Kya Hua Tera Vaada, Woh Kasam, Woh Iraada
Chapter 42
Something was off. Ever since Asad had returned from the airport, there was a somberness about him that she couldn't quite put her finger on. He had been on the phone most of the time, holed up in his room.
The house was a zoo. Aapi and Jeeju had been settled in Najma's room. Najma would be sleeping with her tonight.
And in her room, the girls were tripping over each trying to get to the mirror and make up and jewelry.
Zoya stood still in the center of the hurricane to take stock.
She texted Omar. "I need a moment with Mr. Khan."
Seven minutes later, he texted back, "all clear."
She stepped out of her window and went around the house to the window in his room and looked in. He was sitting on the bed miles away in thought. Ayaan and Omar's clothes were still strewn on the bed.
This was just wrong. Jahanpanah not clearing the mess?
She crept in, and before he could look up, climbed up in his lap and hugged him. After a second, she felt his arms go around her tightly as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
"Asad?"
"Shh, just let me hold you."
She held him.
She had to get to the bottom of this. He was keeping something from her.
The mehendi function was a colorful blur.
The girls, gorgeously dressed, were excitedly fluttering about, laughing, teasing and chattering. They oohed and aahed at the mehendi designs, chose and unchose different ones a thousand times, and peeked over Zoya's shoulder to monitor the progress of her application, suggesting where to hide Bhaijaan's name on her palm.
Zoya, in a beautiful, heavily embroidered pale pink and green lehenga choli, kept looking out for Asad to come by her side, rub shoulders with her, look at her with promises of love, and be teased away by his sisters.
But he remained distant never looking at her even once.
Even with Omar and Ayaan he remained silent and preoccupied.
He looked more and more shell-shocked as the night wore on.
Fear clutched Zoya's heart. Something was very wrong.
Asad!
She sat with her arms out, hands splayed helplessly, crucified by the heavy dress and jewelry, the oppressively perfumed air, the frothy silks, brocades and chiffons, and the clammy grittiness of the henna.
What was really the point of all this? Why won't you even look at me?
Ayaan announced to the guests that the couple's family had prepared a dance for the occasion. Everyone gasped and clapped with delight. The center of the room was cleared and the dancers took their places.
Any other time Zoya would have loved this, and may even have jumped in to join them.
But right now her eyes were still seeking out Asad's restlessly.
Ayaan, Omar and the girls danced to "Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna." She didn't even know when they had decided to do this or had time to practice for it.
A roaring success, everyone demanded an encore.
Asad watched the performance sightlessly, with a wooden face, arms crossed at his chest.
After the dance, Zoya caught Omar's eye and signaled him over. He came and knelt by her side.
"Hey Zo, change your mind? Wanna run away again?" He teased. She elbowed him and looked at him seriously.
He alerted to her pensiveness.
"What?"
She bent to whisper softly, "Check on Mr. Khan."
Omar looked at him and back at her. He saw the genuine worry in her face. Patting her arm, he walked over to Asad.
"Asad, Zoya is wondering about you."
Asad ducked his head and looked away.
"What is it, man? You aren't having doubts about this, are you?" Omar knew that wasn't the case at all. He had seen the way the man looked at Zoya.
He put his hand on his shoulder, but Asad shrugged it off and went to his room.
Now even Omar was worried. He looked at Zoya, who was nearly in tears. He went and sat by her side in silence. "Don't worry, I'll talk to him, I promise," he soothed.
She bent her head to hide her tears from everyone. Aapi lifted her chin, in tears herself. "My baby, getting married" she cooed with love.
Zoya smiled bravely.
She couldn't take her eyes off his name glistening wetly on her hand.
She looked at her feet being adorned with the fragrant and cool henna and saw her toenails. Her heart twisted.
Razia paced in fury. Her sources had told her about Rashid's escapade today. Where had he gone and why all this run around? So he knew that he was under surveillance, but what was so important that he needed to duck away like this?
