AsYa SS: The Heart And The Mind *DISCONTINUED* - Page 7

Loving the story so much! It is so intriguing 😍

Originally posted by: sj_qh_kabhi

Loving the story so much! It is so intriguing 😍

Thank you so much! 💗💗

Such wonderful writers still write here is a blessing...pls continue...

Originally posted by: friendsall

Such wonderful writers still write here is a blessing...pls continue...

Such wonderful readers still read is a blessing too! Thank you so much!!💗💗

Awesome storyline.

Loving it.

Continue soon.

Originally posted by: Krazzy_Tintin11

Awesome storyline.

Loving it.

Continue soon.

Thank you! 😊💗 New chapter coming soon!!

Sorry for making you guys wait! Okay so...ehm sorry for the horrible previous chapter. Don't hate me! *cowers*

Here ya go!😃

The Heart and the Mind

Chapter 9: They Say True Love is Suicide

Zoya waited silently for her Jeeju. Fiddling with her fingers, her heart was thumping louder than ever. Her head was pounding, Tanveer's words kept ringing in her ears.

She clutched her head and shook it violently. Out of nowhere, she heard her Jeeju's pick-up truck pull up in front of her. She looked up to see Anwar running towards her and smiled grimly.

"Zoya! Beta are you okay?!" Anwar said noticing that her smile didn't reach her eyes like it always did. He sensed something horrible had happened.

"Come beta, let's go home. Do you want me to drop you or...?"

"Nahi Jeeju, I-I'll come to your place tonight." Zoya said softly, knowing that Asad would probably be there at her apartment. Waiting to break her heart again.

"O-Okay...Zoya, is everything alright?" Anwar asked again, wanting to know the truth. He knew wouldn't budge so quickly but it was worth a try.

"Yes Jeeju. E-everything's fine." Zoya absent-mindedly looked out the window and wiped a tear, unknown to Anwar watching her. He decided to keep silent until they reached their apartment all the way in Staten Island. He thought he heard a few suppressed sobs from her but decided not to press the matter.

They reached their quite luxurious apartment, and Zoya had sat silently all the way. Anwar was getting more worried by the second. He rang the bell and Zeenat opened the door happily, announcing that she had made 'Baingan ka Bharta'. But fell silent when she saw Zoya's crestfallen face and Anwar motioning to her that he needed to talk to her. Zeenat nodded and took them both in, she told Zoya to sit on the sofa and went inside their room to ask Anwar what was going on.

Anwar closed the door as Zeenat entered and sighed.

"Anwar, yeh kya hua? Why does she look so...down?"

"I don't know Zeenat. I tried asking her but she kept saying nothing was wrong. In fact I think everything is wrong! We know she's been a paranoiac ever since she came back to New York, probably since even before that, but the effects got stronger once she left Bhopal. I think something that must've triggered it took place at the date."

"Meri bacchi..." Zeenat said with tears in her eyes. Anwar hugged her and comforted her gently. He kept wondering what might've happened, when a simpler idea struck him.

"You know what Zeenat, since Zoya is never going to admit something's wrong, we should just ask Asad. Is that fine?"

Zeenat hesitated, but found herself agreeing to Anwar and nodded.

"Though we'll try asking Zoya one last time, we'll keep the phone call to Asad as a last resort." Saying this Anwar stepped out of the room to find Zoya sobbing uncontrollably. She was rocking herself to and fro, her knees pressed close to her chest. Anwar took one look at the sad sight and sprinted to her aid, Zeenat hurrying frantically behind him.

Anwar sat down beside her and put an arm around her tightly hunched shoulder. He squeezed it comfortingly and shook her gently to calm her down.

"He doesn't want me...no one wants me. He..doesn't want someone like me. Am I such a misfit? Am I so bad? I can't...I can't bear the pain. It hurts, it...burns. I'll be alone. I'm always alone. So alone..." She whispered shaking her head. Anwar's heart went out to her.

"Zoya, baccha you're not alone. I'm here, your Api's here! We'll never leave you. Calm down...it's okay..." Anwar shushed gently, like a father would to a baby. Anwar was even more worried now.

What exactly happened?

Zeenat and Anwar's mind had that one question in them.

Anwar felt Zoya's breaths return to normal and decided to ask her what happened. He wiped her tears and gently kissed her forehead, before looking at her worriedly.

"Zoya? Beta are you comfortable with sharing what happened today? What happened that caused you to break down again?" Anwar asked earnestly.

Zoya nodded meekly, "He...he likes Tanveer." She looked away from Anwar to hide her tears.

Anwar fisted his hands, annoyed at Zoya's assumptions, but Zeenat placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"Zoya. I- Do you think Asad came all this way just to tell you he likes Tanveer?! Zoya, only I know how happy he was to finally meet you that day! He called me, he was jumping Zoya. Jumping! And now-"

"Of course he was happy Jeeju! He...he just wants me for the pleasure." She sobbed.

"Zoya-" Anwar sighed. "Zoya do you really think that low of Asad?"

"I...I don't know Jeeju."

"That's the problem... you don't know." Anwar concluded.

