#2 - AsYa FF: Mohabbatein - Part 28 - Page 130 - 31/01/18! A/N Pg 132! - Page 72

Rashid - Dilshad tum jaanti ho hamare docks waali fish factory ke baare mein, tum ek baar wahan aajo toh baat karte hain, aamne saamne. Nahin, main phone pe nahin bol sakta. Bas tum filhaal yeh samajh jao ke jo tum karne nikli ho woh sahee nahee hai, uss rah pe bauhat hatra hai - kisse hatra hai aur kya hatra hai yeh main tumhe nahin bata sakta dilshaad bas please trust me, KYA MATLAB ASAD POORI SACHAYEE KA PATAH KHUD LAGA LEGA DILSHAAD AISI GHALATI KABHI MAT KARNA DI- Hello? Dilshad, DILSHAD!! (and then his own self-serving bias confirmed the worst fears in his mind, mostly because he wanted to. He WANTED to believe it was none other than the man he loathed and hated more than anything and anyone on this planet who had dared to make such a huge treacherous mistake and as far as Asad was concerned it might have just been the last thing he did, and once he came to that conclusion there was nothing anyone could say or do to make him see or think otherwise, to get through to him. Rashid Ahmed Khan was guilty, and thats it. Apparently ruining his mother's life and publicly humiliating her on numerous occassions wasn't enough that these people were now out to kill her as well, and Asad chose that precise minute to finally turn his head and face the culprit as well, not just eavesdrop on his conversation and unfortunately for Rashid that was the exact minute he had picked up some skeletal remains and bone fragments to rebury and that was about all the proof and evidence Asad needed. He walked into the factory with shaky steps and a heavy heart, his mind reeling. He felt lik, he felt suffocated, like he was going to be sick. Rashid looked up hearing his footsteps and seeing his shadow and the higher he raised his eyes with a heavy dreadful heart the more his face lost colour until he too looked as broken if not more broken than Asad because as usual the first thing he saw in his son's eyes were the 1000 accusations, however tonight there weren't 1000, there was just one and Rashid had never been more afraid to look him in the eye. Zoya was stunned but she STILL had no clue about the entire extent of this whole thing and how bad it truly was. Rashid straightened up, his eyes wide as Asad walked further into the factory, his wish to die in that instead of facing the heinous truth staring him in the eye clearly visible on his face)

Rashid (desperately walking forward to him, wanting to put his case forward before Asad could think the worst but as was evident by the hand he put up and the defensive step he took back, not looking at him his eyes filling with tears as he diverted them it was a little too late for that now) - Asaa...Asad..

Asad - Toh yeh sach hai..meri Ammi ka gunegaar, unhe jaan se maarne ki koshish karne waala aur koi nahin AAP HAIN (Rashids eyes widened with shock, WHAT? This was even worse than he had imagined) and (laughed as a tear fell from his eye) it seems it's not your first time. (Eyeing the bone fragments) maybe it was your first time failing at it though (and then his eyes widened as his mind reeled further and further added 2+2 to equal 15) which is why you were trying to call my Ammi here for a second attempt, isn't it (Rashid stared at him like as if he had lost his mind and seeing the state of him at the moment anyone would say the same)

Rashid - Asad tum...tum ghalat samajh rahe ho (Again trying to get closer to him, maybe if he just reached out to him he could get through to him, but he was about 25 years late and so Asad stepped back again) main...yahan...yeh sab, yeh sab sach nahin hai maine Dilshad ko yahan iss liye nahin bolaya-

Asad - (speaking in a calm collected voice, that that calm collected voice was more dangerous as was evident by the goosebumps on Zoyas skin then him screaming) Abhi mere SAAMNE aap meri Ammi se phone pe baat kar rahe the, unhe chilla chilla ke yahan bula rahe the, kissi hatre ke baare mein agaah karne ke liye...jabke hatra toh khud yahaan AAPKE roop mein unke saamne khara hai...(scoffed) well done Mr. Rashid Ahmed Khan, kissi ko patah bhi nahin chalta...

Rashid - Kya patah nahin chalta? Asad tum KYA BAAT KAR RAHE HO..Main toh yahaan Dilshad ko iss liye-

Asad - (further spinning the whole tale together, muttering under his breath talking and laughing with himself, ACTUALLY having a psychotic break) aur bahar Raghu singh pehra de raha tha taake aap yeh laash yahan dafna sakein, it's...its genius really-

Rashid - (as desperate as he was to get Asad to hear him out he was also equally worried too, for his son's mental stability) Raghu Singh toh mera bodyguard-

Asad - (losing it suddenly) BODYGUARD JISSE AAP DOSRON KA KHOON KARNE KE PAISE DETE HO-

Rashid - Asad mera yakeen karo, maine kissi ka khoon nahin kiya!

Asad - Yakeen toh Ammi ne bhi aap pe kiya tha, jab aapne unse saari zindagi saath nibhane ka vaada kia tha (Zoya frowned, finally coming to realize that there was much more going on here, much more than met the eye, these two seemed to know each other) AAJ MUJHE SIRF EK BAAT KA YAKEEN HAI KE JIS KISSI KE LIYE RAGHU SINGH KAAM KARTA HAI USSNE MERI AMMI PAR GOLI CHALWAYEE-

Rashid - (unable to bear the absurdity of it, he hoped that if he said it then hearing it from someone else Asad too would hear how absurd it sounded but his mistake was that it was HIM who was saying it and Asad wouldn't believe he was innocent even if he knew it for a fact) ASAD TUMHE LAGTA HAI KE MAIN DILSHAD PAR GOLI CHALWAONGA

Asad - Toh phir iss saazish se juri HAR JAGAH HAR INSAAN HAR HADSAON KA TALUQ SIRF EK INSAAN, AAPKE SAATH HI KYUN JURA HAI?? AAPNE AMMI PAR GOLI CHALAYEE (saying it more like a statement to himself than to Rashid)

Rashid - (taking multiple steps forward this time and Asad backtracked each one) ASAD MAINE DILSHAAD PAR GOLI NAHIN CHALAYEE..

Asad - (screaming at the top of his lungs) JHOOT!! JHOOT BOL RAHE HAIN AAP!!

Rashid - ASAD MERA YAKEEN KARO

Zoya - (covering her ears, feeling like she herself was about to have a psychotic break) EK MINUTE!! EK (getting Rashids attention, not Asads Asad could care less about what she or anyone else had to say now, he had found the accused guilty and all that was left was to read out his sentencing and until then they could stretch this out as far as they wanted but Asad was just going to stare at him with utmost loathing and hatred) ek tareeka hai, jisse yeh saabit ho sakke. Raghu Singh, aggar aap waake hi innocent hain toh hum Raghu se yeh baat confirm karwa sakte hain...woh bahar behosh para hai, usse hosh mein laate hain aur phir wohee humme bata sakta hai ke kisske kehne pe usne phupi par goli chalvayee (Rashid nodded desperately and Asad rolled his eyes as Rashid side stepped him to go out with Zoya. Right then Rashid's phone which was on the ground beeped with a new message. Grabbing it before Rashid coulf Asad turned it over and read the message and immediately began laughing almost hysterically, sending chills down both Rashid and Zoya's backs. He really had lost it)

Asad - Apne hi naukar se apnee begunahee ki gawahee mangni thi toh yeh sauda pehle hi kar lena tha...(held up his phone) kyunki woh toh abhi bhi (through clenched teeth, it taking everything in him to not kill Rashid with his own hand) (holding up his phone) dilshad Khan ki jaan lene ka adhoora kaam aaj raat ko poora karna chahta hai (Rashid didn't know what to say or do anymore he just stared at him desperately trying to get through to him, beseeching him with his eyes to hear him out, not just for his own sake but Asads sake too, the pain and tears in his sons eyes were breaking his heart, killing him and he wanted nothing more than to put his son out of his misery. Asad's face contorted with rage as he flung the cellphone at the nearest wall, making both Rashid and Zoya jump in fear) AAPNE AMMI KO MARWAANE KI KOSHISH KI! AUR PEHLI BAAR NAAKAAM HOGAYE TOH AAJ PHIR RAGHU SINGH SE SAUDA KIYA AAPNE MERI AMMI KO MARWANE KA! Itna sab kuch karne ke baad bhi aap logon ka dil nahin bhara! HAMARI (his voice cracked, like a young child complaining of his pain and suffering to his father, a chance Asad didn't get) HAMARI ZINDAGI BARBAAD KARKE AAPKO SUKH NAHI MILLA JO AB AAP AMMI KO BHI HUMSE CHEENA CHAHTE HAIN! (Rashid just stared at him not knowing what to say, what could you say when your son put the most heinous allegations against you and believed them to be true without a shadow of a doubt and you had no one else to blame but yourself) aapne...ammi ko maarne ki koshish ki

Rashid - Nahin Asad, tum jaisa samajh rahe ho waisa kuch nahin hai main-

Asad - How.Dare.You HOW D (he leapt forward to grab Rashid when by some force of nature Zoya jumped in between)

Zoya - Mr. Khan control yourself, aap kya kar rahe hain (Asad blinded by his rage shoved her aside)

Dilshad - (stunned, not understanding what was happening, she just saw Rashid and then Asad looking uncontrollable and knew it was worse than whatever she could imagine) ASAD!! (Asad looked momentarily thrown seeing her there, looking almost deceived and backstabbed by her presence) KYA HO GAYA HAI TUMHE! TUMHE PATA BHI HAI TUM KYA KAR RAHE HO!

Asad - Ammi..aap beech mein mat ayee (pointed a shaky finger at Rashid) ISS INSAAN NE AAP PAR GOLI CHALWAYEE THEE

Dilshad - (stepping in between, pushing him back trying to control him but he was out of control, and had crossed the boundary of sanity long back) NAHIN! TUM GHALAT samajh rahe ho Asad, yeh aisa nahin kar sakte!

Asad - KAR SAKTE HAIN AMMI! AUR UNHONE AISA KIYA BHI HAI!

Rashid - Nahin Asad maine dilshaad par goli nahin chalwayee!

Asad - JHOOT! SAB JHOOT! JHOOTE HAIN AAP!

Rashid - ASAD TUM GHALAT SAMAJH RAHE HO! SACH WOH NAHIN JO TUMHE DIKH RAHA HAI!

Asad - TOH SACH KYA HAI! BATATE KYUN NAHIN!!

Rashid - SACH YEH HAI KE- (and then he stopped. Seeing the possibility of Asad one day lying in the same pool of blood he was just now accusing him of putting his Ammi in if he told Asad the entire truth that had been eating away at him for the last 25 years) sach kya hai main tumhe nahin bata sakta, naa chahte hue bhi mujhe khamosh rehna parega. Apni family ke liye (but that was the last nail in the coffin, the last thing Asad needed to hear, the words dropped like acid unto Asads heart)

Asad - kaunsi family? Humme toh aapne barson pehle chordiya aur jo log ab aapki family hai aapne yeh nahin socha unpar kya guzri gi jab unhe patah chalega aur jab aapne iss insaan ka khoon kiya tab aapne yeh nahin socha ke uski family par kya guzregi? Ke shayad usko bhi koi yaad karke Rota hoga (shook his head, taking in one deep breath) aap jaise insaan ko jeene ka KOI haq nahin hai (Dilshad and Zoya stared at him too stunned to react and Rashid took a staggering step back seeing the conviction in his eyes. Rashid watched as he drew the gun out from behind him and with shaky hands held it up even to Rashids head, and Rashid could see the unbearable pain and need for Asad to pull the trigger in his eyes, he NEEDED to get that pain that none other than Rashid himself had caused him out, and if in that moment Asad did shoot Rashid, Rashid wouldn't have held it against him)

Dilshad - asad..ASAD...! KYA KAR RAHE HO

Zoya - (attempting to push his arm down) Mr. KHAN DROP THE GUN! DROP THE GUN KYA KAR RAHE HAIN AAP!

