AsYa FF - The Intern #4: Ch 62 & 63 Pg 122 COMPLETED - Page 19

'Bhaijaan that a good thing that she wants to know everything, you can start from the beginning' Annie said 'I can only tell her what is known by everyone else...her internship, her work, her study abroad...but not about us...what if she freaks out and runs...I can't lose her Annie, her being here in whatever frame of mind is all I need' 'I can understand your sentiments...Bhaijaan, it is true that Zoya may never regain her memory...keeping that in mind you will have to start over, create new memories, make her fall in love with you again'

Asad looked up at her 'Annie, are you crazy' 'not at all...why not Bhaijaan...you love her, you are engaged to her...recreate what has happened, let her heart find its way back to you' 'I agree with her Asad' Asad looked towards the door to see Maheen and Nasima standing there.

'Ammi...I won't be able to do this on my own...' 'And you will never have to we are all here with you. Me and Nasima will stay until the end of the week and then head back, and then you three need to turn back time, re do everything that has been done...and like Annie said even if her memory doesn't come back you will be creating new memories for her'

Zoya slowly opened her eyes, she had never seen a room filled with such light before, as she stretched her arms out her lips smiled involuntarily, firstly because of the sleep she had just had and secondly because of the beautiful winter sun that illuminated every corner of her room.

Getting up she started to make the bed when she heard a knock at the door. She slowly opened the door to find Kaki standing there 'good morning beta' 'good morning Kaki...please come in' 'Zoya, you go and have a shower I will get your things ready' Zoya looked at her oddly 'things ready...what Kaki' Kaki started smiling 'I will make your bed and get your clothes out for today' 'Kaki...its ok, I can make my bed...I mean I do it all the ti...' Zoya stopped as she saw Kaki smiling 'I don't do it do I?' Kaki started laughing 'well you used to when you first came to live here...but then you gave up, I think the constant fighting over who was going to make the bed got a bit too much' Zoya let out a laugh 'I fought with you...I am so sorry Kaki, how rude of me' Kaki placed her hand against her cheek 'my beautiful Zoya's beautiful smile, don't ever let that fade away...now...before you go into the shower tell me what you want to wear' 'Ya Allah...I can't believe I let you guys spoil me like this...did I not do anything myself?' 'Of course you did...you think I was going to give you a shower' Zoya started to go pink 'ok...I think I will go and do just that...Kaki, I have no idea what I want to wear, please ask Annie'

By the time Zoya came out her room looked spotless, on the bed Kaki had left an outfit for her to wear, somewhere deep down she sighed in relief as it was a pair of jeans and a top instead of one of those very expensive looking dresses.

Zoya came out to Zack and Annie missing 'they have gone to the office?' Asad said answering her unspoken question 'office...of course, you all must work...what is it that you do?' in all this time none of them had told Zoya anything about their office or work.

'Zoya why don't you have some breakfast and then we can talk' 'have you eaten...I mean breakfast? 'No, I was waiting for you...because...' 'Because you know I don't like eating alone' Asad smiled at her and then nodded.

After breakfast Asad took Zoya outside so they could sit and talk. As she sat down she saw Kaki bring out a shawl for her 'thank you Kaki' 'Baba doesn't feel the cold...but I know you do'

'Zoya are you sure you want to do this?'

'It's the only way Asad'

'Ok...but if at any point you become uncomfortable you tell me and we stop, ok?'

'Ok'

'What is the last thing you remember...before you woke up at the hospital?'

'I remember that I was due to meet one of my professors at college, he had asked me to fill in an application for an internship'

'Do you remember what company it was for?'

Zoya tried to remember but couldn't

'No, I don't...I do remember talking to him about doing a Masters abroad...that's what the internship was going to pay for'

Asad swallowed hard, he thought this was going to be hard for Zoya, what he didn't realise was how difficult it was going to be for him.

'Asad...how did I meet you all, a girl like me, an orphan, a no body...how did I end up here?'

Asad stood up

'Where are you going?'

'Not just me but you two...it's time to take a little road trip...come'

Zoya sat in the car with Asad 'are you going to tell me where you are taking me?' 'You will find out in a few moments'

As Asad parked the car Zoya looked around to see herself surrounded by high rising office building. As she undid her belt the car door opened making her jump 'Good morning Miss Farooqui' a man said smiling at her from ear to ear. Zoya turned around to look at Asad 'do I know him?' Asad nodded 'yes you do...come...jump out'.

