AsYa FF - The Intern #2: Ch 24 & 25 Pg 105 - Page 36

It wasn't long before the music changed, the DJ put on something a lot more upbeat. Annie and Zack came and stood next to them 'Zoya dance with me' Annie said 'Annie, I really can't dance...I will end up falling' 'I don't believe you, come' Annie pulled at her hand and then started to dance free style, Zoya just stood there and looked at her, at the same time Zack came and grabbed her hand 'don't worry Sis, I will get you dancing in no time' Zack twirled Zoya and by keeping hold of her hand he made her move like she never moved before.

Zoya started to loosen up and then started to dance freely; she not only took everyone around her by surprise but also herself.

Asad looked up at the time, it was 11.50, he needed to make sure he was around Zoya before the count down. Walking up to them he stood behind Zoya and let her twirl into him 'hey...I'm so sorry, I didn't see you' 'and I can't see anything but you' Zoya's smile started to fade away as she looked at him 'huh' Asad shook his head 'nothing, we are nearly at the top of the hour'.

At the same time a number of people started to come towards Asad to congratulate him on the party and wish him a happy new year, Zoya stood back with Annie and Zack letting him talk.

Zack leaned in towards Zoya 'have you told them about SOAS?' Zoya shook her head 'I was going to but I didn't get a chance to...maybe tomorrow, now doesn't seem like a good time' 'a good time for what?' Annie asked overhearing her 'oh nothing...well nothing that can't wait until tomorrow?' 'What can't wait for tomorrow?' Zoya looked towards Zack 'I have some news to share, but I will tell you tomorrow...it's nearly midnight' 'hang on...this news...Zack already knows?' 'ummm...yes' Zoya said squeezing her eyes shut. Annie looked at her unimpressed 'please tell me off later' Annie started laughing 'deal'.

'Bhaijaan...sorry to interrupt...please come' Asad excused himself and walked back to Zack and Zoya with Annie.

Zack wrapped his arm around Annie and kissed the side of her head 'you ready to step into another beautiful year' 'with you every day, every year is beautiful Zack, I love you' Zack placed a soft kiss on her lips 'I love you too' Zoya smiled at them shyly, she loved how they loved one another, as she turned around she caught Asad looking at her, just as she was going to ask him what was wrong the DJ started counting down the last thirty second, the whole place counted down with him like a chant, it was unreal.

Zack who was standing in between Annie and Zoya held both their hands, Zoya looked towards her right and held her hand out to Asad which he took instantly

'10, 9, 8...4, 3, 2, 1...HAPPY NEW YEAR'. Zoya had never heard cheering and screams filled with joy on such a scale before. Zack kissed Annie before he turned around to hug Zoya, once Annie had finished hugging Asad she made him turn around 'go and tell her'. Asad stepped towards Zoya 'Happy New Year' she said holding her hand out, Asad didn't want to shake her hand he wanted to hug her, tell her what he felt, that he loved her, that he wanted to be with her.

Asad shook her hand 'Happy New Year Zoya', keeping hold of her hand he stepped closer to her 'I need to tell you something' 'me too...' 'Really...what?' 'Mine can wait it is not important...you tell' Asad lowered his eyes as he collected his words together.

Taking in a deep breath he looked back up at her 'Zoya I l...' Asad was almost there, telling her how he felt, just as he was about to complete his sentence he was bombarded with people, he was asked to come up and address all his guests and staff alike.

Asad looked towards her apologetically 'I'm sorry, I have to go' 'its ok...you go'.

Asad gave a small speech to all his guests, he thanked his teams for their hard work and efforts, he thanked his business associates for their support and wished them all a wonderful New Year.

By the time everyone started to go home bring the night to an end it was nearly half two in the morning. Asad had still not managed to talk to her 'Annie, I can't feel my legs anymore, please lets go home...those two are going to be ages' Annie knew Asad had not said anything, she wanted her to stay but with her ongoing persistence she wasn't able to hold off any longer.

Zoya changed and hit the bed straight away, it didn't take long for her to go into deep slumber.

Zoya woke up with the sun shining bright, as soon as she managed to open her eyes she looked at her watch 'Ya Allah' she exclaimed it was nearly 2 in the afternoon. Zoya jumped out of bed and showered quickly before she came out, 'Happy New Year Kaki' Zoya said giving her a big hug 'you too beta, can I get you a coffee?' 'Yes please...a black one, I need something strong...Kaki is everyone still sleeping?' 'Zack is, Baba has gone for a run and Annie is outside' 'cool, can you bring my coffee outside please?' 'Yes, go and sit, I will be a few moments'.

Zoay hugged Annie and wished her again, as they sat down they talked about how wonderful the party was, it was then Annie remembered that Zoya was going to tell her something 'what is your news' she said jumping forward 'news?' Zoya asked looking confused 'Zoya...your news the one that Zack knows about and I know nothing about' 'oh' she said looking a little more serious 'that...Annie...' Zoya went on to tell Annie how she had applied to do her Masters at SOAS and got in, and with her contract coming to an end in three months' time she had accepted the offer'

Annie was as happy for her as she was sad, the sadness wasn't only for her, it was for Asad. 'Zoya have you told Asad?' 'No, I will, I need to'.

'I can't believe you are leaving...and that too for over a year...I wishI could stop you' Zoya smiled at her and then stood up, she looked out onto the beautiful scenery that surrounded her 'Annie, all my life I have only dreamt of little things, I have never wanted anything other than to be happy, to work hard and to be the best at what I do. My life totally changed the day I stepped foot in to that office, I have everything that every girl dreams of, a beautiful family, a perfect job, the luxury lifestyle...things that Allah has blessed me with, something I thank him for a hundred times a day...but my dreams are still of that Zoya, that came here as an intern...I want to go out and see the world, study to achieve my dreams, I never thought I would get accepted, you know the university only have 25 places for that particular course and thousands of applicants from around the world...I was very lucky...I will miss you all like crazy, am sure I will even cry...but I know that you are all with me, will support me...and then it's not as if I am never going to come back...it's for just over a year' Annie stood up and placed her hand on her shoulder 'you were not the only lucky one Zoya, we were too'.

