PART FIVE
It was Monday... Earlier Zoya was not at all interested in this meeting but now she was the one who was taking care of everything regarding it... Hmm...Mr. AAK, I am all set to meet you...' She giggled looking around for the preparations... Anwar was surprised looking at her behavior but she did just avoid his questioning saying she would let him know later... Her Aapi Jeeju was aware about her Saturday routine with Asad though they didn't meet him... And Zoya didn't inform them about this new information that AAK was her Asad only... She thought she would introduce him personally...
Checking everything once as she walked out a frown appeared on her face as Mehek, the HR head walked towards her with all excitement... Now as she was aware who the object of these all females' attention was, it annoyed her... Earlier she found it entertaining, Mr. AAK's fangirls... But now this fangirling irritated her to the core...
"Ohh myyy!!! He is here..." Mehek gushed excitedly all oblivious as Zoya gritted her teeth looking at her overexcited behavior... "I hope him being just a little nice to me..."
Zoya rolled her eyes, "Yeah...hope so..." She shook her head wondering is Asad really behaves that rude and arrogant like everyone was portraying him... She smiled as she remembered his warning when they were chatted last night... Professionalism... etiquette...Allah Miya!!! Was he really serious...?' She came out of her thoughts as Mehek nudged her before moving ahead...
"Hello Asad..." She heard Mehek's over sweet voice and looked towards Asad... He was looking all different in that tailor made grey colored three piece suit...something in his rigid...strong posture that she felt like he was not at all the person she known... His eyes met with hers for a moment before he looked towards Mehek who was eagerly waiting for his response... His lips stretched a little bit and Zoya's eyes narrowed... He said something in a voice that audible to Mehek only... Mehek nodded her head and moved back a step... Good' she heard him say while Mehek looked at him unpleasantly...
Zoya stared at him wondering what he had said to Mehek that all her excitement was gone... She was pleased actually that he didn't give any attention to Mehek... A smile lifted on her face as he stepped towards her, "Hello Ms. Farooqui" He said and she looked at him agape as he forwarded a hand...
"Ohh...Mr. Khan you are here..." A voice from behind and startled she forwarded her hand for a handshake... His strong grip on her hand and she cleared her throat, "Welcome Mr. Khan..." She watched him as he just nodded in acknowledgement and turned towards Anwar... Her eyes traveled behind him... the look those girls were giving her like she was the luckiest girl... Allah Miya!!! it's just a handshake...what will be the reaction if they got to know that he is..." "Urgh!!!" She frowned as Anwar asked her for something, Is he really...the same Asad I know' she watched him talking with Anwar with that authority of a shrewd businessman in his tone... she followed them... Definitely he has that attractive aura in his haughtiness' She thought as she watched his tall figure...his one hand in his pant pocket while his other hand rose as he rubbed his forehead with his index finger...suggesting something to Anwar... There was not any sign of a smile on his face that she was used to see... "Allah Miya!!! Is he suffering from a multiple personality disorder or what?" She wondered...
She just followed quietly as he asked for a quick survey to know the systems they followed... Anwar showed him the structure of their hotel, the systems they follow and discussed other improvements he was anticipating in the next project...
******
Mr. OCD...' Zoya sulked as she sat on the chair beside him... He gave her a short look as he adjusted the fork and then a spoon...correcting the angle...
Once satisfied with the position of the things in front his hand moved back and he looked towards her, "Why are you silent"
She just gave him a look of disbelief as he waited for her reply, Huh?? Silent...what he is expecting me to talk when he himself is playing this we-are-strangers game...' she mumbled under her breath and he narrowed his eyes, "Umm...What did you say"
"Nothing Mr. Khan..." She pressed her lips looking towards him, "Hope you are satisfied with everything..." She forced a smile as she noticed Anwar coming towards them with his other two associates...
"Hmm...it's fine...though there are some points I need to confirm..." He said and she felt like banging her head somewhere... "Wow!! I have to confirm too if you are really Asad or his twin brother...?"
Next half an hour everyone discussed the project further and there was nothing out of topic in their discussion... How could anyone dared to act in an informal way in front of AAK... That was his effect...even she found herself a little bit intimidated by this side of his...
