Part 17:
Zoya fell on the sofa beside her and tears brimmed in her eyes as she saw Asad's retreated figure... Ghafoor felt like out of the world, he didn't even know what happened between Asad and Zoya, he only knew one thing that Zoya called him urgently and told him to be quite that's why he didn't speak in between but after seeing AsYa's tiff, he was sure something bad was up, really bad... he placed a hand on Zoya's head on which she looked up and his heart ached seeing her puffy eyes...
Ghafoor: Zoya beta yeh sab kya hai???
Zoya: aap hamesha se chahte the na ke mai apko maaf kar doon... she started...
Ghafoor: haan par tum ne mujhe iss tarha kyun bulaya aur yeh Asad kya keh raha tha...
Zoya: you wanted my forgiveness that's why I called you here, unintentionally you helped me and now I'm forgiving you with all my heart... and yes what's happening between Asad and me, it's our personal matter and I don't want to involve others...
Ghafoor: what do you mean by others??? tum ne abhi mujhe abbu kaha na...
Zoya: mene apko maaf kiya hai, apni zindagi mai shamil nahi kiya...
Ghafoor: tum aisa nahi kar sakti Zoya...
Zoya: I can in fact I'm doing it... apko maafi chahiye thi mene apko maaf kiya ab aap ja sakte hain...
Ghafoor: lekin Asad ke samney...
Zoya: mene kaha na Asad aur mere beech jo bhi hai woh hamara zaati mamla hai, aap please interfere mat kejiye...
Ghafoor: tum meri beti ho, mai tumhe aise takleef mai nahi dekh sakta...
Zoya: shayad Allah Miyan yehi chahte hain ke mujhe takleef mai dekh kar apko takleef ho... mai apko maafi se zaida aur kuch nahi de sakti, ab aap please chale jaiye...
Saying so she turned to the other side, Ghafoor stood staring at her back and felt tears of shame in his own eyes... maybe Zoya was right, his punishment was that he lived with the burden of guilt, guilt of ruining his daughter's life... without having any other option he left while Zoya spent a few hours in Dream House and later she called Haider to pick her up...
Over the next few days Asad and Zoya ignored each other, where Asad kept himself busy in office work while Zoya came up with the idea of Haider's wedding... Haider refused to get married, no doubt he loved Najma and wanted to spend his entire life with her but he didn't have the heart to settle in his own life seeing his sister in pain...
As usual Asad was going to attend an important meeting when Dilshad stopped him as she wanted to talk to him about Sara... Ayan too knew what his mother was up to, he left to attend the meeting and gave his mother a proper chance to tight Asad's screws...
On the other hand, Zoya was trying her best to manipulate Haider's decision but he was adamant... having no other option, Zoya tried her luck with Najma and shed a few fake tears reasoning her mood swings... Najma being the innocent one agreed but she truly felt Zoya needed someone's attention and care... she knew that for Haider it was difficult to take care of Zoya during office timings, no doubt she and Humaira were over a distance of call but Zoya needed fulltime attention... Haider was not surprised when Najma said yes, he knew that why Najma would have agreed... he tried to reason with Najma but after hearing out her point of view he felt overwhelmed and blessed for having Najma in his life so he also gave in... Zoya was over the moon when Haider said yes, Najma had already given the nod and now Zoya was going to talk with Rashid and Dilshad...
Zoya and Haider were planning to visit Khans next morning when the door bell rang, it was Ayan... Haider and Zoya got worried seeing him black-and-blue, before they could have reacted Ayan closed the door behind him and told Haider to bring the first aid kit while Zoya started scolding him for being careless... Zoya, Ayan and Haider always shared a special bond, they were partners in crime, whatever happened between Asad and Zoya didn't affect their friendship at all... Ayan was sitting on the sofa and Haider was attending him...
Ayan: ahh araam se yaar...
Haider rolled his eyes and cleaned his forehead's wound...
Zoya: tumhe kis ne kaha tha hero ban'ne ke liye, ab bachon ki tarha chaillana band karo...
Ayan: mai koi hero vero nahi ban raha tha, tumhari wajah se yeh sab hua hai...
Zoya: meri wajah se???
Ayan: haan toh aur... ammi ko bhaijaan se baat karni thi aur bhaijaan ko kisi important meeting pe jana tha, mene socha ammi bhaijaan se baat karengi toh shayd tum aur bhaijaan... he replied sincerely...
Zoya: mene tumhe kitni dafa mana kiya hai Ayan, tum samjahte kyun nahi ho mai aur Asad saath nahi reh sakte...
Ayan: haan meri maa... bohat dafa yeh baat sun chuka hoon aur ab ache se samajh bhi gaya hoon... tumhe pata hai woh log bhaijaan ko lootne ke liye aaye the aur jese hi unhe pata chala mai Asad nahi Ayan hoon unho ne mujhe chor dia...
Haider: what do you mean???
Ayan: mai Asad bhaijaan ki car mai tha, maybe those goons were waiting for him... pehle toh unho ne mujhe bohat maara par shayad un mai se ek admi Asad bhaijaan ko pehchanta tha aur jese hi unhe pata chala ke mai Asad nahi Ayan hoon unho ne mujhe jaane dia...
