AsYa FF: Mohabbatein - Part 18 Updated: Pg 140 - 20/12/16 - Page 90

Asad looked crazed as he picked up his phone and dialled a number. The desperation and panic visible in his face and eyes. Upon receiving no answer, he dialled another number, gripping the front of his hair in a deathly grip as fear of the worst crawled at him. Shaking his head at his own stupidity. At the brink of cursing and punishing himself if anything..no..no..he couldn't even think of that.

Asad - SHIT. (He then hit speed dial 3 on his phone) come on come on come on pick up..PRASAD!! I need you to somehow, ANYHOW get in contact with AKRAM RIGHT NOW and tell him to call me. Yes, I know what time it is stop asking me stupid questions and wasting my time just CALL HIM.

Prasad - Sir, I can't.

Asad - (Oh this was NOT the time to test whatever little patience he had) What'd you mean you CAN'T! What DO I PAY YOU FOR?!! STOP MAKING UP EXCUSES AND CALL HIM-

Prasad - Sir I can't because he called me about 3 hours ago to inform me that his Ammi was sick and so he was going to Mumbai for her treatment. He said you had told him to take a few days off so he was going to take the time to do that. He would be in the air right now sir how would I contact him. (Asad seemed to buy that reasoning and without saying another word he shut the phone, leaving Prasad hanging. He then hit another speed dial and waited for the call to connect)

Asad - Krishna. Have you seen Akram today? Yah, what time, where and when? Did you see him at Rogue?

Krishna - No I only met him this morning at home and then right now a few hours ago he called me to tell me he was going to Mumbai-

Asad - (sighed knowing the end of this story) with his mother for her treatment yah I know tha-

Krishna - (laughed) what? No. Asad what's wrong with you? Akram's parents shifted to Dubai weeks ago, right after his wedding remember. I mean the wedding that didn't happen (In that moment if one saw Asad Ahmed Khan and assumed he looked ready to kill someone, that accusation would not be completely unjustified or wrong. He looked enraged. Like a caged, hungry and enraged lion about to unleash his wrath and destroy anything and everything that crossed his path. He lowered his phone, as guilt began eating away at him. He began pushing his way through the crowed desperately, as though he were suffocating. He felt his breath get caught in his throat and his heart nearly stop beating before it began pounding in a sickening way, much similar to the pounding headache that was making it's way to his head. His whole body erupted in goosebumps and not in the way it did when the possibility of kissing Zoya crossed his mind. The exact opposite in fact, they erupted out of fear. Fear of the worst. Fear of danger. Fear of impending, inevitable doom. As he weaved his way through the crowd, he put the phone to his ear again.

Asad - Aapi..yah hello..Aapi did you get in contact with Zoya?

Aisha - No Asad I was just about to call you. I've been trying her phone for about an hour now and it just goes to voicemail. But why - (Asad felt his heart sink deeper, he again cut the call leaving her hanging as well. He rushed to the back and spotted two kids standing there talking to the bouncer)

Asad - Khalid, who saw that girl getting pushed into the van? Who'd they talk to where'd they go? (Khalid the bouncer just stared at his dazed and crazed looking face and pointed to the two kids he was talking to. They also looked at him just as, if not more strangely. Of course, they were also weirded out seeing the Asad Ahmed Khan before them who at the moment looked completely mad)

Asad - (His eyes lifting with hope) You (he almost jumped at the kid, startling him. Without sparing a second he broke out into a rant. Not thinking or filtering but the words just tumbling out of his mouth all at once) You, You saw her. Who was she what did she look like? Tall, beautiful, with eyes to die for, kind of crazy, probably talking to herself and had a breathtaking smile?

Kid - (absolutely creeped out, and Asad's wide wild, desperate eyes that seemed to be boring into him as though he would kill him if he said no to that description wasn't helping) No, no we just saw a girl in black, tall yes, she had fair skin long hair big brown eyes (Big Brown Eyes. Hearing those words, Asad stopped breathing altogether. His hands falling from the boy's arms which he was clutching painfully and going limp at his sides. His heart, brain, breathing all stopped functioning for a second. All the minimum life that coursed through him, ceasing for a split second before his mind went into overdrive. Before the desperation turned to madness. He couldn't waste a single second, the thought of what that second meant for her..no..no he couldn't even imagine it. Khalid stared at him weirdly as he turned around whipping out his keys and began running at lightening speed down the parking lot)

Asad - (yelled over his shoulder) Ayaan doesn't find out about this KHALID!! (Khalid just narrowed his eyes genuinely worried now, what the hell was happening? Why was Asad freaking out about this one girl who got kidnapped here? So many girls had gotten kidnapped in this alleyway before but he hadn't seen Asad look like he was losing his mind then, then what now? Who exactly was this girl and what did she mean to Asad?)

10 minutes later: A heavy bike flew down the deserted streets of Kasauli. It's speed maxed out. The devil clad in black leather stood, as he flew the beast down the empty streets at 3 am. Talking on his Bluetooth simultaneously.

Asad - I don't wanna hear anything Jay just do it. Go to rogue figure out a way to access the CCTV footage, get any image of the van you can get and track it down somehow. Track those numbers down I don't care what you do I want a location and I want it now, without Ayaan suspecting a thing.

Jay - Okay, Okay I'm already here and I'm getting access to it but what I still don't get is why you're trying to track Akram down here, he's in Mumb-

Asad- (he really didn't want to be reminded of that name when he was driving at this speed. It tempted him to lose all semblance of sanity. The pain, the torture he would inflict on him LEST his fear come true, if he betrayed him, just the thought of it scared him. The pain his betrayal would cause Asad would be nothing in comparison to the pain he would unleash on Akram. Or so he thought. But for Akram's safety it would be best that there would not be so much as a small cut, the size of paper cut, on Zoya or else there would be hell to pay) He's here.

Jay - (Didn't understand what Asad was saying, who was here?) I got the license plate.

Asad - Good. Find the location and call me and when you do get my limo and meet me there. (Hearing that tone of voice scared Jay. He knew something big, something bad was about to go down. Something that apparently had to do with Akram. Their friend. For Akram's sake he wished Asad was mistaken about whatever it was he thought Akram was up to. He didn't have the courage or power to question Asad. So he didn't dare to, instead he just did as he was told to)

xxx

20 minutes later - Somewhere in the outskirts, the jungle of Kasauli:

She struggled to open her eye's, her eyelids felt heavy, it seemed to take all the energy she had in her for her to open them and still she could only barely, keep them open for a few seconds before they shut again. Everything before her was a blur, as was her memory. Where was she? When and how did she come here. Here, in this room, a bedroom..but whose bedroom? And why was it decorated? She could see the flowers around the bed, the candles, what was going on? It seemed like- before she could finish her thoughts she heard a door open behind her. Again, it took all the energy she had in her for her to turn her head to see who it was..phupi? Aapi? Why was she so exhausted and sleepy. Why couldn't she open her eye's or find enough energy to move? She squinted her eyes to see who it was and was surprised to see that it wasn't her phupi or Aapi, instead there were two strangers. Two women staring at her sympathetically..why were they- And then one of the woman spoke-

Woman - Chalo beti, nikkah ka waqt hogaya hai. (Zoya stared back at her blankly. Nikkah..whose nikkah? Why couldn't she remember anything? The only memory she seemed to be able to recall was someone, a man yelling..right it was Mr. Khan. They had been fighting about..Akram and then she went to Rogue and..and suddenly it seemed she was no longer under the influence of whatever it was she had been injected with, the pinch she remembered feeling in her arm. She was suddenly hyperaware of everything. She was walking to Rogue when a van had stopped behind her and someone had..she could feel her insides fill with dread, her heart sink with fear. She felt faint. When someone had...kidnapped her. And now, it seemed they..they wanted to marry her. Her eyes darted around the room nervously..they wanted to marry her and then have their Suhaagraat in this bedroom with her. She felt her breath hitch in her throat and her eyes widen as she realized something else. She almost didn't even want to look down to confirm her fear but she knew it was true. Someone had changed her clothes from her sweater and leggings to this, bridal LEHNGA and jewelry. Zoya clutched the fabric of her lehnga in her hand, her eyes wide and frozen with fear as she saw the two ladies approaching her, smiling at her sympathetically. She began shaking her head slowly, her eyes pleading with them but to no avail.

Woman - Dekho, beta tumhari behtari issi mein hai ke tum chup chaap hamare saath ao. Jo ho raha hai woh toh hoke rahega. Agar tum aage se inkaar karogi toh woh zabardasti kareinge par yeh nikkah kareinge zaroor. Issi liye behtar hai ke tum hamare saath chalo aur chup chaap khamoshi se yeh nikkah kar lo. Tumhare paas aur koi option nahin hai. Yahan tumhe koi bachane waala nahin hai aur nahin yahan se bachke nikalne ka koi iraada hai (If it were possible Zoya's heart sank even further, where exactly had he brought her? Zoya found her head shaking vigurously, as if, doing so would make this all go away. Make it all unreal. Just a bad nightmare. Had he brought her out of Kasauli? Her desperate eyes darted towards the window. Hoping to see something, anything that could reassure her that they were in fact in Kasauli. She didn't know why. Practically speaking whether or not she was in Kasauli didn't change anything no one knew where she was, no one probably even knew she had had been kidnapped and no one could or would save her. She felt her eyes fill with tears, tears of helplessness as her last shred of hope that she had been holding on to broke as well. She was nowhere near Kasauli. Even worse, there was no sign of civilization anywhere close by. All around there were just trees, a jungle. She had been kidnapped and brought to a jungle and was being forced to marry the guy she had once refused to marry. And right after the nikah..- A helpless tear fell from her eye as she came to terms with her situation. As the enormity of what was truly happening came crashing down on her. She was forcefully being married to a criminal, a deranged psychotic man in the middle of the night in a jungle and there was nothing she could do about it.)

Woman - (seeing her stare out the window desperate for a ray of hope..an out.) Koi Faida Nahin hai beta..tumhari madad ko koi nahin aane waala. (Zoya closed her eyes as more tears escaped her defeated eyes. Didn't she know it. Who did she have that would come anyways? No mother, no father. Brothers who didn't even know she was missing because she was unfortunate enough to not be able to live in a home with them. Who would even know she was missing? Phupi would assume she was at Ayaan's and he would assume she was at the Khans. And even if they figured out she was missing how would they find her within the next few minutes, how would they know where she was and how would they be able to find her in the darkness of this jungle? It was true. No one was coming. But she was Zoya Farooqui. There was NO way she was going to give in to the plans of someone who was clearly deranged. If he thought she was going to be forced to say yes to a nikkah to him and then be forced to..her eyes darted towards the bed and she gulped as her whole body erupted with goosebumps out of fear. There was NO freaking way. She would get out of here without marrying him, or she would die trying regardless she was not marrying anyone tonight. If no one was coming she would fight this battle alone. Just like she had always done. Little did she know, she no longer had to fight her battles alone. Allah had sent her, her knight in shining armour, her prince on a white horse (quite literally), to fight her battles even if she didn't know it yet and he was on route. Zoya rushed to her feet from the chair she was sitting on, her whole body alert, her body ready to fight or take flight as she heard Akram's voice from outside the door.

Akram - Oye, usse khosh aaya ke nahin. Maulvi sahab intezaar nahin kar paarahe hain (laughed sleazily) lagta hai unhe bhi suhaagraat ki jaldi hai (Zoya felt her throat go dry, as tears rushed to her eyes and raced down her cheeks, tears of anger and humiliation. Her eyes narrowing dangerously at the door as she saw the doorknob open and a victoriously grinning Akram enter followed by 4 men whom Zoya instantly recognized as the goons who had chased her the last time she ran away from a marriage to Akram. Her body shuddered with disgust and anger as she saw Akram eye her up and down sleazily. Oh, how she loathed him. She wanted nothing more than to lash out at him and rip that disgusting smile off of his face but she knew she had to play this coolly. Smartly. Or else she could land herself in even more trouble than she was already in. If that were in fact even possible at this stage.

Akram - Maana parega, beshak tu aaj bhi utni hi khoobsurat lag rahee hai jitni hamari pichli shaadi pe lag rahee thee par tujhse aaj shaadi karne mein jo maza hai. Woh tab kahan tha. Aaj tujhe teri aukat jo dekhane ko mil rahee hai. Tab hamara nikah ho jaata toh kya mazaa ata..nahin bhai? (his other friend laughed a vicious laugh as he too eyed her sleazily and seeing Akram take a step towards her Zoya stepped backwards) Tab tumhari aankhon mein yeh dar kaise dekh paata, tumhe girgirate hue, maafi mangte hue..reham ki heeg maangte hue kaise dekh paata main? Apne pairon mein girte hue kaise dekh paata main (saying so he slapped her hard across the face causing her fall to the ground as she cried in pain. Her cheek stinging painfully. As she lay on the ground, holding her stinging cheek, blood spilling from her cut lip Akram knelt to the ground and yanked her head back by her hair making her yelp in pain again. Her breath hitched in her throat as she saw Akram's furious gaze flicker to her lips and she saw his eyes darken. He licked his lips staring at hers before he looked back up and glared into her eyes. Zoya's earlier confidence took a dip as she saw the look in his eye's. His eye's held a look of pure insanity in that moment. He looked crazed, like he himself had no idea what he was doing)

Akram - Ab ayee na tu. Apni aukat pe. Tum aurtein pyar se samajhti nahin ho, issi ke laik ho tum. Tumhari aukat tumhe maarke samjhayen tabhi samajh aati hai tumhe. Yahan, mere kadmon mein. Yeh hai tumhari aukat. (His eyes once again flickered to her lips and this time she saw him smile at her, a vicious grin forming on his face.) Pichli baar toh bari himmat dekhayee tune..nikkah se bhaag gayee. (Gripped her hair tighter) MERE NIKAH SE! AKRAM MEHMOOD KE NIKAH SE BHAAG GAYEE. SAB MEHMAANO KE SAAMNE..SABKE SAAMNE MERI IZZAT KI DHAJAYAN URAYEE TUNE AUR TERE GHAR WAALON NE KUCH NAHIN KAHA. CHUP CHAAP TAMASHA DEKHTE RAHE. PAR AB WOH HIMMAT KAHAN GAYEE, WOH JURAT KAHAN GAYEE! AB KARKE DEKHA..BHAAK KE DIGHA..KUCH KARKE DEKHA AB. AB TOH MAIN JO CHAHE KAR RAHA HOON. AB TOH MAIN NIKKAH SE PEHLE SUHAAG RAAT BHI (He was about to lean down to kiss her when instead Zoya spat on his face. Without thinking twice she did the first thing that came to her mind when she saw him leaning down to kiss her. And she didn't regret it one bit. She instead eyed the glass vase sitting on the table near her as she simultaneously glared at Akram who still hadn't opened his eyes. Still hadn't been able to process what had just happened. The whole room went pin drop silent as she had done that. Zoya, although starting to feel weak and dizzy again used all her strength and courage and packed a punch right into his face. Straight in the eye making him yelp in pain and fall to the ground. Without wasting another second she reached for the vase and broke it against the wall holding it up to Akram and his goons who had all lunged forward towards her the minute she had punched Akram. Zoya glared at them, as confidently as she could. Although trembling with fear and nervousness on the inside, worrying if she had just made things worst for herself, she kept her gaze steady and unnerving. She could see all 5 men stare at her with unfathomable anger. Clearly the want to hurt her was stronger than before. The 2 women were huddled together in a corner out of fear as was the maulvi sahab in the other corner. Clearly, they too had been forced to come here and were both shocked and scared of what was happening.)

Zoya - (she couldn't keep her voice from quivering) Agar koi mere paas bhi aaya toh main uski jaan le loon gi. I'll..I'll kill you. Now, Now...now move and..and let me go.

Akram - (laughed a very scary and sadistic laugh) Let you go! Ha. Tum yahan se kabhi bhi, KAHIN bhi nahin jaa rahee ho (His voice, his threat held so much conviction and he said it with so much confidence that Zoya felt her own confidence give way. She found a part of her believing him. She could almost picture the rest of her life living here at the mercy of- NO WAY. Her grip tightened on the vase, even if her legs felt like they were going to give way soon especially when Akram smiled at her in the next second. A secretive smile, like as though he was hiding something from her. As if he knew something she didn't and she had no idea what she had coming her way. A triumphed smile. Zoya's heart gripped with fear. What was going on? Was there a bigger picture here? A bigger, stronger motive to Akram and his obsession with marrying her than to sooth the blow his ego had took when she didn't marry him the last time) Tum saari zindagi Yahan..Meri biwi banke rahogi..par tumhara shauhr hone ka faida main akele nahin- (before Akram could finish that disturbing, disgusting thought, disgusting plan they heard a creak outside. A creak like someone was there. Someone was stepping on the fallen wooden branches there. Everyone turned to the window, Zoya's eyes and heart lifting with hope, had someone come to save her? Akram and his men stared at the window doubtfully. Surely no one could find them here. No one knew they were here, no one would even suspect they were here let alone come look for them, for her. Why would anyone else ever visit this deserted cabin in this jungle on the outskirts of the city and that too at this time of the night. Still, just to be on the safe side Akram signalled one of his men to go look while he turned his furious eyes back to Zoya. His patience running wearily thin with her. He needed to get this over with, his time was running out. He didn't have time to put up with her games and stupidity once again he would be here for an answer soon and Akram could not afford to let him down this time. His anger, his furiousness and his threat from last time was still fresh on his mind. His face paled with nervousness, panic for a quick second before he masked it under Anger again and glared back at Zoya with a new found determination. He had had enough.)

Akram - Chaliye Maulvi Sahab. Nikkah shuru kijiye (he began taking slow, measured and confident steps towards Zoya and Zoya kept on taking a step back. She continued holding the piece of glass up towards him as a threat but he seemed to not trust her to follow through with her threat. He seemed least bothered and continued walking up to her)

Maulvi Sahab - (shaking with fear. He didn't want to but he knew he had to say it. Even if he risked his life to do so he at least had to TRY to ring some sense into these insane people) Main..Main yeh nikkah nahin parva sakta..

One of the goons - (lunged forwards towards him making him recoil back into the corner out of fear) Eh, kya matlab beh nikah nahin parva sakta. Chup chaap nikah parva!!

Maulvi Sahab - (staring into his furious eyes with his own eyes wide and filled with fear. His body trembling. But still he had to try) Jo nikah..jo nikah ladki ki marzi ke khilaaf ho woh nikah jaez nahin hota. (To his utter horror and disbelief, he saw the man continue to glare at him before collective laughs began echoing in the room. He looked between all of them his eyes frozen with fear as he saw them all laughing as if he had cracked a joke. He was doubtful earlier but now he was sure they were all in fact deranged. Zoya too stared between them all wondering and concluding the same as soon as they had started laughing, and it was this exact diverted attention that Akram took advantage of. Before Zoya had the time to think about or process what was happening he had lunged forward into her and had snatched the glass vase from her hands, letting it gash both her hands cruelly causing her to let out a heart wrenching cry but before Zoya could finish registering the pain Akram had stabbed her upper arm with something, a pinch that felt all too familiar and Zoya felt herself fainting the very next second. All her energy vanishing, her thoughts, focus, vision everything blurring her speech slurring. She felt her mind go hazy and she again began losing focus and concentration. Taking advantage of that Akram signalled the two women to come forward, grab her and put her down on the bed. just as the other man grabbed the Maulvi Sahab and forced him to come over by holding a knife up to his throat. Zoya felt drowsy and tired. Exhausted. She just wanted to sleep. She was again finding it hard to keep her eyes open and the helplessness she felt earlier was nothing compared to what she felt now. She was losing consciousness and if she couldn't stay awake to fight him, how could Akram not get his way with her. What if he..what if he forced her, raped her while she was unconscious. With that thought, that fear chilling her to her bone she couldn't even process what was being said to her. Couldn't hear the women chanting 'Qubool hai..Bolo Qubool hai.' Her worst fear had finally come true. She had been so focused on Sameer Anand and trying to save herself from his clutches that she didn't even realize there were more threats in this hideous world than one Sameer Anand. It took another brutal slap from Akram to bring her round, to get her to snap out of her own bubble of misery and focus on answering to the monster that was glaring down at her. Zoya felt the room spin around her in a sickening way as she stared into his face, another man, another monster, she felt defeated at the hands of them. It seemed like she couldn't fight them without losing everything in the process. One of them snatched her EVERYTHING from her when he took her Jeeju's life and it seemed this one was here to finish the job on his part and doing what Sameer Anand had vowed to do. Destroy her. Little did she know, that is exactly what was going on. She heard the Maulvi Sahab repeat the question just as she felt her cheek sting again. This time excruciatingly painfully. Her whole head spun due to the force with which he hit her and Zoya lost the last shreds of strength she had. She was just so tired, so tired of fighting, struggling, she felt so tired. The darkness, the silence, the peace she was so close to felt so nice in contrast to the pain, the tears, the helplessness, this world and it's monsters, that if all it took to attain that peace and quiet was a 'Qubool hai' then so be it. She just wanted to give in to her exhaustion and sleep now. Maybe she could even be with her Jeeju once the darkness took over. That thought made her smile. If this darkness, this sleep she was falling into was death then..what could be better? She would finally be free. Free of all the questions, all the pain, the struggle, the monsters. Instead, she would be with her Jeeju. She would finally belong again, she would be happy, she would be loved, protected and she would be enough. More than anything she herself would be enough. She wouldn't have to fight for or crave for his love and attention. His love was unconditional and sufficient. And if all it took from her was a 'Qubool hai' to be with her Jeeju she was more than willing to say it..which is why the next time the Maulvi Sahab repeated the question 'Kya aapko Qubool hai' she resigned to her fate and almost eagerly said 'Qubool' but alas, Allah had sent her Knight in shining armour. He had reached just in the brink of time. Her Jeeju had made sure of it. Zoya's eyes snapped open just as an image of a set of Choclate brown eye's plagued her mind. Just as she heard the very familiar, very smooth confident and sexy voice complete her words for her. 'Qubool Nahin Hai'. His confident voice and his clear words echoed in the silence of the room. In that moment, merely in his presence, with those words, with his voice, Zoya felt like she had just bounced back to life from the clutches of death. She was right there, right at the end of the dark tunnel about to give in to the darkness and have mercy on her tired body when it seemed like she had been suddenly, with one swift move, in this case that move being his velvety voice, yanked back to life. To light. Her eyes were now open, she was oriented if not fully than at least sufficiently enough. Her eye's widened, with relief with disbelief, with happiness, with gratitude. There was not an ounce of doubt in her that her misery and suffering was over. That nothing could touch her, nothing bad could happen to her now that he was here. Even when he himself was the reason for her suffering, ironically enough she held no doubt that he would be the one to end it as well. To save her, take her away from the darkness and into the light. The colour drained from Akram's face as he took in the sight before him. A figure, clad in black, with a hood pulled over his face standing at the threshold of the door. Knowing exactly what this could mean. Even though he was wearing a hood, Akram instantly recognized him. Not by his voice, or by a glimpse of his face. But rather by the chain he held in his hand. A silver tag, with a "S" inscripted on it. Akram shook with fear. He coulld tell just by his stance, that the lion in him had been awoken. He was furious. Akram knew he had probably just invited his own death, and he; s' wasn't about to show him any mercy, at all. He could be ruthless on his best days, and today he had been double crossed, betrayed, by a friend, a brother. No one crossed him and lived to tell the tale. Akram trembled with fear as he saw him slowly remove his hood. His heart and body both trembling with fear as more and more of his livid and furious face came into view. The furious face of Asad Ahmed Khan. Zoya didn't catch a glimpse of the chain in his hand, the chain that had somehow slipped from her neck somewhere along the path to the cottage. Asad didn't dare to look at her. He didn't have the courage or the heart to. Knowing that if he did he would lose the last threads of sanity he was holding on to. He didn't trust himself. There was no telling what he would do, what hell, what pain he would unleash upon these monsters if they so much as touched her. He was in for a shock. He was busy returning the glares manifold of what he was receiving from Akram's men. Akram seemed to have gone pale as a sheet with shock and FEAR seeing Asad Ahmed Khan standing before him, GLARING AT HIM, in a manner that dared him to TRY anything and then try to stop him from ripping him apart. The fear in Akram's eyes and the disbelief, betrayal, pain and danger in Asad's both were unmistakeable. Akram trembled with fear with each word Asad spoke. Knowing that look. He had seen it enough to know that he was now as good as dead. But why? How? How had Asad managed to track him all the way down here and why? Why had he come to save Zoya..who was she to him?)

Asad - (Still not losing eye contact with Akram, not even for a second. It was as if he were trying to reassure himself that it was in fact Akram, his friend, his..brother) Yeh Nikah Jayaz nahin hai. Nikah, ek Mard aur Aurat ke beech mein hota hai..par yahan koi mard nahin hai.