Dilshad - (blocking Rashid) ASAD Tum yeh kya kar rahe ho!! ASAD CHORO!! IN PAR GOLI CHALANE SE PEHLE TUMHE MUJHPAR GOLI CHALANI HOGI!!

Asad - MOVE AMMI!! MERE RAASTE SE HATH JAYEE!!

Dilshad - ASAD!! TUMHE MERI KASAM-

Asad - (shoved them both aside, and Rashid closed his eyes) HATHIYE (and then all that echoed in the room was the sound of a raging gunshot and multiple hearts breaking and bleeding) (They both stared at the smoking gun, and then from the gun in his hand to Asad's still enraged face to Rashid's stunned one and then the bullet hole in the wall right next to Rashids head)

Asad - (watching Rashid take a fatherly' step towards Asad as if to forgive' him for his actions and transgressions) Aapne jiss aurat ki khushi barson pehle cheen li thi aaj ussi aurat ki wajah se main aapko aapki zindagi khairat mein deta hoon. Lekin aap yeh mat samjhiyega ke maine aapko baksh diya...aapke gunnahon ki saza aapko zaroor milegi, mera vaada hai (and then he lowered the gun and let it slip from beneath his fingers too defeated and broken to hold it up, the weight of it, the weight of his own breaths too much for him to bear. Zoya's eyes not leaving his broken face, her heart breaking right along with his. He turned his face away, covering it with his hands, his whole body shaking with shock and trauma feeling sick to his stomach)

Rashid - (crying) Asad meri baat suno, Asad beta...

Dilshad Nahin (pushing him out, keeping one worried eye on Asad) nahin aap jayee...please ABHI jayee. Aapko meri kasam hai JAYEE..JAYEEE (and then taking one last look at Asad he walked off brokenly and Asad stormed out the other exit. Zoya was about to go after him but Dilshad held her hand firmly and trying endless tears staring at the direction Asad had practically ran off into needing to get away from both himself and his demons she shook her head, advising her against it but she didn't know how hard that was for Zoya. To leave him alone when he was in THIS much pain)

xxx

Haveli - 3 am:

Ayaan's car came zooming through the dimly lit driveway and up the haveli engulfed in silence and darkness.

Ayaan - I'm sorry I got you home so late..it's just that now with the club I'm so used to going to bed at 8 that I sometimes forget that just because I don't have a curfew or someone waiting up for me doesn't mean others don't either.

Naina - (turned to him) don't worry Kajol's up, she and Zain just got home too she'll let me in. So seriously stop damaging your bad boy rep by apologizing (Ayaan laughed)

Ayaan - (shook his head staring ahead) I just feel like, I've had enough of the bad boy rep. There's just so much more that I want from life.

Naina - like?

Ayaan - (smiled at her tapping her nose) like making pancakes for beautiful girls who forget to eat all the delicious food at the carnival

Naina - (laughed nodding) well to be fair. They were the best pancakes I ever had.

Ayaan - (nodded) I'll take it. (He then turned towards Naina with a smitten smile and satisfied sigh and she smiled brightly at him)

Naina - Thanks for such a lovely night Ayaan. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun..I really needed it.

Ayaan - (nodded) me too.

Naina - and I'm sorry about the mess I caused too.

Ayaan - (winced) oh yah...how about from now on we leave the DJying to me.

Naina - (laughed) deal. Goodnight (getting out of the car)

Ayaan - Goodnight.

Naina - (waved at him again) goodnight. (As she watched him drive off, Azlan stepped out from behind one of the pillars, smoking a cigarette. Naina turned around to go inside, she jumped five feet in the air seeing him just standing there like a ghost and she clutched her heart)

Naina - OMG AZLAN! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!! YOU SCARED ME!!

Azlan - (taking a long, calm drag) surprised to see you at home so early. I half expected to see you do your walk of shame tomorrow morning (Naina stilled in her walk upstairs, not sure if she heard him correctly because if she was right about what she thought she had heard, Azlan had just crossed a line)

Naina - excuse me?

Azlan - what? You can't seriously tell me you think the loser has feelings for you.

Naina - (feeling hot angry and humiliated tears burn her eyes) right because god forbid he did. I'm so unloveable right.

Azlan - come on Naina that is NOT what I said.

Naina - THEN WHAT ARE YOU SAYING.

Azlan - I'm JUST saying that I know guys like Ayaan and I know what their after and it's NOT Love. (Naina just glared at him furiously, their breaths raging a storm)

Naina - You may know guys like Ayaan but you don't know Ayaan. (Saying so she began walking up the steps of the house but then she stopped, she had just about had enough and so she rounded on him again) and what do you mean guys LIKE Ayaan? Why not guys like You? Or YOU? How are you any different from Ayaan? Is there not a different girl doing the walk of shame from your bedroom to the front door of our house every morning? Or is it okay for you because your mother said it's okay for you and it's cute that your such a bad boy' and all the girls want her son?

Azlan - (glared back at her equally angry, though neither she nor he knew why because whatever she said was right, but I guess at this point he was just arguing for the sake of arguing) you're seriously comparing me to him?

Naina - YES! and you know what it's high time someone did, someone showed you a mirror, so you can get off your high horse and stop pretending like your any better than those you hate.

Azlan - (laughed) I get it (Naina's viscous eyes sneered at him) just because I made fun of your little boy toy you feel like you need to return the favour. Okay Naina..whatever makes you feel better (He put out his cigarette and was about to continue strolling into the house when Naina grabbed his arm)

Naina - DON'T YOU DARE WALK AWAY FROM THIS! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!

Azlan - MY PROBLEM IS WITH HIM NAINA! HE'S ALWAYS THE PROBLEM. Can't YOU SEE HE'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU THEN WHY DO YOU HAVE TO GO OUT WITH HIM OF ALL GUYS WHEN YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT-

Naina - YOU! HOW YOU FEEL! (Crying angry tears now) WHY IS IT ALWAYS ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT OR WHAT YOU FEEL? KABHI SOCHA HAI MUJHE KYA CHAHIYE YA MUJHE KAISA LAGTA HAI ROZ TUMHE HAR DOOSRI LADKI KE SAATH DEKH KE! HUNH? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME KE SAARI ZINDAGI TUMHARE INTEZAAR MEIN, TUMHARE NAAM PE GUZARDOON KE KAB TUMHE MERE PYAAR KA EHSAAS HO?

Azlan - (momentarily thrown, he had always felt it and suspected it at some level but to hear it directly, he didn't know how to react) pyaar?

Naina - (wiped her tears, now feeling nothing but anger at him) YES AZLAN! PYAAR. LOVE!! Have you REALLY noticed NOTHING? Are you really THAT blind? (A long silence stretched out between them)

Azlan - (a sympathetic but still stunned look in his eyes) Naina..I'm I-

Naina - (held up a hand) don't answer that. Don't say anything..I...I just (laughed) I don't care anymore. I'm done waiting. I'm done. (Saying so she gave one last look to the boy she had loved for as long as she could remember and then without sparing him as much as a second glass she turned around and ran up the remaining steps of the house leaving a path of destruction in her wake)

5:00 am

Razia - Raghu Singh ka phone aaya tha kaam hogaya. Isse kehte hain sheh aur maat. Beta baap ka dushman toh pehle hi tha...par ab woh dushmani sar charke bolegi aur baap, woh bechara toh apni begunahi kabhi saabit hi nahin kar sakta, hamari uss saazish ka raaz kabhi bahar nahin ayega. Kissi ko kabhi nahin pata chalega ke woh katal Rashid ne nahin humne kiya hai

Ghafoor- unke beech aag toh laga di tumne Razia par humme khauf hai, ke kahin iss aag ki labtein kahin hum tak naa pauhanch payen

Razia - Aap fikar mat karein aisa kuch nahin hoga. Kyunki Rashid Miyan aur sab ghar waale yeh samajhte hain ke anjaane mein Rashid se qatal hua hai aur ab Asad bhi apne baap ko gunegaar samjhega (at that time they heard a lot of commotion coming from downstairs and they both ran out of their room to the railing wondering what was happening. Normally their house was in a dead peaceful silence at this time because the kids were always a sleep and the parents alone enjoyed the peace and quiet of the early morning for prayers, meditation and some quality leisure time. However, it seemed hearing the commotion even the kids were coming out of their rooms to figure out what was happening, and they all collectively gasped as they peered over the railing to find a bunch of police inspectors, including Feroz in the foyer downstairs)
Javed - Kya matlab arrest karne aaye hain? Kiss jurm mein arrest kar rahe hain aap mere bhai ko?

Anaya - (gasped) Chachu (running down the stairs desperately)

Feroz - abhi toh bola bhai sahab, kya hogaya uncha sunte hain kya? Rashid Ahmed Khan ko murder aur attempted murder ke jurm mein giraftaar kiya jaata hai?

Azlan - WHAT MURDER? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?

Feroz - (smiled wickedly) eh, angrezi mein zyaada bhurak mat pichli maar bhool gaya

Azlan - (about to leap forward) TERI TOH-

Javed - THATS ENOUGH AZLAN (holding him back and glaring at him)
Rashid - Inspector aapko zaroor kuch ghalat fehmi hui hogi-

Feroz - (ignoring him and signalling to one of his inspectors) le chalo

Azlan - TUM HUMME BAAR BAAR TAKLEEF NAHIN PAUHANCHA SAKTE. HUM HAR BAAR KHAMOSH NAHIN BATHEINGE

Feroz - (patted his face) dekho beta aisa hai, ke mere mizaaj ke baare mein toh tumhe pehli hi pata hai isliye zyaada herogiri toh karo mat nahin toh apne Abbu ke saath saath tum bhi andar jaoge, chup chaap raho aur humme apna kaam karne do. Police waale ho, thori toh izzat karo.

Javed - Inspector kuch boliye toh kiss gunnah mein le jaa rahe hain who bekasoor hai

Feroz - aisa hai ke inhone gunnah kiya hai ya nahin yeh toh kanoon ne teh kiya hoga. Samjhe. Filhaal toh Dilshad Ahmed Khan ke attempted murder ke liye inhe arrest kiya jaata hai aur doosre murder ki jankaari chal rahee hai..(hearing that Shireen and every other family members ears perked up, Rashid wasn't surprised. As Feroz began dragging him out, all the ladies began screaming and crying because for once a tragedy had befallen them instead of them causing it to befall unto others) aur haan, (glaring at Azlan) aggar tujhe iss baat ke liye kissi ko mulzim tehraana hai toh apne bhai ko tehra. Asad Ahmed Khan ko. Kyunki tere bhai ne hi tere baap ko arrest karvaya hai. Yaad rakh..woh tera bhai toh hai...par SAUTELA. Samjhe. Abhe le chalo be (saying so he began leading Rashid out of there whilst the ladies continued screaming and crying, Anaya and Azlan stood stunned next to each other as did Javed and Rashid but none more than Azlan)

Azlan - Asad ne...

