OS - The Walk of Love

Zoya and Haider had been friend for the best part of three years, they met just after they graduated and joined the world of media as new recruits working for The Youth of Today. A magazine that specialised in reporting and following the youth of India, it covered everything from what the latest fashion trends were to the rise of teenage pregnancies, a magazine by the youth for the youth.

Zoya was one of the best fashion journalists, she spent months creating a feature on the world of fashion and eating disorders, in recent months there had been a few untimely deaths of fashion models who went great extremes to lose weight, so extreme that they tragically lost their lives, and died of multiple organ failures. One such case Zoya followed was of Riya Saxena, a top model and the daughter of one of the biggest industrialist in all of Mumbai. Zoya's feature highlighted a few home truths after which Mr Saxena openly promised to ruin Zoya's career. Not being able to withstand the pressures Zoya decided to leave, not only her job but the country.

Haider and all of her friends tried everything to get Zoya to stay but she refused point blank. One thing Zoya was known for was her stubbornness, once she had decided something nothing could change her mind, in this case not even her best friend.

As hurt as he was Haider refrained from saying anything to her, he dropped her to the airport and left having uttered those last words, Zoya wanted to hug him but he kept a distance that clearly indicated his upset and disappointment. Zoya was moving to London to be with her older sister Mariam and brother in law Sahib, even though Mariam did not agree wither sisters decision she was still happy to have her back home with her. Having lost their parents a few years ago Mariam and Zoya only had one another.

Once settled back in London Zoya joined enrolled at the London College of Fashion, she continued what she had left behind as it was all she knew how to do. In the weeks that past Mariam and Sahib's constant lectures died down as she refused to change her decision 'Baji, I am of...I will be back late as I am covering a photo shoot' 'Zoya, you do know there is an underground strike starting this evening, how will you get back, the busses and roads will be packed' 'I will manage Baji, even if I walk it will only take me an hour or so' 'ok, please keep me informed you know what Sahib gets like' 'I will...Allah Hafiz'.

The team made their way Hyde Park, where they set up near the lake 'ok girls and boys let's get these pictures snapped whilst we still have the weather on our side'. The one thing Zoya could never get used to was the unpredictable British weather, even in summer the sun hardly made an appearance.

After a long two and a half hours Zoya and her team finally made a wrap. As they walked towards Oxford Street they saw how congested it had become 'how you getting home?' Sonya asked 'I think I am going to walk back, it will be faster than waiting for a bus or getting a cab' 'you sure you don't want to stay round' 'yes, I have so much to do for the next feature, I will see you in the morning'.

Zoya picked up her bag, she stuck in her headphones and started walking through the park along with so many others who were also walking to get back home.

Walking at a leisurely pace she flicked through her playlist trying to find a song that fitted her mood, lost in her phone Zoya didn't see the group of cyclists that were passing in front of her. As she stepped onto the cycling path she felt a hand grab her from behind and pull her with such force that she went tumbling back.

With her heart racing at a hundred miles per hour and she looked up in shock to see a man lying on top of her 'are you blind, you could have gotten yourself killed' all she could see was this man with narrowed eyes shouting something at her, with the music that was still blaring in her ears she wasn't able to hear anything. The man stood up and held his hand out to her, Zoya who was still trying to breath took him by the hand and stood up, she pulled out her headphones and saw the cycles pass by, it was then she realised what had happened. 'Are you ok?' he asked still looking anoyyed 'I...I think so...' seeing her face fall he felt bad at his outburst 'I am sorry, I didn't mean to scare you...but you should seriously watch where you are going' 'I'm sorry...and thank you' 'you're welcome'.

The man picked up his rucksack and started walking away leaving Zoya to recover from her shocked state of mind.

Putting her phone away she continued walking not really paying attention to where she was going 'crap, I am on the wrong side' she moaned as she realised that in her disorientated and extremely embarrassed stated earlier she had just started walking in any direction 'tupid train strike and stupid me' she said as she made her way back again.

Further ahead she saw the very same man leaning down to tie up his shoe laces, she slowly walked up to him 'excuse me' the man looked up at her 'you...are you ok?' he asked genuinely concerned 'yes...I am...I managed to walk in the total opposite direction' the man started smiling 'so you are not following me?' Zoya's eyes widened 'follow...no...not at all...I just saw you and...' the man let out a laugh 'relax, I was only teasing...hi, I'm Asad' he said holding his hand out 'Hi, I am Zoya' 'so Zoya, which direction you headed in?' 'Kensington' 'same here...would you like to walk together' 'sure, if you don't mind?' 'Not at all'.

'You work or study?'

'A little bit of both, I work as a fashion journalist with the London School of Fashion and being here has opened me up to a lot of other fields so am kind of studying to'

'Sounds interesting...you are not from here are you?'

'What makes you say that?'

Asad smiled, 'you accent, it's a little different'

'Yes, I am originally from India, my sister and brother in law live here so I came to join them'

'Nice'

'So what do you do Asad?'

'My work isn't as interesting as yours, mine includes a lot of boring statistics and spreadsheets'

'Business Analyst'

'That obvious hunh?'

Zoya started laughing

'You have a beautiful smile Zoya' Asad said honestly

Zoya's cheeks started to burn as her smile started to shake with a little nervousness

'Thank you'

As they were walking a strange silence took place, and that point Asad stopped

Zoya turned around realising he wasn't next to her 'what happened?' she asked

Asad took a step closer to her 'without you freaking out on me or thinking that I am weird...can I invite you to have a coffee with me in there?' Zoya looked towards the Starbucks he was pointing to across the street, in all there walking she hadn't realised they had come to the end of it. 'Now why would I think you are weird...or even freak out?' 'Because I met you a little over twenty minutes ago' 'hmm...true...but you haven't given me any reason to think you are weird...I think it would be safe to go in there with you'.

Asad and Zoya sat comfortably and talked about various things, she told him a little about her life in India and he told her about how left home at a young ager to become independent 'don't you miss being around your family?' 'Of course I do...I still see them...I mean during the holidays. I am planning to go at the end of September' 'wow, I would love to visit Canada, just to see the Niagara Falls would be amazing' 'it is, you should definitely go' 'one day'.

Finishing the last of her coffee Zoya picked up her bag 'thank you so much, for helping, walking and talking' Asad gave her a heart-warming smile 'my pleasure, do you live far from here?' 'No, just a few roads down' 'come let me at least walk you out'. Standing outside the shop Zoya turned towards him and held her hand out 'it was lovely meeting you Asad' 'you too Zoya...just make sure you pay a little more attention to where you are going next time' Zoya smiled looking a little embarrassed 'I will...well I guess until another time' definitely another time'.

Walking off in different direction they both wore a smile that radiated, Zoya couldn't stop giggling, she felt like a sixteen year old going ga ga over her first crush and Asad, well he was just smitten by her sheer beauty.