AsYa FF : My Mental Love ! Chapter 24 - Page 47 ! (14/05) - Page 20

I will read altogether at the end.

Thank you so much guys for all the love and support 🤗

As u have noticed i'm not replying to comments because you guys have all already read the story 😆 will start replying from the moment where i change my plot, which means from chapter 23 😉

Today seems to be a good day to update, nahi ? 😆

Chapter 16 :


Zoya did take a complete bed-rest as Asad had told her. But she was getting bored, she had had enough of playing on the iPad that Najma had given her, it was only afternoon but she felt bored, Dilshad had gone to sleep while Najma had gone out to her college.

She was frustrated, she had spent all day thinking of a way to pacify Asad but to no avail, she didn't know what she could do to pacify him. Nowadays, she missed him so much, she felt empty and she was being grumpy and cranky only because he wasn't talking to her. On top of that, she was mad at herself for having said things that hurt her second favourite person in the world, the first being 'their' baby.

The ringing of the landline phone brought her out of her thoughts, at first she hesitated in picking up but then with a little more conviction picked up the phone from her bedside, since all the landline phones were connected.

Her hand shook while putting the phone to her ear but immediately relaxed when she heard the same velvety voice that she missed so much these days.

"Hello ? Hello Ammi ?" Asad asked and Zoya giggled.

"Haan Beta, bolo..." Zoya tried to mimic Dilshad's voice but burst into fits of laughter when she heard herself in that tone.

Asad looked at the phone weirdly in his hands, then put it back on his ears, "Ammi ?" He asked unsure and when he heard giggles at the other end, he recognized the other person.

"Itni jaldi apni Angel ki awaz bhi bhool gaye ?" Zoya half-teased and half-complained and he rolled his eyes while pressing his temple.

"Ammi kidher hain ? Unhe phone do !" He asked straight to the point without answering her question and she gasped.

"Haaawww ! Main kaise doon ? Phone toh tumhare paas hai !" She giggled happily to finally hear his voice again after what seemed like ages to her.

He sighed, "Mera matlab tha ke meri, Ammi ke saath baat karwao !" He said sternly and she pouted.

"Kyon ? Mujhse baat karo na !" Zoya smile in the phone and Asad ran his hand through his hair.

"Please, it's important..." Asad pleaded and she got teary.

"Mujhse bhi zyada important ?" She asked in a broken voice and when she didn't heard any reply for a moment, she called out to him, "Asad ?"

Asad did notice that she had begun to call him by his name ever since the hospital incident and now that he thought about it, she hadn't called him 'Savior' since before the hospital incident, she called him once by his name in the hospital or called him by monosyllables, and now it was the second time she was calling him by his name and he liked it, it seemed like his name sounded even more beautiful from her mouth, a small smile creeped up his face.

He came back to reality when she heard him calling out his name, "Hmm... I'm listening...", he said a little unsure and more tears rolled down her cheeks when she realized that he was giving her more importance than his work.

"Agar itni importance dete ho mujhe toh meri bewakufiyon ko maaf kyon nahi kar dete ?" Zoya sniffled and he felt bad for making her cry.

"Zoya...i..." He was cut off by her.

"Dekha, ab mujhe 'Angel' bhi nahi bulaate !" Zoya sniffled and Asad closed his eyes and sighed heavily. When she realized that he was about to hang up the phone she stopped him, "Acha suno, Ammi so rahi hain aur Najma college gayi hai..." She told him what he wanted to know while wiping her tears, she only heard in a low voice an 'Okay', before the phone call was cut.

She put the phone back on the bed-side table and lay back down while hugging his pillow that she had stolen and put hers on its place. She snuggled into it and held it tightly, hoping that with some magic, this pillow would be replaced by him.

After a while, Zoya thought about cooking for him, she would bake cupcakes for him, a grin was seen on her face when she remembered how 'their' Ammi had taught her to bake.

She immediately got up, she knew that she was breaking his says of resting but what she'll be doing would be for him so for her it didn't matter, she was ready to go to any extent to get her best friend's forgiveness. She made her way to the kitchen and took out the ingredients and began to bake cupcakes.


Asad was still at the building site, he was staring at her earing, he had called only to know if Zoya was resting properly but he had not expected her to pick up the phone, he felt upset for making her cry, but then, Asad Ahmed Khan was also a stubborn man who wasn't ready to give up yet.

However he couldn't deny the fact that their conversation had affected him. He decided to give up because he realized that Zoya did regret for what she said and also realized her mistake, so even he should forgive her.

He made his way home much lighter than when he had come and with a smile on his face, he was eager to see her.


While on the other side, Zoya had successfuly baked the cupcakes, and put some ice-sugar on them, then wrote some words on them with some chocolate sauce.

When the front door opened, she felt like squealing out loud on seeing Asad, but she calmed herself down but still couldn't hold back her grin at seeing him.

On seeing her he was about to smile back when he realized something, he came forward in the kitchen and looked at her sternly.

"You were supposed to rest !" He said sternly after pressing his temple.

"Haan ! I did but..." She was about to give an explanation but he was the one to cut her off this time.

He slid his index finger down her cheek, making her unintentionally shiver and showed it to her, it was full of flour, "That's what you call resting ?" He asked her sternly but she puts up her plate of cupcakes in front of him, "You can't melt me d...", he began sternly but when he looked down at those cupcakes, he was surprised to find different words on each cupcake.

There was written and put in order with a cupcake where was written 'Sorry', then below were four other cupcakes in a row, 'Asad' 'is' 'the' 'best' and below were four other cupcakes, written in a row again, 'Zoya' 'is' 'an' 'idiot'.

He tried hard not to smile looking at her puppy face and her cute gesture of cupcakes and took the plate from her.

Zoya looked at him expecting a reaction but she saw him looking amazed even though he didn't smile. He picked up the 'Sorry' cupcake and savoured it.

Zoya was waiting for a reaction but all she heard him say was, "Nice...", she frowned at him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear right, what did you say ?" Zoya asked him to repeat while controlling her anger and he tried hard not to smile, nor laugh.

"I said that it was nice..." He replied casually and this time Zoya fumed and grabbed his collar, pulling him closer.

"I spent two hours in the kitchen, baking these cupcakes and all you have to say is 'Nice' ?!" She was infuriated because he wasn't appreciating her efforts and he tried hard not to laugh while removing her grip from his collar.

"Maine kab kaha tha ke mere liye cupcakes banao ?" Asad irked her further, but then said softly, "I had already forgiven you, i was only pulling your leg..." He smiled at her and she got even more angry, "See, look at the plate..."

When she looked at it, she noticed that he had switched the positions of 'Asad' and 'Zoya', so now it was 'Zoya' 'is' 'the' 'best' and below, 'Asad' 'is' 'an' 'idiot'.

All her anger evaporated and a mischievous smile creeped on her face, she smiled at him before taking the chocolate sauce's bottle in her hands and splashing the chocolate sauce on his face and white shirt, then pouring the ice-sugar powder on top of his head and then she crossed her arms on her chest.