(One of the goons stared at him with sheer annoyance, clearly thinking who the hell is this guy?) Goon - Jis baat ka aapse koi taluk nahin hai uss baat se aap door hi rahein toh aapke liye behtar hoga. (The next second he was crumbling in fear hearing the lion ROAR. The anger in his voice made Akram want to bury himself alive instead of enduring the inevitable fury of Asad Ahmed Khan. He cursed himself for being so foolish. He could've gotten away with it, could've escaped from EVERYONE but how could he have EVER thought he could get away with this from ASAD AHMED KHAN. Especially when-

Asad - MAIN YAHAN HOON..TOH YAKEENAN YEH BAAT MUJHSE TALUK RAKHTI HAI. AUR MAIN- (He stopped talking. His eyes finally lowering. Out of shame, out of guilt, out of fear of what he was about to see. A gust of wind blew strongly and the hair at the base of his neck stood up just as his heart began beating out of control. Hammering in his chest.) MAIN YAHAN SE ZOYA (Both his and her body erupted with goosebumps, chills running down their spines with the way her name sounded as it rolled off his tongue. Zoya. That one name, that one word held so much emotion. So much feel. So much want, so much longing, so much desire. It was like a prayer. A ray of hope, a ray of light, a guidance of life) Ko liye bina Nahin Jaonga! (Finally, Holding his breath, with a very heavy heart he mustered up all the courage he could, and raised his ashamed, guilty, remorseful and hesitant eye's towards Zoya and just as he thought the courage was nowhere near enough for him to stomach the sight that lay before him. He felt his heart stop beating for a second altogether, as he caught sight of the beautiful angel in red before him. Once again, in a red bridal Lehnga. Even in that moment he couldn't help but get blown away, get enamoured by her beauty. Her beauty, it was..surreal. He had not known beauty like her to exist. She was divine. He craved to look into, and drown in those mystical eye's but the accusations, the pain, the fear and relief, the tears in them nearly knocked the breath out of him. He couldn't..he couldn't look into her eye's. And then once he caught sight of the blood on and around her lips and chin, the redness and finger prints on her cheeks and the gashes and blood on her hands which had him flinching and wincing, his face contorting in pain almost as if he was in much more excruciating pain at the sight of her wounds than she was in due to her wounds, he lost his mind. It was simple as that. He lost whatever self constraint he was showing, whatever mercy, whatever consideration he WOULD have shown. He lost all sense of sanity and pity. He would probably have STILL given his friend the benefit of the doubt, would have let him explain himself and believed it could've all been a misunderstanding, believe he had a reason, a legitimate reason to lie to him, to break his trust and do whatever it is he did DESPITE knowing how much Asad loathed Liars, how he felt towards them and how unforgiving he could be towards them. BUT THIS. Akram had crossed not one but ALL LINES of humanity let alone friendship. He had drugged, abused and tormented a girl. HIS GIRL. ZOYA. Not even just a GIRL, he had done this to ZOYA. He had such filthy intentions towards her, that Asad couldn't even fathom them. He refused to acknowledge them for he was afraid of what beast that would unleash in him and the damage he was tempted to do, the blood he was ready to spill, the pain he was ready to inflict. If those thoughts, those very possible thoughts made him a monster than so be it but he wouldn't flinch twice before inflicting that pain on him for what he dared to do or would've done with Zoya had he not shown up when he did. And he would but not just yet. Now was not the time or the place. There was a bigger more pressing matter at hand that he had to take care of. The rest would have to wait. He took in a deep breath, his heart heavy once again as he tried and failed miserably to find the courage to look at the beautiful angel once again. To find it in him, with all the guilt and shame to approach her, to..to touch her. He gulped. Slowly, he raised his eye's towards her and locked them with her tear filled one's and he finally found the courage he needed. The courage to despite the guilt and shame that wouldn't allow him to step towards her. He found the courage in her beautiful big brown eye's. Found it in the way they were for once pleading, beseeching him to help her, save her, rescue her and take her away from here. Normally her eye's were the hope and his eye's were beseeching hers to save him, save him from himself, from the darkness that lived within the monsters that lived in him. Their gazes meshed together and the rest of the room, the rest of the world fell into oblivion. Zoya, despite the haziness of her mind, the pain she was in, the misery, the darkness and fear, enormity of what almost occurred with her, despite her own wounds which were far deeper, both internal and external couldn't help but flinch seeing the sight of his wounds. The gash above his eyebrow, the battered and broken skin around his knuckles. What had happened to him? Asad's heartbeats picked up pace, his breathing grew shallower and shallower with each step he took towards her..to gather her into his arms. To touch her. Her beautiful eye's despite the missing twinkle in them imploring, boring into his eye's wasn't helping his situation. The memory of the last time he had held her in his arms was still fresh on his mind. The fire that had ignited in him then, playing havoc with his senses in this moment. Zoya watched his hesitant steps stop a few feet away from her, his eye's never leaving hers. And then she felt it. The current, the shock that sapped through her as his cold fingers made contact with her bare back. Her heart stopped beating for a second, as a soft gasp escaped her, her eye's widened and she went stiff for all of a second before she visibly relaxed once pulled into his warmth. Gathered close to his body, his chest. Her heart beats, despite her hazy mind spiralled out of control, resembling the pounding in his chest, and her breathing was just as shallow as his. She looked up, and found herself feeling disappointed as she saw him look away immediately. This was about all his guilty consciousness could endure without inflicting pain upon those responsible for the pain, the tears in her eye's. He instead, before he walked out with her turned to Akram..his fingers subconsciously tightening his hold on her, and the look that he gave Akram, the promise to see him soon had Akram close his eye's and wish for death to come to him instead. But even God wasn't showing him that mercy. He would PAY for what he did. He had seen the silent promise in Asad's eyes. Asad with three long, confident strides walked out of that godforsaken cabin, feeling like he would light it on fire if he didn't, and no one dared to make a move to stop him. No one held the courage to. And for good reason, because as soon as Asad had stepped onto the dirt track that led out of the jungle. Shadows of black emerged from nowhere, from the heavens above, and within no time they had surrounded the entire cabin and all it's inmates. Asad may not have spilled blood or inflicted pain upon anyone, but they were not about to show that kind of mercy.

Asad slowed his pace, somewhat deliberately and somewhat subconsciously as he reached the bridge. The bridge from where he could spot his Limo, his driver and his bodyguard waiting along with another man. Or what was left of him anyway. The same bridge where not so long ago Zoya found herself finding a pair of very familiar Chocolate brown eye's gazing into hers. Staring into her soul. He knew that soon, once he reached the limo he would have no reason to hold her so closely and just the idea of that void unleashed a dull ache in his heart. He couldn't help but feel just a little greedy, a little desperate for the warmth, the general energy and kindness that emanated off of her. He could feel her beautiful brown orbs still gazing at him, and he was afraid to turn his had even the slightest. Afraid of what he would see in them, afraid of what it would do to him, afraid that he wouldn't be able to go back once he did look into them. Yet, the greed, the craving, the want was much too much. He couldn't help himself. He didn't even WANT to help himself and his head turned in the slightest of ways. Slight, but enough to capture her gaze, and drown in those brown eyes. It was as if time stood still. The world stood still. It was just her, just him and no one else. Nothing else. No Akram, no guilt, no pain. No Demons, no darkness and no torment. Just him & her. Asad felt a jolt, his heart jolt as he fell under the spell of those beautiful brown eye's and Zoya felt herself subconsciously snuggle closer to his chest. Her breathing a little more ragged, her heartbeat a little more fast as she tightened her hold around him. Something crackled in the air in that moment. A shift in energy, a shift in the air, a shift in nature, something or the other happened but sparks flew for sure. As he carried her down the bridge, his burning glaze locked with her burning glaze just as the first rays of the burning sun rose in the distance behind them. Something ignited between them, something changed between them, between their hearts. And it scared and completed the both of them, just a little. Zoya drew herself even closer to him. It was as if the protectiveness, the safety of his arms evoked the feeling she had craved her whole life. Searched high & low for, around the globe the search which had maddened her. Driven her to the point of insanity with the desperation, need and want. The feeling of finally being...home. A haven. A Solace. His arms held the power, the magic, the remedy, the cure to fix her wounds, heal her cracks. Her pain. And suddenly, once again the bubble popped and reality crashed down. The enormity of what almost happened, what could've happened came crashing down on her. What could've happened had it not been for him and what shouldn't have even been able to be POSSIBLE to happen had it not been for him. Her eye's filled with tears, her lips quivering as the sting in her cheeks, her lips, the pain in her hands returned just as the bubble popped and the haziness grew heavier. Just as she looked away, Asad felt something constrict in his chest, excruciating painfully. The dull ache in his heart grew stronger and he too looked away, his eye's as indifferent, cold and hard as ever. But the guilt, the shame, the FEAR swimming in them was unmistakeable. He didn't even want to imagine what could've been now that it was all over.

He finally crossed the walkway and reached his limo which the driver had the door open to. It took just those few minutes between then and now for Zoya to finally give in to the effects of whatever it was they had drugged her with and fall into unconsciousness. Both to Asad's relief and worry. Relief because he couldn't see the tears, the accusations, or the pain in her eye's and at least this way she wouldn't be feeling or be reminded of the pain, both internal and external. She wouldn't be re-living what were possibility the worst, some of the most excruciatingly torturous hours of HIS LIFE. And the worry stemmed from seeing her lose consciousness even if his common sense was providing him with reason & logic as to why. Jay just gave him a sad smile, the relief and sympathy towards Zoya visible in his eye's as was the disgust and disbelief towards Akram. His friend Akram. Asad didn't say anything, instead he very carefully, greedily, gladly gathered Zoya even closer to himself and ducked his head as he slid into his limo. He kept her gathered close to his chest until he was seated properly and then he very carefully, very gently placed her head on his lap. Resting on his forearm, his hand laced through her beautiful silky hair, that felt as natural as skin, on his arm, weaved through his fingers. Like that was how it was meant to be. How his life was meant to be. Weaved with hers. His days and nights spent with his fingers weaved through her beautiful tresses as she laid her head, her beautiful head in his lap as such. Even unconscious, her beauty rendered him breathless. Speechless. He couldn't tear his eye's away from the angel sleeping in his arms. A painful lump formed in his throat as he saw her usually bright and glowing cheeks, glowing from sheer joy, and the brightness that was just HER, now glowing a bright red thanks to the fingers of that monster. His hand coiled into a fist next to her head and the other hand next to her legs on the seat. His eye's turned ice cold, harsh, brutal, and merciless. The darkness in him, the demon in him, visible in them. It was nothing like the twinkle that shined in her eye's. In contrast to the life that twinkled in them, that brought joy and warmth to people, brought his soul to life. The darkness in his eyes brought chills of fear, misery, death to those that gazed deeply enough. Like his bodyguard Jay who was standing right next to the window.

Asad - (swallowed the lump in his throat.) Nick Doesn't find about this. At any cost. (Jay nodded, understandingly and affirmatively. Asad spared one last disgusted, hateful glance at the subconscious, battered, bleeding and bruised man, the remains of him at least which Jay held up from his collar, just as Asads's driver took off. The man Jay was holding up was the same man who had left the cabin to go find the source of the creak earlier on.)

xxx

Continued in next post...

Khan Mansion:

The limo pulled through the gates and Asad had yet to manage to look away from her. He was so lost in her beauty, in what it did to his heart that he hadn't even realized his fingers had been lazily playing with her hair the entire ride home. His head had been leaning against the window, as he stared at her with soft, adorning eye's. No pain, no anger, no guilt nothing. Just pure adoration, pure desire..pure longing. As if she were the answer to all his prayers. The prayers he never prayed, but held somewhere in his heart nonetheless. She was all he thought he never wanted, never needed, could never have. Yes, she was all that he could never have and yet she was all that he wanted. He needed. To live, to love, to laugh. To come back to life, to heal, to be whole again. She was the sweetness he needed in his bitter life, the light he needed in his darkness, the courage he needed to fight off his demons, the warmth needed to survive every storm, and all that he needed to be lulled to a peaceful, yearned slumber. Just like he was at the moment. Her presence, her touch, her warmth brought him peace like nothing and no one else. He could barely hear the way his heart was pounding in his chest due to the beauty in his lap. Her beauty seemed to only enhance in the near dawn light. Asad sighed. He was in trouble. His heart was in so much trouble, that much he was certain of. The sleeping beauty in his arms had somehow managed to break through some of the walls of STEEL he had built around his heart and it seemed like she was coming crashing right through the rest, and there was nothing he could do..or seemed like want to do to stop her. That much he had come to terms with by the time his limo had pulled to a stop before his house. What was happening to him? What was this? This pull..this attraction..this want..this feeling..this- He snapped out of his thoughts as the driver got the door for him. Making him jolt into awareness and stare at the driver in utter bewilderment and confusedness. The driver looked down afraid and almost apologetic. Perhaps he shouldn't have gotten the door yet. He may have interrupted what seemed from the eye's of his boss..a rather intimate moment. Finally Asad stared around himself and snapped back to reality. Realization dawning on him. Right. They were back home. Safe & sound..back home. Away from the clutches of those..his hands balled into fists again. His jaw clenched painfully as he gazed at the wounds, the blood on Zoya's face. Looking away, the sight of them much to tormenting for him. He still couldn't believe..this had happened. In one night..this night..this is how it turned out. He very gently, very hesitantly gathered her up in his arms again, close to his chest, careful of her wounds..careful to not hurt her and careful to ignore the feelings of wholeness, contentment and fulfillment he got as he pulled her warmth into his own. He also ignored the feeling and fact of how perfectly she fit into his arms. Like as though god carved her to mould perfectly into him. Like as though he carved her, created her just for him. Ignoring the thumping heart that seemed to beat even wilder as that realization dawned on him. Asad walked through the front doors of his majestic mansion as his driver got the door for him again. And he was not surprised at all to see his Ammi and sister asleep on the sofas in he living room. Obviously they probably passed out from exhaustion and worry. Forget Zoya they hadn't been able to contact him either for the last few hours. But Dilshad's restless heart even while asleep suddenly felt calm, relaxed, whole again. Peaceful again. The worry and fear that had kept her restless all night dissipated from it and she knew her son was okay. He was near, he was close, he was home. Her tired eye's fluttered open slowly, a small relieved smile on her face until she saw the sight before her. Her son, her slightly injured Asad, carrying an even more injured and unconscious Zoya, decked in a bridal lehnga in his arms. Her heart leapt to her mouth, it nearly stopped beating out of fear.

Dilshad - Ya Allah! (Hearing her voice, even Aisha jerked awake. It took her all of 3 seconds before she too was on her feet clutching her chest over her heart out of fear and concern. What the hell had happened to them? What was going on? Seemed like Ammi was thinking the same thing..)

Dilshad - Asad..yeh..Zoya tum-

Asad - (stared worriedly from Zoya's face to his Ammi's worried one. He knew she had questions, worries and probably was going to be VERY VERY angry but the questions would have to wait. First thing was first) Ammi first aid box. Aapi..Will you take a look at her? (Aisha stared between Asad and Dilshad nervously. Her?) Aapi please. It's urgent (The desperation in his voice forbid Aisha from arguing or trying to refuse) please don't try to say you can't treat her either. About me, I still understand but..here..(narrowed his eye's at her. He really didn't have the patience to be understanding at the moment. He was on the brink of losing it altogether at the moment) Aapi You're a doctor..she..(his voice quivered as the guilt returned. Almost suffocating him this time around) she's hurt. (He wanted to scream 'and it's my fault', wanted to punch something and destroy something, hurt himself more than he had hurt her, even if it was indirectly. He may not have physically hurt her, but he had allowed her to be physically hurt by someone else and to him that was the same if not worse)

Aisha- Oh..Ok..Put her in her room. I'll be right there. (Dilshad had tears streaming down her cheeks as she took in Zoya's condition. Somewhere in some way's feeling responsible and guilty for allowing it to have happened. Whatever had happened. Asad avoided her eye's, letting her have a moment as Aisha ran off to get her medical supplies and Asad went to Zoya's room to put her to bed to finally let her tired body have the rest she needed)

Zoya's Room: The void was back again. The void of impending doom. That was what the idea of parting from her felt like. Of letting go, of not holding her any longer felt like. Painful. Like a soul, a heart, or a breath parting from a body. All things crucial to existence. As crucial as she was fast becoming for his existence. He gazed longingly at her sleeping face once more, one last time as he kneeled on her bed and slowly lowered her onto her bed. Away from him, away from the dull ache that began settling on his heart again. The same heart that was filled with contentment just mere seconds ago, basking in the natural warmth that emanated off of her. He kept her head lifted as he picked up one of the cushions strewn about her messy room and bed and placed it beneath her head. Sighing longingly he tried, with everything he had in him to convince his gaze to part from her face but he couldn't no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't stop himself from gazing at her. Continuously non stop, just staring. It pained him to look away, but he knew he had to. He had to resign to his fate. Nothing good, nothing pure, nothing beautiful, nothing bright and nothing alive was meant for him and Zoya WAS all those things. She was beautiful, and pure and Bright. She was Life. And he was the darkness that held the power to taint her. He knew what he had to do. Without thinking, without waiting he just had to in one swift movement turn around and walk away and no matter what, no matter how hard or how painful it was NOT look back. But at this stage, it was now easier said than done. As soon as he tried to turn away from her, it seemed she also didn't want him to go away from her just as much as he didn't. Seems she wasn't ready to lose the warmth, the safety and protection of his arms just yet. She wanted to hold onto him just as much as he wanted to be held by her. He looked towards her and saw her slowly coming around again, she was slowly gaining consciousness and the reason he couldn't move despite his 'best' efforts was because his hand had gotten stuck beneath her head. Just like in the car she was even now, still asleep on his forearm and his hand was still weaved through his hair, and he hadn't even realized. It had just felt so right, so natural that he couldn't even realize it. He knew he had to dee tangle himself from her, and leave the room no matter how much the sight of her wounds rendered him incapable as did his heart he couldn't possibly just let her be, let his heart be and just sit by her side and watch her remain sleeping as peacefully as she was at the moment. He tried his best to gently remove his arm from beneath her head but no matter which tactic or angle he used she wouldn't let it budge. Finally having no choice he applied a little bit of pressure and it caused her head to loll to the side just enough for him to gently pull his arm out and the void he felt earlier, returned again only this time much stronger as they now had no physical contact at all. They were no longer joined in any shape or form. They were once again two different, distinct bodies, two different souls from two different worlds not meshed together in any form. Even unconscious, Zoya's restlessness was visible on her face after losing the comforting, protective soothing bubble she could feel around herself in the form of a touch. A touch so soft, so tender, so warm Zoya felt like nothing and no one could ever touch her again. Hurt her again. Like she was finally free from the clutches of this dark world. And just as suddenly the touch was gone. Instead the fear, the anxiety, the cold bubble returned. After carefully patiently waiting for her to stop trying to find a comfortable position and stop lolling her head Asad finally very dejectedly removed his hand from her head. Zoya tried but no position no matter how much she tried nothing was as soothing and comforting as the pillow she had been resting her heavy and tired head on this entire while. But finally she resigned to her fate as always and settled for whatever was second best. Perhaps comforting, protective, safe and happy spaces were just not meant for her. Asad stared at her one final time before he knew he had to leave. It was like the feeling one would get right after the greatest escape, greatest holiday when it was time to go home to reality and you would take one last look. One last longing look. The look that took it all in. The beauty, the serenity, the memories, the peace the happiness of that short escape from reality. That one last look could be all you need to find peace and spend the rest of your life contended. In Asad's case no matter how many last looks he took it just wasn't enough. He found his heart turning again and again in whichever direction Zoya stood, Zoya sat or lay, Zoya ran or laughed, Zoya danced. But at the moment the guilt the regret the anger and pain caused his eyes to reflexively lower and look away after a few seconds each time. It was about all he could take, the sight of her wounds made him want to destroy whoever had dared to hurt her in any shape or form, himself included. His eye's flickered down her body for a split second and that split second was enough to cause him to look away almost instantly. that one second was enough for a fire to ignite in him and there'd be nothing stopping it, putting the fire out as even the slightest spark could burn them both to ashes within seconds. Within one more glance, with so much as just one more touch. But he couldn't just let it be either. He swallowed nervously and with shaky hands he grabbed the edge of her dupatta making sure to not be anywhere near her skin, he pulled it down slowly, covering her bare stomach with it. His hands shaky out of fear and nervousness, his eye's burning with a desire so strong and a will so weak to not lower his gaze, for he was scared of what the slightest sight or touch of her skin would render him capable of. He could not be accountable for anything. Once done he felt like his whole body was on fire and the fire would only burn out once he was away from the source that ignited the fire. Her. He had to get out of here, away from her, he and his heart were in GRAVE danger at the moment. He pulled the duvet that was strewn messily around her bed over her, not taking the injuries on her hand's into account as he was far too fixated on the injuries on her beautiful face and the hiss of pain that escaped her beautiful lips was enough to kill him a 100 times over. It felt like someone had shot a thousand daggers through his heart. He found himself wincing, his face blanching in pain right along with hers as a soft whimper escaped her tortured, pained yet still blindingly beautiful features. Reigning his guilt and pain behind his mask of anger and cold indifference easily since he did actually feel angry at himself for feeling so pained, so vulnerable, so guilty for feeling anything at all towards anybody especially towards her. It petrified him, to say the least. Especially, as despite his anger, his indifference despite KNOWING better and despite the voice in his head that was screaming at him to get out before it was too late he still found himself kneeling beside her gazing at her delicate and bloodied hands with the most tender of gazes, for it was already too late. He was all in, he was free falling, plummeting to his destruction by the beauty in red and there were no stops, no turning back no saving him from this. He could probably be saved from being destroyed at the hands of any demon any ghost of his past but Asad Ahmed Khan's destruction at the hands of Zoya Farooqui could not be helped. It was inevitable. He very tenderly, raised her dangling delicate hand adorned in red bridal chooriyan the sight of which once again reminded him of the horrid dreadful thought of what almost happened what could've happened and his jaw clenched painfully as he very tenderly placed her hand on her waist before reaching over and placing the other one right beside it in a way that would ensure nothing not even herself nor any fabric could touch them or hurt them. All the while he tried his best and failed miserably at noticing how soft, delicate and beautiful her hands were and especially how they fit so perfectly into his hands. Just as he was setting her second hand down, he felt something. His pinky touched something rather abrasive like a ridge an unusual breaking or a sharp slit of sorts on her wrist. He narrowed his eye's confusedly, what was that? Unfortunately..before he could find out he heard his Aapi rushing into the room with her medical kit. His Ammi hot on her heels, both of them ignoring him and rushing straight to Zoya worriedly. Asad got out of their way at once, feeling the strongest of the strongest feeling of void return to him. Just like the push n pull between him and her the void and contended feelings in his heart were exasperating and scaring him and so it took everything in him all the courage all the strength but he turned around and left the room in 5 long strides and yes, this time he did manage to do so without turning back once. For if he turned this time there would be no turning back around again.

Asad's Room: Asad entered his room just as the sun finally began rising fully, filling his usually dark room with light he finally caught sight of his hands. His injured, bruised and bloodied hands and he frowned at the sight of them. His blood, Blood of that scoundrel he had beaten outside the cottage and Zoya's blood. The thought again sending stabbing feelings of guilt, pain and anger through his heart. Earlier he was so caught up in Zoya and her beauty, her pain, his constantly growing pull towards her and his constantly decreasing strength and will to fight it that it didn't let him notice it but now His OCD mixed with a crippling demon of his past came racing back to him. He walked to the bathroom hurriedly, cringing more and more with each step. His face blanching more and more painfully, fearfully at the sight of blood on his hands again and the need to get it off was so desperate he had nearly broken out into a cold sweat in panic. He nearly gasped for air finally when he reached the wash basin and threw open the taps full speed placing his hands beneath the tap and letting the water wash away his sins, his mistakes and his blood. Her blood. His blood. He closed his eye's for a split second as a raging gunshot, the sight of blood..and blood filled hands flashed before his eye's again and when he opened his eye's again the blood was cleaned from his hands. His hands were the usual pale white with a hint of a tan they usually were. All that was left was the broken skin around his knuckles and the bruises but he wasn't satisfied. He could still see it. The blood. It was all just red for him. He frowned. The desperation even stronger as he began soaping and rubbing with even more concentration, even more compulsively, ready to do ANYTHING to get the blood off. Maybe if just as the blood washed away, so would the sin. His sin. Maybe it was that easy. As easy as washing your hands to get rid of the guilt, the demon, the nightmares. But if that was the case why was he still suffering? Why was his heart still suffering? Why was he still living with the pain, the guilt, the remorse? As if those thoughts weren't enough to cripple him just as he was washing his hands his words, his each horrendous disgusting, insulting, accusing word came rushing back to his ears. Truly causing him to break into a cold sweat and wash his hands even more vigorously. As if the water would wash away the guilt he felt and the pain she would've felt from those hurtful words of his. If only it were that simple. Oh how he wished he could take each word back. Each word he ever uttered towards her as an insult to her and in defence of his 'friend'. The thought finally snapped him out of his daze. His eye's ablaze with fury, snapped to the mirror as he finally managed to stop washing his hands and instead they gripped the basin with a rather determined and anticipating look in his eye's. He simply couldn't wait to get his hands on his 'friend' and teach him a valuable lesson of friendship. Asad Ahmed Khan's most favourite lesson. The lesson on betrayal and backstabbing. For what he felt and how he dealt with backstabbers could be set as an example for the rest of the world for how to treat scoundrels such as Akram, especially when unfortunately, you fail to see them for who and what they really are. But now that he had. He had seen he was going to make sure Akram would remember the unforgiving and merciless side of Asad Ahmed Khan for the rest of his miserable and unfortunate days to come.

10 Minutes later - Asad had changed into some casuals, black jeans and a checkered shirt. He was sitting on his bed wrapping his bruised hand in a white bandage when he heard a knock on his door. He looked up to see Aisha standing there, dressed and leaving for work. Something which Asad clearly did not look ready to do.

Aisha - (gave him a small smile from the door) She's fine. (Asad looked up towards her in surprise and relief. Then he instantly masked it under a cold, I don't care attitude and looked down. But he didn't fool her. She had seen the desperation to hear those words earlier when her madly panicked brother had practically ordered her to examine Zoya as if not hers but his life was on the line, she had seen the relief on his face just now as well) (She sighed shaking her head slightly at her emotionally detached, cold distant brother as she walked further into his room.) Physically woh bilkul theek hai besides the obvious minor physical cuts and bruises. Bas humme uski emotional condition pe thori se nazar rakhni hogi (Asad's eyes glared a hole into the floor. His guilt eating away at him. Aisha herself couldn't help the worry and concern from seeping into her voice. She smiled a small smile at him seeing him so guilty. She knew he was terribly regretful over his actions from earlier and as angry as she was with him she couldn't help but feel a little bad for him. She knew very well how stubborn, impulsive, emotionally vulnerable and down right an idiot her brother could be, especially when it came to relationships. He had done whatever he had done out of love, care and concern for his friend. She knew Asad considered all his friends to be like his brothers, his family he would take a bullet for any one of them. It wasn't completely his fault if he hadn't seen this coming. How was he to know that whilst he was busy being a good friend to him the same good friend would shoot him right in the back. She placed a kiss on his forehead seeing him not even look up and continue to mechanically bandage his own hand just as his Ammi walked into his room. Asad still didn't look up but Aisha signalled her with her eye's to tend to his wound for her. Along with getting late Dilshad knew there was no way Aisha could stand the sight of her brothers wound, pain or blood even in the slightest. She could heal a wounded army, their most gruesome wounds without flinching but god forbid Asad even get a paper cut. Dilshad nodded with a slight shake of her head at her and Aisha smiled brightly before practically skipping out of the room and Dilshad walked over to where he was sitting on the bed. Asad had sensed her arrival at the door and knew she was approaching him, but he still didn't look up or acknowledge her presence not even when she took a seat right beside him on the bed. He couldn't face her. He felt guilty and ashamed before her too and he knew she too was immensely disappointed at him even if she didn't outright say it. And that only made him feel worse about himself. It was one of the things he absolutely couldn't tolerate, couldn't handle. Have his Ammi think less of him or be disappointed with him. She didn't say anything, just took his wounded hand into her own and began bandaging it properly in contrast to the lame half hearted job he was doing. Asad found all the pain disappear from his hand in just that one second with just that one touch. A mother's touch. It could do, it could heal what all the painkillers antiseptic and gauze in the world couldn't do. Whilst she was bandaging his hand she asked the one question Asad was dreading answering the most. But he also knew it was hopeless to think she or Aisha wouldn't ask sooner or later.

Dilshad - Tumne Akram aur uske saath jo ghunde the unka kya Kiya?