Looking at him she couldn't figure out anything...like if he was interested in this project or not...he didn't look impressed nor was indifferent!! How she had thought that he must be as excited as her and looking forward for this deal to happen... Stupid!!! I should have known that he is a businessman...' She shook her head as she watched him from the corner of her eye... He just nodded as Anwar explained him something...not showing any sign of what was in his mind... Urgh!!! Sadu' She cursed him while shifting her attention to her food...
******
"It's nice meeting with you Mr. Anwar..." She watched him as he said with a small smile...
"I hope your all doubts are clear Mr. Khan...let us know if there is any, we are hoping your positive reply... "
"Hmm...I'll let you know soon..." He pressed his lips shaking hands with Anwar... Other two members walked out after some pleasantries and he turned towards Zoya, "Well, Ms. Farooqui..."
"I am not at all pleased with this meeting with you Mr. Khan" Zoya said calmly crossing her hands and his brows raised
"Umm...Zoya..." Anwar intervened worriedly and looked at Asad apologetically but Asad blinked his eyes assuring him and he nodded still worried because of Zoya's action and unsure of AAK's reaction to it...
"Hmm..." Asad sighed as Zoya stared at him waiting for his reply, "I know Zoya...but as you know it's a business meeting and..."
"And you have a certain image to maintain...etiquettes, rules and blah-blah..." She cut his words and he chuckled while Anwar looked at them surprised, "But that doesn't mean you behave like I am some stranger and we are meeting for the first time" She huffed
"So you know each other..." Anwar asked finally
"Nahi Jeeju...I don't know him at all...he is not My Asad...he is..." She said but stopped realizing what she had blurted out and cursed herself mentally as Asad looked at her raising his brows, "Umm...wo...I mean he is AAK and not that Asad whom I meet every Saturday..."
"Ohh...so he is Asad only..." Anwar asked looking at Asad and he nodded smiling... "Zoya used to talk a lot about you...and still it's hard to believe that you are the same Asad she portrayed..."
"See...that is what I said..." Zoya raised her brows and Asad shook his head
"Well...I understand though..." Anwar continued and Zoya looked at him narrowing her eyes, "AAK - the name itself holds that clout and it's not easy to achieve it at this young age...I really appreciate...And it's necessary for you to maintain the image you have created in business world..." Anwar said sincerely and Asad just smiled before giving a look to Zoya that said See-this-is-what-I-told-you
"Whatever..." She just shrugged her shoulders
"Okay...you solve your issues hereafter...I have another meeting to attend..." Anwar said excusing himself, "Hope to hear from you soon Mr. Khan..." saying he walked out and Asad turned towards Zoya
"Hmm...so..." He crossed his arms over his chest, a small smile playing on his lips...
"So what...bye..." Zoya said and he looked at her quizzically, "You must have some important work...after all AAK is not any normal person..."
"hehhh..." He laughed and she gave him a horrified expressions as she said, "You are laughing?!!! It's prohibited for AAK, don't you know?"
"You are too much Zoya...stop it now..."
"I am too much...Really?" "And what about you...for a moment I thought you must be a twin brother of Asad and seriously don't have any idea about who I am..."
"Hmm..." Asad sighed rubbing his forehead as she wasn't ready to let it go easily, "See Zoya...I am like this only...AAK is all different than Asad you used to meet Saturday... And I can't change it...around all the business associates it's not possible to be friendly and all right?" He explained expecting she would understand...
She nodded giving him a small smile...still a little upset, "Okay...fine..."
"I know it was way too much actually..." he said noticing the lack of cheeriness in her smile "But I'll try to be little cordial next time...okay..." He asked and she smiled finally...her dimpled smile...
"Really...but I don't think next time is gonna happen actually?" She said as they walked through the corridor... She shook her head noticing the stiffness in his posture again... She watched Mehek was standing near the exit with two other girls and she glanced towards Asad... Straightening his collar he cleared his throat sensing her gaze and she pressed her lips suppressing her laugh, "What did you tell her...within a moment all her excitement evaporated...?"
He shrugged his shoulders as they stepped down the stairs... "Just explained her difference between greeting people in corporate world and collage campus" He said and she looked towards Mehek... Still she was looking their way and other two girls were also staring at him blatantly... She felt disturbed with their gaze on him... She felt the urge to hold his hand and let them know that He is Mine'
"What?" He asked as they walked through the sliding glass door and out of the hotel...
