#2 - AsYa FF: Mohabbatein - Part 28 - Page 130 - 31/01/18! A/N Pg 132! - Page 40

Mohabbatein

Part 20: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - The First Dance

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Khan Mansion:

Zoya - Aapka ek aur bhai bhi hai Mr. Khan? (This time Asad was the one to freeze without flinching, moving or blinking. They stayed like that for a few seconds. Both frozen in their own spots. Both silent. It was like the most dreadful almost mournful cold had washed over Asad. Oh how he loathed Rashid Ahmed Khan in this very moment. It was because of him something like this was kept hidden, a secret, a mystery. Something that came up as a heinous question. Like a dark, dirty secret instead of a blessing like it was. It was because of that spineless Rashid Ahmed Khan that he had to treat the topic of his brother as taboo, the thing he never spoke about and kept hidden at all costs when in fact his brother was one of the few greatest blessings in his rather unfortunate tragic life. Seeing him freeze and stiffen like that, Zoya knew the answer to her question but she wanted to hear it from him regardless of how shocked she was. She tried to search for it in his eyes, which had gone as haunted, steely and cold as she could ever recall seeing them, the same went for his face and expressions. His mask of cold hard indifference was back on, his expressions rock hard. No one could penetrate behind it to see his emotions, his heartbreak, insecurities, vulnerabilities, or fears.

Asad - (in a cold dismissive tone) Yeh hamara personal family matter hai. Aap please isse door rahiye (Zoya would be lying if she said she didn't feel hurt by Asad's words. It just sent her another cold cruel reminder that she wasn't privileged enough to have a family and even if she believed it Asad didn't consider her to be a part of HIS family. But family or no family the truth was this was their personal family matter and she had no right intruding in on it)

Zoya - (nodded) Sorry. (Asad gave her a curt nod and she turned around to leave. Asad took those few seconds to quickly skim through the piece of paper, which he immediately fisted in his hand. Knowing at once, who was responsible for it. His jaw clenched and his eyes blazed with fury. Oh how he absolutely DESPISED THAT MAN. But that would have to wait. First things, first.)

Asad - Suniye. (Zoya stopped, confused. Was he talking to her? Was Jahapanah six packs actually talking to HER for once? She turned around confused and saw Asad avoiding her eyes but standing as stoic and angry as ever, the paper crumpled in his hand) uh..I would uhm appreciate it if you didn't mention this letter to anyone. Especially not Ammi. (Zoya's confusion only grew hearing that. Why wouldn't he want Phupi to know that he met his half-brother? She didn't know what the deal with this brother was but she did realize something else. The hint of panic and fear she saw in Asad' eyes possibly for the very first time since she had met him. He wasn't as full of confidence, arrogance and ready to take on whatever challenge the world threw at him today like he was every day. No. Today he was nervous and panicking and Zoya didn't know neither did she need to know the reason for that, for now. For now she had a vulnerable Asad before her and boy was she going to enjoy herself with this Asad. Now it was Asad's turn to be confused. He could practically see the devil horns rise from her head and the wheels churning in her head. Uh oh. She was up to something and that 'innocent' face didn't fool him for sure, she was definitly up to no good)

Zoya - (wearing an extremely dreadful and contemplative expression) Phupi se jhooth bolna..I don't know (Asad raised an eyebrow at her, crossing his arms before his chest. Really now, who was she kidding? Not him that's for sure. She was the biggest liar he had come across in his entire life. Seeing his expression she dropped the act at once) Theek hai Mr. Khan. Aapke liye main Phupi se jhoot bolne ke liye tayaar hoon (She shrugged nonchalantly and Asad rolled his eyes at her in disbelief. So really, that's all it meant to her, lying to Phupi?) Par meri ek shart hai

Asad - (immediately alert) shart? Kaisi Shart?

Zoya - (her eyes sparkled all devilishly but the hypnotizing twinkle Asad absolutely adored in her eyes was back and it completely threw him off his game) Woh main aapko baad mein bataongi. Meet me back here ready to go out in an hour, k (and without waiting for whatever it was Asad was evidently going to say she twirled on her feet and ran from there leaving Asad and his open mouth behind. He shook his head groaning and shut his mouth)

Asad - Khuda Jaane aaj kiski maut likhi hai. Meri ya inki. (Stared at Zoya's closed bedroom door and scoffed) Yah right. As if I'm going to take orders from her there's no way she'd tell Ammi.. (immediately his brain was to the rescue and began reminding him of the 101 run ins with Zoya that reinforced his earlier belief that running straight to Dilshad with this news on the hopes that it would get Asad into trouble is EXACTLY what Zoya would do. Great. He so did not like his fate at the moment and the writer of that note, oh how he was tempted to strangle that son of a ***** with his own bare hands once again. His eyes blazing with fury he pulled out his lighter from his pocket and stepped outside to burn that wretched piece of paper to ashes.)

An hour later - Front Foyer: Asad stood at the door checking his watch for the umpteenth time, his foot tapping continuously impatiently.

Asad - ONE HOUR. ONE BLOODY HOUR SHE SAID. IT'S ALMOST TWO HOURS. DOES SHE NOT- (Yelled at the top of his lungs) MS. FAROOQUI!!!!! (Zoya however, walked out of her room causally, even more slowly and leisurely then she would do on a regular day, whistling to herself completely ignoring the death glare Asad was giving her, like he wanted to burn her to ashes just like he did that note earlier. Zoya, as chill, undisturbed and nonchalant as ever walked up to him with the brightest smile and the most innocent twinkle in her eye, like she really had no intention of torturing him whatsoever, like she had no idea why he was so terrified of what this day held in store for him and like the idea of them standing here having a conversation or about to "hang out" was the most customary thing between them.)

Asad - (through gritted teeth) it's been almost two hours. You said to meet you in an hour.

Zoya - (raised an eyebrow at him as she calmly checked her watch) it's been 72 minutes.

Asad - whatever. (Zoya rolled her eyes) my time is very precious okay-

Zoya - and mine's not??!!! Excuse me I'll have you now I have a VERY productive and hectic day planned out, there's a lot I plan on accomplishing today.

