#2 - AsYa FF: Mohabbatein - Part 28 - Page 130 - 31/01/18! A/N Pg 132! - Page 86

A drunken Azlan lay fast asleep or past out in his car outside the bar, his head laying fast against the steering wheel. His cell phone was ringing non-stop next to him, but he was too drunk to hear it. It was only when his head lolled unto the horn and it honked loudly did he get up startled. He held his throbbing head and then proceeded to look around disoriented. He looked from the bar, to the part of town he didn't realize, to his car and clothes wondering where he was, when and why he got here and how? Then he finally heard his cellphone ringing and decided to answer it.

Zain - (not giving him a chance to say hello) WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!! MAMI'S CRIED HERSELF SENSELESS ALL MORNING!! WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CALL YOU-

Azlan - zain, zain.stop.yelling. (There was silence on the other end for a minute)

Zain - (his voice and tone failing to hide his judgement) are you drunk?

Azlan - I-

Zain - Your dad's hearing is in an hour. I'm heading to the station now, I want to escort him in. Maamu's going with me, You MIGHT want to show up. (Saying so he shut the phone, disappointed and frankly annoyed by Azlan's lack of maturity, responsibility and strength. Instead of standing up, taking control caring for his mother and sister and being there for his family he chose to go get drunk because life got a little tough for once.)

xxx

Khan Mansion:

It was clear by Aisha and Zoya's eyes at once that neither of them had slept a wink all night. They were both up and rushing around outside setting a nice breakfast spread fit for a prince. Everything down to the angle of the forks was set the way they hoped and prayed Asad would like. All they wanted was to see him healthy and happy at home which is why they didn't have traditional breakfast items he would definitely refuse to eat but instead they got multiple pitchers of coffee, black (but sweetened) and all things that would give one a sugar coma for Mr. sweet tooth. Doughnuts, candy, pastries, cookies etc. Aisha and Zoya were just finishing decorating the carrot cake they had baked. Zoya spread the icing with her shaky and anxious hands one eye on the clock constantly. Unfortunately, the Asad that returned to them wouldn't be smiling, instead he'd be even further damaged, even more broken. As they set the table, an insecure and hesitant Dilshad walked up to the kitchen and hovered in the doorway. Aisha and Zoya both looked up, whilst Aisha simply looked away frowning, disappointed, angry, betrayed and frankly hurt Zoya gave her a small smile. It was their family matter after all. Dilshad looked sick, pale, afraid (which she was, her heart beating a mile a minute) fearing facing her son she was guilty of hurting, dreading looking into his beautiful eyes. She looked dazed, mentally extremely fragile. As she hovered, her eyes unfocused staring at the cake Aahil and Ayaan walked in. Ayaan was generally a deviant. He didn't bow down to society norms no matter how ludicrous just to play along in the comedy called society and earn the title of a respectful boy' when inside he was harbouring hypocritical, loath full and viscous feelings. The matters in his heart were on his face and he didn't hesitate to show anyone tough love and speak his mind. He was honest and blunt and that's what those who accepted him for him loved him for. So, he looked away from Dilshad not wasting time with pleasantries making Dilshad's eyes fill with tears but Aahil smiled slightly at her.

Ayaan - Jay's almost here. We're heading to the station now since its time for the court hearing, so they should be letting Asad go now. (Side eyeing Dilshad) hopefully.

Aahil - (staring directly at Aisha) you guys coming along? (Zoya however, had already walked up to them, nearly jogged actually and was standing right next to them ready to go, she could barely wait a single second to see him. Aisha looked up at them and then her mother and saw the hopeful and pleading look in her eyes and she sighed looking down. Frowning. She didn't want to, but she was a good daughter. Moreover, she knew no matter how hurt or angry Asad was at his Ammi' he'd still yell at her if she didn't do it which is one of the things she loved most about him.) Aisha- I...I'll stay...I..I'll just (sigh) I'll stay. (As the others left she heard her mother sigh in relief for not being left alone and it infuriated Aisha so she picked the cake and walked out to the backyard, it was her mother after all who had left Asad all alone last night)

xxx

Kasauli PQ: It was a miracle in itself that Ayaan and Aahil were both able to drive in or out of the Khan Mansion given that the entire premises of his property outside the concrete walls and iron gates that surrounded the property were crawling with reporters, cameras and members of the media. As they were leaving to go back to the police station both their cars were swarmed with journalists trying to get a bite. Ayaan kept his hand on the horn refusing to let up and kept on politely requesting them to move out of the way, but they wouldn't budge. Since he and Zoya were leading the way out in his car Ayaan eventually had to give up and resort to force. He lightly pressed on the accelerator and again refused to let up, letting his car crawl along and the journalists just had to jump aside to save their lives since they wouldn't listen or take him seriously at first when he asked nicely. As they got to the police station they found a similar scenario there as well, so Ayaan parked a couple of blocks away from the station, and turned the ignition off gripping Zoya's arm just as soon as she was about to jump out of the car, making Ayaan's heart still for a second. He was just beginning to wrap his mind around Zoya's erratic and panicked behaviour since last night, the way her eyes hadn't dried up since and the constant paled complexion of hers. He had suspected it all along that something was cooking between his best friend and his sister but could it be that it had blossomed into something this strong and beautiful? Was his little sister in love?

Ayaan - (worry etched on his face) uhm, Zoya I think it's better if you stay here. (He saw Zoya about to argue and he held up a hand) this isn't America Zoe, this is India. Here, police stations are worse than the slums of America. Trust me I don't want you to face that atmosphere and (testing the waters) I know Asad wouldn't want it either (he felt Zoya's arm relax in his hold, all the fight in her leaving her body at once and a bittersweet feeling erupted in his stomach. How should he feel about that? His little sister was or was falling in love with his best friend. On one hand he could never have been happier and there weren't two people he felt who could be more perfect for one another or deserve all the happiness in the world, but they were also his two most favourite human beings on earth and he wouldn't want to see either of them get hurt and unfortunately where Asad was concerned that would inevitably end up happening and the worst part was he couldn't hold that against Asad either knowing all that he knew about Asad and his life) Ayaan - (looked at her with the same bittersweet smile) trust me, I'll bring him right to you (Zoya smiled and nodded, her eyes wet yet again and Ayaan made a quick escape from the car, exhaling a heavy breath he didn't know he was holding once he stepped out, his shoulders suddenly feeling weighed down by brotherly love and concern. Little did he know he was about to be crushed by a tsunami of such love and concern once he stepped inside the police station.)

Inside the police station:

Azlan came running through the doors of the station where he saw a rather tensed and pensive looking Zain along with an equally pensive looking Javed who was signing some forms. Azlan rushed them hysterically.

Azlan - You..You already went to court? How'd the bail hearing go? Where's Abbu? Is..is he okay? I swear to god if there's even a scratch on him I'll kill Feroz with my own ha-

Javed - (snapped at him in irritation, his irresponsibility was no longer charming for his family members) WILL YOU QUIET DOWN. You're creating a scene (and then he did a one over and Azlan haphazardly tried to make himself look presentable) apni haalat dekho for gods sake.

Azlan - (turned his attention to Zain completely) Zain talk to me. What aren't you telling me, don't hide anything from me-

Zain - (pulled him further away from Javed to the water fountain as Javed resumed filling out the forms) nothing. There's nothing I'm hiding from you. The bail hearing went well an officers gone to get Rashid Maamu now (Azlan sighed in relief and felt his knees give way as he collapsed into the nearest chair and Zain smiled sympathetically at him, understanding but not being able to relate as he never knew his father, how difficult it would be for a son to see his father go through this) it's just (and just like that Azlan's relief vanished and fear of the worst settled in, Zain's confused frown didn't help either) Maamu just-

Azlan - (standing up face to face with Zain) he looked what? Damn it Zain speak up.

Zain - he just looked...devastated, pale like...like he was going to be sick any second...(shrugged) he just had this...look, I've seen it before (cast a quick apprehensive look at Azlan, fearful of the reaction he'd face) I've seen it in Asad's eyes before..it's..it's a

Azlan - (his eyebrows furrowed) a..haunted look (Zain nodded in agreement, Azlan finding the exact word to describe it, as Javed joined them, both still wondering why they saw such a look in Rashid's eyes)

Javed - okay so, here's what were going to do. When Rashid comes out- (he turned his attention to the officer who returned from the lock ups where he had gone to get Rashid, only he returned as alone as he went in, Rashid wasn't at his side and he was nowhere to be seen either)

Zain - (frowned) Salim? Kya huwa tum yahan kya kar rahe ho? Maamu kahan hai? Tum unhe lene gaye the na?

Salim - (nodded, equally perplexed) uhm sahab woh...woh aa nahin rahe?

Azlan - (frowned) what rubbish? (Starting off to the lock ups and Salim and the other two followed suit) kya matlab aa nahin rahe?

Javed - as I was saying I want you two to take Rashid home I have to go to city centre to join Ghaffur bhai for our pep rally, but I'd be weary of the media outside and surrounding the house (as they walked through the doors of the lock up that led to all the cells they immediately went to Rashid's cell which was the first cell on the left side, the door of which was open and Rashid was standing with his back against the iron rods as if frozen in time. Which he was. Frozen in time from when Feroz laid that first merciless hand on his boy.)

Javed - Rashid tum yahan khare time kyun waste kar rahe ho? Ghar pe sab intezaar kar rahe hain (checking his watch) chalo bhi (but Rashid didn't so much as flinch hearing them right behind him)

Azlan - (looked to the others worriedly) Abbu? (and that's when it hit him. Rashid. He winced audibly and flinched as that word, that one word that normally made his heart swell with love, happiness and blessedness each time he heard it today fell like acid upon his already wounded and mutilated heart. He turned around slowly, his whole body shaking now further terrifying the 3 who had come to bring him back home like the prince that he was. Rashid's face had become ashy grey, he literally did look like he was going to be sick any minute. His eyes were bloodshot and his whole complexion, body language and stance looked like he had seen a ghost. He gripped the iron rods like his life would slip from between his fingers if he didn't and his eyes nearly budged out of his sockets whilst his lips trembled as he stared desperately and brokenly straight across. Attempting but failing to get the words across to them. Azlan understanding so much that he wanted to say something spun around and for a few seconds he just stood there not being able to react, comprehend or understand what was going on. Javed lost his footing as a spell of dizziness from shock hit him HARD and he slumped against Rashid's cells bars clutching his heart whilst Zain who yelped and gasped in shock, his eyes wide as saucers covered his mouth and held the bars in shock too. It still took another 30 seconds for it to register with Azlan that it was in fact his little brother who was hanging from the ceiling like a lamb for slaughter in those handcuffs covered in wounds, his clothes torn to rags, with blood, HIS blood dripping from every inch of bare skin Azlan could see. The floor of the cell beneath him was darkened with his blood. As this realization finally registered with him a strangled cry and scream escaped from Azlan alerting every prisoner and officer in the precinct. Azlan jumped at the bars at once just as Asad winced and groaned, coming back to life it seemed. Azlans tears and cries were clouding his thought process not letting him think clearly as he pulled and rattled the bars to his cage as if he could actually rip them apart with his own hands just, so he could get to his brother faster and save him from pain, which he was about 12 hours too late for.

Azlan - (kicking the bars whilst crying, not able to understand why they wouldn't let up) GOD DAMN IT-

Zain - (screamed at the other officer who just stared perplexed and scared not understanding what was going on) WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR!! OPEN THE GOD DAMN CELL!! (The officer fumbled with his keys but rushed to open it at once without asking questions, scared by the hysterics around him. Azlan, ripped through the door as soon as the lock twisted and he was in the cell jumping up to unhook the chains to the ceiling at once whilst Zain got the other. Asad winced as he felt them brush against his side and as the cuffs tugged against his wrists)

Azlan - (in a strangled voice) Asad...god, my god..ASAD...A..(Asad fell forward as they unhooked the chains from the ceiling and Azlan caught him in his arms, collapsing to the ground cradling Asad's head and upper body in his arms as he did. Asad groaned in pain, wincing constantly as he lay across the floor with his head supported by Azlan's arm and his upper body in Azlan's lap, he tried but his eyes felt heavy and he felt drowsy, he couldn't bring himself to keep them open even if he tried)

Azlan - wh..what? OMG...yeh...yeh kya? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN... (his hand hovering in the air above him as he debated where to touch him, Feroz didn't leave an inch of skin that wasn't covered in a wound or blood and Azlan was ironically afraid of hurting him. Azlan's tear fell unto Asad's face and he winced in pain, Azlan he cradled Asad's head closer to himself as if trying to hug him or again ironically shield him from pain. His voice strangled further) Asad (Asad's whole body spasmed in pain, anger, and then betrayal before going rigid and his fingers twitched because he wasn't able to form fists. He very, very slowly, opened his eyes and for a whole five minutes just stared up, through glassy, broken, empty eyes at Azlan's crying face, his face devoid of every emotion. Because he himself wasn't capable of feeling anything anymore. He tried to feel angry but he couldn't, tried to feel empathy for Azlan's tears but he couldn't. In the end he just began laughing through his blood stained teeth, startling and frightening everyone there, especially Azlan and the officer who immediately ran from there feeling that they were all psychotic, which they were. Only Asad was the one having a real psychotic/nervous breakdown at the moment.)

Azlan - (unsurely) As...Asad-

Asad - it's funny right (he winced from laughing and both Rashid and Azlan's body spasmed like they were in physical pain) how...how you were so afraid of Feroz hurting your old man that (glaring hard into Azlan's ashamed, guilty, sinful eyes) you put me in here just to make sure he got out and Feroz couldn't get his revenge. (Chuckled, as the stubborn tears found a way to the forefront anyways) guess he got his revenge anyways.

Azlan - (crying) Asad-

Asad - (held up his bloody fingers just slightly because it hurt too much. He winced again and shook his head just slightly but Azlan could feel him move) guess some blood is thicker than others (saying so, he clutched his stomach around his abdomen and groaning audibly he attempted to sit up ignoring Azlan and Javed's advice to stay put because he was too "injured and knocking the cup of water Zain had run out to fetch right out of his hands. Rashid stayed out of it to not cause any further agony or disturbance to Asad but Asad made it a point to stare directly at him as he attempted to get to his feet, wincing constantly as he did so. Rashid had closed his eyes but he could hear Asad wincing and that was enough to cause him unimaginable agony. Just what Asad wanted. To in his own sadistic way, feel loved and extract as much revenge as he possibly could)

Ayaan - OH MY f**kING- (he came barreling through the door of the cell and grabbed Asad who winced immediately biting his lip to stop himself from screaming. Javed and Zain took a step back and Aahil stared at Asad stunned, his feet faltering in the doorway as did Jay's. Ayaan stared at Asad once in the eye and when Asad made a split second's eye contact and didn't say the "I'm okay Ayaan was desperate to hear, something snapped inside of Him. He had had enough of their bullshit and their ability to get away with every stunt they pulled in life. Not this time. This time, they were going to be sorry. This time, HE was going to make them pay for every ounce of pain they caused Asad for every drop of blood Asad lost, for every wound on his body. He knew Asad was beyond hurt and in excruciating pain which he wasn't able to bear because normally even if he wasn't okay he'd say "I'm okay just to make himself look stronger and so the other person didn't worry so much, even though they worried all the same anyways but the fact that he didn't say that false "I'm okay alerted Ayaan to how broken he was today as did Asad's eyes which had never been so empty before. He let go of Asad abruptly and Asad spun on his feet from a spell of dizziness, he was too weak to stand up straight without support. Jay rushed to grab him and help him sit down and drink some water which was also painful because his lip was cut and his cheeks were bruised. Ayaan meanwhile grabbed Azlan from his collar and threw him into the jail bars and Azlan didn't resist in the slightest. His eyes were fixated on his little brother who was sitting bloodied and beaten in a corner as Jay helped him drink some water and it was all his fault.

Ayaan - (punched him hard in the face) you son of a BITCH! HOW DARE YOU- (punched him again)

Asad - (groaned in a low voice, it hurt too much to speak) Ayaan..Ayaan stop.

Ayaan - (still punching the living daylights out of Azlan as Zain and Javed tried to pull him away) YOU PEOPLE ARE POISON. VULTURES. What the hell is it you people want from him! (His eyes were wild and ablaze with fury) HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY DONE ENOUGH! LOOK AT HIM..LOOK AT HIM (grabbed his bloodied mouth and squeezed it as he jerked it in the direction where Asad was sitting on the ground, his face scrunched with pain) HE's YOUR GOD DAMN BROTHER, and this is what you did to him! REMEMBER THAT. (screamed in Azlan's face) YOU DID THIS TO HIM!

Asad - (still groaning inaudibly) Ayaan stop.

Aahil - (pulled him away from Azlan before he might just kill him) alright, STOP. That's enough. Azlan, get out of here now..(nudged his head towards Zain) get him out of here.

Ayaan- (struggling in Jay's hold) YEA YOU BETTER GET OUT OF HERE and don't ever show me your face again. I MIGHT BREAK IT FOR REAL THIS TIME.

Azlan - (struggled to his feet, falling all over as he tried to get to Asad) Asad- (but Jay intercepted his path, his arms crossed protectively, aggressively and defensively. Azlan looked up at him and Jay shook his head)

Jay - I'm going to need you to step away from my client (Azlan just stared at him like he was joking and Jay glowered even harder at him) NOW.

Ayaan - GET THE f**k OUTTA HERE NOW.

Azlan - I need to-

Ayaan - YOU DON'T GET TO. GET OUT.

Zain - (grabbed both of Azlan's arms and began dragging him out) time to go. Now. Come on. Lets go! Come on...

Azlan - (struggled against Zain, his tears still falling freely. He hadn't even heard a word of what Ayaan had said nor had he realized how brutally Ayaan had beat him because the pain of what he had done to Asad, the pain of the pain his brother was in was far more painful) no..Asad..I just need to tell him..I need him to hear me out..understand Asad..I'm sorry..I..I'm sorry.

Zain - (stared at him strictly) No. Let's go. (Not too far from where Zain was dragging him out Javed was pushing a reluctant but silent Rashid out too. Rashid didn't have the words or courage to say them but he wished to catch as much and as long of a look at his son as he could because he was afraid Asad may never give him the blessing of seeing his face ever again)

Ayaan - (kicked the bars again) UNFREAKING BELIEVABLE! (Spun around) and you're still defending him! Telling me to stop!

Asad - (shook his head wincing, as he stared ahead of himself with his still empty eyes) he's...he's just not worth it.

Ayaan - AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED, HE'LL NEVER BE WORTH IT NO MATTER WHAT SHIT HE PULLS-

Aahil - Ayaan STOP! (Ayaan stared at him ready to unleash his hatred and anger of Azlan and annoyance at Asad plus his heartbreak over seeing his best friend in such a bruised, battered and bloodied condition at Aahil) We need to get Asad to a hospital-

Asad - (screamed as loud as he could) NO.

10 minutes later - Interrogation Room:

Asad was sitting holding his head between his still handcuffed hands whilst Ayaan paced a hole in the ground in the small room

Ayaan - What do you mean NO? I'd get you a bloody mirror in here so you could have a look at your face and rethink your reckless decision.

Asad - (speaking calmly) I said no.

Ayaan - (taking a deep breath and trying to keep calm considering the fragility of Asad's health) what..Asad..for the love of god, stop being reckless...if..if you don't want to go to the hospital what the hell is it you want?

Asad - I want you to round up the guys (winced) and meet me at city centre in a half hour.

Ayaan - (frowned confusedly) city cent- (and then his eyes widened) city centre-

Asad - (nodded knowing Ayaan understood) I heard them discussing a pep rally...

Ayaan - (loving the idea but he was also supremely worried about Asad's health) and what..you're gonna crash it?

Asad - (winced touching his bruised cheek) I think it's high time we send a message, don't you? (Ayaan didn't answer but the look he gave Asad answered it for him)

xxx

Haveli:

Their limousine marked with the royalty sign on the back and front plates finally managed to curb it's way between the swarm of journalists and media members that were surrounding their Haveli as well, hoping for a byte from Rashid upon his release from jail and pulled up the driveway of the Haveli all the way to the front of the house where it seemed there was a feast or carnival of their own kind set up for the city's poorest. The entire family was gathered on the front porch ready to welcome him home with open arms, ready to hand him foods and gifts to distribute amongst the poorest they had rounded up. As Rashid stepped out of the car, a crying Salma was the first to bring his head down and kiss it followed by Shireen and Anaya who also hugged him simultaneously, crying as well. As Rashid stood still in their arms, Azlan with a bloody nose and mouth stepped out of the car, and all the women in his life collectively gasped.

