Part 1:
Hi, I'm Asad, a painter by profession whose life revolves around colors and colors only... I'm an orphan, I don't have a family that's why I don't know what are relations and their meanings... I was a shy type kid who loved to express his feelings in form of colors only and today here I'm, the most popular painter I guess... anyway I'm here to meet someone special...
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Asad was sitting on a sofa lost in his own thoughts when a lady came there and took a seat opposite to him...
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I look in my opposite direction and smiled shyly, there she was clad in a black dress like always... I never asked but I guess she simply loves black color... oh I forgot to introduce her, she is Zoya, Dr Zoya Farooqui, a psychiatrist by profession... I and Zoya are childhood buddies and she knows me better than me, she is my only friend and I can trust her with my life...
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"Finally you are here Asad, pehle toh har do teen din main aa jaty thy but this time you came after a month", said Zoya...
"Hello to you too Zoya", replied Asad looking directly towards her...
"I was worried for you", said Zoya in a tone full of concern...
"I'm fine, by the way, do you like my paintings???"
"Of course Asad, your paintings were simply awesome, or agar tum ne notice nahi kiya toh let me tell you I'm your big fan now and that's why I put some of your paintings here and some in my bedroom", Zoya told him with a content smile on her face...
"Finally an appreciation by someone close to me, koi nahi dair aaye durust aaye", saying so Asad winked at her...
"That was so mean Mr. Khan"
"Okay okay no more teasing"
"So???", asked Zoya knowing very well Asad must have come to share something...
"I met someone"
"Ohhh... is that someone a girl???", asked Zoya raising her eye brows...
Asad nodded his head in yes...
"Chalo acha hai mere ilawa koi or bhi tumhari zindagi mai aaya, I'm happy for you"
Asad smiled but didn't say anything, Zoya understood his hesitation...
"Baat karna chahty ho"
"Hmm"
"What's her name???"
"Zoe... her name is Zoe"
"Good... when did you met her???"
"I met her a month ago and after a few encounters she moved in with me"
"Oh that's really quick"
"Yeah... that was indeed quick, I too was lil bit shocked at first but I guess it was meant to be and things started falling in places"
"Phir kab mila rahy ho apni Zoe se???", asked Zoya...
"Tum ne btaya nahi tum kesi ho", Asad tried to divert the topic...
"You think I'll fall in your trap and won't ask about Zoe???"
"But you can't meet her", Asad almost shouted...
"Why, is I am your ex and you fear I'll burst the bubble of your new found love"
"Aisi baat nahi hai Zoya, the thing is Zoe is quite busy these days", reasoned Asad...
"Okay no problem, main tumhare ghar aa jati hoon", suggested Zoya...
"No, Zoe will not like it... tum us se mil kar kya karogi???"
"Hmm tum nahi chahty toh koi nahi, khair can I see her photo at least"
"Aren't you asking too much questions???"
"Yes I'm... because I'm concerned for you"
"For me, or for Zoe???"
"Tumhare liye stupid, you are my friend, not that Zoe"
"Bas phir tum Zoe se milne ki zidd nahi karogi"
"Par kyun Asad, don't I have any right on you", asked Zoya with moist eyes...
"You have, but"
"Okay leave it, tell me more about her"
"Hmm Zoe, she is just like you"
"Like me???"
"Yeah, beauty with brains, just like you"
"Thanks for the compliment, or btao na"
"She is a writer"
"Wow, I would love to read her work, what it is about???"
"I don't know, I haven't read her work yet"
"Why???"
"Woh mujhe KaBhi padhney hi nahi deti"
"Hmm, is she on Facebook or Twitter???"
"No"
"Acha phir Zoe se kaho na meet me, I really want to meet her or else I'll die of curiosity, please Asad just for once"
"Mene kaha na you can't"
"Par kyun Asad???"
"Zoe is suffering from agoraphobia"
"What???"
"Yeah, it is a fear of..."
"Open spaces, social situations, aisy log kisi se milte nahi hain, kahin aaty jaty nahi hain, they are quite reclusive, I'm a psychiatrist Asad", said Zoya...
"Hmm that's why I said you can't meet her, but trust me she is very nice girl... I really like her", told Asad...
"Phir toh mujhe Zoe se milna hi hoga, maybe I can help her"
"No, I don't think it's needed"
"It is Asad, I'm saying for her good only"
"Umm okay I have an important work to do, let's save it for another time, bye"
Asad got up from his place and turned to go but Zoya spoke from behind...
"Zara yaad hai tumhe???"
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I had hardly taken a step when I heard Zoya talking about Zara... I immediately shut my eyes as her face appeared in my mind, I took some deep breaths in order to calm down myself...
After a few minutes I turned to face Zoya and looked at her helplessly, my eyes moistened remembering who was Zara and how much I had suffered because of her, but before I would have drown in the oceans of my past I felt Zoya's arms around me and without wasting a second I hugged her back...
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Debate Mansion
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