Asad - (stared at his bandaged hand once Dilshad was done with it. Before latching into what sounded like a well deliberated and thought out answer) Aap Unki Fikar mat karein ammi. (Clenched his fists just thinking about it. Oh how his blood boiled over just THINKING about that so called friend of his) Unhone jo karkat ki hai uss hisab se un sabko unke anjaam tak pauhancha diya gaya hai (Dilshad stared at him for a brief second in return of his vague response but she looked away then. Her face, her eye's all looking contended with the answer, an understanding passing through them as if she knew exactly what he meant and she was satisfied with the meaning hidden behind his words) Unn sabko woh taleem de di gayee hai jo unhe bauhat pehle de deni chahiye thee. (Oh how he despised men like him. His 'friend' had turned out to be everything he abhorred men to be) Ab woh chahein bhi toh kabhi bhi kissi aurat ko buri nigah se nahin dekh payenge. Har mard ko yeh samajh lena chahiye ke unhe Aurton ko kaise respect karna chahiye..ek aurat bhi utni hi izzat ki hakdar hoti hai jitna Akram jaise mard hudko samajhte hain. Aur yeh taleem har mard ko bauhat pehle de deni chahiye taake woh kabhi bhi kahin bhi kissi aurat ko buri niga se na dekhein (He clenched his jaw almost painfully, unable to stop himself from recalling what that swine of a man intended to do with her. The condition he had found her in) Mujhe toh khud pe afsos hota hai. Ke woh mere bachpan ka dost hai mere office mein kaam karta hai humne saath mein itna waqt bitaya tab bhi main usse pehchaan nahin paaya

Dilshad - Pehchaan toh tum Zoya ko bhi nahin Paye Asad. Asad tumhare dimaagh mein sirf ek tasveer banee hui hai ke Achi ladkiyan sirf aisi hi hotin hain aur jiss ladki ka chehra usse nahin milta tumhe lagta hai ke woh ladki toh ghalat hai. Zoya ghalat ladki nahin hai beta..woh sirf doosron se alag hai. Kissi bhi insaan ki zindagi ke baare mein bina kuch jaane bina kuch samjhe uski zindagi ka ek hi pehlu dekh ke uske baare mein raye bana lena..sahee nahin hota Asad. it's not right. Yeh uss insaan ke saath na insafi hoti hai.

Asad - Ammi, Main maanta hoon ke Akram ne jo kiya woh ghalat hai..bauhat ghalat hai. But iss sabse Zoya ki ghalati kam nahin ho jaati. Yun aen waqt pe apne nikkah se bhaag jaana yeh sahee nahin ho sakta. Yeh sirf khudgarzi hai. Doosron ke baare mein bina soche samjhe yun rishton ko torna, aisi ladkiyan na kissi ki feelings ki parva karti hain, na izzat ki aur nahin rishton ki. Woh khudse to ek hi rishta taurtin hain par yeh nahin samajh paatin ke uss ek rishte ke tootne se baaki kitne rishte bikhar sakte hain jo uss rishte saath jure hote hain..

Dilshad - (sighed. Her eye' desperate. Losing hope. She knew, she understood the betrayal and insecurity hidden behind her sons words and she wanted more than anything to just do whatever it took for him to move past all that, move forward and be able to grasp things, life, people with open arms instead of flinching back, maintaining a distance and pushing opportunities that were meant for him out of the fear of getting burnt like the countless times he had before) Bhool toh farishton se bhi hoti hai Asad hum toh phir insaanon ki baat kar rahe hain. Jab Khuda Insaan ko apni ghalati ki maafi maangne ki, sudharne ka doosra mauka de sakta hai toh-

Asad - Ghalati aur Gunnah mein bauhat fark hota hai Ammi. Ghalati anjaane mein hoti hai Ammi aur Gunnah hum jaan boojke karte hain. Aur khudgarzi gunnah hai. Aur agar selfish logon ko phirse koi ghalati sudharne ka mauka diya jaye na Ammi toh woh phirse wohee kareinge, kyunki insaan ki fitrat hi aisi hoti hai.

Dilshad - Tum kuch bhi kehlo Asad usse tumhare andar chupa guilt kam nahin hone waala. (Asad's head snapped towards her, his mouth open, ready to protest, only nothing came out because in his heart of hearts he was guilty and he knew it) Jaise Akram ko ghalat tehraane se Zoya sahee nahin hoti waise Zoya ko ghalat tehraane se tumhare ghalati kum nahin hoti aur iss baar tum ghalat ho. (Asad clenched his jaw, looking straight ahead. His EGO taking a blow. He desperately tried his utmost best to find a reason, any reason to justify his actionjust so he could stop feeling this way. This overwhelming, suffocating feeling of guilt. But..he couldn't) Agar tum karwee baatein bolte ho toh sunne ki himmat bhi rakho. I am disappointed in you Asad. Very disappointed. Tumne jo Zoya ko kaha, jo kiya, jo tumhari wajah se uske saath aaj ho jaata (shook her head. Asad lowered his ahead ashamedly. He had not wanted or wished for any of this to happen. He had really just wanted to help his friend and all he had ended up doing was having his mother disappointed in him. All he had done in his life was to avoid doing this very thing. Hurting or disappointing his Ammi. Doing anything that would cause him to be ashamed to look up into her eye's and yet that is exactly what he had unintentionally ended up doing so today. And if there was any scope left for him to feel horrible about himself then this was the final nail in the coffin. Dilshad who had begun walking out of his room stopped by his door and turned around. She didn't want to bring up wounds of his past, didn't want to cause him any more grief than he was clearly already in but she knew this was necessary. If he didn't hear it now, understand this simple fact now the damage down the line would be far more collateral than what had happened today. So despite knowing that she was intentionally putting her son in pain she just had to address the insecurity, fear and ghost from his past that had irked him so badly, had touched such a sensitive nerve regarding his past, caused him to blow the entire situation so out of proportion. She sighed deeply taking in a deep breath asking her Allah to forgive her for being a horrible mother. She was WILLINGLY about to bring so much pain on to her son.

Dilshad - (watching him sitting on the bed with his head bowed down with guilt and shame, she whispered the words that caused him to visibly stiffen. His fists and jaw clench painfully. His eye's go ablaze with fury at the mention of those two names.) Zoya isn't Maha or Shireen. She is Zoya, Asad. Just Zoya. (saying so she walked out of there, unable to stand seeing the pain those two names brought to him. The pain ghosts of his past associated with those two names those two people brought to him. Unable to see the pain on his face as he struggled with that fact. That although she may remind him of them in certain way's, Zoya was NOT in fact his step mother or Maha. In fact she was NOTHING like them. It was unfair for him to judge her and wait for the hat to drop. Wait for his fears to come true, for her to turn out to be just the same and betray him, do exactly what they had done.)

10 minutes Later: After debating, struggling, giving himself 101 pep stalks Asad still stood rooted to the same spot outside her bedroom door, facing the same dilemma. His hand raised awkwardly at the door. Should he? Should he not? His brain was screaming at him to not do it. To just turn around and walk off. Okay fine, he had committed a mistake wronged her, almost caused her to get forcefully married to a lunatic but that was it right? It was a mistake. It wasn't the first mistake he committed, the first person he ever wronged but he never explained himself to anyone, never apologized for his mistakes. He was AAK. He didn't apologize to anyone. Then how was she any different? No, No she wasn't. But it seemed his heart was not entirely convinced. His heart instead wanted to go in there and tell her. Tell her EVERYTHING. Explain himself. She deserved it. She deserved to know why, why despite everything his heart said to him, convinced him with, everything she herself convinced him with, everything he saw, heard, felt, why he just couldn't give her he benefit of the doubt. Why he had pre-set notions and judgements about her based on the image of 'girls like her' that was already set in his mindset, and why thanks to two unfortunate and very close burns by those girls it was so easy for him to suspect her. Blame her at the drop of the hat. Why it was so hard for him to believe that she was what he wanted her to be. What he felt her to be. Why he felt like she would betray him, burn him. And why he had forced her to go. Once the memory and recall of what he had done came back to haunt him, his hand lowered automatically. Guiltily. Coiling into fists beside him once again. His jaw clenched torturously again. In one swift second he had decided what he was going to do and he had turned around ready to make a move, away from her room. His mind winning out but before he could walk away completely, something stopped him briefly. A voice. Her voice. Her words. Words that pierced through his heart and his dark soul.

Zoya- (muttering in her state of semi-consciousness, pleading with him, the monster. And it made Asad loath him even more. He hated the begging, the pleading in her voice. Hated the idea of her pleading with anyone but here it only made him realize how much she probably had to plead with those monsters for mercy. The thought alone drove him more and more insane) Akram, nahin..yeh nikah.. nahin mujhe yeh nikah nahin karna hai..don't force me...please..Aapi..nahin I don't..Akram..(then she slipped into unconsciousness. The effects of the drugs wearing heavily on her. She may have fell unconscious but she had no idea the storm her words had brought on. The damage they did to Asad's heart. Minutes ticked by but he stood there. Crippled, frozen, rooted to the same spot. Her words, her fear, her tears and his guilt disabling him.

xxx

Sunshine Orphanage:

An Uproar! That is what the arrival of Asad caused at the orphanage each time he visited and today was no different. And as always, the precious angels living at the orphanage were enough to bring a small smile on his usually stoic and brooding face. He stood rooted to the spot, unable to move as both his legs and hands had angels clamped onto them from all sides. He was surrounded from all fours as they enveloped him into a big tight hug outside the orphanage. Farida Bi stood in the doorway along with other helpers of the orphanage as Asad tried to reason with the kids to let him go, as if he were negotiating the terms of a new business merger. Stoic, formal and emotionally detached. God, what would become of this boy?

Asad - Acha, okay..okay okay (sighed helplessly as they still cheered and shouted in glee upon seeing their favourite Asad Bhaiyya. He looked towards Farida Bi for help but to his disappointment she just shrugged and laughed at his plight instead. Finally, Seeing his plight his bodyguard Jay decided to have some mercy however and help him out. He popped open the trunk to his limousine and held up a gigantic box)

Jay- Hey Bacha Party! Who wants a happy meal (the kids all finally let go of Asad and instead began running towards Jay screaming in Joy again. Asad looked towards Jay, his gratitude shining through his eye's and Jay just winked at him in return. Finally, Asad turned towards Farida Bi his eye's searching for his Pari who as alway's stood patiently waiting for her turn, hugging her batman figure tightly towards her. A dazzling smile, one that lit up her eye's as well lighting up her face. Her sheer joy upon finally getting to meet her Chachoo and her love for him shining in her eye's. A mirror imag, an exact reflection of the love that shined in her Chachoos eye's. After the night/the day he had, the heaviness that had settled over his heart he knew nothing would be able to help it but a hug from an angel. Or a bunch of angels in this case. The guilt, the pain, the betrayal, the disappointment and knowing how many

People he had let down, especially his Ammi, he knew all he needed to hold himself together and not fall apart was a hug from his Pari. The best hug in the world. He needed to be reassured that he was still at least a hero in her eyes, HER hero, that someone still loved him, wanted him. That there was at least ONE person who mattered to him that he hadn't managed to let down. Yet. He slowly bent down, holding his arms wide open and that was about all the invitation Pari needed to burst into angelic bouts of giggles and run as fast as her legs could carry her into her favourite place in the whole wide world. Her Chachoo's strong protective arms. Before she could fully run into them and hug him with all the might she had in her tiny body her Chachoo lifted her off her feet and launched her into the air. Causing her to laugh adorably. That laugh was enough to broaden his smile, just a smidge. He could already feel his cracks healing just a tiny bit hearing that adorable laugh. He brought her down slowly, knocking his forehead with hers causing her to giggle in return as they smiled at each other, their foreheads joined. Finally he hugged her tiny body against his chest as tightly as he could. As if he would let go and she would disappear. Or she too would be disappointed in him. And just as her tiny arms wrapped around him he could feel the cracks in his cracked heart healing. Pari sighed, finally feeling content and happy. She had finally gotten what she had been yearning for days. To see and spend time with her Chachoo. Farida Bi smiled, gazing at them with soft adorning eye's. Their love for each other was enough to melt even the coldest of heart's and bring tears to anyone's eyes. It was just so pure and beautiful.

xxx

Continued in next post...

15 minutes Later - Pari was giggling with Joy as she bounced lightly on the trampoline at the orphanage holding her chachoo's hands.

Asad - Now you know that you can play on this but araam araam se. No jumping as crazily as Ahad does on this right? (Asad said eyeing one of the naughtier kids at the orphanage with a small smile on his face. Ahad along with the other kids was happily munching away at his happy meal and talking excitedly with others about the toy he had gotten from his happy meal)

Pari - (giggled) I know chachoo. I know I have to be careful. That's why I don't play on this at all and (her smile dipped as she saw the other kids happily enjoying their meals and talking about their toys. Asad smiled a sad smile looking at her. Who could know the pain better than him of having a childhood less fortunate or what being different from other kids one's age felt like.)

Asad - (pinched her cheek) Hey. Just a few more day's right. Pretty soon the nice doctor will write you a note that say's Pari Khan can eat all the happy meals she wants in the whole city. And that day (he signalled her to lean closer once he had gotten her to smile finally and she did excitedly) tab main aur aap McDonalds mein jitne happy meal honge SAB kha denge. (Just like he had hoped, his little Pari burst into giggles right away. However, little did he know it wasn't for the reason he thought it was)

Pari - Chachoo, happy meal mein carrots aur vegetables nahin hote phir aap kaise khaoge (she laughed even harder seeing Asad cringe as he watched the kids)

Asad - Khaane toh aap bachon ko bhi nahin chahiyen, so unhealthy but (sighed shaking his head) Kids. Main aap logon ke liye carrots leke aaon toh aap khaate nahin ho (Pari cringed and Asad pulled her nose playfully making her giggle)

Asad - (his eye's catching something, causing him to narrow them) Hey..nice sweater. Yeh kahan se aaya?

Pari - (smiled an exuberant smile at him) Chutki Di ne diya. (Asad felt his heart skip a beat involuntarily. His entire being fill with hope, desperation at that name. It was as if he had just been jolted to life.)

Asad - Chutki Di? Kaun..Kab Kahan..Kaun hai woh..

Pari - (shrugged) Chutki Di. (Asad rolled his eye's. Chutki Di, Of course Asad what were you thinking? If Farida Bi hadn't told you her real name in all these years what made you think Pari would? But the real question here was why she was so hell bent on hiding her true identity, her real name? How on earth did she expect anyone to find her if she kept her name hidden? Fine, if not a name he was going to try the next best option. Find out as much as he could about her and then narrow the possibilities down to try and GUESS who this girl could be. Why it was so important to find out her identity, he didn't know)

Asad - Kya baat hai? Pehle trampoline aur ab sweater Chutki Di aaj kal bauhat gifts laa rahee hain aapke liye.

Pari - (shrugged) because she is sooo nice chachoo. As nice as you. (Asad's smile faltered hearing those words) Chutki Di said the sweaters are a big warm hug from her to us. To keep us warm and loved on a cold night. (Pari shrugged innocently. Now trying to go back to her game of jumping on the trampoline but she couldn't, because she was being held down by her chachoo's strong grip. She tried to get his attention but he had zoned out as soon as she had started talking. Touched by the words and the gesture. What was with the sudden influx of angels throughout Kasauli. That angel at town square, Chutki, Zoya..Zoya?! Asad's eyes widened. What the? And then slowly his favourite emotion returned to him. He got angry. What the hell was happening with him? Why the hell could he not stop thinking about her? No matter what. No matter where he was, what he was thinking or doing somehow or the other that girl managed to crawl into his thoughts and completely take over them. Any time, All the time. Just render him incapable of thinking, saying or doing something that didn't have anything to do with her. What the hell was happening to him?. It took another round of calling from Pari for him to snap out of it and come back to reality. Once he did he could see the worry dancing in Pari's eyes. He tried to smile, act nonchalant and normal but who was he fooling really? Pari was a child, wise and mature beyond her age. And especially when it came to her Chachoo, nothing fooled her. Asad stared at her confused as she stared at him in all seriousness and then slowly placed one of her tiny hands on his cheeks.)

Pari - Chachoo..aap aaj extra sad kyun ho? (Asad was about to deny what she had said altogether, tell her that he wasn't sad but her next question rendered him incapable of doing so) Aapse koi mean ban raha tha kya? (Asad's guilt ridden and shameful eye's rose to her innocent ones and he was afraid to imagine the look he would see in them when the illusion of what she thought him to be would inevitably break one day. She thought him to be the most perfect man on this planet. A hero. Her superhero. But reality was far from it. He wasn't even a nice person. Not even close. Let alone be the nicest or most perfect person. He wasn't no hero. He was a monster. A monster who said and did the most hideous of things. Like he had said and done to Zoya today. It killed him to think how Pari would react, how she would think of him, how she would look at him if she knew. If she one day got to know it all. Which she would.)

Asad - No Pari. No-one was mean to your Chachoo. Your Chachoo (and then her sad eye's, her wounds, her relief filled face flashed before his face and his eyes automatically lowered) was mean to someone.

Pari - (gasped. Covering her mouth with both her hands, as if Asad had said the impossible) Haw! Chachoo aap hi kehte ho ke lie karna buri baat hai phir aap khud lie kyun kar rahe ho. Aap kaise kissi se mean ban sakte ho aap toh sabse zyaada nice ho

Asad - (shook his head, not making eye contact with her) I don't know about that robin..

Pari - Aap kisse mean bane the chachoo?

Asad - (chuckled. One second she was behaving as if nothing could be more possible because she didn't believe anyone could be as nice as him and the next second she was believing him, because she also believed everything he said. It was written in stone for her) Ek ladki se (turned around, sitting on a low wall next to the trampoline. Pari giggled with happiness as she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him still standing on the trampoline) A girl..

Pari - Was it a pretty girl? (Asad narrowed his eye's. What kind of a question was that?)

Asad - Does it matter Pari? Every person is pretty, beautiful in their own way Pari.

Pari - If it was a pretty girl then it means you were mean to her because you really like her (Asad's mouth fell open in outrage)

Asad - What? Who told you THAT! (Bellowed) AHAD-

Ahad - (dropped the ball he was playing with in the distance and held up his hands) Bhaiyya maine pinky ke baalon mein chewing gum nahin lagaya I swear..

Asad - (his mouth fell open in shock as he heard Pinky scream and clutch her hair in horror!) What! You kids are seriously out of control, Pari..who told you this BULL- (rolled his eye's) this stuff about liking a girl?

Pari - (shrugged) Papa. Some girl was being mean to Papa on the phone and Papa said if a girl is mean to a boy it means she really likes him and Papa was being mean to you last week because he likes you (shrugged) it can be the same if a boy likes a girl right?

Asad - (muttered) damn that papa of yours.

Pari - So is it true then?

Asad - What? No! (He reached back and held one of her small soft tiny hands and brought her before himself. He placed her in is lap and stared at her in all seriousness.) Listen to me Pari. Repeat after me. There is no such thing as like.

Pari - (her eye's wide. Nodded along. After All, what he said to her was more set in stone than any fundamental rule of life, any cultural or religious teaching) There is no such thing as Like.

Asad - (nodded) A girl and boy are only friends

Pari - A girl and boy are only friends.

Asad - or enemies.

Pari - Or enemies.

Asad - (kissed her forehead and then sighed happily leaning his head on hers) Good girl.

Pari - Is she your friend chachoo?

Asad - (his eyes opened slowly. Damn these days kids. But, he had no answer. He literally had no label to put on his and her relationship. They weren't exactly family or friends or enemies or frenemies or lov- No. No. He wasn't even going to try to go down the list of plausible relationship titles once he realized what sort of labels he could tumble upon once he went down that lane. So instead he tickled her side causing her to giggle) Hey, I know. How about we stop playing 20 questions for today Naanima and play hide and seek instead. (Pari squealed with delight, kissing his cheek causing him to smile)

Pari - YAY! I love you chachoo!

Asad - (his eyes tinkling warmly. Full of love) I love you too my pari (kissed her forehead) COME ON BACHA LOG! TIME TO HIDE! (Pretty soon there was chaos all over the orphanage again as everyone dropped what they were doing at once! Obviously, why would they not when they had the chance to play with their Asad Bhai instead. Pari too laughed and jumped off his lap to go hide but she stopped midway and turned around hesitantly. Asad could sense her reluctance and couldn't help but bite back a smile. How could he not? She was just SO adorable)

Asad - Yes Pari..

Pari - (looked down, fidgeting with the hem of her sweater) You shouldn't be mean Chachoo. It's not nice and especially not to a girl. Papa says girls don't like it. (Asad rolled his eyes in disbelief at that) You should say sorry. (Shrugged) and give her candy. Candy makes everyone happy again (Saying so she turned around and ran off)

Asad - (his eyes wide as he tried to picture it) I'm afraid to imagine what consuming any more sugar would do to her. (He could practically see her bouncing off walls, muttered) and that Papa of yours-

Azlan - (scoffed) will have to come back and meet his Pari (Asad stiffened hearing him. He slowly turned around, clearly surprised to find him there. He could tell that Azlan was also pleasantly surprised to see him there but he could also see the sadness in his eye's and smile as he saw Pari running away with her friends to hide, finally smiling finally laughing after days. And all it took was a small visit from her chachoo. Not all the love in the world all the time in the world from her father. Just a small visit from Asad. He saw the anger, the pain and resentment in Asad's eyes returning and saw him slowly getting up and fear gripped him. Fear and pain of having that beautiful smile disappear from his little angels face and especially if he himself were the cause of it. Fear of wondering how much more he'd fall in Pari's eyes if she found out he had compelled her chachoo to leave from here as well. So before Asad could fully get up Azlan held up his hands, surprising him, confusing him especially as he started stepping away from him back to the gates where he came from)

Azlan - You won't stay so long as I'm here right. Then stay. I'll go. Besides, it's you she wants not me. (Chuckled, as his teary eyes met Asad's surprised ones. Asad couldn't help but stare between Pari and Azlan sadly. His heart really did go out to his brother. Despite everything it had to be hard to see your daughter love someone more than anybody else) Guess, she is her mothers daughter after all. (Just those words alone cracked whatever meeting Pari had managed to heal of his broken heart. He stepped forward, his mouth ready to utter the words that were always surfacing at the tip of his tongue, ready to spill out at the first given chance. An explanation, to put him, put his brother out of his misery. Mend his broken heart, mend his own broken heart and mend their broken relationship. But his eye's too slightly watered as he saw Azlan turn around with the very first step Asad took towards him and he walked away. Just like he did all those years ago too. And just like then Asad closed his mouth. Buried his words in his heart again and clenched his jaw and fists lest they act out against him. He just stood there silently watching his brother walk away from him. From them. And let the pain of it slice through his broken heart once again. Let him kill another part of him. Break another part of him. Let the anger, the betrayal, the pain burn him. Burn in his eyes. And let him despise her, hate her, blame her, resent her just a bit more. Curse the day he met her. Curse the day he met, Maha...)

xxx

That Night - Khan Mansion:

Asad's car pulled up the driveway and an as usual a very tired and haggard looking Asad stepped out of the car. Rubbing his forehead. He was about to climb the steps of his house, dejectedly, really not looking forward to facing anyone at home at the moment. His Ammi, Aapi..Zoya. Knowing they were still mad at him still not talking to him probably. Usually he welcomed the loneliness, the darkness, and the silence but not today. He was so not looking forward to coming home today. Just as he took a deep breath, ready to climb the steps to his house, he saw something. A figure, sitting out by the pond in his garden. On the small bridge that crossed over it. Looking closely, he knew it could only be one person. For the person in question had jean clad legs and a long mane of beautiful silky auburn tresses. It was Zoya. He sighed, exasperatedly. Why was this girl so hell bent on torturing herself along with him. Why was she so careless? She was sitting out in the cold of the night wearing just a t-shirt. But the next second the wind blew her curtain of hair away from her face and he caught a glimpse of the beautiful face that he was slowly but surely losing his heart to. Her beautiful and pale face that was just so sad at the moment. Her eye's didn't shine with the twinkle they usually did. Instead they just seemed empty, hollow and sad. Lifeless. Asad HATED the look he saw in her eyes. Hated HIMSELF for causing that look. He felt his heart constricting painfully as he saw the look in her eye's. For he knew the look very well. It was the look that stared back at him every time he looked in a mirror. And he didn't wish that look upon even his worst enemy. He could TAKE anyone having that look but he couldn't tolerate it in her eyes. She didn't deserve this. Not at all. Asad shook his head as he looked to the heavens above questioningly. Why her? He could understand himself but why her? Even if he was stupid enough to authorize all this why couldn't her Allah have intervened and prevent it from happening. Why did he let her suffer? Write pain in her destiny. Pain of any shape, form or size.? With a heavy heart, Asad mustered up enough courage to chance a glance in her direction again and he longed to see her smiling, hear her laughing, see the devilish twinkle in her eye's but all he saw were her sad, pained eyes. He became so overwhelmed with pain, frustration and the need to see and hear her smile that he found his legs carrying him not in the direction of his house but the direction that led him to Zoya Farooqui. As always. He didn't know what he would do, what he would say to erase the pain, erase that look from her eyes but he knew he was willing to say whatever it took. Which was a risk in itself because the walls, the boundaries that AAK set up and the type of emotionally distant person that he was wouldn't allow him to say or do much anyways. There was so much he wasn't comfortable doing, so much he had forbidden himself to say or feel, out of pain, out of fear, out of EGO. He couldn't neglect it all, change his rulebook of life for her? Could he? With his preparation of facing her equating to 0, his guilt and shame quotient maxed out, his heart thumping and practically in his mouth he took slow measured steps towards her. His heartbeats and breathing both slowing down with each step he took towards her. As he reached her he realized she was talking to someone on her phone and seemed to be eating something. Something out of a jar. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion..

Zoya - Seriously Ayaan, my phone was on silent and I was sleeping that's why I didn't hear you.

Ayaan - 30 times Chudail! I called you 30 times and you didn't pick up! Aur woh toh sirf kal ke the..30..what about the 10 times I called you tonight before you FINALLY did me the courtesy of picking up. Aaj bhi phone silent pe tha kya?

Zoya - (tried to swallow the lump in her throat, her eye's watering up) No, No I uh I was playing my play station in the hall and my phone was in my bedroom and I-

Ayaan - And I need to really stop lying to my elder brother because I'm too stupid to remember that he can ALWAYS tell when I'm lying to him. That's it right? Because if it's anything but that I ain't buying it. (Zoya closed her eye's in frustration. Shit. How could she have forgotten that.) (Ayaan narrowed his eyes suspiciously on the other end) What's up Zoe, Why are you lying to me? Why are you ignoring me, ignoring my calls. What's wrong. Why won't you talk to me?

Zoya - (sighed) It (shook her head, she really wasn't feeling well and on top of that her depression, her sadness was at a point where she was as usual trying her best to hide it, act casual and hide it behind a bright smile but today was one of those day's where she was just failing miserably) I'm not ignoring you Ayaan I-

Ayaan - (he was really suspicious and worried now) are you, okay? Are you feeling okay you really don't sound like yourself. You know what, forget about it. I'm coming over right now. I'm going to see for myself what the hell has gone wrong with your peanut sized brain this time and how and why you're daring to ignore my calls (As much as it was frustrating to listen to Ayaan's obvious love for himself Zoya had far greater issues to deal with. She was at the brink of hyperventilating. If Ayaan came here and saw her bandages, Shit, he would demand to know HOW she had gotten hurt and until he had a good enough answer which would be nothing but the truth he would never leave this alone, and the consequences would be severe. She was scared what the truth would do to her living conditions in this house along with his and Asad's friendship, no there was absolutely no way Ayaan could come here)

Zoya - (screamed) NO!! (But all that managed to do was further alert Ayaan. He was already jumping out of his chair in his office at Rogue reaching for his keys, whilst Zoya bit her tongue desperately racking her brain for an excuse) I mean, No you uh you can't come now

Ayaan - And why's that..

Zoya - Uhm, because you have a date.