Haider: Ayan Ahmad Khan... tum toh bohat famous hogaye ho, ab toh Bhopal ke ghundon ko bhi pata hai tumhe lootne ka koi faida nahi...
Ayan: very funny... Mona tum dekh rahi ho na... he stopped in midway as he looked towards Zoya...
Zoya was rotted to her spot, the moment Ayan mentioned how those goons left him after knowing he wasn't Asad, she literally stopped breathing... she heard how Ayan and Haider considered it to be an ordinary loot but only she knew it was not a case of loot... those goons were there for Asad after all she was back in his life, okay not literally but she was back so that attacks were back... she was lost in her thoughts when Ayan cupped the side of her face...
Ayan: hey Mona what happened, tum kahan kho gayi...
Zoya: huh...
Ayan: are you alright???
Zoya: haan mai theek hoon...
Saying so she ran to her room while Ayan and Haider shared a confused look... Zoya was sitting on her bed with fidgeting hands and her eyes shed tears... she ruined her own life just to keep Asad safe and sound but when she came back she literally forgot the reason behind her and Asad's separation was still there... she was not going to let them harm Asad, to see him living a peaceful life she needed to go again... she wiped her tears and decided to do something before it's too late...
The very next day Zoya visited Khans and asked for Najma's hand in marriage for Haider... Rashid and Dilshad didn't have any objection but they were little bit surprised on sudden proposal... before Zoya could have reasoned Asad came there and sat opposite to her, he fixed his eyes on her and spoke...
Asad: I know ammi abbu ko koi objection nahi hai aur hona bhi nahi chahiye kyun ke Haider bohat acha ladka hai par ek problem hai...
Zoya looked at him in confusion...
Asad: I can't trust Haider with my sister...
Zya: excuse me, what do you mean you can't trust??? Hum sab ache se jaante hain Haider aur Najma ek dosrey se pyaar karte hain...
Asad: yehi toh problem hai Zoya, pyaar ke sahary zindagi nahi guzaari jati... the thing is I can't trust a man whose own sister is a runway wife, tum bhi toh mujh se pyaar karti thi na...
Zoya: I would appreciate if you keep our personal matter aside...
Asad: trust me Zoya I too want to keep it aside but you are Haider's only family, tum ne jo mere saath kiya us ke baad mai Najma aur Haider ki sahdi ka soch bhi nahi skata... behen aisi hai toh pata nahi bhai kesa hoga...
Dilshad: Asad... she stopped him as he crossed his limits...
Zoya: nahi phupi, let him speak acha hai kuch baatain clear ho jayen...
Asad: I'm not here to clear things between us... Najma aur Haider ki shadi nahi ho sakti and it's my final decision...
Asad got up from his place and turned to go but Zoya stopped him...
Zoya: ek minute Asad... you have problem with me not with Haider right???
Asad: hmm...
Only Asad knew how hard it was for him to talk such bad things about his Zoya, he didn't want to hurt her but with the sudden proposal thing an idea popped up in his mind to try his luck... after his last encounter with Zoya he had promised himself not to mend things again but seeing her at his doorstep his anger vanished and he spoke bad things just to provoke her anger as he knew she would spill the beans in anger only...
Zoya: well you are forgetting something... I'm not Haider's real sister... she spoke looking in his eyes...
Asad fisted his hands in anger that was not what he wanted...
Zoya: aap jaante hain Aapi aur Jeeju ne mujhe adopt kiya tha, mera aur Haider ka khoon ka rishta nahi hai... whatever I have done is my own business and you can't punish Haider for my deeds... I am here because I'm Haider's only family, Appi aur Jeeju ke baad mera farz banta hai ke mai Haider ke future ke baare mai sochon aur mai ache se jaanti hoon Haider ki khushi Najma ke saath hai... so here I am with my brother's proposal and I truly hope now you don't have any objection...
Asad didn't reply, he stood there looking at his wife as his plan backfired and felt like cursing himself for banging his head with a wall called stubborn Zoya...
Asad left without saying anything while Zoya took a deep breath as Rashid and Dilsahd agreed for Haider and Najma's wedding... Zoya wanted a simple wedding in a few days, so they fixed the Nikah on coming Friday and Zoya booked her ticket for New York right after the wedding...
Nikah was a silent affair, close relatives and a few friends were invited... Sara was also there... Asad was happy for his sister but he didn't feel like celebrating as his own life was a complete mess... his every move backfired and he didn't even know what to do... he was in his room when Sara came and took him downstairs with him, he was on stairs when he spotted Zoya... he smiled seeing her smiling whole heartedly, he didn't know when he saw her smiling like this but he was happy to see her back to normal... Sara followed his gaze and found Zoya at some distance, jealousy hit her but she composed herself for Asad after all she knew he only loved Zoya...
