Asad and Zoya were sat on the steps, the song had faded out long ago and a short while before Yash and Aarti too had left for their room. Zoya couldn't look at Asad, the way he'd been looking at her, could it be...no, Asad Ahmed Khan had no room for such silly things as love. The man who couldn't take a sip of coffee from a mug with the slightest stain, how could that man take the leap of faith needed to love? Impossible. Zoya kept trying to assure herself of this. But the truth was, he had risked his life to save her and he was still doing so. Why?
"Allah miyah, what's wrong with me?" Zoya muttered to herself quietly.
"Apne kuch kaha?" Asad said and Zoya turned to him surprised he'd heard.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Woh baas, woh haat ki choht dukhri thi, issiliye..." Zoya said and Asad tensed. It was his fault she was hurt, he always did things with the best intentions, but whenever Zoya was involved everything always ended up going wrong. Even by the simple act of sitting down, he was now responsible for the cut in her wrist. He sighed heavily.
"Chalo." Asad said as he bobbed his head left.
"Kaha?" Zoya asked.
"Kamre main." He said and Zoya froze. "Khabraon maat, shahid undaar first aid kit hai, tumhari woh, choht ki liye." He said, Zoya nodded, Asad rose slowly and gave Zoya time to stand too.
When in the room Asad found a box and walked towards the bed he sat down and looked at Zoya who was still standing despite the hand-cuffs pulling on her skin.
"Zoya, zakhm aur gehra ho jayega, betjao." He said and Zoya had this look in her eyes, Asad had only seen it a few times before, for instance when she'd seen a cockroach, it was fear in her eyes. She'd never feared Asad before, not when he shouted, not when he forbid and not when he lectured...so why now? Zoya sat down. Asad opened the box and removed some TCP to disinfect the cut, just in case. He ripped up some cotton wool and began to pour the substance.
"Kya baat hai, usually tumhe chup nahin kar sakta, kohi shayari nahin aari aaj raat? Ek dum khamoshi, its not like you Ms. Faqrooqi." He said, Asad was hoping that he could distract Zoya's attention away from the fact he was about to apply a disinfectant that would sting her and knowing Zoya, she would Hai Tobha this whole Dhabba down!
"Allah Miyah, what's wrong with you? Usually you like women to sit quietly and say nothing, aap kya kehte hai usse, haan, tameez. You know Mr. Khan, apki problem kya hai, aapko yehi lagta hai ki zindagi bas ek hi tarike se jeesakti, aapki tarike se. Lekin aaj jab main chup chap yahaan pe bethi hoon, apko phir bhi problem hai, I mean apka problem kya- OW!" Zoya said and began to pull away, when she realised Asad's hand simply pulled along with her.
"Yeh tumne kya kiya, Mr. Khan?!" Zoya shouted.
"Dheere se bhol, varna voh saab gunde yahan ayenge, aur mujhe haatkhadi meh larne itne uchi se aathi nahin hai. Chup chap behti rahon. Let me." Asad said as Zoya shielded her wrist from him. "Bacho ki tarha maat beshakaro. Kya kheri thi uss raat, ki tum bhade bahadur ho, toh dikha apne bahaduri, do mujhe tumhara haat." Asad said and as he said it he realised the other meaning to what he'd said and he knew Zoya had thought the same from the slightly shocked expression she had. Asad bowed his head slightly, he wished he was more careful with his words, what was he saying? It had been a long day, he was tired, that was it.
He placed the plaster on her wrist and looked up at her.
"Abh kaisa hai?" He asked.
"Tik hi hoga, khabriye maat Mr. Khan, mamooli kharojh hai, tik hojayage. Ishi baat peh ek shair sunati ho-" Zoya was silenced by Asad's sudden closeness. He leaned over, raised his hand and gently placed his index finger on her lip.
