AsYa FF - The Intern #2: Ch 24 & 25 Pg 105 - Page 40

Asad booked them a table at one of the finest restaurants in their area, a place called Monsoon. Zoya felt a little under dressed, Annie wore a beautiful dress whereas she came out wearing her jeans and top 'should I go and change?' she said looking down at herself 'no...you look fine' where is Asad?' 'Right behind you' came his beautiful soft voice. Zoya started smiling when she turned around her smile faded 'ok, now I am definitely going to get changed' she said seeing him in his suit 'no need...' 'I feel like the rebellious teenager who refused to wear anything nice' 'you want me to go and put my jeans on?' Asad said looking her pouting face.

Without letting her reply Asad turned around and walked back towards his room. Zoya was about to call out after him but was too late 'Is he really...huh now where the hell did these two go' Zack and Annie also returned to their rooms, after a few moments all three of them came out in their casual wear, jeans and a top. Zoya couldn't stop laughing, she laughed, she smiled, she felt her heart melt at the way they treated her and what they would do for her 'now that we all look like rebellious teenagers, I think we can head out'.

As they took their seats Annie looked around to see a lot of people look at them oddly, she started to giggle 'first I looked like a rebel now I feel like one...Ya Allah the way they are looking you would think we have committed a crime'

'They are the kind of looks I always got...from when I was a little girl right up to...well I guess now...geeks and the modern world don't always go hand in hand' Asad's insides turned 'Zoya, you are not a geek...and people who don't know you can look at you like they want, you pay no attention to them' Annie said 'I don't, if I did I wouldn't be here, I would be sitting under the roof of an orphanage working with children like myself until the day that I died' 'Zoya' Asad called out in a serious tone making her jump 'don't...I mean please don't say things like that' 'ok...sorry I was just...' Zoya put her hand over his to reassure him that it was just a joke 'I won't say it again...can we order now'.

After a while everyone started to relax and enjoy themselves, in between their conversations the topic about holiday destinations came up, Zoya who had never been anywhere spoke about her excitement of going to live in London. As she continued to smile and be happy Asad started to withdraw, his insides took a plunge every time he thought about her going away.

The happiness and excitement that emanated from her was beautiful to see, she was so innocent, so childlike. Asad knew that what he felt for her had to stay within his heart; he didn't have it in him to put her in a predicament such as this. He had made up his mind, as much as he loved her as much as he wanted to be with her he would step back and let her live her life, her dreams and be happy.

Asad voiced his thoughts to Annie and Zack, who both disagreed with him, Annie tried to reason with him, she tried to make him see that by telling Zoya that he loved him wouldn't come in the way of her dreams, she would still go but go as someone who is his life 'Annie, please I don't want to talk about it anymore...it is my decision' 'it's the wrong decision...Bhaijaan please, before it is too late...what if she goes there and meets someone' Asad closed his eyes, his hands fisted, just the thought made him want to explode 'Annie...please just drop it' he said and walked off 'Ya Allah he is so stubborn...maybe Zack is right, if he won't tell her we will have to...somehow...' She said to herself.

When Asad told himself to step back, that is exactly what he did but subtly, so it wasn't so obvious, or so he thought. Zoya had noticed how over the weeks he had started to stay back later, leave earlier and even at home he was hardly there.

On one Sunday afternoon Zoya went up to the top balcony to sit by the pool when she saw him. 'Asad' she called out, Asad looked up at her 'it feels like I haven't seen you for ages...how come you are so busy all of a sudden?' Asad straightened his back as he sat up 'with the financial year coming to an end...it's always like this' 'oh...yeah, I didn't think'.

Asad stood up to leave when she stopped him 'stay...I mean...it would be nice to catch up...it's not as if you are busy doing anything now' Asad gave her faint smile 'sure, I think I can take out another few minutes'

Sitting on the pools edge with their feet dipped in they sat and talked for not minutes but hours on end. Being around her felt like the most natural thing in the world and for Zoya, she had become so used to him and being around him she always felt a void when him Annie or Zack were not around.

'I am going to miss you' Asad looked at her 'miss me...' 'yes, you, Annie and Zack...not waking up to you all around me is going to be hard' 'you nervous?' 'Nervous...no, scared stiff...a new place, a new country...not knowing anyone' 'you will be fine Zoya...I know you will, once you set into a routine, make friends you won't have time to miss me...I mean us' he quickly corrected himself 'umm...I think I should head back inside, get things ready for tomorrow' 'ok...thank you for sitting out with me' no problem' Zoya watched his retreating back, she couldn't help feeling that there was something going on with him, he had been acting a lot out of character.

Weeks turned into months, and with June just around the corner it was nearly time for her to go. Where Zoya had butterflies in her stomach with the excitement all Asad felt was painful knots.

Dev had arranged for a farewell party for Zoya, he had send a memo to all her close work colleagues. Asad who was also copied in saw the invitation 'I can't believe you are leaving Zoya...and there is nothing I can do about it' Asad closed his eyes and leaned his head against the backrest 'you can do one thing Bhaijaan' Asad opened his eyes to see Annie standing in front of his desk 'Annie don't start again, I can't have the same conversation with you over and over again, day in day out all I get from you and Zack is this' Annie didn't care for his tone of voice, she knew it was a defense mechanism, a way of getting her to shut up and leave him alone. 'It's becausewe care...because we know that what you are doing is wrong...' 'No' Asad almost shouted as he stood up 'it is not wrong...what is wrong is you two who won't leave it alone...what is wrong is for me to stand in her way' 'Ya Allah...why do you see it like that' 'Annie for the love of God drop it...you keep telling me to tell her...what if she says no, I would rather be like this then for her to say no and then walk away, I wouldn't be able to deal with that' 'isn't it better to have tried then do nothing at all...Bhaijaan we love you, we want you to be happy...just once...try for my sake, try talking to her' Asad rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers, he loved Annie but her nonstop persistence and ranting was driving him insane 'fine...if I say I will try will you back off' 'I promise, if you talk to her I won't ever mention it again...I won't ever ask you to do anything when it comes to Zoya' 'Ok...she has another 3 weeks, I have three weeks to tell her' Annie started to shake her head 'oh no...you are not going to try and pull the fast one on me...it's Tuesday today, you have until Saturday to tell her...else' Asad raised his eyebrow 'else what?' 'Come Sunday morning, I will tell her myself' 'you wouldn't dare' 'try me...' Annie said looking back at him with the same intensity 'right now you are the worst sister ever' 'but you still love me...so Mr Khan, Saturday Night...Deadline'.

Turning around Annie stopped, she had forgotten the real reason she came into see him, putting on an exaggerated smile she turned back around 'sorry, I nearly forgot...I have prepared the files and contract for the new site, I need your approval. There is a meeting set for Thursday...I have sent you an appointment for your diary' Asad started smiling 'thank you'.