Asad - Oh I'm sure me making a model for the new university campus and you sitting around bunking class, eating junk food playing video games in your PAJAMAS (Zoya gasped) is the same.

Zoya - I DO NOT DO ALL THAT IN MY PAJAMAS. I MAKE AN EFFORT. (Now asad cocked an eyebrow and Zoya muttered sheepishly) on some days.

Asad - (sighed exasperatedly) Look will you please tell me what childish shart you have so I can fulfill it and we can call it a day so I can get to work already (checked his watch, boy was he late. But when he looked up, all thoughts of work abandoned his mind because seeing the excited devilish glint in her eyes, made him seriously doubt if he would even make it through to the afternoon in one piece) (stuttering) aap..aapki yeh shart se mujhe itna dar kyun lag raha hai?

Zoya - (put a finger to her lips) Shh. Just grab the keys to your sports car and meet me outside like a (patted his cheek on her way out) good boy. (She skipped out of the house giggling excitedly whilst Asad stood there staring after her stunned, with his hand now on the same spot she had just patted him. Boy was he dazed, and then it struck him. Wait, what just happened? Did Zoya just pat his face? Did she tell him to grab keys? (His eyes widened in alarm) HIS SPORTS CAR!! WHAT DID SHE WANT WITH HIS BABY!!)

35 minutes later:

Zoya - (dancing like a crazy person, the milkshake in one of her hands dancing just as crazily) Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play and the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. (whipping her hair all around) I shake it off, I shake it off Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake I shake it off, I shake it off...(and down the streets of Kasauli they continued to speed. One hand on the steering wheel of HIS sports CAR, roof down, she continued letting her hair dance along with herself in the open wind, singing and screaming to the blaring music as they zoomed through the downtown streets. Every head turned and stared/laughed merrily at the car driving by. 100, 120 that was the speed Zoya took off on, no big deal. Beside her a rather stunned Asad sat frozen in his seat. His eyes wide, his hands clutching his seat. He was yet to blink. He was in shock to say the least. He just couldn't figure out the THING currently operating his car. After a 25 minute debate (read - HEATED FIGHT AND LOTS OF THREATS) he had lost the car keys to Zoya and had been forced to take a seat on the passenger side for once. No sooner than he had slammed the door (and immediately winced & terribly regretted it) he looked up to see the demonic glint return to Zoya' eyes and the next second he felt himself fall back in his seat as she cranked the speakers full blast, Taylor swift began destroying his ear drums and the car took off flying. Soon they were parked in the McDonalds drive through as Zoya ordered a large fries and large milkshake and very politely didn't bother asking him if he wanted anything. He then received the shock of seeing her pay with HIS credit card which he hadn't even noticed missing and all she had to say in her defence was 'oops' with a not so guilty face. The trauma of those initial shocks still hadn't weaned down even now as he went flying forward and back in his seat again as Zoya slammed on the breaks at another red light nearly a block from Asha's cafe. Slurping her milkshake and stuffing a handful of fries in her mouth getting all the oil and salt on his precious steering wheel, making him cringe and Zoya roll her eyes hopelessly whilst continuing to dance. Hearing some very distinct and kind of familiar laughter Asad turned his head and muttered something that sounded very much like a cuss word before he ducked in his seat covering his face with his coat. Zoya stared between him and then the people he had spotted. A biker gang standing by the beach parking, although she wouldn't really take them to be Asad's friends (even though they were but in her defence she didn't know Asad was a vigilante by night) she assumed they were and that only intensified the demonic glint in her eyes. She nearly stood up in her seat almost taking her foot off the break pedal much to Asad's horror and near heart attack but immediately realizing her blunder she smiled sheepishly in response to his death glare and proceeded with her devilish stunt regardless)

Zoya - (screamed just as the light turned green) THAT'S RIGHT PEOPLE THIS IS ASAD AHMED KHAN!!! (She burst into fits of enchanting and contagious laughter and if Asad wasn't so full of dread and misery he may have been so taken by that laugh that he may have kissed her and died that way instead of the 1000 torturous ways he wanted to kill himself as he buried his face in his hands hearing his friends howling with laughter whilst Zoya drove away, still laughing.)

5 minutes Later: A still laughing Zoya pulled over to park the car by the curb as they reached the caf, when it happened, really fast. Of course it had to happen, it was just as destined and meant to be as these two were. The bumper of the car ever so slightly hit the street light Zoya parked the car by. Now Zoya was an extremely good driver, one that one day would even give Asad Ahmed Khan a run for his money so there was a very good chance that she had done this on purpose. Asad looked about ready to cry. All that escaped him was a whimper when he heard the bump and he was yet to move or blink again ever since. His face had gone awfully pale and his eyes widened with shock. His whole body looked like it was pain.

Zoya - (Shrugged) Oops. (Smiled at him as she hopped out of the car merrily) I'll see you inside.

Inside - As a very, very, very FURIOUS Asad stomped his way inside the cafe shortly after a giggly Zoya had nearly danced her way inside. All the baristas were alert at once. Asad looked enraged. Red in the face, with definite smoking ears but Zoya was completely oblivious to the fact that the lion was on the verge of opening wide, roaring loud and swallowing her whole.

Sheila - (Froze. Staring between the two. Asad more angry than she had probably ever seen him, afraid he may slit her throat if she dared to say hi and Zoya more Zoya a.k.a. Devilish and giddy with excitement than she had ever seen her.) Why am I scared?

Zoya - Hey Sheila, guess who's filling in as barista for the first half hour of my shift. Get the man an apron will you (Sheila's, Asad's and every other baristas mouth fell agape in shock as Zoya snapped her fingers demanding that)

Barista 1 - WHAT.

Sheila - WHAT.

Asad - (staring at her in complete denial. Absolute disbelief. There was no way she was serious. He was hearing her wrong) WHAT.

Zoya - Oh I'm sorry - (they were all about to sigh in relief thinking she had been joking when they had another thought coming) that'll be an everything bagel toasted with butter and an x-large caramel macchiato.