"So you were pulling my leg, huh ?! See, i just 'pulled your leg' !" Zoya said sarcastically with a fake laugh, "Do you even know how much you made me cry ?! Now what will you do to 'pull my leg' again ?!" Zoya asked him angrily with her hands on her hips while he was wiping his eyelids which had chocolate sauce on them, he sighed heavily then smirked at her while holding his arms out towards her.

"I'll give my Angel a huge hug because i'm extremely sorry to have made her cry so much and because i missed her so so so so much..." He said with a smirk and took steps towards her, who looked at him wide-eyed and took steps backwards.

"Arey i was only joking..." Zoya gave a nervous laugh while taking steps backwards, "Aage kyon aa rahe ho ? Asad ? You are dirty, don't you dare come near me..." She was now trapped between the wall behind her and Asad in front of her who was smirking at her.

"I'm not dirty ! I am delicious !" Asad joked, "Now my Angel, let me give you a tight hug !" He laughed when she tried to get away.

And he finally put his arms around her and pushed her against him while she shouted and screamed in attempt to get away from him but Asad wasn't in a mood to let her go, he could not deny the fact that he had missed her a lot in these few days. When she tried to push him away, he only tightened his grip around her and pressed the side of his head against hers, smudging the chocolate sauce mixed with ice-sugar on her face.

All the shouts and laughs had awoken Dilshad up and from the top of the stairs, she saw them hug. She shook her head with a smile and retired back to her room, satisfied that their fight was finally over.

Asad finally losened his grip and she started complaining and whining about having getting all dirty, she had chocolate sauce all over the upper part of her body and even her face was smudged with chocolate sauce while he only smiled and stared at her.

"It's true, I really missed you..." He said softly and kissed her forehead, unintentionally smudging more chocolate on her.

When Zoya felt something cold on her forehead, she realized that he had smudged some more chocolate sauce on her and she gasped outraged.

"You did this on purpose !" Zoya shouted at him and he realized that he had put chocolate sauce on her and he started shaking his head vigorously in denial as if it would prove his innocence but it didn't work on Zoya.

He started taking steps backwards when she took forwards, "No, I was just..."

He was cut off by her, "'I were just' what ?! Taking revenge for the chocolate sauce ?! Or for the ice-sugar ?!" Zoya pointed her index finger at him, she shouted and accused him while he kept shaking his head in denial but Zoya wasn't ready to listen either.

She took the first thing which came in her hands, which turned out to be flour and threw its contents on him making him look in a colour which was brown mixed with white, and this time Asad blew and the flour and took a deep breath before snatching the packet of flour from her hands and pouring the remaining flour over her and she couldn't even get away because Asad had taken hold of her arm so that she couldn't run away.

Next, Asad splashed chocolate sauce from the bottle over her head, then like a cherry on the top, he poured ice-sugar over her, throughout this, Zoya kept screaming and shouting at him but he only laughed.

"Revenge isse kehte hain, Angel !" Asad smirked at her and she grabbed the cupcake on which was written 'Best' and pressed it on the top of his head, making the cake decompose in his hair.

"Of course ! Because you are the 'best' !" Zoya laughed at him because the decomposed cupcake on top of his head looked now like a hat.

Asad pressed his lips together and picked up the cupcake on which was written 'idiot' and pressed it on her head the same way she did with a laugh and then he turned around to go out.

Zoya gasped and took eggs from the packets and started throwing them on his back. Asad touched his back, then looked at his fingers and made faces while she smirked at him.

Then the war began, both started throwing each other ingredients, anything which would come in their hands would be thrown at the other. When the house echoed with shouts, laughs and giggles, they finally stopped and both burst into fits of laughter looking at each other's state, then slumped down on the floor next to each other and ate the remainings cupcakes. While Asad savoured 'Zoya', Zoya savoured 'Asad'.

When they had gulped the cupcakes down, their eyes widen when they heard Dilshad shouting.

"Ya Allah ! Mera kitchen ?!" Dilshad shouted and Asad and Zoya froze on their spots before looking at each other and trying to wipe each other's faces unsuccessfuly because they only managed to smudge some more on to one and the other, "Bahir niklo tum dono !" Dilshad shouted sternly and their eyes widen even more.

They slowly got up and Zoya hid behind Asad while he looked down. Dilshad stood with her hands on her hips and gasped looking at their state but then shook her head at them.

When Asad realized that Zoya was hiding behind him, he stepped aside so that she could be seen, but then she again hid behind him.

"Zoya, chupne ki zaroorat nahi hai, main tumhe dekh chuki hoon !" Dilshad scolded and Zoya looked down, biting her lips not to let any giggle escape but then burst into fits of laughter making Asad and Dilshad look at her. "Tumhe hassi aa rahi hai ?!" Dilshad asked angrily and Zoya nodded between her laughs.

"Sorry Ammi lekin aap bohot cute lag rahi hain... Aap pe yeh strict look bilkul bhi suit nahi karta !" Zoya laughed again and this time Asad and Dilshad looked at her wide-eyed, "Aap pe muskaan hi achi lagti hai !" Zoya laughed again.

Dilshad closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening her eyes again and pointing towards the exit of the kitchen, "Both of you, out ! Zoya, you'll be going to change and take rest while Asad you'll change and be back in ten minutes to help me clean up !" She ordered without looking at them in a stern tone and both exited the kitchen and once they were out, they started giggling like teenagers, "Ten minutes !" Dilshad shouted from the kitchen and both retired to their respective rooms.


They all spent a pleasant evening with a lot of chit-chats, laughs and giggles. After many days they found the same happiness filled moments and Dilshad couldn't thank Allah enough for whatever He blessed them with.

When everybody was retiring to their rooms, Asad stopped Dilshad.

"Ammi...voh...actually... Zoya..." Asad stammered not really knowing how to say it and Dilshad pressed her forehead.

"Please Asad, for once, cut it short and come straight to the point !" Dilshad said annoyed with his short vocabulary and he scratched the back of his head.

"Voh... Ammi, kal Zoya ki ek balm mere saath reh gayi thi, aur voh kaafi important hai, usse sone se pehle abdomen pe apply kiya jaata hai, toh kya aap aaj se usse lagaya karengi ?" Asad asked unsure and uncomfortably.

Dilshad got a little more serious and asked, "Main laga diya karoungi lekin agar voh itni important hai toh kal raat ko kisne lagaya tha usse ?" She asked worried and got her answer when she saw his cheeks turning a light shade of red and saw him adjusting his collar, "Acha thik hai, main laga dungi, ab tum bhi jaake aaram karo..." She said trying to bite back her smile when she saw her son blushing, after all, this was a rare sight for her.


The next morning, Asad knocked on Zoya's door, he got worried when he got no response, then barged in, only to see her coming out of the washroom while wiping her face with a towel, he concluded that it was her routine morning sickness.

On seeing her, he breathed a sigh of relief and made her sit on the bed and kneeled down in front of her, holding her hands in his which rested on her lap, she gave him a confused look.