Ayaan - So? It's a blind date. I could just reschedule. You know that. You know I'd give up all the dates in the world for you. (Shook his head) I hate to say it but you somehow always force it outta me chudail. You know your my #1 girl. There is no girl that could ever replace you or be more important than you. (Zoya smiled despite the errant tear that fell from her eye's. She closed her eye's, drinking up whatever small amount of love she got of any shape form or size, greedily.)

Zoya - Remember that, some day when you have a wife and a daughter of your own..remember this then and I'll believe you.

Ayaan - Oh I will..

Zoya - (wiped her tears. As much as she wanted to see him. Let him hug her, hold her, yell at Asad for her, as much as she needed someone, anyone to hold her to stop her from falling apart tonight she knew Ayaan couldn't be the one. He just couldn't come here and see her like this) Well you're forgetting a small detail. You will never find a wife if you keep bailing on the girls of Kasauli.

Ayaan - Zoe I-

Zoya - No Ayaan. Your date starts in 5 minutes and it's not nice to keep a lady waiting.

Ayaan - And it's fair when you girls keep us waiting for hours when you get all dolled up?

Say's who?

Zoya - (laughed) Say all the men in the world like you. Who only date women who care enough to get dolled up for them.

Ayaan - Hey! Don't say anything against my brothers okay. They're the only reason I'm not stalking you or getting you married to Ehsan (Zoya cringed while Ayaan laughed) it gives me great comfort to know that you won't be dating as long men like me exist because YOU for one are not the type to get dolled up for anyone (Zoya shook her at his absurd thinking)

Zoya - Nice talk big brother. I am so touched really (Asad who was finally in earshot stopped walking. Zoya had a bigger brother? Who? How come he never knew this? Heard of this before? How come she never talked about him before and what was she talking to him about today? Was she..she was probably complaining to him about him (Asad)..and what all he and Akram had done. She may not tell on him to his mother but that wouldn't hold her back from complaining to others would it) now go get lost and enjoy your date. Jaake apni potential wife ka dimaagh khao mera nahin (She heard Ayaan mimicking her and snickering on the other end laughing about how she had gotten angry at what he said just as she cut him off. She stared at the picture of her and her Jeeju on her phone that was set as her home screen. A pic of her dancing with him on his wedding day and she couldn't help the pain that overwhelmed her. Overwhelmed her heart. She ran her finger over his smiling face as she closed her eyes. Another tear managing to escape them. When she felt like her heart was about to burst from her chest due to the pain she locked her phone, unable to see the picture any longer. It brought back too many beautiful and painful memories. It reminded her of all that she had lost. All that she had lost with the loss of one person alone. Her Jeeju. Every memory, every moment of every day she spent with him was a beautiful and painful memory in it's own. She hugged herself, wrapping her arms around herself as another gust of cold wind blew just as she slipped her phone into her pocket. Sighing deeply. Taking in the smell of nature, hoping for it to calm her nerves, emotions, her pain. Take her mind off the grotesque and unbelievable events of the last 24 hours. But even that couldn't help lessen her pain. So she decided maybe it would be best to go back inside. For the last thing she wanted was to get pneumonia and worsen things. Burden or bother Phupi. Plus, she was starting to feel heavy headed and dizzy again. The effects of the drugs still hadn't worn off completely. She struggled to stand and just as she did she swayed dangerously. One of her hands shot out, aimlessly flailing about the air trying to desperately clasp onto something, anything to stop herself from falling. And she did clasp onto something. Asad's crisp white shirt. He had seen her sway dangerously and before she had even begun trying to find something to hold onto he was there, at her service ready to save her, rescue her from whatever distress or troubles came her way. Her knight in shining armour. Or in this case her knight in a white cotton shirt. She clutched a handful of his shirt, relief flooding through her system. She had only intended to pull him just a little closer so she could maintain her own balance but what she had really ended up doing was pulling him in. Right up against herself. Dangerously close. So close that their breaths were intermingling and both their lips parted slightly, immediately, their breathing heavy. Both their gazes fixated on each other's lips. Hers on his beautiful, manly lips and his on her soft, delicate plump lips which at the moment seemed to be covered in, and he frowned..chocolate? But that only seemed to entice him more. He gulped, as his eyes darkened slightly. His tongue darting out and wetting his lips just slightly. His breathing ragged. His heart hammering a pattern into his chest. He wasn't even touching her, and yet he felt himself burning. Burning with a desire, a fire so strong it was capable of burning him to ashes within seconds, so foreign and yet so painfully beautiful. Zoya was faring no better. For the first time, she found herself staring at a man's lips. Not the other way around, but she herself was staring at his lips, willingly. In anticipation. Wondering what if. Hoping for, she didn't know what exactly. But she hoped for something. Colour had rushed to her cheeks unknowingly. She too found her heart beating wildly in her chest. Her breathing ragged and unstable. A painful, deliciously painful knot in her stomach. An anxious knot. Knowing something beautiful was awaiting right around the corner. What it was she didn't know but all she had to do was turn the corner. Just as she was about to close her eye's and turn that corner, or let him cross it another ghust of wind blew causing them both to shudder. Shudder due to the cold just slightly, but mostly due to their closeness and proximity. Finally, it snapped them both out of their trance. Asad found his eye's narrowing as he finally managed to look lower than her lips. To his shirt which at the moment had a nice handprint of chocolate imprinted on it where Zoya had clutched it, in contrast to its crisp white colour. He looked at her with an annoyed, raised eyebrow and Zoya bit her lip in worry. Really? A Nutella jar? He saw her clutching a nearly empty baby jar of Nutella in her other hand like her life depended on it. Asad would never understand how she could possibly eat a whole tub of chocolate and not throw up, and and where did it all go? She looked so sinfully divine. How? And then despite having a spoon to eat it with, how could she get so much of it on her hands, his OCD would really like to know. However, once again seeing the paleness of her face, the sadness of her eye's and the sight of her wounds he really didn't have the heart to tell her off for her messiness or carelessness. They both reluctantly tore away, Zoya snatching her hand back, now gripping her tub of Nutella with both hands, her life REALLY depending on it while Asad cleared his throat uncomfortably. Stepping away from her. Damn it! Why did he always find himself in such positions with her! In such close proximity! Why did they just keep getting closer when all he wanted was to stay as far away as possible from her. And why could his heart not stop pounding whenever she was around. Or were her thoughts. Okay why couldn't it just stop pounding, all the time. Both of their cheeks were flush red, and they avoided each others gaze like the plague. Looking anywhere but each other directly, but still sneaking side glances every now and then. Zoya tried to step away from him and towards the house when she swayed dangerously again and Asad's eyes narrowed as his one hand flew out reflexively, holding her back and the other caught hold of her hand. He ignored the current that seemed to zap through him as he touched her. As their hands intertwined.

Their skins coming into contact. He was far too worried. About her. Was she really okay? It was close to 20 hours now since she had been abducted and most probably drugged. Why was she still so dizzy and faint? Zoya too was staring at their joined hands. Having felt that zap. Her heart beat a mile a minute as she stared at their hands, wondering what that feeling was that had ran through her. That she felt at that very moment in her heart. She tried to pull away from him but he didn't seem to want to let go. He just held her hand tighter. She looked up at him, her innocent brown eye's narrowing confusedly, angrily as she stared at him, but he was far too drowned in the beauty of them to realize. It took a stronger attempt from Zoya to pull away from him that snapped him out of the daze he had obviously fallen into, thanks to the warmth and contentment that came every time he held her close. And the void he felt every time she pulled away. Like he felt now. Asad stared at her with maddeningly worried eyes as he saw her hold her head and take a small baby step towards the house. Obviously she was feeling dizzy, why was she trying to walk then. Why was she being so stubborn? Could she seriously not take care of herself?

Asad - (taking small steps behind her, following her) Dekhiye aap, aap iss waqt chalne ki halat mein nahin hain. Aap mujhe batayee aapko kahan jaana hai main aapki madad karta hoon..aap- (but she just continued walking. Stubbornly. Asad rolled his eyes to the back of his head, balling his hands into his fists at his side. Trying to be patient, and remain calm but she was REALLY testing him. She swayed again and Asad rushed to help her but she spun around, facing him, holding her head with one hand and holding the other out at him. Asad felt like someone had literally just slapped him across the face. But he ignored the stinging feeling, the pain and shame in his heart and focused on the more important issue at hand. Her safety. Her health)

Asad - Dekhiye, aap yeh kya kar rahee hain. Aap chalne ki halat mein nahin hain. (Trying to step towards her, touch her, hold her, but she just took a step back) Aapko araam ki sakht zaroorat hai. Aapko, I mean aapko chot lag sakti thi.

Zoya - (stilled completely. There was complete silence for a few minutes before she finally looked up at him, incredulously. Asad found himself unable to stand the sight of the tears, the accusations the disbelief in her eyes. So he lowered his own eye's.) Chot Lag sakti thi?! Mujhe Chot LAGGI hai Mr. Khan. But aapko nahin dekhe gi. Kyunki dil ke zakhm dekhne ke liye khudke pehlu mein dil hona zaroori hota hai, par aap (she shook her head at him. Asad tried to, but he still couldn't meet her gaze. Or rebuke her accusation. What could he possibly say anyways? She had every right to accuse him of being heartless. It was the truth. He was a heartless monster) aapne mujhe aise logon ke paas bheja..jinho ne mujhe drug kiya. Mujhpe haath uthaya. Zabardasti mujhse nikah karne ki koshish ki. Aur agar aaj mera nikah ho jaata toh! (Asad felt his heart constrict painfully at that. He so badly wanted to just say it and get it done, that that wasn't even a possibility. Not just because he was there to save her, but also because, the thought of her belonging to some other man, the thought alone was impossible for him to comprehend. But he remained quiet. Pondering over why it was impossible exactly) Aap bauhat Zyaada Judgemental hain Mr. Khan. Aapne day one se sirf mujhe judge kiya hai. Apne hisaab se. Kitni baar maine aapse kaha ke mere apne nika se bhagne ke liye wajah thi..reasons the mere paas par aap..aapke liye aapki ego se zyaada kuch aur matter hi nahin karta

Asad - (looked down guiltily. And angrily. The fury, the unmatchable pain of betrayal in his eyes was excruciating to see. He was still suffering from heartbreak. Heartbreak of being betrayed, once again, and this time by one of his closest friends. Someone he trusted. Someone he let into his home. Someone he considered family. Again) Main Nahin Jaanta tha ke, ke who (he couldn't even say his name. He STILL couldn't believe he had such a monster as a friend all along and he had no idea) aisa insaan hai-

Zoya - You know Mr. Khan aapki problem kya hai. Aapko lagta hai ke aap sab kuch jaante hain. Ke aap hamesha sahee hain. Issi liye logon ki thinking, unki personality unke decisions unki ideologies sab kuch aap apne jaisa banana chahte hain. Aap iss dunya ko apne hisaab se chalana chahte hain, sab kuch waisa chahte hain jaise aapko pasand ho. And there could be nothing sadder. Iss dunya mein koi aapse alag hoke bhi apni jagah sahee ho sakta hai yeh khayal toh aapke mann bhi kabhi aaya hi nahin. Par dunya aise nahin chalti hai Mr. Khan. Iss dunya mein har koi alag hai. Har insaan alag hai. Aur yehi har insaan ki sabse bari khoobsurati hai. Par afsos, aap yeh baat nahin samjheinge. Afsos ke itna para likha hone ke bawajood bhi aapki soch bauhat purani hai Mr. Khan. Itni purani, jo logon ke character ko unke kapron se judge karti hai. Sirf iss liye ke main jeans pehnti hoon aap ko bhi iss shehr ke baaki sab logon ki tarha lagta hai ke main ek haraab ladki hoon. Afsos ke itna sab ho jaane ke baad bhi aapko apni ghalati nazar nahin ayee. Agar aapko zara si bhi ghalati feel hoti na Mr. Khan toh ab tak aap sorry bol chuke hote. Aapko yehi lagta hai ke aap sahee hain, aur main ghalat aur meri jaisi ladkyon ke saath jo kuch bhi hota hai (her voice cracking as she remembered Sameer Anand and the hideous, painful incidences of her past) woh aise kapre pehnke hum khud invite karte hain (She saw him about to say something, like deny it or apologize. His eyes seemed to be swimming with remorse and apologies. He wanted to deny it, tell her, assure her that it isn't what he thought. He had other reasons that provoked his hideous accusations, judgements and accusations. He wanted to tell her, scream it and let her know tell her about the betrayals he faced, the pain he endured, tell her what had got him so paranoid and afraid. Tell her about her, but she wasn't ready to listen to it. Evident enough as she once again held up a hand) Please. Ab sorry mat boliyega. Kyunki aapki zubaan se nikla huwa ek bhi lafz nahin suna hai mujhe. Just don't talk to me please. Baat mat- (Since Asad had looked down ashamedly again, he didn't realize her eye's drooping and her swaying dangerously again. He did however feel the jolt in his heart, in his entire body, as if he had just been jolted to life, when a warm and comfortable weight, a weight that smelled divine and intoxicated his senses, crashed into him. His head snapped up in surprise due to the suddenness and then he looked down, raising an eyebrow as he saw Zoya just leaning against him. Not moving or saying anything just leaning there. Frozen. A few seconds ticked by like that, Asad's heartbeats picking up pace with every passing second. But when she didn't say anything he tilted his head to take a closer look and found her to be out cold. Her eyes were shut and she wasn't responding, meaning she was still heavy on the drugs and had fainted again. Was this normal? He would really have to check with Aisha Aapi. But for now, the question at hand was a question, or more like an inevitable occurrence that he had to take care of. Carry her in his arms, again. Just the thought of which, had his heartbeats spiralling out of control, and his breathing shallowing. He gulped nervously. Knowing the danger that lay ahead. Down this lane. Down this territory. Knowing the predicament he was knowingly and willingly about to put his heart through. He sighed, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. God only knew why he, and Asad himself just LOVED to torture him. He slowly bent down, his heartbeats picking up pace as he carefully put one arm beneath her legs and the other around her back gathering her soft body close to his rock hard pne. Letting the warmth from her, her warmth as a person. spread onto him. How did he always somehow find himself in such predicaments. Colliding, Crashing into her. Carrying her. When all he ever 'wanted' and 'tried' to do was run, as fast and as far as he could, in the direction opposite to her. Yet. Somehow, the sleeping angel, the innocent beauty in his arms pulled him right back. Right into her. Like a boomerang. His treacherous heart skipped a beat as he gazed at her soft delicate features with the most adoring eyes. She really looked so, fragile so weak up close. How had he not noticed that before. She looked so pale, so broken so, tired. Almost as if she was exhausted. Exhausted from fighting. She looked nothing like the devil she was when she was awake. Which was the real her? The strong, independent outspoken, loud, devilish, childish brat she was when she was awake. Or this sweet, fragile angel in his arms at the moment. He really couldn't figure her out. Or figure out what it is his heart wanted with her. Why did it become so overwhelmed with this foreign emotion, that it felt like it would burst from his chest when it came down to one thing. One name. Zoya Farooqui. Zoya wasn't fully unconscious and was starting to come around again. Even in her semi consciousness state though she couldn't help but try to draw herself closer and closer to the closeness, the protectiveness the care that emanated off of Asad. She had finally gotten what she had wished for earlier. Someone to hold her. Heal her. Stop her from falling apart, and here he was. He may have caused the pain, the wounds the cracks in her heart at the moment but unknowingly he was the one to heal those wounds too. Zoya felt like all her broken pieces were slowly, slowly being put together just by being held in his strong, possessive, protective arms. That made her feel like nothing could ever go wrong again. Nothing could touch her. Hurt her. He would never let anything happen to her. Or so she wanted to believe. Desperately. And she wouldn't be completely wrong if she did. Only he held the power to heal her like he was in that moment. Fighting those emotions, they didn't even realize when they had entered the dark mansion and Zoya's bedroom. But once in the room, it seemed Zoya was finally somewhat back in 'her' senses. Her eye's kept on opening and then closing droopily as she didn't have the strength to keep them open for too long. But no drug in the world could keep Zoya Farooqui from blabbering and talking for too long. So even in her semi conscious state she was blabbering much to Asad's pure disbelief and amusement.

Zoya - Aap mujhse baat mat kijiye mujhe aapse baat mat karni hai. Don't, don't talk to me. (Asad could feel that void return from earlier as he entered her bedroom and as the thought of letting go of her, not being able to touch her, hold her occurred to him he consciously or subconsciously slowed his steps a bit. Loving the feel of holding her in his arms. Nothing could even come close to the pure happiness he felt in that moment. The life. The joy. The contentment he felt in that moment. Not even playing his favourite guitar and ripping his vocal chords singing on stage in concert. This feeling, the feeling of holding Zoya in his arms was unparalleled. Even when she was still muttering and arguing with him)

Zoya - Baat maat kijjye mujhse, mujhe aapse baat mat karni hai. (Sighing dejectedly, he leaned on her bed. His eyes not leaving her beautiful face for even a second as he lowered her onto it. The same feeling, the feeling of happiness, life, a dream slipping from between his fingers returning. He adjusted her head on the bed, sighing contentedly as his fingers intertwined between her beautiful silky tresses. Which he took his own sweet time in unwinding while she still kept talking, opening and closing her eyes) Don't talk to me, I don't want to talk to you (Finally Asad tried, he opened his mouth to correct her argue with her. After All he felt compelled, obligated to do so. Like it was the sole purpose of his life. To argue, banter and fight with her and having to stay silent and not correct her ridiculousness at the moment was agitating him. Killing him. He opened and closed his mouth stupidly. Trying to say that he wasn't even in fact talking, let alone talking to her but then he decided against it. There really was no point. Her mental balance was questionable on a regular day and today she was literally out of it, 'high'. He didn't even have to suspect that she was.)

Zoya - (opened her eyes, seeing him standing there in all his sexiness glaring at her. With his arms folded across his chest) Main bhi aapse baat nahin karoongi. Don't talk to me. (She then closed her eyes and Asad grabbed the comforter once again, trying to push all thoughts of how tempting the empty space next to her, on the big warm cozy bed seemed. The thought of letting her warmth seep in to him, let her heal him. Let her bring him to life. Let her beauty lay his demons to rest so he could close his tired and exhausted eyes and have a good nights sleep. Let his fingers lace through her beautiful hair..let her-)

Zoya - (finally zoning out again) I..I don't want to talk to you. Baat..mat kijiye..mujhse..(Asad sighed. Closing his eyes and shaking his head. The more he tried to fight this, resist this the stronger the feeling got. The harder this feeling of falling into an endless abyss got. He looked towards a now sleeping Zoya. Shaking his head as he saw her lips still moving. Sleep he understood, but talking whilst being unconscious now that was TRULY something else)

xxx

Continued in next post...

Early the next morning:

Snowflakes fell like icy pearls from the sky, onto a thick white blanket that lay spread over on the grounds of Kasauli. He stood in the middle of that blanket. The middle of town square. He could see the church. The mosque. The ice cream parlour. The pharmacy. The shops surrounding him. He spun around and around, as an angel in red twirled all around him. Her arms spread wide and her face facing the sky, masked behind her curtain of hair. As always. He could see blurry outlines of the mountains of Kasauli in the distance as he desperately spun around each time she spun, desperately hoping he could catch a glimpse of her beautiful face. But she would just twirl in the direction opposite to which he turned. Frustrated, he stopped turning. Stopped giving in, stopped playing around. Instead he turned around and caught hold of her perfect, delicate pale hand. Icy cold. He held onto the tips of her fingers gingerly. Like as if she were some porcelain doll that would crack with the slightest touch. He saw her freeze. Her back towards him. A shudder running through them both. He watched with a baited breath, feeling like all his dreams, desires, aspirations, everything he ever wanted in life, his whole world was about to fall into place with just one glimpse of her face. All the complaints, fears, pain he had was about to vanish. His life, his soul, his existence, all would be whole, all would find purpose and be meaningful in just one glimpse of the angel in red who had been giving him sleepless nights for 7 years now. His breath caught in his throat, his heart stopped beating altogether as he saw her slowly begin turning around. Her face hidden behind the long curtain of her hair. Just as a gust of wind blew and he saw a flash of pale white skin, a raging gunshot and a flash of red blinded him. The very next second he felt the world, his dreams, his life slip from between his fingers along with those delicate fingers of hers. His scream got caught in his throat there and his scream got caught in his throat here. In reality. Not in another dream, but in reality. He looked dazed. Disoriented. He still wasn't fully awake yet or well oriented. He had shot up on his bedroom sofa where he had clearly fallen asleep whilst working. He had broken out into a cold sweat and his eyes remained, wild, mad and unfocused. An almost possessed look in his eyes. And he was possessed. Possessed with desperation, determination, need and want. The need to just see her. Recognize her. Figure out who she was and what she was. |What it is she wanted from him. In his trance, he jolted from the sofa like his life was at risk. Nearly tripping over his own feet he ran to a side door in his room which led to another smaller room. A small dark room. The only light in the room being the moonlight and just the reflection of it showed that the room was completely bare. As empty, hollow and lifeless as his life. The walls were a plain white, unfinished floors. No furniture. Just an empty canvas by the window where the light could reflect onto it. A high table beside the aisle had bottles and bottles of black paint. Only black. Jars and jars of paintbrushes and pencils. But no colour. Just black. He rushed over, picking up a brush and dipping it into the pot of black and began stroking and smearing it all over the empty canvas almost hysterically. His eyes still as wide, wild and untamed as before. Beads of sweat still trickling down his forehead. He was afraid of what was happening to him. To his sanity. But he knew at that moment all his answers depended on one thing. One face. Her face. He kept on painting, his eyebrows furrowed and his whole face creased with concentration and worry. As he desperately, hurriedly and frantically painted her. Lest he forget whatever details he in fact remembered. Details he hoped would help him fill in the blanks. Retrieve subconscious memories. Thinking he could probably guess the rest of her features. Guess what she most probably looked like.

15 minutes later - A black canvas with the most beautiful faceless silhouette of a girl lay broken into two on the ground. The broken canvas symbolic of how the artist himself felt. Broken, defeated..tired. He was so desperate, so tortured so tired. Tortured and haunted by demons and an angel alike. Tortured by the need to find her. Know her. Hold her. Love-

Asad - (closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall where he sat. In one dark corner of his 'studio' staring out into the moonlight. Holding a cigarette between his fingers. His canvas laying broken at his feet. Defeated. Tired. Resigned. He had given up trying to remember. Trying to fight this. Tonight.)(Sang/Hummed to himself lightly) Roz Roz Resham si hawa aate jaate kehti hai bata, resham si hawa kehti hai bata woh jo dood dhuli masoom kali woh hai kahan hai kahan hai woh roshni kahan hai woh jaan si kahan hai main adhoora tu adhoori ji rahee hai. Ae ajnabi tu bhi kabhi awaaz de kahin se, ae ajnabi tu bhi kabhi awaaz de kahin se..main yahan tukron mein ji raha hoon..main yahan tukron mein ji raha hoon tu kahin tukron mein ji rahee hai..(closed his tired eyes, resigning to his fate. Perhaps he was not meant to find her. Tonight. Yet. Ever? Little did he know, an angel sat at a distance of merely a few feet from him. Under the same roof as him. His roof. Across the hall from him. In her window staring out at the same moonlight as him, her eyes swimming with the same sadness as his eyes. The same pain, the same torment, the same want. The want, the need to be saved.)

xxx

Later that Morning - Khan Mansion:

Zoya smiled contentedly in her sleep as she felt a loving maternal hand run through her hair. She had come awake, even though she had managed to finally fall asleep not to long ago, not pass out from the drugs but actually gain complete consciousness and then rest her tired eyes. But in the greed for a mothers touch, love she couldn't bring herself to open her eyes and accept reality. A cruel reality in which she didn't have the blessing named a mother. Call it denial, call it living a lie or a fairy tale but if she needed to pretend to be asleep to continue having Dilshad Ahmed Khan stroke her hair so lovingly to get her to wake up then she would happily spend her life in denial.

Dilshad - (smiled a small sad and loving smile at the beautiful girl before her whom she was fast coming to love as her own daughter) Zoya beta uth jao dekho subah hogayee hai. Naashta karke dawai leni haina chalo shabaash jaldi se uth jao. (And just like that the dream, the illusion broke and the cruel reality came crashing back. How long could she really pretend for. Any minute now she just HAD to open her eyes. Slowly, her sad eyes fluttered open. The usual twinkle in them missing. Something constricted inside her chest as she saw her Phupi quickly avert her eyes as if she was too ashamed or guilty to meet her eyes)

Dilshad - (tried to force a smile acting as breezy and casual as possible) Lo itni asaani se uth gayee. Zeenat ne toh aise barha charha ke mujhe tumhare sone ke kisse sunaye the ke mujhe toh laga tumhe jagane ke liye mujhe koi band baaja bulana parega. Taake woh kuch shor sharaba karein jisse tum uth jao par tum to...chalo acha hai. Aisha Abhi kaam se ayee hai night shift se, aur sone se pehle usne mujhe yaad dilaya ke tumhe dawai bilkul wakt pe khaani hai. Toh ab jaldi se uth jao beta 10 baj rahe hain aur ek ghante mein tumhe dawai khaani hai woh bhi naashta karna ke baad. No excuses so jaldi jaldi uthke moon haath dho lo aur naashte ke liye aa jao hmm (she spared Zoya nothing more than a seconds glance before she got up abruptly, and tried to escape from there as soon as possible. This whole time Zoya had just been staring at her intently. Not listening to what she was saying but instead watching Dilshad intently. Watch how she desperately tried to avert her eyes from Zoya. Fidgeting constantly with the sheets, with Zoya's medicines anything, staring at anything but at Zoya. Zoya just observed her. Not saying or doing anything but just watching her. But as she saw Dilshad get up about to leave she couldn't help it and her hand shot out and gripped Dilshad's. Dilshad stopped but didn't turn around. With her eyes closed. She really didn't have the heart or courage to face her.

Zoya - Phupi? (Her heart constricted with fear. Why, why wouldn't she look at her. Had she done something wrong? Her lips quivered just at the thought of it) Phupi..aap aap mujhse naraaz ho kya?

Dilshad - (spun around staring at her incredulously. Was this child for real?) Kya?

Zoya - (lowered her eyes sitting up) Aap, Aap mujhe dekh hi nahin paa rahee ho. Aap mujhse naraaz ho kya.

Dilshad - (hurriedly took a seat before her. Desperate to disprove this fear of hers. Not wanting her to feel this way for another second. Disappointed? No. Quite the opposite exactly) Naraaz, Naraaz nahin meri bachi (ran a loving hand through her hair) sharminda (Zoya's eyes snapped towards her in bewilderment. What?! She stared at her incredulously and Dilshad nodded with teary eyes, cupping her face in the process wincing as she did) Dekho toh zara uss zaalim insaan ne kya halat bana di hai meri pyaari beti ki. Yeh zakhm-

Zoya - (held her hand over her face, again greedy for love. Her own eyes filling with tears as all the pain, and anguish from the previous day caught up with her. The heartbreak overwhelming her. Her chest feeling like it would burst with pain, emotion if she didn't let it all out soon. She shook her head vigorously at her Phupi) Nahin Phupi. Aapko sharminda hone ki bilkul zaroorat nahin hai. Mujhe aap se koi gila nahin hai, koi shikwa nahin hai..