Naina - (rushed up to him cradling his face in her hands and cleaning his blood with her scarf, and suddenly Azlan felt his heart which was crushing under excruciating pain suddenly lighten, and he was left drowning in Naina's worried eyes wondering what to name that feeling) what the hell happened?

Shireen - (shrieked) mera bacha! Kya huwa..kisne...Ya Khuda!!!

Maya - Javed, Zain...what..what happened?

Javed - (frowned, disturbed and unhinged by the events which unfolded in lock up this morning, the condition of his nephew) there was a situation in jail, it seems that our attempt to prevent Asad from testifying, (sighed) Asad's arrest didn't go as planned.

Shireen - (gasped) ASAD NE KIYA YEH HAAL MERE BACHE KA?!

Rashid - (broke away from her grasp startling everyone) TUMHARA BETA!! TUMHARA BETA! EK PAL KE LIYE YEH BHI SOCH LO KE TUMNE AUR TUMHARE BETE NE MERE BETE KA KYA HAAL KIYA HAI! USS KA KYA SHIREEN! (Saying so, his eyes overflowing with tears Rashid turned around and stormed inside the house)

Maya - huwa kya hai- (but Javed and Azlan followed suit with their heads hung low and Zain was left to clean up the mess as usual. Naina was about to run in after Azlan because she couldn't help herself but Zain grabbed her arm)

Zain - that might not be the best idea..

Naina - Zain...AZLAN..what-

Zain - (shook his head) Ayaan did that Naina, so you may not be the person he wants to see right now- (Realization dawned on Naina and she relaxed in Zain's hold surrendering to her fate, she made her choice and now she had to live with it and if that meant she could no longer be the person Azlan could rely on at every turn and expect to be there then so be it)

xxx

The roads of Kasauli:

A panicked and worried Zoya, more worried than she had been last night looked towards an equally worried and disturbed Ayaan whilst holding on to her seat for dear life as Ayaan recklessly sped through the streets of Kasauli.

Zoya - Ayaan will you tell me what the hell is going on? Where's Mr. Khan, you said you'd bring him with you? Phupi and Aapi are expecting him. Where's Aahil bhai and Jay? and where the hell are we going? AYAAN- (but Ayaan just took another sharp turn after looking towards her at a loss for words and then concentrating back on the road, his jaw set tight and lips pressed in a grim line. He was furious, lost, confused and felt defeated he no longer knew where he, the brotherhood, Asad or this town was headed and as far as the Royal family was concerned? He could strangle the lot of them with his own hands at this point. Alas, Zoya's questions died on her tongue as Azlan rounded the corner to city centre where there was a huge crowd gathered, residents of Kasauli in large numbers filed in evidently for some sort of political rally. Ayaan parked his car behind the long line up of cars along the blocks and without saying anything, his eyes just fixated on the rally ahead he stepped out of the car leaving Zoya baffled by his behaviour, so she followed suit, hoping she'd get her answers soon because her patience was running out and the fear for Asad's wellbeing and safety and the need to see him was desperately beginning to gnaw at her heart)

Ghaffur - (screaming angrily into the microphone) ROTI! KAPRA! MAKAN! Yeh hamara vaada raha hai! Aur hum hamesha apna vaada poora karte hain! HUM KHANDAANI LOG HAIN AUR HUMME HAMARE BUZURGON SE YEH SEEKH MILTI HAI! YEH SANSKAR HOTE HAIN JO EK ACHE GHAR KE BACHE AUR BUDHON KO EK BURE GHAR KE BACHE AUR BUDHON SE ALAG KARTA HAI! Yaad rakhiye hamare aaj tak ke vaade jo humne alhamdulillah poore kiye hain. Kasauli ka hospital kisne banaya! Yahan ki pehli pharmacy kisne banayee! Humne banayee! Yahan ka pehle school aur pehla college kisne banaya! Humne banaya! Yahan logon ke gharon mein khaane ko nahin tha toh unhe naukriyan kisne di! HUMNE DI!! Aur aaj Asad Ahmed Khan jaise 2 take ke chor HAMARA MUKABLA KARNE AYENGE! (Zoya's eyes widened and she looked to Ayaan for an answer, but Ayaan just continued glaring at Ghaffur with utmost contempt and disgust smoking his cigarette calmly, if it were up-to him he'd strangle Ghaffur there and then but there was something in the air around him, a sort of reassurance and calmness that what was coming was far more worse and he was far more deserving of it than anything Ayaan could ever do) HUMNE APNA WAQT, APNI ZINDAGI, APNE BACHE APNA SAB KUCH AAP LOGON KI HIDMAT KE NAAM KAR DIYA HAI AUR AB HAMARI HIDMAT KA JAVAAB HUMME ASAD AHMED KHAN JAISE MAMULI SADAK CHAAP GHUNDE DENGE, YEH HUM KABHI BARDAASHT NAHIN KARPAYENGE! (There was an uproar of old rigid residents of Kasauli who actually believed the bullshit the royal family spewed, Zoya frowned in contempt at the man speaking on stage and she looked over to her side at Ayaan who was muttering something angrily and incoherently under his breath) ITNE BURE DIN AA GAYE HAIN KE HUMARE KE HUM KASAULI KE NAWAB ASAD AHMED KHAN KE KHILAAF ELECTIONS LAREINGE! Yeh na sirf hamari tauheen (insult) hai, balke yeh aapki tauheen hai yahan ke judicial system ki tauheen hai! Kasauli ke har bache budhe ki tauheen hai! Kya kya ilzaam nahin hain Asad Khan ke khilaaf? Chori, assault, woh bhi policemen ki assault...aap jaante hain hum yahan ke policemen ko apne bhaiyon aur bachon ki tarha support karte hain! Hamare apne bache Zain aur Azlan ko issi liye humne aapki hidmat ke liye hazir kiya..aur iska javaab, hamare ehsaano ka javaab aap Asad Ahmed Khan ko hamare barabar khara karke de rahe hain! Aaj Asad Ahmed Khan jo bhi ho jo kuch hone ka bhi dava karre sach toh yehi hai ke woh kal bhi ek chor tha...aur aaj bhi chor hai...hum aapko agha karte hain! Uski jhooti baaton aur vaadon mein mat ayeega! Woh ek chor hai! (The crowd roared back (chor hai!) Gunegaar hai! (Gunegaar hai! ) Dushman Hai! (Dushman hai!) (but those who screamed in anger were only the elders of the city, the youngsters didn't say a word they just saw him as a clown and willed for him to shut up, so they could get the money that was promised to them to show up) DHOKEBAAZ HAI! CHOR HAI CHOR HAI CHOR HAI!

Zoya - (stared at Ayaan annoyedly, taking each word against Asad as personal offence and to say she was angry was an understatement) who the hell is this man? and who the hell gave him the right to talk like that? and where the hell-

Ayaan - (a smirk spread across his face, a satisfied sadistic smile as he heard something in the distance, a low rumbling of sorts, but only he heard it because only he expected to hear it. He tossed his cigarette, effectively ignoring Zoya crushing it beneath his feet) it's time.

Zoya - (frowned) time for what? What the hell is going on Ayaan why aren't you answering me (finally losing her patience) and where the hell is Mr. - (and then she heard it too, the low rumbling in the distance, like drums. Zoya was just about to say something when suddenly Ghaffur's microphone went dead and a dead silence encompassed the town of Kasauli (majority of whom were present there in that moment). At that point everyone heard the rumbling in the distance which was getting closer and they were all getting apprehensive now, some were scared, some were curious, some were excited hoping for anything to happen because whatever it was it had to be better and more worth living and experiencing than what Ghaffur was harping on about and it was. Suddenly men decked out in all black, the brotherhood, jumped into the open ground, city centre from the rooftops of all buildings surrounding it taking all the security personnel's and officers by surprise as they replied to their weapons with their own, daring them to make one wrong move and given the amount of people gathered round they weren't so foolish and so they stayed down and that's when it happened. Asad rolled in, like a freaking martyr along with his band on the trailer they had parked at the beach they used to perform on back in college. Zoya's heart beat wildly at first watching the whole scene play out, watching him and his band gate crash this rally like a freaking bad ass, a floating angel, to take back or more like demand what was his, his reputation, his city, his dignity, and the aura, the energy, the anger that radiated off of him left everyone spellbound. Before Zoya's heart completely stopped as he tossed back the hood of the black shirt he had changed into (and black trousers) and she saw the blood and the bruises. An uproar erupted in the crowd as he violently and angrily strummed his guitar, the adrenaline and anger coursing through him not letting him feel the mind numbing pain he was in at the moment. Well that and the high dosage of painkillers he had Aahil administer to him. Excited whispers, talks of conspiracy, confusion, wondering what was going on? Wasn't he in jail? Why? Did he get out on bail? Why was he so injured? What was he doing here? Etc. but he had an answer to all of that as he strummed his guitar to the beat his band played and took centre stage on the trailer just as it parked right at the back of the rally, right across from Ghaffur, as his equal, Over the heads and chairs of all those attending who all at once turned their attention to him to see what he had to say, given by just the energy and aura surrounding him no doubt it was going to be a powerful, moving message.

Asad - (his anger seeping through his words) Tum Logon Ki, Iss Duniya Mein Har Kadam Pe, Insaan Galat Main Sahi Samajh Ke Jo Bhi Karoon Tum Kehte Ho Galat, Main Galat Hoon Phir Kaun Sahi Phir Kaun Sahi Marzi Se Jeene Ki Bhi Main Kya Tum Sabko Arzi Doon Matlab Ki Tum Sabka Mujhpe Mujhse Bhi Zyada Haq Hai (and then he raised his wild eyes, uninhibited, scorned, daring eyes up to level them with Ghaffurs loathing one's, grabbing the mic with both hands just to retain himself from flying across the ground and wrapping them around Ghaffur's neck) Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh (Zoya's heart beat wildly, he was just so powerful, so enigmatic, unimaginably uninhibited, wild, unhinged and unapologetically fierce. It was hard to stare into those dark and damaged eyes and remain whole again, he was her undoing, he and she was now beginning to realize it. Just as she realized he in his own way shined so bright and flew so wild and freely despite his wings being broken that she couldn't shield him, bottle him or hide him from the world even if she wanted to. He was a force not to be reckoned with, a movement, a revolution, a statement in himself and she just had to let him set the world ablaze with his fire and fury like he was meant and destined to. Asad continuing to glare at Ghaffur, ignoring the uproar of love, gratitude, heroism coming from the youth of Kasauli in the stands below him, he was complete unfazed by it, he had a message to deliver and he wanted for Ghaffur to hear it and then understand it, LOUD and CLEAR)

His entire band - Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh

Asad - (closing his eyes, as Sounds and Images of Feroz's whip, his hands, his sticks, flashed before his eyes causing his body to break into spasms, but making him all the more angry, all the more fierce, all the more determined and that purpose and determination showed in each inch of his body language and movement as he held the mic close to his face, his eyes closed and repeated the beat like a mantra, a chant) Na Na Na...Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na

Band - (Whilst Asad simply nodded his head, swaying on his feat drunk on music and morphine, a true Rockstar and enigma who literally stole Zoya's breath away) Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh

Asad - (spun on his feet facing the guitar again, standing in defiance, in defence via his body language, legs apart, in a determined stoic and strong stance, his head held high, screaming the compelling and thought provoking words into the mic, he was so alive, so powerful, so fluid, poetic and beautiful in that moment that not only did he get Zoya to fall in love with him completely and irrevocably but he also established a seed of hope, a maybe, a doubt a reason amongst the people of Kasauli to think and believe that not all that they saw, hear and believed all these years was the truth and that's all that he wanted to achieve anyways) (Ghaffur tried to have him removed but his security head told him to stay down, let him do his thing and avoid any chaos which Ghaffur wasn't in favour of. Javed really couldn't be more sorry or proud to and of his nephew. But Ghaffur wanted to rip the gun from his bodyguard and shoot Asad and his revolution down himself)

Asad - Hey Inn Gadaaron Mein Ya Udhaaron Mein Tum Mere Jeeney Ki Aadat Ka Kyun Ghott Rahe Dum Besaleeqa Main, Uss Gali Ka Main Na Jis Mein Haya, Na Jis Mein Sharam (swaying on his feet again as he manically strummed his guitar, the words escaping him like a breath he had been holding in for far too long and was grateful to finally be set free) Mann Bole Ke Ras Mein Jeeney Ka Harjaana Duniya Dushman Sab Begaana Inhein Aag Lagaana Mann Bole Mann Bole, Mann Se Jeena Ya Marr Jaana

Band - Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh

Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Sadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh
Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh

Asad - Na Na Na...Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na (and then in a flow the music lowered in volume whilst phasing out to light background music and Asad spread his arms out wide, his head thrown back like a free bird, a martyr and Zoya had to close her eyes. It was all too much. The beauty of it, of him, caused a tear to escape her eye.)

Chants from the crowd - ASAD AHMED KHAN FOR MAYOR!! ASAD KHAN FOR MAYOR!! (In one swift motion, leaving everyone breathless with anticipation he swung the guitar strapped around him behind him and yanked the mic from it's stand pointing a finger as fierce and determined as his eyes down to the crowd below)

Asad - THAT IS WHAT I HAVE COME HERE TO ANNOUNCE!! THAT, I ASAD AHMED KHAN WILL IN FACT BE RUNNING FOR MAYOR!! (Zoya's heart skipped a beat and she looked at Ayaan to tell her it was a joke but all she saw were tears in her brother's eyes, tears of pride for this enigma of a man she was falling in love with) MY ENEMY'S THOUGHT THEY COULD THWART ME! BEAT ME! AND FORCE ME TO COWER AND NOT FIGHT BACK! THEY THOUGHT I WAS AS THREATEND BY THEM AS THEY ARE OF ME BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THEY ARE WRONG! They are wrong in what they believe of me, what they did to me and what they expect me! trust me, the worst they think of me or the best they expect of me! I'm more than all that and then some!! I CAN'T BE HELD BACK BY AN ILLEGAL ARREST (pointing to ghaffur and effectively labelling him as a criminal, practically rendering him incapable of fighting the elections if this wasn't Kasauli) AND PHYSICAL ASSAULT BY SOME CROOK OF AN OFFICER. I AM WHAT I AM..NO SECRETS, NO HOLD BACKS NO LIES!! GHAFFUR SIDDIQUI (now speaking directly to him) YOU CALL ME A LIAR AND A THIEF! CALL IT TO MY FACE!! YOU EXPECT ME TO DENY IT!! I MAY BE A THIEF BUT I'M NOT A LIAR..THAT WOULD BE YOUR FORTE. I WAS A THIEF!! I'M NOT AND NOR HAVE I EVER BEEN A LIAR. I'VE NEVER HAD TO LIE. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO LIE ARE THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE ACTIONS TO SPEAK FOR THEM!! MY ACTIONS, SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. You claim to have established the first hospital of Kasauli. We accept it. The credit goes to you! But where were you when the hospital ran out of funds in the face of a plague and 150 were left to die whilst the doctors stood by and watched because they didn't have the funds or tools to save them. You were in the Bahama's with the rest of your royal family. You WEREN'T HERE. I WAS. Same way you weren't there for the police force when they couldn't do anything about the criminals terrorizing this city because they didn't have the funds or manpower to stop them. AGAIN. YOU WEREN'T THERE. I WAS. I accept, I grew up a gangbanger, a petty thief, a criminal. But WHY! Because the system, the system that YOU CREATED works against us. GHAFFUR SIDDIQUE I ASK YOU, GO THREE NIGHTS WITHOUT A MEAL, GO THREE DAYS WITHOUT A SIP OF WATER AND IF YOU TOO DON'T STEAL A BURGER OUT OF ANOTHER KID'S HANDS THEN WE'LL TALK. Just do make sure that kid isn't one of the Haveli's because they don't understand such hunger and desperation and they definitely don't forgive it. SO YES! THOSE ARE THE CHARGES AGAINST ME!! THAT IS WHAT I AM GUILTY OF. YOU WANT TO ARREST ME FOR THAT THEN GO RIGHT AHEAD!! BUT DON'T FOR A SECOND TRY TO BLAME ME FOR DECEIVING, LYING OR WISHING ILL UPON THE PEOPLE OF KASAULI!! I WON'T ENDURE IT SILENTLY!! KASAULI IS MY HOME (and the passion, the belief the hope he set into people erupted in the form of screams and applauds, he instilled in them the feeling of unity and belongingness, he was someone they could relate to something the people of Kasauli could never do with the royals despite their best efforts and hope) THESE ARE MY PEOPLE. I LIVE and BREATHE AND WORK TO SERVE THEM!! I DON'T ORCHESTRATE A MASS MURDER THROUGH THE FAKE MEDICATIONS BEING SOLD AT MY PHARMACY JUST TO COERCE PEOPLE INTO VOTING FOR ME BASED ON THEIR FEAR AND DESPERATION! THAT TRICK IS OLD, LIKE YOU! (Saying so his drummer hit it and the crowd refused to let up after that. The screams were endless as was the love, the passion, the support, the hope and the love! Zoya stood mesmerized, unable to move, speak or breathe. Whilst Asad played his guitar wildly, shaking his head to the beat, swaying with the music, letting it carry him. As he came down from the high of his decision, his act, his rebelliousness, and the morphine and adrenaline!)

Asad - O Eco-Friendly, Nature Ke Rakshak, Main Bhi Hoon Nature Rivajon Se, Samaajon (his head lolling back, eyes closed, till he abruptly brought his head back straight, eyes still closed) Se Kyon Tu Kaate Mujhe, Kyun Baante Mujhe Iss Tarah (eyes opened, angrier more fierce than ever, pointing and glaring right at Ghaffur, he swung the guitar back again, his legs apart the complete self defence pose) Kyun Sach Ka Sabak Sikhaaye, Jab Sach Sunn Bhi Na Paaye Sach Koi Bole To Tu Niyam Kanoon Bataaye Tera Darr, Tera Pyaar, Teri Waah, Tu Hi Rakh Rakh Saali (strummed once before he bounced and swayed around the rest of the trailer strumming his guitar)

Band - Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Aithe Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Sadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh Saadda Haq, Aithe Rakh (and as the last note hit and the crowd erupted in celebrating the force that was Asad Ahmed Khan shining down upon them as a ray of hope, Asad's brotherhood fired once in the air as a puff of smoke erupted around the trailer and Asad vanished like a puff of smoke. Amidst Chaos, panic, celebration the brothers vanished one by one leaving people wishing for more, Ghaffur's guards tried but failed to remedy the situation, Asad Ahmed Khan had accomplished what he effortlessly did best. Get people to fall in love with him. None of them wanted to hear Ghaffur anymore and none would hear more of the same broken chorus of "Asad Khan is the enemy and none, absolutely none would be restrained by Ghaffur's guards. Amidst the panic as Zoya opened her eyes, only to see Asad disappear amidst the smoke and swarm of people her heart began beating restlessly, her face paled with worry, concern, panic and an overwhelming need to be near him. She looked to Ayaan for an answer to what question exactly she didn't know, for help, for saving but she was surprised to find that he was no longer next to her. She was left standing alone staring into the chaos and swarm of people now coming towards her. Just as she was about to panic, run, think of her next course of action, a very familiar hand, a hand which immediately steadied her heartbeats and breaths and simultaneously set fire to her entire body grabbed hers and before she could even think she found herself being pinned against Ayaan's car by a large, rock hard body that covered her soft and tiny one completely with his. Zoya didn't have to look up and nor could she bring herself too, knowing how much more bruised and battered his handsome face would be up close. But when she felt his forehead lull, rest or drop against hers she couldn't help but raise her hesitant and tear filled eyes to his hesitant, afraid and tear filled ones and her heart completely broke. A whimper escaped her as she saw the blood and the bruises, and Asad gave her a small smile. Somewhere in the back of her mind she was aware of Asad's fingers lightly playing with hers down by her side wreaking havoc on her heart, whilst his other hand was pressed against the car caging her between his arms. Zoya freed her hand from his and raised it hesitantly to slightly touch his face and when he winced at even that slightest touch Zoya cried aloud.