"Angel, I forgave you for whatever you said in the hospital but it doesn't mean that I'm happy with your decision of keeping the baby... I still don't want you to pursue this pregnancy, don't take me wrong, I'm saying this only because I don't want your life to be in danger... Please Zoya, be practical, there's no guarantee you'll be able to complete this pregnancy and by chance, even if you do, most of the chances are that the baby will be born d-dead..." Asad tried his best to convince her but he did that without looking her in the eye.

Zoya squeezed his hands, "Asad, I won't change my decision, I know that you are worried for me and care a lot about my health but... I won't change my decision... What if there is some kind of miracle and the baby survives ? I won't risk losing it when there are chances - even though very low - there are still chances for it to be born and live ! I can't lose it when it's possible for it to be born healthy !" Zoya tried to defend her point of view and Asad sighed dejectedly.

He got up and was about to leave but she grabbed his fingers, stopping him, "Ghussa ho ?" Zoya asked with a pout and he looked at her with a faint smile.

"No..." He said kissing the top of her head, "It's just that I'm not happy with your decision...", Asad said softly before exiting her room.

READ MORE BELOW...

Chapter 17 :


"Asad !" Zoya called him out when he was exiting the room, he turned around and looked at her questioningly. She came forward and wrapped her arms around his neck and settled her head in the crook of his neck, "I am sorry for what I said in the hospital, I didn't mean it... And I missed you..." She whispered and tightened her hold on him.

An instant smile had appeared on his face when she had uttered those words which meant the world to him and his hands slid around her back and held onto her as tightly as she was, he felt as if day by day they were growing closer and a forbidden hope in him awoken, the hope of not only having Zoya by his side for the rest of his life but Zoya loving him back as much as he did.


The next few days went by smoothly with both, Asad and Zoya back to their old habits and Dilshad couldn't be happier to see her small family happy.

Even though Asad respected her decision of giving birth to the baby, he didn't forget to let her know that he wasn't happy with her decision, but then, what could he do ? He had tried to convince her so many times but all his attempts were in vain because Zoya wasn't ready to give up on the baby and she already had clearly let him know that. So he stopped dejectedly but didn't forget to be even more caring towards her, after all, he couldn't afford anything happening to her. Now her life was attached to that baby, so no matter what, he tried to take care of her and be as gentle as possible with her.

While on the other side, Zoya's belly had started to show. She couldn't be happier, thinking that her baby was growing, but she couldn't deny either that as much as it was growing, she was paining even more and that too, badly. Painkillers and ointments were helping but after 2-3 hours, her fragile state would be back. She had started to vomit more frequently than before and that worried Asad a lot and that's why there was always somebody with her, taking care of her. It was mostly Asad, Dilshad or Danial because Najma's college had reopened, making her busy in her school work.

Her abdomen always pained but the pain would only lessen with the help of medicines, if she didn't take rest or didn't take her medicines on time, it only amplified.

Danial was not only a teacher anymore, he had also became a part of the family, he would always be at the Khan Villa, either giving classes to his Princess or giving her company and lightening her mood. Her classes with him were doing great, she was still studying happily as a hardworking student and had also progressed a lot. If Danial had to choose his best student ever since he started teaching, it would be hands-down Zoya by the speed she was learning, it left him and everybody in awe, but it was also true that he had never taught to somebody who had the same problems as Zoya. The classes were still going on but the sole difference was that they weren't taking place in the study-room anymore but in her bedroom, to let her rest at the same time.

Since Zoya's vomiting had multiplied, she had become even more weak, so Dilshad had taken the responsibility of feeding her but strictly healthy because she couldn't take too much of weight or else it might cause her even more pain in her womb. Contractions, cramps, dizziness and vomiting had become the daily routine of Zoya, they were now all used to it but it didn't mean that their panic had lessen from the first time and sometimes, even her asthma attacks wouldn't help either.

Being tired of resting on the bed, she had evening walks in the backyard every night, that she would do with Asad, she had started to enjoy his company even more than before, if somebody could handle her mood swings, then it would be him. He would reply to every tantrum she threw and pamper her even more. Whenever he wouldn't be around, she would feel restless and disturbed, she would ask him to be with her and he would happily comply even though sometimes it would become difficult since he had also the building site work to check on and manage.

As the weeks passed, she started getting crankier, tired and her vomiting, cramps, contractions and dizziness were even more showing off on her because the baby kept growing in her womb. Many times they had to cancel classes because Zoya wouldn't be feeling well, their evening walks were tiring for her, so they would cut those short and retire to her room.

Sana had seen and consulted Zoya and even though she smiled in front of her, she would complain to Asad how weak she was getting day by day but he would only try to explain that her vomiting had multiplied by many folds making her throw out whatever she would eat, only chocolate and sweet things were getting well with her, but they couldn't keep her on a sweet diet, it was unhealthy and might cause her even more pain in the abdomen than she already had. Sana was really upset because Zoya was only in her late third month and she was going through so much, it had become sure for Sana that Zoya wouldn't be able to complete the pregnancy even if she would want to.

One day, Dilshad had forgotten putting balm on Zoya's abdomen because she was ill, she was taking bed rest, leaving all her responsibilities of cooking to Asad and Najma, they had managed to cook and managed to give the medicines on time but they had forgotten about the balm.

They woke up in the middle of the night, hearing Zoya's screams and rushed to her room and saw her face soaked with sweat, screaming in pain while clutching her swollen abdomen, she was crying badly with pain, she clutched Asad's hand in a death-grip making him flinch due to the amount of force she was applying and he realized how much pain she was in.

"Asad... Asad !! Asad..." She had literally begged him to help her in stopping the pain and his heart broke for the umpteenth time seeing her in such plight.

He caressed the top of her head and squeezed her hand, then distracted her mind while he applied the balm on her whole belly as gently as possible. After that, he made her sit when the pain had lessen and gave her some painkillers while he gently rubbed her back and massaged her back, that she had also complained was paining during their walk, earlier that day.

Seeing that she had calmed down, even Najma had retired back to her room with Dilshad.

Once she had gulped the painkillers down, she handed him back the glass and before he could say anything, she rested against his shoulder and snuggled closer to him, closing her eyes and putting a protective hand over her womb and the other took hold of his collar, not letting him go anywhere.

Asad looked down at her and smiled at her innocence, he pecked the top of her head, caressed her back and switched off the lights, thinking that once she would be asleep, he would retire to his room.

Asad tried to disentangle himself from her once she was asleep but she had immediately woken up and started whining at him for going away.

"Shh... Acha thik hai, I'm sleeping here, okay ?" He said and she smiled satisfied, "Now lie down !" He ordered while getting up but she held his hand.

"Kahan jaa rahe ho ?" She asked and he settled on the floor.

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, I'm here, now go to sleep..." He told her softly but she shook her head and pulled his hand.