Zain - Mamu, Azlan I don't think humme waqt barbaad karna chahiye ya Feroz ki baaton mein aana chahiye. Azlan you call Asad, I'll call Malik Sir aur Maamu aap please jald se jald Judge Saqib ko call kijiye.

Ghafoor - (shook his head) humare khandaan ki isse zyaada badnaami kabhi ho hi nahin sakti (Azlan glared at him with disdain as Zain began pulling him out of the house to avoid a confrontation and instead going to the police station right behind them)

xxx

Khan Mansion - 6:00 am:

Zoya - (pacing in the living room back and forth, on her phone) hello? Farida Bi? Uhh..nahin nahin Farida Bi sab theek hai woh bas..uhm...woh Mr. Khan ab tak ghar nahin ayee toh phupi thora pareshan ho rahee thee. Ji office mein try kar liya aur cell phone bhi try kiya...Nahin pehle bhi aisa kar chuke hain par..(staring at Dilshad crying relentlessly sat on the sofa) Phupi toh aap jaanti haina, Maa hai ek maa ke dil ko kaun samjhaye..(closed her eyes, needing to hear the reassurance Farida Bi was giving her on the other end and needed for it to be true as well) Ji. Khuda karre aisa hi ho aur woh jaldi aa jayen..phir bhi aggar aap ko kuch pata chale toh...(nodded) Ji. Sorry maine aapko disturb kiya..Ji..(she shut the phone and sighed, shaking her head at Dilshad whose eyes had lit up desperately, and then watching her cover her face as her lips trembled, imagining the worst she rushed to her side and immediately took her into her arms, resting her head against Dilshads. Needing as much reassurance and comforting herself right about now)

Zoya - Phupi, aap please fikar mat kijiye..SAB theek ho jayega. Mr. Khan pehle bhi toh kitni raat gaye aate hain...par hamesha aa jaate hain aap kyun yun ro ro ke khudko behaal kar rahin hain. Inshalla woh bilkul theek honge aur jaldi aa jayenge-

Dilshad - (shook her head, crying) Nahin Zoya...mujhe kuch nahin sunna kuch nahin samajhna, mujhe sirf mera beta chahiye. Abhi issi waqt. (Her eyes holding a faraway look, a haunted look much like the one Asads eyes constantly held) Tum nahin jaanti woh iss waqt kitni takleef mein hai.

Zoya - (her voice breaking hearing Dilshad say that) par phupi main sabko phone kar chuki hoon kissi ko kuch nahin pata woh kahan hain..Ayaan, Sam, Nikhil, Ayaan ne baaki sab doston se bhi pooch diya kissi ko kuch nahin pata..Malik Uncle, Farida Bi (shook her head) kya main Ayaan ko phone karke bula loon woh aur J- (and then her eyes widened) JAY...Jay ko shayad pata ho ke Mr. Khan kahan honge (and before Dilshad could say anything, she was already on her feet rushing to dial his number) Yah Hi, Sheila...Sheila can I speak with Jay please? Yes I know it's 6 in the morning and yes everything's okay I just really really need to speak with Jay so can you please put him on? Yah Jay, Hi! Jay I..uh I need to know where Mr. Khan is...NOW-

Jay - Asad? I uh...I'm sorry Zoya I have no idea (Zoya pinched the bridge of her nose annoyedly) I haven't spoken to him since this evening...is..is everything okay?

Zoya - That...(shook her head) Jay I need to know where Mr. Khan goes when he wants to be alone..and I know your gonna give me the answer he made you rehearse as his bodyguard but I need you to give me the answer as his friend (ignoring the worry and unsettling she was causing Jay) right now I'm staring at his mother who is going to cry herself sick and all I wanna know is where he is so if you don't mind, I'd like to know NOW

Jay - (sighed) well there is a place..that uhm, I know about but I'm not allowed to follow him to no matter WHAT and I don't think you should go there eith-

Zoya - I'd like to know the address. (Just as she was listening to Jay she heard keys jingling outside the door. Her face lit up with life and a smile graced her face as she ran to the majestic front doors and threw the doors open with a racing and exhilarated heart) (breathing) Mr. Khan..(but seeing Aisha's startled and then immediately worried and panicked face that smile died, and she shut the phone grabbing Aisha)

Aisha - Zoya!! AMMI...WHAT..What happened (and then she spun around alarmed) WHERES ASAD IS HE OKAY W- (it was obvious at once how Asad was the lifeline of his entire family. There was no them without him)

Zoya - (shoving her unto the sofa next to Dilshad) Aisha Aaapi..I..I need you to stay here with Ammi whilst I go get Mr. Khan..

Aisha - (her eyes wide) get him? From where? Whats going on?

Dilshad - Zoya Tum iss waqt kahan jaogi? Akeli-

Zoya - Main akeli nahin driver ke saath jaongi and trust me I'm fine Phupi aap yahan rahiye..(running out before they could stop her) I know where he is and I'll be back. (she disappeared out the doors not giving them a chance to stop her because even if they did she wouldn't have stopped. She needed to see him with her own eyes and make sure he was okay so she could breathe again and meanwhile Dilshad fell apart in Aishas arms reiterating the traumatic events of that evening to Aisha and leaving her as shaken as the rest of them)

xxx

Continued in next post...

Haveli Hill Top:

One of Asad's car zoomed to the top of the hill as far as cars could go, screeching to a stop as the driver spotted Asad's car crashed into one of the boulders. Zoya got out of the car carrying a tray with a coffee and milkshake in one hand and a large box of fries in the other. Gathering her scarf closer to herself she pulled her cap down lower feeling the early morning chill of Kasauli even stronger on this height. She then began running across the bridge that led up to the top of the cliff, the bridge where not to long ago Asad had put the "S chain around her neck and once at the top found him sitting at the edge of the hill, right at the cliff verging on the danger of falling over and the fact that he was swigging from a bottle of heavy whisky wasn't helping matters in the slightest. His cellphone, on silent was ringing non-stop next to him but he was too drunk and moreover more broken to realize or even care. He just wanted to be left alone and forget about the long never ending misery that was his life. Zoya on the other hand, had no intentions of letting him do that and now that she had come barrelling into his life

uninvited she was never going to let him continue on wallowing and suffering alone so that each time he could end up killing yet another humane part of himself till he was completely incapable of feeling anything, loving or smiling or living. She saw the broken alcohol bottles everywhere and then saw his drooped shoulders and she sighed, fighting her tears of relief at bay, at least she had found him, alive. Taking a deep breath to gather courage knowing finding him, as difficult, stressful and worrying as it was was the easy part, this next part of getting through to him was going to be the hard part. Through small hesitant steps she made her way over to him and without saying anything just took a seat next to him, careful not to touch him or startle him seeing how dangerously close to the cliff he was sitting. She may as well have come with a band baaja because Asad would still not have noticed her presence there, he was much too broken to care so much to pay attention as was evident by his highly drunk, bloodshot red eyes that were all cried out by now and by his pale and ashen tear stained face. He had pretty much spent the last 6-7 hours drinking and smoking whatever little life Zoya had risen inside of him away, and he just looked so broken and sick that Zoya was unable to look at him. He looked at her startled, as she took a seat next to him and guessing from his wide wild eyes he was completely shocked to find her there next to him. He was over the fact that someone eventually managed to find him, here of all places, this was where he went when he wanted to completely fall off the grid and didn't want anyone to find him but it seemed even that was too much to ask.

Zoya - (gathering every ounce of courage she looked towards him and gave him a small smile as a tear finally managed to drop from her eye finding it unbearable to see him in that state) (speaking in a mere whisper, a sympathetic whisper) he's your father, isn't he? (But that was the wrong question. It only seemed to provoke him and anger him further, and as his jaw clenched tight he gripped the bottle even harder, threatening to break it and was about to take a sip from it when Zoya pulled it away from him scowling angrily at him and his need to drink his problems away instead of facing them. However, it really seemed like she was poking a sleeping lion because he was getting more and more angrier by the second and that was not good given his current state of mind, and the fact that it was THESE 2 ALONE on a CLIFF without witnesses and without a referree, he glared at her angrily and Zoya smiled back a little too sweetly, really getting on his nerves. He shoved her arm away as she lured the steaming hot cup of coffee towards him hoping the sweet aroma would help appease him but instead the sweet swelling cup of coffee went tumbling down the cliff as he jolted her hand away and instead raised his knees up, wrapping his arms around them like an angry child who was making his anger known)

Zoya - Mr. Khan! Uss bechari coffee ne aapka kya beghara tha jo aapne usse itni bhayank maut di? Aap toh zinda hi coffee aur cigarrettes pe hain phir bhi aapne usse aise maar diya as if coffee isn't your cup of tea...Chchch (staring down the cliff) ...Rest in peace sweet coffee. (Asad was back to ignoring her. She rolled her eyes) Fine. Aggar aapko coffee nahin peene toh please yeh fries kha lijiye..(smiling brightly) look I even brought you a milkshake to dip them into, guaranteed depression curer (again he shoved them away) HOW RUDE. Do you even know the efforts I had to go through to find you and then find milkshake and fries this early for you just because I'm such a nice person and I know you haven't eaten anything and true to my thought have been drinking on an empty stomach aur aapne aise rudely khaane se inkaar kar diya...Fine. I'll eat them myself. (She turned her face away from him, setting the milkshake and fries down next to herself after taking 3, dipping them into the milkshake and shoving them into her own mouth, making her anger at him known but Asad could care less. He continued staring ahead at the slowly lighting up streets of Kasauli and Zoya sat next to him rethinking her strategy of getting through to him. Alas, the silent treatment she realized was not going to work, so she took another deep breath and this time turned her whole towards him, sitting cross legged but facing him instead of the cliff this time, her hair blowing softly in the wind behind her.)

Zoya - (speaking in a soft soothing tone) Mr. Khan, main sirf aapko aapke iss silent zone se bahar karna chahti hoon. You know what Mr. Khan, hum dono ki aapas mein bilkul nahin banti. Hum kissi bhi baat pe agree nahin karte. Par jab bhi koi problem hoti hai na, toh mere dil mein ek bharosa rehta hai. Ke Mr. Khan hain. Woh sab theek kardeinge. Aap nahin jaante par Main aap pe, aur aap aapki strength pe bauhat rely karti hoon Mr. Khan Aur aap sochiye, main toh phir bhi ek (her voice breaking) outsider hoon (she didn't realize it but Asad's face blanched painfully as she voiced that technical reality) aapke ghar mein guest hoon, aapki marzi ke khilaaf reh rahee hoon. Aur jab main jo kabhi kissi pe depend nahin karna chahti, na chahte hue bhi aap pe itna depend kar sakti hoon..itna bharosa kar sakti hoon toh sochiye Aisha Aapi aur Phupi kitna kartin hongi. I understand aap pe iss waqt kya guzar rahee hai Mr. Khan par yeh sirf aap pe nahin guzar rahee hai. Aap jaante bhi hain pichle 6 ghanton mein Phupi par kya guzri hai jab aap saree raat ghar nahin aye (careful to avoid mentioning the words MUJHPE kya guzri hai' even though she wanted nothing more than to bash his head in the boulder he had crashed his car into) Mr. Khan aap unka sahara hain, aap apni family ka woh pillar hai jissne uss family ko samet ke rakha hai aur ab aap sochein agar aaphi yun bikhar gaye, yun toot gaye toh...toh unhe ko kaun sambhalega iss waqt? (and as Asad turned towards her, his eyes filled with as much tears, as Zoya's...Zoya's heart shattered seeing the completely broken, lost and desperately seeking saving eyes of his. It took all her strength to not wrap her arms around him and save him from drowning, anchoring herself to him in the process hoping saving him would save her too, and refuse to ever let go)

Asad - (rested his head on his knees, his shirt and hair flying in the wind too) (smoke in a broken whisper, a tear falling from his eyes) but...I'm tired Zoya, thak gaya hoon main woh sahara bante bante. I'm tired of being the one to hold everyone and everything together, the anchor they all rely on in the face of every adversary and not have anyone to turn to, to talk about my own demons, to confide in, to gather strength from. To...to understand me. To save me. (Zoya sat silent, shaken by his words, his cry for help, as he finally acknowledged that he was drowning and that he was ready to reach out for help. But more so because she wanted to scream the words she simply whispered next, whilst holding his face in her hands and continue staring into his eyes until she could see them sink in and know he understood her. Instead she folded her hands in her lap, hoping the itch to reach out and cradle his face would go away)

Zoya - but...but I'm here. (Asad continued staring at her, not believing he was actually hearing her say those words he had been dying to hear for so long) (she smiled at him with a small laugh) what you just said, you're forgetting one grave detail. There WASN'T anyone before. There is now. (Winked at him with a devilish laughter) main hoon na. I promise to listen, I promise to understand and I promise to save you, each and every time. (as Asad slowly lifted his head, the trouble trusting and letting go of his hesitations and fear of deceit and abandonment shining bright in them, she gave him a reassuring and promising nod so he would breathe and let his inhibitions flow away) After all, what are frenemies for? (Asad couldn't help but scoff, and looked away) what? you still think we're enemies? (Mock gasped) don't tell me you actually wanna be friends?