Asad - WHAT-

Zoya - Oh I'm sorry - (again they all thought the same) so rude of me (again) Please and Thank You (In a very deep, gangster voice as she mock saluted him strangely. Man was there something wrong with her mental balance) Mr. Barista Khan.

Asad - WHAAAT.

Sheila - (nervous laughter) Zoya..a..are you okay? You want Asad to serve you a-

Zoya - Bagel and macchiato Yes.

Asad - YOU JUST HAD A LARGE FRIES AND MILKSHAKE IN THE CAR!

Zoya - (fluttered her eyelashes innocently as she stepped closer to him and very flirtatiously ran one delicate finger down the side of his face) The heart needs all the sugar it can get (whispered) sugar. (Winked at Asad, throwing him off his game completely. Sheila Swooned. And it wasn't until two minutes later when Zoya burst out laughing that Asad came back to reality and shuffled on his feet awkwardly, clearing his throat in danger of getting mesmerized and smitten by her enchanting laugh again)

Asad - (cleared his throat again) Not the heart. You mean the stomach. Your HUGE stomach wants all the sugar in the world (crossing his arms before his chest stubbornly, still shaken and slightly breathless by Zoya's little stunt of a few minutes ago and his own reaction, the way he nearly gave in and leaned in) and you can forget about it by the way.

Zoya - (gasped at his audacity. Her hands akimbo. Never mind the fact that the whole cafe was now staring at these two who had absolutely no clue and were standing in the middle of it arguing away at the top of their lungs entertaining them all) AAP NE MUJHE MOTA KAHA!!

Asad - MOTA NOT SO MUCH BUT BANDAR YES. BANDAR JAISA APPETITE HAI AAPKA, BAJDARON JAISE KHAATI HAI AAP, BANDARON JAISE GAARI CHALATI HAIN AAP, ACTUALLY MAKE THAT A PAAGAL BANDAR, BANDARON JAISA BEHAVIOUR HAI AAPKA AUR YAH..BANDARON JAISI DIKHTI BHI HAI AAP. (He now shoved his hands into his pockets, glad with finally having a coming back and Zoya just wanted to rip that smug smile off his face right now. Her mouth which had fallen more and more agape was now nearly touching the ground)

Zoya - AAPNE MUJHE BANDAR BULAYA!! BANDAR!! FINE!! DEKHIYE AB KE YEH BANDAR KAISE PHUPI KO PHONE KARKE SAB BATATA HAI (Saying so she stormed off with her phone leaving Asad seething and just a little panicky)

Asad - (Chanting with a clenched jaw & fists) Never hit a woman. Never hit a woman. (And as he stepped towards the counter all that could be heard in the vicinity of the cafe was BOOM! CRACK!! CRASH!! As one after another the baristas dropped whatever dishes they were holding in shock seeing Zoya walk away ALIVE and Asad ACTUALLY walk towards the counters)

xxx

Continued in next post...

Rogue - Later that Night:

Every head turned as a rather rowdy group of friends made their way into the club acting as though if they owned the place. Which they kind of did. All eyes were on them. Mostly all eyes were on Zoya as she entered the club last that night talking and laughing with Jay. She dazzled in that red lace masterpiece. She looked divine. Jay excused himself shortly after entering howeve,r as friends (who weren't at the birthday dinner earlier) started coming up to him one after another to wish him a happy birthday. Zoya stepped aside to give him space when she felt it. His eyes on her again. A strangely delicious tremble ripped through her body and she found herself trying to suppress a smile and hope against hope that those eyes did in fact belong to the one person she felt and hoped they belonged to. Asad Ahmed Khan, and sure enough as she raised her rather hesitant and suddenly shy eyes towards the accused there he was sat at the bar in all his sexiness staring right at her with that scorching glaze over the rim of his drink. Zoya looked away and down so quickly, blushing involuntarily that she completely missed the murderous and hateful gleam in his eyes. That she wasn't even sure she saw him there at all. She completely missed the deathly grip he was holding his glass with. The stoic and raging stance of his body and the angry aura about him. She had no idea that this night wouldn't be the memorable and fun night she was imagining it to be but rather it would end up being one of the most painful nights of her life, in more ways than one. But unable to stop herself she couldn't help but try to sneak another glance at Asad. This time however when she raised her eyes her eyes didn't mesh with the accusing glare of her Mr. Khan, instead they meshed with the accusing glare of her brother Ayaan who was unknowingly walking in her direction. It seemed that he noticed her there at about the same time because he stopped dead in his tracks and the indifferent and stoned look in his eyes turned into a rather pained and hurt one. Zoya saw him turn around and without saying another word or sparing her another glance walk away in the same exact direction he had just come from even though he was making his way over to wish happy birthday to Jay. Crushing the hope within and the hopeful smile on her lips right there and then. Zoya felt like her heart had just been shattered into two. She felt tears of pain, hurt and most of all humiliation sting her eyes but she fought to keep them back. She wasn't going to cry and she wasn't going to fall weak not with so many people around. No, she was going to be strong, or at least fake it like she did all the time. She took a deep breath and shook off the heart break scanning around for a distraction as she discreetly wiped away that one stealthy tear that escaped anyway, and thankfully she found the distraction just in time. One Mr. Asad Sexy Khan drinking by himself at the bar. She didn't know it now but it was a BAD mistake to put it lightly. She was about to go poke a sleeping bear.

Weaving her way through the crowd she slowly made her way over to Asad who after having lost her to the crowd had shifted his attention back to the second most endearing thing to him in that club, his drink. He had just finished drowning the last remnants of his drink down his throat and asked for a re-fill when he heard that familiar enchanting voice reach his ears. Just like any other night tonight too just her voice alone sent his heartbeats spiralling out of control but today the reason for that was not the same as every other night. They were drastically different in fact. His hand balled into a tighter and tighter fist on the bar with each step a highly unsuspecting Zoya took towards him.