"No ! You'll sleep here !" Zoya said gesturing to the bed and he looked at her wide-eyed, he shook his head and denied, "Arey please !! Pleeeaaasssee ! I didn't sleep all night because my back was paining and my tummy too, and when I slept in your arms, I was comfortable and slept well until you woke me up ! Now it's your fault, you woke me up ! So now you will have to listen to me and sleep on the bed ! It's your fault, you were the one waking me up !" Zoya started crying and Asad gave up.

"Okay, okay, I'm sleeping here, happy ?" Asad said while sitting on the bed and Zoya shifted a little, wiping her tears.

Asad lay down stiffly on the bed with his arms crossed under his head and closed his eyes, but then opened them when he felt Zoya pulling at his arm and settling her head near his shoulder and held onto his collar, to be sure that he would not be going anywhere.

He looked a little shocked but then recovered and stared at the innocent beauty lying in his arms, he tucked her falling locks behind her ear and kissed her forehead.

As he put his arm around her, he noticed two things. First, her shirt had ridden up, exposing the small of her back and second, even in her covered back her shirt was sticking to her like a second skin. Realising how tight her clothes were getting due to the gain of weight and her womb, Asad decided to take her for shopping in the morning, now all he hoped for was for her not to get scared due to the crowd they would have to face.

In this situation, Asad wouldn't touch her in that inappropriate way. Hence he stretched his hand out so that he did not touch her back but she kept resting on his arm. He drifted off to sleep after covering her properly with the blanket and putting his arm around her now well-covered back. He slept like a baby and he knew but refused to acknowledge that it was because he slept with Zoya in his arms.

In the morning, Asad opened his eyes and the first thing he saw made him smile, Zoya sleeping peacefully in his arms with a beautiful smile adorning her face. In a trance, thinking it to be his usual morning dream, he let his knuckles stroke her cheeks in a feather like touch, she truly was an Angel.

When he realized that he wasn't dreaming, he took his hand back and looked around and the memories of last night came back to him, he sighed and closed his eyes, before deciding to get up.

He shook her a little in his arms, making her stir but she still didn't wake up, she only snuggled further in his side, he gently caressed her head, "Come on, wake up Sleeping Beauty !", he said softly waking her up, she whined but he continued.

So she turned around in his arms but took his arm with her and without thinking, placed it on her womb, when he touched her abdomen, he pulled his hand away abruptly and sat up on the bed, visibly uncomfortable with the idea to get close to the baby.

Zoya realized that and sat up as well, she was about to say something but stopped when she saw Asad getting out of the bed and making his way out of the room, she sighed looking at the door from where he exited and muttered, 'Ziddi !'


After having breakfast, Zoya was in her room, rummaging through her cupboard in search of clothes, all her clothes were getting tighter and uncomfortable for her to wear, she sighed dejectedly when she found nothing proper to wear.

"That's why I'm taking you for shopping today !" She turned around to see Asad whose back was leaning against her already open door and his arms were crossed against his chest.

On realising what he had said, Zoya's eyes had widened and she was about to shake her head in denial, but before that he came to her and took her by her shoulders and made her sit on the bed and sat next to her.

Zoya had a scared expression on her face, in front of her flashed all the bad memories she had of the previous time she had gone to the mall with Najma. She had her eyes closed, she started sweating, breathing heavily and then opened her eyes, shaking her head vigorously in denial but relaxed a little when he took her hands in his and squeezed them assuringly.

"Angel, did I ever let anything bad happen to you ?" He asked her softly, wanting to assure her that nothing would go wrong.

Her eyes soften thinking about the way he had protected her from being slapped by Haseena, the time he had saved her from the nurses who were trying her to tie her to the bed, the time Taklu (Ghaffur) was scaring her, Asad had come as a shield for her, then the previous time at the mall, he was the one who had come to her rescue.

Her grip on his hands tightened as tears rolled down her cheeks when she remembered all those incidents. He pushed her bangs behind her ear and wiped her cheeks and asked her again, "Did i ?", and she shook her head in 'no', before crashing in his chest and crying. He shook his head with a smile at her constant crying before patting her head, "So, will you trust me and come with me ?", he whispered in her hair and she nodded in his chest while he smiled.

Finally pulling away and wiping her own cheeks, "But i have nothing to wear, everything is tight and uncomfortable..." She said sniffling.

"Borrow something from Najma..." He said softly while handing her his handkerchief and she nodded.


After a while Asad asked Dilshad to join them to go to the mall with Zoya to which she seemed hesitant.

"I'm sorry Asad, i need to go out to some relative's engagement ceremony, if i could, i would have come... But Asad, don't you think that we should let Zoya rest rather than making her roam out, bechari thaki thaki rehti hai aur agar tum usse apne saath le jaoge, kahin uski tabiyat udhar hi kharab na ho jaaye..." Dilshad said worriedly.

"Don't worry Ammi, i'll be with her and take care of her... Anyways, it has been many days now that she didn't go out from these four walls and i don't want her to remain scared from strangers..." He assured his mother and then she nodded.

He then thought about taking Najma along, but she was at her college and then thought about Sana but that option was also not possible because she must be busy at her clinic. He cursed himself thinking that he would be going to a girl's shopping, that too maternity shopping and he couldn't even back out since he had managed to convince her with difficulty.


Asad smiled when he saw Zoya coming down the stairs in Najma's blue-green salwar-suit, she was fidgeting with the dupatta, she seemed to be nervous with the idea of going to the mall. Asad smiled at her reassuringly and helped her down from the remaining stairs, he took hold of her hand and put a protective arm around her shoulder.

As they made their way to the mall in Asad's SUV, he noticed her nervousness, "I'll be with you..." He told her with a smile and it somewhat assured her.

After parking his SUV, he made his way to the passenger seat and helped Zoya down, when she saw unknown people, she tightened her hold on him. He was holding her hand and his other arm was around her shoulder, protectively.

"Chalein ?" He asked her softly and he rubbed her arm when he saw her looking nervous, she looked up at him and knew that he wouldn't go anywhere and her Savior would be by her side, she tightened her hold on his hand and smiled a faint smile before nodding her head.

They made their way inside, Asad was leading her towards the maternity shop when a man who was busy on his phone bumped into Zoya, making her gasp, she tightened her hold on Asad and almost hid in his side, before Asad could reprimand the man for his irresponsibility, the man spoke.

He held a hand up towards Zoya, "I'm so sorry, Bhabhi ji... Aapko lagi toh nahi, i'm sorry i was texting my wife, she's also pregnant... Aap thik toh hain na ?" The man asked concerned.

At first she was frightened and had started shaking while clutching Asad's shirt when the man had held up his hand towards her, she thought that he was about to hit her, but then hearing his words she relaxed a little and slightly nodded.

Asad had tightened his hold on Zoya, "It's okay but please be careful..." He said a little coldly but the man only smiled understanding that it was their first baby.

"Bhabhi ji, you are lucky to have a caring husband like him !" The man grinned at her, "Seems like he really loves you a lot !" He continued and Asad's eyes widen while Zoya's remained unchanged.

