Posted:
Caught up on the story and read both the parts!! Found it interesting!!
To hell with Ayaan as to what he wants..I am happy that Asad and Zoya have married!!
Thank you so much for the pm and sorry for the late comments!
Hey Guys, I am back with another update.Some of you felt that my earlier update was too painful, I have given more importance to the SM people etc. All I can say is 'Chill, guys!' cause it was just a built-up for AsYa marriage. Now that AsYa are married, henceforth all focus will be on AsYa and Khan Villa only.
If you still find it too painful, I sincerely urge you to give it a chance. Please go through it fully, and then decide for yourself. Things are surely gonna look up, since AsYa are all set to fall in love all over again. You surely don't want to miss that! 😊
CHAPTER-3: THE ENCOUNTER
*Aggar waqt aur kismet ne humara sath diya hota, toh aaj ka din meri zindagi ki sab se khubsurat din ho sakta tha.Main humesha se yehi chahti thi ke mere nikah ke din mere abbu mujhe vidaa karenge, uss insaan ke sath jinhe main sachchi mohabbat karungi. Aaj mere sath mere abbu bhi hai, aur meri mohabbat bhi, buss woh lamha kahin kho gaya hai * Zoya sighed as she got out of the car, followed by Dilshad.
As soon as she stepped inside the Khan Villa, memories came flooding back to her. Those cozy family dinners, Asad's fretting over cleanliness, Zoya teasing tamatar' about her failed dieting plans, phoophi feeding her cake...the black leather sofa on which she and Najma used to loll around all day watching cricket matches...the dark blue coffee mug...the aroma of the strong black coffee...the scent of a man she loved...
*Kuch bhi nahi badla hai, sab kuch pehle jaise hi hai...sirf hum badal gaye hai, aur halat badal gaya hai* her inner voice once again reminded her of the stark reality.
"Zoya beta, ek minute." Dilshad's voice brought her out of her reverie. She busily wiped her eyes, which had started welling up with tears. Dilshad was holding a bowl of kheer in her hand. She fed Zoya a spoonful of the sweet and smiled through her tears "Meri beti itne dino baad apna ghar wapas aayi hai...issi khushi mein thodi muh meetha kar le."
Her kind words showered like a blessing on Zoya's love starved heart. She buried her head in her phoophi's shoulder, sobbing inconsolably. Dilshad stroked her hair with motherly affection, her own eyes brimming with tears. "Buss...ab chup ho jaa meri bachchi...itni royegi to tabiyat kharab ho jayegi."
"Ammi...ammi...I missed you so much." great heaving sobs wracked her body as Zoya struggled to catch her breath.
"Ammi, aap Miss Farooqui ko unke kamrein mein leke jaiye." Asad's voice didn't give away any emotion, but his face had turned very red "Main apne room mein jaa raha hoon, mujhe zaroori kaam hai."
"Asad beta, aaj ke din bhi..." Dilshad pleaded with her eyes, but Asad absolutely refused to meet her eyes and continued gazing in all directions except theirs'.
"Please iss baat ka khayal rakhiye ke koi mere kamrein mein na aaye."The finality in his tone made it clear this conversation was over for him. He walked away from both of them without uttering a single word.
**********************
Zoya rested her head on Dilshad's lap. Crying profusely had drained her out. Dilshad gently caressed her hair, occasionally wiping the tears leaking from the corner of Zoya's eyes. The chime of the old grandfather clock in drawing room announced the advent of midnight.
"Zoya, itni raat ho gayi hai. Abhi tak tumne kuch bhi nahi khayi." Dilshad voiced was laced with motherly concern.
"Mujhe bhukh nahi hai, phoophi. Main buss kuch der ke liye aap ke paas rehna chahti hoon. Aise hi aap ke godh mein sar rakh kar, bilkul pehle jaisa..." Zoya let out a soft sigh.
"Beta, uss ghar mein sab tumhara khayal rakhte the na? You're looking so pale, meri bachchi!"
"Phoophi, main chahe jitni bhi healthy ho jaoon, aap ko dubli patli hi lagoongi." A weak smile appeared on Zoya's face. "Wohan abbu aur dadi humesha mujhse bahut achche se pesh aaye...I formed a great bonding with Humeira too. Aur Ayaan...woh toh ek number ka joker tha, apni bakwaas shayari aur utpatang harkaton se mujhe hasane ki koshish karta tha." Zoya lips twisted to form a beautiful smile, but soon it was clouded by pain.
"Phir bhi ek ajeeb sa khalipan mehsoos hota tha, phoophi. Subah shaam mein ghar ke kaamon mein aapne aap ko uljha ke rakhti thi...par raat ko ek ek pal guzarni mushkil ho jati thi...I was scared of nights, phoophi." Zoya shuddered to think of those painful memories.