Zoya - (in a highly dramatic manly voice - mimicking Devdas) Kaun kambakht bardasht karne ko peeta hai. Aap to peete hain..taake yahan baith sakein..humme daikh sakein..(and just as her enchanting melodious giggles resonated in the air around him despite the thumping music her twinkling and mischievous eyes and forever smiling face came into view as she leaned onto the bar next to him, grinning brightly at him he looked away and continued acting uninterested and calmly took another sip of his drink without sparing her another glance. But that wasn't going to deter her in any way.)

Asad - Aapko toh 2 ghante pehle ghar pauhanchna tha na.

Zoya - (rolled her eyes) Seriously? Aap yahan, ek club mein bhi lecture dene se nahin ruk sakte. (He chose not to answer, making Zoya roll her eyes, and not realize that with Asad his calm was always more dangerous than his fury) Well, for your kind information Mr. Budhi Rooh Ahmed Khan aapko aur phupi ko dono ko patah tha ke main kahan hoon so technically I was following YOUR rules even if I never did promise to follow them, and besides main akeli thori thi main Shiela aur AAPKE doston saath thi..surely you can't have a problem with that (muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she stared out onto the dance floor) although I wouldn't be surprised if you did. (She continued staring out at the dance floor observing girls her age laughing, enjoying and dancing themselves silly with friends, families or their better halves and she couldn't help but wonder what that would feel like. To be able to flirt with a complete stranger without being terrified to death that she would end up attracting yet another Sameer Anand. Her eyes lost the twinkle and were momentarily replaced with a dull ache and deep longing to belong, to matter, to be loved, to be whole. Whilst, she was lost staring out at the dance floor in her own misery she hadn't noticed that Asad had already chugged down two more drinks in the meantime and was halfway through his third because God knows his need and thirst for alcohol or anything to drown himself in had just intensified exponentially. He was already furious with her, like a bubbling volcano ready to erupt, and now he was even more angry with himself because instead of her act of betrayal and what it costed him he was too busy focusing on how divine and sinful she smelt tonight and seeing the flash of red of her dress (his favourite colour on her) he was fighting an internal battle of whether or not to risk turning his head just slightly and catching a glimpse of her up close. It certainly didn't help matters when she turned around and placed a hand on his arm excitedly)

Zoya - (Both ignoring the currents that zapped through them as their hands touched) Chaliye na Mr. Khan, hum bhi dance karte hain..the DJ is playing such awesome songs. Chaliye..lets go show these kids how it's done besides (snatched the glass right out of Asad's hand just as he had lifted it to his mouth, and left him staring at his hand instead) what have I told you about releasing pain. There are better ways of doing it than alcohol, like dance (she smiled brightly at him, but Asad despite the rage building inside of him and evident in his body language calmly answered her all the while his eyes glued to her hand on top of his unable but help noticing how perfect they looked, like that's how they were destined to be.)

Asad - Maine socha jab aapke liye khud apni baat ki koi value nahin hai..toh main usse value karke kya karonga?

Zoya - (frowned) kya matlab? (and that's when Zoya finally saw it. The rage, the hint of a demonic gleam in his eyes, the pure hate, despise for her in those sinfully beautiful eyes of his as he turned towards her and she didn't understand why it was there and clearly because of her, but it did scare her enough to gasp softly and take a stumbling step back while a muscle in his jaw began jumping dangerously as he continued glaring at her whilst remaining calmer than she had ever seen him, scaring her and alarming her further)

Zoya - (chuckled uncertainly, even though a strange feeling of fear and doom began erupting in the pit of her stomach) Mr. Khan maine toh sirf aapko dance karne ke liye kaha tha- (in one swift move and second, Asad was up on his feet, with his drink in one hand and Zoya's hand which was earlier on top of his clasped in a deathly grip in his other hand. Ignoring how perfectly their two hands fit into one another, as if they were moulded especially for one another Asad began dragging her out of the club. With a small yelp, she found herself being dragged behind a raging lion. Her heart beating a mile per minute and her mind racing equally fast wondering what it could be that she had done this time to piss him off. Despite her wincing, her calling out to him and her attempts to snatch or wriggle her hand free he managed to drag her out of the club (and obviously because he was much bigger and stronger than she was) and once outside, he finished chugging down his drink in one sip before letting go of her hand, the swift movement of which caused her to stumble a few steps back leaving her even more confused and baffled by his behaviour. His actions in the next step were the icing on top however. As soon as he finished his drink, the anger inside of him erupted like never before and he just had to beat it out of himself. He had to punch something, break anything so he without thinking spun around swiftly and flung the glass at the wall next to where Zoya was standing, letting it shatter to pieces, leaving Zoya absolutely paralyzed with shock. She had barely wrapped her head around what happened when her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as a raging Asad lunged right at her, gripping her upper arms in a deathly grip and pinning her roughly against the walls of the alleyway behind the club. His face in her face. His bloodshot furious eyes glaring into her beautiful, big and frightened ones. It seemed like he was trying to say something, but those darned eyes of hers left him incapable of saying whatever it was he was trying to. As much as he struggled and tried the words died on his lips before he could say them. The frustration nearly drove him crazy and he found his grip loosen on her involuntarily. Zoya found herself hitching that breath of relief that threatened to escape her, because she had been in such scenarios one too many times to know that it wasn't exactly over and done with just because he had taken one step back. True that, because the very next second something cracked inside of him and he charged right for her, making Zoya scream in fear and shut her eyes just as the sound of his knuckles meeting the wall crunched into her ears. She heard his pained scream (roar more like it) as he punched the wall beside her head in frustration repeatedly, till he could take it no more and stumbled back, the words finally flowing free)

Asad - (screamed) YOU GAVE ME YOUR WORD. WE HAD A DEAL, YOU GAVE ME YOUR WORD AND THEN..YOU..YOU WENT BACK ON IT. I TOLD YOU...I GOD DAMN TOLD YOU TO STAY OUT OF IT OUT, OF OUR GOD DAMN FAMILY MATTER AND YET YOU- (He couldn't even stand to stare into those eyes for another second, as Zoya's scared to death and frightened eyes finally opened again. She stared at him confused unable to figure out why he was so upset or angry and what he was saying to her, her mind was still reeling from shock and fear and before she could say anything, she saw him run his frustrated and bloodied hands through his hair before storming away from her and back inside the club. Leaving her trembling and freezing alone out in the alleyway.