For Zoya, it was obvious that Asad loved her or else would he care and protect her so much ? But she wasn't aware of the difference of love between a man and a woman and the love between a brother and sister, or for a person to her dog, or for a friend to another friend, she considered the word 'love' in only one definition, still unaware of how big of a word was it, despite the short form. Just like she loved Asad as a friend, she thought that even Asad loved her as a friend, so for her it wasn't so surprising to hear that but she was oblivious to the strong feelings he had towards her.

When Asad had looked at Zoya, at first he was surprised to see her so calm and not reacting but then he sadly realized that she didn't know the difference in the meaning.

Asad only nodded at that man and he walked away with a smile, thinking of how cute was that couple.

Asad led her to the shop and as soon as both entered, the salesgirls directed their whole attentions to the handsome hunk who had just stepped in their shop while he was only oblivious to them, he was watching Zoya's expressions, if she was comfortable or not, if she was scared or not, if she was in pain or not.

But Zoya had already seen the salesgirls' expressions, she didn't understood why she didn't like seeing them looking at Asad in that manner, it seemed as if they would eat him alive, she uncounsciously shifted closer to Asad as if protecting him but he took it as fear, he gently rubbed her arm assuringly which made her look up at him and when she saw his assuring smile, she smiled back at him.

One of the salesgirls approached them who turned out to be the most beautiful of them with her perfect figure, her nails polished, her white shirt tucked in her black-pencil skirt which reached just above her knees, directing eyes towards her long legs which were adorned with beautiful black high-heels, her wavy black hair were left open and her red lipstick was drawing people's eyes towards her lips.

Zoya felt an instant dislike for her and cringed, she didn't know why she was behaving so protective of Asad but all she knew was that she wasn't liking the way these women were looking at him, she broke out of her thoughts when that salesgirl spoke.

"Hello Sir, hello Ma'am, welcome to our shop ! My name is Ria, how can i help you ?" She asked politely but kept her eyes on Asad while he finally tore his eyes away from his pregnant wife and looked at the salesgirl.

"Hello Ms. Ria, no thank you, if we'll need any help, we'll call out for you, we only need space for us to be comfortable..." He replied back politely but went straight to the point without wasting time and she looked dazed before nodding her head and stepping out of their way, Zoya felt somewhat good that Asad wasn't giving that girl any special attention and she looked up at him with a smile.

Thankfully, the shop wasn't crowded at all, there were only few pregnant women in few sections, looking for clothes. Zoya was at first hesitant in letting go of Asad's hand to choose her clothing and when he noticed that, he gently placed his hand on her back assuring her that he was here with her. With a little more confidence, Zoya began looking for clothes with his hand still on her back while Asad looked here and there, bored with girl's shopping.

After taking few jeans and tops which would be long enough in length and would be able to work till the end of pregnancy just the way she had seen in the documentary the woman whose womb had grew big in the last months.

"Angel, take some comfortable clothes too because you'd be very uneasy with jeans in your bed..." He advised her and she frowned, "Remember, you are supposed to take bed rest full time..." He said pinching her nose and she nodded.

Zoya went towards the nighties' side and Asad had to follow, his eyes widened seeing nighties quite bold and provocative with very short clothing and holding with spaghetti straps, he pushed Zoya forward towards long night gowns, they were also with thin straps but they at least had another robe to put on that.

Asad had a hand on her back and the other arm was busy holding Zoya's jeans, tops and she was also handing him nighties of her choice (the ones Asad led her to look at). After taking few more, Zoya was done.

"Ho gaya..." She whispered in a low voice and he smiled, feeling that the torture was finally over.

He led her to the changing-cabins, "Ermm... You should try them before we buy these..." He said softly.

Zoya's eyes widened looking at the changing-cabins, they were secluded, close and there were locks, they reminded her of the small, secluded room which she spent 20 years in. Her breathing got heavy and she clung to Asad for her dear life, still eying those cabins from his embrace, she had started shaking and he panicked.

Asad was checking his phone when Zoya litterally crashed into his chest, he got confused, he felt her heavy breath against his chest and he got worried when she started shaking like a leaf.

"Zoyaaa... ?" He called out worriedly while putting his arms around her and gently rubbing her back in a soothing way, "Kya hua, Angel ?" Asad asked her softly, trying to stop her from shaking. "Ms. Ria, please bring a glass of water..." Asad asked the salesgirl who was passing by.

She nodded while rushing towards her work place and coming back immediately after pouring a glass of water.

Asad was trying to calm her down but to no avail, on seeing Ria coming back with a glass of water, he tried to pull a little back to make her drink but she didn't let him, she clung to him for her dear life, as if she was being thrown and locked in that dark room again.

He caressed her head, "What happened, Sweetheart ?" He asked softly but she kept shaking in his arms, Asad was very confused as to what had happened to her, he looked down at her and saw her crying while looking at the changing-cabins and he sighed sadly, understanding her fear, "Thank you Ms. Ria, can you give us some space, please ?" He asked her and she nodded, leaving while wondering what had happened to the girl.

Asad turned around so that Zoya couldn't see those cabins, he made her sit on the stools outside the cabins and took the glass of water and made her drink the water and then started crying again. He sat on the stool next to her and side-hugged her while rubbing her arm and tucking her hair behind her ears.

"Angel, look at me..." He asked her but she kept crying, so he tilted her chin up so that she looked in his eyes, then cupped her face and wiped her tears with his thumb, "Angel, that period of your life is over ! Never will it happen again, nor will i ever let that happen, do you hear me ?" He told her in a soft yet firm voice and she looked up at him sniffling with her quivering lips. "Angel, i won't let anything happen to you !" He told her with finality, he then pointed towards the changing-cabins, "Those are not to lock you up, those are only to let you change your clothes in privacy, and look, we can't lock it from outside but only from inside..." He told her and assured her, wiping the fresh tears that had rolled down again.

She looked at the changing-cabins again and held onto his arms tightly, as if registering his words.

Asad wasn't going to take this anymore, he had enough of her fear that Haseena had put her through, today she would have to face her fear and later on, he would take care of Haseena and Akram.

He got and took Zoya with him and her clothes that she had chosen and led her to those cabins even though she was hesitating, at least today she would realize and fight her fear of being locked up again. He entered the cabin along with her and hung the hangers of the clothes on the hook and showed her the quite spacious cabin - it was for pregnant women after all - and that there was also a little seat if she was tired and wanted to sit, he showed her the door and its lock but she still clung to his arm.

"I'm just outside the cabin, waiting for you..." He told her softly while disentangling her arm from around his but she held it tighter and shook her head.

"You also stay..." Zoya said softly yet adamently while his eyes widen and he began to shake his head in denial but stopped and sighed when he saw the fear and tears coming back in her eyes and then he nodded.

He turned around to face the cabin's wall and closed his eyes. He was feeling nervous, he played with his fingers and tapped his foot impatiently while trying to think other things than Zoya changing just behind him. He tried to keep his own breathing even while trying to make the sound of shuffling of clothes unheard.