Dilshad - (frowned) Kyun nahin hai Zoya? Tumhe hone chahiye Zoya naraaz hona chahiye Zoya. Ghussa hona chahiye. Mein bhi zimedaar hoon tumhari iss halat ki. Tum toh nadaan ho..Asad (shook her head, her eyes lowering guiltily but Zoya's didn't. Neither did they fill with anger because clearly she had already started making peace with what had happened to her. She had already started forgiving Asad because that is just the person she was. Kind. Big hearted. Nice.) Bewakoof hai, emotional hai apne dost ke peeche (shook her head, she too was unable to believe Akram, one of Asads oldest closest friend someone who he practically considered to be family could do something so inhumane and cruel) par main toh bari thi na samajhdar thi, mujhe..mujhe hi rokna chahiye tha, samjhana chahiye tha tum dono ko phir bhi maine aur ab dekho kya haal hogaya tumhara (staring at the sight of her wounds) please apni phupi ko maaf kardo beta, mere hote hue mere ghar mein tumhare saath yeh sab Asad (sighed, where would she even begin) woh bhi bauhat sharminda hai beta apni ghalati pe. Tum jaanti ho na maanti ho na ke yeh sab ghalati mein hua, beta tum usse maaf karo na karo woh tumhara apna faisla hai..par tumhe kamaz kam yeh toh maana padega ke usne yeh sab jaanke nahin anjaane mein kiya hai. Woh kabhi jaan boojke tumhe takleef nahin pauhanchne dega tum-main woh (Zoya smiled at her Phupi. A real genuine smile at seeing her usually calm, collected Phupi so hassled)

Zoya - Phupi. (Dilshad stopped and looked to her and to her utter bewilderment the naughtiness, the devilish hint of the usual twinkle had returned to her eyes and she actually giggled) Relax. Breathe. I know. I know ke Mr. Khan ne jo kiya woh apne dost ke liye kiya. Unka tareeka (rolled her eyes) bhale ghalat ho, iraada sahee tha. His heart was in the right place. Iss mein unki ghalati nahin hai if his friend turned out to (sighed. Looking down, still not able to fully come to terms with what happened though) khair. So Phupi please aap yun itna strangely aur guiltily na behave karein mere saamne warna main saara din apne kamre se hi nahin nikloongi aur naa nashta karoongi na dawai (Dilshad gasped)

Dilshad - (pointed a finger) No way-

Zoya - (pointed a finger right back) then no nazrein churana (Dilshad stared at her finger and then up at Zoya in awe, before she caught her finger with her own and laughed. She would never be able to figure this golden hearted girl out.

Dilshad - (kissed her forehead) Jeete raho. (Zoya closed her eyes, relishing the feel of a mothers touch again as she moved back Zoya tried to fake a smile again, her eyes filling up with pain again. The pain of not having or knowing her mother and helplessness of not being able to locate her father) Main bahar hoon tum bhi jaldi aa jaana okay. (Zoya nodded a little too enthusiastically but Dilshad didn't seem to catch on and instead got up to leave. Leaving Zoya alone with her tears)

20 Minute's Later - Breakfast: The glass of pure greens blended into a 'smoothie' froze midway to Asad's lips as he saw her walk in. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her sinful, long slender creamy legs which were on display to him that morning. His breath caught in his throat as he unabashedly just stared at her. Drinking in the divine sight before him. The divine beauty before him. Everything from her auburn tresses which weren't let down this morning like he loved it but instead were pulled up into a high messy ponytail giving her an even more innocent, youthful look which pulled at the strings of his heart just as fiercely as did her open silky straight her. Her delicate features, her rosy plump lips which his gaze snagged upon the longest, leaving him just slightly breathless. Slightly disoriented. His eyes slightly darker. Her beautiful eyes made his heart constrict painfully as they didn't shine as bright or twinkle as much that morning. Rather she tried her best to smile, but he could see right through them, see the sadness in them. Her slender finger but curvy in all the right places and then those legs, he closed his eyes looking away. His face contorting painfully as he did. He shouldn't have been looking in the first place. For not only was it morally and principally wrong but now, his heart had leapt miles ahead into the forbidden territory. Thankfully before his mind could aid his heart in it's treacherousness any longer by the images and memories of all the beauty he had just witnessed his Ammi's voice brought him out of his reverie.

Dilshad - Asad (Asad looked from Zoya who rolled her eyes and then looked away all arrogantly, making her annoyance visible along with her attitude, with great difficulty and very reluctantly he tore his eyes away from her and the rebelliousness and fireworks in her eyes, the adorable attitude (quite opposite to what she intended) she was giving him, the demented pout, the tapping of her feet, oh she was just so wonderfully weird)

Asad - Ji Ammi.

Dilshad - Zoya ko college jaana hai. Aur meri shart hai ke woh sirf tabhi jaa sakti hai agar tum usse choroge. (She gave him that look. That testing look. The eyes. Daring him to defy her. Asad knew that though he may have built her this palace, his mother was the Queen of it and she wouldn't hesitate in kicking him out on his behind if he dared to defy her after the stunt he had pulled yesterday regardless of how sorry he was about it. But that's not what worried him. As exhilarating (even if he denied it) and at the same time nerve wrecking the thought of a car ride alone, in a closed space with just Zoya and his treacherous heart was it wasn't what worried him surprisingly but the reason for his worry did have to do with Zoy just like everything seemed to these days. More specifically, it had more to do with the paleness of her face. Asad stared at his Ammi and then at Zoya, his eyes wild with worry and Zoya who had been intently observing him awaiting his answer with a baited breath for some reason. Overwhelming anxiety coursing through her out of the fear of what if he said yes. The thought alone made her heart beat faster. Today, the thought with him alone in a car didn't scare her or worry her or fill her with dread of boredom and lectures. It made her nervous and jittery. Why? She didn't know. But she didn't get to hear the answer because Dilshad had cupped her face and turned her face towards herself again.

Dilshad - Main bhi na of course Asad tumhe school chorega. But don't forget our deal. Main tumhe sirf iss shart pe jaane de rahee hoon ke tum meri saari shartein manogi. Dekho main wahan khud maujood nahin hongi dekhne ke liye ke tumne meri shartein maani ya nahin par mera Allah dekh raha hai aur agar jhoot moot ki maani toh soch lena apni phupi ka dil unka bharosa torogi tum.

Zoya - (she tried her best, but she couldn't help the quiver of her lips and in her voice. Her eyes swam with unshed tears at this unconditional motherly love she was receiving from Dilshad. The love, the care, the attention and acceptance she had been craving her whole life. This didn't go unnoticed by Asad who's gaze was burning into the side of Zoya's face, something that didn't go unnoticed by her either. Her pain, it made his heart ache with intolerable pain and the intensity of his gaze knowing he was staring at her, again, left her slightly breathless her heartbeats quickening) I promise Phupi main apna saara naashta karoongi, aapko har ghante phone karoongi agar meri tabiyat zara si bhi kharaab hui toh main ghar aa jaongi, davai time pe loongi aur apna poora poora khayal rakhoongi. (Dilshad smiled)

Dilshad - That's like a good girl.

Zoya - (held up her pizza box) Thank you again Phupi.

Dilshad - Maine socha ek teer se do nishane kyun na maare jayen isse tumh naashte se inkaar bhi nahin karpaogi aur tumhari yeh pyaari si (pulled her cheek lovingly) smile bhi laut aayegi. (Zoya felt her heart nearly about to burst in her chest so she quickly averted her eyes just as a tear escaped them. Again, it didn't go unnoticed by Asad and he hadn't even noticed how white his knuckles had gone due to the deathly grip with which he was clutching his fork)

Zoya - (Her heartbeats picked up pace in anticipation, in nervousness and she still avoided Asad's gaze. Her voice low and slightly shaky) I'll go get my bag (Dilshad nodded and Zoya walked away, her legs slightly shaky. Why? She had been in a car with him alone before and had never felt this overwhelming anxiety, then what had changed today? Asad too was faring no better, he didn't realize that he had in fact slightly tilted his head, leaning up in his chair ever so slightly just to not lose sight of her as she walked away to her room. His gaze following her all the way there. Another cause for her anxiousness. She could feel his burning hot gaze on her, watching her every move as she walked away. She felt self conscious, nervous and her cheeks were reddening for some odd reason at the intimacy of his action, of their little game but never once did she feel violated or stalked. His gaze wasn't sleazy. It was more..longing. It made her feel beautiful, giddy, wanted in the ways that mattered most. Dilshad watched her son with a knowing smile, his softened eyes, his longing sigh, his fist lingering over his heart, the way he had eyes for her and her only..boy, was he in trouble. It was as if he couldn't see or care for the rest of the world. Amused, she cleared her throat exaggeratedly loudly and her smile increased as she saw him blink slowly, not snap out of it, turn red and splutter and stutter but instead he calmly blinked and tore his eyes away from her sighing ever so slightly but Dilshad caught it anyway. He seemed like he had just finished the most beautiful day dream of his life and was still in the after effects of the beauty of it. Like he couldn't be bothered to wake up and come back to reality again. He just wanted to stay in the throws of the beautifully painful desire in his heart.

Dilshad - Earth to Asad, Earth to Asad..Helllo. SHAWN! (Dilshad watched in surprise as he very calmly looked up towards her. As if he really hadn't heard a word she had said all along and it wasn't his fault it wasn't like he was lost in dreams and desires of a certain Zoya Farooqui. No. He stared at her like she was the one who needed help instead of him. Big time.)

Asad - (narrowed his eyes) Kya huwa Ammi? Aap chila kyun rahee hain? (Dilshad's eyes simply widened. But she didn't say anything. Asad seemed to have something to say however now that he finally managed to wake up from whatever dreamland he had drifted off into and remembered something) Ammi..yeh..yeh Zoya ko-

Dilshad - Ah yes, that reminds me (Asad frowned, not happy with the fact that she had interrupted him but Dilshad was giving him that look again, the one that scared him) tumne Zoya ko sorry bola? (She crossed her arms, her eyebrows raised, tapping a finger on her arms. Giving him the look he feared most)

Asad - Woh..Woh Ammi woh actually woh..I uh..main uh..(he didn't know what to Say so he did what he did best. Changed the topic expertly. Putting the target on Zoya again) Ammi, forget that, aap yeh kaise kar sakti hain? (Dilshad stared at him confused) Woh to phir bewakoof hain par aap..Aap usse kaise allow kar sakti hain college jaana aapne uski halat dekhi hai..rang peela para hai zakhm abhi taza hain..do minute bina behosh hue woh chal nahin sakti aur aap- (he stopped his rant seeing Zoya walk in to the kitchen. She stopped abruptly seeing them stop talking immediately and seeing the annoyance on Asad's face she could just tell they were talking about her. What did she do now? Why was he mad at her now? She felt her heart dip with nervousness, as well as disappointment. Disappointed that he was mad at her again. Which led to another unanswered, why? Asad gave his mother an irritated look. Letting her know that according to him she was making a huge mistake and he didn't agree with any of this. But he didn't say anything. He just grabbed his keys from the table and silently walked out of there. Avoiding Zoya's eyes. Zoya felt her heart dip further at that. She gave Dilshad a smile small before she took a deep breath, and ignoring the pounding in her chest, her quickened breaths and the strange fluttering in her stomach god only knows what that was now she started following him out with small hesitant steps and Dilshad actually chuckled in amusement. These two were worse than kids. There was an amused smile on her face. She too was as concerned as Asad was about all that he had said even though she knew he could be overprotective and a little crazy in his worry and possessiveness but she was also surprised to see that overprotectiveness now extend towards Zoya too, in addition to his family. It also amused her how the slightest action or word from Asad could turn the every out spoken, feisty and crazy Zoya Farooqui so edgy, so nervous, so quiet and so mature for a change. These two were bound to do some karnama for sure.

Meanwhile Outside - Zoya stared between his low black sports car and his limousine nervously. Was she supposed to get in the limo or the sports car? Sports car for two only. His windows were tainted on both so she didn't even know which car he was in. That is until he ended that confusion for her by pressing on the accelerator for his sports car and the beast roared in the sexiest of ways. Zoya sighed deeply. Here went nothing. She approached the car, her heart beating crazier and crazier with each step and he felt like it would burst out of his chest altogether as he gripped the handle with a shaky hand. But that was it. After that she wasn't going to let him see her nervousness, see her vulnerable, she was a master at hiding every emotion but happiness the exact emotion he was incapable of hiding or feeling. Zoya sat in the car, with a baited breath holding the pizza in a deathly grip. Vowing to sit as silently and stilly as possible to avoid any interaction with him to avoid any and all catastrophes. But she didn't have a choice when he didn't move at all. Didn't drive, didn't flinch. She was beginning to question if he was even breathing. Hesitantly she turned her head to see what the problem was and she felt her breath hitch in her throat as she caught sight of him. Sitting there in all his sexiness. His hair was gelled to perfection, those shades on him were sinful and the black suit minus the jacket in contrast to his naturally tanned skin, lord have mercy. Zoya felt herself literally gasp for air as she saw his rippling muscles on his forearms as he clutched the steering wheel tightly, his shirt sleeves rolled up. It took for him to feel her eyes on his face for a second time to snap out of whatever haze he had gone into and start driving. His jaw clenching, his eyes hardening and his anger mounting. Why? Because he had once again unabashedly been helplessly staring at her sinfully long and creamy legs and he couldn't help the feelings it brought about in his heart. A desire, a longing, a craving. As soon as he had started driving Zoya had averted her eyes as if on fire. Well she was on fire. She could barely breathe. He was that gorgeous. She knew he was gorgeous but today, why was it affecting her so much today. So much to leave her breathless, with..with a strange unfamiliar fluttering in her heart. Why? Asad drove more speedily and recklessly than usual today. Zoya was barely breathing as is and the sights of the streets of Kasauli just whipping past her was giving her some serious whiplash. But Asad couldn't notice. Couldn't slow down. He was barely even paying attention to the roads, to his situation to what he was doing. He was lost in his own thoughts. Other images, other sights were occupying his mind. The sight of her legs, her heavenly scent, her presence, the warmth emanating off of her and his heart and body's own natural reactions, the pull, the want, the helplessness, frustrating him. Torturing him. The air in the car thick with tension. All kinds of tension, sexual tension included. Zoya just wanted the ride to end. She felt like she wouldn't be able to breathe otherwise. However, as Asad realized the car ride was about to end and soon he would have to witness the dreadful sight of her walking away and live with that dreadful fact his foot, consciously or subconsciously lifted slightly from the accelerator. The car slowing down in an unsuspicious manner. He wasn't ready to lose her warmth just yet. Her presence, her closeness just yet. Give up the contentment and embrace the restlessness he lived with all the time, that is until she came storming into his life. He also remembered his Ammi's words. The guilt, the shame still eating at him and he knew he had to say sorry. EGO or no EGO. It wouldn't stop him from apologizing. Not this time. Not to her. He felt that void return as soon as he pulled through the gates of the school. Stopping right beside a stretch limo. He could have slowed down all he wanted, delayed her departure as much as he wanted but her departure, the loss of her warmth, it was inevitable. He had to see her walk away sooner or later. And once he had dejectedly stepped on the breaks, there was a total silence and complete stillness for about 20 seconds. Breathing included. Before Zoya threw open the door, missing him turning his head about to say something, sorry, and she ran from there. Into the white hallways of the pristine college and Asad watched her run away. Again. With a heavy heart. With pain, with desire, with longing and with worry. Worry for her health and safety. And then another thought gripped his heart. What if, what if those weren't all of them that night. What if there were more men involved in this with Akram. He looked around scanning the place worriedly but thankfully he couldn't see any sleazy men. Any goons. Instead he caught a sight that put a sour taste in his mouth. Put him in a foul mood. The sight of Ghafur Siddiqui's daughters Naina & Kajol standing by their limousine and staring at his sexy sports car in awe, with gooey eyes, wondering who the owner of the car was as they couldn't see him through the tinted windows. Some of the boys stared appreciatively and others saw him and his car as competition. Asad could care less. All he had eyes for, was gone from sight. Asad sighed wishfully once again staring in the direction she had run off before driving out of the college grounds and towards work. In all of this Zoya failed to investigate one question. Usually, everyday Asad was driven to work by his driver on his limo. Why then did he choose to drive himself today? That too, on his sports car. His most sacred property. And a two seater sports car at that.

xxx

Haveli:

It was as if there was an auction to be held at the palace tonight. There was that much of everything. Jewelry, shoes, makeup, clothes. Anything and everything money could buy. It wouldn't be entirely absurd to believe that the private jet had been filled with all the 'shopping' they had done in Dubai and the shoppers themselves had flown back in commercially. The entire hall was flooded with jewelry sets and clothing articles. The women of the palace and Haseena showcased their shopping and the men of the Haveli, salman, Javed, Rashid, Zain & Azlan sat holding their heads in complete shock. How was it humanely possible to shop this much? Buy this much in just two days? They were certain even the worst sand storm in Dubai couldn't have been half as bad as these ladies let loose to shop there had been.

Javed - (whispered to his fellow men) Do we even...

Zain - (slowly shook his head) uhn-uhn.

Salman - Hamari bhalai issi mein hai ke hum kuch na bolein..kuch na poochein.

Haseena - (laughed) waise sach toh yeh hai..ke ab itne se wakt mein hum kya karte. Humme toh chahiye tha ke hum wahan do din nahin do mahine rehke aate. Taake tayaari sahee se ho jaati.

Azlan - (He just could not believe what he was seeing) Nahin Nahin Haseena Aunty...do mahine kyun? Aap log do saal reh aate..kya pata woh bhi tayaari ke liye kum par jaate? (The girls all snickered along with Maya who glared at him admonishingly while Razia and Haseena made faces)

Salma - Waise..yaad hai na tum logon ko ke hum Aahil ko ek hi beti de rahe hain..5 nahin. Toh phir yeh 500 lehnge kis ke liye laye gein hain?

Razia - (glared at her, not so happily) ab main bolongi toh bologi ke bolti hai (and everyone rolled their eyes) maana ke hamari bachiyon ki shaadi nahin ho rahee hai par woh shaadi mein shareek toh hongi na unke liye kuch options to laane the na humme, jewelry mein, kapron mein (running a loving hand down Kajol's face and Kajol just smiled sweetly at her)

Azlan - So, these 500 lehngas are for these 5 Hyenas? Ch, aise hi paise waste kardiye aapne mumani aap chahe kitna bhi mehnga lehnga kyun na khareed lein apni badsurat beti ke liye (draping a casual arm over naina's shoulder) woh bandariya ki bandariya hi dikhne waali hai (All 4 of the girls minus Anaya's mouth fell open. Naina looked positively ready to kill him but before she could they saw a very unexpected guest walk in hesitantly, behind the house worker)

All the girls shrieked - JEEJU!! (Anaya felt her heart leap into her mouth, her breath caught in her throat and her cheeks reddened just at the prospect of seeing him. Meeting him. Talking to him maybe? Trying to hide the grin that was fast threatening to break out onto her face she looked up and saw Maya glazing down at her with a sweet smile on her face. She could see the happiness in her Badima's eyes that stemmed from the fact that she, Anaya was so happy. She saw Maya nod at her as if confirming that he was in fact here and Anaya wasn't dreaming all this)

Haseena - Arre Aa Gaye beta..

Aahil - (looking extremely tired) Ji, Salamualakum! (They all returned his greeting, all the men rushing over to meet him, hug hum)

Azlan - Kya Jeej aap toh aise humse mun chupate phirte ho jaise aapne koi chori ki ho aur arrest hone se darte ho. Come on brother, you're family. We don't arrest our own. What was it hunh? A car, a purse..a heart maybe.. (Aahil's eyes widened as he stared at him, really behaving like a thief caught in the act and Zain rolled his eyes)

Zain - Clearly the only thing you are a prince of.is cheesiness. (Shook his head)

Azlan - Watch it bro, this is the same cheesiness that landed you some Kajla (Zain nodded rolling his eyes simultaneously) so Jeej, finally aapko hamari behen ki yaad aa hi gayee ke aap usse milne aa gaye

Javed - Are you sure you're from this generation, kyunki sharma ke nazrein na milana aur ghar mein chipna hamare generation ki baat thi..tumhare nahin

All the kids - Ohhh..Bade Baba (Javed and Maya exchanged shy and embarrassed smiles)

Rashid - (laughed) Par tab bhi ladkiyan aisa karti thin Bhai, ladkiyan aur aap. (All the kids laughed and Javed glared at his brother)

Salma - Kya baatein leke baith gaye ho tum usko toh dekho bechara kitna thaka thaka sa lagra hai..haina Anaya..(Anaya who was also gazing at Aahil with the same worry in her eyes stared at her Daadi in pure shock, sputtering and stuttering like her brother Asad. Her eyes wide and cheeks red. Everyone had a good laugh at her expense. Everyone except Razia & Haseena. and Aahil. For completely different reasons though. Aahil was also avoiding her gaze like the plague)

Haseena - haan woh darasal abhi hospital se duty karke aaya haina issi liye, maine usse bola humme waapsi pe pick karle..ghar le jaye apne saath.

Maya - Haseena Bi haan mahan aapne Aahil ko takleef di. Hamara driver haina woh chor aata Aapko. Bechara kitna thaka hai. Beta naashta karoge, aao baitho toh tum ab tak khare ho..

Aahil - (He felt suffocated. Felt guilt tightening like a noose around his neck. He felt misplaced and uncomfortable here. In the palace, between these people. Which was a warning sign in itself because these people were to be his in-laws soon, his family, forever. How would he sign on forever when he couldn't even sign on for 5 minutes) Uhm, nahin..woh actually I'm tired so I'd really just like to get going and hit the bed (gave her a polite smile) Ammi?

Maya - (smiled understandingly) I understand. Aaj toh chor rahe hain par agli baar nahin choreinge..agli baar toh kuch khaana hi parega..

Kajol - Waise Jeeju, Abhi toh aap din raat jitni chahe shifts maar lo jitne chahe patients ko kaatlo par shaadi ke time pe zaroor chuti le lena hunh. Aaj toh apni Ammi hai issi liye hukam chala rahe ho par shaadi waale din agar aise thake thake aake humse hamari behen maango ge toh haali haat lautna parega..

Zain - Exactly, kya faida Anaya Aapi ke Dubai ki shopping trip ka agar Jeeju ko unke necklace mein bhi stethoscope hi nazar aye..

Azlan - seriously, meri behen ke armaano ka kuch toh khayal rakh lena Jeej (Everyone had a good laugh at his expense, causing Anaya to blush prettily but none realized what Azlan's words had done to Aahil. He felt like someone had reached in and pulled his heart from his chest as his gaze slowly lingered over all the shopping. The clothes, the accessories the happiness in the air and then Anaya's beautiful, smiling, innocent and happy face. He could see the dreams she had brewed, the hope in her eyes and he felt like someone had kicked him in his gut. Guilt hit him like a ton of bricks, like someone had just slapped him across his face. For in that moment, he knew he was about to be the reason behind those shattered dreams, behind that lost smile and broken heart. He knew now that he couldn't, he wouldn't be able to see this commitment through and for that he wanted to hurt himself. Inflict more pain more torture on himself than he knew he would cause on the innocent soul before him, blushing while trying to sneakily sneak in glances at him. He was a horrible monster. He should be punished brutally for what he was about to do but he knew not doing it would be a greater sin. A greater injustice than staying silent and going through the commitment. He had to talk to his Ammi. He had to stop this before it truly was too late. He had to tell her. Confess to her what he had finally confessed to himself in this moment. He was falling in love with Aisha Khan. Not Anaya Khan.

xxx

Continued in next post...

Asha'a Cafe:

Zoya smiled at the customer, tipping her hat for extra cheer making the elderly man laugh at her as she handed him his coffee and wished him a good day. The elderly man had just about reached the door when the door was instead held open for him. Zoya smiled at the thoughtfulness of whoever the kind soul was who held the door open for the elderly man. She began wiping the counter tops, when all she heard was low, startled 'AKDU ALERT' behind her and Zoya's eyes snapped up towards the door in shock. True enough in strode Sexy Ahmed Khan as confident, arrogant, and smooth as ever. Zoya gasped and without a second thought ducked behind the countertop. All the Barista's turned and stared at her in confusion. They knew Zoya was strange and her actions were better left unquestioned but this was a little more strange than usual. Asad Sexy Khan removed his sunglasses, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he saw all his baristas, well all his mothers baristas frozen as if partaking in the mannequin challenge and all of them jointly staring at something..on the ground. Not up at face. But at the ground. Asad shook his head. Never mind, forget changing Ms. Sugar, he would have to change up the entire staff of this place. They were all as incompetent as her if not more. Asad sighed, shaking his head..his eyes scanning the place while trying to be as discreet as possible. Holding a hopeful breath. But atlas, he had to release that breath as his search ended in disappointment which was visible in his eyes. Suddenly, his migraine was stronger than before. Since he knew he wouldn't be getting half the cure he had come here in search for. His longing eyes stared into the direction of the farthest corner of the cafe, by the window and bookshelf where he had often at times seen her sitting. But no. She wasn't there today. Sheila came out of the kitchen to find all her Barista's frozen as if they were mannequins..all of them staring at..oh..an explanation. What the hell was Zoya doing? She raised an eyebrow at Zoya, her hands on her hips and Zoya as melodramatically as ever put a finger to her lips and then exaggeratedly mimicked Asad. By puffing out her face, turning it tomato red and furrowing her eyebrows. Her head looking like it was about to explode with anger. She then pointed above her head and Sheila got the hint. She rolled her eyes. When would Zoya stop picking on the poor man. She looked back to the mannequins who were now all staring at Asad with dreamy eyes and it took one glare from Sheila for them all to go scurrying off to work. Sheila then gave Zoya a look letting her know that Sheila thought she was absolutely crazy and Zoya smiled gratefully at her. So she went over to where Asad stood, looking dazed as he stared at the corner where Zoya usually sat, as if he could actually see her sitting there.

Sheila - (cleared her throat knocking on the counter top. That seemed to do the trick because Asad snapped out of whatever trance it was that he had fallen into. He looked up at Sheila a little startled and Sheila smiled cheerfully at him.) Back for more? (Asad groaned holding his head knowing what she was referring to and Sheila laughed)

Asad - Not today please. I have the worst migraine ever Sheila, I need my coffee.

Sheila - Again, I'm generally curious to know whatever happened to the coffee machine at your office that you need to keep travelling all the way here in the middle of a work day just for a cup of coffee? (Asad held his head)

Asad - I wasn't at the office, I was visiting a site..and I'm in such dire need of coffee I'm even willing to kiss this 'Sugar' barista's hands (Zoya gasped. Her cheeks reddening as his words sunk in. A kiss with Mr. Khan? Even if it was just him kissing her hands, but..still, the feel of his lips against her skin was enough to send her heartbeats spiralling out of control. The fluttering in her stomach more pronounced. Allah Miyan..what was he even saying? He may have said those words in the heat of the moment..not truly meaning them but he didn't know what kind of consequences his words held. What kind of trouble it would mean for him and his heart. Sheila too stared at him wide eyed. Too shocked to react or respond. She was having trouble believing that he had even said those words, let alone who he was indirectly targeting them at) Please Sheila, an X-Large black coffee and I beg of you make it yourself don't..don't pass it on to-

Sheila - Your Sugar? (Asad's eyes snapped to her face. His ears reddening at the suggestiveness of her tone, at what she was implying.)

