The four of them stood in awkward silence for the next few minutes.
The man accompanying Asad's mother cleared his throat and said apologetically "I think this is really not the right time, Dilshad. Sorry, we didn't mean to intrude."
Asad had already stepped away from Zoya. He was still eyeing them in disbelief, but his facial expression changed as soon as he heard the man speak.
"Have you ever been on right time in my life, janab Rashid Ahmed Khan?" a lopsided smirk crept across his face.
"Asad!" his ammi protested. Her face had turned red.
"Oh, did I say something wrong, ammi? I must apologize then." Asad paced cross the room and came back with a sharp piece of broken glass.
He waved it menacingly in-front-of the man's face and hissed "How about an apology like this; I let you walk away from this room, and from my ammi's life, unharmed. In return, all you have to do it to never show your face to us EVER. Leave my ammi alone.How many times are you going to break something that's already broken?"
The man looked heartbroken as he gently turned the point of the broken glass away from him.
"I just came here to congratulate you, beta. Perhaps you didn't know that our company was also nominated this year. Believe me, there could be no prouder moment to a father than losing to his son. Your ammi and I saw you on the stage...and finally I thought I could forgive myself." His eyes turned moist as he spoke.
"FORGIVE YOURSELF...surely YOU could forgive yourself, but what told you that I will forgive you? The man who never attended even a single parent-teacher meeting in my school, aaj taali bajaane ke liye yahan tak aa gaye? Wow, that's so touching. " Asad broke into a slow, dramatic clapping.
"Asad, is this the way to talk to your abbu? Is that what I taught you throughout my life? To disrespect your elders? To hit a girl?" Dishad Khan held on to her grace even when she was distressed; unlike Asad, who had started to look like a man with questionable sanity.
His ammi's word shifted Asad's focus back to Zoya, who stood silently in a corner and praying for invisibility to her Allah Miyaan.
"Miss Farooqui, why are you still here? Can't you see we are having a happy family reunion? Come on, give us some privacy to enjoy our togetherness." He smiled bitterly.
"Mr.Khan, I think you need to calm down a bit, so that everyone can settle themselves and have a peaceful conversation. Meanwhile, I will arrange some snacks for Uncle and aunty. Aap boliye na aunty, kya lengi aap? tea, coffee, ice cream?"Zoya looked hopefully at Dilshad.
She was secretly grateful to them for saving her from the wrath of her boss.
"Really, Miss Farooqui, are you not tired of your goody two shoes act? Just be kind enough to show yourself out. Remember, we are not done yet." Asad pointed towards the door and signaled her to leave.
Zoya's face burnt with humiliation. She felt fresh tears stinging her eyes again.
Just when she was about to leave, Dilshad clutched her arm and stopped her.
"Beta, what's your name?" her kind eyes mirrored the pain and hurt in Zoya's own.
"Z...Zoya." it came out with a little sob she was trying to suppress.
"Zoya beta, I personally apologize for my son's behavior to you. I don't know what is the reason behind all these, and I don't want to know it either.
Whatever may have happened between you, this kind of behavior is unacceptable and I want you to know that I am equally ashamed of it myself.
Perhaps I failed to do my motherly duties, raising my son in such a way that he feels compelled to hurt another human being." she started shaking with silent sobs.
The pain bottled up inside Zoya started melting with those kind words and streamed down her eyes.
"Mr. Khan" she turned towards Asad, whose face had turned ghostly white. "I...I am sorry that I lied to you. But I am not sorry for what I did. Believe it or not, I wanted to see you on that stage...we all wanted you to WIN, perhaps more than you wanted it yourself." Her words were coming out with labored breathing.
Dilshad squeezed her hands and stared at her face. She then handed the bouquet of vibrant orange roses to Zoya.
"Put them in the vase over there, will you please, beta?"
She turned to look at her son next. Her eyes clouded with sadness as she said in a quiet voice "Maybe I have lost the right to speak about your life, son. But if possible, please apne ammi ki ek baat yaad rakhna...don't act like someone whom you are NOT."
"Chaliye Rashid. Waise bhi, doctor ne aap ko stress lene se mana kiya hai (the doctor has advised you to stay away from stress)" Dilshad held her husband's trembling hand and gently walked him out of the room.
"Ammi, please listen to me."
"Ammi, please don't go like this."
"Please don't leave me, please."
Asad mumbles incoherently as he slowly dropped to his knees. He stared at the floor vacantly as droplets of tears started pooling on it. His frame shook with sporadic spasms.
Zoya stood there and watched him in helpless awe.
Something was breaking inside her too.
She wanted to reach out to him. She wanted to tell him that somehow, in spite of how badly things had turned out for him so far, he too would get his happy ending.
But she couldn't say it. Instead, she decided to quietly slip out of the room.
(to be continued)
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
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