"Whenever I felt the pain's turning unbearable, your face flashed in my mind. You were always there, phoophi, meri taqat ban ke, meri ummeed ban ke." Zoya's voice quivered. "You know what I missed most, phoophi. Being loved the way I am. Unn logon ne Siddiqui sahab ki beti ke roop mein, ghar ki badi bahu ke roop mein mujhe sarahan hai, par mere andar ki Zoya ko kabhi samajh hi nahi paaye, jaise aap samajh ti thi, jaisa Mr.Khan..." Zoya stopped abruptly, her heart skipping a bit as her lips formed his name.
"Phoophi nahi, ammi bol beta. Sun ne mein achcha lagta hai." Dilshad sniffed a little, subtly wiping the corner of her eyes.
****************************************
The luminous dial of the wall clock softly glowed in the darkness, showing fifteen past two in the night. Zoya shifted uneasily on the bed, careful not to disturb her phoophi who was sleeping peacefully beside her. For the past two hours, Zoya was struggling to get a wink of sleep, but despite being exhausted to the core, sleep eluded her.
*I need some water.* she straightened up on the bed. Her head swam uncomfortably with the sudden movement. Zoya realized almost a day had passed since she'd taken a morsel of food, but it was too late at night now, and her appetite had strangely vanished. She walked unsteadily towards the dining room, swaying a little with each step.
The thin ray of light seeping out from the bottom of the door of Asad's room immediately caught her attention. *Mr.Khan itni raat ko jaag kar kya kar rahein hain!* she frowned.
After a moment's hesitation, she decided to further explore the matter. To her knowledge, Asad Ahmed Khan would never trade a good night's sleep for office work; being the strict disciplinarian and health conscious fellow he is.
She was about to knock on the door, but pulled her hand back at the last moment, thinking of her phoophi, who had finally fallen asleep after going through a chain of excruciatingly emotional events. She didn't want to jolt her out of the blissful slumber by making even the slightest noise or sound. Instead, she lightly pushed the door, and to her surprise, the unbolted door swung open. Zoya quietly sneaked inside and closed the door behind her.
An unfamiliar, sickeningly sweet smell flooded her senses in an instant. The overwhelming feeling of queasiness was back inside her again. She reflexively clutched the corner of the wall, blinking hard to adjust her eyes to the muted light in the room.
Slowly her vision cleared, and she spotted HIM sitting at a table near the enormous glass window .Zoya couldn't remember seeing this table before. His back was turned towards her. The lid of his laptop was open if front of him, but the screen was blank. A large bottle housing light golden liquor and a half empty glass, containing the same liquor were resting on the table.
In a flash everything started making sense to her. *Oh dear God, please...No.* she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping against hope that it all might turn out to be a very bad dream; but when she opened her eyes again, Asad's unmistakably sturdy, stoic frame in the dark colourd kurta reminded her of the bleak reality.
"Allah Miyaan, yeh sab kya hai, Mr.Khan?" the words escaped her mouth before she could stop herself.
"Bina knock kiye andaar aane ki aadat gayi nahi ab tak, Miss Farooqui?" Asad didn't even look back. He ran his fingers through his hair wearily.
Zoya couldn't take the blatant indifference any more. The sight of Asad like this had shattered something inside her. She strode across the room, angrily grabbed Asad's shoulder and whirled him around to face her.
"Meri aadat ko chhodiye, Mr.Khan. Aap ko yeh aadat kab se lagi? Aap honsh mein toh hai? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND?" a thoroughly exasperated Zoya shouted at the top of her voice, forgetting about her surroundings.
Asad looked up and stared unblinkingly into her eyes. There was no remorse or shame in those bloodshot eyes, only defiance...and perhaps a hint of melancholy, Zoya couldn't tell. A few strands of his unkempt hair brushed his forehead which was glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. The unbearably sweet smell grew stronger as his heavy, irregular breath burnt Zoya's skin with feverish warmth.
"Mr.Khan, you CAN'T do this to yourself." Zoya's face was flushed with anger. She picked up the glass and dashed it against the wall, breaking it into numerous small pieces. Asad didn't flinch, but his eyes darkened with some unknown emotion Zoya couldn't decipher.
"Mujhse yeh kehne ka haq aap kho chuki hai, Miss Farooqui." Asad stood up from the chair, lightly brushing off the droplets of spattered drink from his kurta.
"Main jaanti hoon, Mr.Khan, bar bar mujhe yaad dilane ki zaroorat nahi hai...but you think you're the only one who'd gone through hell? Jail mein aap the, par qaidi toh mujhe bhi bana ke rakhkha gaya tha." Zoya clasped Asad's kurta "Har pal mujh par nazar rakhkha jata tha, main kya pehen rahi hoon, kaisi kaam kar rahi hoon, kis se mil rahi hoon...dum ghut ta tha mera wohan. Aggar unn logon ka bas chalta, toh woh mere dil par bhi pehredari laga dete."