Asad - Yes..(Both Sheila and Zoya's eye went as wide and round as planet earth itself. His Sugar? And Asad went as red as a tomato) I..I just mean no..noo..I..that's not what I..(sighed in exasperation) what's her name Sheila? (Sheila looked towards him, dumbfounded and then tried to be as discreet as possible as she stole a glance at Zoya to figure out what to say. Zoya as suspected had a finger to her lips making Sheila roll her eyes, honestly Zoya how much was she planning on torturing the poor man)

Sheila - (narrowed her eyes) Zzz (The disbelief and glint of happiness at just the Z was unmistakeable. Zoya? For reasons beyond comprehension automatically his mind and heart jumped to the conclusion of the name Zoya, the only name he seemed to hear or want to hear these days. Subconsciously he hoped it was zoya. Why? Again he didn't know. In all of this Zoya panicked and did what she usually did in situations of panic. She blurted out the first thing that came to mind.)

Zoya- Margaret. (Asad's eyes widened with even more hope and disbelief. Zoya. That was Zoya's voice right. She was here! His hunch had been right. Zoya smacked her head at her own stupidity. He wasn't supposed to know she was here and she definitely wasn't supposed to be speaking. Sheila wanted to smack her head for the same reason as well as another which Zoya didn't seem to find stupid enough, the actual name she had blurted out. Margaret Zoya, really? That's the best you could come up with?)

Asad - (in a hopeful voice. Desperate for her to say what he was dying to hear) who who..was that?

Sheila - uh (trying to think fast. Zoya punching her leg really wasn't helping) I uh..it was me..

Asad - (narrowed his eyes. No way. He could not have been mistaken about that. That voice, he could recognize it anywhere. It was definitely Zoya's beautiful voice) that, that was

Sheila - Me, uh-hunh. (Zoya closed her eyes. She was overdoing it now. She was saying too much, doing to much, she would seem suspicious) Margaret. See Margaret. I said it..I..I told you her name. It's Margaret.

Asad - (stared at her skeptically. A) she was behaving really weird. B) He was sure of what he had heard, it was Zoya's voice. He could bet his life on it. He could tell that voice anywhere. Then why was she hiding it) Margaret? (Sheila nodded her head a little too enthusiastically..a little too Vigorously) Margaret. So where is this Margaret? Is she working right now?

Sheila - Uhm? She isn't working right now, but..

Asad - (raised an eyebrow at her, giving her the classic AAK look. So not buying her story) is she working tomorrow? (He had just had it. He had to see her and find out her identity once and for all. Why were girls in Kasauli so hell bent on driving him crazy these days..little did he know it was all the same girl)

Sheila - I..uhm..I (Zoya nudged her again and Sheila not understanding exactly what it was Zoya wanted her to say said the first thing that came to her mind) Ya..she is! (Asad gave her a slow patronizing look. Still skeptical. He still wasn't buying it. But nonetheless she smiled for extra measure. He nodded, picking up the coffee she had finished pouring for him long ago and held it up as a thanks. One would think he would be rushing to drink it knowing it was finally black coffee just like he liked it just like he had been craving, but no he seemed almost like he wished it wasn't black coffee. Like he wished it was full of sugar. But without saying anything he turned around to leave. Something caught his eye, however. A piano. How had he not seen it before? The interior was different too. A whole section had been cleared up and there was a guitar stand and mic set up to)

Asad - (staring at the instruments) Yeh..

Sheila - (smiled, her excitement palpable) For the open mic night. (Stared at him hopefully) You will be singing won't you? (Asad stared at the instruments. The shattered dreams, the longing the sadness all visible in them. She could see he wanted nothing more than to break out into a gig right away but only god knows what was holding him back) Right? (Asad turned around and gave her a small, polite smile. She could see it in his eye's..he wouldn't. For reasons, unknown to her. He shook his head ever so slightly that Sheila barely saw it. But she had gotten the answer in his eyes anyways. He held the coffee cup once again before turning around and putting on his mask of cold indifference before stepping back out into the cold and brutal world. Once he left, Sheila turned her head towards Zoya crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow and Zoya smiled sheepishly at her)

Zoya - (standing up) Phew! That was a close one.

Sheila - close what exactly? (Sighed tiredly.) Why won't you tell the poor guy that you are his 'Sugar' who won't stop putting sugar into his coffee. Why are you torturing him so much? (Zoya stared at her like she had lost her mind or something)

Zoya - POOR GUY!! POOR GUY. Unke jaise egoistic insaan ko tum (she shook her head taking in a deep breath) Tum yeh sirf iss liye keh rahee ho kyunki tum unka asli chehra jaanti nahin ho. Kabhi unke saath ek ghar mein ek chat ke neeche reh ke dekho toh tumhe unki asliyat pata chalegi. (She stared out the door, muttering) Zille Illahi Kahin ke. This is my revenge. Torture him. Jo unke paagal hone mein bachi kuchi kasar hai woh yeh raaz poora kardega.

Sheila - (sighed giving up) You two are hopeless. (Zoya stared at her with a straight poker face)

Zoya - I'm going to go now.

Sheila - But you'll be back for closing? (Zoya nodded, grabbing her bag about to walk out of there)

xxx

Later that Evening: Kasauli Police Station:

Azlan came bounding up the steps to the Station ready to start duty and just as he reached the door he realized someone was in fact standing in front of the door, effectively blocking it. Azlan sighed in irritation. His eyes narrowing into a glare as he realized who it was that was blocking the door. Inspector Feroz Ansari. Azlan knew what he wanted and quite frankly he was losing his patience and getting really annoyed now. This was seriously getting out of hands. Why the hell was he so hell bent on figuring out what his and Asad's relationship was anyways? What would he get out of it?

Feroz - (smiled, his disgusting cheapall knowing smile. He had Azlan right where he wanted him. Fearful, and at his mercy. He knew he could crack him soon.) Time's almost up inspector

Azlan - (narrowed his eyes. Pissed and done with the games.) (looked at his watch) What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Feroz - (laughed menacingly) it's one minute to 8:30. Your shift does start at 8:30 right? (Shook his head) Close call. (Azlan closed his eyes. What, even?)

Azlan - Yes, well maybe if you moved aside Inspector..I would..(Feroz very dramatically put up his hands as if in surrender and then stepped aside, bowing down. Azlan had to fist his hands to gain some self control and not beat him to pulp. He was on his last thin shred of patience with this guy)

Feroz - Your highness (Deciding he wasn't even worth it Azlan tried to be the better man and walk away inside when Feroz said something that ACTUALLY for once, sent a shiver down his spine. This time he was actually gripped with fear. Feroz's voice, his words held a warning and Azlan was scared of how far he was willing to go to discover the truth especially since he seemed to have made it his life's purpose to unravel this mystery of the relationship between Azlan Ahmed Khan and Asad Ahmed Khan) Aakhri baar pooch reha hoon. Chup chaap bata de Asad Ahmed Khan kaun hai, tera kya lagta hai..warna..iske baad jo hoga..bauhat bura hoga aur jo hoga uske zimedaar main nahin tum khud hoge. (Saying so Feroz straightened up. Gave him one look that said it all. He meant every word he had just said. And he walked away leaving Azlan too stunned and scared to move)

xxx

Khan Mansion:

Asad - it's 9:30 Ammi. 9:30 ! She's still not back - (Dilshad tried to say something but Asad wouldn't stop for a second to let her get a word of sanity in) Itni raat ko bahar rehne ka matlab kya hai! Maqsad kya hai! Kaunse ghar ki ladki iss wakt iss mausam mein bahar bhatak rahee hogi Ammi? Kitni baar aakhir ek hi baat kitni baar duhraani paregi mujhe for her pea-sized brain to finally understand it! It's not God Damn Safe! MAUSAM DEKHA HAI AAPNE!! (Just then a loud round of thunder and lightening echoed and flashed across the sky as if for extra emphasis. As if to help Asad's cause. Dilshad sighed also staring out the windows, it was raining pretty wildly. She and Aisha were worried too but they didn't tend to get as hyper and lose their cool and imagine every possible worst case scenario like their son/brother. No that was a gift which only exclusively Asad had inherited)

Asad - La Parvai ki bhi had hoti hai! Unhe kissi ki care hai? Kissi bhi parwa hai? Yeh ehsaas bhi hai unhe ke ghar pe koi unka intezaar kar raha hoga, kissi ko unki fikar ho rahee hogi (Dilshad and Aisha slowly turned their heads towards each other behind his back..kissi? As in them or kissi as in him? But as they saw him, The Dictator, Hitler spin around to face them..his eyes wild with fury and worry both their heads snapped back attentively to his face and they sat upright and sober) Par nahin. Unhe unki apni mauj masti ke aage kuch aur soojta hi nahin hai. Just fun and games and partying. Apne Daddy ke paise urane ke ilava toh shayad unhe kuch aata hi nahin hai. Yahan college mein admission le liya hai par kabhi jaana nahin hai except for the one day when she really shouldn't be going. Har din koi naya adventure koi nayee party. I'm sure (fists clenched. His heart aching again just as the 101 worst case scenarios played in his head) I'm sure she's partying at Rogue with..Ayaan.

Dilshad - (trying to do some damage control) I'm sure aisa nahin hai Asad..woh kissi zaroori kaam-

Asad - Kaunsa zaroori kaam Ammi? Unless aap jaanti ho ke woh zaroori kaam kya hai aur aap 100% sure ho ke main ghalat hoon please don't vouch for her. Aap jab khud nahin jaanti toh mere saamne uski wakalat kaise kar sakti hain? Aap khud nahin jaanti woh iss waqt kahan hai aur kya kar rahee hai aur ab tak ghar kyun nahin ayee hai (Dilshad looked down, truly not having an answer to his questions and accusations. It was true. Unless she herself knew the truth how could she give Asad her word or vouch for Zoya. It was the truth. She really didn't know where Zoya was and why she wasn't home when it was 9:30 pm and the weather was this bad) (Asad Shook his head) Unhone ek baar bhi aapko..Aapi ko..kissi ko bhi phone karke itala karna zaroori nahin samjha? Bas jab dil kiya jahaan dilkiya chal paree. Without any care for the consequences. Abhi Kal unke saath itna bara haadsa hua hai, unki halat..unhe bistar se uthne ki ijazat nahin deti aur woh hain ke..(shook his head) God knows woh kab samjheingi ke yeh America nahin India hai. New York Nahin Kasauli hai. God know's when she'll understand that theres more to life than fun, games, and parties. (Shook his head) Than wasting your dads money on senseless adventures by the day and parties with Ayaan at Rogue by the night (shook his head as another round of thunder roared in the skies and another thought crossed his mind again. What if it wasn't like he was thinking. What if Akram really did have more men working for him. What if the danger hadn't gone yet? What if, Zoya was in..trouble? All these what ifs had his eyes widen with panic and worry..making his face blanch with worry. It took him all of 3 seconds of watching the rain pouring it down before he had whipped out his keys and had stormed out the front door, much to Dilshad and Aisha's utter shock. Their mouths falling open behind him)

Dilshad - Ab yeh iss mausam mein kahan jaa raha hai?

xxx

Asha'a Cafe:

Zoya sat on the love seat in what had now become her favourite corner of the caf staring out at the pouring rainfall. The storm outside looked like a perfect reflection of the storm inside her. The rain a perfect reflection of the tears that were threatening to rain from her eyes. The paleness of her face had returned and she looked nearly as unwell as she did yesterday.

Whatever improvement her bed rest and medications had brought her it seems that she had managed to wear out the effects of it all in one day by exhausting herself too much. At school, at work, and the actual cause of her sadness and exhaustion. The search for her father which had come up dead ended today as well. Zoya looked down at the picture she had in one hand and a small gold ornate gold earring she was clutching in a deathly grip in her other hand. The only pieces of her parents she had with her.

Zoya - (ran her thumb over the damaged picture) Main Aapko talaash karke rahoongi Abbu. Aur aapke baare mein jaanke hi rahoongi Ammi. Main haar nahin maanongi. Nahin manoongi. (A small tear escaped her eye as she closed them briefly trying to get a grip on her raging emotions and the pain in her heart. She heard her cell phone vibrate beside her again and she looked at the name flashing on the screen. That finally managed to bring her out of her state of misery. Because she was someone who even in her own state of misery put the needs of others before her. In this case her Phupi before herself. Her Phupi was probably getting worried and tensed. It was so late and the weather wasn't good either. She should probably lock up and get home as soon as possible. She had no idea how she would manage that much considering how badly it was raining outside. Plus, it probably wasn't the best idea to be alone out in a city which became deserted soon after sunset. She would probably get another telling off by the mysterious stranger and it made Zoya freeze midway between picking up the cups and saucers from various tables. Did that thought really just cross her mind? Did she actually think to delay going home in the hopes of coming face to face with him again? With the possibility of meeting him again? Seeing him again? Seeing his enchantingly beautiful eyes again? Feeling his touch again? Her whole body shuddered just at the reminder of what the feel of his touch against her skin felt like. Like her heart along with her whole body was on fire and she never wanted that fire to go out. In the next 10 minutes Zoya had managed to finish tidying up the place and was ready to leave. She had just finished locking up the cash register when she felt the hair on the beck of her neck stand up. She felt a presence behind her. A now, all too familiar presence. His presence. Zoya felt..happiness? Rush through her. A smile threatening to break out to accompany that beautiful blush. She had just been thinking about him, about the possibility of meeting him (wanting to meet him) and..here he was. She spun around, her eye's twinkling with happiness. With hope which soon died in her eye's as she realized it was dead ended hope. There was no one there. Just the darkness of the cafe surrounding her. But how? Zoya looked genuinely confused and scared. She could've sworn it felt like..he was here. The fear, the nervousness it reflected in her eyes. She gulped, her eyes still wide and she decided it was best to get out of here asap. So she quickly ensured everything was turned off, the place was clean and everything was in place for another business day tomorrow and then she made a hurried attempt to grab her stuff and get the hell outta there. Seemed like the Jinns were at it again. Following her. She spun around, distraught as she felt it again. His presence. Her quickened heartbeats and shortening breaths were evident of it. But she looked all around again, her eyes wild with desperation. No one. She seemed about ready to cry out of helplessness now. She turned around quickly, grabbing her backpack, and strapping it onto her bag. Completely missing the dark shadow moving outside the cafe. The shadow of a man. Just as she was about to leave the cafe, another thought worried her now. Not anticipating the change in weather from this beautiful morning she didn't know how she would get home without pneumonia in this weather, with bare legs, no jacket and no umbrella. She closed her eyes, sighing over her own carelessness.

Zoya - (sighed) Well Zoya. Best of Luck. Better get to it. (Muttered subconsciously to herself while fishing for the keys in her pocket. She probably didn't even realize what exactly she had been saying and the irony behind those words) Allah Miyan isn't about to send you prince charming on a white heavy bike to save you from pneumonia. (Little did she know, he was already here) (Zoya shrieked as soon as she stepped outside. She was nearly drenched head to toe within seconds of stepping outside. She struggled for a few seconds but finally managed to get the cafe locked up. She then turned around, ready to embrace the difficult journey home when she stilled instead. Her entire body breaking into goosebumps. There was no mistaking it this time, he was here. He had to be here. Trying to continue breathing and functioning through her quickening heartbeats she spun around to face him. When instead she came face to face with him. Asad Ahmed Khan. Zoya jumped back in surprise. Pleasantly surprised? Maybe a little at the conscious level and a LOT at the subconscious. But more than anything she was shocked. He was the last person she had expected to see here, at this time and especially after the new strangely weird and unfamiliar feelings stimulating inside her heart towards him since morning, she wasn't ready to come face to face with him any time soon. Especially when he looked like that. Damn. Jahapanah on any regular day was a sight to behold, a sight to leave one breathless and wanting more, a sight excruciatingly beautiful. Add a wet, drenched Jahapanah and it was a sight that could kill. A sight to kill for. To die for. Clad in all black. A black leather jacket and jeans his drenched hair roughly and forcefully pushed back, the drops of rain lingering on his beautiful and impossibly thick and long eyelashes, the tear drops racing down his chiselled cheeks and then those..Zoya felt heat rush to her cheeks even in the cold..as her gaze fell to his lips. His beautiful manly lips, which the raindrops were kissing at the moment. Zoya felt her eyes widen in disbelief and her cheeks redden at the audacity, shamelessness, and absurdness of her own thoughts. What the hell was wrong with her? She was thinking this about, a man..SHE? Zoya Farooqui. And not just any man..but her man? AKDU AHMED KHAN! Thinking how it would feel like to drink those raindrops right off his lips? Asad's slightly hooded, slightly darkened eyes were testimony enough that he was faring no better. He was spellbound! She looked absolutely sinful drenched in the rain like that. Especially those gorgeous long legs of hers that seemed suddenly more tempting and irresistible to him today than ever before. The way her hair clung to her face due to the rain water, was possibly the most tempting sight he had ever witnessed in his entire life. The most torturous sight he had ever witnessed. A sight that made him want to shed all shreds of self control and just give in to his desires. His hearts desires. To run his hand, his fingers down that beautiful face of hers through those beautiful tresses of hers. To one by one pull off those strands of hair away from her face and cling there, cling his lips to her face there instead. Just the mere prospect of it had his tongue flickering over his lower lip slightly, subconciously. He let his gaze linger down the length of her body, making a delicious, pleasant and torturous shudder rip through her. Made him gulp with desire. Those outrageously sexy clothes of hers cling to her like second skin accentuating her curves even more. Ya'allah. Why was he testing him? His fist was clenched so painfully that the keys to his bike he was holding in his hand were beginning to actually pain his hand. And then his gaze travelled back up, his breath as shortened and his heart beats as erratic as hers and when he looked up to her face to those beautiful eyes of hers he had to immediately look away. Break the trance he had fallen into. For he had seen an emotion, or two, in her eyes that rendered him incapable of gazing into those now hopeful now desire filled eyes of hers. Apart from the sadness in them that anyway caused him enough pain and torment to render him incapable of looking into them, he also saw an emotion in them that was capable of his destruction. Possibly hers too. The way she looked at him. It was the same emotion that his eyes held. Curiosity? Longing? Hope? Want? Desire? There was nothing his eyes craved more to see, his heart craved more to feel and his soul wanted more to have. But it was only the one thing his mind would never have. Never allow him to have. He would never give in to that, gaze into that emotion, afraid it would be the last straw and if he saw what he wanted to, what his heart wanted to see more than anything, a look that would fuel his hope..there would be nothing holding him back. What snapped Zoya out of it was the frown appearing between his eyebrows as he stared at the cafe confusedly. She could see the wheels churning and the calculations fast occurring in his mind through his eyes. As he looked between her and the caf, then Zoya panicked. Shit, Allah Miyan! Did she just blow her cover and her ploy to torture him by not letting him find out she was his mystery barista or 'sugar' for as long as possible. Allah Miyan! She had to act fast. In her attempt to find something to divert his attention she missed the look of realization dawning on him. Missed the dumbfounded look and the disbelief on his face. Really, how could he not have put this together sooner! The signs were literally all up in his face! He was beginning to question his own intelligence now. Feeling rather stupid. Well thankfully Zoya was there to change that. Change his feeling from stupidity to helplessness and frustration as always.

Zoya - (spoke loudly to get her voice across over the splattering raindrops) Aap Yahan Kya Kar rahe hain?

Asad - (looked back to her now. Finally noticing the chattering of her teeth and the paleness of her face) Forget about that. (Looked down. taking a deep breath) Chaliye, Ayee Ghar Chaliye.

Zoya - (narrowed her eyes) Seriously Mr. Khan. Aapko toh Hukam Jaari karne ki itni aadat hogayee hai ke aap kaise ajeeb ajeeb bahaane dhoondte hain koi bhi hukam sunane ke liye (mimicked his deep voice) Ghar Chalo. Toh aur main kahan jaa rahee thee? Yeh raste New York ki aur toh jaate nahin hai (she shook her head at him. Man, this man was weird. Did he come all the way here just so he could give someone an order? Was an entire day to boss his emoloyees around not enough? But seriously what was he doing here? She hoped he hadn't figured her secret out. To avoid letting him get any more suspicious or giving it away herself she thought it would be best to get away from there as soon as possible. She turned around ready to run home as she was seriously feeling cold now but unfortunately fate wasn't on her side. Allah Miyan didn't want her walking when her prince on a heavy bike was sent for her, to escort her home personally. She swayed dangerously, the exhaustion from today and weakness from yesterday catching up with her. She really had over done it. She held her head swaying and before she could fall anywhere she found herself in the strong warm and protective arms of her Jahapanah. Instantly feeling the warmth, the security, the almost belongingness Zoya felt herself subconsciously lean further into him, somehow wanting to melt her freezing body against his warm one. How was it possible for her to feel this safe, this secure with him around? In his arms? She squinted her eye, trying her best to look up at him and found his beautiful brown orbs which were wild with worry and concern at the moment, gazing into her confused, slightly sad ones. Both of them at the risk of forgetting the world around them, the storm surrounding them and instead giving in to the storming emotions within. Both their gazes snagging to each others lips, their heartbeats quickening..breaths shallowing. Zoya was hyper aware of Asads hands. One placed at her lower back over her denim dungarees and yet enough to manage setting her body ablaze. But it was nothing in comparison to his other hand which was holding her by her bare waist on the side. Steadying her. That moment. That one single moment defined the word, perfection. It was a stillness, a beautiful, peaceful stillness, filled with life, warmth and hope in the Darkness and brutality of the storm surrounding them. A perfect mirrored reflection of the two souls in question. their lives and their world. Complete, Whole, Contended and happy Together, as one soul two bodies as they stood in that moment in comparison to the cold brutal world out there and the torture they inflicted on the two souls in question. They both didn't know that this kind of peace, this kind of contentment was even possible. Not just Asad but even Zoya tonight, in his arms felt all her demons abandon her. Felt a calmness a peace wash into her. Just like him she too forgot the whole world as his eyes held her captive. They both wanted nothing more than for the moment to hold still. To never pass. Let themselves stand there getting drenched in the rain for as long as they were in each others arms, held by one another..there is nothing else the two could want. Nothing they would choose over the raging storm of desires and feels and yet absolute tranquility that washed over both of them when they were in each others arms. Asad's lips were slightly parted, his eyes even more hooded as they dazedly staring at her lips. He leaned in ever so slightly and nearly tilted his head when thankfully a lone car passed by and the headlights that shone on their faces brought both of them out of their reverie. Caused them to spring apart, as if on fire. They both looked anywhere but at each other trying to figure out what the hell just happened or rather would've happened had that car been delayed for just a few more minutes. And what shocked and worried them both was the disappointment they felt upon realizing that. Not relief, but disappointment. The feelings that coursed through both of them when in each others arms the feeling of wanting to not be anywhere else, never wanting to part, never wanting to let go, instead just wanting to melt into one another and let their hearts lead the way worried the hell out of them. The amount of safety, security, belongingness, contentment and sheer happiness they felt when in each others arms, the pounding of their hearts the shortening of their breaths, the desires of their hearts. It all scared them.)

Asad - (Ran a frustrated hand through his hair. This was a bad idea. He should've never come here. But damn it why couldn't he stop himself, hold himself back when it came to her, keep himself away from her. Why did he find himself in these situations..in this proximity to her? Why and when did he start worrying for her and that too so much that he had driven out willingly in this storm to search for her, for until he found her he wouldn't be able to live in peace. Breathe. He may not have the answers to those why's but he knew he had to get out of here FAST. Now. Before he lost his mind any further and this dangerous situation and predicament advanced any further. He glared at her. As usual his helplessness at falling for her and frustration of not being able to do anything about it despite his 'best efforts' all got misdirected and mishandled as anger towards her) Dekhiye main aapse koi behas karne nahin aaya hoon. Aapko ghar le jaane aaya hoon. Ammi Ghar pe intezaar kar rahee hain (Looked away, unable to look into her eyes when lieing to her. He was desperate enough to lie. And it wasn't a complete lie anyways. But he was desperate and had to try whatever it took to get through to her and get her to agree to come with him. He had to get away from here. From her. ASAP. And on top of that now that his mind had started working again no thanks to Zoya he was genuinely afraid that she especially would develop Pneuomnia if they stood in the rain for a second longer..and that reminded him of what she was wearing and how breathtakingly beautiful she looked into it and he tried his best to focus on the careless aspect of her outfit instead of his very ungentlemanly thoughts and desires which seemed to be running wild.)

Zoya - (Narrowed her eyes not getting his point) So? Main akele ghar aa jaa sakti hoon aapko takleef uthane ki koi zaroorat nahin hai (plus she still wasn't completely over what he had said and done yesterday. And hadn't completely forgiven him either. So for her to listen to him quietly, let alone co-operate with him! Hell, No!) (Asad's mouth fell open at her bravery and gut. And her rebelliousness. NO ONE but HER it seemed ever said NO to him and he wasn't appreciative of this quality of hers in the slightest. It hurt his EGO and made him desire her, fall for her all the more. She was just so irresistibly beautiful, hot and fiery..when she was angry, he saw her about to turn away and the limits to his temper and patience were really being tested now)

Asad - Ms. Farooqui. Yeh New York Nahin. India hai. Yahan aapko kab kaun kahan uthake le jayega aapko pata bhi nahin chalega. Aap hamare ghar ki mehmaan hain aapko itni bhi akal nahin hai ke agar aap itni raat ko itne haraab mausam mein bahar rehne waali hain to kamaz kam Ammi ko bata detin? Yehi sikhaya hai Aapke Maan Baap ne Aapko (Zoya who up until now was rolling her eye's with her back to him, tapping her foot impatiently, waiting for him to complete his melodramatic overreaction and lecture..turned around staring at him incredulously. Yet the pain in her eyes was unmistaken)

Zoya - Allah Miyan. Aap itni si baat pe Mere maan baap pe kyun jaa rahe hain Mr. Khan? Maine kaha naa..main akele aa sakti hoon toh - (He saw her sway slightly on her feet again even if she tried to keep her gaze steady and focused on him, he saw her eye's threatening to roll to the back of her head again. Asad stared her up & down patronizingly. Seeing her face grow paler, her body colour verging on the level of dangerousness and Asad had had it. His patience gave in. He had had enough of her and her rebelliousness for the sake of being a rebel. Asad stepped closer to her. Just one step. And she took one step back, her heartbeats picking up pace. Anticipating his intention. Which didn't fall anywhere near to what his intention was. Nor was her conjured up idea of his intention anywhere near decent.)

Asad - (spoke in a low menacing volume. His threat and the way he said it, left no scope for doubt that he meant every word Even if Zoya out of obligation still didn't pay heed)

Asad - Don't make me force you.

Zoya - (staring in disbelief) You..You wouldn't..