Asad - (pressed his forehead further into hers, and spoke in a low barely audible whisper now that the morphine was losing its effect on him) shhh, it's okay. (Zoya shook her head, her eyes closed unable to see him so hurt and in so much pain, it hurt her so unbelievably much she couldn't put it into words and finally after seeing her beautiful face, and being so near her, holding her it seemed that some life returned to Asad's broken and empty eyes)

Asad - (staring at her with such dark, intense and wanting eyes that Zoya's legs nearly gave way and she had to hold Asad's forearms albeit lightly to not hurt him but she had to hold them none the less to remain standing) if I asked you to save me. If I asked you to come with me? Would you hold it against me? (Zoya couldn't answer if she wanted to, his soft breath, his soft whispers, his words, his voice, his question...rendered her incapable of answering. She was just so overwhelmed by so many emotions at once that she felt herself nodding along and agreeing to whatever he was asking because the truth was she'd give him the world if he asked her in that moment, and Asad grabbed her hand tightly in his, his eyes still as fierce as ever)

xxx

Continued in next post...

Khan Mansion:

Aisha who had endless tears streaming down her face, paced anxiously across the floor before Dilshad who sat pale as a ghost and stunned.

Aisha - GOD DAMN IT WHERE THE HELL IS EVERYBODY. Aahil, Ayaan Zoya Jay KOI BHI phone nahin utha raha. (As she was met with another voicemail she tossed her phone aside and clutched her hair falling unto the nearest sofa crying brokenly. Dilshad just blinked once mutedly, clearly having no idea what Aisha said or what she was going on about. The TV with the news covering the chaos in city centre post Asad's stunt and gate crashing dhamakedar announcement of partaking in the upcoming elections was blaring around the living room. They had covered Asad's entry, his performance, his anger, his fierce determination, his words and declaration and his defiance of society and it's B.S Norms.)

Aisha - (shook her head) kitni berehmi se maara hoga unhone usse. Kitne dard, kitni takleef mein hoga woh...(buried her face in her hands as Dilshad winced, paying focus to her words for once) GOD DAMN IT where is he...(crying hysterically) why..why won't he just come home already? (As she sat there crying, waiting for Asad to hopefully come home or others who were with Asad to call and let her know where they were, and when they were coming home and that Asad was with them safe she saw Dilshad rise from her seat still as pale as a ghost, her eyes still as wide, transfixed. Dilshad's mind seemed to stop functioning with reality since the moment she saw her son's bloodied and bruised face on national television all thanks to her. It was her own doing that caused her son to endure the pain he was in now. She wasn't accepting reality and instead was living in a parallel universe, a bubble of denial. Denial of her own guilt and part she played in causing Asad that pain, as far as she was concerned Rashid Ahmed Khan and his family were the only one's to blame for this, and that is exactly where she was headed.)

Aisha - (slowly standing up confusedly watching Dilshad robotically but angrily make her way to the front doors. Seeing Dilshad's condition and obvious fragility of her mind Aisha's anger immediately lifted and was instead replaced with overwhelming worry and fret. Worry for her brother, worry for her mother and worry for her beautiful family falling apart because she feared the fall out between Asad and Dilshad in the aftermath of the stunt Dilshad had pulled obviously in desperation and with the best of intentions and hope but unfortunately it backfired, and her mistake was to trust the wrong Khans) Ammi? (Dilshad turned around nonchalantly, no biggie. Like what they just saw, Asad's bleeding and bruised face and body on national TV or the fact that she was going over to the Haveli as a wounded mother of a wounded lion to demand hisaab was not important, nothing to worry about. She smiled at Aisha and shook her head casually like Aisha shouldn't worry, but all that did was cause Aisha to worry more)

Dilshad - Rashid and I are just a little overdue for a conversation, that's all. You don't worry..main jaldi aa jaoongi.

Aisha - Ammi main-

Dilshad - nahin...Asad (and then her voice broke) Asad ghar aata hoga, kaisa lagega aggar hum dono hi ghar naa ho toh? Kamaz kam ek ko toh ghar rukna chahiye na..(smiled sadly at Aisha and Aisha's heart broke along with her mothers as she said the next words) and unfortunately mera beta meri shakal nahin dekhna chahega...(Aisha cried, over the complication their life was. Unable to see the defeat, the guilt, the pain in her mother's eyes. Dilshad's lips trembled as her eyes filled with tears seeing Asad's kind, compassionate and loving eyes haunting her mind followed by the images of his bruises and blood and she turned around at once, as fierce and as determined as her son who she had never been prouder of)

xxx

1.5 Hours Later - Somewhere in some jungle outside of Kasauli:

Zoya threw the car in park, still looking at Asad apprehensively who was sitting with his head pushed back against the seat, agitated and in immense pain. He had his arms wrapped around his body, his jaw clenched shut tightly as he endured excruciating pain of his open and exposed wounds.

Zoya - Mr. Khan?! Yeh aap kya kar rahe hain!! KYA HAASIL KARNA CHAHTE HAIN AAP YEH SAB KARKE. Aap..Aapko ek hospital ek doctor ki zaroorat hai...(her eyes filling with tears of desperation as she tried to get through to him, unable to see the pain in his eyes as he turned around to give her an irritated look, the old Asad back already. He then, pushing through the pain, threw open his car door and stumbled outside, hunched over from the pain and Zoya was quick to follow, her heart hammering in her chest seeing him in so much pain. This was the first time the overbearing pain inside her was for another person, pain so overbearing it made her want to cut herself again and the realization and thought of that too made her want to cry. Why? Why was his pain so unbearable for her?)

Zoya - (a tear escaping her eye) I..(shook her head as she heard Asad wince climbing the stairs unto the porch of the cabin) what the hell is this place anyways? and what're we doing here..your wounds..they-

Asad - (snapped) I'm fine. (Then, after glaring at her for a good 30 seconds he proceeded to aggressively punch in the lock code to the door of his cabin in the woods and the door unlocked at once and Asad pushed it open even more aggressively. Stumbling inside without waiting for Zoya. Zoya sighed closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, wiping her tears. It wasn't the time to get angry or hurt, she had to be patient with Mr. Khan. Finally, taking another deep breath, she walked inside where she saw Asad now stumbling up the steps of the beautiful (intimate & picturesque) cabin, swigging scotch from a bottle, and she sighed shaking her head...this was going to be a long night)

xxx

Haveli:

The entire family was sitting subdued in the living room, the festivities they had planned for Rashid's welcome back home did not go as planned to say the least. Rashid & Azlan had both locked themselves in their own rooms respectively and the family didn't know how to cope with it. Everyone barring Shireen, Razia & Ghaffur were guilt ridden but didn't know how to cope with that guilt. Who to blame? After-all it was Azlan's plan, but I guess their fault was that they didn't stop him or prevent him so they were equally as guilty as well.

Maya - I think humme wahan jaana chahiye Javed. Asad ki haalat aapne toh khud apni aankhon se dekhi hai, TV pe aggar woh bechara itna behaal lag raha tha toh-

Salman - (shook his head) kya mun leke jayenge hum uske paas? Aur dilshaad ke paas? Hamare ghar ke ek fard ne usse zubaan di matlab hum sabne zubaan di ke Asad ko kuch nahin hoga, phir bhi apne laal ko bachane ke chakkar mein humne uske laal ka yeh haal kiya. Dunya ki koi bhi maan na yeh bhula payeegi aur naa humme maaf kar payegi.

Salma - (shook her head) main toh sochna bhi nahin chahti ke Dilshad par iss waqt kya beet rahee hai. Khuda na haasta aggar Feroz ne yeh haalat Rashid ki ki hoti toh-

Shireen - WOH KAR BHI sakta tha Ammi...ISSI liye yeh kadam uthana lazmi tha-

Javed - Zubaan sambhalke shireen, yeh mat bholo tum meri maan se baat kar rahee ho.

Salma - (shook her head) aur yeh mat bholo ke aakhir mein woh haalat jisse ghabrake humne yeh kadam uthaya RASHID ki nahin, Asad ki hui hai. Aur usski takleef ka bhi humme utna hi dard hai, woh bhi hamara khoon hai.

Razia - (rolled her eyes) meri baat maaniye aur yeh rona dhona band kijiye...Asad Ahmed Khan ke saath aisa kuch nahin hua jo woh deserve na karta ho.

Dilshad - (roared like the lioness that she was) YEH BAAT MERE MOON PE KAHIYE RAZIA BI (Razia's face paled, and goosebumps erupted on her body feeling the pain and anger hidden in the wounded lionesses voice. All of them slowly rose to their feet as Dilshad strode into the living room, her eyes fierce, bloodshot, and furious. Betrayed, and tormented...she was not a force to be reckoned with at the moment)

Dilshad - (glaring right at Razia) BOLIYE. KAHIYE MAIN AAPKE SAAMNE KHARI HOON. MERE MOON PE KAHIYE KE MERA BETA KYA DESERVE KARTA HAI TAAKE MAIN AAPKO AAPKI BAAT KA JAVAAB DE SAKOON.

Razia - (scoffed, crossing her arms defensively. She didn't want to show it, but she was trembling with fear on the inside because she knew Dilshad just like her son wouldn't hesitate for a second before putting Razia in her place) Arre rehne dijiye. Aap kya javaab deingi mujhe? Sab jaante hain ke Asad Ahmed Khan ka bachpan har ameerzaade se chori karte beeta hai-

Salman - RAZIA-

Dilshad - (turned towards him with a raised eyebrow, and laughed at his patheticness) acha, aap bolte bhi hain Nawab Sahab-

Javed - Dilshad-

Dilshad - Toh tab kahan thi aapki yeh zubaan..aapka yeh pote ke liye pyaar yeh hamdardi jab woh paida hua tha...kissi hospital mein nahin...mere maan baap ke ghar, ek gaon mein. ek dayee ke haaton kyunki uski maan ke paas ek doctor ya hospital afford karne ke paise nahin the aur uske baap ke paas itni mardaangi nahin thi ke woh uski maan ko sahara de. Tab kahan tha aapka pyaar jab aapka pota bhook se rota rota so jaata tha. (Her voice breaking as endless tears rolled down her face as she thought back to the hardships her son had endured his entire life due to these people the same people who in a moment of weakness and desperation she chose over her son) TAB KAHAN THA AAPKA PYAAR JAB INSPECTOR FEROZ ANSARI NE MERE BETE KO JANWARON KI TARHA PEETA AUR USKI HADIYAN AUR BACHA KHOONI JISAM

MERE PAAS WAAPIS BHEJA?? AAPKE BETE KO BACHANE KE LIYE. AAPKE BETO NE (Glaring at Salma and Shireen) AAPKE BETO NE MERE BETE KI ZINDAGI TABAH O BARBAAD KAR DI AUR AAP MUJHSE DESERVING KI BAAT KARTI HAIN. MAIN AAPKO BATATI HOON KE KAUN KYA DESERVE KARTA HAI. (She stood up straighter and in one loud voice bellowed angrily, her voice resonating in all the walls of the foyer and living room) RASHID AHMED KHAN!! AYEE, YAHAN AAKE APNE BETE KE KHOON KA HISAAB POORA KIJIYE. AFTER-ALL, USKA KHOON AAP HI KE BETE KE KHAATON PAR HAI...

Shireen - Azlan ko beech mein-

Dilshad - (spun around and pointed an angry finger at her sending chills down Shireen's spine and making her shut up effectively like the coward that she was) AZLAN beech mein nahin, iss kisse ke sar pe hai...arre beech mein toh mera beta phasa hai. BOLAIYE RASHID KO..BOLIYE..KE ASAD AHMED KHAN KI MAAN AYEE HAI. AUR AAJ..AAJ MAIN HISAAB MAANGTI HOON. AAJ GHAFFUR SAHAB AUR RAZIA BI NE MERE BETE PAR CHOR HONE KA ILZAAM SARRE AAM LAGAYA HAI...AUR MAAF KIJIYEGA MERE BETE KE SIRF DO HI NAAM HAIN. ASAD..YA SHAAN..koi teesra naam mujhe kabil-e-qubool nahin hai. BOLAYEE RASHID AHMED KHAN KO-

Rashid - (in a small meek whisper, terrified out of his wits as was the pale Azlan with a bruised face standing next to him, both with their heads hung low) Dilshad...(and then he was silent, because he didn't have the words. The room was dead silent as the Haveli members all stood with their heads hung shamefully, the only sound in the room was that of Dilshad's feet as she walked up to Rashid and Azlan with slow measured but furious steps, her fury mounting with each second as Asad's injured face flashed before her eyes. Finally, she stopped before the pair and Azlan's whole body shuddered recalling the extent of Asad's injuries and bruises from earlier this morning, his guilt, his shamefulness and Dilshad's pain and fury)

Azlan - (speaking in an equally meek whisper) Dilshad Ma...I...I don't even know what to say..I'm so..sorry I- (but Dilshad didn't answer. Instead, her loud and painful slap across Azlan's face did all the speaking for her. The Haveli members stood stunned. A guard stepped forward to handle Dilshad but Salman held up a hand. Shireen rushed forward but Anaya grabbed her)

Shireen - HOW DARE YOU.

Dilshad - (turned her head to her and Razia her eyes overflowing with tears) MAINE KAHA NA...AAJ MAIN BATAONGI KE KAUN KYA DESERVE KARTA HAI. (Then she slowly turned to Azlan whose eyes were wide and stunned, but filled with as much tears as hers as he held his stinging cheek) aur tum..(her voice broke as she pointed an accusing finger at Azlan) mujhe Ma bulane ka haq kho chuke ho. (& just like that Azlan's head hung again) tum mujhe Ma bulate the kyunki tum Asad ke bhai the..(shook her head) par aaj jo tumne uske saath kiya woh koi apne dushman ke saath nahin karta. (He had no answer, his disgust and shame of himself only grew if that were possible)

Rashid - Dilshad-

Dilshad - aur Aap...(her head snapped towards Rashid) RASHID AHMED KHAN SAHAB. (Shook her head) bachpan se mere bete ko mujhse shikayat rahee hai ke aapne jo sulook mere bachon aur mere saath kiya uske bawajood main hamesha aapko unn pe sheh deti hoon. Well, NO MORE. Aisi ghalati main dobara KABHI nahin karoongi. Mera BETA...MERA ASAD MERI SHAAN HAI..GHUROOR HAI MERA MERA SAB KUCH HAI WOH AUR EK PAL KE LIYE MAT SOCHIYEGA KE MAIN USKO ZARA SI BHI TAKLEEF BARDAASHT KARNE DOONGI WOH BHI AAP JAISE LOGON KE LIYE. AAJ YEH GUNNAH HUA HAI MUJHSE AUR MAIN APNE BETE SE (sobbing uncontrollably again) AANKH MILANE KE KAABIL NAHIN RAHEE, PAR AINDA NAHIN. Yeh (pointing to Ghaffur & Razia) YEH samajhte hain ke Asad ke saath jo sulook hua woh uska hakdaar hai kyunki bachpan mein woh bhook ki khatir chori karta tha..TOH BOLIYE..DIJIYE JAVAAB..YEH UNGLI ASAD PE NAHIN..AAP PE UTH RAHEE HAI..HAR BAAP KA FARZ HOTA HAI KE WOH APNI AULAD KE LIYE MAUJOOD HO UNKO KHAANE PEENI AUR PEHNE KE LIYE DE..UNKE SAR PE CHAT DAALE PAR AAPNE AISA NAHIN KIYA. AUR AAP (glaring at Ghaffur, Razia and Salma) AAP TOH YAHAN KE NAWAB HAI NA..YAHAN KE LOGON KI ZIMEDAARI HAI AAP PE..AAJ YEHI CHILLA CHILLA KE BOL RAHE THE NA AAP..TOH BATAYEE KAHAN THE AAP JAB HAMARE PAAS NA ROTI THI NA KAPRA THA NA MAKAAN THA? HUNH? TAB KAHAN GAYEE THEE AAPKI GHAIRAT AUR AAPKE USOOL? Tab aggar ek bacha cheen ke nahin khayega toh kya karega..AAPSE TOH NAHIN CHEENA THA NA USSNE...TAB BHI AAPKO SHIKAYAT HAI. AUR AB...BACHPAN KI BHOOK KI ITNI AADAT HO GAYEE HAI MERE BETE KO KE SAALON SE USKI BHOOK HI MIT GAYEE HAI. (Wiped her tears with a careless hand as she continued glaring at Rashid hatefully) Sirf ulaad paida kar dena hi mard ka kaam nahin hota..na hi mardaangi ki nishani hoti hai...(shaking her head with disgust) AGAR AAPKO SHIKAYAT HAI TOH UNGLI INKI TARAF UTHAYEE (pointing at Rashid) MERE BETE KI TARAF NAHIN KYUNKI AB AAP LOGON KA EK LAFZ, EK KADAM AUR FRANKLY EK ISHARA BHI USKI TARAF MAIN BARDAASHT NAHIN KAROONGI. Bardaasht (and then she swayed on her feet for a second, the exhaustion of the day, the emotional drainage, the stress, the pain, the tears all getting to her) nahin karoongi

Salman - (seeing her swaying) ANAYA..NAINA JALDI PAANI LEKE AO PAANI Dilshad - (she held up a hand steadying herself, there was no way she was fainting here)

Dilshad - AAPKE GHAR KI EK EK BOOND MUJH PE HARAM HAI. (Saying so, she held her head up high and walked out of there, feeling lighter than she had in years. Asad always had that complaint with her that she could never let Rashid go and always chose him over them, but not anymore. Now, for better or worse this day had helped her leave him where he belonged; in the past & move on for her children, her present & her future and she couldn't wait for the day she could hug them to her chest and feel like she deserved it but unfortunately that day wasn't today & she knew it)

xxx

Asad's Cabin:

Zoya entered the dark room at the top of the stairs as the sun had just set, letting the purple, orange, pink & blue hues of the evening sky lightly light up the room which was otherwise engulfed in darkness. She felt around for a light switch and pressing one button turned on the dim spotlights around the room giving it a rather intimate vibe but enough to find herself around the room. However, it wasn't her she was looking for, it was Asad, the other half of her heart responsible for either her breathlessness or happiness these days. Her heart broke seeing him sitting on the edge of the bed, still in the same bruised and batted condition staring into as it looked the sunset but actually nothingness as the bottle of scotch hung loosely from his hand. Her hands holding the first aid kit shook vigorously but she had to pull herself together for her sake & his. She walked up to him with her heart hammering in her chest, her eyes refused to dry even now. Slowly, hesitantly and with trembling hands & lips she took a seat before him on the ground. Staring up at his ruggedly handsome face with all his beautiful features hidden and mortified behind the hideous bruises and dried blood. Gasping audibly and taking a deep breath, she averted her tear-filled eyes whilst setting the first aid box on the ground. She opened it before turning towards him again and saw him staring out across the window without so much as looking at her, acknowledging her or moving in the slightest and her heart broke all over again.

Zoya - (calling him in the softest of whispers) Mr. Khan (he just blinked once but didn't move or say anything, continued staring out at the sun. Zoya took another deep breath and pressed her trembling lips together before slowly reaching forward and prying the bottle of scotch free from his hand, it was going to fall and break into pieces any second anyways. She felt him shudder under the touch of her fingers on his. She put the bottle down and then with a heavy heart, taking in another deep breath & sigh she looked back up at him and this time she raised a hand and placed it on his knee hoping to get his attention) (again in a soft whisper) Mr. Khan (she patiently watched him, as he half blinked in a lazy, drunken manner and then shifted his dazed focus unto her too tired too exhausted to function with reality. Zoya smiled at him but it was a half smile because her heart felt like it would burst from her chest. She raised her shaking fingers and very tenderly and hesitantly touched a big angry purple bruise on his cheek and she gasped softly, biting her lip as he winced under even the slightest of her touch but then leaned in to it closing his eyes as if relishing it, as if her touch held the power to erase all his pain and misery and end the anguish in his heart..which it did. As he opened his still half drunk, droopy but dark eyes Zoya gave him another half smile before quickly averting her eyes not trusting herself around him if he continued looking at her like that. She gulped nervously, swallowing her cry before grabbing a cotton ball dipped in alcohol and looked back at him, giving him a slightly bigger smile and then lifted the cotton ball to his cheek burning under the intensity of his scorching hot gaze as he refused to look away. His drunken, droopy and dark eyes blinked lazily every now and then, but he didn't look away, at all. He winced slightly and gripped her arm and Zoya's body shuddered as she found herself wincing along with him the second she very gingerly touched the cotton ball to his bruise. As he heard her wince his eyes widened and darkened just slightly, searching hers for something unspoken, unshared, unconfessed but something that stared him back each time he looked into a mirror these days, something he hoped he would find staring back at him in her eyes too. It seemed Zoya too was afraid that it would stare him back in the eyes which is why she avoided looking into his eyes and instead focused on her task at hand. Trying to tend to his wounds as tenderly as possible without causing him any pain, which wasn't so easy due to the extent of them. Every once in a while, his face would blanch painfully, wince or his mouth would open in a silent scream as he gripped her wrist and Zoya would find herself wincing along with him. It was a good thing she was wearing full sleeves, so she didn't have to worry about him finding out the marks on her wrist which he was going to discover soon. As she finished cleaning his face and found some of his beautiful features more visible again she made the mistake of looking into his beautiful and enrapturing, mystifying eyes whilst moving his fringe out of the way to clean the blood and wound on his forehead. At once she was transfixed and found her fingers lazily stroking and brushing through his hair, weaving it whilst her eyes drowned in his and the setting sun threw the room into darkness once again. Whilst playing with his hair, a motion which soothed Asad to the extent of lulling him to sleep, something which no number of painkillers or alcohol could manage tonight she accidentally pressed on his wound and Asad yelped slightly gripping his head, his face open in a silent scream and his jaw blanching. Zoya gasped covering her face.