Asad forcefully pulled her hand away. "Miss Farooqui, abhi inn baaton ka kya faida?" He held her at an arm's distance.
"Baat faide ya nuksan ki nahi hai, Mr.Khan. Just wanted you to know that despite everyone's best efforts, I could never stop thinking about you." Zoya's eyes were oozing pain. "You know how many minutes are there is one year, seven months and ten days...nearly one million minutes...I had to spend those millions of minutes without you, before I could ask you this question...exactly why did you abandon me?" the kohl bleeding from her eyes stained her cheeks.
Asad's expression softened. He was looking intently into her teary eyes. When he spoke again, his voice had mellowed down almost to a whisper "Miss Farooqui, do you remember the last wish on your wish list?"
Zoya remembered perfectly. She stared dumbfounded at him.
"Your last and the biggest wish was to find your abbu, aur jab aapko apne abbu mil gaye...I didn't want to be put you in a position where you had to choose between Him and me. Miss Farooqui, samajh ne ki koshish kijiye, aap ki zindagi yahaan nahi, unn logon ke sath hai. Aap ke abbu, aap ke ghar walon ke sath." Asad pleaded desperately.
"Mr.Khan, I don't believe this!" Zoya shook her head incredulously "Aap ko yeh laga...aap ne bas soch liya ke meri khushi aap ke sath nahi, unn logon ke sath hai, aur aap ki ek soch ki wajah se aap bina pooche meri zindagi barbad kar di? YOU went on to rewrite my destiny! MERI MUQADDAR AAPNE HATHON SE LIKH DALA AAP NE!" She pushed him hard, her claws scratching his chest.
"How dare you destroy my life? ...and how dare you destroy yourself? The Asad Ahmed Khan I knew had deepest regard for his culture, his family, his religion..."
"THE ASAD AHMED KHAN YOU USED TO KNOW IS NO MORE!" Asad roared. He yanked open the cupboard and a moment later, a slick black revolver was shimmering softly in his hand.
"Have you ever looked into the barrel of a gun and wished for death? Do you know how its touch feel against your skull? I do." Asad's eyes were blazing. He waved it in front of Zoya menacingly. "Too bad I didn't even have the privilege to take my life. Jab bhi trigger dabane ki koshish ki, har baar ammi ka chehra, ya phir Najma ka chehra saamne aa jata tha."
Zoya cupped her mouth and retreated a few steps. Her mind still struggled to get a grip on the irreparable damage that had crippled the mind of her beloved.
"I have performed my last rituals, Miss Farooqui. There is no turning back now." Asad grabbed her shoulders, pinning the revolver against her neck and hissed in her ears "If you don't want to witness the end of Asad Ahmed Khan, then keep to yourself. Mere paas aane ki koshish mat kijiye...or else the fire within me will destroy you, too."
Zoya forcefully wriggled out of his grip, the whole world spinning around her. Her face was ashened; drops of sweat glistened on her flushed forehead. She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress the waves of emotion swirling inside her.
The sudden changes in her expression didn't escape Asad's eyes. "Miss, Farooqui, kya hua? aap thik toh hai?" he rushed towards her.
Zoya's inside was churning. She cupped her mouth and ran for the washroom. *Oh no! I'm going to be sick.*
Before she could make it to the washroom, her feet stumbled on something, bringing her mad dash to an abrupt halt. Her stomach lurched, causing her to throw up all over the polished marble floor.
"Oh sh*t! Zoya!." Asad firmly gripped her shoulders, holding her barely conscious body closer to his chest. He pulled her hair back from her sweaty face, rubbing her back comfortingly. Before Zoya could catch her breath, another wave of nausea swept over her. She retched again, unable to bear the gnawing feeling in her empty stomach. Darkness was spreading fast in front of her eyes...and then came the blissful oblivion.
*****************************
Next morning, Zoya opened her bleary eyes only to be greeted by a beautiful sight. The faint morning hues of the sun coming through the windowpane illuminated Asad's face, rendering an aura of purity and calmness to his strikingly handsome face. Clad in a crisp white kurta and prayer cap, he was performing the morning namaz, his eyes closed and hands raised heavenwards in silent prayer. Zoya noticed that he had shaved, probably had taken a bath too.
Perhaps sensing her gaze on him, he opened his eyes. For the first time since she had stepped into the Khan Villa, Zoya saw a faint hint of smile in his face.