Asad - (tiredly laid down on the cliff, closing his eyes, feeling like he was carrying and now crumbling beneath the weight of the entire world) main itna bewakoof nahin hoon Ms. Farooqui ke aap jaise paagal ke saath dosti karna chahoon.

Zoya - (shrugged) well tough luck, because only this paagal seems to care enough to run around town and bring you fries and a milkshake at 6 am on this FREEZING MOUNTAIN just to cheer you up. (Asad didn't say anything, because as her words sunk in he was left too moved and touched by them to speak. As someone who had rarely been shown such acts of care and kindness by someone other than Aisha, Anwar his Ammi and now Ayaan or Azlan in the past those words meant more to him than she could ever know. They continued sitting there in silence, well Asad laying with his eyes closed, Zoya watching the beautiful sunrise enjoying the milkshake and fries for a while, until Zoya believed she had given him enough space to heal and feel a bit better, which he had, thanks to her)

Zoya - Kya soch rahe hain Mr. Khan? (Asad opened his eyes, playing with the chain in his neck absentmindedly whilst staring out at the slowly lightening sky)

Asad - I...I'm thinking of what it would be like...if I could just..run away, go somewhere...just...disappear and never come back.

Zoya - (thought hard about his words and then frowned) Painful.

Asad - (shook his head) I highly doubt that given that that is exactly what I feel right now...what I'm trying to escape.

Zoya - (trying to keep her voice steady, not showing the fear, the pain or the anger his thought had risen inside of her or the tears that had begun forming in her eyes over the fear of actually losing him like she had lost her Faisan Jeeju) I wasn't talking about what you'd feel...(as she saw an unknown but highly troublesome emotion, a spark in Asad's eyes she looked away partly out of fear for what that look would unfold, what it meant and also because in this moment she realized something. No one in her life, had EVER meant as much to her as her Aapi and Jeeju, not even her brothers who meant the WORLD to her or her Phupi who she loved so much, but for the first time it seemed Asad was coming quite close because she was beginning to feel for him, love, care, attachment and emotions like she had never felt before. This time too, they both sat/laid there in silence too shook by different realizations to speak or look at each other, but eventually when the silence did break, it was Asad who broke it)

Asad - Tujhko... main rakh loon wahaan Jahaan pe kahin Hai mera yaqeen (not looking at her, looking over at the beautiful sunset as he slowly sat back up. Whilst Zoya closed her eyes fighting her tears away, feeling incredibly foolish for being so emotional and also because Asad's musical voice was her undoing, always) Main jo... tera naa huaa (she turned towards him, staring at him with an enchanted look) Kisi ka nahin...Kisi ka nahin..(Asad then turned towards her, her soft locks still blowing softly in the wind behind her and returned her look but an even more touched and gratitude filled one) Le jaayein jaane kahaan Hawayein, hawayein... Le jaayein tujhe kahaan Hawayein, hawayein...Begaani hai yeh baaghi Hawayein, hawayein Le jaaye mujhe kahan Hawayein, hawayein (Zoya smiled at him as he turned towards the city that was both the cause of his making and breaking always, and now the city which had helped him meet the angel sitting next to her) Le jaayein jaane kahaan, na mujhko khabar Na tujhko pataa...O...(finally turned towards her again and gave her a smile miserly smile, but Zoya would take it. Her smile grew even more in response and Asad took a deep breath) let's go home. (Zoya smiled ecstatically in response, so much so that her smile ran from ear to ear and her eyes smiled from her cheeks. Not just because she had been victorious in cheering him up but also the way he said it "lets go home, like it was their home, a place they shared, together. She held up her hand in response and Asad took it without any hesitation. But when they stood up he stopped and Zoya looked up at him questioningly)

Asad - (sheepishly) my car...

Zoya - (nodded sternly at him) Ji bilkul. Dekha maine jo karnaame aap roz apni gaariyon saath karte hain uss rate se toh aapke paas jald koi gaari nahin bachegi. Pehle bhi keh chuki hoon par phir keh deti hoon Mr. Khan. Itni hi faltu hain toh mujhe de dejiye (she smacked him upside the head and began walking away but Asad remained rooted to his spot now frowning)

Asad - wait a minute...aap yahan. How did you find me? (Checked his watch) and at 6 am! YOU LEFT THE HOUSE ALONE AT THIS TIME!!

Zoya - (rolled her eyes turning back to him) and he's back.

Asad - HOW DID YOU FIND ME! WHY DID YOU FIND ME! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW DANGEROUS IT IS-

Zoya - MR. KHAN! Stop overreacting. Phupi ka aur hum sab ka pareshani se bura haal ho raha tha. Khud toh aap saari raat ghar nahin aye what did you expect me to do? Suraj nikalne ka wait karti taake phupi apne aap ko behaal kar dein ro ro ke. So I called Jay and forced him to tell you where to find you and DON'T YOU DARE FIGHT WITH HIM ABOUT THIS (seeing him about to yell again. But Zoya was surprisingly strong when she had to be and Asad backed off at once, scared as she pointed her finger at him) next time agar aap nahin chahte ke "hum ghar se iss waqt niklein ya Jay aapke secret hiding spots expose karre toh time se ache bachon ki tarha ghar aa jayan karein aur yoon roothe bandron ki tarha paharon pe naa chara karein (Asad covered his face as he felt a spur of laughter coming on hearing her analogy) and FYI main akeli nahin ayee driver ke saath ayee hoon which came in handy because ab kissi ko toh aapki gaari tow karwaani paregi if I drive your drunken ass home. Ab chalein ya aur drama karna hai.

Asad - (removed his hand trying not to laugh but the temptation was REAL) yes ma'am (Zoya narrowed her eyes at him, feeling like he was making fun of her but let it go none the less and began with her to the car in a comfortable silence but still feeling a burst of laughter bubbling in his stomach. As they got into the car Zoya turned around in the driver's seat and picked up a brown bag from the back and placed it in Asad's laps. Asad peered in confusedly and saw a fresh pack of fries and a milkshake in the cupholder. He stared at her with a raised eyebrow and she shrugged)

Zoya - You couldn't possibly have expected me to drive through and not get myself some as well. I knew you wouldn't eat the first pair I gave you so I pretended to give you mine and kept yours hidden in the car. (again, Asad was touched beyond belief and he couldn't help but smile at her caring, kindness, carefreeness and yet strictness and matureness. This girl was something else, so beautifully and wonderfully weird) now I want all that finished because we ain't going home till it's all gone and I'm not your mother so don't even TRY to pull the stunts you do with her to try and get out of eating. Kuch nahin hota aapke six packs ko aggar aap ek din fries kha leinge. Oh and yah if you dare to not eat them, I'm going to blast honey singh AND sing along with him (smiled devilishly at him, leaving him baffled before she slammed the accelerator and they were off)

Asad - Thank You (Zoya turned towards him, surprised) for saving me. (and as his cheeks flamed red, he turned around awkwardly and very defensively began pulling out a fry and dipping it in the milkshake making Zoya laugh at his absolute silliness and dorkiness)

Khan Mansion:
Asad and Zoya walked in through the front door.

Zoya - (swinging the car keys) Phupi! I found your laadla (rolled her eyes at Asad) rajkumar.

Asad - (side eyed her) are you bipolar?

Zoya - Ph- (but just as she looked up Dilshad came running over and enveloped Asad into her arms)

Dilshad - Asad...Asad khuda ka shukar hai tum theek ho. Khuda ka shukar hai tum aa gaye (moved back cradling his face and Asad grabbed her hand kissing it) Asad-

Asad - (shook his head) I'm sorry I..I hurt you Ammi and...I worried you. I won't ever put you through that again I promise Aap..aap ayein yahan baithain doctor ne aapko araam karne ko bola hai

Dilshad Nahin (shook her head) Asad maine abhi Tv pe dekha..police ne police ne tumhare Abbu, unhone Rashid ko arrest kar liya. Tum unhe bachao Please kuch karo-

Asad - (his face stone hard, holding no surprise, sympathy or remorse) Jaanta hoon.

Dilshad - Nahin Asad tumhare Abbu- (realizing what he said, right before Asad was about to remind her that Rashid was not his father rather loudly, she moved back a little apprehensively and Zoya stared between them, her heartbeats accelerating afraid that things were going to turn ugly again) jaanta hoon matlab?

Asad - Maine hi unhe arrest karvaaya Ammi. Police ko maine hi call kiya tha (Dilshad's hands fell away from him at once and she just stared at him with the most disappointed, offended and hurt look on her face before it all turned to just anger and disappointment and before she could sort through her feelings her hand lifted and she had slapped Asad across the face. Hard. Leaving all, each and every one of them shook. Aisha, Zoya, herself and Asad. Asad just stared at her with a broken look and then as his hand raised to his stinging face that look turned into a small ironic and sarcastic laughter again)

Asad - (shaking his head) it's him..it's always him for you. Over me, over all of us (and as he felt his eyes burn with tears of anger and hatred again he retracted his footsteps and before any of them could stop him, he turned around and vanished again, running down the steps and disappearing just as Dilshad realizing her mistake stepped forward to stop him and apologize but seeing him go flying down the driveway on his bike recklessly she covered her mouth)

Aisha - Ammi..Ammi yeh aapne-

Dilshad - (shook her head) Zoya Ayaan ko phone karo...usse bole Asad ke saath rahe..usse samjhaye beta yeh woh kya..