Good that he don't entertain such attention...' She mumbled under her breath and he narrowed his eyes...
"Ohh...I know I should be nice to her...next time I..." He said but before he did complete his sentence she interrupted...
"There is no need to be nice okay?" She warned but looking at his questioning gaze she shook her head, "I mean its okay...It won't be good for AAK's image you know..."
He just smiled... "So what you were talking earlier...next time is not going to happen...what do you mean?" He asked looking at her questioningly
"Ohh that means...I don't think we are going to meet professionally next time as you don't look interested in this project"
"And how do you know that?" He asked and she just shrugged her shoulders, "You need some more time to understand AAK I guess..."
"But what if I don't want to know him?" "I am happy with my...umm" she bit her lip cursing herself mentally for the slip of tongue again... "Umm...I mean I am happy that I got to know Asad...and I am not interested to know AAK..." She smiled and he shook his head, "You know...it's better to let AAK deal with his fangirls...they would like to know him for sure..."
"Hmm...but there will be a problem then..." He said as they moved towards his car, "AAK don't allow anyone to know him...easily..." he added as they stopped near his car
"Hmm...interesting..." She said crossing her arms as she looked at him narrowing her eyes, "But you know sometimes some things just happens...even though we didn't allow... it doesn't seek anyone's consent...it just happens...and we just left wondering how we don't have hold on some things...how we can't stop the happening..." She said looking in his eyes and he cocked his brows wondering why she sounds serious suddenly, "Umm..." she shook her head smiling, "And this unexpected happening sometimes turned out as a pleasant surprises that life has stored for us..."
"Hmm..." he just hummed looking at her smiling face...like he was trying to absorb something that she wanted to convey... "Well...Ms. Zoya Farooqui...surprises mostly proven awful rather than pleasant... coz looks deceives many times...and that's why some theories needs confirmation..."
"Mr. AAK...you seem doubtful..." She raised her brows, "Trust is the prime basis for follower... It looks like you don't trust your mentor...is it?" She asked playfully but she watched him with bated breath... She only knew how eager and nervous her heart was that time as she waited for his reply...
He stared at her for a moment... Yes...he did trust her but then he has started to notice the difference in her behavior lately...there was something different in her eyes...and his heart was not ready to walk on that path...he was scared...scared to hope and scared to give her any hope... He averted his gaze... but even though he tried to stay unaffected the hope in her eyes didn't let him do that and he sighed shoving his hands in his pant pocket... "I do trust my mentor Zoya..." He said gradually... And with those words her almond shaped eyes shined in delight... "Now come...I don't have much time...you know AAK is not any normal person..." He added before she said anything... He was not ready if she asked anything more...
"Umm...haan..." She shook her head coming out of her thoughts, "Come...?" "Where...?"
He raised his brows, "I guess I have to recompense...isn't it?" She just looked at him baffled and he smiled, "My mentor has this weird habit you know..." "Her each theory demands a cup of ice-cream..."
"Really...when did I demand?" "It's the businessman's habit to compensate for everything...isn't it Mr. AAK?"
"Okay...Enough...I agree no one can win the argument with Zoya Farooqui be it Asad or AAK...happy?" He asked opening the door for her and she laughed as she sat inside
"Mint chocolate Chip for today..." She looked up from the window as he shut the door...
Walking around, he shook his head... He had noticed it; Mint Chocolate Chip has become her most favorite flavor... was it before? He didn't know...he never asked her but somewhere he was aware the reason was he himself... he didn't know what he felt about it...he was scared to search the answer...
He settled on the driver's seat and glanced at her as he ignited the engine... She was looking happy...small smile was adorning her face and he knew...he was the reason... "You know Zoya..." He said focusing ahead, "Even though I am a businessman I know that some things are precious... and priceless..." "But then I have learned something lately..." He paused looking towards her and smiled noticing her baffled expressions, "A scoop of ice-cream has proven as a better way to show the appreciation...for something that is priceless..."
She stared at him as he looked ahead... "A scoop of ice-cream is always a better...!!!"
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