Asad - (his eyes narrowed in on her face, the muscle jumping beneath his eye convincing her further that he was in fact dead serious) Try me. (Zoya stood with her back against the window of the cafe and stared into those Chocolate brown eye's of his, nervously. The intensity of them holding her captive. She gulped nervously as she saw his gaze snag to her lips briefly and she found herself gulping nervously. His gaze almost immediately flying back to those beautiful eyes of hers again, for he felt himself burn with desire, but he couldn't gaze into those eyes of hers and so immediately looked away. For he knew that if he dared to look into them, he would be a goner. That once again put him in a foul mood. AAK hated weakness. Absolutely abhorred it. And yet there could be no man on earth who would fall as weak as him when it came to Zoya Farooqui. He was absolutely helpless in falling for her and completely at her mercy. She saw him turn around and turn his head over his shoulder)

Asad - and you might want to invest in a jacket. You know those things that keep you from getting pneumonia from this weather..that. (Saying so he walked away leaving Zoya not impressed or happy in the slightest for being treated like an incompetent child. She watched him stride sexily to his heavy bike parked on the street and her eyes widened. For many reasons. A) She was going to ride on that sexy beast WITH HIM b) She was going to ride on that sexy beast WITH HIM. She felt her cheeks heat up and was sure they were burning crimson red and it sure had nothing to do with the cold. But how was she supposed to..wouldn't she have to sit closely to him and..she gulped hold on to him? Physically, intentionally touch him..hold onto him? She was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of a roaring beast coming to life. His bike. The headlights blinding her. Asad was faring no better. Now regretting his decision of coming out here on his HEAVY bike and dreading the ride almost as eagerly he was anticipating it. At Least in a car there was room to breathe, no risk of touching and enough personal space. How would he possibly survive this? God why did he love torturing his heart so much? He sighed deeply. Well, he was here now and so was she and there was no going back. Best try to get this over with. He saw her standing there and purposely roared his bike exaggeratedly loudly. What the hell was she doing just standing there in the rain? What was she thinking about? Little did he know her heartbeats were fast spiralling out of control due to nervousness about this bike ride. Which was a first in itself because Zoya Farooqui never got nervous, about anything. Even all the white lies she told so confidently. He slowly drove the bike over to her right in front of her and did it again. Letting her know he was waiting, impatiently at that and she ought to get on. But to his utter horror she just glared at him rebelliously, flipped her wet hair over her shoulder and holding her head high began walking in the opposite direction. Asad cursed under his breath. His eyes rolling about in his head. Why must she ALWAYS disobey him! Why was she so hell bent on driving him mad! Zoya knew in her heart of hearts that her action was nothing but childish. Knew he would never let her go home on her own. Knew he would not give up until she got on that bike and let him take her home himself. His threat was still ringing in her ears and caused her heart to beat erratically. But what was she to do? She couldn't willingly get on that bike. A) That would mean she actually obeyed and listened to something he Said and B)...it felt too intimate.

Asad - (groaned) Ms. Farooqui, I am telling you for the last time..GET on this bike and come home with me. Do not force me to make you..

Zoya - (her voice shaking with nervousness) I told you Mr. Khan main akele ghar aa sakti hoon..Aap chale jaiyee

Asad - (WHY was this girl so painfully stubborn! Why was she so hell bent on inviting trouble upon herself) Ms. Farooqui..the rain is getting heavier. I am not going to argue with you or take no for an answer. So please just GET on this bike so we can get home! MS. Farooqui. (His patience running thin as he saw her picking up pace in an attempt to get away from him causing him to ride slowly alongside her, tailing her) MS. ZOYA FAROOQUI MS. (And when he saw her break out into a jog in an attempt to prove her point and get away from him. His patience snapped. He had had enough of her stubbornness and rebelliousness! He could be just as stubborn as her. He had warned her, but she had paid no heed. Well..this ought to teach her. Never deny Asad Ahmed Khan something, when he asks of it politely. For there is always a threat lingering, of him getting his way through other means and in her case he had given her a fare warning of doing just that. So now she would just have to deal with it.

Zoya SHRIEKED in fright. Asad startling her, as out of nowhere his bike screeched to a stop, his hand shot out and grabbed hold of one of her arms, his other hand going around her waist and him yanking her in towards himself. Before she could even comprehend what he was doing she found her feet lifted off the ground and her one leg being thrown over the side of the bike before she was lowered on to it. Facing him. He had moved back on the bike, placing her before himself, on his own seat, facing him with her legs dangling off the sides and her clinging around his neck for dear life. Her mouth open wide in a scream that never escaped her, his mouth slightly agape as he struggled to breathe once again cursing his own actions. He knew his actions would have severe consequences for his heart later but in that moment he didn't seem to care. He wasn't going to fight the emotions that had began raging all over the place as soon as he had touched her, pulled her close or even right now as she sat too close for his own good. For her own good. So close he could feel hers and she could feel his heartbeats spiral out of control. Their breathless breaths, intermingling as they tried to take in lung full of airs. Zoya tried to subconsciously shift closer to him as her body shook due to the cold, both angering and worrying Asad who within the next moment had peeled off his own leather jacket, all the while letting himself drown in the magic her eyes held. The beauty, the sparkle, the life they held. Zoya watched awed as his biceps flexed and accentuated as he painfully slowly draped the jacket around her shoulders. And once she realized what he had done, when she felt the warmth, she was touched. Asad would never know what this small gesture which was probably meaningless for him meant for her. A soul that had been parched for this kind of love, care, concern and thoughtfulness her whole life and yet had to make do with whatever and whenever sparse amount of love and care she received from whatever limited time she got to spend with her Aapi, her Jeeju and her brothers she was constantly praying and wishing for this kind of love. Hungrily drinking in as much of it as she could. Asad may not know this but she had just subconsciously began attributing words like Love, and Care, Concern towards him too now. He was added to the list of the few people she seeked such things from, expected them from. She may not realize it now but pretty soon his love and his concern is the only love, the only care that would matter to her. His eyes snagged to her lips briefly again as he finished draping the jacket around her, before he looked up at her and seeing the gratitude shining in her eyes, awkwardly and immediately looked away. Zoya looked away, her eyes filling with tears at the kindness and thoughtfulness of his action. Surely he would be freezing in that thin black shirt of his that fit him so snugly it was cruel. Broadening his shoulders, and his biceps. As she pulled the jacket tighter around herself, out of the corner of her eyes she saw herself get caged between his strong muscular arms, as he started the bike, and pretty soon he was zooming off. Zoya hesitantly raised those beautiful doe shaped eyes, towards his, as she felt his gaze on her face and sure enough, she found him intently staring at her. Once her eyes locked with his there was no turning away, no looking back, no going back. They were transfixed. Doomed. Together. They rode all the way home like that. Zoya's hair stuck to her face, her eye's peeking out through the strands of hair sticking to her face. Zoya's eyes staring into the haunted brown eye's of his that had risen a dull ache in her heart for him, and Asad's kept snagging between her beautiful lips which always caused him to drive a little faster and her beautiful soulful eyes which caused him to lessen the speed. Both their hearts in danger, their heartbeats erratic. Their ragged, slowed breaths still intermingling. Despite the rain and the cold having chilled them to their bone the two couldn't remember their bodies ever being more on fire. Ever burning more ablaze. With desire, with longing, with an ache. An emotion so unknown but one that was crawling and sneaking it's way into both their hearts at the speed of lightening. Much to their disappointment the ride lasted a total of 5 minutes seeing as they didn't live too far from the caf. Zoya sat before him, her face excruciatingly close to his face but that was it. She didn't hold onto him or touch him. He didn't hold on to her or touch her. The ever present void returned as soon as Asad drove his bike into the gates of his mansion. The sight nearly giving his watchmen a heart attack. Asad could drive as slowly as he liked the bike would have to come to a stop at one point or another, eventually. And it did. He stopped the bike, snapping them both out of their beautiful trance, one that had threatened to raise a new kind of danger between them. One that comprised of the ability, the right, the possibility of hoping, of dreaming, a possibility of more between them. And that was dangerous because as far as they knew up until now there was no chance of anyone let alone..him & her. Of them. Asad parked the bike and slowly let go of the handles, gulping nervously. Awkwardly. Curing the recklessness and spontaneity of his own actions. Why couldn't he ever think anything through? Now how was he to deal with this? To approach this. Getting on was one thing, he acted without thinking clearly, his patience had snapped and he did the first thing that came to his mind but how was she to get off the bike without making any of them awkward now? Asad cleared his throat awkwardly, judging to the best of his ability, he held onto the bike with a steady hand and slid off the bike himself, steadying it as it wobbled slightly and then he, avoiding all sorts of eye contact with her held the bike hoping that she would get the hint and hop off. Lucky for him, Zoya was ready to do about anything at this point to get away from here, away from him. She needed to. Her sanity, her life, her breath. her safety and the safety of her heart depended on it. She jumped off like the bike had burnt her and without sparing a second thought, or a glance in his direction she put a hand over her racing heartbeats, gasped for air as her breathlessness caught up with her and ignoring her flaming cheek as their proximity, the intimacy of their actions, his actions, their ride dawned on her just now she ran up the steps of the house, needing to get away. And she did, disappearing into those majestic black doors. And only when he heard the doors thud shut did Asad manage to finally breathe again. In relief, in helplessness and tiredness. Tired of trying to fight this, whatever this was..and failing. Miserably. Each time. Especially this time. He had knowingly or unknowingly crossed a line, a boundary, broken down one of his own walls himself. He himself had pulled her towards himself. Quite the opposite of what he had decided to do. He sighed again. What had he done..

xxx

Continued in next post...

The Next Morning: Khan Mansion:

ARGHHH!! She was going to kill them! Kill them all Today! How dare they ruin her sleep! It was SATURDAY for crying out loud! Who the hell were these idiots laughing so obnoxiously loud, in the KHAN MANSION!! It sure as hell wasn't Jahapanah because she was sure hell hadn't frozen over yet. With her eye's still closed and her hair looking like a bomb had blasted right atop of it Zoya tossed her covers aside and dragged her still asleep body out of bed. Oh she'd teach them a lesson. She'd set them straight, alright. No one, NO one ruined her, Zoya Farooqui's sleep at 8:30 in the morning on a SATURDAY and lived to tell the tale! Not bothering to fix her appearance, rub her eyes or run a hand through her blasted hair that was standing up in bunches across her head she threw open her bedroom door and marched down the hall to the living room where the obnoxious sounds were coming from!

Zoya - (screamed at the threshold of the door) HEY!!! (Much to her approval, just like she wanted a hush fell over the entire room. Dead silence once she heard them all shuffle to turn around and look at her! Feeling numerous sets of eye's on her and knowing she had their attention Zoya went off on her rant. Determined to set them straight and teach them a lesson. So they would know, whoever they were to never ever disturb Zoya Farooqui's sleep again!) WHAT THE HELL! IT'S SATURDAY!! People are trying to sleep!! WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU TOOK YOUR BOISTEROUS AND OBNOXIOUS LAUGHTER ELSEWHERE!! KISSI AUR KI NEENDEIN HARAAM KARO JAAKE. LEAVE US ALONE. (But to her absolute shock all she heard was pin drop silence. Before they could hold it in no longer and much to her horror, BURST out laughing. Zoya's mouth fell open. The audacity of these people! Their monstrously echoing and roaring laughter finally convinced her to rub her eyes to get them to open slightly, just enough, for her to see who it was that was laughing so loudly at this early in the morning anyways..and Zoya couldn't believe her eyes. Her brothers? Aahil, Ayaan and Malik uncle and Jahapanah? SHOCKINGLY enough he too seemed to be finding something hilariously funny about her misery and seemed to be biting back a smile. Well it seemed like a grin actually. So..was that the answer to her question? The mystery of his hidden smile? It would be a breathtaking boyish grin? At Least he wasn't laughing like Ayaan who was rolling all over the floor choking on his coffee from his mad laughter spell. Aahil seemed to be wiping away his tears and mellowing down. Even Malik Uncle had been laughing at her! Haww! What was so funny about what she said? Asad looked down, smiling a small adoring smile to himself as he saw the sparks go off and the fire blaze in her eyes. She was mad. He watched as she put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at them.

Zoya - WHAT THE HELL IS SO FUNNY! (shockingly it only made them laugh more. Zoya couldn't see what they saw but Zoya knew, she had seen it herself on countless occassions that Zoya really wasn't a sight to behold in the morning. A sight which only one soul. Asad Ahmed Khan agreed with. To him she was freaking adorable. Her hair standing in 10,000 different directions, her eyes so droopy it was as if she had glued them shut, her baggy 101 Dalmatians Pajamas thrice her size, as was her red t-shirt..she was just perfect. Always. Even so early in the morning, even in this moment.)

Ayaan - Morning to you too Godzilla. (Zoya narrowed her eyes at him)

Zoya - What the hell are you doing here, Bandar. Who invited you?!

Ayaan - (laughed again. Much to Zoya's annoyance) You're forgetting this is my best friends house, I don't need an invitation to come here. Ever. (His insecure eye's told a different story though, as he stared towards Asad for reassurance. Asad and Zoya exchanged a quick second glance, before both of them looked away awkwardly. Their ride, the proximity, the closeness, the intimacy, the breathlessness from last night still fresh on their minds..and when they looked away Zoya's cheeks were as crimson as her shirt and as red as Asad's ears were. Both their heartbeats erratic again)

Asad - (seeing Ayaan staring at him insecurely again) Sure, Sure Ayaan. (Ayaan looked away smiling happily and Asad shook his head, rolling his eyes and muttering) Whatever you need to tell yourself. (Aahil laughed and Ayaan lay back on the sofa, stretching his arms and popping food into his mouth as he continued watching Ghaffur Siddique's obnoxious face on TV)

Malik - (also watching TV, his back to Zoya) You're welcome to Join us Zoya, by the way. Or are you just going to stand there and glare at the back of our heads.

Zoya - (rolled her eyes) Did you guys ACTUALLY ruin my sleep over NEWS! A PRESS CONFERENCE! THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE LAUGHING AT! (Her eyes widened. Oh they were so sad! What a bunch of...Jahapanahs!) ALLAH MIYAN, YOU ALL NEED SO MUCH HELP.

Ayaan - (speaking between mouthfuls) Not just Any Press Conference sis, this here (pointed to ghaffur's face) this is the greatest comedy show the world will ever witness. You have to watch it. You'll never laugh harder. Not even when you look at the mirror. (Zoya rolled her eyes at him, as the others laughed and Asad picked at his food. When something caught his mind, causing his gaze to snap between Ayaan and Zoya..only to see Zoya immediately drawl her tongue back in which she was sticking out at Ayaan very maturely. Did Ayaan just call Zoya sis or were his ears ringing? He badly wanted it to be true, the smile of relief, like a big weight had finally been lifted off his shoulders, a big mercy had been granted to him was threatening, begging to break out on his face. But he couldn't be sure. He was almost sure Ayaan had said it but what if he was just hearing it cause his ears were thirsty to hear it?)

Aahil - You planning on standing there all day, Zoe? (Zoya sighed)

Zoya - (sighed) FINE! But if this isn't worth it, I'm going to hurt you all for ruining my sleep.

Ayaan - (laughed) With what you're tiny dainty girly hands? Don't forget we got Aahil on our side who has an unlimited access to syringes and Malik Uncle who holds a gun. Your hands got nothing on us.

Zoya - Funny, you're still making that claim after a different tiny dainty GIRLY hand has met your ugly cheek every night of your life since you were 9. (Malik and Aahil burst out laughing and even Asad seeed impressed and amused, finding Joy in seeing Ayaan getting dissed off by someone half his size. The cushion she flung onto his face was just the cherry on top. Oh his fiery Zoya. Wait...HIS??)

Aahil - WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU!! (everyone jumped, startled, as Aahil screamed all of a sudden taking Zoya's full appearance into view. Earlier he had just taken an overlook at her dishevelled state and since it was nothing knew, that was just Zoya Farooqui in the mornings he had payed no attention nor had he tried looking closer. But now that she too, without remembering or realizing had stepped in front of him and he caught sight of her bandaged hands, her bruised and cut lip his eyes had narrowed to splits in worry. Ayaan too bolted upright and off his sofa as soon as he caught sight of the bandage on her hands and spun her around to face him. And once he caught the paleness of her face, the cut on her lip and the lingering sadness in her eye's, and her trying to avoid eye contact..his eyes grew furious.)

Ayaan - WHAT.HAPPENED. (Zoya avoided eye contact, she discreetly chanced a glance at Asad and saw him looking between the three of them worriedly and confusedly. Confused about the seemingly deep relationship they seemed to share where the the Farooqui brothers held the authority and right to demand such answers out of her and get angry at her as such, and worried about what they would tell them. If Ayaan ever knew, ever found out..but then again maybe he did deserve that. After what he had done. Zoya saw him lower his eyes and his head Guilitly, ashamedly and she felt something ache in her chest. She hated seeing his head bowed, as arrogant and egoistic as he was, it was the only way she liked him. The only way that suited him. She would have him no other way. She almost said it there and then 'I forgive you' for she finally truly had but before she could she felt Ayaan shake her again and even Aahil was glaring down at her not so happily)

Aahil - Hum kya pooch rahe hain Zoya? Kya hua tumhe? How'd you get so hurt? (Him and Ayaan grew frustrated as they saw her silent, and her eyes lowered. They saw her discreetly raise her eyes and followed the direction to where she was looking. The same way Malik had looked and was still looking as soon as Ayaan had asked Zoya what happened to her. At Asad)

Ayaan - (confused) Asad? What-

Asad - (He was guilty as charged and he was not about to deny it. He would accept the consequences of his actions. Happily. He deserved them) Woh..actually..-

Zoya - Woh Aahil Bhai main..maine nayee bicycle li haina so Uhh..I was riding it downtown and you know how clumsy I can be..upar se India ki traffic I..I didn't realize..didn't see this car coming towards me and to save myself I swerved my bike and uhh..kinda fell over. (Asad stared at her dumbfounded. Did she actually just make all that up on the spot? He may be amazed at her ability to lie so smoothly and think when put in a spot but her brothers and even Malik uncle seemed to not be buying it)

Aahil - (stared at her injuries. Her story and her injuries really didn't match) So, you fell when riding your bike? Where exactly did this happen in Downtown?

Zoya - Uhhm, by the church. Ya I was trying to cross the street to get to school and-

Ayaan - (narrowing his eyes) Why? What happened to your car?

Zoya - (her face paling. Shit, she had not seen that coming. And especially in the presence of Asad and Malik Uncle? What was she supposed to say without exposing her relationship to the Farooqui's) Uhm-

Aahil - and how'd you manage to get these injuries? Your lip and hands are cut. Why not your head, your back or your leg. (Zoya stared dumbfounded. Okay, wrong move..Again. She hadn't taken certain facts into consideration. Such as, Aahil Was a doctor, he could tell an injury and how it happened just by seeing it)

Zoya - (laughed nervously, avoiding eye contact with them) What's with the third degree Aahil Bhai? Maine bola na I fell and hurt myself..there was some broken glass on the ground and my hands got cut on that..now can we drop the whole thing. (Plopping herself down on the sofa) Oo, This food looks delicious who brought all this breakfast?

Aahil - (stared at her skeptically) I did. (He saw her grab a cinnamon bun and help herself to some juice and he knew that was that. She was done discussing the topic and they would have to make due with whatever B.S story she had just fed them. He sighed, resigning to his fate. As long as she was okay..that story would have to do. He sat down beside her and pulled her into a side hug, kissing her head) You're okay though right.

Zoya - (Smiled up at him) Yes, Bhai..I'm perfectly fine. (Aahil seemed to buy her story and stop pressing the matter but Ayaan was least satisfied by her story)

Ayaan - So how come we never heard about this story till now Zoe? Asad, we met yesterday how come you never told me? (Asad stared at him perplexed. What was he to say to that. Much to his absolute surprise..Zoya jumped in to his rescue then)

Zoya - I told him not to. (Ayaan, Malik and Asad stared at her in surprise. None more surprised then Asad. Was she for real? His mother on one side, she was letting him save face before Ayaan too, when she could've easily vented and complained about him, told the entire truth and most likely let Ayaan beat him or try to beat him to pulp. She knew Asad was staring at her, but she didn't look up or meet his eye.)

Ayaan - (Exasperated. He really wasn't a fan of this habit of hers. Of suffering, silently) And why on earth would you do that?

Zoya - (shrugged) it was no big deal. I get hurt like 5 times daily, har baar phone karke bataon kya? Even if I get a paper cut-

Ayaan - Ya but Zoya this isn't-

Zoya - OMG can we please drop this now..Maine kaha na I'm fine-

Ayaan - No I-

Aahil - Ayaan (Ayaan looked to him and Aahil nodded. Telling him to let it be. Ayaan was NOT happy to say the least. but he let it go nonetheless. He fell back on his sofa, and Zoya curled up next to Aahil on the other sofa making Asad stare between all 3 of them skeptically. There really had to be something more to this situation, to their relationship dynamic than met the eye. He was a little doubtful (and VERY much relieved) that there was any sort of romance brewing between Ayaan and Zoya thanks to the bond, the behaviour he had just witnessed. And Zoya called Aahil Bhai? Could there be something more to that as well? what exactly was the relationship between Zoya Farooqui and Aahil and Ayaan Farooqui..Asad's eyes widened. Even if he were doubtful before, he was convinced now. There was something fishy here. Though before he could dwell any further on it he felt a pair of eyes still glued to his face. Malik uncles eye's. Asad looked up towards him and saw the slight smile on his face and the knowing look in his eyes told Asad immediately. Malik Uncle was NOT buying this story. Zoya's white lie could've fooled her brothers but it was NOT fooling him. He knew her injuries had something or the other to do with Asad. Ayaan's screaming in the next second diverted both their attentions from each other, towards the TV screen as Ayaan began laughing again)

Ghaffur - Yeh shehar aakhir chal kiske paison se raha hai. Hamare paison se. Hamari donations se. Yahan ke school, colleges, hospital, police force SAB hamari generosity ki wajah se chal rahe hain. (Ayaan pounded the table laughing hard and Asad just had amusement dancing in his eyes and a hint of a smile on his face. Really now..)

Zoya - Who is this man?

Aahil - (muttered) Trust me, you're better off not knowing.

Ghaffur - Hum yahan hon ya na hon..hamare liye Kasauli hamesha hamara ghar rahega yahan ke log hamare dilon mein baste hain. (Malik scoffed and Ayaan laughed again)

Ayaan - You need to HAVE a heart for someone to live in it bitch.

Zoya - (gasped) Ayaan! Why are you swearing at the poor old man. He's like your fathers age (This one line from Zoya had laughter echoing in the Khan Mansion like never before. Even Asad chuckled, just slightly, barely. but thinking he had done something wrong he immediately covered it up along with his mouth. Holding a hand over his mouth)

Malik - No Zoya..he may be Ayaan's fathers age..but he is nothing like Ayaans father.

Zoya - (stared between all of them confused) Okay so who is he then?

Aahil - Let's just say he's a corrupt politician.

Asad - (muttered staring at the TV with venomous eyes. Oh how he loathed this despicable man) Ya, to keep your sanity..just leave it at that. He's a corrupt politician.

Journalist - Sir, Pichle dinon Downtown mein hue gang war ke baare mein aapke kya comments hain. Wahan Kasauli ke logon ke saath jo na insaafi hui jo Zulm hua, uske baare mein kya kehna hai aapko. Uss raat jab Kasauli doob raha tha, khoon mein, tufaan mein tab aap ne kya madad ki Kasauli ke logon ki..how did you save them from Aka's Men?

Ghaffur - (shifted nervously) Dekhiye, uss raat jo bhi hua.. Sab hamari meherbaani ki wajah se hi toh hua. Hamari family ki wajah se hi hua. Aap jaante hain humne apne do nephews, jo jamare liye hamare sage beton se barke hain unhe police force mein shaamil kiya..aapke liye..Kasauli ke logon ki madad ke liye hamesha haazir rakha. They were present there to save the people of Kasauli from the hands of Aka's Men..

Journalist - No Sir, hamari information ke mutabik toh wahan brother-

Ghaffur - (Getting angry) Aapki information Ghalat hai. Aapko jhoot bola gaya hai. Aapne paise liye honge unn ghundon se yeh sab jhooti tareefein phelane ke liye. Sach toh yeh hai ke unn mein aur Aka ke ghundon mein KOI fark nahin hai. Woh sab ek barabar hain. Ghunde hain Sab ke Sab. (Asad and Ayaan silently glared at the TV screen. Their hands coiled into fists. Both of them enraged. Oh how they wanted to beat his wretched face blue and black)

Zoya - yeh Kiski baat kar rahe hain Malik Uncle? Who is this Aka, and these other ghunde?

Malik - (stared at Asad and Ayaan from the corner of his eye) I honestly don't know who the other ghunde are (Ayaan and Asad briefly exchanged a small glance) but Aka is one of the main gangsters of this town beta. An old school..Ghunda you can say. (Zoya stared at him wide eyed)

Journalist - Toh kya aap ne bhi Kasauli ke logon ki kuch madad ki uss din..Kuch khaana, paani kapre..kuch donate kiya aapne?

Ghaffur - (forced a smile) Uss roz church, Masjid aur Mandir mein jitna samaan gaya sab humne hi intezaam karvaya..infact hamare ghareeb beghar bhai behnon ke toofan se sar chupane ka intezaam bhi hum hi ne karvaya. That will be all. Thank you.

His spokesperson - No more questions. (Asad and Ayaan stared at the TV in absolute shock. What a scumbag! He literally comes and feeds LIES TO THE PEOPLE OF KASAULI. Fooling them so easily. They did NOTHING AT ALL, but rest in their luxurious Haveli. Asad helped those poor, NOT HIM..and yet he so easily took the credit. Oh they absolutely despised him. Zoya was clueless as to who he was, what he was claiming or even talking about so she remained unaffected, and Malik and Aahil just considered him a joke so paid no heed. But then again they too didn't know the truth about who it was in fact that had saved those people from drowning, falling sick, dying that day. Just as his unfortunate face disappeared from the TV and the press conference ended a very cheery, very merry Dilshad walked in. Smiling coyly)

Dilshad - Oh Good, you're all still here. I can tell you all together. Will save me 4 phone calls.

Aahil - 4 phone calls? (Laughed) hum mein se doh log toh aap hi ke chat ke neeche rehte hain Dilshad Aunty..

Dilshad - Zoya ka toh main maan rahee hoon ke woh yaheen rehti hai..but beta..my son is as much a guest in this house as you are. Humme unse baat karne ke liye bhi appointments leni parti hain..

Asad - (rolled his eyes) Ammi (it would've irritated her before, but today even his irritation, his cute little eye rolls, his exasperation and embarrassment at being nagged at by his Ammi caused a small smile to break out on her face. She found him, and his eye roll, his irritation, attitude all to be so cute today..why? What had changed exactly?)

Malik - Kya huwa Dilshad Behen kya batana chahtin hain aap?

Dilshad - Batana nahin..invite karna chahti thi Bahi Sahab.

Malik - (stared confused) Invite?