Zoya - OMG I'm so so sorry Mr. Khan...really I'm..gosh I'm (and then seeing the tears pooling in her eyes Asad completely forgot about his own pain as an overwhelming need to somehow rid her eyes of those tears filled his heart, his hand fell away from his forehead as Zoya began fussing over his wound and cleaning it even more tenderly than before. Asad's entire body shuddered as she blew softly on it and his fingers dug into the edge of the bed painfully to stop themselves from reaching out to her instead. He relished the feeling, the calmness, the tranquility her breath washed over him and into his soul, aside from setting his entire body on fire. As Zoya dropped the cotton ball next to the others and moved to grab the next she stopped for a second realizing how many blood filled cotton balls there were already and she had just cleaned his face and hands. She closed her eyes tightly, trying but failing to pull herself together as she looked back at him and found him staring into nothingness again. Zoya cleared her throat awkwardly to gain his attention and Asad looked towards her but again Zoya had to look away. The way he looked at her sometimes left her hopeful and overwhelmed. It made her feel like the most loved, wanted, desired girl on the planet and she knew that reality was far from it.

Zoya - (playing with the edge of the bedsheet, a blush and heat rushing to her cheeks and down her neck) (whispered) your uhh...shirt...you..(her eyes flickered to his chest apprehensively not trusting herself around such perfection and beauty and despite being in that much pain and agony Asad couldn't help but smile softly, she was so cute and he relished the fact that they were both such dorks. He raised his arms to undo the buttons but then his shoulders ached too much and majority of the wounds were on his back so he couldn't something which Zoya realized

so when she saw his jaw tighten and blanch painfully she didn't say anything but mechanically took over undoing his buttons though her fingers trembled more with each button. Asad couldn't be more grateful. More and more heat rushed to her cheeks as she undid his shirt, the intimacy of her actions not lost on her and then as his shirt hung open loosely around his shoulders Zoya averted her eyes at once. His chest may be tainted with blood, his blood but he was still the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Asad too avoided her eyes. Zoya leaned up, leaning on her knees so she was eye level, but carefully avoided looking into them though she was well aware that his eyes were searching hers. She hesitantly removed his chains from around his neck pulling them over his head and then undoing his cuffs leaned up and helped him shrug out of his shirt, even though she swayed dangerously as she did. His messy, unkempt tousled hair didn't help the situation either. Zoya at once regretted foolishly admitting to come here in the middle of nowhere alone with him, and that too when he was so injured that she had to end up in such close intimate proximity to him but she also knew that if he asked her again, she'd say yes and do it all over again. His chest was okay, aside from the one huge bruise on it and one huge bruise on his stomach and another on his side. What was problematic was his back, the entire thing was filled with wounds, blood and ruined skin. Zoya almost gagged as Asad slid to the floor before her to make it easier for her to clean it. A minute ago, Asad and her were both struggling to catch their breaths, their hearts hammering in their chests, breathless and troubled by her touch on his bare chest and abdomen. Asad very well aware that no one but Zoya's touch held the power to undo him like that. To render him to a bundle of want and desires. To both seek and crave her touch and yet want to avoid it like the plague just because he didn't trust his heart and control around her if she did touch him so intimately. But now Zoya's heart was breaking. Zoya looked up at him as tears spilled from her eyes and he managed a small smile at her but Zoya shook her head, a lump forming in her throat. She shook her head vigorously, confusing Asad.

Zoya - (gasped softly) Mr. Mr. Khan I...I can't I...(and then she dropped the cotton ball with trembling hands and stood up, her legs shaking as she covered her face with her hands shaking it and Asad too rushed to his feet ignoring the rush of pain his back caused his eyes filled with anguish over the prospect of causing her the anguish he could see in her eyes. He made an attempt to step forward and touch her to reassure her that everything would be okay but Zoya shook her head) it..it's not fair..it..it's just not fair. (and then she turned around and ran out of the room unto the adjoining balcony in the cold chill of the night feeling like she would suffocate otherwise. She bent over on her knees and dry heaved, unable to get the image and consequently thoughts of just how much pain Asad was in, out of her mind..whilst Asad stood still, not knowing what to do or say)

10 minutes later:

Asad, stepped out unto the balcony behind Zoya..hesitantly. Having changed into a white shirt and jeans, clothes he had left here he had his hands tucked in his pockets, the harsh winter chill hitting hard tonight. He stared at her back as she looked over the balcony, not knowing what to do. Zoya however, stood still knowing he was there but she stared at her hands almost compulsively, hands that were tainted with his blood. She thought back to the day earlier when she and Asad were singing and dancing to their hearts content like two foolish young kids in a closed cafe trying to relish the feeling of what it meant to be truly alive and just 2 days later she was cleaning his blood off his body being grateful that he was still alive? For no fault of his?

Asad - M..Ms. Farooqui? (Raised his own equally shaky fingers after much struggle and rested them on her shoulder) Zoya? A..are you..okay? (and that did it for Zoya. Without a second's delay or warning she turned around and collided into Asad. Wrapping her arms around his neck, crying uncontrollably. Asad stood still, stunned, his face paling for just a second his heart giving a lurch for just a second before beating rapidly just to come to the same resting rate as normal. It was okay, he was okay. No one was hurting him, it was just Zoya. She could never hurt him. Only heal him, and then although his mind somewhere at the very back of it forewarned him of the consequences, as was evident by the way his arms struggled, hung in the air he couldn't stop even if he wanted to, especially not tonight, especially not when she had collided into him, crying into his chest, and her arms wrapped around him, clinging onto him like she would never let go, like she would protect him from all the darkness, all the pain, the hate the anguish of the world and as he wrapped his strong arms around her tightly, his fingers weaving through her hair, fulfilling what felt like a lifetimes wish and itch he liked to believe that she would. His fingers dug into her back, his head tilted just slightly resting along with hers, his entire body relaxed moulding into hers and his eyes closed peacefully. It was simply, perfect. More perfect than he had ever imagined it, more needed than he or she knew, they only realized how much once they collided, and once they collided there on that cold winter chill on the balcony of a cabin in the woods under a sky full of stars they couldn't ever go back, there was no force in the world that could rip them apart. They could try and they would, but their union wasn't one not to withstand a storm. Their union, was the storm.

xxx

Police Station:

Malik - SUSPENDED. INDEFINITELY. BOTH OF YOU. (His lips pressed in a grim line, his old and weary eyes shameful, disgusted, pained for his god son but more than anything they were full of disappointment, with not just his officers and aside from his differences and grudges against their family what he believed to be two fine young men, but also Dilshad and her foolishness) I'll be making a public announcement about it tomorrow too. (Took off his glasses, tossing them unto his table growing angrier by the minute as was evident by his greying hair which looked like he had obsessively ran his hands through them whilst trying to make sense of what horrific news welcomed him as he arrived back in town 24 hours later. It felt like a different lifetime.) you may go now...(Azlan and Zain both silently turned, their heads hung low & filled with guilt still) and one more thing..(they both stopped, and Malik stared at their backs with spite and disgust brewing on hatred) you better hope and pray to god that when I meet my god son, he tells me he is okay because if it's anything but...trust me your family will finally learn what pain feels like..and you're father going to jail will seem like the least of worries for your privileged mind to handle. NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY LOCK UP AND STAY THE HELL OUT OF MY SIGHT because I too know how to bend the law. (Azlan didn't even wait for him to finish what he had to say, he felt like he would suffocate and die in there if he didn't get out. He felt his hands begin sweating, his breaths shortening, chest tightening a panic attack coming on so he ran out of that station as fast as his legs could carry him his vision blurring as he did. Whilst Zain hung back for a second)

Zain - Sir...I...I'm really sorry for...for what happened to Asad because of my family..if..if you meet him...I..(and then he hung his head again, not knowing what to say)

Malik - You better hope to god that Feroz Ansari never shows his face in Kasauli again..because trust me if I ever see that swine I'll be putting the lot of you behind bars for his murder (Zain's pale face looked up at Malik expecting him to be joking but Malik was dead serious. He glared at Zain and nodded frowningly) I told you...I too can bend the law only difference is I won't be punishing an innocent boy but a bunch of crooks who absolutely deserve it. NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY FACE (he spun his chair around and Zain rushed out of there. He ran out of the lock up behind Azlan and wasn't surprised to find him sitting on the ground next to his car, his head buried in his hands sobbing uncontrollably. Zain's steps faltered, unable to imagine how hard this must be for him. Azlan may say whatever he wants and do whatever he wants but Zain had always known the truth. Azlan LOVED his brother, he LOVED Asad more than he loved anyone on this planet and that included Maya, even when he claimed not to he still loved him. It was just his privilege, lack of responsibility, sometimes jealousy of Asad and then their ridiculous family which caused him to make some poor choices that brought him to this crossfire where his brothers blood was on his hands. Zain hesitantly crouched down before Azlan and placed a tentative hand on his shoulders and Azlan just shook his head, lifting his head but his face was still covered by his hands as he leaned his against his car.

Azlan - (whispering brokenly) I..I'm sorry...I'm..I'm so so sorry I..I'm so-

Zain - (nodded pulling his head forward unto his shoulder and hugging him) I know...I know (whilst Azlan continued crying himself senseless, chanting I'm sorry till there were absolutely no tears left)

xxx

Asad's Cottage:

Zoya too had changed into a simple black shalwar Kurta of Aisha's so she could pray. Asad was lying on his stomach on the bed, his head resting on his forearm as he stared at Zoya praying through droopy drunken eyes. He was falling in love with this pure angel in black, praying to god. The moonlight shining through the window enlightening her features giving her a halo, making him fall harder for her. Her faith, the innocence on her face as she prayed with all her heart and her unwavering belief that those prayers would be answered kindled a hope in him too, that maybe there was a god after-all...maybe he might listen to your prayers now if he didn't once before, maybe there was a reason he didn't listen before or maybe you were an idiot like Einstein once said by doing the same thing but expecting different results. None the less, Zoya hadn't seen any less hardships or pain than him but still she had unwavering faith, right?

Zoya - (finishing praying, she smiled) aise kya dekh rahe hain Mr. khan?

Asad - (whispered, his heart falling and beating crazily for the beautiful angel before him. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms again and never let her go, now that he had had a taste of what ecstasy felt like he couldn't get enough. Of all the drugs in the world of which he had great experience with, nothing. nothing came close to the high he got being near Zoya and especially nowhere near hugging Zoya) I..I was just wondering what the secret was.

Zoya - (frowned, turning towards him on the ground where she was seated) secret?

Asad - secret to keep pushing forward..keep..hoping, believing even when..life's given you no reason to. Don't you sometimes just want to (staring ahead into nothingness again, worrying Zoya) give up? (Zoya averted her eyes at once, whatever answer she gave him would be a lie and her wrists were evident of that. She didn't want to lie to him, but the truth she wasn't anymore ready to hear it than she was to say it out loud)

Zoya - (treading carefully, avoiding the question he had actually asked) I think you already know the answer to that (Asad's eyes flickered to her and she smiled at him) how else do you explain you holding yourself together after what you just went through.

Asad - (sleepily) trust me I've been through worse (but the pain in his eyes, the emptiness, the heartbreak and betrayal and the way he clenched his jaw as he said that, not quite meeting her eye didn't reassure her so much, he stared into nothingness again like what he was about to tell her, a story which would shake Zoya to her core, and shift her belief in the entire world including humanity was actually playing before his eyes) When I..I was really really small..we...were completely broke...and (gulped, not used to talking about his vulnerability that allowed anyone to see the other softer, human side to him but he didn't know why, with Zoya there was no need for defences or walls. The words just flowed...he WANTED to tell her) we didn't have food and so as you may have heard today..I...I began (Zoya nodded, knowing..but Asad was relieved to see no judgement in her eyes. She still stared at him the way she did a minute ago) so..once I..I found the gate to a big mansion...the biggest mansion in the city left wide open..and I got so excited. I had never felt relief or happiness like that ever...(Zoya's eyes filled with tears at once, her heart breaking for HER family and all that they had unfairly been forced to endure) back then I used to equate the size of people's houses to the amount of food they had..so I figured they'd have A-LOT. The house was empty and dark so I easily snuck in...and found the kitchen. There was the most delicious looking cake sitting on the counter...and...as you may have realized I have some what of a sweet tooth (Zoya chuckled nodding, but Asad didn't smile like he normally would, instead his eyes turned even more empty, even more broken and hollow) so I couldn't resist and I...I ate some. A drunken man stumbled in a minute later and caught me eating what happened to be his son's birthday cake. He was so angry and so drunk he...he beat me so mercilessly...I was hospitalized for a month..with 3 fractures and a broken arm. A few years later I met that man again, who my mother later informed me was my (Zoya knew what was coming next) my father. (Scoffed) I used to think my step father was as cruel and inhumane as a person could get, that there was no one who could be as monstrous at him, but he proved me wrong. He made my step father look like an angel. (She closed her eyes as Asad's voice broke into a whisper near the end and tears spilled from her eyes, whilst just one managed to escape Asad's as his heart constricted with pain remembering the incident like it was yesterday. The taste of the cake, and then his own blood fresh in his mouth. They fell into a comfortable, but pain filled silence for the next few minutes, in which Asad was too broken to talk and Zoya had no words that could heal him, her mind reeled with the story Asad had just shared. The pain of it as much as the overwhelming and touched feeling settling in her heart realizing that Asad had shared something so personal, so deep and so painful of his past with her, he had actually opened up to her and although she was sure the alcohol had more to do with it, she'd still take it..gladly. How could someone be so cruel, so inhumane..to beat a child like that? She couldn't wrap her mind around it but she did understand Asad's anger, his personality, the pain and suffering his eyes constantly held & his resentment of his father, she was able to see him in a new light tonight and it worried her that this new light only intensified the feelings she was feeling for him lately.)

A few minutes later:

Zoya - (wiping her tears) uhh..Meri Aahil bhai se baat hui hai...he Aisha Aapi and Ayaan will be here soon..Aahil bhai will be able to better tend to your wounds and don't even try to argue with me..you really really need a doctor to see you & I don't care how tough or strong you think you are. Understood? Mr. Khan..(but she was only met with his closed eyes and soft snores which made her smile despite all the heartbreak, which only furthered seeing the angry blue marks around his wrists (cuff marks) evidence of the turmoil the last 24 hours had brought with them and what he had gone through, as Zoya slowly ran her fingers across them Asad's fingers sought hers and Zoya let him do what he wanted, curiously. Until he found her hand and wrapped his large one over it strongly and securely, refusing to let go. His fears, his need for trust, security and love in his most vulnerable state when he was unconscious like that, made Zoya's heart ache and fall even harder...she rested her head against the bed where he had finally fell asleep due to exhaustion, pain, and alcohol and she continued watching his beautiful sleeping face, falling more and more in love with him with each soft snore and each rise and fall of his chest) (whispered) I'm so...so proud of you Mr. Khan.

xxx

Kasauli - Airport:

Dilshad - (crying, her head hung low as she held Aisha's hands who was crying just as much) I'm sorry...I'm sorry Aisha..tell him I'm sorry..tell Asad I-

Aisha - (nodded) he knows...he knows Ammi I know..

Dilshad - (nodded) take care of him...promise me...you'll-

Aisha - I will-

Aahil - (wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and she leaned into him) we will.

Dilshad - you understand right...you understand why I'm going...I know...I know you think of your Ammi to be strong..you need her to be but..I can't be...not this time. I can't face him Aisha..not yet..not so soon...I can't cause him any more stress or pain...woh uska ghar hai...he should want to come home...I...I have-

Aahil - (nodded) Aunty..this is the best decision for everyone right now...trust me abhi aapko Asad ke saamne aana bhi nahin chahiye...it won't do him any good..only harm..he'll never be able to heal completely if he's reminded of what happened.

Dilshad - (nodded, her tears still falling) woh theek ho jayega na? Bilkul theek-

Aahil - (smiled and hugged her, which she REALLY needed) bilkul theek ho jayega..we're headed to him now. Trust me sab theek ho jayega.

Dilshad - (looked up at him) tum..tum inka khayal rakhoge na?

Aahil - (smiled a sad smile at Aisha) I'd love to. If only they'd let me (and Aisha closed her eyes, as more tears escaped them, but this time not for her brother or mother. But herself and her troubled heart as she watched Aahil practically hold her mother together preventing her from falling apart. The first hug she had gotten in these last 24 hours, one which she couldn't put into words how badly she needed and Aisha felt her resolve to stay away from Aahil melting)

xxx

Continued in next post...

Early the next morning - cabin:

Zoya sat in the window seat of the cabin, still wide awake. Her mind may be exhausted, but her eyes couldn't get enough of watching Asad in his most vulnerable, peaceful, and innocent state, asleep. He had passed out from the pain, exhaustion, and alcohol to the extent that he was able to turn over and sleep on his wounded and untreated back and not wake up wincing in pain. Zoya had tried but she simply couldn't fall asleep. She still couldn't believe the events of the last 24 hours. It had been nothing short of a storm to say the least. That, along with the pain that Asad may wake up & need her, the extent of his injuries, the story he had shared with her before falling asleep and lastly the rapid beating of her heartbeat and the explosion of butterflies in her stomach and a chance to watch him sleep all night couldn't coerce her into sleeping even if she tried her best & swallowed a pill. Her mind was reeling, she was panicking. Panicking wondering why her heart ached so excruciatingly over the thought of Asad possibly being in the slightest of pain, why she was willing to go to the ends of the world for him just to hopefully catch a glimmer of a smile in his eyes, why his rudeness or estranged behaviour hurt her so much, why his care, his softer side, his attention to her made her blush like even Shahrukh Khan in his most romantic movies couldn't. Why did she crave to be near him, why did she crave his attention & why did her breaths abandon her when he was, why did her heartbeats race against time & why did her stomach feel so unsettled around him. The more she thought about it the more she panicked. She knew better, she knew this could never be, she could never deserve someone as pure as Mr. Khan, moreover he would never accept her knowing her past, knowing her present...she didn't have the best of characters, everyone thought so..and as she remembered the earlier days of when she moved into Khan Mansion, so did Asad. They may have come quite far along since then but she was sure they hadn't come so far along that her innocent dreams and hopes could be fulfilled and as if Dilshad Phupi would allow for a girl with such a horrible character and bad blood, a girl whose own parent's didn't want her to walk alongside her perfect son, her prince, her pride for the rest of his life. Zoya was seeing dreams that would NEVER EVER be fulfilled, and nor did she deserve them to be fulfilled. As that reality set into her heart, she averted her tear-filled eyes from Asad's handsome face, burying her innocent hopes, dreams, desires & wishful thinking away. They were frenemies and she'd rather have that with him over nothing which is what she'd end up with if she dared to continue down this treacherous path of hope that would breed nothing but eternal misery. Fortunately, just as full on panic began settling in her, and along with it an overwhelming desire to cut and draw blood she heard the bell ring downstairs and Zoya had never been more relieved or grateful. She jumped up at once and rushed downstairs, her face suddenly paler and her eyes wide with panic as she realized how unknowingly and foolishly she had let herself wander down a path she knew she wasn't destined or blessed to despite how badly she hoped to. She threw open the door and was relived to find her brothers and Aisha at the door. Overwhelmed, she crashed into Aahil's chest and hugged him tight, startling and worrying him.

Ayaan - Zoe?

Aisha - (looking up the stairs where Asad's room was) what's wrong? Is...Is Asad okay?