Zoya turned him around asking him how were the clothes, she wore jeans and tops, her baby bump would be clearly recognized as a pregnant woman's. She was looking cute in such clothes, he couldn't deny that her baby bump was making her look even cuter. He smiled at her and it was enough for her to take it as an approval even though he knew nothing in fashion, suiting colors, etc.

Once done, both came out of the changing-cabin only to see a wide-eyed Ria with her mouth agape, Zoya felt like giggling but didn't muster the courage to, when Zoya looked up at Asad, she saw him looking embarassed and she saw that he had turned red, she wondered what was going on but kept quiet.

Asad was more than embarassed on seeing the salesgirl's expression on seeing them coming out of the locked cabin together, he understood what she was thinking and he blushed, he looked at Ria again and he saw her looking wide-eyed at Zoya who was adjusting her dupatta.

He cleared his throat, "Ms. Ria, please pack these clothes and prepare the bill..." Asad said recovering from his embarassment, he didn't needed to be embarassed, after all Zoya was officially his wife.

When he saw her still frozen on her spot, he cleared his throat louder and repeated and this time she blushed and took the clothes and went away.

"See ? There was nothing to be scared of..." He said kissing her forehead, happy that she had fought her fear, even though while looking at the cabin, she still felt cold shivers, she wasn't crying, nor panicking.

She looked at him, "It's because of you..." Zoya said not knowing the effect her words had on him and this sentence of hers made him simply feel good, previously he was feeling a little guilty to be with her in that cabin even though she was officially his wife, for him this wasn't real, he was a traditionnal man and for him a true marriage was only when a man and a woman would say 'Qubool Hai' to each other.

He looked at her and she looked tired, he decided to make their way back home. Asad took hold of her hand and put his protective arm around her shoulder and went to take their shopping bags. Once he had paid, Zoya started whining that she was tired.

"Angel, it's okay, we're going back home..." He told her while putting back his wallet in his jeans' pocket.

"I know but i am tired !" She continued to whin while the salesgirls looked at her, understanding the mood swings and tiredness, "Asad, carry me !" Zoya ordered and he couldn't help but smile at her cuteness.

"Your wish is my command, Angel !" Asad obliged with a grin and scooped her up in his arms in a bridal style while she put her arms around his neck, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, he was holding the shopping bags in his hand which was on the back of her knees.

All the salesgirls and other women customers looked at them, some in awe and some jealous of Zoya for having such a loving husband who pampered her and had even followed her for shopping.

Asad made his way out of the shop with Zoya in his arms, but then froze when he saw the woman he hated the most from afar, he saw Haseena Qureshi with some shopping bags in her hands, roaming in the mall, shopping with a smile on her face, without any guilt for whatever she put an innocent soul through, he gritted his teeths and his hold on Zoya tightened.

READ MORE BELOW...

Chapter 18 :

Asad's eyes hardened with hatred for the woman who wasn't even worth being called that after whatever she put an innocent soul through. Every single thing that Badi Bi had told him came back to his mind. All the scars on Zoya's body came back. All the pain Zoya has been through came back. He felt so much hatred and disgust for this woman. Asad had never hated somebody. He might have disliked or despised few people but never hated because it was a big word to him. But here, he hated Haseena Qureshi to the core.

Suddenly, he felt like going to her and teach her a lesson. He wanted to punish her with the worst sentence ever, he wanted to do so much...

Asad's train of thoughts came to halt when he felt a soft touch against his cheek. He looked down to see Zoya frowning and calling out to him, asking him why he stopped, but at that moment all her words were falling to deaf ears. And he realized something, the sole thing which was holding him back to go to Haseena Qureshi was none other than Zoya. He could not let her see Haseena or else her health could even more deteriorate with tension and fear. Asad needed to keep her happy, not stressed and scared. His hatred for Haseena could never overpower his love for his Angel.

Even though it was a tempting to go to Haseena and make her beg, Zoya was much more important than a worthless woman to him. Asad looked back down at his Angel who seemed exhausted and was resting against his shoulder and giving him a questioning look at the same time.

"Nothing..." He whispered, kissing her forehead, "Let's go home..." Asad said softly and she nodded in the crook of his neck while closing her eyes back again.

He made his way to his SUV, completely ignoring the some curious glances. He did not care about those yesterday so why would he today ?

Zoya had fallen asleep in his arms, hence he laid her on the backseat and drove back home. Unlike a peaceful Zoya, he was growing more and more restless. Seeing Haseena, had awoken the sleeping lion in him and his hold on the steering wheel tightened till his knuckles turned white. He wanted to punch something and it took all of his self-control not to go out and beat the people who made his Angel suffer. He knew that Zoya was on the right way to get better but now he was growing impatient with the fact that she had suffered so much and the culprits were still out there, roaming around freely and spending her money as if nothing had ever happened. These thoughts were driving him crazy.

He ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath while closing his eyes, when he opened those again, he looked more composed and finally, with a sigh, he decided to start the engine and head back home.


*********


In the evening, Asad went to Zoya's room for their evening walk, but when he entered the room, he could not help but laugh at Zoya's plight. This was the first time he laughed, smiled since he had seen Haseena Qureshi earlier in the morning.

Zoya looked back at him with a pout. She was seated on the bed, against the headboard and was trying to reach her swollen feets with her legs which lay slightly crooked towards herself, but this wasn't a cup of tea because of her baby bump and when she would try bending forward to reach her feet, her baby bump would hurt.

Asad assumed that she wanted to massage her swollen feet which were aching after their return from the mall.

Looking at him laughing at her, angered Zoya, "Tum hass rahe ho ?!"

"Nahi, main ro raha hoon !", Asad grinned, then laughed again while an outraged Zoya gasped and threw a pillow at his face. But she was irritated because Asad ducked down and missed her projectile, laughing louder. When Zoya started crying, he stopped and rushed towards her, putting his hand on her bump, thinking that she was in pain again, "Zoya ?! Kya hua ?! Are you okay ?! Is it paining again ?!" He asked worriedly looking at her in the eye but she shocked him by hitting him with the other pillow.

As she whacked him with the pillow on his face, his eyes closed and when he opened them again, he saw her giggling at him and he sighed dejectedly.

"Duffer ! You fall for it every single time !" Zoya giggled at him and he looked at her with a straight face and knew that she was right. Although, she would always trick him in the same way, he did not dare believing it to be a joke in fear of the day she would really be in pain.

Zoya stopped giggling when she noticed Asad's protective hand resting on her baby bump. Unknowingly, her heart warmed up at the sight, a hope that Asad would finally understand her - what he already did but she was too stubborn to notice - and that he would finally stop backing away from their baby.

It was not like Asad had never touched her abdomen, he had, but only in a practical way just like the night before. The few times he had done it without any practical thought, was during the early days of pregnancy, before the hospital incident and before they learnt about the complication of her pregnancy. Then there was the previous night, when she had literally begged him to stop the pain and he had rubbed the balm over her baby bump.

Asad had noticed her gaze and realized that his hand was still resting on her belly. He looked back at Zoya who had a faint smile looking at his hand. He was just about to pull his hand back. However, as she felt his fingers tensing on her bump, she realized that he was about to remove his hand so before he did, Zoya pressed his hand against it.