"Tum chup hi zyada uchi lagti ho." He said, he'd meant it light heartedly but suddenly he could sense an undertone to this evening. This night had the same air as that moment he had with Zoya after he'd saved her from Akram. He remembered the moment well, it was the first time Zoya, in her frail vulnerability had called him Asad and she had taken his hand. In that moment, Asad had little to no control over himself and he could feel that same overwhelming feeling in the air tonight.
Zoya could hardly even control her thoughts, her brain had launched into over-drive. This was Asad Ahmed Khan a.k.a Jahan Pana a.k.a the biggest problem she'd faced since coming to Bhopal. He never gave her a chance but maybe now he was. There wasn't a trace of cruelty or malice in his eyes, only confusion and maybe even longing. Zoya knew how lonely Asad was but she had recently put that down to the fact that Ayaan and Asad could not interact openly. That was part of it but Zoya felt that there was something else also. There was something in his eyes that pulled her forward, despite his stiff stance and his harsh jaw his eyes were pure and innocent. She was slightly lost in them.
"Asad-" Zoya didn't have a chance to finish her sentence they both heard the gunshots.
"Zoya chaal." Asad said as he helped her stand. They heard voices and they were looming, closer and closer. "Zoya bhaag!" Asad urged.
Sunday 20 January 2013
Even Stars Burn: Chapter Four (Long overdue I know)
Hi all, I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long. I have my personal reasons why I didn't update, I had an overload of work and felt any update wouldn't be to my usual standard and I didn't want to dissapoint everyone. I am sorry for that and hope you will continue to support and read my work. Thanks for your patience, now....let's get back to the FF :)
Khushi chewed on the inside of her mouth, her hand was itching to grab the pallu of her saree and whirl it around in her hands. But she knew he'd identify that action and realise she was upset and she didn't want him to have that satisfaction. If she had the batter and the fryer she could make a mountain out of jalebis and throw them over Arnav's head. The way he shamelessly surrounded himself with those half-naked models. Did he not feel any remorse, did he really have no respect for her? The grin he gave her answered her questions.
"Chee." Khushi said.
"Apne kuch kaha Bhabi?" Akash asked, Khushi looked up smiled and shook her head. What could be wrong except the fact that she was married to a pig?
"Main abhi aayi." She said and she excused herself. She saw there was a garden area, she walked through the french doors and as she did so she wiped a tear away. The cool air hit her and she breathed it in gladly. She needed it. She felt a-light with rage and pain. She had left him. But that didn't mean she didn't love him. The fact she did made her hate herself. How could she love such a thing? To love something that will never love you with the respect and intensity you deserve, well its a shame on love. Maybe it wasn't love at all.
"Yahaan akeli khari kya kharri hai?" An all too familiar voice said. She refused to turn, seeing his face would tip Khushi over the edge at this point in time.
"Dekhiya, mujhe kohi tamaasha nahin chahiye. Main baas. Abhi nikhalrahi thi, mujhe ghar jaana hai. Aur waisa bhi, tum yahaan kyun ayein, apni kohi time-pass ki saath waqt guzaariye na? Humara haal kyun poochre ho?" She asked, venom spewing from her voice, to mask the pain she felt cripple her heart.
"Oh come on Khushi, biwi ho tum meri. Aapka haal nahin poochonga toh phir kiska poochonga?" He said, she could hear the smile in his voice and she couldn't help herself. She turned-
And blew Arnav's breath away, even with rage in her eyes she was a vision in red.
"Dekhiye, tum humara paati ho toh phir kuch hi dinno ki liye. Uske baad tum aur main, hum dono iss choote rishte se azaad. Lekin! Tab tak, tab tak Mr. Raizada aapko iss rishte ki izzat karna padenga." She said and Arnav rolled his eyes. Really, she'd gone back to that? After all they'd been through? Arnav felt his blood boil.
"Oh really? Jaise tumne kiya? Tell me Khushi how many wives that respect their husbands leave their home to live with their parents? Bolo, abh chup kyun hai, come on, bolo na, tell me DAMMIT!" He said as he grabbed her wrists and shook her. Those doe like eyes looked up at him and he instantly regretted it.