Half an hour later -

Asad hit cancel on his phone for the 13th time and continued instead drinking himself senseless. His mind continued racing with all of his and Zoya's encounters from this morning, her being her endearing, carefree and foolish self, humiliating him in exchange for her silence, him being foolish enough to believe her and fall into the trap of those enchanting eyes, her breaking her silent promise anyway, his Ammi's tears, her pain, her accusations ringing in his ears, the image of a dazzling Zoya in red rendering him senseless as she walked through the club doors plaguing his mind as he tried to block out the feel of her trembling body in his hand and the image of her beautiful mystical eyes frightened beyond belief. Tried to forget the pain the humiliation her betrayal caused him and tried to silent the part of his mind that told him 'I told you so'. But when that darned phone rang the 16th time he couldn't ignored it and he picked it up rather savagely and barked an angry and slurred hello into the phone.

Ayesha - Asad! Where the hell are you, I've been trying to call you for so long!

Asad - (held his throbbing head in his hand) kya huwa Aapi?

Ayesha - Tum ho kahan? Ghar gaye kya?

Asad - I'm at Rogue why? Main abhi ghar se hi aa raha hoon (there was silence on the other hand for a few minutes)

Aisha- ghar se...toh..tumhari Ammi se mulakat ya baat hui kya?

Asad - Aapi aap kehna kya chah rahee ho please saaf saaf kaho, yeh kaise savaal pooch rahee ho.

Aisha - Woh Asad...actually main lunch ke baad bas abhi free hui hoon aur ghar jaane se pehle main bas jaana chahti thi ke ghar ka mauhal kaisa hai..

Asad - what'd you mean?

Aisha - Asad I don't know, who did this or what it meant or if it's even the truth but I got scared and panicked and I did it anyway and I'm sorry..I

Asad - Woah Woah..calm down. Did what? What happened? What're you talking about?

Aisha - (sighed, taking a deep breath) pata nahin yeh Haveli waalon ki kya nayee sazish hai. Lunch ke time mere office mein koi ek bekhuda sa note chor gaya, jis mein likha tha ke tum aur Azlan abhi bhi chup chup ke milte ho aur mujhe bola tha ke yeh baat mujhe Ammi ke kaanon mein daalni hogi warna iska anjaam acha nahin hoga. Main dar gayee Asad toh maine Ammi ko phone karke baaton baaton mein bol diya ke mujhe shak hai ke tum phirse Azlan se milte ho..I'm sorry. I panicked I..I didn't know what else- (but Asad was no longer listening. From the moment the fact that SHE had told Ammi and not Zoya registered with him he stopped listening. His ashen face was evidence of the plaguing images of Zoya's frightened, tearing eyes breaking his heart, as his eyes lowered ashamedly recalling his behaviour with Zoya earlier that night)

Meanwhile - back in the alleyway:

From the time Asad had stormed back into the club a lot had changed. Although Zoya still stood in the same spot where Asad had left her, alone in the alleyway, she now stood on a blanket of snow and amidst falling snowflakes in the alleyway. She had become immune to the cold too because the cold wasn't as brutal as the people in her life had been to her that night and Asad wasn't the leading contender in the cause of her heartbreak any longer. Nor was it Ayaan. Instead it was Asif. Rather, a text message of Asif's which wasn't even meant for her to begin with. Stating, "Guys, I understand why you don't want Zoya to come to Aahil's engagement but I don't know if we should do this. It would crush her."

She let out another dry chuckle followed by a small whimper as she finally stopped staring at it like she had from the time she got it and instead she looked up from the phone wiping away just the one tear that fell from her eyes. Guess she was finally broken enough to not be able to cry over something as humiliating and devastating as being un-invited to your brothers engagement because they can't bring themselves to face you. She chuckled dryly staring up at the sky, struggling to understand, comprehend and appreciate the Al-mighty's sense of humour and irony and when she looked down she jumped back startled and afraid, backing herself against the wall as she came face to face with those sinfully beautiful eyes again. Asad hurriedly took a step towards her in an attempt to stop her misunderstanding right there and then and to clarify that he had only come to apologize for his behaviour from earlier and not yell at or frighten her any further but when he saw her flinch and turn her head sideways in fear that HE would HURT HER, that she thought him capable of doing so at all, something broke inside of him. He felt worse than a savage, an animal in that instant. He fell in his own eyes. Here was this beautiful and innocent girl whose only fault was that she attempted to turn the beast within him a bit more human and he decided he would go out and crush her spirit just as someone had crushed his many years ago. He decided to treat her so disrespectfully and inhumanely for that reason. His eyes lowered ashamedly and despised himself in that moment. Hated himself. He felt like hurting himself 100x worse than how he had hurt her. He couldn't believe that he had led her to believe that he was capable of hurting her. Physically. Zoya's reaction was a natural reflex when she felt he was here to take his anger out at the wall again and she was just scared he might miss the wall and hurt her instead, because surprisingly now even when he had given her every reason to do so she was unable to believe he was capable of hurting her in any physical way, or any way DELIBERATELY. So once the shock wore down she opened her eyes and seeing him standing there with his head hung low, she cleared her voice and managed to find the words and courage to speak in a meek voice.

Zoya - I'm sorry (hearing her say that, his head shot up in desperation and somewhat surprise) Mr. Khan..maine aapko sirf dance karne ke liye kaha tha..(Asad understood she had no clue why he lost his temper earlier and still believed him to have lashed out because she asked him to dance (which wasn't completely impossible where Asad was concerned) and now he felt even more horrible hearing her apologize)

Asad - (in a pained, low ashamed voice, avoiding her eyes because they were always is undoing) I'm sorry aapko laga ke main..(both understood what he meant without him having to finish. That she believed he was here to hurt her physically)

Zoya - It's okay.