Dilshad - Yes, I am hosting a last minute party tonight. (Zoya screamed in delight! Causing everyone to plug their ears! Asad rolled his eyes thinking 'Great..another party..another need to socialize..to meet and talk to people, so not his forte.' But everyone elses mouths fell open, ready to fire a string of questions but she held up a hand telling them to stop)

Dilshad - No questions asked. I am not going to tell you what the party is or who it's for (Her eye's twinkled mischievously) It's a surprise! I want all you workaholics (glaring between Asad, Aahil and Malik) here by 7. Alright! (Squeezed Ayaan's face lovingly, much to Asad's annoyance) I know you..so I'll let you off the hook. You can make it by 7:30 and yes you can bring a plus one. (Asad and Aahil rolled their eyes as Ayaan kissed her hand and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Knowing what would be keeping him busy for that half an hour he was always late to parties and events)

xxx

Asha's Cafe:

The baristas all kept stealing glances at the wall clock as they went about their duty. Cleaning, serving and taking orders. All of them, but Sheila. Who looked rather nervous and scared as she stole glances at the wall clock. It was a quarter past 12. Meaning Asad would be in any second, as promised. To finally, once and for all find out who this mysterious barista actually was so he could finally get some peace of mind. Have some sanity return to him. Sheila was so not ready for what was about to go down. Trust Zoya to come up with such absurd ideas to have them all fired, if not killed at the hands of Asad. She looked towards the storage room door where Zoya had taken position with a pleading smile, and just as suspected glare at her. It was a lost cause to knock sense into Zoya and get her to see reason and understand the consequences of what she was planning on doing but despite all that why Sheila was still going along with this and allowing it, despite knowing better was beyond her. Somehow Zoya had talked her into it and convinced her of how 'hilarious' this plan could be and in the heat of the moment Sheila had agreed. What was she to do anyways, the minute Zoya started talking and rambling all hope was lost. You simply couldn't say no to her plans. Her excitement and mischief was tangible. So here they were..for the first time in the history of their careers about to pull a huge prank on Asad, only because Zoya Farooqui had the guts to do so. The clock finally struck 12:15 and in strode Sexy Ahmed Khan as polished and punctual as ever. Except, he didn't have the desperate, hopeful look he usually had in his eyes these days when he visited the cafe. The hope to finally find out who the barista was so he could attain whatever little peace he was blessed with and get on with life. The relief one would expect to see in his eyes now that he was being put out of his misery and what seemed to be the greatest mystery of his life was finally being solved. Instead, he seemed to already have attained that kind of peace. There was no questions, no frustration no search for hope in his eyes. Instead there was a knowing look, a resolved look. Like he had already found what he had been looking for. Like he already knew. He casually, very confidently walked up to the counter.

Sheila - (her voice shaky, she tried to smile and not look suspicious) Hi..

Asad - (stared at her skeptically. Immediately suspicious of her) H .(Zoya glared at her. What the hell was she doing! She would look suspicious, and expose the whole thing.)

Sheila - X..X-large black? (Asad narrowed his eyes further. Nodding confusedly. What was with her strange behaviour) and..uh..as far as I remember you also wanted to meet..

Asad - (nodded slowly. The amusement and curiosity visible in his eyes, he shook his head slightly at his own thoughts while staring at the counter. Trust her to come up with the most absurd things ever. What the hell was she up to now anyways) Yes. I'm really keen on finally getting to meet this Ms. Margaret (shaking his head, rolling his eyes slightly, a knowing smile on his face)

Sheila - Well, she's very keen on meeting you too.

Asad - (scoffed) I bet.

Sheila - She'll be just a minute..with your coffee..

Asad - Tell her not to bother if she's going to put sugar in it, it'll end up in the garbage anyways. (Sheila gave him a small smile. Asad turned casually looking around, he saw a table of young girls immediately look away, almost being caught ogling him, they were so obvious. Sitting there staring at each other, wide eyed, not moving, barely breathing. Asad shook his head. Despite the Boost it gave his EGO he would never get used to that. He wasn't immune to how good looking he was and how much of a hit he was with the ladies but he could never actually get accustomed to it. It freaked him out every time. Every time that is when it wasn't Zoya checking him out. He turned around and his gaze landed on the instruments, the entire set up that was done for tomorrow night's Inauguration of hopefully countless open mic nights the cafe was to host. Sheila could still see it in his eyes. The itch, the desire to play. There was nothing more he wanted, except maybe Zoya even if he was unaware of that. But what was holding him back from playing?)

Sheila - (watching him intently) You do know that this whole open mic night was set up just for you. It's riding on your shoulder. We printed your name thinking you'd sing. Ab agar tum hi nahin gao ge toh..this whole thing will be for waste. All her hard work would be for nothing. (Little did she know that she was just wasting her breath in trying to convince him. Once Asad had found out who the master mind behind this entire gig was, whose idea it was whose hard work it was it was fairly easy for him to come to a decision about whether or not he should play. Knowing the success and failure of this operation depended solely on him, the success of her venture depended on him, and knowing that there was no way he was going back on his decision now)

Sheila - (cleared her throat to bring him out of his day dream, she tried to hide her smile. Now she couldn't help but feel excited to see how this would unfold) Your..coffee..and your barista..(Asad's heart jolted in delight hearing those words. As forbidden as they were he couldn't help but notice how right and how beautiful they truly were. He sighed. Right. Moment of truth. A cocky, know it all smirk appeared on his face, a challenging, mocking look in his eyes as he slowly turned around to face her, the infamous barista. Ms. Zoya Farooqui. Ahh..she thought she could mess with him. Well, she had another thought coming. He already knew. So much for her chance to pull a fast one on him. Okay, given that he only found out last night when he had seen her locking up the place and had put 2 and 2 together but she didn't need to know that. However, much to his shock, it wasn't Zoya standing before him like he knew she would. It wasn't any girl in fact. It was..a Lady. An old hunchbacked lady. An 80 year old nanny. Shaking as she held a fancy tray laden with his single red cup of coffee. Asad's eyes went as round as saucers as he watched the old aunty blush prettily and flutter her eyelashes at him. What the...)

Lady - MISS. Margaret (Extra emphasis on the MISS, letting Asad know his options were open) Mathew, at your service sir. I am the barista responsible for your countless sleepless nights (Asad's cheeks turned red due to what she was implying. First of all he had never had a sleepless night due to this 'barista' except last night once he had found out her true identity, but that was different, that was he had found out her identity was Zoya..not this..Ms. Margaret)

Asad - (baffled. He looked like he was going to pass out with shock. What the hell was going on? Who was this lady? Why was she trying to pass herself as Zoya? Was he mistaken was it actually her that was the new barista and he had just assumed it to be Zoya. Because he had wanted it to be Zoya. He looked about ready to be sick. Poor Guy.) Aap..you..I..but- (Sheila slapped Zoya playfully in the storage room where they were hiding watching all this from. Zoya covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud as she saw 'Margaret' hold out her hand, blushing prettily..acting as shy as possible. Asad stared at her questioningly)

Margaret - I believe you owe me a kiss, young man. (Asad choked on air. WHAT?!! He heard giggles all around him, and he knew the Baristas were enjoying this. But he was baffled. What the hell had just happened. He had come in here hoping to confront and possibly bicker with Zoya but this? Where on earth was Zoya and why did this auntyji want him to kiss her?)

Asad - Ji..Ji..I don't understand aap-

Margaret - You were the one who said so yesterday. That you wanted to kiss me if I for once, ;et you have your black coffee without sugar. (She put the tray higher just as dread starting filling Asad. Right he had said that in the spur of the moment. In his desperation for a decent cup of coffee. That he would kiss her hands if she gave him one. Okay, well he didn't really mean it and now the way the aunty was ogling him he really didn't want to. What the hell was happening? And then it all made sense. He heard a snicker. A giggle. A giggle he could recognize anywhere. Zoya's giggle. His eyes snapped to the closet and he saw a flash of red jump back. Aha. So she was here. It was her. He wasn't wrong. She was just messing with him. He saw Margaret try to be as discreet as possible as she winked at someone. Ahhh, so she had tried to prank him. Pull one on him. By trying to pass this grandma off as herself and get him to kiss her. So she had heard that part eh? Interesting. Well if Zoya thought he was going to chicken out and let her win. She was wrong. Two can play at this game. If she thought Asad wasn't going to follow through and fulfill what he had said she had another thing coming. She should know him well enough by now to know that Asad Ahmed Khan never went back on his words. NEVER. He saw Margaret blush prettily again, and hold her hands up to him and he saw Zoya trying to peek through the door again. Her one eye hooked open from between the door gap, and a retarded expression on her face as she tried to squint to see clearly. Asad shook his head. Why was she so weird? So adorably weird. She did the strangest things. And really, if she was trying to hide at least do a better job at it. He could recognize that beautiful eye of hers from a mile away. He turned back to Margaret with a polite smile on his face. In contrast to the flirtatious smile on Margaret's face. Asad smiled at her as he took the coffee from her hands. And then to Zoya's complete disbelief she saw him slowly grasp Margaret's hand and raise it to his lips planting a small, delicate barely there kiss on the back of her hand. Causing Margaret to blush even more and chuckle nervously. As expected, the very next second Asad heard CRASH! BOOM! BANG! pots and pans falling and crashing inside. Courtesy of Zoya Farooqui.)

Margaret - I hope you don't mind..I was just here for a coffee and this wonderful young girl begged me to help her pull this prank. I never really could resist a good prank..(she laughed and Asad smiled at her) but she was just so lovely I couldn't say no..(Asad sighed, nodding, knowing exactly what that was like) Again, I hope you don't mind.

Asad - Oh no (smiled a rather, hypnotizing charming smile) the pleasure's all mine..('Margaret' blushed even more, giggling like a teenager)

Margaret - When the butt of the joke turnS out to be as handsome as you are I'm afraid it's all mine. (Held out her hand) Ruby Mathews. Mrs. Ruby Mathews (Asad chuckled slightly, a shy smile on his face as he looked down)

Asad - Asad-

Ruby - (nodded) Ahmed Khan. I know you, everyone knows you young man. (Asad nodded, never getting used to that pleasant fact either) now Asad, it was a pleasure pranking you but I'm afraid I'll have to go now.

Asad - (nodded) of course. Here let me (he held her hand to help her out, and she smiled at him pleasantly surprised, making Asad look away without meeting her eyes)

Ruby - As naughty as she is, that is one hell of a lucky girl to have a gentleman like you (Asad stopped walking for a quick second. His heart jolting with hope, with the possibility of her words coming true. But his smile vanished the very next second when he thought of it rationally. No. She wouldn't be lucky, she would be miserable. But wait, why was he even thinking this, it wasn't even a possibility. Asad got the door for her, walked her out of the cafe and against her protests forced her to allow his driver, his limo to drop her where she had to go. Ruby smiled in gratitude, she was touched at his thoughtfulness and kindness)

Ruby - (patted his head) God Bless You.

xxx

Continued in next post...

Meanwhile - 2 minutes later: Asad stepped back into the cafe and saw Zoya prankster Farooqui sitting curled up on the love seat by the window, her soon to be favourite spot in the whole wide world doing something or the other on her IPad. Asad shook his head. Still unable to believe she had ACTUALLY tried to pull that silly prank on him. Only Zoya Farooqui would do such a thing. Still, he knew he had something to do. Had to say something. He had known it for a few days and had tried several times to say it to but she never let him. But after this morning his guilt was even more and he just had to say it now. Had to get it over with. He took a deep breath. Knowing Zoya Faroouqui..this was not going to be easy. But, nonetheless here it went. Asad walked up to her, his heartbeats immediately erratic. What was up with that? He could probably walk up to her to ask her the time and his heartbeats would go erratic. Zoya sensed his presence and she looked up surprised. Pleasantly surprised as she saw him approaching her. She thought he had left when she didn't see him after coming out of her hiding spot. What was he doing back here? Surely, he wasn't here to yell at her over that silly prank because that would be unreal. But then again, this was Asad we were talking about. He could get angry over anything and everything. Zoya too felt her heart flutter with nervousness as she saw Sexy Ahmed Khan stride over to her looking absolutely divine and scrumptious in those denims, light brown timberlands and the light blue shirt. His sleeves rolled up, hands in his pockets looking nothing less than a GQ model. The veins sticking out on his forearms, maxing the sexy factor. She saw him stop right before her but not look at her. He avoided eye contact with her and struggled to speak. So basically he wasn't here to yell at her otherwise he would've done that without any hesitation and wouldn't come all the way here to do so. He would've started at the doorway itself. Relieved, Zoya finally made an effort to sit a little more decently. She sat a little more upright and pulled her feet back. Sitting now instead of laying, as she waited for him to say something. Anything. But what he did say, she was not expecting.)

Asad - I uh..I tried to tell you..tried to say it earlier as well but..but you weren't ready to listen. I..I just wanted to say..(fidgeted on his feet, taking a deep breath) I wanted to say I'm sorry. (Zoya who was too busy checking him out head to toe, busy noticing how cute, how sexy he looked at the moment nearly choked as she heard him say those words. Her eye's widening. Did Asad Ahmed Khan just apologize. To her?) I understand that, because of me..that day (sighed. Not wanting to rehash it all. Because he didn't know about her but the horrific memories of that day, the thought of what could've happened to her had he been even a second late, what HAD happened to her because of his stupidity haunted him. Angered him to the point of insanity.) A lot of could have happened to you. Main nahin jaanta aap apne nikah se kyun bhaagi thin but-

Zoya - (narrowed her eyes. Allah Miyan. What was with this man and his obsession with her marriage. Why was he so angry and hell bent on knowing the reason why she ran away. She got to her knees. Kneeling on the, on the sofa, her hands on her hips as she glared at him. Her eyes level with his. Asad tried to not focus on how adorable, how sexy, how hot she looked, so riled up or the movement of her lips. Instead trying to focus on her words, and truth be told an Angry Zoya, really did scare him. She was probably the only woman apart from Dilshad Asad had ever been afraid of but hell would freeze over before he ever told that to her)

Zoya - Allah Miyan, Main apne Nikah se bhaagi thi uss mein aap itna ghussa kyun ho rahe hain.

Asad - (shook his head) Nahin Main (she was misunderstanding him. But who would get through to Zoya. Once she started talking there was no one that could get her to stop)

Zoya - Aap toh aise naraaz ho rahe hain jaise main aapke saath nikah karte hue bhaag gayee (Asad stared at her dumbfounded. Ignoring the jolt of hope in his heart, of a dream, a possibility he would die to explore) main apne nikah se kab bhaagi kyun bhaagee kitni speed se bhaagi iss sab mein aap itna interest kyun le rahe hain. Aapko apni ghalati se matlab lena chahiye..MERI NAHIN. Aap apni ghalati ki maafi maangne aye haina toh bas maafi maangiye aur chalte baniye na..iss mein apni judgement kyun pass karte phir rahe hain. Pehle judge the aap? Yah governor the?

Asad - (narrowed his eyes. Not enjoying being told off or criticized especially in that tone.) Dekhiye-

Zoya - Maafi chahiye na aapko..Fine. (Asad stared surprised as she grabbed the red cup of coffee one of the baristas brought over to her. Her cup of coffee and then she turned around and picked something up from beside her. A gift of some sorts. A small rectangle, like a book wrapped up in beautiful red wrapping paper, albeit it not so tidily. Making Asad cringe. He looked between both objects and then at Zoya annoyedly, what the hell was she playing at now? All he wanted was forgiveness and he'd get going. Why was she wasting his time then? He looked up at her and saw her holding her bag, jacket and belongings ready to leave it seemed)

Zoya - You want my forgiveness. Fine, if you finish that drink, consider yourself forgiven. Oh and that, (smiled a angry yet devilish smile at him making Asad's heartbeats run wild. Oh she was so beautiful when she was angry) that's a gift for you. Trust me you need that more than anything else in your life. (Saying so she flipped her hair, smacking him right in the face with it, letting the scent of it intoxicate her senses before she marched out of there. Leaving Asad staring at the two objects in his hand weirdly and then at the retreating back of the weird girl who had given them to him. Asad stared at the cup of coffee in his hand and then at the gift in his hands. His heartbeats erratic as he realized that this was a gift from no one else but Zoya. What could it be? The thought alone was leaving him restless. His heart beat erratic once again. Again, instead of going one step back they were going two steps ahead and exchanging gifts now. Asad didn't have to take a sip from the coffee to know that it was probably loaded with sugar. It would probably be as sweet as her. Wait no, correction, she wasn't sweet. She was the devil. Asad held his head. He had a splitting headache and needed a decent cup of coffee but at the moment there was nothing more he wanted than to apologize to her, and get her forgiveness. So he said a small prayer in his heart and then without a second thought chugged it down. He nearly vomited at the sweetness of it in the first sip, but then thinking of it to be medicine, (for his dark and rude soul) he chugged it down in one go. Didn't stop till he was done. He smacked the empty cup down once done. Feeling considerably lighter, and positively refreshed. He would die before he accepted it but that coffee was surprisingly really good. Possibly one of the best cups he had ever had, plus it did actually help with his headache so it wasn't a total lost cause. Finally now that that was done and over with and he was hopefully "forgiven" he turned his attention towards the gift in his hand. Unable to resist any longer. The endless possibilities of what it could be, killing him. Even though the packaging looked like a 2 year old had wrapped it Asad took his own sweet time to open it. As if the packaging was the most delicate thing in the world and opening it too fast could end up hurting it. Finally once it was open, he put the wrapping paper on the table before him, neatly and stared at the gift. It was a book. That further raised hope, and dreams in Asad's heart. She knew him well enough to know what to get him. To know that he was an advent book worm, and there was nothing more he could want than that. However, once he turned the book over and read the title, his mouth legit touched the ground in absolute shock. The Audacity of this girl. She actually had the guts to gift him, Asad Ahmed Khan a book called "Ettiquetes & Manners for Dummies". Asad stared at the book in complete shock. And upon looking closely he saw a sticky note pasted on the front cover. Not on the inside where most, normal people would think to place it but right there on the front cover it said "I forgive you, Dummy" and then there was a weird crazy face/emoji drawn beside the dummy. So, she had already forgiven him anyways, but just to get an upper hand, just to not spare a chance to torture him And pull a fast one on him she had kept the condition of forcing him to drink that sweet poison. Asad pulled the note from the book and held it in his hand. Understanding the message she was trying to send him with both the sweet coffee and the book. She was hurt by his attitude, his behaviour, his judgement and accusations and she believed he needed a personality readjustment for the better. From sour, to sweet. Just like her. He didn't know about any of that but Today, Asad Ahmed Khan was certain about one thing for sure. The fact that he was sitting there staring and smiling a small dorky and adoring smile at the note in his hand, instead of plotting her murder like he would've done so without any hesitation at all if it had been anyone else in her place who had dared to pull this with him only led to one conclusion. This girl was fast making him lose his mind. His heart. His soul. To her.

Asad - (muttered) Yeh ladki mujhe paagal karke choregi..

xxx

Later that Night - Khan Mansion:

Happiness, Joy and general excitement filled the air of the Khan Mansion like never before. There was a line of cars from one gate to the other and generally all around the mansion. The house, the property was all bustling with excited cheerful guests, all wondering who and what the party was actually for. Before the party started, just for a minute alone Zoya was taking a stroll through the back gardens of the house. Feeling strangely anxious. It was a beautiful night in comparison to the rather freezing nights she was getting used to these previous nights. The cool breeze really wasn't pleasant in conjuncture with her little black dress though. She wore small lace booties to go along with it, her hair up in a messy up do and kept the accessories minimal to her New York bracelet. Which her beloved Jeeju had given her what felt like a lifetime ago. She stepped on to the adorable little bridge Asad had built over the small pond in the backyard, that and the Gazebo being her favourite parts of the whole house, and the Gazebo is exactly where she was headed but what she wasn't ready for was to see Asad himself, on the bridge. 'Her' bridge. She was taken aback, pleasantly surprised at seeing him. He was kneeling on the edge of the bridge, midway up it, his empty, haunted eyes staring into the slowly moving water as he, surprisingly, smoked yet another cigarette. He turned his head and looked up at her slightly, immediately getting floored. Blown away by her beauty. His mouth remained hung agape slightly, his cigarette forgotten midway to his mouth, as he drank in the ethereal sight before him. Sexy, as hell. That was the only way to describe her beauty tonight. She looked radiantly beautiful and damn hot in that short sexy dress of hers. Normally of course Asad wouldn't be a fan of such clothing, but normally he also wouldn't look at someone wearing such clothing for more than 2.5 seconds. Yet, he had still to even try looking away from Zoya Farooqui. Everything from that hot messy, down right sexy hair do of hers, to the kohl lined mystic eyes that rendered him senseless, left him breathless each time he made the deliberate mistake of gazing into them, her lips even more irresistible due to the nude shade they had been painted in for the party tonight and after seeing those long, beautiful, insanely sexy legs of hers there was nothing Asad wanted more than to kiss that lipstick right off of her. The booties she paired with her dress made her look even more innocently sexy in his eyes. If that was a thing then so be it but according to him it was something limited to Zoya Farooqui. Her forte. It was just her. Effortlessly innocent and irresistably sexy at the same time. For her sexiness rested in her innocence. According to him, she was the most beautiful girl on the planet, a good girl with a hint of the devil in her. He tried his hard to suppress the groan that threatened to escape his lips. She really needed to quit playing games with his heart, messing with his head. Zoya didn't notice the slight darkening of his eyes, or the accelerated heartbeats, his ragged breathing as she watched captivated drinking in the sight before her eyes, as hungrily as he did. A stubbly Jahanpanah! Lord have mercy! Zoya still found it beyond strange that she actually for once..SHE Zoya farooqui couldn't help but check a man out. She was completely hopeless and helpless and couldn't help herself. She was completely at his mercy. At Jahapanahs mercy. She couldn't believe or comprehend the feelings erupting in her either. The overwhelming feeling in her heart, the anxiety, the nervousness, the strange jumps between shyness and happiness, the fluttering in her stomach, what was all this? And on top of that, Jahapanah in black especially a black leather jacket wasn't helping. What didn't sit well with her was the sadness in his eyes though. Zoya didn't like it one bit. Unable to take it without her heart bursting with pain, she broke her gaze from his intense, captivating one and looked down. Certain that she was blushing, due to the heat in her cheeks. Allah Miyan, Why? She avoided eye contact with him then and briskly walked away from there. Needing to get away for she was finding it difficult to breath here. The air seemed too thick to breathe in. The disappointment returned as he saw her walk away. His head turned and his gaze followed her every step, as she walked away from him. And once he caught sight of her back he couldn't help the slight groan that escaped his lips as he closed his eyes painfully. Gripping on to the edge of the bridge as he did so. God help him, the dress was completely backless. Asad sighed. Helplessly his gaze went flying back to her. He saw her now standing in the gazebo. With her back still towards him, staring at the small waterfall he had built, that flowed into the pond. Asad sighed, flicking his cigarette away. Knowing what he had to do. He turned back towards her, knowing what it is he had to do. He stood up slowly. Taking a deep breath, his nerves all jumbled up. As was becoming customary where Zoya was concerned. He adjusted his tie slightly and ran a hand through his hair. One would think he was trying to make an impression on a certain Ms. Farooqui. Hesitantly he slowly walked over to the Gazebo. His heartbeats slowing and his breathing shallowing with every step he took. He was fully struggling to breathe by the time he reached her. His heartbeats now in overdrive. Zoya hadn't turned around to face him, but she knew nonetheless that he was standing right behind her. The goosebumps on her body, her struggle to breath, her erratic heartbeats and the flutter in her stomach was evident of it. He had yet to say or do something and yet her cheeks were flushed. Her insides filled with nervousness in anticipation of what he was about to do or say. But what he did say, she was in no way anticipating or ready to hear.

Asad - I'm Sorry. (Pure, simple and genuine. His remorse evident in his voice. He didn't know how else to say it because no matter what he said or how he said it he would never be able to explain it to her in words or show her through his actions how sorry he truly was. She may have forgiven him but he would never be able to forgive himself. He would forever hold himself responsible for even the slightest injury she received thanks to him. But this was the first step in lessening his guilt somewhat. Lessened enough to stop suffocating him. He struggled to breathe, his breath hitching as he saw Zoya slowly turn around to face him. A small gasp escaping her lips, her eyes widening as she took a step back. Startled. He was just so close. And so handsome. So cute, with that guilty look in his eyes, his hands stuffed into his pockets. Zoya was gripping onto the rails of the gazebo behind her, leaning back into it completely like as if her life depended on it. Like as if, if she allowed herself to breath, or step any closer to him she wouldn't be able to stop herself from leaning forward and melting into him. Covering all the distance between them. No going back. Zoya saw him open and close his mouth, as if struggling to say something. It seemed in the end, he decided not to say whatever he was going to much to Zoya's disappointment. He just nodded, with a small sigh.

Asad - Really sorry. (Zoya nodded, looking slightly dazed and that was precisely the problem. Zoya may have heard him but she barely processed what he had said. She was too focused on his lips instead. Focused on the way they moved, instead of the words flowing out of them. And once she realized where her chains of thoughts were headed, she surprised herself. What, was she just thinking? Imagining? Her..Zoya Farooqui? Her cheeks flushed and her breaths became erratic. She had to get out of here. The way Asad was staring at her so intently, so dazedly wasn't helping things either. His look filled her with warmth. He stared at her like she was the most precious, most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on. His look made her feel beautiful. Inside and out. Made her feel things she was absolutely not ready or allowed to feel. She had to get out of here. She nodded her head once letting him know he was forgiven, once again. But she really needed to get away. She turned around ready to leave, but seemed like he wasn't ready to let go just yet. To feel that void just yet. Zoya gasped, feeling a current zap through her. As did he, at the contact. Her whole body feeling like it was on fire due to his touch. His hand holding her hand. What is it..that he wanted? She turned around slowly, her confusion written in her eyes. But she was never, not now not probably ever ready for what he did next. It was never a possibility to her. Not even in her best dream or imagination. She saw him bend his head slowly, raising her hand just as slowly simultaneously. He seemed just as nervous, just as unsure just as double minded about what he was doing as much as she was, while watching him do it. But he could try and debate it as much as he wanted, the heart wanted what it wanted and at the moment it wanted to this. And he was absolutely helpless at the hands of his heart. So before he knew it he and she both found his lips softly plant themselves on her hand, in the briefest, softest of kisses. A butterfly kiss. It was barely there, but it was enough to ignite a fire. A spark between them. Zoya gasped again, trying to retract her hand out of his grip as she felt another shock zap through it but it seemed he had no plans of letting her go. She saw him slowly raise his head, looking slightly dazed, slightly exuberant over his actions. He may regret it later, but for now he felt euphoric. He was certain he had never felt better, never felt more alive in his whole life. Just like her he too had been burnt and now that he knew what that felt like, now that he had felt it he couldn't go back, there was no going back. He felt his heart pounding in his chest just as fast as hers as his hesitant eyes finally found her shocked ones. Both their breathing ragged. He saw Zoya gazing at him with imploring, questioning eyes.

Asad - (he cleared his throat but his voice was still hoarse.) I..uhh..I owed you a kiss, (his eyes playful, almost as mischievous as Zoya's) Sugar. (Zoya gasped again, her eyes widening further as if it were any more possible, and much to Asad's hardship she bit her lip out of shyness. Her cheeks reddening. She was sure she resembled a tomato by this point and she just really, really needed to get away. Thankfully, Asad's grip loosened on her hand at this point as he distractedly stared at her lips. Gulping. Thankfully, Zoya took two steps back and before he could do something stupid she turned around and ran from there. A small, shy smile breaking out on her lip as she continued to bite her lip and blush simultaneously. Watching her run away, had that dreadful void return to his heart and this time, after that kiss it was stronger than ever. He slumped against the pillar of the gazebo sighing longingly while running a hand through his hair. He was falling. Hopelessly falling for her.)

xxx

xo - DailyDaisy!