Startled, he looked up at her and she gave him small smile, he looked back down at their hands pressed against her baby bump. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again with a more composed look in his eyes.

He took his other hand to her belly and Zoya's smile almost widden but was shocked when she saw him detangling her hand pressing against his. Hurt and disappointed by his withdrawal, she let her hand fall on her lap and lowered her gaze.

When Zoya thought that he would go away just like he had in the morning, he surprised her by coming back in the room with a bottle of oil massage. Silently, he sat down on her bed and put her right foot on his lap and started massaging it with oil while Zoya stared at him in silence, his big hands did wonders but she was silent, upset with his withdrawal. When he finished with the right foot, he took the left one and did the same treatment. As he put it back on the bed, he went to her washroom and brought her a towel.

"Before you get up, don't forget to wipe your feet with this towel or you might slip and hurt yourself and the baby..." He said in a whisper without meeting her eyes but she was staring at him, definitely upset, Asad was about to leave but stopped when he heard Zoya.

"You care but don't want to care..." Zoya mumbled while huffing and he sighed before turning around and making his way towards her.

"This baby is putting my Angel's life in danger, so it's obvious I won't be happy with it ! Why can't you just for once try to see things from my point of view ?! Because of this baby, my Angel is in pain and is suffering all because of a baby that she wants to keep which has no guarantee of being delivered healthily and has lots of chances to be born dead ! But still she is as stubborn as ever and is suffering the constant pain of it even though she can conceive again and that too without complicat..." Asad snapped back at her and blurted out the last sentence but then closed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair before making his way out while shutting her door with a bang.

Zoya was left embarrassed by whatever he said, understanding that even he was right in his place. But then she wondered what he meant with his last sentence.

She started making faces, guessing that she had upset Asad yet again. She rested her head back on the pillows and sighed. Then she started wiping her oily feet which were not hurting much anymore and made her way out.

She saw Dilshad and Najma in the kitchen while Asad sat in the living room, watching some news. Zoya made her way towards him and sat next to him, she encircled his arm and hugged it while resting her head on his shoulder. He did not even look at her as he flipped through the channels.

She rested her chin on his shoulder and looked at his face side-ways, "Asad, I'm sorry... I know that I'm bothering you a lot but I can't lose this baby, it's one of the most important things I have... I have been lonely for 20 years where I had nobody for me, to take care of me, to love me, to pamper me, I was all alone, I cried all the time because I was lonely, so how can I abandon the baby knowing that he'll be through the same thing I have... It might be a big deal for others but only those who have been through that can understand what I feel for this baby..." Zoya had started crying with an arm still around Asad's and the other on her baby bump.

Saying that Asad was surprised would be an understatement, he was left speechless. Zoya had never talked openly about her past and this was the first time she was talking about it and not by being scared about something or the other but by herself, to explain her own point of view. Asad was proud of his Angel. He looked at her, understanding her position as well, he wiped her cheeks and put his arms around her, hugging her, whispering, "You'll never be lonely again...", and he pecked the top of her head while she cried in his arms, holding him tightly.

Zoya cried remembering every little moment she had spent locked away in that small room. Every little moment she spent alone, missing her parents, she cried for them, she cried remembering how horrible Haseena had been, she cried remembering her loneliness. She kept tightening her hold on him after every memory and cried in his arms.

Asad's heart broke seeing her condition. He tightened his hold on her to let her know that he was here for her.

Dilshad and Najma who had come to call them for dinner had tears rolling down their cheeks after hearing their conversation and feeling Zoya's pain.

Dilshad sat on the other side of Zoya and without taking her out of Asad's arms, hugged her. Then Najma came forward and took them all in her arms, making it a group hug.

Asad, Dilshad and Najma kept telling her that she shouldn't feel lonely since they were all with her now and Zoya cried even more, knowing that she had a family.


*********


At night, Dilshad sat next to Asad on the bench, in the backyard bringing with her Asad's coffee and a cup of tea for herself.

"Kya hua ? Kyon pareshaan ho ?" Dilshad asked him with a smile while handing him the cup of coffee and he mumbled a 'Thank you'.

He sighed, "Today, I saw Haseena Qureshi in the mall..." Asad said with anger surfacing again and Dilshad choked on her tea.

"Did Zoya see her ?" Dilshad asked worriedly and was relieved when she saw Asad shaking his head negatively, "So what now ?" She asked curious to know Asad's point of view.

He sighed, "I don't know, Ammi... Today, when I saw her doing her shopping so carefreely after what she put Zoya through, I felt my blood boiling in my veins ! I can't stand the fact that her culprits are free out there while Zoya is going through so much pain ! Why is an innocent soul being punished !" Asad was getting angry but Dilshad put her hand on his, trying to keep his anger in control.

"I understand what you are feeling, Beta... But it's you who wanted her to punish them-" Dilshad was cut off by Asad.

"And I still want that ! But I am not able to get Haseena Quereshi's devilish face off my mind either..." He said exasperatedly then took a sip from his coffee.

"You'll have to wait, you'll have to do what you do the best, being patient ! Asad, Zoya is behaving like a mature person day by day and now that day is not too far when Zoya will be behaving like a normal 28 years old woman ! And once she'll be alright, she would punish them by herself ! They hurt and ruined 20 years of her life, she has the right to punish them and teach her a lesson but on her own !" Dilshad tried to make him understand what a woman would want after being put through all that torture.

He nodded understandingly, but then thought about something, "Ammi, if they can't be punished now, I can at least make sure that they are not able to use all Zoya's money ?" Asad suggested while gritting his teeth and Dilshad rolled her eyes.

"Of course ! Act this impulsively so that they can already be warned of what is coming next for them and flee abroad so that they cannot be punished for their deeds !" Dilshad said full of sarcasm and Asad sighed dejectedly, "Asad I understand what you want but you can't act impulsively in this situation or else Zoya might never be able to punish those people !" She said rubbing his back and he looked down at the coffee in his hands and took the last sip of it.

"I guess you are right, Ammi..." He said softly.

"Of course I am ! I'm your mother, I'll always be right !" Dilshad said mischievously while taking another sip, making Asad finally smile after a whole day full of restlessness.


*********


It wasn't long before Zoya had reached her fourth month of pregnancy, but the problem was that as much as her baby bump grew, it pained even more. She had lost count of the times she vomited during the day. Her dizziness was even more frequent and her mood swings were at their bests. She was restless all the time, crancky and grumpy each time Asad wasn't by her side. Zoya was now used to sleeping in Asad's arms, those were the only times when she would sleep.

It had now became a habit for Asad to have Zoya sleeping in his arms and most of the times even he would doze off, being exhausted by her tantrums. Sometimes he would wake up in the middle of the night when he would hear Zoya crying in her room due to the restlessness she would be feeling or in the kitchen, being hungry. Most of those times, Zoya would succeed in dragging him over to her room afterwards, insisting that she wasn't able to sleep and he would lull her to sleep in his arms and himself dozing off as well.