Aisha - Ammi-

Dilshad - Aisha Malik Bhai ko phone karro aur gharpe bulao...JALDI. (Saying so she walked off, Aisha worriedly stared between her and Zoya)

Aisha - Please Zoya, call Ayaan tell him to get in contact with my brother...do ANYTHING but just keep him SAFE. I'm going to go check on Ammi (saying so she wiped her tears and then ran up the stairs after Dilshad whilst Zoya stared out the driveway with an upset look, what was becoming of this beautiful family she had come to love to bits. She also prayed that God kept Asad safe as she pulled out her cell phone)

Zoya - (texting Asad) "please Mr. Khan, don't do anything stupid or reckless. If you want to talk, I'll be at the cafe all day. Stay safe. Please(and then proceeded to contact Ayaan)

xxx

Brotherhood HQ:

Asad came storming down the steps of their low dungeon and headquarters. Smoking yet another cigarette. He was walking into the gym at the back of the room when passing by the open lounge he found all of his friends/brothers gathered in the lounge at 9 am talking passionately. As he walked farther into the room the voices however, died down and everyone just turned toward him like they had seen a ghost)

Asad - (raised an eyebrow) something to say? (But although they were his friends, none of them had the courage to speak up, they all looked towards one another silently asking someone to speak and as usual it was Ayaan, Asad's best friend who held the courage to speak up to him)

Ayaan - Yes, I have something to say. (Stepped forward towards him) what the hell is going on? Zoya calling Jay at 6 am this morning panicked, asking about your whereabouts, then she finds you and again 2 hours later she's calling me to find you and keep you in my sights at all time and then your fath- (Asad's FURIOUS gaze met his and Ayaan realized his blunder, hoping no one noticed it) Rashid Ahmed Khan's arrest. What the hell is going on?

Asad - (snapped) NOTHING. NOTHING IS GOING ON OKAY. I'm FINE no one needs to follow me, keep tabs on me, stalk me or treat me like some sort of fragile child and NO ONE BETTER SHOULD (glaring at each and every one of them making sure his point was duly noted, and it was. None of them would dare to defy him and none had the strength to stand up to him or challenge him, none except Ayaan) UNDERSTOOD! Now, Until I say so..I want everyone to keep a closer eye on each and every member of the Haveli and report-

Jay - Uhm, actually (Asads furious gaze snapped towards him) I..its just uh...

Asad - WHAT? What is it?

Ayaan - Your mother told us.

Asad - TOLD YOU WHAT!! STOP SPEAKING IN RIDDLES! WILL SOMEONE JUST TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!

Ayaan - YOUR MOTHER TOLD US SHE PUT YOUR NAME DOWN FOR THE ELECTIONS AND YOUR REFUSING TO TAKE PART-

Asad - AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN CHANGE MY MIND!

Ayaan - DAMN RIGHT WE THINK WE CAN AND WE WILL!! BECAUSE NONE OF US ARE TAKING ANY ORDERS FROM YOU UNTIL YOU AGREE TO FIGHT THE ELECTIONS.

Asad - So what? You're just going to boycott our cause and watch the city burn?

Ayaan - That's right. Because we aren't EVER going to be able to make the same difference we are if you become mayor of-

Asad - WELL YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT IT CAUSE I'M NOT PARTAKING IN ANY ELECTIONS.

Ayaan - (shrugged) well then, I guess you can forget about this brotherhood too.

Asad - (stared at him angrily. Why was everyone and everything turning against him, it seemed like today his entire world was falling apart) THATS FINE. I could care less. I don't need any of you EITHER. I started this by myself and I can finish it by myself too..so all of you GET OUT. (saying so he dropped his cigarette and stepped on it before calmly turning around and storming out to the gym, where he spent a good 2 hours taking out all his anger on his punching bag. Whilst the rest of his friends all looked towards Ayaan for an explanation for getting them fired' whilst he tried to find one for not just them, but himself too and a way to get Asad to see how important it was for him to and agree to fight the elections hopefully in a way that didn't get him killed.)

xxx

Police HQ:
Azlan - DAMN IT WHY WON'T HE PICK UP!!

Zain - (sighed) he's probably purposely not answering purposefully. Uhh...I'll call Ayaan have him get Asad to give us a call-

Azlan - NO. LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS- (Zain slowly lowered the phone he had just raised to his ear never having seen such anger or hatred in Azlan's eyes FOR ANYONE)

Zain - but...Azlan what're we..what're we gonna do?

Azlan - (breathing heavily and furiously) WE are not going to do ANYTHING. I am going to go to Asad's house and talk to him directly (muttered) and ask him why he's suddenly lost his mind.

Malik - (standing in the doorway with his arms crossed) I don't think so. (Azlan took one look at him and then rolled his eyes)

Azlan - of course, NO OFFENCE SIR but you have a blind spot where Asad is concerned.

Malik - (shrugged) oh you can mean offence, I don't care. I take pride in the fact that I have unconditional and blind love for Asad. Just like you do for your father.

Azlan - (tapping his leg nervously) SO WHAT! What you expect me to sit around and do NOTHING? THEY WON'T EVEN LET US SEE HIM.

Malik - (frowned, glaring at him sternly) For gods sake tum khud ek police officer ho koi doodh peete bache nahin jo aisi baatein kar rahe ho. He's being processed and when he is you'll be able to see him.

Azlan - (shook his head pacing agitatedly) I know he's doing this as revenge. He-

Zain - (watching Malik apprehensively) Azlan...

Malik - stop Azlan. (Azlan gave him a rather annoyed look) Asad isn't a spoilt little child like YOU who would do something this reckless because his father refused to buy him a toy. Your father ABANDONED him, and his family remember. 25 years ago. Thats a hell of a long time between plotting revenge and actually seeking it and Asad doesn't care to seek revenge from those who (staring at him with pity) are already so far gone that they can't see it themselves. If he has pressed charges I'm sure he has valid reasons to press them and if not, it's a misunderstanding and you have nothing to worry about your father will get off. Still, one way or another (levelling his challenging and confident eyes with Azlan's furious ones) justice will be served.

xxx

Asha's Cafe:

A very sleepy Zoya was ducked down behind the counter getting fresh coffee beans out from one of the cupboards when the door to the coffee shop tinged open.

Zoya - (murmured sleepily) tell whoever it is to go away.

Sheila - (laughed coyly) I highly doubt you're going to want me to do that once you see who it is.

Zoya - (rolled her eyes) kyun Shahrukh Khan hai kya?

Another Barista (coming out of the kitchen) - Yum. (Playfully kicked Zoya) I spy a Khan (In an excited jiffy to stand up Zoya forgot there was a counter top right above her head and ended up banging her already slow, on top of that sleep derived, hungry and stressed head against it making Sheila and the other baristas laugh)

Barista - Excited much.

Sheila - Relax Zoya it's just A Khan..not THE Khan (but little did she know that as far as Zoya was concerned, he was THE Khan. THE one and ONLY. She bit her lip shyly, feeling like a giddy teenager spotting her crush and it made her feel completely silly but also made her heart ache as she looked over and saw him sitting in the back corner of the cafe, her favourite spot, which was now fast becoming THEIR spot and he just looked so sad, so lost so broken that it physically caused her pain to see him like that. Sheila nudged her handing her two cups of coffee)

Sheila - go to him.

Zoya - (took the cups) thanks Sheila.

Sheila - (nodded) anything for him (seeing Zoya side eye her she tossed her hair and walked off leaving Zoya shaking her head. Zoya took a deep breath, which was always needed when dealing with Asad because you could never know what you were getting yourself into with him and then plastering the biggest smile she could manage unto her face began walking towards him)

Zoya - 10 am on a Saturday? Waah Waah, aaj suraj kahan se nikla hai? No big scary contracts to sign, no employees to intimidate (making Asad roll his eyes)

Asad - thanks (gratefully taking the needed cup of coffee from him) I hope this is without sugar

Zoya - (smiled at him over the rim of her own cup so he only saw her kind eyes smiling at him) sure. (Asad took a sip but didn't say anything. There was in fact sugar in it. It made Zoya smile.) (tracing the brim of her cup) aapne mera question nahin answer kiya...how did we get oh so lucky to receive your presence here this early, and (noticing) you changed, matlab aap ghar gaye? Sab theek hogaya oh please tell me sab theek hogaya...Mr. KHAN PLEASE DON'T TELL ME YOU FOUGHT WITH PHUPI AGAIN AND MADE HER EVEN MORE UPSET (Asad just stared at her rambling with his mouth hung open, he had tried to get so many words in but she just wouldn't stop talking. She was already halfway up to go call Dilshad)

Asad - would you relax? How many cups of coffee have you had already. Kids generally have a low tolerance for caffeine you know.

Zoya - (frowned and then screamed in a loud voice) well I'm sorry somebody didn't let me get much sleep last night (punching him in the arm) (suddenly the cafe went very silent and all the baristas turned towards these two, Asad flushed bright red and Zoya remained as oblivious to her innuendo as ever)

Asad - (finally managing to crack a miser smile as always as he scratched his forehead in wonder of the wonder that was Zoya) uhm, no I didn't scream at her? (Frowned) what do you think I am the grinch who walks around town scaring everyone?

Zoya - (nodded dead seriously) TA'HA. Although you've got nothing on the grinch's handsome self.

Asad - (rolled his eyes) seriously DECAF. Try it sometime (Zoya nodded along and he sighed) I didn't go to home..I always keep extra sets of clothes at work.

Zoya - (nodded) so why aren't you at work?

Asad - (sighed) whats the point when everyone from the receptionist to my PA to my client I was supposed to sign a deal with today...refuse to talk to me..(Zoya's eyes widened) kiss kiss ko fire karoon.

Zoya - even they're mad at you? Now what did you do to piss them off as well Mr. Khan aap kyun har kissi masoom par zulm-

Asad - (glared at her) ON AMMIS ORDERS..their refusing to talk to me and (shook his head irritatedly) seem like they'll burst into tears in my presence

Zoya - (muttered) well can you blame them (Asad side eyed her) uhm? But why aren't they talking to you? Phupi told them not to talk to you because of the arrest? (Asad was silent for a long time, his finger playing with the rim of his cup too) Mr. Khan?

Asad - (shook his head) the arrest and yesterdays (stressed the word) incident aren't the only difference between my mother and me lately.

Zoya - (frowned) toh phir?

Asad - (annoyedly) she wants me to take part in the upcoming elections..and she even put my name down as a candidate without asking me

Zoya - (jumped with joy) OH YAY (starling Asad, the baristas and now the few customers, one glare from Asad and Zoyas hands which were in the air began recoiling)

Asad - I'm not going to.

Zoya - (muttered) of course (Asad glared at her again) BUT WHY THE HELL NOT MR. KHAN! YOU'RE PERFECT FOR IT. I mean you may be the only candidate whose not a crook (Asad may not be in agreement of that neither would his past record) I mean if I was allowed to vote you'd even have MY vote. Can you believe that (she beamed arrogantly at him)

Asad - (in the driest voice he could manage) I'm honoured. Let me go announce my candidacy right away.

Zoya - GREAT. (Asad rolled his eyes)

Asad - but anyways, yah..so where would I go? (Slouched back against the pillows and Zoya's heart skipped a beat, An Asad Ahmed Khan in a blue sweater, freshly shaven, a beanie, hipster glasses and some timberlands SLOUCHING in a coffee shop on a Saturday morning was a to behold and it momentarily threw her) Ayaan and the rest of my friends are being annoying, won't talk to me...my employees refuse to listen to me so where the hell do I go and what the hell do I do with myself? I spent 3 hours in the gym at a punching bag and even that didn't help-

Zoya - (whistled) ooo.

Asad - what?