(Hearing her forgive him and the fact that it was so easy for her to forgive him despite such hideous behaviour of his made him even more ashamed if that were possible, which is why without thinking, without realizing he found his hand shooting up for some bizarre reason and (0:00-0:13) gripping onto Zoya's fingers tightly just as she had managed to turn her back and walk an arms length away from him. Both stood still. Stunned as their fingers touched. Just as the DJ changed the song to an ultra slow and romantic one as a dedication from Sheila to Jay on his birthday. The music was so loud even outside that it made no difference if they were inside under the disco lights or outside amidst the majestic snowfall.

(0:13-0:20) With ragged breathing, erratic heartbeats and wide disbelieving eyes Zoya turned her head around to mesh her scared, frightened, nervous and unbelieving eyes to those buzzed, pained, longing, wanting and sinfully beautiful eyes of his. His slightly dark, slightly hypnotizing and highly desire filled eyes meshed with her innocent and unaware ones across the snow covered alleyway. Their heartbeats creating a raging melody of their own. (0:20-0:24). With a gentle tug on her hands, she came crashing right into his aching and waiting arms. Her one hand on his shoulder, one clasped in his and his other one placed gingerly on her waist to steady her, burning them both with a desire unknown in the process. (0:24-0:27). Their eyes darting around unsurely, wide, panicked with the alien sensations taking over their existence their heartbeats even more erratic their breathing more ragged they stilled in each others arms, unsure of anything anymore, as the snowflakes continued their majestic descend around them. (0:39-0:47 ) Slowly, they both began moving back, unable to refrain from catching a glimpse of one another. Completely subconsciously and involuntarily. They no longer had any awareness or control of their desires or actions. They were completely lost to the hands of fate and to the deep buried desires of their heart. (0:47-0:53) Zoya's hair was sprawled across and stuck to her face, as her nervous and desire filled eyes from between her locks meshed with his scorching and desire filled ones. His jaw blanched painfully as the desire burned him from within, once their eyes meshed together. (0:53-1:06) Unable to take it any longer, Asad used their clasped hands together to spin her around and have her back towards him because he didn't know how much longer he could gaze into those beautiful eyes without completely losing himself. He didn't trust himself to hold back. Moreover, he didn't want to. He found himself just wanting to give in to his hearts desires. (1:06-1:20) But the minute Zoya's back hit his chest softly and his other hand found her free hand (quite voluntarily on her part) he didn't think it would make much of a difference. Because just as his hands locked her within the confines of his arms by crossing over before her stomach, and they unknowingly began swaying to the music in each other's arms, with their heavy breathing her scared and his desiring eyes began searching for each other again. His head tilted sideways and hers slightly back and up, and before they knew it they were gazing into each others eyes, swaying to the melody beneath the open star-lit and full moon sky. His hand clasped hers tightly again, and much to both their surprise, as they let the music take over he spun her out of the confines of his arms and back in just as quickly unable to tolerate the void she left behind, catching her in a dip. His body bent over hers. (1:20-1:26) Slowly, with his pained eyes locked with her equally pained ones, his one hand locked into a death grip with one of hers as if, she would disappear if he let go..and all of this would've been yet another figment of his imagination (nor did he want to let go) his other hand behind her back weaved into her silky locks he began ascending upright with her again. Their breaths intermingling, their gazes meshed all the while. Their hearts thumping inside their chests, begging to be freed in every sense of the word. (1:27-1:33) Once upright again, he held her and she held him and in that instant it was just the two of them. Their eyes only saw each other, their hearts only knew each other and their body's only felt each other, as they continued to sway softly and slowly to the melody. Losing themselves completely. (1:33-1:43) No longer aware of his actions or intentions he just let his heart dance freely tonight and take the lead. So without any conscious knowledge or understanding he took her fingers and began twirling her around himself freely, making her heart thump back to life as the wind kissed her face and the presence of the one most dear to her heart nursed her, healed her, put all her broken pieces back together tonight. It could've been a fantasy, she didn't know in that instant but the happiness that surged through her as he spun her around brought one of the most enchanting smiles yet onto her face. Making Asad lose his heart to her just a little more. Making him fall in love with her just a little bit more. Making her fall in love with him just a little, tonight. (1:47-1:57) She ended up colliding with her back to his chest again, attempting to catch her ragged breath and calm her erratic heartbeats but he rendered that impossible when he buried his face into the softness of her silky hair, losing himself in the moment and in the desires of his heart completely. She didn't know what he was doing, or what he was doing to her, what alien feelings he was making her feel or why he had sent her heartbeats racing but she knew it excited her just as much as it scared her. Which is why, as his jaw clenched painfully due to his inability at being able to control himself KNOWING what he was doing was wrong in every sense despite how right it felt, Zoya couldn't help but let her head turn to catch a glimpse of his beautiful face unable to stop herself. As they continued swaying to the beautiful music. (1:57-2:35) He spun her around to face him again and this time both their hands found each others, their shaky fingers interlocking slowly just as their foreheads touched in the briefest of manners, and their ragged and erratic breaths intermingled while their desire filled eyes opened slowly, simultaneously letting them drown in the beauty of their eyes and stare into the depths of each others tormented souls whilst swaying softly to the remaining few beats of music...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QqLTOSV6z8 - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Instrumental...The song of AsYa's First Dance...

Continued in next post...

xxx

As the music came to an end in the club, Asad and Zoya were left at a standstill in each others arms, unabashedly staring into each others eyes unable to figure this out. Them out. What was it about each other that drew them to one another like a moth to a flame. What was this insane, unexpected connection, this pull. What was this inability to think of anything but each other, look anywhere but at each other, dream and hope of anything but each other. This infatuation, this desire, this longing. What was this? Is this what they called love? Just as the thought struck them, reality and the fear of the possibility of that thought struck them so suddenly that they immediately and unfortunately sprung apart, leaving a void and a dull ache in each others arms instead. Asad's arms subconsciously loosened around Zoya and she jumped out of his arms as if he were fire and she had just been burnt. She stared at him wide eyed unable to believe what had just transpired between them. Had she and Mr. Khan just danced? Did, did they just have their first dance? Had they touched each other so intimately, danced so closely and romantically and been unaware of it this whole time. How had she not realized it? How had she allowed it? How had she accepted the touch of a man without running scared like she did from every man ever? What was happening to her heart? Her mind? HER? Unable to think straight with her racing heart and the knowledge that he was staring at her, probably just as traumatized and shocked by their transgression she turned around and fled the scene as fast as her legs would carry her. She didn't trust herself to face him and especially didn't trust herself to be able to see any emotion but the ones that were shining in her own eyes in his as well. She especially, didn't know if she could stand to see anger in his eyes which knowing Asad was a very likely possibility. As he saw Zoya run off into the darkness of the night he fell back against the alleyway closing his eyes and sighing deeply as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. What the hell was it about that girl that made him lose all sense of right, wrong, his morals, principles and his rules of life carved in stone. Why was he constantly crossing the line and growing closer and closer to her with each passing day instead of keeping his distance like he told himself to keep. He sighed in frustration when punching the wall with a loud growl as he turned around and leaned his forehead against the wall. What the hell was happening to him?