Zoya smiled politely at the man and then waited for Asad to walk around the car. 'Zoya look ahead of you' Asad said pointing. Zoya looked ahead of her and as she did she let out a gasp 'Khan...' Zoya started to feel her head spin, losing all colour she looked towards him 'you are Asad Ahmed Khan...my internship...my professor...he asked to apply to...I mean I was your intern?' she asked almost unable to breath.

Asad slowly raised his hand and held her arm 'Zoya...are you ok?' 'Asad...I am your intern...that is how I know you' 'yes' he simply replied 'what did I do to...why do I live with you all?' Asad could see a slight panic take over her 'Zoya please...may this was taking it a little too far...we can do this another time' 'No...no, I want to do this...I need to know Asad...please' 'ok'

Zoya started to feel a lot more nervous than she had anticipated, as they started walking towards the entrance Zoya stepped closer to Asad and without realising she grabbed hold of his wrist. Asad looked down at her hand that was holding his wrist, her hands were ice cold, without any hesitations Asad held her hand and entwined his fingers with her 'you ok?' Zoya turned her head a little and looked at him, and when she felt the pressure of his hand around hers she looked down to see her hand in his.

Zoya stopped walking and quickly withdrew her hand 'I'm sorry I didn't realise I had...I mean...' Asad didn't know what he felt all he knew was that he wanted to scream out the pain that was eating him away 'please...don't say sorry...it was my fault...I shouldn't have...ummm...my office is upstairs'.

As they made their way up Zoya saw a multitude of faces that smiled at her, she tried to reciprocate but couldn't.

As the door to the lift opened Zoya say Annie and Zack standing in front of her with a few people standing directly behind them. Zoya felt a sense of relief seeing Annie, not being able to stop herself she crashed against her. Annie could feel her heart race as she hugged her back 'hey...are you ok?' she whispered against her ear. Zoya pulled back, with little droplets of tears escaping her eyes she smiled 'I'm sorry...I didn't mean to do that' she said looking a little embarrassed.

Asad stepped closer towards her 'Annie take Zoya straight in' as Annie took hold of Zoya and walked with her Asad looked towards Priya, Dev and Suzy who had been waiting to meet her 'guys, give her a few moments...Suzy can you get some fresh coffee sent in please' 'yes Mr Khan'.

Asad walked into his office to see Annie sitting close to Zoya and Zack on the other side 'Annie...can I have a minute please' 'sure Bhiajaan...Zoya, I will be back in a moment'

'Annie...I can't do this...I thought I would be able to but I can't...you should have seen her downstairs, she completely froze, she looked like a ghost...the questions she asks, I don't know how to answer them' 'Bhaijaan relax...please' Annie said holding his hand, she hated seeing him so lost and confused.

'You do it...you take her around and talk to her...tell her what she needs to know...Annie until she starts to accept that she is a part of us and this is her place, her home I can't be the one around her talking to her' Annie couldn't help the tears that rolled down her eyes as she saw him on the verge of a breakdown. Quickly hugging him she patted his back 'its ok...we will get her back Bhaijaan...Allah is with us...it will take time, it's only the first day...' wiping his tears he took a step back 'you and Zack take her out...I will stay back and attend to things here' 'Ok...you promise you will be ok?' Asad gave her a halfhearted smile 'soon...I promise'.

Annie and Zack took Zoya to the restaurant and sat down with her. They spent the best part of four hours sitting with her going through everything from the minute she walked in to sit the test to the moment she was shot, the only thing they left out was her relationship with Asad and the fact that she was engaged to him'

Through the course of the four hours she cried, she smiled and even laughed but what was prominent was how she constantly felt the room spin around her, how her stomach churned violently as she tried to take in everything they said.

'I came here with my friends from London, I actually made it to SOAS to do my Masters?' she asked again 'Yes you did...you all took me in, made me a part of you, took care of me...when did I get so lucky' she said crying.

Zack shuffled his chair closer to her and put his arm around her 'Sis, we were the lucky ones...please don't cry...' 'you know Zack, I thought by asking all these question, knowing all this...something would have stirred' Zack kissed the side of her head 'don't think about it Zoya...if something is to come back it will in its own time, don't force it...until then...just take each day as it comes'.

Annie went to tell Zoya about Rahul and Huma and how her course had been deferred indefinitely, until she felt she was ready enough to go back.