She better tighten the leash.
She massaged her chest. Tanveer's threats were giving her heartburn on top of that.
That witch! She must have stolen the letters from that girl. Damn her for staying on longer and ruining her plans.
And she couldn't even have her taken care of now. Her hands were tied.
She reluctantly opened her cupboard and removed some old jewelry from the safe. She'd have to use some of these to not arouse suspicion about the high rupee amount withdrawn from the bank tomorrow.
Ridiculous nonsense to be so trapped by that wh*re.
Ayaan came to get him from his room joking that his hone wali bhabhi was waiting for him to find his name on her hand.
"Bhaijaan, aap fikar mat kariye. Aap jald hi dhoond lenge. If not, then I'll try to trick Humaira into telling me."
"Chaliye." He clapped his hand on Asad's shoulder and half-dragged him to the living room.
"Here's the shy groom everyone," he announced. Najma skipped up and latched her arm through his and pushed him down to sit by Zoya.
Zoya had her eyes lowered. She was terrified of seeing rejection in his eyes. Her heart hammered hard and erratically.
Aapi made her hold out her palms for Asad as he was made to sit by her on the settee.
He looked up at her from under his lashes. Her eyelids were reddening and he could see her biting her lip on the inside to prevent it from quivering. His heart wrenched.
He held her hands in his, willing her to look up at him.
She pinned her gaze at the the crusted henna whorls. She was painfully aware that he wasn't caressing the back of her hands like he usually did, and nearly sobbed aloud.
The girls were eagerly discussing how if he couldn't find his name he'd have to give her a gift of her choice.
"Zoya, make sure that you ask for something like the moon and stars. It has to be the most outrageous or difficult thing."
Ayaan was pumping up Asad, "c'mon bhaijaan, you can't lose. Hamari izzat ka sawal hai. Look carefully."
Omar was quiet. He was really worried. A part of him felt like punching Asad. But the other part knew that there was something deeper at play.
Everyone gathered around them enveloping them in chatter of love and hope.
Asad couldn't concentrate. He didn't want to. Emotions were churning through him and he felt her withdraw slightly. Her fingertips curled on themselves as if mortified. He couldn't bear to hurt her, but he couldn't bring himself to not hurt her either. He dropped her hands.
"I can't find it."
The girls cheered. Ayaan groaned and clutched his head.
"Bhaijaan, aap bhi na! You just wanted her to win. Not fair."
Najma nudged Zoya. "Great job Zoya. Now ask for something that will make bhaijaan really scramble."
Zoya shook her bent head. She couldn't speak.
"Aw, she's shy," said Aapi. "Baad mein maang lena, theek hai?" And she kissed her forehead.
"Haan, baad mein, akele mein," Najma joked and the girls giggled and Ayaan guffawed.
Najma bent close to her ear, "hai na, Zoya?" She hummed, "... sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage."
Zoya huddled and caved into herself wanting to clench her fists to her mouth but unable to do so.
The festivities continued to swirl around them. But they were locked in their twin worlds of misery and despair.
As the celebrations wound down, Dilshad came over, "chalo Zoya tumhari mehendi utaar ke uska rang dekhte hain."
Everyone began to tease them about how dark or light the color would be, and how Dilshad wanted to be the first one to find out.
Zoya rose obediently. Najma and Aapi helped her to the bathroom sink in her room. She listleesly removed the henna while they chatted over her head talking about the dance, clothes, food, music and the wedding tomorrow. Aapi was teasing Najma about Omar. She brought a towel to wipe her hands and both put their heads together to check for the darkness.
"Wow! It's so dark, Zoya. Looks like Ammi loves you more than me."
Zoya excused herself to use the restroom and they left.
Five minutes later she sank to the floor in front of the sink and sobbed quietly with her fists to her mouth unaware of the coppery aftertaste.
She had started her period.
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Song in Title:
Hum Kissi Se Kum Nahin (1977) "Kya Hua Tera Vaada"
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