xxx

Khan Mansion - Later that night:

Zoya sat on the ground of her room, still in her party dress but now with a leather jacket over it, her makeup smeared around her eyes as she cried herself senseless whilst watching the blood trickle down her forearm as she played with the sharp razor blade in her other hand. She couldn't come to terms with her growing closeness to Asad and all that had transpired between them tonight especially when topped with the behaviour of her brothers and them brushing her off. First Ayaan turning his back on her and walking away and then the others not wanting her to attend Aahils engagement. She couldn't come to terms with the path she was wise enough to understand her and Asad may be headed towards not with monsters like Sameer lurking in her past, present and future. Not knowing it would only inevitably cause her pain sooner or later because she knew she wasn't worthy of any ones love nor would anyone accept her once they knew the truth about her. Not being able to understand how Asad was the only man who had been the exception to her distrust of all men in her life who weren't related to her in some close way or another. She couldn't cope with the turmoil of emotions in her heart tonight so she tried to handle the turmoil the only way she knew how. Blood flow. Unfortunately, precisely at that moment there was a knock at the door and Aisha poked her head in. Zoya pulled the sleeves of her jacket down and wiped her tears as quickly as she could but it was a lost cause for one look at her face and one could tell the tales of her heart and her heartbreak.

Aisha - Hey! (Walking into the room) Hope you're not busy..or tired? (As Zoya looked up towards her, with the usual gimmicky smile Aisha saw right through it and she rushed to Zoya's side in a heartbeat, panicking) hey..hey what's wrong..Kya huwa Zoya? (Enveloped her in a tight hug, worry etched all over her face) Zoya...(Zoya couldn't help but feel her heartbreak all over again, but she tried to fight the tears away, she didn't know want to, nor did she know how to explain what was wrong to anyone..not even Aisha. How could anyone possibly understand? How could she possibly even begin to make them understand it? Where would she start and where would she end?)

Aisha - (moved back and cupped her face) Zoya..batao mujhe? Kya huwa...kissi ne tumse kuch kaha kya? Batao mujhe main uska mun tor doongi..bolo?

Zoya - (shook her head chuckling) I doubt aap kissi ka mun tor sakti ho..

Aisha - (chuckled) Yes but I can try..and I will. For you. Aise kaise koi meri behen ko rulayega? Better yet actually..main Asad se kehke usko poora ka poora hi turwa doongi..sirf uska moon nahin.

Zoya - (staring at the ground..lost) aur agar Asad ne hi kuch kaha ho toh? (Aisha was at loss for words for a few seconds before she turned Zoya's face towards herself sternly)

Aisha - Hey, talk to me. Batao kya huwa? Kya kaha Asad ne tumse?..Batao mujhe I'm serious main uska bhi moon tor doongi agar usne tumhe rulaya toh..bolo mujhe kya huwa.

Zoya - Aapi..aap..(sighed, unable to look her in the eye) agar main aapse kuch poochon toh kya aap mujhe uska sachi jawab deingi?

Aisha - (frowned) yeh kaisa savaal hai? Of course I will Zoya..you know that.

Zoya - (bit her lip personally) Even agar savaal personal hai?

Aisha - (hesitated out of curiosity) Zoya...baat kya hai? Saaf saaf bolo?

Zoya - (took a deep breath, avoiding Aisha's eyes) Kya aapka ek aur bhai hai kya? Jeeju ke ilaava (Aisha sat stunned. That was possibly the last question she had EVER expected to hear from Zoya. Hearing the silence stretch out Zoya hesitantly risked a glance up at Aisha's face and saw her sitting there stunned and visibly in pain..and she wished she could take the whole thing back, her words back. Wished she hadn't asked) I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked..yeh aapka family matter hai aur I- (and that broke Aisha from the surge of painful memories that had overtaken her with Zoya's question, and she turned to Zoya with a stern and still pained expression)

Aisha - Zoya. Don't ever say that again (cupped her face, sternly) I want you to understand something right here..right now. Tum BHI iss family ka hissa ho. HAMARI FAMILY KA HISSA HO MERI FAMILY KA HISSA HO. MERI BEHEN HO TUM NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE SAYS. SAMJHI TUM. (Zoya's eyes watered hearing the sincerity in her voice) Aur iss haq se tum jo chahe mujhse, humse keh sakti ho..pooch sakti ho..aur maang sakti ho...samjhi tum. (Zoya nodded chuckling as she wiped the tears that helplessly fell. Tears of happiness and of pain and Aisha slapped her face playfully) Pagli. (As Zoya composed herself, Aisha composed herself as well..taking a deep breath..)