Zoya - (pulled herself together but failed as much as she tried. She shook her head wiping her tears and nodded) sorry I'm just being silly...I..I'm just a little overwhelmed that's all..he's he's fine he's asleep upstairs but I think you guys should check up on him...I..I tried to tend to his wounds as much as I could but..(her voice broke as she stared at Aisha's bloodshot eyes which were even now filled with tears) there was just so much blood..so..so many wounds...(Aisha just stared at her speechless, her face paling further. Despite being a doctor she could never tend to her brothers wounds, she could never see him in a state of vulnerability or less than his optimal health & strength, her brother was her strength, her everything and without him, seeing him weak and vulnerable she didn't know where she would stand in life. Aahil understood so he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder)

Aahil - I'll check on him, you wait downstairs, I'll call you when I'm done (Aisha nodded gratefully, her tears spilling and Zoya hugged her tightly and Aisha hugged her back even tighter. Needing a hug from her best friend/sister more than she knew. Aahil nodded at Ayaan to stay with them whilst he picked up his medical bag and walked upstairs)

Zoya - don't worry Aapi, Mr. Khan's really strong...he'll bounce back from this more annoying than ever.

Ayaan - (laughed) you're damn right about that (kissing the top of Aisha's head) I'll bet you he's causing us all a headache the second he wakes up...

Aisha - (laughed nodding) well then I guess this will be the first time I hope he does (Ayaan smiled at her) I'm going to go wash my face. Freshen up a bit...Zoya we brought take out. You wanna freshen up as well?

Zoya - (bit her lip, her panic from earlier still not settling in. She knew she just needed to get some air, some time some space alone with her thoughts and she'd be okay. Back to pretending like nothing was wrong and there was no soul happier than her on earth.) no I..uh..I think I'm going to get going?

Ayaan - (frowned sharing quizzical looks with Aisha) going...go where? Everyone you know is right here?

Zoya - (shook her head, avoiding eye contact with him, knowing he'd catch her lie in a heartbeat if she looked into his eyes) I..uh I have school in the morning a test actually at 8 am and then I have the rehearsal halls booked out for my performance and today's my last day to use the dance studio at school so...so I should..I..should get going

Ayaan - (frowned) okay then..then just stay for food and then I'll drive you.

Zoya - (shook her head) I'm really not hungry (Ayaan's frown deepened, Zoya and not hungry? Yah he wasn't buying it) and uh I I really just want to go alone. I want to clear my head and use some space and fresh air so if you don't mind can I borrow your car..

Ayaan - Zoe-

Zoya - (snapped) Zoe what Ayaan? I'm not a child okay and I'd really appreciate it if you all stopped treating me like one. I can drive back to Kasauli myself..and the sun'll be up in a half hour anyways if your afraid of me driving in the dark. I've lived alone in New York my entire adult life (looked away) I'm used to managing on my own...(and her voice broke saying the last part, Ayaan rushed up to her as she looked away wiping her tears, a task which he overtook)

Ayaan - hey...hey Zoe? What's wrong. What's going on? Tell me please. And not because I think you're some fragile child who needs my protection or saving but because I know you to be one of the strongest bravest people ever. Stronger than me for sure..(Zoya laughed wiping her tears) so if there's something bothering you please. Can you tell me?

Zoya - (shook her head) I'm...I'm just a little overwhelmed and..I don't want to miss my rehearsal time so if you don't mind...can I burrow your car. Please? (Ayaan looked to Aisha, who nodded. As a doctor understanding that Zoya being alone with Asad in the condition that he was in, maybe it was too much for her to handle which is what brought this panic attack along)

Aisha - (put a hand on her shoulder) thank you Zoya. Thank you for taking care of my brother (but it was specifically her brother that Zoya didn't want to think about at the moment, not until she had used the time & space to pretend like she was okay again to the extent of actually believing it herself too, nonetheless she nodded)

Ayaan - (still frowning, having a hint of what was wrong with her) do you mind if I walk you out? (Zoya sighed, but nodded. Guess if he was going to let her go she might as well not give him a reason to rethink his decision) Aapi's right you know. You are really good with him, really sweet (Zoya sighed, closing and averting her eyes not wanting to think about Asad at all) when did that change? (Laughed) actually HOW did that change? (He stopped as they approached his car, and Zoya stared ahead of herself, thinking about Ayaan's question)

Zoya - it was easy. (She stared at Ayaan for just a split second) it's his eyes, I made the mistake of looking into them, (gave him a small smile) they're the saddest eyes I've ever seen. (Saying so she gave him a quick peck and got into his car, just so he couldn't see any more of her vulnerability but what she didn't know was that that split second of looking into her eyes was all that Ayaan needed to confirm his doubts. His sister, was definitely falling in love with his best friend, and he couldn't be happier or sadder for her. He just hoped that for her sake, Asad chose happiness for both of them instead of sadness which he was 100% sure Asad would choose even if he didn't want to himself. With a heavy and worried heart, he waved at Zoya as she drove off)

Morning:

Asad - (whispered in his sleep) Zoya...(He opened his groggy and still heavy, exhausted and sleep ridden eyes. His fever & the sunlight shining directly on him through the huge window, as well as the heavy duvet Aisha had covered him with burning his already fever ridden body. He groaned as he felt the not so familiar dull ache and pain of his wounds and raised his arms to shield his eyes but winced as he felt a sharp pain his right hand. Squinting he saw it was a syringe taped to his hand, forcing his eyes to open further he had hoped for the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes to be Zoya's beautiful face but instead he saw the IV he was hooked on.

Aahil - oh good (smiled as Asad's confused head snapped towards him just as he stepped out of the adjoining bathroom) you're up. How're you feeling?

Asad - (frowned) confused..

Aahil - (laughed, pointing to the IV) that's to help you gain some strength. I'll ask Aisha to bring you some breakfast so you can take your medicine and then I can..give you another injection of painkillers.

Asad - (groaned as he tried sitting up, Aahil moved forward to help him) Aapi's here?

Aahil - (nodded adjusting his pillows) we arrived this morning. We would've come earlier but there was a situation at the hospital (someone cleared their throat in the room and Aahil smiled, ignoring the worry that etched itself unto Asad's face) but it's nothing. The important thing is we're here. (Smiled again) I'll get Aisha I know she's dying to see you awake. (Asad nodded once and then turned his attention to the throat clearer by the name of Ayaan who was sitting on the edge of the window seat, avoiding Asad's eye. Asad frowned looking towards Ayaan)

Ayaan - how you feeling man?

Asad - I would've been feeling a whole lot better if someone had come through with what I asked of them (sarcastically) man. That's why you didn't show up yesterday isn't it? You were avoiding me?

Ayaan - (sighed) come on, I know you didn't need it.

Asad - (snapped) Yah but I wanted it.

Ayaan - (shook his head) I know you did but I don't care...I wasn't about to watch you do that to yourself and I definitely wasn't going to play a part in it..not this time, not again. (Asad scoffed shaking his head) I know you may feel annoyed right now...but I also know that in your heart you're relieved, in your heart you know I was just being a good friend by not letting you take the easy way out to ease the pain, and I know for a fact that if the tables were turned, you'd do the same for me.

Asad - (frowned) Yah well I'd definitely bring some dope along if I was intending on giving such a mind-numbing lecture. (Ayaan stared at him, and then he couldn't help but burst out laughing and Asad chuckled too.) shut up. It hurts too much to laugh.

Ayaan - (got up wiping one errant tear away as he and Asad did their handshake before half hugging) I didn't know you could laugh

Asad - I didn't know you could lecture

Ayaan - (smiled) good to have you back man. Oh and uhh... yesterday NOW THAT..was dope (Asad couldn't help but smile) you should've seen Ghaffur man's face after you left. He looked like he was going to have a stroke.

Asad - (muttered) good riddance.

Ayaan - (laughed) and also, the other thing (sobering up, he smiled at Asad) proud of you for stepping up man. You're going to do wonders for our town, I just know it. (Asad half-smiled, not so surely just as a hysterically crying/laugh, ecstatic Aisha ran up the steps followed by Aahil carrying a breakfast tray. Aisha fell unto the bed next to Asad and broke down sobbing uncontrollably as she wrapped an arm around his neck hugging him tight. Asad used his heavily bandaged arm that didn't have an IV in it to hug her back and kiss her head)

Asad - I..I'm okay Aapi I'm perfectly fine.

Aisha - (shook her head, kissing him all over his face) I'm sorry..I'm so sorry I..(Asad winced as her fingers brushed over a bruise on his cheek whilst Ayaan helped himself to some of Asad's delicious breakfast spread)

Ayaan - forgot to say by the way bro..I love the look. If you ask me, bruises suit you. Helps down your annoying handsomeness so the ladies can finally hit the jackpot (pointing to himself)

Aisha & Aahil - shut up.

Asad - (glared at him) trust me, so long as batman is around...NO ONE is noticing robin.

Ayaan - (frowned) I see even a beating can't beat the narcissism out of you.

Asad - it's not narcissism if it's true. Right Aapi? (Aisha smiled and nodded)

Asad - (frowned) where's Zoya?

Aisha - She uhh she went back-

Asad - (frowned) to Kasauli? (Panicking, he sat up straighter and Ayaan's heart relaxed just a bit, maybe he didn't need to worry about Zoya's heart breaking as much as he thought) why? when? and you guys let her GO? ALONE-

Aisha - (ran a soothing hand through his hair making him lean back against the pillow heaven, not understanding his panic) it's okay Asad..everything's okay. Zoya had a test at college this morning and rehearsals for her performance at the arts festival later this week, thats all.

Asad - (frowned, whispering to himself) but...why would..why would she leave- (left out the me in the question)

Ayaan - (tongue in cheek) don't worry bro, she only went to Kasauli...not New York. Not yet anyways (he ignored the panic on Asad's face thinking Zoya was actually going to New York, Aisha not understanding what was happening turned to Asad)

Aisha - come on, eat your breakfast you've got to take your medicine then.

Asad - (nodded) okay (relaxing back) but uhh..what day is it today? (Frowning) isn't it the opening of the arts festival (Aisha shrugged) it is..it's...I'm supposed to perform the opening act-

Aisha - Oh nuh uh uh..you Mr. are not going anywhere..

Asad - Aapi come on...I'm not going to collapse singing on stage..

Ayaan - (laughed) I mean did you see him yesterday...if he can perform like that yesterday he can surely perform today as well...I'd sure as hell pay a million bucks to see that look on Ghaffurs face again

Asad - and it's the perfect platform to make the first move of my political campaign

Aahil - (raised an eyebrow) oh you mean yesterdays stunt wasn't the first move of your campaign?

Asad - (shook his head) yesterday was just to let people know that there's going to be a campaign. come on guys don't expect me to cancel...I've been looking forward to this for weeks, the guys and I've planned and prepared for this...it means a lot to me and...(sighed) and it's...it's really special-

Ayaan - (raised an eyebrow) for someone special or just special? (Asad just looked flustered)

Aahil - (laughed nodding) okay well just as long as it's not as charged as yesterday I'm sure if you take some painkillers before hand and take it easy on stage you should be okay-

Aisha - (her mouth falling open) AAHIL? USKI HAALAT DEKHO AUR-

Aahil - Aisha you and I both know that you're brothers not one to follow orders. I think instead of him rushing unto stage charged like yesterday we can make sure he takes proper rest and medication and understands he needs to take it easy up there...either way...you and I..we're not stopping him from getting up on that stage today..you know it and I know it...(Aisha glared at him, and he sighed apologetically, as she looked away from him he stepped closer to reassure her he wasn't doing this out of revenge of her rejecting him for her sister. Asad watched the whole exchange, realizing his mistake & seeing the opportunity to fix it)

Asad - Hey uhh..Farooqui's..you think you could give my sister and I a minute. (Aahil and Ayaan looked to each other & nodded)

Aahil - yah sure. (Ayaan being a gossip queen wasn't thrilled but he followed anyways)

Aisha - (looked at him confused, holding his hand in hers) what's wrong?

Asad - (raised her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it) you know how much I love you right (Aisha nodded still confused) and you know how much your happiness means to me and that I've always valued and prioritized it more than anything else in my life..

Aisha - (frowned confusedly) Asad I know...what's-

Asad - (sighed) I...uh..I know there's something going on between you and Aahil (Aisha's face paled for a second as she averted her eyes but Asad shook his head) I'm not mad, and I'm not upset. I know I came across like that before but..I'm not. I like Aahil and I think he is everything I would want for you to find in your soul mate & more...(Aisha's eyes filled with tears as she looked up at him in disbelief and Asad nodded reassuringly) he understands you, he cares for you, he respects you and he's a good person..and..and if this is you want..(his eyes filled with tears too as he smiled at her) then I'll throw you a wedding fit for a princess..(Aisha covered her mouth as she broke into a sob, hugging him tight. He hugged her back too) it's about time we started fighting and prioritizing our happiness unapologetically... (Aisha nodded and Asad smiled at her) seriously, you just say the word...and I'll snap my fingers and have him at our door with a band baaja and baraat by nightfall

Aisha - (laughed, kissing his forehead) I know you will (shook her head at him) I love you...you know that? you're my everything. (Asad smiled, punching her face lightly)

Asad - aap bas dulhe miyan ko raazi kar lo qaazi ko main bula loonga...

Aisha - (laughed) something tells me he's already raazi (Asad smiled) now finish your breakfast so we can go home...(Asad nodded. He turned around and was about to pick up his toast when her voice rang in his ears "I'm so, so proud of you Mr. Khan. Asad didn't know if he imagined them, but they felt so unbelievingly real like she was sitting right next to him whispering them into his ears right now, and it made him smile in anticipation even more. He couldn't wait to see her again, surprise her, thank her with the performance he had planned to show his appreciation of all that she had done for him in the past few days. He had been planning it since the day he got his invitation and it really was the perfect way to show her just how much she meant to him)

Back in Kasauli - IMA:

Asad - (his eyes gliding over every face in the crowd, in search for just the one. In search for her face. The love of the crowd, the cheers, the hoots and screams of his fans falling on deaf ears. His heart was restless till her face was in his sight. He looked a bit healthier and stable than he did last night, but the bruises were still as blue and dark and the paleness of his face hadn't healed in the slightest at all. Thankfully the painkillers and medication Aahil had administered as his doctor were doing the trick of keeping his fever down and keeping him steady on his two feet. Still he wished more than anything that Zoya who was around campus somewhere here would show up, because that would be the biggest healer he could ask for) Meri rooh ka parinda phadphadaaye Lekin sukoon ka jazeera mil na paaye Ve ki karan ve ki karan

Ik baar ko tajalli toh dikha de Jhoothi sahi magar tasalli toh dila de Ve ki karan ve ki karan (Zoya's steps faltered mid step, her heartbeats spiralling out of control immediately as she thought she heard Asad. But that wasn't possible, it was just her ears deceiving her. Asad was in bed, passed out from pain, in his cabin somewhere in the middle of nowhere. He couldn't be here, Aisha Aapi would never allow him to actually come and do his performance- her eyes widened. It was the opening day of the arts festival and Asad's was the opening act, how could she forget? The loud, insane screaming, the cheers the love coming from the window below...it couldn't be...could it? Out of breath from rehearsals which was the best healer and remedy of her troubled heart, she ran over to the window and her heart lurched. It was actually him, Asad he was actually here! Zoya tore away from the window and tore out of that dance studio at once, not realizing Sameer leaning against the door of the small dance studio she had just thrown open, waiting for her. Stalking her. He smiled sadistically after her, playing with the flame of the lighter in his hands whilst Zoya continued running as fast as her legs could carry her, tearing through the college grounds like a bullet leaving it's barrel. She was after-all, running to her own high) Ranjhan de yaar Bulleya Sun le pukaar Bulleya Tu hi toh yaar Bulleya (holding the mic with both hands, singing with as much passion as ever despite his poor health) Murshid mera, Murshid mera Tera mukaam kamle sarhad ke paar Bulleya (his heart hammered slightly as he said that word today. Wanting to, for once actually have faith like he had seen Zoya have faith. Wanting to be whole, to end the restlessness he constantly felt, every living breathing moment. He just wanted peace, to feel whole, like he did every time he saw that twinkle in Zoya's eyes. He prayed, as a test, he prayed to see Zoya and little did he know god had already answered that one for him before he even asked. Zoya was pushing and weaving her way through the crowd, wanting, needing to get to him...right in front of him...where she could see him. Where he could see her. Where he knew she was there for him, with him...in whatever insanity this was. Why was he here? He should be in bed.) Parvardigar Bulleya Hafiz tera Murshid mera (spun around wildly, ripping the mic off the stand as he rocked back and forth, his eyes closed singing) Ranjhan de yaar Bulleya Sunle pukaar Bulleya Tu hi toh yaar Bulleya (A gust of wind kissed his face, and with it a wave of peace washed over him like he had never known, but he knew...she was here, she was close, she was with him, and just like that a soft adorable smile graced his face even as he felt slightly dizzy because despite Aahil & Aisha's warnings there was no way he couldn't be charged with ecstasy when he was up on stage, when he strummed that guitar or opened his mouth to sing. It was his high of choosing.) Murshid mera Murshid mera (opened his eyes, and sure enough there she was, with as big and beautiful a smile on her face as there were tears of happiness in her eyes seeing him up & well, as handsome as ever. He winked at her and she threw caution to the wind blowing a kiss to him and that only made his smile grow wider, her heart beat wilder and the passion and energy in him to break free of all constraints) Tera mukaam kamle Sarhad ke paar Bulleya Parvardigar Bulleya Hafiz tera Murshid mera..

(Standing still, swaying on his feet with the high of the music, his hands wrapped around the mic, staring right into Zoya's eyes, starting to, hoping to become a believer. Wanting to become whatever it is he needed to, she wanted him to...just so she could take him away from all the pain and misery of his world to her own world, where all the demons and anguish went away when her eyes twinkled devilishly with joy, when every time she laughed his heart filled with hope that this world wasn't as bad a place as he knew it to be) Main taan gul se lipti titli ki tarah muhajir hoon Ek pal ko thehrun, pal mein udd jaun Ve main ta hoon pagdandi Labhdi ae jo raah jannat di Tu mude jahaan main saath mud jaun (eyes closed) Tere kaarwa mein shaamil hona chahun Kamiyan tarash ke main kaabil hona chahun Ve ki karan ve ki karan (dipped all the way back, before he rocked his head back and forth again, standing straight up again, holding the mic in his hand) Ranjhan de yaar Bulleya Sun le pukaar Bulleya Tu hi toh yaar Bulleya (he looked in to the crowd, holding the mic stand for support as he felt another spell of dizziness hit him and smiled to a euphoric smile on Zoya's face too, as she rocked alongside him singing at the top of her lungs too, he smiled, the dizziness long forgotten, energy and passion, life like he had never known before coursed through him) Murshid mera, Murshid Mera Tera mukam kam le Sarhad ke paar Bulleya Parvardigar Bulleya Hafiz tera Murshid mera (walked to the edge of the stage, standing right before Zoya. He crouched down, rocking back and forth on stage as did she in the audience right below him. They held out their hands simultaneously and slapped them like a sideways 5 before smiling so wide their cheeks hurt and Zoya's heart ached, falling a bit deeper each time she saw his breathtaking smile as it did with the fact that he had the ability and strength to stand up here and smile today, after everything he went through yesterday) Ranjhan de yaar bulleya Sun le pukaar bulleya Tu hi toh yaar bulleya Murshid mera, Murshid mera Tera mukaam kamle Sarhad ke paar bulleya Parvardigar bulleya Hafiz tera Murshid mera (Backtracked unto stage, the screams louder than ever as he jammed/rocked with his band non stop, shaking his head to he beats, despite the injury and thick band aid across his forehead and despite Aisha and Aahil's warning not to) Ranjhan de yaar bulleya Sun le pukaar bulleya Tu hi toh yaar bulleya Murshid mera, Murshid mera Tera mukaam kamle sarhad ke paar bulleya Parvardigar bulleya Hafiz tera Murshid mera.. Murshid mera.. Murshid mera.. (spinning, feeling soulful like never before as he sang those words) Murshad mera..(ended in his signature pose, pumping his fist with the mic in the air, with his back to the audience. The applause, the whistles, the screams of "I love you now mixed with "Asad Khan for Mayor was louder than ever but Asad wasn't done yet. His band continued playing however the beat & tune were slightly different, slightly more haunting & moving and slightly more deep and cryptic. Asad stood still rocking waiting for his cue, whilst the applauses and screams refused to die down)