Asad kept staring his beautiful wife who looked stunning in black and white frock with minimum makeup, Zoya felt his gaze on her and the moment he looked towards him Asad averted his gaze and linked his arm with Sara's arm and made his way towards Najma and Haider... Zoya felt tears in her eyes but she didn't cry as she knew it was for his good, what if he was with Sara, he was safe and sound and that was what she wanted...
Zoya excused herself as her cell phone rang, it was Rohan who had not come to attend Haider's Nikah... after a few minutes Zoya ended the call and made her way towards Haider but her foot twisted... she trembled but Sara immediately ran towards her and saved her from falling...
Zoya: thank you Sara...
Sara: you don't need to thank me Zoya, mene tumhari nahi Asad ki help ki hai...
Zoya: Asad ki help???
Sara: hmm... you and Asad can forget but I can't...
Zoya: mai kuch samjhi nahi...
Sara: you are carrying my Asad's child so how can I let you fall aur wese bhi tumhe ya tumhare bache ko kuch hua toh Asad ko takleef hogi aur yeh mai KaBhi nahi chahongi after all I love him and you know that right???
Zoya nodded her head, she didn't want to talk to her as she spoiled her mood referring Asad as hers but Sara was in no mood to let her go...
Sara: tum bhi toh Asad se pyaar karti thi...
Zoya: mai Asad se aaj bhi pyaar karti hoon... she replied looking back...
Sara: oh... you love him... mujhe toh aisa nahi lagta...
Zoya: mai Asad se pyaar karti hoon ya nahi tumhe iss baat se koi matlab nahi hona chahiye...
Saying so Zoya turned to go but Sara started again...
Sara: tumhe nahi lagta tumhara pyaar ek tarfa tha, see Asad mera sab se acha dost hai aur jitna mai Asad ko jaanti hoon woh tum se pyaar karta hota toh tumhe iss haal mai apne aap se door na rakhta... she said eyeing her baby bump...
Zoya: tum kehna kya chahti ho...
Sara: don't get me wrong but I think Asad doesn't trust you anymore... she inched closer to her... did he ever talk about this baby or did he ever accept this baby??? Or he...
Sara stopped in midsentence as Zoya slapped her hard... Zoya had had enough, she hated Sara from day one and today she was bearing her presence just because she was invited by Asad... she didn't want to talk to her and lost her temper when she spoke ill about her child, how dare she??? before anyone could have spotted them, Zoya held Sara's arm and dragged her out as she didn't want to spoil Haider's Bid Day...
Asad witnessed the whole scene between Zoya and Sara, he didn't know what were they talking but from their expression it looked like something was up... he wanted to interrupt when Zoya slapped Sara but he stopped himself as he didn't want to create a scene in front of everyone...
Sara: what the hell... she spoke angrily and freed herself from Zoya's grip...
Zoya: first you tell me what the hell do you think of yourself??? Asad ne propose kya kar liya tum toh pagal hi hogayi ho, yeh mat bhoolo Asad mujh se naraaz ho kar tum se shadi kar raha hai... Asad mera tha, mera hai aur mera hi rahega, smajhi tum... mere aur Asad ke beech pyaar ya nafrat jo kuch bhi hai woh hamara zaati mamla hai, Asad mujh se kya baat karta hai aur kya nahi tumhe fikar karne ki zaroort nahi hai aur haan aaj ke baad mere bache ke baare mai kuch bhi bolne se pehle ek baar yeh thapad zaroor yaad kar lena...
Sara: mujhe chup karwa ke tum sachayi nahi badal sakti... na Asad tumse pyaar karta hai aur na iss bache ko apna maanta hai...
Zoya: tumhe aisa kyun lagta hai Asad mujh se pyaar nahi karta ya phir usse mujh pe yaqeen nahi hai... mujhe apni sachayi sabit karne ki zaroorat nahi hai kyun ke mai jaanti hoon Asad mujh se naraaz ho sakta hai par mujh pe shak nahi kar sakta...
Asad got worried as Zoya and Sara didn't come back, he excused himself and came out of the house... he found Zoya and Sara standing at some distance and made his way towards them...
Sara: bohat pyaar karti ho na Asad se...
Zoya: haan karti hoon...
Sara: kya tum Asad ke liye apni jaan de sakti ho...
Zoya: jaan toh bohat choti cheez hai Sara, mai Asad ke liye apni zindagi qurbaan kar chuki hoon... par tum yeh sab nahi samjhogi...
Sara: sahi kaha tum ne, mai tumhara pyaar KaBhi samajh hi nahi sakti... tum Asad ke liye apni jaan de sakti ho par mai aisa nahi kar sakti... jaanti ho kyun, kyun ke mera pyaar tumhari tarha kamzor nahi hai, mai apne aur apne pyaar ke beech kisi ko nahi aane doongi... Asad ko bhi nahi...
Zoya: tum...
Zoya was about to say something when she saw Asad coming towards them, she stopped and put her finger down which she was pointing at Sara...
Asad: is everything alright??? he asked looking towards Sara and ignored Zoya...
Before Sara could have told him anything, Zoya left from there while Asad aborted the idea of asking about the slap thing as it was time for Najma's Rukhsati...
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Anupamaa
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