Aisha - Haan, yeh sach hai. Hamara na sirf ek aur bhai..balke ek aur behen bhi hai. Unlike, Anwar bhai woh hamare step siblings nahin half siblings hain. Mere (hesitated. Unable to bring herself to claim and address Rashid Ahmed Khan as her father) (whispered brokenly) Abbu ne do shaadiyan ki hain. Iss shehr mein hamari ek aur behen, hamari sabse bari behen Anaya aur hamara ek aur bhai..Azlan bhi rehta hai. Hamare dono bhai hum do behno se chote hain. Azlan aur Asad ek hi umar ke hain but Azlan chand mahine bara hai Asad se. (Zoya's tears fell just as freely as Aisha's did, unable to imagine how a family as beautiful as theirs, the Khans could have been subjected to so much pain, it seemed to be never ending. Every time she pulled back one layer there was always 10 more layers of pain and grievances) Mere Abbu ne apni family ke khilaaf jaake meri Ammi se shaadi ki thi. Unki families ke beech mein class difference tha. BAUHAT BARA class difference. As I understand it, unhone shaadi toh kar li..par jab waqt aaya apni family aur Ammi mein se kissi ko chunne ka..toh unhone apni family ko chunna..aur paise ko chunna. (She wiped her tears with the back of her hand) Asad ke iss dunya mein aane se pehle woh hum sabko chorke chale gaye. Unhone ne usse kabhi dekha hi nahin..aur na hi Asad ne kabhi unhe dekha. Asad unse aur unke ghar waalon se SHADEED nafrat karta hai.

Zoya - (cleared her throat, her tears falling freely) aur aap?

Aisha - (chuckled) I try, But I don't think Asad jitni nafrat koi bhi unse kar sakta hai.

Zoya - I'm sorry I-

Aisha - (shook her head) that's not all. (Zoya's stomach churned, how could there possibly be more pain) Ittefaq se bachpan mein Asad aur Azlan ki dosti ho gayee. Tab unhe nahin pata tha ke woh dono bhai hain. Woh 10 saal ke the jab unhe patah chala..aur jab ghar waalon ne kaha ke woh ek doosre se ainda nahin mil sakte toh woh nahin maane. Woh toh sirf bache the unhe sirf pyaar samajh aata tha..nafrat ke kaabil hi nahin the woh..iss liye woh tab bhi sabke mana karne ke bawajood ek doosre se milte rahe. Woh ek doosre ke liye sab kuch the. Ek doosre ki poori dunya the. Azlan made Asad's childhood special. Par aakhir jab woh bare hue, when they were 18 they had a falling out for some reason. Aakhir khoon ne apna rang dekha hi diya aur jaise hamare ghar waalon ne chaha unki dosti toot gayee. They became estranged..and unfortunately Asad ab bhi iss sabse cope nahin kar paraha. Issi llye agar usne iss mamle mein ghusse mein tumse kuch kaha ya tumse batameezi ki toh I-

Zoya - (shook her head vigorously, wiping not just her own tears but Aisha's as well) No..No..He..He didn't..He...(and seeing Aisha's tears continue to fall she enveloped her in a tight hug) He didn't say anything (and even if he had she had already forgiven him. For tonight, She saw Asad in a completely different light. She saw him, anyone for the first time as perhaps not too different from herself. A tortured soul, a wronged soul, a betrayed soul. A soul who despite all that torment and betrayal continued fighting back despite coming out empty handed at the end of every battle. The only difference between them was probably that she fought those battles with a smile on her face, and he with a frown and anger on his. She also found her respect for him grown tenfold. How despite growing up as an orphan even when having a father he had taken up the role and responsibilities of the father/male of the household in this society and fulfilled it better than even his father probably could have, even at such a young age, even when he was the youngest member of the family and household. She realized in that instant how much she admired him. How much she respected him. How much she looked up to him. And it broke it heart all the more knowing how unsuitable she was for him.)

xxx

The angel twirled all around him in her red gown, dancing amidst the snowfall, leaving him crazed and desperate for a glimpse of her, when suddenly he saw the face of another angel twirling around him in a gown all too familiar. Amidst a majestic snowfall, on a blanket of white snow. He then realized she wasn't just twirling on her own, he was in fact twirling her all around. Zoya. Just as her enchanting laughter, which he realized was the same as the angels who had taken over and had been tormenting his dreams for years, began driving him senseless again, Asad awoke with a start just as the ocean waves crashed against one another again. He sat upright on the hood of his car again drenched in sweat despite the cold air nipping at his skin and took another sip from the bottle of alcohol in his hand before running another frustrated hand through his unkempt hair with the same question tormenting him. Driving him to near tears of frustration. What was happening to him. The frustration was nearly maddening, Why couldn't he get Zoya Farooqui out of his head?

xxx

The Next Morning:

Khan Mansion - Grounds:

Asad scored another basket whilst dilshad went on about an important topic she was discussing with him out on the basketball courts that morning.

Asad - Par Mangalpur Ammi? Aap jaanti hai mujhe wahan jaana acha nahin lagta phir bhi aap...

Dilshad - I know Asad par samjho toh sahee...main chali jaati agar main jaa sakti par Aisha aur Zoya ka bhi toh socho..kissi ko unke saath bhi toh rehna hoga. Tumhara toh kuch na aane ka pata hota hai na jaane ka...aise dono ladkiyon ko akela chorne pe tumhi phir baad mein mujhe sunaoge...ab kissi ko toh jaana hoga..hamare khandaan mein pehli shaadi hai. Maryam ne especially tumhara poocha hai..tum jaante ho tum uske favourite bhai ho...aur phir tumhare maamu ne bhi kaha-

Asad - (muttered angrily as he dunked yet another basket) Yah I'm sure he definitely wants me there. Wonder how much cash he wants me to bring along with me this time (he had just finished wiping the sweat off his face with his shirt and was turning around to answer his mother when something on the side wall of the house caught his eye, and he did a double take. Sure enough just as he had thought he saw, there it was. And he may not have realized but it brought a sweet smile on his face as he ran his fingers over it just to confirm that it was in fact there. Rather she brought a smile on his face)

Dilshad - Toh bolo tum Mangalpur jaoge na Asad? Asad?

Asad - (distractedly) Hmm...(for he was far too distracted by the beautiful sight of another tally on his and Zoya's scoreboard under Zoya's name because she did win another challenge over him by getting him to drown his miseries into dance instead of alcohol last night just like she had asked him to. In fact, he himself had walked right into that one didn't he. With next to no efforts from Zoya and he had to admit, one dance with Zoya did make him feel better than any amount of alcohol or any drug in the world ever could. Really what was Zoya Farooqui doing to him?).

xxx

xoxo - DailyDaisy!