Asad - (no words could be more appropriate and convey the feelings of his heart more accurately and completely than the words he chose to sing in that moment precisely) When the days are cold And the cards all fold And the saints we see Are all made of gold (the applause and the anticipating cheer only grew louder if that were at all possible) When your dreams all fail And the ones we hail Are the worst of all And the blood's run stale (turned around to face the crowd or more specifically and truthfully one person in the crowd who he hoped would be able to see him for the Asad he wanted her to be able to see, the Asad he wanted to be, for her. The Asad he had long forgotten how to be. She was who he was singing these words for, who he wanted to save him, help him, understand him like only she could. After all, two damaged souls healing each other is love.) I want to hide the truth I want to shelter you But with the beast inside There's nowhere we can hide (walking to centre stage, like a freaking hero amidst the love and applause because that is what he was to the people of Kasauli. Majority of them anyways. A hero who they could look up to with hope but all that he hoped was Zoya could see that, see his world and want to be apart of his world as much as he wanted to be apart of hers.) No matter what we breed We still are made of greed (closing his eyes, letting the applause and encouragement fuel his decision, his inspiration, his efforts) This is my kingdom come This is my kingdom come (people knew, he wasn't a force to be reckoned with but still there were some people like the Haveli folks who needed to be reminded of that, not only was he a force not to be reckoned with he was a force and storm of their own creating. But he also wanted Zoya to know that that's not all he was. Yes, the demons in his eyes were as a result of the wreckage of that storm which he needed her to save him from, but he was so much more than that, and Zoya was the first person to be able to see that. He just wanted her to continue being able to see that. He was ready to fight if that's what the world wanted, but he wouldn't cower or back down and if it wanted a fight it better bring everything it's got because Asad was planning on destroying anything that came for him & his kingdom) When you feel my heat Look into my eyes (his eyes locked with Zoya's hopeful ones, wishing the same thing as well, that he was able to see she was so much more than the labels this world had slapped unto her forehead as they had done to his as well) It's where my demons hide It's where my demons hide Don't get too close It's dark inside (clapping along to the beat in a chant like the audience was too, and it caused an even greater, even louder uproar of applause and cheer. His eyes more fierce more determined than ever before) It's where my demons hide It's where my demons hide (suddenly the music changed to a slow tempo and he closed his eye's bringing the mic close to his lips, holding it with both hands singing in a soft, almost whisper) bezubaan kabse main raha...begunnah sehta phir raha (the music ended abruptly but that only gave incentive to make the applause and the screams grow louder. Asad smiled through it)

Asad - (mock saluted) thanks for coming out everyone (his guitarist strummed slightly on cue as Asad nodded. Hearing Zoya's words again, which he now knew without a shadow of a doubt were not his imagination they couldn't be. Seeing that beautiful smile shining up at him, blinding even the brightest of lights it was just too pure to be an imagination) I, I'm a one way motorway I'm the one that drives away Then follows you back home I, I'm a street light shining I'm a wild light blinding bright Burning off alone (to live, give & love he had learnt from Zoya, since Zoya & thanks to Zoya) It's times like these you learn to live again It's times like these you give and give again It's times like these you learn to love again It's times like these time and time again (again, all due to Zoya& he wanted her to know that. He hoped his eyes, his words, his special performance dedicated just for her was able to convey that) I, I'm a new day rising I'm a brand new sky To hang the stars upon tonight I am a little divided Do I stay or run away And leave it all behind? It's times like these you learn to live again It's times like these you give and give again It's times like these you learn to love again It's times like these time and time again (Music died down again)

Asad - & I HOPE YOU DO KNOW THAT. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I HOPE YOU KNOW I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT NOW IS THE TIME WE LEARN TO LIVE...LEARN TO LOVE...LEARN TO COME TOGETHER. IT'S NOW OR NEVER. What I said yesterday, it wasn't a rebellious stunt or a practical joke. IT WAS A DECLARATION. A DECLARATION OF WAR! OF PEACE!! OF A REVOLUTION!! OF NO MORE!! I WILL NOT STAND BACK AND WATCH MY CITY BURN!! I WILL RISE LIKE A PHEONIX FROM THE ASHES, BUT I WILL FIGHT BACK!! I WILL FIGHT FOR MY HOME!! I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, MY (pointing fiercely at his chest) PEOPLE!! BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING I WILL FIGHT FOR MYSELF!! I WILL TAKE BACK ALL THAT THIS CITY HAS TAKEN FROM ME INCLUDING MY DIGNITY!! MY RESPECT!! MY INNOCENCE!! I WILL MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO MORE ASAD AHMED KHAN'S BORN TO WANDER THESE STREETS IN HUNGER SO EXTREME THEY ARE PUNISHED FOR STEALING FOOD FROM THOSE WHO DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GO ON HUNGRY!! I SAY WE SCREW THE SYSTEM!! WE SCREW OUR ENEMIES!! WE SCREW EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM WHO WISH TO SEE US BURN!! WE WILL NOT BURN!! WE WILL FIGHT BACK!! WE WILL THRIVE AS A CITY UNITED!! But I can't do this alone...I can't win this alone. I need you (his eyes imploring Zoya's smitten, moved, tear filled ones. He was so divine she had to avert her eyes for a second lest her heart burst with love for him, she knew he was asking her to stand on his side and she would, she would walk by his side forever in a heartbeat but she needed to know that that is what he wanted without a shadow of a doubt because if she read too much into it and that's not what he was asking she didn't know if she could ever take it) by my side. SO TELL ME!! ARE YOU WITH ME!! (His drummer hit it just as the crowd roared wildly) ARE YOU WITH ME!! ARE WE TAKING BACK THIS CITY!! (Again, with each word, with each declaration they roared louder and louder just like they had done throughout his speech) Then let's hear it!! (The beat dropped at once, amidst loud applauses and cheers again, but this time he let his band lead the way, whilst he clapped to the beat and got the crowd to follow suit)

Band - Tu Dhop Hai, Chham Se Bhikhar, Tu Hai Nadi O Bekhbar Beh Chal Kahin, Udd Chal Kahin Dil Khush Jahaan, Teri To Manzil Hai Wahi Kyun Is Kadar Hairaan Tu, Mausam Ka Hai Mehmaan Tu
Asad - I will however confess that there was more than one motive behind this performance. I mean, most of you are probably wondering what the hell I'm doing here. Shouldn't I be in a hospital (there were some laughs from the audience) I know she's thinking that for sure (Zoya's heart skipped a beat treacherously "she, dare she hope or think that "she was in fact her, dare she let Asad's coy smile let her think that? There were several heartbreaks and murmurs in the audience leading to various conclusions as he said that) see until yesterday I had no attention of taking part in the elections (collective boos and disappointed screams making Asad smile and chuckle at the irony) but I guess you have Ghaffur Siddique to thank for your good fortune that I shall be your mayor NOT him..(His self confidence and narcissism not surprising Zoya but she could never get used to it even if it was one of the things she loved most about him) but before that..when we planned and rehearsed this performance it was for a different purpose with an altogether..different intention..and that intention still stands (the Ernest look and honesty in his eyes and voice leaving Zoya breathless and her heartbeats spiralling hoping he wouldn't do what she was suspecting he was about to, because she didn't know if she could ever come back from it, if she could ever accept and resign to her fate, make peace with it instead of fighting for the greatest desire of her heart which as she was fearfully realizing was him) I..I set this performance with the intention and sole purpose to thank someone very special..very..important..someone very deserving of this thank you. The truth is (and Zoya's heart fell harder as she saw him lower his head smiling shyly, tucking his hands into his pockets adorably and awkwardly as he carefully chose what words to say whilst aware that he was breaking every girl in Kasauli's heart right about now even if he didn't have the treacherous desires her heart dared to hold) the truth is no words or actions could ever repay her or do justice enough to show her just how grateful I am for everything she's done..for everything she does...for me...but I hope this small act this effort shows her..just how much she means to me and..just how much I..appreciate and value everything she's done for me..
Someone shouting from the audience - AT LEAST TELL US WHO SHE IS??!! (The girls all screamed a collective "no but Zoya couldn't hear it if she tried, she was too dazed, too touched, too moved and stunned by what Asad had said, the innocence and honesty with which he said it & she just knew that he meant each and every word of it)
Asad - (chuckled smiling shyly, not quite looking at Zoya) ab uske baare mein kya bataon...kya kahoon? (His band, on cue dropped a beat, as Asad's eyes clouded over with images of an angel in red who came barrelling into his life like a winter storm and had turned his entire world upside down that day in the mazaar and he really couldn't be more thankful)
(singing, still Zoya's face from the mazaar still captured in his eyes like that moment hadn't occurred weeks ago but was in fact happening right now this very moment) Sone ka rang hai, sheeshe ka ang hai Jo dekhe dang hai kya kahoon Hairaan main bhi hoon (blinked and then Zoya's smiling but tear filled and troubled eyes not quite being able to believe this was happening that someone let alone Mr. Khan could do something so sweet and touching for HER. That he came here to perform despite his condition, his injury and pain just because he wanted her to know how much she meant to him. She wanted to burst into cries right there and then, she had never felt more loved or wanted) Yeh kya andaaz hai, itna kyoon naaz hai Is mein kya raaz hai kya kahoon Ho, (and then she had to roll her eyes as he smiled teasingly at her nodding laughing over her bipolar tendencies and the mood swings of a lioness, his lioness very seriously making her laugh, how could she not fall in love with this perfect dork of a man) voh to pal mein khush hai pal mein khafa Badle voh rang har ghadi Par jo bhi dekhoon roop uska Lagti hai pyaari badi Use jitna dekhoon utna sochoon Kya use main keh doon, pretty woman (he crouched on the stage right before her then, so they were eye level and Zoya made the mistake of looking into his eyes. She wanted to, but she couldn't look away even if she wanted, she was enchanted, transfixed) aankhon mein hai nasha, (her hair blowing softly behind her) zulfon main hai ghata Pehle humne ada yeh haseen dekhi na thi kahin (shook his head slightly, it was the damn hard true. Zoya was the first woman to ever make his head turn) Dekhi jo yeh pari masti dil mein bhari Hai yeh jaadugari ya nahin (winked at her) Usse jitna dekhoon utna sochoon (and then he startled her but excited the crowd by jumping off the stage and into the crowd, stealing Zoya's breaths along with her heartbeats and self control away as he whispered sang in the most lazy but sexy voice ever the words that haunted Zoya more than anything) Kya use main keh doon (There was nothing more she wanted to know in life as desperately as she wanted to know what it is he wanted to tell her and there is nothing more he wanted than for her to know what he wanted to say to her. But he settled for something else)
Asad - (speaking directly to Zoya) let me show you how grateful I truly am (he held out his hand to Zoya and she stared at him wide eyed, staring all around as a rather upbeat number blared over the entire courtyard where the art festival was going on. She pointed to herself raising an eyebrow at him, not quite sure he was serious) you're my favourite dancer the butterflies that erupted in her stomach, the way her heart felt light and as if it were suspended mid air just due to his smile. Zoya stared at him open mouth at his audacity and boldness, and open flirtation was he on drugs? Technically he was. On morphine and then there was love, which numbed the pain so far. Zoya smiled placing her hand in his. Asad smiled as Zoya threw her arm around his neck making him smile as they walked further into the crowd which began clearing up to make space whilst cheering and applauding in excitement simultaneously)
Ton sourire m'ensorcelle Je suis fou de toi Le dsir coule dans mes veines Guid par ta voix Ton sourire m'ensorcelle Je suis fou de toi
Asad (letting go of her hand with slight force and he looked at the ground, snapping his fingers slightly by his side as Zoya danced into mid crowd with a twirl) Nashe si chadh gayi oye Kudi nashe si chadh gayi (his eye's slowly roamed up, towards the rest of her body before setting on her beautiful face which always became more angelic and glowed with an altogether different zest for life when she was dancing and it just made each word he was singing more accurate and true, a true mirror description of the feels in his heart) Patang si lad gayi oye Kudi patang si lad gayi (Zoya began breakdancing around him, smiling as if she were the happiest, most luckiest and loved girl in the world and she felt nothing but, each time he looked at her the way he did and he continued snapping his fingers, matching her beats as she twirled around him and he spun with her to continue facing her each time he did) Nashe si chadh gayi oye Kudi nashe si chadh gayi Patang si lad gayi oye Kudi patang si lad gayi (she danced toward him, into him as he took swaying steps back, both lost in a complete world of their own their hearts, ears and minds deaf to all the hoots, applauses and cheers around them) Aise khenche dil ke penche (Zoya grabbed his other free, non-injured hand and twirled herself into his arms, before he dipped her back catching her in his arms and stealing her breaths away as he suddenly brought her back up, her windswept hair falling all over her face, slightly breathless as their gazes snagged to each others lips and Asad's voice suddenly grew hoarser) Gale hi pad gayi oye Nashe si chadh gayi oye Kudi nashe si chad gayi Patang si lad gayi oye Kudi patang si lad gayi (Again Zoya breakdanced around him, kind of like the actual dance in the actual song, whilst Asad slowly swayed with her, joining her in some of the steps especially when she used his arm to twirl herself around and mostly all the hoots were for Zoya the dancer, who was literally poetry in motion, a sight for sore eyes) O udti patang jaise Mast malang jaise Masti si chadh gayi humko turant aise Lagti current jaise Nikla warrant jaise Abhi abhi utra ho net se torrent jaise Nashe si chadh gayi oye Kudi nashe si chad gayi Patang si lad gayi oye Kudi patang si lad gayiNashe si chadh gayi oye Kudi nashe si chadh gayi Nashe si chadh gayi Patang si lad gayi Khilti basant jaise Dhulta kalank jaise Dil ki daraar mein ho pyar ka cement jaiseAkhiyon hi akhiyon mein jang ki front jaise Mil jaaye sadiyon se atka refund jaise Zubaan pe chadh gayi oye Kudi zubaan pe chadh gayi Lahu mein badh gayi oye Kudi lahu mein badh gayi (Asad grabbed her hand and twirled her around, as all his most precious moments of his life, each one of them having to do something or the other with Zoya, fighting with her, arguing with her, hating her or being angry at her and then his favourite, laughing with her or at her and indulging in absolute childishness with her, because it was amidst those childish and carefree banters and laughter that he had somehow fallen in love with the beauty currently in his arms, with his hand on her waist, his heartbeat ragged as they swayed side to side, with Zoya's one hand in her hair as her questioning, imploring and simultaneously twinkling eyes bored into his) Kamli kahaaniyo si Jangli jawaniyon si Jamti pighalti hai pal-pal paaniyon siBehti rawaaniyon si Hansti shaitaaniyon si Chadh gayi hum pe badi meherbaniyon si Aise khenche dil ke penche Gale hi pad gayi oye...Nashe si chadh gayi oye Kudi nashe si chadh gayi Patang si lad gayi oye Kudi patang si lad gayi Kanniyan o katte kadi Dil de chaurahe langdi ae (the song ended with Zoya and him face to face in the centre of a huge applauding and loving crowd in the middle of the arts festival, their bodies leaning into one another, their lips a hair breaths away and their eyes suddenly darker and suddenly more desirefilled, waiting and wanting to take the plunge) Kanniyan o katte kadi Banniyan o tappe kadi Dil de chaurahe langdi ae Hansi kadi thatte kadi Galliyan oh nappe kadi Hans ke kaleja maangdi ae Ton sourire m'ensorcelle Je suis fou de toi Le dsir coule dans mes veines Guid par ta voix Ton sourire m'ensorcelle Je suis fou de toi Le dsir coule dans mes veines Guid par ta voix (but the moment faded, as did the music and once again they snapped back to what was soon to become a rather painful reality) Nashe si chadh gayi oye..Patang si lad gayi oye..Nashe si chadh gayi oye Kudi nashe si chadh gayi

2 minutes Later - Zoya was walking with a slightly dizzy and very much exhausted Asad back to his car, more like escorting him so he wouldn't faint.
Zoya - (laughed, shaking her head hearing him groaning holding his head) seriously toh itna herogiri karne ki zaroorat kya thi? The world would still have spun even if you didn't come perform for us today..
Asad - can you not speak? Everything hurts.
Zoya - (shook her head) I can't believe Aapi and Bhai actually let you out of bed. (Left his arm and stood before him, also because also because she could only hold his bicep under her arm for so long without jumping him, so it would be best if she avoided touching him altogether) now listen to me, I want you to be a good little boy and go straight home! I'll call kaki and ask her to make you soup which you WILL drink, and then you will lay in bed and preferably take a nap, or otherwise read a book or watch TV (he cringed at that and zoya rolled her eyes) fine stare at the ceiling but you're gonna stay in bed till Aapi or I come home! (Twisted his ear) understand?
Asad - FINE (yanking his ear free) butI do have to make one stop before going home-
Zoya - (frowned) where- (and then her eyes went wide and angry and Asad actually jumped back scared) MR. KHAN IF YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING TO WORK TODAY I WILL-
Asad - (holding his head) do you mind? My head's fragile-
Zoya - (giggled) it's about time you realized (shut up as Asad shot her a not so friendly glare)
Asad - I'm going to meet Pari, (Zoya smiled at that, having no objections) I haven't met her in a few days and Know how she gets if I don't visit regularly..
Zoya - oh you mean how relieved she gets?
Asad - GOODBYE ZOYA- (Zoya laughed stepping out of his way so he could get into his limo but then a thought struck Asad and he stopped awkwardly and slightly annoyed/angrily) uhh Zoya- (Zoya turned around) is my...I mean uhh..is..(drawing invisible circles on the car door) is she...what I want to ask is, is my-
Zoya - (smiled sadly. Understanding his hesitations and reservations and need for time and space before he could forgive Dilshad but it was still sad what had happened to her beautiful family. She shook her head, knowing him better than he knew himself, she knew exactly what he wanted to ask) she went to Delhi to be with Bhai & Bhabi for a while. (Asad nodded, relieved. He wasn't ready to face his mother just yet and it was easier to avoid her then misbehave or show her some tough love and end up hurting her even if she deserved it.) she understands but uhh...I hope you also understand how terribly sorry she is, and..and that she didn't mean for this to happen.
Asad - (snapped, his eyes glassy) yah well, that doesn't really help me right now..(he then gave her a quick look and she smiled turning back around but he stopped again, this time just awkwardly and shyly) oh and uh Zoya - (Zoya stopped again, her whole body shuddering with the way her name sounded from his lips. It may just be the sexiest sound she had ever heard. Gathering her wits, she turned around gulping nervously and there really was no point of her gathering her wits and strength because his half smile had her heart spiralling out of control again) thanks, again.
Zoya - (laughed, just slightly walking up to him and holding the door) your most welcome Mr. Khan (and Asad's heart felt like it was free falling at her sweet smile, sweet words and the sweetest twinkle of her eyes) now (gave him a playful shove) GO! (Asad smiled but got in the car) I'll be home in an hour!
Asad - (muttered) no need to rush..
Zoya - (screamed after him) I HEARD THAT!
Asad - (stuck his head out the window) YOU WERE MEANT TO. (Zoya laughed adoringly, her heart in so much trouble! Who was this man and what had he done to Akdu Ahmed Khan! She shook her head at the tsunami he was and the tsunami of emotions he erupted in her heart as she made her way back to the dance studios highly unaware of Sameer who had been watching her from the window of the dance studio he was still hiding out in and he had seen their entire interaction; from Zoya running out to the crowd madly to Asad singing/performing for her to him asking her to dance which she happily obliged too and lastly her talking, laughing, flirting and touching Asad and he had never felt more scorned or furious and vengeful. Zoya Farooqui was going to pay a hefty price for her audacity and transgressions!)

xxx
Continued in next post...