One day, when everybody were having lunch on the dining table, the doorbell rang, Najma went to open the door, thinking it to be Danial, but was shocked when she saw Sana crying badly, before Najma could say anything, Sana rushed inside.

Asad who had just gotten up to know who it was, was surprised to see Sana but when he realized that she was crying badly, he got worried and before he could do anything else, Sana crashed herself in his chest. Asad was taken aback and stumbled two steps backwards before wrapping his arms around her, he caressed her hair worriedly trying to calm her down but she wouldn't.

"Sana, kya hua ?! Tu mujhe darra rahi hai ! Acha bas rona bandh kar ! Shh... Sana ?" Asad tried to calm her down but she just wouldn't, so he took her to his room and closed the door, oblivious to the jealous eyes that were glaring at both of them.

He made her sit on the couch and drink some water, but her sobs would not stop. So he sat next to her and hugged her sideways while she sobbed in his chest. Asad caressed her hair and tried to calm her down by rubbing her back in a soothingly. Once she calmed down, he asked her again about what had happened and she told him how she had a major fight with Ayaan and he almost had wanted to break their engagement.

Asad became alert at that and calmed her down, telling her that he would speak to him immediately. He called Ayaan and when he picked up the phone, Asad began his rant, while still having his arm around Sana.

"Oye ! Tujhe sharam nahi aati ?! Aise ladkiyon ko rulata hai ?!" Asad began his rant and kept scolding Ayaan to whom he did not left even a chance to speak.

"Bhaijaan, breath !" Ayaan said in a loud voice, even though they were friends, Ayaan always called Asad 'Bhaijaan' because being an orphan, he found a big brother in Asad and Asad never minded, in fact he felt honored, "And for your kind information, she started it !" He accused Sana like a child and the big brother rolled his eyes.

"Ayaan ! Iska matlab yeh nahi ke tu usko aise rulayega ! Aur iska yeh matlab bhi nahi ke tu engagement todhne wali baat karega ! For God's sake, you both are grownups who should solve their problems on their own ! But here I am as a referee ! Tum dono bilkul bhi nahi sudhre !" Asad scolded and received at the end a whack from Sana and he rolled his eyes at her.

There was a silence on the other side before Ayaan spoke again, "Ermm... Bhai ? Sana aapke paas hai ?" He asked softly and Asad understood that his job was done and he passed the phone to Sana who was refusing to take it.

Asad covered the mic of his phone and spoke to her in a hushed tone, "He took the first step now even you have to talk to him !" Asad scolded and she finally took the phone and spoke to Ayaan, solving the problem with an 'I love you' at the end, making Asad smile and shake his head at their childishness.

"Khush ?" Asad asked her once she handed him back the phone and she smiled sheepishly at him.

"Thanks !" Sana said hugging him sideways again and he smiled.

"Acha chal, ab tu humare saath lunch karle !" Asad spoke getting up and she nodded, smiling at him.

They made their way to the dining table and Asad wondered what was wrong with Zoya when he saw her shooting daggers at him, but then ignored and enjoyed the lunch along with Sana, oblivious to the orbs which spit fire to his friend. Yes, Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan was jealous.

After Sana had left, Asad made his way to Zoya's room with her medicines. He saw her sitting on her bed, playing 'Candy Crush' on her iPad and smiled. When he gave her medicines and water, she completely ignored him, he found it to be strange.

"Fursat mil gayi apni dost se ?" Zoya asked in an angry tone and Asad raised an eyebrow, completely amused by her behaviour.

"Kyon ? Kya hua ?" Asad asked trying to sound casual while pretending to be busy on the iPad, he smirked, "Okay, since you're busy, I'll go and spend some time with Sana..." He tried hard not to laugh at her expressions. She was jealous and he was loving it. When he was about to go, Zoya held his hand and gave him a stern look, "Is my Angel jealous ?", Asad smirked again and she huffed at him, making him laugh, he couldn't help but hug her, she was too cute. She kept hitting him on his chest to push him away but he only tightened it while laughing.


**********


One night, while Asad was sleeping peacefuly with her in his arms, Zoya was feeling more restless than usual, she kept turning in his arms uncomfortably but the pain in her abdomen started to aggravate. She rubbed her baby bump, trying to ease the pain but it only amplified and intensified. When the pain became unbearable, she called out to a sleeping Asad, but he was asleep, she started crying in pain and tugged at his kurta to wake him up but he only stirred before going back to sleep. Then Zoya felt an urgency to go to the toilet and when she got up in haste, she let out a scream in pain, waking Asad up, she felt contractions, her body twisted in pain, she needed to go to the washroom immediately but her contractions were not letting her take steps forward, she screamed again and louder when she felt the pain.

"Zoya !" Asad shouted when he realized her condition and it wasn't long before he saw blood dripping on the floor and by then it had made a puddle. He was by her side in a flash, she screamed in pain once again because of the contractions. She kept screaming in pain, Asad was too shocked and panicked to do or understand anything. Dilshad and Najma barged in to see Zoya crying badly and screaming in pain while Asad was holding her, they saw the puddle of blood on the floor.

"Asad !" Dilshad called out and he got back to his senses and scooped Zoya in his arms who kept crying and screaming in pain.

"Ammi, hospital, right now !" He said carrying her to his SUV, there was no time to call the ambulance. He lay her on the backseat with Dilshad while he took the driving seat and Najma sat on the passenger seat, "Najma, call Sana right now and ask her to come to the hospital immediately !" Asad ordered while starting the engine. Zoya's screams kept making Asad restless and even more panicked, "Angel, just breath ! Blow on the air !", Asad advised, himself panicked and restless.

But Zoya kept crying and screaming in Dilshad's lap while contractions took over her body. She was sweating so badly that her tears got mixed up with her perspiration. Once they reached the hospital, Asad took no time before carrying Zoya inside while she clutched onto him in a death grip and kept crying. Asad rushed to a stretcher and Sana joined him, they wheeled her to a room while she clutched to Asad's hand, crying and screaming.

"Asad ! Asaad... Mera baby..." Zoya cried while clutching to his hand and her other hand on her baby bump before another contraction took over her.

"Angel just calm down, don't stress, I can't come with you inside but Sana will be there, trust her..." Asad asked her softly while caressing the top of her head.

"Asad, mujhe darr lag raha hai.. Aargh !" Zoya cried and screamed in pain again.

"Repeat after me... LA ILAHA..." Asad said softly and she repeated through her tears, "ILLALLAH MUHAMMADUR RASULLULLAH...", Zoya repeated that Holy verse again and again before being taken in the operation theater.

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A/N : ok guys so i have finished editing but i cut off the last track of the story, i want to replace it with something else, which means from chapter 23. Matlab, i will post the double updates and then u'll be reading something new, never read about Angel and her Savior 😳

just found this from my old stacks

BANO baby I am going to read it before I sleep. So BE PREPARED FOR THE COMMENTS from the next update

Originally posted by: MayurChan

Don

Don Quixote