Zoya - (took the last sip of her coffee) no its just, you only take your anger out on a punching bag when you're so angry that there is a high chance your head may explode...like the time (giggled) I broke your cars mirror (Asad gave her an annoyed look but there was a hint of a smile on his face remembering the bittersweet incident and realizing how far they had come, from not being able to STAND each other to now sipping coffee together and being each others support system, frenemies) god you were such a drama queen. Ghussa tera uff uff uff.

Asad - (raised an eyebrow) and I'm the drama queen? (Zoya laughed)

Zoya - Quit crying Mr. Khan (patting his leg and taking his cup) you've been given a gift.

Asad - (was there alcohol in her coffee?) a gift?

Zoya - (walking to the bookshelf) the gift of time. A Day off. To just RELAX. Read a book, play guitar, take a walk, ride a bike (handing him a book) just take a break and CHILL I don't know anyone who needs it more than you...and trust me you'll feel SO much better because theres still a great chance of your head exploding (playfully clasping and then knocking his head about)

Asad - sure. You just want another line under your name on the scoreboard.

Zoya - (clinked the cups together) touch. (She began walking off but it was clear on her face that there was something else she wanted to say, and being Zoya she just couldn't not say it so she turned around and Asad was just staring at the book with disdain like he didn't know what to do with the book or himself, it was such a waste of time to read a book during a "business day as he considered it)

Zoya - (turning around) Mr. Khan (Asad looked up at her) I won't stop talking to you and I won't pressurize you and don't let this get to your head but I don't think any city in any country of the world could be as fortunate to find a candidate as competent, hard working, dedicated, loyal and caring as you...we would he absolutely privileged snd honoured to have you as our mayor. So..at least think about it. (And then she smiled sweetly at him and he couldn't help but smile and nod along) oh and one more thing. (Tounge in cheek, totally about to make a pass on him, there was this unofficial flirting going on between them back and forth these days and they both absolutely loved it) none would have a mayor half as handsome ours either (saying so she clinked her cups together)

Asad - touch (Zoya laughed turning around and Asad returned to his book blushing and smiling, he was beginning to do that a lot these days)

xxx

Haveli:

Azlan came bounding up the steps of his house talking urgently on the phone.

Azlan - what do you mean bail aaj nahin ho sakti? You're the best damn lawyer in the city what are we paying you for if my father has to spend the night in jail? I don't care WHAT day it is Saturday, Sunday Christmas EID...I want my day out of jail NOW. Don't forget that he's the god damn prince of this town. I don't care DO SOMETHING!! (after barking angry orders to his lawyers he looked up at the women who had surrounded him. His daadi, ammi, Anaya, Kajol, Naina hovering in the back something which he didn't acknowledge but didn't miss either)

Shireen - (her face pale, her eyes all cried out) Azlan, Azlan Rashid Rashid kahaan hain hai? Tumh unhe saath kyun nahin laye ho? (Staring behind him) bolo na Azlan Rashid kahan hain? Woh-

Azlan - (stroking her hair worriedly) Ammi..Ammi please calm down..please aap apni tabiyat kharaab karleingi aap ayee..(pulling her towards the couch, he looked up on the verge of asking Naina to bring her water but then stopped himself short) Humeira can you get Ammi a glass of water?

(Humeira stared between him and Naina wondering what had gone wrong with them but then assuming it to be Naina's fault nonetheless she walked out to get the water)

Shireen - Azlan..AZLAN. Mujhe paani nahin chahiye mujhe mujhe sirf Rashid chahiyen bolo naa kahan hain woh unki bail-

Salman - Azlan tum khamosh kyun ho unki bail-

Azlan - (crumpling beneath the pressure) NAHIN HUI..okay NAHIN hui unki bail..weekend ki wajah se koi bhi judge hearing ke liye maujood hi nahin hai...main, Chachoo Zain Iqbal uncle hum sab koshish kar rahe hain par...par-

Razia - (stroking a crying Anaya's hair, however her touch could not be more fake) naa jaane hamare ghar ki khushiyon ko kiss ki nazar lag gayee..

Asad - nazar nahin, hasad (jealousy)...Asad Ahmed Khan humse itna jalta hai itna khauf hai usse hamari family ka ke kahin hamare Kasauli waapis aa jaane se uski mushkil se banayee gayee thori bauhat izzat thori bauhat shaurat thori bauhat daulat mitti me naa mil jaye iss liye woh yeh sab kuch badle ke liye kar raha hai (Even with all the tensions in the house, Maya, Naina and Kajol openly rolled their eyes, Azlan too was tempted to but even if what Ghafoor said wasn't true he couldn't deny or change the fact that it WAS Asad who had his father arrested but Shireens reaction was totally uncalled for)

Shireen - Azlan...Azlan (grabbing both his hands startling him and scaring and worrying everyone else over her mental health and stability) Azlan please mujhe Asad se milwaane le chalo...main main usse baat karoongi ke woh yeh case waapis le le, badle mein usse JO kuch chahiye main usse dene ko tayaar hoon...hum yeh manhoos shehr chorke waapis chale jayenge woh JO CHAHE USSE DE DEINGE PLEASE bas kissi tarha woh case waapis le le...uske aur dilshaad ke paon parke maafi maang loongi.

Azlan - Ammi please, yeh kaisi baatein kar rahee hain aap please sambhaliye apne aapko

Shireen - KAISE SAMBHALEIN KHUD KO? Hunh? Wahaan rashid jail mein sar rahe hain aur aap log KUCH nahin kar rahe hain ulta humme (and then she broke down crying against Anaya whose own tears began overflowing)

Anaya - Par Azlan tum Asad se BAAT toh kar hi sakte ho na maybe the whole thing is just a misunderstanding? Or you can convince him to change his mind? Usse samjhao-

Azlan - (scoffed shaking his head) Asad ko KOI samjha nahin sakta (but he didn't know how very wrong about that he was)

Salman - Phir bhi Azlan..baat karne mein koi harj toh nahin haina? Nothing can be worse than what's already happened can it (but Azlan wasn't too sure. His family was falling apart and he wasn't sure if talking to Asad may just be the worst thing he could do for them right about now. Finally, they were getting a feeling of what it was like to have your whole world fall apart before your own eyes and be completely and utterly helpless to do anything about it like Asad, Dilshad and Aisha did about 25 years ago)

xxx

Continued in next post...

Asha's Cafe:

Zoya giggled herself silly as she stood hovering near Asad taking the most adorable but in Asad's eyes scandalous pictures of him. Given how exhausted he was he had fallen asleep whilst reading and his book was resting on his chest, his mouth hanging slightly open as he half sat/half laid fast asleep.

A barista staring over her shoulder - hamara boss kitna cute haina re (swooning over him, Zoya side eyed her)

Sheila - (in her defence she was voicing Zoya's actual thoughts at that point) behaya aurat (Zoya looked back towards Asad less insecure now that Sheila had told the girl off) hamara boss cute nahin sexy hai (Zoya gave her an even more irritated look ducking out from beneath her and they both continued on wiping tables whilst Zoya went back to staring at the adorable picture of Asad she had taken, biting her lip excitedly. She then felt the chill hit her hard as the door opened and shut behind a couple who entered the restaurant. She watched as Asad tried to curl into himself to shield himself from the cold and it made her smile even more, if only the business world could see their tycoon right now. She grabbed the throw from beside him and gingerly covered him with it trying her hardest to not stroke her fingers through his silky locks and she couldn't remember the last time she had to resist something this hard)

Half an hour later:

A very sleepy Asad sat up rubbing his eyes for a good 15 minutes and watching the rainfall dragged his feet over to the countertops.

Sheila - (smiled seeing him approach) look who decided to finally wake up

Asad - (straddling the bar stool still all groggy) Is it 2065 yet? (Sheila laughed) seriously how did I end up falling asleep?

Sheila - (muttered) a lot sure has been changing around here

Asad - (staring at her confusedly) I never take naps during the day they always throw me into the weirdest moods

Sheila - besides the normal happy go lucky spreading constant cheer Santa like moods

Asad - (stared at her weirdly) are you Ayaan wearing a mask of Sheila's face? (Sheila laughed shaking her head) can I get a coffee?

Sheila - Sure. You definitely look like you need it, I mean I've never seen a hair out of place on your head..and...(giggled) well it would be best for your OCD if you didn't look into a mirror.

Asad - hey where's-

Zoya - Sheila! (Asad nodded figuratively and Shiela smiled)

Asad - never mind.

Sheila - Zoya!

Zoya - what's the quickest way to get to highway 13? (Sheila and Asad both frowned)

Sheila - why do you want to go to a highway?

Zoya - I'm not going to the highway for a touristy picture I want to go to somewhere near the highway...

Sheila - well I'm not very good with directions so you should ask Asad.

Zoya - I'm not going to wake him up to ask him such a silly question

Asad - (spoke over the rim of his cup, a little loud so she could hear the question well because it had been too long, and he wanted to see her) everything you say is silly, and you'd probably pull me out of my grave to ask me something even more ludicrous

Zoya - (poked her head out of the kitchen door) back from the dead already?

Sheila - why don't you come out and talk to him I'll finish cleaning inside

Zoya - thanks

Sheila - no problem, although Zoya do be careful when you go I have heard bad things about that highway, a lot of robberies, kidnappings, land sliding.

Zoya - (stared at her wide eyed and spoke with a dry look on her face) gee thanks Sheila now I want to go quicker (Sheila smiled and then walked away inside)

Asad - (frowned) why do you want to go to highway 13?

Zoya - (looked at him, anally trying to adjust cookies to make them as aligned in the tray as possible, seems like people who lived together did start behaving alike) the other day uhm..someone recognized a place in one of my..(looked at him meaningfully) photos...and he said it's in a small town near highway 13 so...(Asad began nodding understandably but his mind was a little too preoccupied with what Sheila said) do you think You could tell me the directions

Asad - (nodded thoughtfully) no..

Zoya - (frowned, putting her hands on her hips) no?

Asad - (calmly shaking his head and sipping his coffee) no.

Zoya - no? Mr. KHAN AAP- HOW UNBELIEVABLY SELFISH CAN YOU BE MAIN AAPSE KASAULI KI ROADS KI INFORMATION MAANG RAHEEN HOON AAPKI KOI SPORTS CAR NAHIN aur aap phir bhi-

Asad - (still as calm as ever, which further riled her up) are you done yet?

Zoya - (glared at him) not even close-

Asad - I won't tell you...but I can take you there myself. (Zoya nearly dropped the whole tray of cookies she was holding but Asad caught it just in time)

Zoya - wh...what?

Asad - (rolled his eyes) don't look so shocked, I can return a favour too. It's the least I can do after all that you've done...are doing for my family (looked up at her slightly shyly) for me. (and he wasn't in a million years going to tell her that after hearing what Sheila just said he'd die a thousand times over. Just as Zoya began smiling gratefully, touched by his kind gesture and a little excited reading as much into it as what Asad's heart was really putting forth but before she could say anything Sheila came out)

Sheila - alright kids I'm off...you be good now.

Zoya - technically we should be saying that to you since you're the one with an exciting date night planned with Jay (Asad's eyes narrowed hearing Jay's name, annoyed with all his friends, whilst Zoya oblivious to the entire thing smiled at her) Sheila...my name is Sheila Sheila ki jawaani-

Sheila - (laughed shaking her head at her, she was CRAZY) BYE ZOYA!