"But I do Jeeju! Tanveer, she loves him! She came all the way here just to meet him! She said the elders would talk about getting them married, that Mr Khan and her would chat on his bed after doing god knows what!" Zoya cried.

"Zoya, are you really believing some stranger who claims to be Asad's childhood friend rather than Asad, who is basically the love of your life?" Anwar pressed on. Not giving up on giving his little sister all the happiness she deserved.

"J-Jeeju I..." Zoya felt a pang of guilt.

"Tell me Zoya, do you actually believe her? Over Asad?" Anwar questioned again.

"I don't know who to believe anymore Jeeju...everyone who ever loves me, goes away from me. Even...even Mr Khan-"

"Bas ho gaya Zoya! If you don't know who to believe, let me tell you what to believe. Zoya, please, believe that you're not alone. Zeenat and I are always there for you. Dilshad and Najma are always there for you. Asad is always...always there for you. Zoya please believe me. He loves you more than his life, I'm sure there's a huge misunderstanding. I request you Zoya, hear him out once...Mere khatir?"

Zoya sighed sadly.

"Jeeju, I-I need some time. Please? I'm sleepy as well...I-I'll sleep over it. I promise." Zoya gave in.

"Okay beta. But, give it some thought okay?" Zeenat added and gently took Zoya to her bedroom.

She came out of Zoya's room after a while, looking worriedly at Anwar.

"Ab kya kare Anwar? Zoya toh, Asad se bahut naraaz hai! She's never been this upset with anyone before..."

"That's why we need to give her some time. I'm sure Asad will understand if he truly loves her." Anwar said staring out the window to a view of the city. "Let's call him. He needs to know."

**********

Asad walked tiredly through the busy streets of New York. He had no idea where he was going, yet his feet automatically led him to Zoya's apartment.

He opened the door with the keys Anwar had given him and walked in. Zoya's sweet scent washed over him. He closed his eyes and inhaled it deeply. Letting out a ragged breath, he never even noticed when he had tears in his eyes. Asad walked to his favorite wall of the house, the one covered in photos of Zoya. His eyes were focused on the photo of Zoya with his family, except that he wasn't there. He was probably at work when they'd decided to click it. He noticed Zoya's dimple in the photo and traced it with the pad of his thumb longingly.

He let out a sad sigh and proceeded to the guest room where he had kept his day stuff to pack it up. He guessed she wouldn't want him to stay at her apartment for the day anymore. As he dwelled on the thought, realization dawned upon him.

If...if she isn't here, then where is she?! Ya Allah!

Asad frantically grabbed his coat and ran out of the apartment to search for Zoya. He dashed out onto the street and started calling out her name.

Ya Khuda I hope she's alright. If something happens to her after I ...I won't forgive myself, ever.

Asad stopped abruptly, pulled out his phone and dialled Anwar's number.

On Staten Island, Anwar was just about to dial Asad's number when his phone rang. He huffed in irritation but furrowed his brows when he saw Asad's name flash on the screen. He curiously accepted the call.

"Mr Farooqui! Z-Zoya isn't in her apartment, I can't find her around the city or in her neighbourhood. Do you know anything? Or any idea where she might go after...after..." Asad couldn't even think properly!

Anwar smiled at his care and calmed Asad down, "Asad beta! No need to worry, she's with us. I picked her up from Delmonico's. It's okay." He consoled him.

Anwar heard Asad sigh in relief and motioned to Zeenat to come hear him. He put the phone on speaker.

"Mr Farooqui, is ..is she alright?" They heard Asad's voice ask weakly.

"Yes... she's doing okay, and no need to call me Mr Farooqui, you can call me Jeeju."

"O-Okay, I just..."

"Wanted to know if she's fine?" Anwar completed his sentence.

"Well Anwar Jeeju, I just wanted to apologize."

"Why? Why happened?" Anwar pressed on.

"I... I've hurt her again." Asad's voice cracked.

Zeenat shook her head gently.

"I just want her to know, that I will never stop loving her. It doesn't matter to me if she doesn't trust me, or love me back. But this truth will remain forever that...I love her."

Anwar smiled sadly, "Asad beta, she loves you too. I've seen it in her eyes. And she will trust you again, just give her some time..." Anwar paused, Asad nodded in the other side.

"I'm ready to wait for lifetimes." Asad promised.

"There's something Zeenat and I have been wanting to tell you, but I have to ask you first, what happened? What broke Zoya so much?" Anwar had gotten a fair idea of what might've happened from Zoya, but he wanted to hear Asad's side of the story.

"It's all my fault...I always chose Tanveer over her and..." Asad held in a sob and continued, "I don't know why or how but..but Tanveer she-she came here. Somehow she managed to find us on Brooklyn Bridge and...I lost everything after that. Tanveer told me she loved me, Z-Zoya thought we were together so she..." Anwar heard Asad let out a sob and sighed.

"I don't know if you'll believe this Anwar Jeeju, but Tanveer and I, we were just friends!"

"Were? What do you mean were?" Anwar questioned.

"We're not friends anymore. She's not who I thought she was all this time. She's a horrible woman...and I will never forgive myself for how many times I've hurt Zoya. Never..."

