still looked wary of him. He didn't indulge in any conversation or game with him, which forced Rahul to ponder on the reasons. As soon as Hassan closed his fist, they heard Asad speak.

"Aisa kuch nahin hai Zoya, you can eat wherever you want. Aao, baitho." Asad said taking the box back from her hands and pushing out the chair next to him for her to sit.

"Thank you." Zoya mumbled with a big smile. She opened her cold drink spilling drops of it on the table. Eesa's protest died at Asad's glare and he placed his card with a thump.

"Oops I'm sorry." She said dropping the bowl of popcorn on the floor.

Asad bit the inside of his cheek to hold back the offending smile that threatened to break free at her antics. There was a time when her messy eating habits annoyed him a lot and he lectured her about them on and off. With time she had picked up on them, not wanting to upset him. He knew this was a show to irritate Eesa, she always did that with him but he never understood.

"Asad help me." She cried from under the table. He peeped down to see her sitting cross legged on the floor.

"I can't pick all this alone. Please help na." She said snatching the cards from his hand and pushing the empty bowl in his. He bent down and started picking the popcorns looking at her with narrowed eyes as she just sat there shuffling his cards.

"Thank you." She beamed at him getting back on her seat as he cleaned the mess. His mouth fell open when he noticed his cards were rearranged. She sat back enjoying her drink after gesturing with her eyes to play his turn. Rahul was amused whereas Hassan just shook his head at noticing this exchange between the duo.

"You. Tumne is ki help kari haina?" Eesa pointed a finger at Zoya who was leaisurely popping one candy after the other in her mouth.

"Me?" She asked with such innocence that hassan laughed and then quickly covered it up with a cough.

"Yes, you." He said throwing the remaining of his cards on the table as he lost the game.

"I didn't do anything. Sach mein." She said batting her eyes at him.

"Don't lie, he only wins when you're around." He accused.

"Can't disagree with that, afterall I'm his lucky charm." Zoya said with a wink and pulled her imaginary collar. Her smile faded and eyes lost the mirth as they connected with Asad's surprised orbs. These were his words. He would always call her his lucky charm.

"Of course Zoya. I'll go call the girls for another round, Hassan you shuffle the cards." Asad said hastily getting up. He knew the words had just tumbled out of her mouth as a habit from the past but now she was going to go back into her shell and avoid him which he couldn't stand.

A week was left for the official functions of Inaaya's wedding to begin. Rashid and Dilshad treated Hassan as their own son as he didn't have any relatives. They and his friends were the only family he had and hence Asad, Hadia, Eesa and their families were participating from the groom's side. Everyone was at their toes running around doing their part of the work. Yusuf and Zeba Farooqui had returned from their business trip and were now spending time with their two daughters and son, Rahul. Yusuf had taken an immediate liking towards Rahul when he first met him during his visit to Zoya abroad. He had appreciated and thanked him for helping Zoya with everything. Rahul, who had lost his father at an early age, loved and admired Yusuf for the love and support he showered on him. He had become an integral part of the family. The Farooqui's were almost done with the preparations and hence they went out for lunches, dinners and long drives.

Asad climbed the stairs of Farooqui Mansion to Zoya's room. He knocked several times but was got no response. He peeped inside and found it empty. He called out for her a few times as he knew she was at home. He had inquired before coming. Only a day was left for the functions to begin and he wanted to clear the doubts between them. He could no longer bear her hot and cold behaviour with him. He was pulled out of his thoughts as she stepped out of the changing room. Asad stood rooted at the sight of her. Zoya was dressed in a baby pink gown with black sequins belt, her hair tied in a high ponytail, eyes outlined with kajal, and lips colored in rosy pink gloss and a pair of delicate black studs. She was shocked to see him in her room and his intense gaze made her conscious. She shifted uncomfortably from one feet to the other looking everywhere but him. Asad had caught on to her nervousness and smiled sadly. Today she couldn't find words to talk to him and before she wouldn't end talking unless he diverted her attention.

"I'm sorry. I had knocked a couple of times at your door before entering." Asad said taking a step towards her.

"It's okay. Aapi's gone to the parlor and nobody's home right now." She said without looking at him directly.

"I know. Are you going somewhere?" He gestured towards her clothes.

"No, Mama said that guests will start coming from today evening and I have to help them settle in the outhouse, so.."

"Okay, I want to talk to you. Can I get a few a minutes?" She nodded in response.

"Can we sit and talk?" He pointed towards the sofa in the corner of the room. They sat in an uncomfortable silence for the first few minutes not knowing how to initiate a conversation.

"Why are you doing this Zoya? What have I done to earn this punishment?" He inhaled deeply before asking her softly.

"I don't under.." He didn't let her complete.

"Please, both of us know what I'm speaking about. I've spent these 7 long years in guilt, reprimending myself. I know I have done something that you've pushed me away completely, but I swear I have no memory of any of it. All I remember is dropping you off at Noor's house for the party and since that day you kept going away from me. Where did I go wrong? Did I hurt you?" He spoke helplessly.