Zoya - (laughed after her) I'm too sexy for you..main tere haath naa aani (winking at Asad as she walked away into the kitchen, leaving Asad's cheeks flushing a deep red) Mr. Khan I have to clean and lock aap so if you want-

Asad - I'll wait. (Zoya smiled to herself inside, already knowing his answer. It was one of the things she completely love- admired about him, you could without a shadow of a doubt depend on him to be there for you ALWAYS)

Zoya - (poked her head out) well..you could always finish your book whilst you wait..or better yet (smiled staring at the makeshift karaoke stage in the corner and then smiling at him ducked back into the kitchen) (Asad went back to sitting in the corner of the cafe, staring out at the falling rain, absentmindedly strumming his guitar but actually he was staring at Zoya walking about the cafe cleaning and locking up whilst his fingers worked magic on the guitar. Zoya had opened all the windows of the cafe letting the cold air coming through blow the white curtains wildly and occasionally a few cold drops of rain to seep through kissing their faces, making their skin crawl with goosebumps, the good kind. It felt like a magical night to be alive despite all the troubles they were constantly facing and for the first time in the face of trouble Asad didn't feel like he was falling apart or losing his mind from the stress of it but instead his heart felt like it would burst with contentment, hope and an estranged overwhelming emotion fluttering in his stomach: happiness)

Asad - (smiling as he played his guitar, the wind blowing his hair softly, the cold raindrops kissing his face which looked ethereal in the lights Zoya had just dimmed) Dheemi dheemi..(Zoya stilled in her tracks, the hair at the back of her neck standing up) hawa teri, Udne lagi hasti meri, (smiling the widest Zoya had ever seen him smile, his dimples ACTUALLY peeked through his smile, and it nearly made Zoya's heart burst as well) O khushboo khushba mehka ishq, Dooba dubka gehra ishq,(Zoya smiled crossing her arms watching him, her eyes twinkling brightly with life and happiness and a new raw emotion, a pull and tug towards him, falling in love with him one pull of a guitar string at a time) In khayalon ko odhlu main, Khud ko yaadon se jodlu main,(Tapping his guitar and foot to add beat) Khushboo khushba mehka ishq, Dooba dubka gehra ishq, Gehra ishq..Ooo..(Just as she saw him about to stop she quickly connected a song to the speakers in the cafe and grabbing the microphones tossed one to him startling him. Asad stared at her questioningly and she lifted one shoulder in a shrug, as if challenging him to match his beat to hers because once the beat dropped there was no stopping her)

Asad - (staring hard at her, there was definitely a crackle of electricity and sparks in the air as he kept his eyes level to hers whilst lifting the microphone to his mouth, making Zoya's heartbeats race with each second, until he finally let that beautiful but suddenly deeper more hoarser voice work its magic on her) Main yahan hun muntazir
Zoya - (shrugged her head, her eyes smiling from her cheeks again, twinkling brightly at him, she couldn't remember the last time she was such a bundle of emotional mess, giddy, overwhelmed with happiness, scared, anxious, hopeful. It was the first time since her jeeju died that she remembered feeling this happy) Tum wahan ho bekhabar
Asad - (nodding appreciatively at her, she wasn't half bad and Zoya who just couldn't stand still once the music started began dancing around with a fake electric guitar around him, making him smile as he spun around to keep up with her, not wanting to let her out of his sight just yet) Main yahan hun muntazir Tum wahan ho bekhabar Aur halke halke se man chaahe Maanga jisko woh mil jaaye (Both shaking their heads like complete rockstars, putting on their own fake concert in the middle of a half closed cafe) Yeh raat tham jaaye sau saal ko
Both - Aur ek ho jayein hum tum
Zoya - (flirt dancing away from him, keeping her flirtatious and twinkling eyes level with him though, watching him stalk towards her with a certain rockstarish bounce to his step too, and a definite predatory and equally flirtatious smile in his eyes) Main yahan hun muntazir Tum wahan ho bekhabar (ducking from beneath him just as he absentmindedly too caught up in the moment and in his feelings, reached out to pull her towards him. With his back facing her now where she left him after dodging him she smiled still dancing to the beat victoriously behind him) Aur halke halke se man chaahe Maanga jisko woh mil jaaye (Asad spun around with an eyebrow raised at her and Zoya couldn't help but laugh before she pulled her tea towel free from her apron and put it around his neck pulling his head towards her till they were locked in a head butt, both their eyes twinkling and crinkled around the corners from their smiles as they screamed and sang to their hearts content)
Both - Yeh raat tham jaaye sau saal ko Aur ek ho jayein hum tum
Zoya - (sitting on the countertop, Asad leaned against the opposite wall one leg higher up) Door se aati hain pariyan Sunati hain ek kahani Woh chhipa hai baahar Main yahan pe agar woh Woh wahan pe kare tera intezar Ab maanu nahi haar
Asad - Socho na chal pado Jao na, na daro(pointing at Zoya doing the sexiest moonwalk Zoya had ever seen, which nearly knocked her breath right out of her ) Jante ho tum uske dil ka raaz Shayad ghabrayegi woh Na keh paayegi woh (Zoya was walking towards him too whilst he was walking towards her Snapping his fingers) Tum na darna, peechhe hatna (jumped off a tilting chair like a typical rockstar)
Both - (their backs towards each other, Asads head leaning on Zoya's as he tilted it all the way back) Keh dena dil ke haal(both of them then continued jamming to the music on their own, completely LOSING their hearts, their souls and themselves to the idea of both of them together, with that beat, those rain drops, that wind and each other and it was a moment too powerful and meaningful to be reckoned with)
Asad - (walking towards the centre of the cafe again staring at her with his eyes level) Main yahan hun muntazir Tum wahan ho bekhabar(Zoya who had begun walking towards him as well attempted to playfully flick his forehead and walk away but he grabbed hold of her hand just as she did. He turned his head slightly towards her and she him, both their hearts racing a mile per minute but an excited and curious smile on both their faces wanting to see where their paths led them regardless of how terrified they were. With one tug Asad had twirled Zoya so that she was in front of him again, their breaths intermingling foreheads slightly bumping as Zoya was on her tippy toes, her arm casually strewn around Asad's necks, making both of their breathing ragged, and their eyes just slightly darker.)
Zoya - Aur halke halke se man chaahe Maanga jisko woh mil jaaye
Asad- Yeh raat tham jaaye sau saal ko
Zoya - Aur ek ho jayein hum tum
Both - Yeh raat tham jaaye sau saal ko
Zoya - Aur ek ho jayein hum tum(They both stopped singing, with bright smiles on their faces, their foreheads just an inch closer and Asad had not let go of her hand)

5 minutes Later:

Asad was having a smoke outside whilst Zoya just gathered a few of her things before they locked up and could finally go home when he heard footsteps behind him. His hand stilled midst drag and he froze for just a second, before he tried to trick himself into believing he really was as cool as he was acting.

Asad - I wondered when I'd be seeing you (turned around acting acting completely nonchalant even though there was a deep fire burning inside him, a fire of desperation and hope that his brother understood him and didn't think he was doing this as some poorly thought out childish act of revenge, but unfortunately as usual he was going to be left disappointed) to be honest I'm surprised..I expected you to show up a lot earlier.

Azlan - (nodded, trying to respect the fact that Asad was being polite and to be honest he didn't want to give him any reason to get riled up and end up doing more harm than good to his father) I've been trying to get Abbu's bail sorted (He watched Asad's body go rigid and taut with hatred as it did every time Rashid's mention was brought up) but unfortunately because of the weekend it's not...it's just (realizing Asad could care less and was giving him the classic Asad poker face) look Asad...I..I didn't come here to fight...or argue with you I-

Asad - (losing his patience fast) then what DID you come here for?

Azlan - to ask you..brother to brother to PLEASE drop the charges against him...please don't do this hamari poori family tabah ho jayegi. (But in his plea of desperation he failed to realize how Asad had gone completely undone by his words brother to brother' didn't hear a word after that, he couldn't. In that moment his eyes held so much pain that it could break even the most stoned of hearts)

Asad - (in a small broken voice) brother to brother? (Looking Azlan square in his surprised eyes) Do you even understand the meaning of that? Or are you just as equally selfish as the rest of (pointing accusingly at him) YOUR family that when the calamity falls upon your own head you come back to claim the brother you so ruefully turned away when goings got tough hunh? Jab chahe rishta bana liya jab chahe rishta tor diya, it's all a game to you people isn't it? (He now had angry tears in his eyes, so much for Zoya's efforts to make him feel better) you broke my heart Azlan, you broke my heart when you wished that I had never been born, that you were better off not knowing you had a little brother (and now Azlan's eyes filled with tears too)

Azlan - Asad - (Asad held up a hand taking a step back, his immediate deep rooted childhood reflex and defence mechanism)

Asad - I don't care WHAT you have to say Azlan I'm NOT going to withdraw the case-

Azlan - (trying to not get caught up in emotions of 5 years ago that ended up in a huge fal out between the brothers and instead focus on the present, trying to save his father) Asad please..try to understand Feroz is the officer in charge of Abbu's case..I know him..woh hum dono ke kiye ka badla Abbu se lene ka bas intezaar kar raha hai, hamari maar ka badla aur ghussa woh Abbu par nikalega-

Asad - (shaking his head, not wanting to listen to him lest he let Azlan convince him into changing his mind like he somehow managed to do EACH and EVERY Time) I saw him with the body..(Azlan visibly froze for a second, not expecting to hear that, so he wasn't coming from a place of jealousy and petty revenge) I saw him. (Saying so he turned around and without saying anything rounded the corner storming off leaving Azlan's mind reeling with emotions, heartbreak and revelation. Azlan bent over on his knees feeling like he was going to be sick with all the thoughts going round in his head. When he stood up to answer his ringing cell phone he found himself come face to face with a brightly smiling Zoya (well he didn't know her name was Zoya, just the trouble maker he couldn't help but drool all over at the charity festival, and just seeing her eased his tension and stress just a smidge, he was about to step forward to her to say something he didn't know exactly what but found his feet moving before his mind could register his actions but it seemed to have startled Zoya and her eyes went wide and without warning she turned on her heels and ran around the corner where Asad had just disappeared to, leaving Azlan stranded on a deserted street again)

Azlan - (couldn't help but chuckle despite his current state) weird girl. (However, the constant ringing of his cellphone brought him back to reality)

xxx

Kasauli Police HQ:

Azlan walked into the silent and dark police station late at night. Most of the officers had already gone home because the police were often a main target for Kasauli's petty thugs and so they tried to keep as much of a low profile as they could. As he walked in Zain who was sitting at one of the desks stood up, tensed.

Zain - dude..where have you been? I called you like a 100 times, Mami is losing her mind. You should be at home with her-

Azlan - (snapped, succumbing to the pressure. It's what happens when you've never known stress, difficulty, tests or hardships and all you've ever lived is a life of privilege and comfort) TO TELL HER WHAT EXACTLY? Hunh? That despite being the freaking prince of this town her husband will have to spend the night and probably even tomorrow night in prison because it's the "weekend and theres no guard to sign a bail order. That my brother is hell bent on extracting 25 years of revenge on our family and refuses to demonstrate any compassion or understanding because lets face it we've never demonstrated the same to him and that EVERYONE is looking towards me to have the magical solution to make all of this go away like some horrible nightmare..well I DON'T have it.