"Asad. It's not your fault, do you mind telling us more about this ..Tanveer?" Anwar asked, wanting to help in stopping the apparent threat.

"I can...but I...I can't even bear to...to-"

"It's okay beta. I'll ask you when you're comfortable with it." Anwar said. After all, Asad had lost a friend and the love of his life!

"A-actually, you can ask Ammi. She's the one who told me the truth." Asad suggested.

"Okay beta. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Zoya is truly lucky... to have you in her life." Anwar smiled.

"A-Anwar Jeeju, you wanted to tell me something?" Asad furrowed his brows on the other side.

"Yes, it's about Zoya." Anwar said grimly. "The thing is, she's been a paranoiac ever since she's left Bhopal. We think it might even be before that. She was broken, coming back here. Leaving Dilshad Apa and Najma and...you. She keeps thinking that everyone she loves will break her trust or leave her. And the sad part is, whatever happened on Brooklyn Bridge... happened exactly as she feared. We're trying...to tell her that we're all there for her, especially you. But..."

"I'm sorry. I'm so...so sorry. It's all because of me. I've hurt her...so many times. I don't deserve her..."

"Asad! You two are made for each other. Neither one of you can live without the other. I know you have a temper, Dilshad told me. She told me whenever you have a fight, you both are at your worst. But you two always come back to each other. Now tell me, if that isn't love, then what is it?" Anwar sighed.

Ab isko bhi samjhana padega, Ya Allah!

Anwar chuckled.

"Asad, you have no idea how much she loves you." Anwar told him.

"And she has no idea how much I love her..." Asad said sadly.

"Asad... it'll be fine okay? Say, how about you come over tomorrow?" Anwar asked, taking the first step.

"B-but you said she needs time. I don't want to hurt her more by-"

"Ya Allah yeh ladka! Keh rahe hain na Anwar aa jaao? It'll be fine!" Zeenat's voice said exasperatedly from the back.

"Dekho Asad! It's Zeenat approved!" Anwar joked.

Asad had a small smile in his face as he nodded and said, "Okay, I-I'll come. If Zoya will be okay with it."

"Asad, she loves you. Of course she'll be okay with it!"

" But-"

"Okay, if you're so worried, come on the 23rd. She'll be glad to have you here 2 days before Christmas."

"Okay. Thank you, so much."

"No problem beta. See you soon." Anwar cut the call and smiled at Zeenat.

**********

2 days later (23rd December)

Zoya had spent the last 2 days decorating the Anwar and Zeenat's apartment for Christmas. She was definitely a Christmas freak. Sometimes she liked to imagine she was Santas little elf! The apartment was decked up with colourful Christmas lights and delicate fairy lights. Anwar had gotten a fake Christmas tree, much to Zoya's protests but she had gone all out on decorating it. The only thing left was the star. She felt it was the most crucial part of the Tree and had to be chosen with utmost care.

Zoya was currently baking her signature plum cake, she had asked Api if she could give it a dash of rum, but Api had of course, denied.

"Mmm whatcha baking?" Anwar came out of his room. The warm aroma of the cake had wafted through the whole apartment.

"Zoya's signature plum cake!" Zoya announced.

"Mm yum! This is perfect! Now even our guest will get to taste the heavenly goodness!" Anwar teased.

"Aww Jeeju, it's not even that good. Stop praising this great chef!" Zoya flipped her hair and retaliated.

Anwar chuckled.

"By the way Jeeju, who's this guest you speak of?" Zoya sked raising a brow.

"Ohh that! It's a surprise."

"For whom?"

"For you, genius." Anwar said sarcastically, Zoya sighed and rolled her eyes, getting back to whipping the cream for the cake.

The cake was frosted and ready till lunchtime! Zoya was excited to taste it, even though she'd made it herself! The plum cake was looking exquisite, satisfied with her work, she brought it out to the dining area.

As she set the cake down on the table, the doorbell rang. She was about to run and answer it but Anwar reached there first.

"Arre beta tum aagaye? Come on in!" Cane Anwars excited voice from the living room.

Zoya furrowed her brows in curiosity. She cleaned herself up and checked on the door of a glass cupboard if she was presentable. Adjusting her hair, she walked out into the living room.

What she saw made her stop dead in her tracks.

Well here it is...the 9th chapter! Tis ones a little shorter than the last one, and sorry for the cliffy, but it's also kinda obvious what she saw sooo hehe. Sorry for making you guys wait for this one, hope you enjoyed it!

Would love to read your comments!!😊

💗💗

~Meg

P.S.: Here's the link to the sequel to 'Idli Ki Kasam!' . For those who would like to read it!

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/qubool-hai/5245228/dil-mein-seena-nahi-patthar-hai-sequel-to-idli-ki-kasam

I felt so bad for zoya! But this was written so well! So interesting and gripping! Loved it! Can’t wait to read more ❤️

Originally posted by: sj_qh_kabhi

I felt so bad for zoya! But this was written so well! So interesting and gripping! Loved it! Can’t wait to read more ❤️

Thank you! Glad you find it interesting 😊. More updates coming soon!💗💗

Loved your story...update soon please ☺️