After performing the Morning Prayer, he came and sat beside her on the bed. Zoya was covered with a warm blanket. She discovered, with a great deal of embarrassment, that her heavy cloths and jewelleries were gone. Instead, she was wearing a pair of jeans and a floral printed cotton top.
"Ab kaisi hai aap?" Asad's voice was soft and warm.
"Woh...main...yahan..." Zoya gulped. Images from the last night flashed in her mind. She glanced around the room and found the floor was spotlessly clean. *Jeez, did I make him clean that royal mess?* she felt a pang of guilt in her heart.
"Miss Farooqui, kal raat aap ki tabiyat bahut kharab ho gayi thi. Ammi apne kaamrein mein so gayi thi, toh maine aap ko uss halat mein akela chhodna munasib (right) nahi samjha, so I made you sleep here at night. I hope you don't mind." Asad eyed her a little apprehensively.
*Iss ka matlab main kal poori raat Mr.Khan ke bed mein thi!* the thought made her blush instantly.
"Aap ke kapde bhi kharab ho gaye the...so I had to change them and put clean clothes on you. Actually a few of your old clothes were left behind. This is one of those." Asad answered her unsaid question.
*Does that mean he had seen me without...clothes...last night...those fingers touched my bare skin...* Zoya forced herself to stop thinking about it. Her cheeks were already burning. She inhaled deeply in the faint scent of his after shave.
"Look, Miss Farooqui, I know I'd been very rude to you last night. Kal raat maine aap se jo kuch bhi kahan, uss ke liye main maafi mangna chahta hoon." Asad gently squeezed her hand, sending a pleasant sensation through her fingertips.
"Aap jeet gayi, Miss Farooqui, aur main haar gaya." He pressed his lips together. Those little creases appeared on his cheeks. "I promise ke jab tak aap yahan hai, dobara aisa kabhi nahi hoga. Aggar aap ko kuch chahiye, ya phir kisi bhi cheez ki zaroorat ho, toh aap beshak mujhse keh sakti hai. Aap ke choti se choti zaroorat ka dhyan rakhna ab meri zimmedari hai." His eyes were filled with earnestness.
"Aggar aap ko kuch dena hi hai, Mr.Khan, toh kya aap mujhe kuch waqt de sakte hai? Kuch aise lamhein, jin ke sahare ek poori zindagi guzari ja sakti hai?" Zoya looked into his eyes.
Asad awkwardly shifted his gaze. For a few moments, he seemed to be deeply engrossed in some thoughts; then he let out a soft sigh and stood up slowly.
"Miss Farooqui, aap ko abhi araam ki zaroorat hai. Table mein juice aur bread rakkha hua hai. Aap jaldi se fresh hoke aa jaiye. Aur ammi aggar aap se kuch poochti hai toh unn se keh dijiyega ke aap ki tabiyat achanak kharab hone ki wajah se aap mere kaamrein mein so gayi thi." Zoya's eyes followed Asad as he walked out of the room
Zoya stood in front of the large mirror in Asad's washroom. She was looking a bit disheveled, with dark circles around her eyes. She splashed water on her face and wiped gently with a towel. The towel smelled a little like Asad's aftershave. Zoya closed her eyes and pressed the towel against her skin a little longer than necessary. The touch of the soft fabric felt heavenly on her highly sensitive skin. She blushed again, her heartbeat racing apparently for no reason.
"Zoya, aakhir tujhe aapna suhaag raat apni shohar ke sath guzarni hi padhi!" the Zoya in the mirror whispered. She had a teasing smile on her face "Ab yeh mat kehna ke tujhe iss baat se koi farq nahi padhta ke tu sari raat Asad ke kamrein mein, unke bistar par soyi thi! Aur tere anjaane mein hi sahi, unnhone tujhe chuan bhi tha!"
Zoya squeezed her eyes shut. She was too afraid to listen to her heart, which had already started functioning in a strange way; but the other woman in the mirror spoke again."Zoya, kahin tujhe phir se mohabbat toh nahi hone laga...Asad ke sath phir se ghar basane ka khwab toh nahi dekh rahi hai na tu?"
"Aggar dekh bhi liya, toh kya faraq padhta hai? After all, it's nothing but a dream. So what if I want to live the dream for a few days?" Zoya mumbled.
"Jab wo sapna phir se tootegi, toh bardasht kar payegi tu?" the Zoya in the mirror said ruefully.
"Pata nahi. Buss itna jaanti hoon, aggar Mr.Khan mere sapne main shaamil honge, toh main humesha ke liye so jaana chahungi. Unse beintehaa mohabbat jo karti hoon..." Zoya confessed to herself.
P.S NEXT PART: Asad aur Zoya se hui ek haseen galati 😳...will true love prevail over the shackles of the society? Keep reading to know more.
P.P.S did I just sound like SBB/SBS? 😆
Teddy ❤️
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