Zain - (breathing heavily, his annoyance and temptation to tell Azlan off clear on his face but he refrained, being a good friend, a good brother) I didn't expect you to have it. But your mother and sister don't need to have one more thing to worry about by not getting a hold of you. You can at least hold them, be there for them..comfort them that sooner or later maamu will be at home with us..ANYTHING is better than what you're doing now...wandering about town and not answering anyone's calls. Really Azlan, it's about time you GREW THE HELL UP. Go home, I'm here with Maamu. (Saying so he stormed off, really not having the patience to deal with Azlan and Azlan was left blowing rage by himself like the angry, privileged and spoilt son who had never known grief in his life that he was. As he stood there seething and simultaneously succumbing to pressure he heard faint noises coming from the lockup. Like someone calling his name. He knew who it was at once, but he didn't have the courage to go and face him, not in this situation not with bars separating them. Still when Rashid didn't stop calling him, he gathered SOME courage and tried to be brave for his family like he had seen and both admired and envied Asad being for his family and walked between the doors that led to all the lockups, but it didn't make it any easier. It was still just as hard to see Rashid on the opposite side of those bars.

Rashid - (knowing exactly how difficult it would've been for Azlan to see him behind bars. Azlan may be Asad's elder brother by a few months, given the different circumstances they were both raised in unfortunately Asad had to be the bigger brother in such situations) trust me it's not as bad as it looks.

Azlan - (nodded, gulping the lump in his throat) you're right its worse.

Rashid - (reached out from the lockup and covered his hands on the bars) no...it's not. Look at me, I'm PERFECTLY fine Azlan. Kya ho raha hai mujhe yahan? Kuch bhi toh nahin. Khaane ko mil raha hai, sone ko mil raha hai...haan it may not be as hygienic as home but-

Azlan - dad stop. Please. Wahaan Ammi aur Aapi ka ro ro ke bura haal hai aur yahan aapko mazaaq sooj raha hai aur waahan aapka doosra beta Asad-

Rashid - (trying to not let his voice break before Azlan as he recalled the most disgusted and ashamed expression Asad stared at him with, it still made him feel like he was covered in filth) apne bhai ko ghalat mat samjho Azlan, ussne jo kiya uske peeche uski koi wajah thi-

Azlan - (scoffed) yah, harbouring hate and seeking revenge-

Rashid - (spoke after a moment of silence in which he just observed Azlan, and the undertones of privilege that spoke in his words) (in a quiet voice) he saw me with a body Azlan (Azlan's stunned face snapped to his) I know you're going to think I'm covering for him but I'm not. I'm really not. and neither is Asad doing this out of revenge. Both he and I are respecting the law. Asad ko sirf kuch ghalat fehmi hui hai and it's a long story but I just want you to know that I didn't do anything wrong. Please Azlan you have to believe me-

Azlan - (covered his hand with his other one, enveloping his one hand between both of his, feeling relieved that his father was innocent and that he didn't have to harbour hate for Asad compulsively. It made him feel his strongest yet) I do Abbu of course I do.

Rashid - Good. Then go home, Zain is right you have to be there for your mother and sister..and Ma Baba. Bhai aur bhabi kis kis ko sambhaleinge. Your mother has a lot to worry about she shouldn't have to worry about you too. All of you just take comfort in the fact that I'm innocent and still your father is brave enough to respect the law enough to do it's job. I mean we could have bribed any officer to let me go, but instead we opted for the legal system.

Azlan - (laughed despite his worry for his family) I'm sure Malik Sir hamari rishwat hamare hi mun pe waapis maarte aur instead apne godson ke saath milke hum sabko persecute karte.

Rashid - (laughed too, patting his hand for comfort) that too. (Azlan managed a weary smile at him and Rashid patted his head) go home beta. They need you. Zain hai mere saath yahan I'm perfectly fine.

xxx

Khan Mansion:
Asad - Ghalat fehmi! Ghalat fehmi! Ghalat Fehmi! GHALAT FEHMI mujhe nahin aap ko hai Ammi jo aap ABH BHI YEH MAANTI HAIN KE WOH BEKASOOR HAIN. Aur apni yeh ghalat fehmi aap aage Malik uncle pe bhi thaump rahi hain.

Malik - Asad. relax. Koi kissi par koi ghalat fehmi nahin thaump raha koi kuch bhi aise hi nahin maan raha. We just all need to think rationally.

Asad - I already did think rationally. When I spotted him with the dead body, thats about all the thinking I need to do. You don't believe me, you think I'm holding a personal grudge ask Zoya...she saw it too. (all eyes turned on Zoya who crawled back into a corner uncomfortably. Malik didn't need her to say anything to know she would say the same thing Asad had just said)

Malik - Okay. Okay. I understand I believe you. and we're not saying what you saw is wrong, we just want all the facts before making a judgement. I'm being frank here Asad there is or isn't a case here based on your testimony alone-

Asad - and I'm ready to give it-

Dilshad - NO. YOU WILL NOT.

Asad - (stared at her, not with anger or resentment, but pity. Pity and sympathy that she loved such a slime according to Asad to the limits of insanity, which is why Asad despised love) are you asking me to lie under oath?

Dilshad - I'm asking you not to take the oath. DO NOT..GO TO THE BAIL HEARING.

Asad - (clenched and unclenched his fists) I'm sorry if I'm hurting you Ammi, trust me it's unintentional. But I'm going to that hearing tomorrow...even if it's the last thing I ever do (Dilshad gasped and Zoya's heart fell to the pit of her stomach as Malik closed his eyes sighing that went well, Asad stormed off and Ayaan went storming after him)

Ayaan - you know you'd have full power of the legal and judiciary system as mayor of this town, you could persecute whoever the hell you want for no apparent reason, and I vote to begin with each member of the Haveli, NOT including NAINA and I'd preferably start with your brother.

Asad - (busy storming out of the house and simultaneously lighting a cigarette) DON'T YOU START TOO NOW-

Ayaan - WHY THE HELL NOT! Just give me ONE GOOD REASON AND I SWEAR TO GOD I'll BACK OFF-

Asad - (his eyes ablaze with emotion, trauma, pain, and darkness..as charged as the rest of him) YOU GOD DAMN KNOW WHY. (He glared long hard at Ayaan and Ayaan glared back, both breathing heavily both wanting but holding back from saying a lot. Asad turned around, his defence mechanisms back in full storm as he stormed off shielding his eyes not wanting anyone to see the demons hidden within which he battled every living breathing moment. Ayaan sighed, he knew very well why but he also knew that it was time Asad stopped hiding behind the fear and pain of his past and stepped up to his full potential because he was the ONLY person who could save this city now)

xxx

Early the Next Morning:

Zoya wrapped her cardigan tighter around herself as she walked across the garden holding a steaming cup of coffee. The grass and leaves bunching beneath her bare feet. She walked up to Asad who was sitting alone and defeated, tired on the steps of the gazebo smoking yet another cigarette.

Zoya - how do you not feel like throwing up? (Snatching the cigarette from his mouth and tossing it aside as she took a seat beside him on the steps of the gazebo)

Asad - (dryly) oh great, you're here..feel free to come invade my personal space and throw my cigarette away (attempting to light another cigarette. Zoya caught it been her fingers again and tossed it again and when she was met with another angry glare of his she just shrugged casually. She really could care less.)

Zoya - (smiled brightly at him) 7 minutes! Remember. Instead of taking 7 minutes away from your life why don't you spend them enjoying this delicious coffee I made for you.

Asad - you made it, so I highly doubt delicious is an apt way to describe it.

Zoya - thats why you keep coming back to the cafe right, because you just LOVE to pay for a disgusting cup of coffee.

Asad - (hiding his ghost of a smile behind his cup) who says I pay for it? I own the damn place. (Zoya rolled her eyes, his arrogance never failed to surprise her, but as Asad took one sip of his coffee his smile had already altered, and a nasty feeling settled in his stomach) say it.

Zoya - (looked up from the flowers she had plucked, genuinely confused) say what?

Asad - That I'm a horrible son for deliberately hurting my mother.

Zoya - (sighed) I could think a lot of horrible things of you Mr. Khan, but I could never think of you as a horrible son. It's one of the RARE qualities I actually admire about you..(Asad looked towards her baffled in surprise, he had expected her to go off on a rant about how much of a horrible son he was now that he had given her the outlet to do so but he was even more surprised to find her smiling at him) I..I've never seen a son love his mother as selflessly as you love your Ammi. What you did for her, for your family (shook her head) few have the courage to do Mr. Khan. You took the hell life had to offer her and converted it into this beautiful Jannat for her (staring at the stone white Jannat Asad had built for his mother, the beauty of which she was still not entirely able to grasp) but...

Asad - (his heart stopping) but?

Zoya - Just make sure, you're doing what you're doing for the right reason.

Asad - (sighed) don't tell her I told you okay.

Zoya - (clapped her hands together) ooh a secret.

Asad - (rolled his eyes) at first (nervously playing with the mug. Zoya had to put her hand atop of his to stop him to finally get him to stop beating around the bush and spit it out) I may have done it out of anger. Out of hate and pain..I just wanted him to suffer you know (Zoya nodded)

Zoya - I know.

Asad - but now...now I'm doing it because he...he deserves to pay for what he did. Okay maybe, maybe I can accept that he didn't try to shoot Ammi but the other body? You..you were there? You can understand right? I just want justice to be served. Ammi...I hate to admit it, but I know she's blinded by her love for him. She would never try to stop me from testifying and doing something right if it was anybody else involved, would she? I...I don't hold it against her. But..but she shouldn't hold it against me either? Right? (and as she looked into his sad eyes needing her confirmation to prevent him from spiralling apart she sat transfixed and found herself nodding along)

Zoya - Right.

Asad - (again, avoiding looking at her due to his defense mechanisms) I just wish she understood it too.

Zoya - (playfully nudged him to ease his mood, he couldn't forget about all that was happening but at least it was better than constantly dwelling on it) it doesn't help when you stay out all night out of spite, and worry her further and then of course theres the lil birdie who gets a chance to openly badmouth you infront of your mother

Asad - (rolled his eyes) you can stop the childish attempts to become Ammi's favourite.

Zoya - why? Scared I'll win.

Asad - (scoffed) bhai and Aapi have been trying it for years, look how far they've gotten.

Zoya - (stared at him as her eyes filled with envious tears) I know. Unki jaan basti hai aap mein.

Asad - (realizing what those tears were for) I guess I'll try not to worry her further by staying out all night.

Zoya - Riiiggghhht you can just worry her by staying holed up in your room all night and not eating anything

Asad - (rolled her eyes) I only avoid her because I don't want to say anything to hurt her...but I won't back away from the case. I can't.

Zoya - (sighed) in that case, continue avoiding her bcuz knowing you you will DEFINITELY say something hurtful. It's like an absolute reflex for you. Hurt others before they can hurt you. (Asad remained silent staring at his cup marvelling how much of an open book he had become to Zoya because her words were truer than she herself realized in that moment)

Asad - well...you might wanna get ready, so we can leave. If we leave now I won't have to face Ammi and say anything hurtful and we can come back early so she's not worried.

Zoya - See..everybody wins (saying so she slid the flowers she had been playing with behind his ear and took the coffee cup from him. Asad looked at the flowers, his heart enlarged & overwhelmed with feelings, he smiled shyly at them and then before he could stop himself he looked up)

Asad - Zoya? (zoya turned around) thanks.

Zoya - (smiled brightly at him and winked, making him smile shyly again, and Zoya bit her lips at the sight of that adorable dork of a man) you're buying me breakfast by the way. (Asad looked up confused only to find a 100 megawatt smile on her face which could only mean one thing)

Asad & Zoya - Milkshake and fries.

xxx