Asad's Bungalow:

As the setting sun threw the sky into shades of orange, mixed with purple and pink hues along with the gradually increasing darkness Azlan opened the door to the bungalow, stepping in to the quiet and dark. He didn't look anything like the usual, carefree and happy prince that he was. Instead, he looked worn out, exhausted and as if he was carrying all the weight of the world on his shoulders. Which he was, until and unless he could find the courage to face those he had wronged, and they forgave him, those he had wronged meaning Dilshad Khan and his brother, Asad. Asad. There he lay fast asleep or passed out, Azlan wasn't sure on the couch in the living room. Azlan hadn't expected to see him so soon, and so he wasn't at all prepared to face him just yet. It was a good thing he wasn't conscious because Azlan didn't know how, let alone if at all he would be able to face Asad. His heart broke and shattered over & over, the guilt, the pain suffocating him. He tugged at his collar as he saw the angry bruises on Asad's face and neck. His bandaged forehead and from what he could see there were bandages on his chest too. The cast around his arm was another story. Azlan gulped nervously. He himself looked almost at bad as Asad. He looked like he hadn't slept, ate or even showered in days. Unshaven, unkempt he looked horrible, especially his eyes which looked cried out and drunken. With a heavy heart, he took small hesitant steps towards Asad as he saw him grow restless in his sleep. His face contort painfully, like as if he was having a nightmare which Azlan was sure he was because he had seen that look one too many times before. He walked over to Asad and knelt beside him on the ground, his whole body shuddering with overwhelming pain and guilt. Hesitantly he raised a shaky hand and very tenderly touched the angry blue and black bruises on Asad's cheek and Asad's body jolted violently. His frown deepening in his sleep. Azlan pulled his hand back realizing how badly his body was burning from a high fever. He gulped nervously, not knowing what to do. His fingers very tenderly ran through Asad's hair moving it back from his forehead as he felt it. He wanted to wake him up or probably get Farida Bi to tend to him but he wasn't sure it was the best thing to do in his own presence, maybe he could let Farida Bi know on his way out. Which should be soon because it seemed whatever nightmare Asad was having was only growing worse and he didn't want his brother to suffer any longer. That's when his eyes caught sight of the angry purple marks around Asad's wrists, from being handcuffed for so long. Casting a nervous and apprehensive glance at Asad's still fearfully contorted face, with beads of sweat from both his fever and nightmare covering his forehead Azlan dared to reach forward and grab one of his wrists gingerly in his hands. His eyes filling with tears.
Azlan - (shook his head wiping his tears) how could I let this happen to you...you're my brother, my strength, my Asad..my everything and..I love you..and yet...(he rested his head against Asad's hand which he was holding firmly in his own as he began crying, and Asad's body jolted violently again, his nightmare growing worse) I let this happen...I let them do this to you. I have..your blood on my hands. I'm sorry...I'm so soo sorry Asad (he kissed his hand)
Asad - (muttering in his dream) Sorry...I'm..Sorry..don't (his head tossing restlessly) no..don't..I'm sorry..(Azlan's head hung low even more shamefully and in guilt) I..NO (and then Azlan couldn't take it. Without even thinking his hand shot out and gripped Asad's shoulder because he didn't want, and nor could he bear the thought of Asad, his brother suffering for another second. But it seemed like that may not have been the best idea. Asad shot up at once, his face breaking out into cold sweats now, his mind and eyes unfocused and fearful. He looked around at the dark living room, unable to orient himself.)
Azlan - (his head hanging low he placed another hand on Asad's shoulder and whispered dejectedly and in a small voice) Asad- (Asad's whole body jerked in his direction the minute Azlan touched him, cowering back into the sofa defensively, his eyes fearful. Azlan's heart broke seeing that fear in Asad's eyes, Asad who was the strongest person Azlan knew. Asad stared at him, wide eyed for a second before everything came crashing down on him and without a second's delay Asad was throwing the covers aside and getting to his feet not wanting to even look at Azlan.)
Azlan - Asad..Asad..where are you going? You have a fever you're injured..your hurt stop-
Asad - (turned around with tears of FURY and helplessness in his eyes. Helplessness because he wanted nothing more than to smash Azlan's face in but despite everything Azlan had done to him, he couldn't..he still couldn't hurt him) STOP! (Holding up a defensive hand as he stepped back, out of the room) JUST...STOP..DON'T. JUST..(shook his head turning around to leave)
Azlan - Asad please...just..(trying to find the words, something...anything to relay the disgust he felt for himself to Asad, the remorse, the regret the guilt.) I'm SORRY..I'M SO SORRY-
Asad - (spun around even more furious, disbelief etched on every inch of his beautiful face. He was so furious with Azlan he had decided he simply would avoid him at all costs, but it seemed like that wasn't the best punishment and Asad couldn't even if he tried, he wanted to let Azlan know just how MUCH he had hurt him, just how betrayed and sick Asad felt by what he, what they did and hoped it especially if it could cause them even a fraction of the pain Asad had felt) SORRY?? YOU'RE SORRY!!! YOU PUT ME IN JAIL WITH THE LIKES OF FEROZ TO SAVE YOUR FATHER FROM FACING THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CRIME HE DID COMMIT-
Azlan - (reflexively, shook his head, his eyes closed unable to see the brokenness or the betrayal in Asad's eyes) he didn't-
Asad - (shook his head) I don't believe it..I-
Azlan - (stepping forward) Asad-
Asad - (took another step back) STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME- YOU WANT TO DELUDE YOURSELF INTO BELIEVING HE'S INNOCENT FINE, GO AHEAD. BUT DON'T FOR A SECOND THINK I'M DROPPING THIS JUST BECAUSE YOUR TOO STUPID TO LET ANYTHING DESTROY YOUR PERFECT LITTLE WORLD. (Shook his head) AND I WOULD HAVE NO REMORSE DOING IT EITHER BECAUSE THANKS TO THE SAME MAN YOUR TRYING TO DEFEND I'VE NEVER KNOWN WHAT A PERFECT WORLD IS SO I WON'T FEEL A THING WATCHING YOURS COME CRUMBLING DOWN-
Azlan - Asad please LISTEN TO ME-
Asad - (laughed, appalled) LISTEN TO YOU?!! DID YOU LISTEN TO ME!! EVER!! DID YOU LISTEN TO ME WHEN YOU SUSPECTED ME OF HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND!! SHE WAS LIKE MY SISTER AND YOU- (shook his head) DID YOU LISTEN TO ME WHEN I TOLD YOU I HAVE REASONS TO BELIEVE HE WAS GUILTY!! NO!! INSTEAD YOU LEFT ME FOR DEAD WITH FEROZ!! LIKE A LAMB TO A SLAUGHTER!!
Azlan - (shook his head) ASAD PLEASE LISTEN TO ME IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!! I MADE SURE FEROZ WASN'T THERE!! I MADE SURE HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TOUCH YOU BUT HE...(shook his head) he FOUND OUT YOU WERE THERE AND HE-
Asad - (not wanting to hear it) I DON'T CARE!!
Azlan - (still trying desperately) I WASN'T THINKING STRAIGHT..I BUMPED INTO YOUR STEP FATHER AYAZ KHAN AND HE SUGGESTED THE IDEA..(That momentarily threw Asad but the next second he was even more furious) I..I WAS JUST DESPERATE TO SAVE MY FATHER AND-
Asad - AND SO YOU LISTENED TO HIM!! HIM!! AFTER EVERYTHING HE'S DONE!! AFTER KNOWING EVERYTHING HE'S DONE TO ME!!
Azlan - ASAD NO I WOULD NEVER, I HAD NO IDEA..YOUR MY BROTHER-
Asad - (stumbled back a bit, his eyes overflowing with tears as he held up a shaky accusing finger to that point) YES..EXACTLY. WE ARE BROTHERS...UNFORTUNATELY. BUT LIKE YOU SO CRUELLY REMINDED ME YEARS AGO..HUM BHAI TOH HAIN. PAR SAUTELE. (He saw Azlan's heart break in his eyes as he threw Azlan's own words back at him, but he didn't care, he was in so much pain and suffering that he had lost all ability of empathy and care for others) AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED! NOW, WE'RE NOT EVEN THAT. WE'RE NOTHING. WE'RE DONE (laughed shaking his head) I'M DONE. I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU AND I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR PETTY JEALOUSY (shook his head, tears still falling from his eyes) Ayaan was right...YOU PEOPLE ARE TOXIC. (Spun around ready to leave but then stopped, if he was walking out of this toxic relationship better to burn all bridges at once, he didn't want to hold back and simply wanted to cause as much pain and suffering to those responsible for his suffering as possible and so he threw the most painful reality of his being, of his life at Azlan as well..no point in holding on to that to save Azlan the unnecessary pain and suffering it would bring him) OH AND ONE MORE THING..I've been holding unto this since the day I unfortunately met you..but the person responsible for my blood flow and wounds that day was the same man responsible for it today. (He saw the shock, the disbelief and denial etched in Azlan's face as he stumbled back from the intensity of what Asad had just revealed to him and Asad nodded, laughing sadistically seeing the denial of what Rashid Ahmed Khan was capable of) that's right. DEAR OLD DADDY caught me, a (his face contorting with disgust) a bas***d (Azlan shut his eyed painfully) off he streets stealing a piece of his precious Prince's birthday cake and beat me mercilessly. He had a guard toss me unto the street where I belonged where (lifted both his hands to Azlan smilingly, Azlan although stunned by this unfortunate and ironic reality was also equally worried about Asad's mental stability in that moment) I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting and befriending you. Which as far as I'm concerned was the BIGGEST mistake of my life (stopped, taking another step back) UNTIL NOW. (Shook his head) SO YOU SEE. You may not think he's guilty of murder but he sure as hell was guilty of having my blood on his hands then and he sure as hell is guilt of it now. (Saying so he didn't wait for a second and spun on his feet storming out of there. SLAMMING THE DOOR so hard behind him Azlan winced fearful that it had come off it's hinges. He took a seat as he felt his knees give way with the stress and tension of all that Asad had tossed in his guilty face in the last 10 minutes, his mind reeling from it. His head fell into his hands realizing the damage that was done between him, Rashid and Asad and fearing that Asad was right, there really may not be any going back from this. He was just relieved that Pari & Farida Bi weren't back from the orphanage yet and hadn't witnessed that)

Back at IMA:

Zoya finished her dance routine in utmost elegance and grace. As she got her routine to work perfectly and completely nailed it she pumped her fist in the air excitedly before hopping up and down like an excited bunny clapping giddily. She then checked her watch to see that it was well over an hour and got worried realizing Asad was probably alone at home and Aisha probably expected her to be home and be caring for him which she should be doing and moreover which she herself wanted to. So, she rushed over to the other edge of the dance studio to begin packing up, her heart hammering excitedly and nervously about seeing Asad, like a teenager giddy about stalking or catching a glimpse of her crush. Still, it was her first time falling in love even if she didn't quite realize that she was in fact falling in love and, so she was going to cherish every second and every part of it. She tried calling him but it went to voice mail (since he was asleep at the bungalow, at the time)

Zoya - (leaving a message) Mr. Khan, I'm on my way home now and I'm going to go against my better judgement to trust that you didn't answer your call because your sleeping like you should be. Anyways, I'll stop by the cafe to pick up dinner because I don't think Kaki made anything since none of us have been home all day. So, yah, (smiled as her heart hammered in her chest, over the simple prospect of seeing and spending time with Asad) see you soon- (the happiness and sudden sing in her voice died on her lips though as she heard the door to the small dance studio inside the main dance hall open and shut, and then lock behind her. Looking up in the mirrored wall, her breaths abandoned her as she realized it was none other than Sameer Anand. As he smirked at her, locking the door behind him Zoya's heart jolted. Her heart immediately constricting with fear as beads of perspiration began filling on her forehead seeing the victorious, demonic, sadistic, and disgustingly sleazy look in his eyes. Out of pure shock and freight her phone slipped from her hands as she spun around to face him, gulping nervously but trying to maintain a brave face not wanting to give him the satisfaction.

xxx

Khan Mansion:

Asad pushed open the majestic black doors of his mansion, and stopped in his tracks. Frowning confusedly, why was the entire mansion engulfed in darkness? He flicked on the lights to find an eerie silence around the house, nothing like the warmth, chaos, laughter, and happiness he had gotten used to since Zoya's arrival. A nagging feeling settling in his stomach, alarming him at once that something was wrong he walked further into the house.
Asad - AAPI? ZOYA? (He stopped before Zoya's room and knocked on the door which was partially open but there was no sound. He pushed the door lightly and found the lights off and even when he turned it on Zoya wasn't in the room. Confused, he took out his phone and was surprised to find there were 4 missed calls from Zoya in the last 2 minutes. His heart immediately began pounding, fearing the worst. He immediately tried calling her back)
Kaki - (stepping nervously behind him) Asad beta? (Asad spun around wildly, panicked, and frazzled and sighed realizing it's only her. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. When he opened his eyes he found her smiling kindly and sympathetically at him, eyeing all his wounds and injuries) ab..ab kaisi tabiyat hai aapki beta?
Asad - (cleared his throat awkwardly. Frowning not knowing how to answer such a question. Were you supposed to indulge in how much unbelievable pain you're in to the extent that the person asking may never be able to sleep in peace again or do you just lie and get it over with) I'm fine. (Guess we know his answer) Kaki Zoya kaha hai?
Kaki - Pata nahin beta, Zoya beti toh subah se nahin lauti. (Asad's heart beat even wilder hearing that)

Asad - Matlab? Ussne toh mujhe (checking the time) (almost whispering to himself) 3 ghante pehle bola tha ke woh ghar aa rahee hai-
Kaki - (shook her head, frowning worriedly too) pata nahin..ghar pe toh koi nahin hai. Saara din koi nahin tha. Zoya beti bas woh subah ek baar ayee thee kuch samaan lene, bol rahee thee college jaa rahee hai..uske baad toh koi nahin aaya. (Asad nodded dismissively as he spun around putting his phone to his ear and listening to the voicemail Zoya left. He had to hold on to the pillar next to him because he felt like he'd collapse or suffocate from the fear and the nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong. But he sighed in relief, falling into the pillar leaning as he heard her usually bright and chirpy voice reassuring him that everything was just fine. He gripped his phone tighter, the same anxiety and happiness over seeing her coursing through him too as he heard her message: "see you soon-" (and then his heart did a summersault. The way she stopped talking abruptly as he picked up on the noise in the background (which others may not have but given his nighttime activities he had gotten pretty used to picking up on what others may not think anything of. He manically and desperately tried calling her again, but no response. So, he replayed her message and pushed off the pillar walking into her room. He didn't know what he was looking for or what made him do it but even though he knew it may be a breach of her privacy. He didn't care. Zoya was supposed to be home an hour ago at the least and she wasn't yet, and on top of that she wasn't answering her phone and for Asad, that meant: CODE RED. Frowning, he scanned her room for anything out of place, thinking not like Asad but "S and "overprotective Asad.)
Asad - (on the phone) Hey Sheila, is Zoya there? (His heart dipped even further as he heard the response he expected but didn't want to hear) has she been by all day? Have you talked to her?
Sheila - (frowning on the other end) no I'm sorry I haven't talked to her. Why? Is something wrong. Asad are you (stopped mid sentence as she heard the line go dead) okay?
Asad - (typing) "Ms. Farooqui, where are you. Please let me know you're okay (he had just pressed send and was exiting his room to go out and look for her himself, just desperately needing to see her and make sure she was okay, safe. Just when he reached the doorway to flick the lights off his eyes caught something by the door. A single piece of paper crumbled by the door with by the looks of it, looks which had Asad's heart crashing against his ribcage, had drops of blood on it. With a rapidly beating heart Asad bent down to pick it up.

xxx

IMA:

Gulping nervously, her entire body breaking into a cold nervous sweat, Zoya stepped backward to stay as far away as possible from Sameer for every step he took towards her.
Zoya - (her voice breaking involuntarily) Sa..Sameer what..what do you think you're doing?
Sameer - who me? (Smiled, and the smile in contrast to his furious eyes made Zoya's heart sink with fear) little old me? (Tried to make as innocent of a face he could whilst leisurely walking further into the room, pulling out a pocket knife from his side pocket, causing Zoya to stop dead in her tracks, his insanity and intentions running darker than she imagined. Sameer too stopped and shrugged nonchalantly, it was clear at once he had no remorse, no conscience or even the slightest realization that what he was doing was wrong in more than one way) nothing. I'm doing Nothing Zoya (his eyes shined viscously) I'm doing NOTHING except fulfilling a promise I made to you a few years ago. A promise that ONE DAY...ONE FINE DAY..I would complete what I set out to do that day. I WOULD get my hands on you. I WOULD make you mine and look (smiled a dazzling and somewhat charming smile) that day's finally come. (Shook his head) maine kaha tha na...ke jo main chahoon woh main paa ke rehta hoon. Jiss cheez ko haasil karne ka thaan lo woh paa ke hi chor tha hoon...jo cheez main ek baar apni maan loon woh...(and then his eyes sparked viscously again, startling Zoya who stood too paralyzed and numb with fear seeing the demonic, scorned and viscous poisonous eyes of his) WOH MERI AUR SIRF MERI HOKE REH JAATI HAI (and then he lunged forward at her, making Zoya fall back against the wall as he gripped her by her neck pressing his knife near her pulse making her scream in freight) PAR TUMNE!! TUMNE KABHI MERI BAAT KA BHAROSA NAHIN KIYA..KABHI MERI BAAT SERIOUSLY NAHIN LI. MERE PYAAR KO...THUKRAYA..USKA MAZAAQ URAYA USSE INSULT KIYA. Aur...(laughed demonically and this time Zoya's mind stopped functioning as she stared at him with wide fearful eyes. He was insane, he was absolutely insane) AUR TUMMEIN ITNI HIMMAT KE TUM MERE SAAMNE ASAD AHMED KHAN JAISE 2 TAKKE KE INSAAN KE SAATH ISHQ FARMAOGI! USKI..(his face stuck to hers as he whispered in her ear breathing in her scent making Zoya close her eyes disgustedly and clench her fists tightly, praying fervently for god to somehow save her, for anything or anyone to come and stop him from doing what he was so clearly intending on doing. She didn't even realize but what she was muttering under her breath was "Allah please send Asad. Please send Asad) USKI BAAHON MEIN BAAHEIN DAALKE USKE SAATH DANCE KAROGI! HASSOGI!! FLIRT KAROGI!! AUR WOH BHI MERE SAAMNE...(clutched her hair painfully at which Zoya screamed and then he loosened his hold, sniffing disgustedly like he was high (which he was)) tell me Zoya..(licked up the side of her face as Zoya began sobbing chanting "no, no..no) are you a tease? Huh? Do you..do you like the attention you get? From..from me? From Him (spit on the ground as he said that, and Zoya just continued crying whilst chanting "Asad under her breath like a prayer. Knowing he was the angel her Allah would send to rescue her. She was sure of it. He would come. She just hoped he wouldn't come too late.) FROM ALL THE GUYS YOU PARADE AROUND WEARING THIS..(twisting the strap of her tank top as he barked disgustedly) WEARING NOTHING IN FRONT OF (Slapped her hard across the face, leaving fingerprints as she fell in his feet on the ground holding her stinging cheek, whilst he stood over her with his wide, high eyes, hair dishevelled holding the knife tightly in his hands) ARE YOU A f**kING TEASE!! Huh!! (Fell to his own feet before her, grabbing her by her hair and yanking it back as Zoya cried whilst gripping her phone between her hands in a deadly grip and trying to call Asad, still chanting his name) HOW DARE YOU!! HOW DARE YOU LET HIM TOUCH YOU. (Ran a hand down the front of her entire body making Zoya's entire being shudder violently, goosebumps erupting all over it) HOW DARE YOU LET HIM TOUCH WHAT'S MINE. (Let her hair go as he sat before her holding her from her neck tightly, letting his other fingers stroke her neck, throat and chest lazily, Zoya's whole body was still shaking as she stared with her wide fearful and tearful eyes into his wide and sadistic one's. He then brought his lips close to hers, so close that she could feel them move over hers as he spoke, and she pursed her lips together looking away from him, but he held her face in place) YOU DISGUST ME. You (he shook his head as he yanked her body close to his as his hands snaked under her tank top and began groping her making her cry harder) YOU'RE MINE. ONLY MINE. AND IT'S TIME YOU REALIZE THAT. YOU'RE ONLY MINE AND TONIGHT I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER THAT. ONCE I'M THROUGH WITH YOU (running his lips and tongue all over her neck as he spoke) NO ONE WILL WANT TO EVEN LOOK AT YOU. YOU FILTHY WOMAN. HE (laughed as he licked up her neck) HE WON'T WANT YOU. YOU'LL BE MINE. BRANDED AS ONLY MINE. YOU'LL KNOW IT..HE'LL KNOW IT. EVERYONE WILL KNOW IT- (and then as he brought his sweaty face level with hers to kiss her he heard her, rather he heard it & he totally lost it...he let go of her abruptly startling her as he moved back looking betrayed and hurt) you...you...HOW DARE YOU SAY HIS NAME WHEN I'M TOUCHING YOU. HOW...HOW DARE YOU EVEN THINK OF HIM WHEN YOU BELONG TO ME (and then Zoya lost it too. Fury like she had never known before coursed through her entire body and her tears dried up at once as she looked at him with loathing, determined and fierce eyes. Eyes that had seen the man before her kill & take away the one person most dear and beloved to her; her faizan jeeju. There was no one on earth she despised and hated as much as him)