'Zoya, can I ask you something?' Zoya nodded 'when Bhaijaan was...I mean you had asked Bhaijaan to talk to you then what happened?' Zoya took in a deep breath, one that seemed to prick her airways as it passed through to her lungs 'I don't know Annie...in all honesty I wanted to talk to him...but when we came in I just froze...you say he is my best friend, and I don't doubt for a second that he doesn't know me...I mean we were close right?' 'Yes, you were...very close' 'I don't know what that is supposed to look like...I have never had any relationship with any guy in any capacity...I mean unless my professor counts...' 'But when Zack took your hand and said he was your brother...you didn't withdraw it, you didn't pull away from him' Zoya suddenly realised what she meant 'no...I didn't...you are right...I don't know Annie, I can't explain it...maybe something I need to get used to'.

Asad didn't need Annie or Zack to feedback what had been said; he caught most of it from the door.

Asad couldn't help feeling that maybe it was because deep down she felt something, in all the turmoil he found a small speck, a glimmer of hope that if he was able to tap into that emotion, that feeling that she would soon come to realise something.

Over the next few days Asad kept a distance, it wasn't easy but he knew he had to give her some space to become used to things without her mind being clouded or confusd by his own presence.

'Ammi, does Asad always work so much?' Maheen smiled at her 'yes and no...sometimes his work becomes an escapism' 'what is he escaping from?' 'A lot of things...he is just a hard worker Zoya, Asad always leaves early and comes late' 'it's so strange, we live in the same house but I hardly see him' 'you will, once he has worked through what he needs to do, running an empire such as his isn't an easy task' 'I guess'.

As Maheen and Zoya continued to talk Annie walked in with Zack 'finally you are home...what took you so long?' Nasima asked 'we have two new projects running back to back Ammi...and Bhaijaan has us working double time...slave driver' Zack moaned 'stop that...he is not, just because you are behind on your own work' Annie quickly said coming to his defense 'whatever...Kaki...I am starving I need some food' Zoya couldn't help laughing seeing them 'are you two always like this?' 'Zoya, trust me this is them on a good day' Nasima said shaking her head at her sons antics.

'Zoya, are you not joining us for dinner?' Zoya shook her head 'I am not that hungry...I will eat later, you guys go ahead'. Leaving the rest of them to eat Zoya went and sat upstairs by the pool, she was about to dip her feet in then pulled back the water is not cold, go for it' Zoya looked up to see Asad standing before her 'hi' she said nervously 'hi back...you can dip your feet in, the water won't be cold it has an internal heating system' Zoya smiled, she pulled up her jeans further and then dipped her feet in.

As she looked up she saw Asad turn around as if he was about to walk away 'Asad' she called out quickly. Asad turned around to face her 'would you like to join me?' Asad started smiling, he felt his heart almost jump with joy 'sure, if you don't mind' Zoya let out a giggle 'if I did I wouldn't have asked you...sit...the water isn't cold' she said making him smile that much more.

Undoing his tie he slipped of his shoes and socks and then sat next to her 'Ammi told me you didn't eat' 'not really hungry...maybe later, did you eat' 'no, I was about to go and get changed...I realised you were not there, Ammi told me you had come up here' 'considering I haven't seen you for a good part of two days you still worry for me?'

Asad looked directly at her 'I may not see you every day but that doesn't mean I don't know what's been going on...and you are right, I do worry, I always worry...I need to know that you are ok' 'wow...I must have really done something spectacular to have deserved all of you...I wish I could remember' 'you will...and even if you don't...what you have here right now will form part of new memories, new experiences' 'I know...Asad, I wanted to say something' 'what?' 'I don't exactly know what our relationship was like before, I mean Annie and Zack have told me that we were very close...what I am trying to say is that I am sorry if you feel that I am being awkward around you' Asad couldn't help the smile that started to adorn his lips 'you are the one who has suffered and you are sorry' slowly raising his hand he inched it forward keeping eye on her reactions, when Zoya didn't flinch or move back he gently placed it against the side of her face 'you are not being awkward, you are being you...this is all new for you...take your time Zoya, go with your instincts and if you are not sure about something then ask me, Annie, Zack anyone of us and we will help you'

Zoya's eyed moistened 'come on no getting emotional' 'ok...' She said wiping her stray tear away.

'Asad, Annie told me about London, Rahul and Huma...do you have a picture of them?' 'Yes, I do...one sec' Asad took his phone out and opened up his pictures, flicking through them he found one of them 'here...this is Rahul and this is Huma' 'wow...they were here when this happened?' 'Yes they were, they didn't want to leave you, it was hard to get them to go back...I didn't want their safety compromised' 'will you tell me more about my time in London?'

Just as Asad was about to say something Maheen came out to call him 'Yes Ammi...one second' Asad stood up and walked towards the stairs 'Asad, I am leaving tomorrow, I need you to go through the papers with me' 'I haven't forgotten Ammi, come lets go...Zoya, I will be back in a few moments'