Annie put her arms around her and hugged her dearly, as she pulled back she looked up to see Asad standing at the door 'Bhaijaan' she whispered. Zoya turned around to see a visibly upset Asad, his whole posture was rigid, he stepped closer towards them 'you...you are leaving...going and...and you didn't feel the need to tell me'. His voice was steady but the undercurrent sounded lethal.

Zoya swallowed hard 'of course I was going to tell you Asad' 'when...the day you were going to fly out' he said in a more raised and hasher tone. Zoya looked at him taken aback 'Asad...I only found out two days ago...yesterday we were busy with the whole party thing...so I was going to tell you today' 'You accepted the offer...and have decided to go without even consulting us...talking to us'

Zoya couldn't understand why he was getting so angry 'consulted...Asad, it was what I was always going to do...my contract finished in April...and' 'to hell with the contract Zoya...how can you just decide to go' Annie quickly put her hand around his arm to try and calm him down, she saw how tears had developed in Zoya's eyes. Asad was angry and too upset to fully realise what he was saying, and she didn't want him to say anything that he would end up regretting.

'Asad, why are you getting so angry...I applied months ago...I didn't even know I was going to get in, it was always going to be like this' 'no...no it wasn't...do we mean nothing to you' Zoya heart dipped painfully as his tone of voice, his angry eyes kept on piercing her 'Asad please...you mean everything to me...all this...it was before I came to stay here...I never said anything because I didn't think I would get in...but I did...this is what I want to do Asad'.

Asad's eyes darkened, he fisted his hands 'fine, do what you want...who the hell am I to stop you anyway?'

Asad walked off leaving a very shocked Zoya standing there trying to understand what the hell just happened. Zoya started crying 'Zoya please don't...he didn't mean to be like that...it's just, I guess it's the way he found out...he will be ok...I will talk to him' 'No...you are not going to say anything to him...I can understand he is upset...but don't you think that was a major over reaction' she said walking off 'No Zoya...it wasn't, if you only knew how he felt about you, you would realise how justified his reaction was' Annie wiped her own tears away 'Ya Allah, please help Bhaijaan find the words to tell her...before it is too late'

Zoya went into her room and sat on her bed, she couldn't understand Asad's reaction, he had never spoken to her so rudely, she had never seen him talk like that to anyone.

On the other side Asad sat in his room on the verge of exploding, he knew his behaviour was uncalled for but he couldn't help it, how could she think about leaving, and if she was why hadn't she told him, he could let her go, he loved her and hadn't even told her yet.

Asad stood up as he heard his door knock, Annie opened the door and walked in 'Annie not now please' 'if not now then never Bhaijaan...I know you are upset and angry...but I also know that you know what you just did out there was wrong...Bhaijaan please tell her, tell her before it is too late' 'it already is too late Annie, Zoya is going, I can't stop here...as much as I love her I am not selfish enough to stand in the way of what she wants in life, and what her dreams are...if I tell her and she doesn't follow through what she wants for herself I will never be able to forgive myself' Annie smiled at him 'you ever heard of long distance relationships...she is not going forever, just a year...and who says in between you can't go to see her or she can't come back when she is on holidays'

'I won't be able to do it Annie, I am not with her and the thought of her leaving, going away is already eating inside me...if I tell her how I feel and she feels the same way...I won't be able to let her go...I am not strong enough' 'You are stronger than you think Bhaijaan' Asad and Annie looked behind them to see Zack standing there.

'The first thing you are going to do is apologies to her and then you are going to tell her how you feel...take that first step and leave the rest to Allah...He will make it all ok'.

Asad picked up his towel and walked into the shower leaving Annie and Zack looking at one another helplessly.

Zoya refused to come out of her room, both Zack and Annie had tried together and separately.

With the office closed the four of them were forced to be at home, and the tension in the house was increasing. Asad came out to join Zack 'where are they?' 'if by they you mean Zoya, she still hasn't come out of her room...don't you think it's about time you went to talk to her' 'what am I supposed to say?' 'Sorry would be a good place to start'. Asad stood up again 'fine' he said before he turned around and walked towards her room.

Asad opened the door to find her room empty; he stepped in further to look out on the balcony and saw her sitting on her recliner.

Slowly making his way out he stood by the door 'I am sorry' he said. Zoya straightened her back hearing his voice; she stood up and turned around to face him. Asad felt a sharp pain run through him seeing her red puffy eyes, she had been crying. Quickly stepping up to her cupped the side of her face 'please don't cry' he said in a broken voice as he wiped her tear away with his thumb 'I am so sorry Zoya, I should not have spoken to you like that...it's just...I don't know what came over me...this is what you want, it is your dream I should have been happy for you...I am...please forgive me' Zoya smiled through her tears, she leaned further into his hand, and as she did Asad wrapped his arm around her 'am I forgiven?' Zoya nodded against his chest 'on one condition' Asad pulled her back 'what condition?' 'You take us all out for dinner, I am starving' Asad started to laugh 'deal, get ready...I will tell the others'

As much as Zack and Annie were happy that they had made up they were still annoyed at him for not telling her 'you know if Bhaijaan doesn't tell her, we are going to have to...' 'Zack it's not our place to...its between them' 'I know...but that doesn't mean we can't create situations that will make him come out and say it...or even plant a few seeds in Zoya's mind to help her see what that guy feels for her'