Zoya - (screamed, staring him right in the eye) I BELONG TO NO ONE. YOU f**kING UNDERSTAND ME!! I BELONG TO NO ONE BUT MY ALLAH AND ESPECIALLY NOT TO A SWINE LIKE YOU (saying so she gripped her phone and rushed to her feet running to the door, a moment of relief filling through her as she felt herself nearing it but then she screamed as he grabbed her by the back of her tank top effectively ripping it right through the middle of the back and letting it hang loosely around her front whilst yanking her back and throwing her against the wall. Zoya's face paled and he smiled viscously, picking up her phone which had fallen in his feet and then staring at her as she haphazardly tried to sit up and hold her tank top in place behind her back whilst he eyed her even more sleazily, licking his lips. Zoya closed her eyes.)
Zoya - please..please you don't have to do this. You..(cried helplessly, letting go of her torn clothes and wrapping her arms around herself shrinking into a corner away from him) why..why are you doing this?
Sameer - (his face blanching painfully) why? you still don't understand why love? (He rushed over to her making Zoya scream and crawl even further into a corner as he grabbed her face in both his hands making her look into what he believed were his "ernest eyes but all Zoya saw were unfocused, wild and crazed eyes) I LOVE YOU. I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU SINCE THE FIRST TIME I SAW YOU AT THAT BIRTHDAY PARTY..IN THAT..(licked his lips) SEXY LITTLE BLACK DRESS..(Zoya's body shuddered as she felt disgust fill her being, actually believing that she had worn a dress so skimpy and disgusting that she caused his obsession. That it was her fault. That she was a tease & that she did deserve this) BUT YOU (shook his head) ALL YOU DID WAS HURT ME...YOU SCREAMED AND YOU TRIED TO GET AWAY...EVERY TIME I CAME NEAR YOU..YOU..YOU EVEN HURT ME SOMETIMES BUT-Zoya - (shook her head) I'm SORRY I'm SORRY PLEASE..PLEASE LET ME GO! YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS.
Sameer - shh...shh..(shaking his head as he forcefully hugged her head to his chest despite her resisting & protest) it's okay..it's okay..see love this is just we do..(laughed insanely, actually believing his words not hearing the absurdity of them) it's our banter. You hurt me. So I hurt you..like the time I had to take away your jeeju from you..(Zoya went completely still in his arms) but that's okay..because...(moved her back) because after today..NONE OF THAT WILL MATTER. AFTER TODAY (held up the knife to her shoulder again) WE WILL BE ONE. (And then Zoya began kicking, and screaming and crying, struggling to get away as he shoved her down on the ground covering her with his entire body and began mindlessly and painfully touching her, ripping her clothes to rags in the process. He ran his blade down whatever inch of skin he could find, and his lips followed the path of her blood from)
Zoya - (kicking and screaming as loud as she could, so loud she could nearly feel her vocal chords ripping) HELP MEEE!!! HELP ME PLEASEE!! HELPP! HELLLPPP ME!! (but the problem was, the dance studio was sound proof)

Meanwhile on the roads of Kasauli:

Asad didn't know what force it was, but something compelled him to race towards IMA in the dark and silence of the night. That something was the force and power of Allah that guided him there just in the knick of time. He drove with one hand, because his other was in a cast, but both his hands were gone white as was his face, as they each gripped something with a deadly strength. His one hand gripped and navigated the car he was driving recklessly and at maximum speed whilst his other hand held the piece of paper he had found in Zoya's room. The note, signed by an "S that Zoya got from Sameer the other day threatening to "get her. Asad at once realized what it meant. Zoya's reaction at the beach the other day, her coming home crying from college that one day when she moved into the house, her sudden change in behaviour at the carnival, and then her change in behaviour and attitude towards him as he approached her as "S. Someone was harassing her for long as it seemed, and they too went by the name "S or were using it to confuse her that he and he (Asad as S) were one & the same and it seemed they were successful. Although he felt slightly hurt and betrayed that Zoya didn't trust him enough or thought she couldn't for some reason tell him about this he just hoped that he was able to reach there in time lest tonight be the night this "S person tried whatever it is they were threatening her with and god forbid they were successful. Asad zoomed through the gates of IMA and haphazardly threw the car in park, half on the first step of the building where he knew Zoya usually rehearsed. He jumped out of the car and began climbing the steps to the building twice at a time, his phone constantly glued to his ear hoping Zoya would answer this time.)

Back in the dance studio:

Zoya's eyes were still closed and she was still trying with all her might to push Sameer off, kick him, bite him, crawl or struggle away do whatever it took to get away but to no a-wail, she continued to cry and scream and was fast losing hope, no one was coming. Her face was drenched in her own sweat and tears along with blood where he had evidently hit her again. Her arms were covered in scratch marks, blade marks with drops of blood marking every inch of her bare skin, her clothes were torn, the tank top just hung loosely around her like a rag torn up in multiple pieces and she was clad in just a bralette and her denim shorts. Her neck too was marked by bite marks, hickeys and bruises from his fingers from where he held her too aggressively as was her waist. He was busy leaving another hickey on her neck, like a sadistic animal (bas***d) and when he looked up drunkenly just to kiss her, which she still wouldn't let him do despite him slapping her and hitting her, his eyes caught sight of her ringing phone, which she had by mistake put on silent. He saw Asad's face, a picture of him sleeping more like it flash on the screen as he tried calling her. He immediately let go of Zoya and Zoya had never felt more relieved or disgusted, she crawled into the shape of a small fetus, wrapping her whole body around herself whilst he grabbed her phone unable to stop staring at the picture of Asad on it, the one she had taken at the cafe not too long ago.)
Sameer - (equalling 2 and 2 to 15 in his sick head) YOU SLEPT WITH HIM!! YOU (the phone stopped ringing and he saw all the other missed calls from Asad too, and his fury only grew. He felt betrayed, cheated, and scorned and then he felt FURIOUS) YOU CALLED HIM!! DIDN'T YOU!! YOU (flung the phone across the room and he was so blinded with rage he kicked her hard in her stomach and Zoya yelped in pain, biting her lip and stabbing her nails in her palms so painfully as her tears blinded her she drew blood) YOU wh**e!! YOU DISGUSTING wh**e!! YOU (and then he began laughing manically again) YOU ACTUALLY THINK YOU HAVE A CHANCE WITH HIM!! (Shrugged) I GET IT..HE'S GOT MONEY AND THE LOOKS AND NOW (scoffed with disgust) POWER TOO!! BUT SO DO I!! SO DO I!! Still (cried holding his head, as tears filled his eyes, he had legit gone mad in his obsession, in his ability to get away with whatever he pleased up until now, his ego highly bruised) STILL YOU CHOOSE HIM!! YOU CHOOSE HIM AND BETRAY ME. (Kicked her again) wh**e. YOU ACTUALLY THINK HE LOVES YOU!! OR WOULD EVER LOVE A wh**e LIKE YOU!! YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A s**t. A TEASE. HE WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT YOU...AND EVEN IF HE DID...(laughed) HE'D TOSS YOU AWAY LIKE RUINED GOODS, ONCE HE WAS DONE. THAT'S ALL ANYONE WANTS FROM YOU BITCH. THAT's (and then he hung his head crying, and screaming but Zoya didn't speak or move. She felt sick, the world was spinning around her, his words were echoing in her ears like they were caging her in, closing in on her and she felt suffocated. Her eyes had gone empty, there were no tears left, her face was icy blue..she couldn't even feel the pain of all the injuries he had marked her body with or the angry bruise in her stomach where he kicked her) except for me..except for me..I...(took out a bottle of alcohol from his jacket) except...for me I..I LOVED YOU...(taking a large sip from it) I loved you but you betrayed me. (Wiped his mouth, and sniffed before turning around to face her...his eyes empty too as he stood over her staring down at her) but fine. HAVE IT YOUR WAY (shook his head) YOU DON'T WANNA BE MINE, DON'T BE. I won't let you be his or anyone else's either. Hamara pyaar yahin, jahan se shuru hua tha...wahin hatam hoga. Yahin amar hoga. (Saying so, he turned the bottle of alcohol upside down...letting it fall unto her, drenching her in it head to toe, before walking backwards towards the front door, his eyes fixated on Zoya, who still lay as still, as broken, as empty and dead on the inside. She didn't so much as flinch or react to the alcohol he had thrown on her)

Outside the dance studio:

Asad came running in to the main dance hall, again he didn't know what force was guiding him but something sure did guide him to reach there. As he ran in, he felt something get crushed underneath his foot, looking back absentmindedly he saw a flash of silver and then his heart constricted further. Recognizing it at once. Zoya's chain, the one he had put around her neck. It had fallen off as she had so excitedly run out for his performance just a few short hours ago. With that, his worst fears were confirmed. She was definitely here. He picked the chain up, and looked around the room, it was dark and silent. There was no one there. His heart began hammering.
Asad - (wiping the sweat from his forehead) come on Zoya, come on, where..where are you (he felt a jolt of his heart again as he stared at the glass wall on the side of the hall, where he not once but twice had felt something. A strange sort of sensation, the same sort of overwhelming need and desire to see, to touch, to hold like he got each time he dreamt of that angel in red dancing amidst white majestic snowfall. That same angel that haunted his dreams, now haunted, and flashed before his eyes in this minute too. He kept on seeing her as he walked closer and closer to the glass wall and as he touched it his heart felt like it would burst with an overwhelmingness of emotions. Zoya's twinkle echoed in his ears, her chain clenched painfully in his hands, her twinkling eyes blinded him as she spun around in the snow, dressed in red, laughing, giggling, and making him fall in love with her each twirl, each drop of snow, each giggle and each twinkle of her eye at a time. Just like that, the awakening ended and Asad opened his eyes. Zoya. She was the girl of his dreams, the angel in red who had been haunting him for years, and she as he was sure with a confidence like he had never felt before was behind this door before him which up until that minute he didn't even know was a door or that there was another studio hidden inside this dance hall. Asad tried to push it, but it wouldn't budge and then his fear only grew. To the extent that he felt suffocated with the intensity of it and felt a maddening strength coarse through him as he pushed and kicked the door in within 3 seconds as that was the desperation and intensity of his need to touch, to see, to hold not the angel in red, but HIS angel in red, his Zoya.)
Asad - (after standing still and stunned for a total of 30 seconds trying to process that what he was seeing wasn't a figment of his imagination. It was reality. This sleazy guy who Asad intended to kill with his own hands later was staring at him, holding a flame whilst the entire room wreaked of alcohol and then his eyes scanned the room desperately and there in the corner, lay his angel, his queen, his Zoya, his EVERYTHING. Curled up into herself like a small child, effectively ripping his heart to shreds. Of all the pain he had experienced in his life, and in the last 24 hours None even came CLOSE to the pain he felt in that moment, as he blinked slowly trying to wrap his mind around the fact that it was reality, not a figment of his imagination. That was Zoya lying there, hurt, bleeding and in pain and it was all due to this swine of a man standing before him who may or may not have raped her. But his mind refused to even process or acknowledge that thought. He was in denial. Sameer glared at him through loathing eyes before staring between him and Asad and Asad just gave him one look that meant "I've marked you for death and Sameer's entire high died as did his resolve. As Asad rushed to Zoya without wasting a second Sameer dropped the flame, smiling sadistically and ran from the room like a coward letting the room go up in flames. But Asad didn't notice or care. His priority was Zoya & Zoya alone. He rushed to his feet as he neared her and tried grabbing hold of her, but she reacted in a way he had never anticipated. She flinched and then all but repulsively and violently jerked her entire body away from him. Sitting up and crawling back into the farthest corner, her arms tightly wrapped around her half naked body she stared at him through wide, tears. That's when Asad saw them, the marks, the cuts on her arm, the blood..the fingerprints on her neck, the...his eyes glazed over, hell had no fury like the one that was pumping through Asad's veins at the moment, the hickeys and the fingerprints across her cheek. Evidence of what that bas***d did, or at least tried to do to her. Zoya was breathing heavily staring at him angrily, wildly, disgustedly, like she wanted to hurt him, A LOT. Asad didn't understand her reaction but he did realize that the bas***d who did this to her set the studio on fire and the fire was fast approaching Zoya due to the alcohol spread in the room, and then his eyes widened on Zoya. He threw caution to the wind, now was not the time to dwell on or be hurt about Zoya's reaction of seeing him. It was to get out of there before the fire engulfed them both, this time as soon as he approached her, just came near her Zoya began screaming, and kicking aggressively, blindly but her arms remained wrapped around her.
Asad - (his own eyes filling with overwhelmed tears of helplessness and frustration, his heart breaking seeing Zoya in such a state) (still trying to reach her, to touch her so he could grab her and leave the room before the entire thing went up in flames) ZOYA..ZOYA PLEASE..PLEASE LOOK AT ME ZOYA. LOOK AT ME.
Zoya - (screaming) NO. DON'T TOUCH ME. DON'T DO THIS TO ME. DON'T TOUCH ME. DON'T-
Asad - ZOYA IT'S ASAD!! IT'S MR. KHAN! Your MR. KHAN! IT'S NO ONE ELSE ZOYA!! IT'S JUST ME, ASAD..REMEMBER JAHAPANAH (chuckled through his tears as he saw her stop screaming at last and pull her legs back too) it's..Asad..no one else...(and then he took advantage of her dazedness and although her whole body shook violently as he grabbed her face, resting his forehead against hers, he pressed his lips just slightly against it in relief, his fingers entwined in her hair as he held her head fiercely in his hands and closed his eyes, chanting both for her sake & his own) NO ONE BUT US. JUST ME AND YOU. IT'S JUST ME AND YOU. JUST-
Zoya - (in a dead and broken voice, staring at him with such empty eyes it sent chills down his spine and completely rattled him, broke him) what do you want to do to me?
Asad - (trying to find his voice but the words just kept on going on in his head, unable to come out, until finally when he felt the flames come close he spoke them in a mere, broken whisper) save you. like you saved me. If..if only..you'll let me. (Zoya continued staring at him, sameer's words ringing through her ears - "he wouldn't even look at you "that's all anyone would ever want from you, she watched him, with his back partially towards her and the bug had settled in her heart, Sameer's words etched on her mind in a poisonous loop as she believed his words to be true, thats why he was looking away from her, when actually he was trying to find a way out, and he took advantage of her dazedness again, unable to look at her because he couldn't think straight or focus if he did, all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and never let her go, let the entire world burn down if it did, but Zoya again took it as a sign that what Sameer said was true, no one could even stand to look at her. In one swift motion Asad pulled Zoya tenderly to her feet and hesitantly wrapped a shaky arm around her waist. At which she flinched and pushed him away, her body convulsing again and Asad looked at her startled, she looked at him with wide fearful eyes and Asad had never felt more ashamed. She actually believed he could hurt her, like..like he was going to hurt her the same way Sameer hurt her, and in his own frustration and helplessness he lost his cool)
Asad - (yelled) DAMN IT ZOYA!! LOOK AROUND!! THE WHOLE STUDIO'S ON FIRE!! IF WE DON'T GET OUT NOW WE'LL BOTH- (but that did the opposite of what he wanted to achieve. Given Zoya's fear of fire it only scared her and made her freeze with panic as she saw the hungry flames approaching her. Asad looked towards her unable to but he pushed his respect and dignity along with hers aside and momentarily stopped being a perfect gentleman. In one quick second he was no longer Asad Ahmed Khan, her sister's devar/her frenemy or family, he was Shaan, ringleader of the brotherhood. He had sworn to protect her from the moment he had laid eyes on her and he wasn't about to let his need to be a perfect gentleman be the reason he lost her, and just like that he was behind her, in a quick second. He wrapped one hand around her neck, and one he used to cover her mouth. He used his teeth to undo his cast from his more damaged arm and whilst Zoya cried and struggled against him, kicking and pushing to get away he grabbed whatever was left of her alcohol drenched tank-top rag and ripped it off her body throwing it into the fire before he grabbed Zoya in his arms and made a run for it, just as the fire became angrier more aggressive. Zoya's entire body went still and he felt the sudden shudder that ripped through her as he tore the tank-top from her body before wrapping his arm around her bare midriff. Asad's whole face contorted in pain as he took all her weight on himself including his heavily damaged arm just to get her out of the dance hall. Once in the hallway, he couldn't take her weight anymore and fell unto his feet with her as his whole face and body broke out into a sweat due to exertion. He felt Zoya go limp against him and upon looking down he saw that she had fainted in his arms. Asad dropped his forehead against hers, crying both helplessly not knowing what to do and in pain that she had to go through this, that they were going through this, whatever this was. His fingers weaved through her hair as he pressed his lips to her forehead again closing his eyes desperately wishing for her sake that this was all just a nightmare, that it wasn't true that this didn't happen, but unfortunately it was true. It was true now and it would be true after he took her home (after a whole lot of struggle and calling the fire department to handle the fire on his drive home during which his eyes never left Zoya as she lay unconscious in his back seat, instead of focusing on the road)

xxx

Haveli:
Azlan opened the door to Anaya's room, desperately needing some motherly affection & advice. However, he was met with a completely different sight. Naina and Kajol both sitting on opposite sides of Her, and Anaya looking all cried out. Which could only mean more trouble.

Azlan - what's wrong- (he saw Anaya rush to wipe her tears and pretend like she was okay, smiling whilst Kajol just looked to the ground not knowing what to say. Naina however was looking right at him refusing to look away, Azlan looked at her and then he didn't want to look away because for the first time in so long she looked at him the way she used to. Like she cared, like she was worried, a look that he craved & missed, but then he was worried of losing that look in her eye's again, so he looked away first.)
Azlan - Aapi..what happened?
Anaya - Uhh..nothing I-
Azlan - DON'T LIE TO ME (Kajol & Anaya looked at him too as worried as Naina who still hadn't looked away because he didn't look nor was he acting like himself, which is why Naina couldn't look away. Azlan closed his eyes, trying to not lose his cool) PLEASE JUST...JUST DON'T (rubbing a hand over his tired face) GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT!! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON (Kajol looked towards them and then grabbed something from behind just as Anaya grabbed her hand begging her through her eyes to not do it, but Kajol shook her head)
Kajol - He needs to know Aapi - (Azlan whose patience was running low came forward and snatched whatever Kajol was holding from her hand, it turned out to be a picture of a middle aged slightly balding man. Azlan looked towards her, and then Anaya cautiously avoiding eye contact with Naina even though he wanted nothing more)
Azlan - (agitated and annoyed) what the hell is this?
Kajol - (cleared her throat) the new Aahil (just hearing his name was enough to get Anaya tearing up & crying) for Aapi my mother found (Azlan gridded his teeth, gripping the doorframe to not fall as Anger washed over him wave after wave)
Anaya - (crying) apparently after the public humiliation at my first engagement and then Abbu's legal scandal...no one would ever..(cried unconsolably)

Azlan - (punched the doorframe furiously) IS THIS A FREAKING JOKE? Has she lost her mind aur aap- Aapi don't tell me you've sat here crying over this (tossed the picture away) Ammi and Abbu would never agree to this- (He was met with silence and no one would look at him. He blinked disbelievingly, feeling like his head would explode from fury and stress) They already have?
Kajol - Shireen Phupi agreed. Baba, Maya Phupi they all tried to make her understand but she wouldn't listen. She's convinced that Dilshad Aunty & Asad are out to get her and rob her kids happiness out of some revenge so...
Azlan - (his fury only building hearing that ridiculous reasoning. If anyone was robbing anyone's happiness it was them constantly OVER & OVER again robbing Dilshad & her kids happiness & then crying wolf) SO WHAT!
Kajol - (screamed back just as loudly and just as furiously) SO THEY CALLED THE FAMILY OVER FOR DINNER TOMORROW TO- (but she couldn't say it)
Anaya - to to come & see me and tell me what kind of a favour they are bestowing on me by accepting me for their 39 year old son and how grateful I should feel - (then she just started crying uncontrollably again and Kajol who also had tears running down her face hugged her to console her)
Azlan - LIKE HELL THEY WILL-
Kajol - (shook her head) Naina...can't you talk to Ayaan? Maybe he could talk to Aahil- (Anaya & Azlan's hopeful eyes looked up at her, believing it to be a good idea. The best idea, but she avoided their eyes, since she had already asked him, and Ayaan had already confessed that Aahil actually liked & married someone else, but who that someone was Naina too didn't know)
Azlan - (getting angry, where Ayaan was concerned it just seemed he needed a reason to get angry and he was fast to suspect that Naina was choosing Ayaan and her new relationship over them. Even though she would NEVER DO THAT) whatever. It's fine. I can ask Aahil myself...kissi ka ehsaan nahin chahiye humme..
Anaya - Azlan-
Azlan - Aapki khushi ke liye main itna kar sakta hoon Aapi. Kissi DOOSRE ko takleef uthane ki zaroorat nahin hai (saying so he turned right around and walked out, leaving Naina staring at him with angry and hurt eyes and the other two staring between them at a loss for words)

xxx

Continued in next post...