"Main shuru main sahi thi." Khushi said.
"What?" Arnav asked baffled.
"Aap pyaar kar hi nahin sakte, aap pyaar ki kaabil hi nahin, tum toh sirf aukaad dikhana aur haq jaatana aata hai. Aggar tum such main mujhe pyaar karte, toh aap-" The tears streamed down Khushi's face, Arnav raised a hand to wipe him, the apology ready on his lips.
"Chodiye, tumhe bataana main kya faida? Tumne mujhe khabi samja, meri nazaariya se khabi dekha? Agar dekha hota toh tum khabi mujhe shaadi hi nahin khi hothi!" Khushi said with a cold laugh.
"What does that mean?" He asked.
"It means Mr. Raizada, aggar ek bhar, tumne mujhe khabi bhi samja, you would have never thought I would have an affair and with your brother-in-law of all people. But you thought that and for your sister you married me. Tumne mujhe galaat teheraiya, aur khabi mujhse saach bolne ka mauka hi nahin diya. You want respect? You don't get respect by demanding it, your actions should make people respect you. Lekin afsaus ki baat hai, itna bade aadmi hokhe tumhari soch bilkul choti hai. Mera pyaar toh dhur baat hai, aur meri chaapal bhi tumhari izaat nahin karti." She said and before he had a chance to even defend himself she ran away. Arnav began to run after her but as he ran inside, he was dragged to his seat as his fashion show had began. Where once at a fashion show their love story began, could it be possible that today, here, when Arnav loved Khushi, their love story would end?
Khushi made it home, just about. She locked her doors and collapsed onto her bed and cried all those tears she had held back and let out the pain she'd been holding in. How could he be so cruel? Khushi could see the bruises on her wrists and was haunted by Arnav Singh Raizada the monster. When she'd fallen in love with Arnav Singh Raizada the man. Was it possible that she'd made him up? In love she'd been blinded and only now she could see his reality? Maybe this divorce was for the best....
Khushi chewed on the inside of her mouth, her hand was itching to grab the pallu of her saree and whirl it around in her hands. But she knew he'd identify that action and realise she was upset and she didn't want him to have that satisfaction. If she had the batter and the fryer she could make a mountain out of jalebis and throw them over Arnav's head. The way he shamelessly surrounded himself with those half-naked models. Did he not feel any remorse, did he really have no respect for her? The grin he gave her answered her questions.
"Chee." Khushi said.
"Apne kuch kaha Bhabi?" Akash asked, Khushi looked up smiled and shook her head. What could be wrong except the fact that she was married to a pig?
"Main abhi aayi." She said and she excused herself. She saw there was a garden area, she walked through the french doors and as she did so she wiped a tear away. The cool air hit her and she breathed it in gladly. She needed it. She felt a-light with rage and pain. She had left him. But that didn't mean she didn't love him. The fact she did made her hate herself. How could she love such a thing? To love something that will never love you with the respect and intensity you deserve, well its a shame on love. Maybe it wasn't love at all.
"Yahaan akeli khari kya kharri hai?" An all too familiar voice said. She refused to turn, seeing his face would tip Khushi over the edge at this point in time.
"Dekhiya, mujhe kohi tamaasha nahin chahiye. Main baas. Abhi nikhalrahi thi, mujhe ghar jaana hai. Aur waisa bhi, tum yahaan kyun ayein, apni kohi time-pass ki saath waqt guzaariye na? Humara haal kyun poochre ho?" She asked, venom spewing from her voice, to mask the pain she felt cripple her heart.
"Oh come on Khushi, biwi ho tum meri. Aapka haal nahin poochonga toh phir kiska poochonga?" He said, she could hear the smile in his voice and she couldn't help herself. She turned-
And blew Arnav's breath away, even with rage in her eyes she was a vision in red.
"Dekhiye, tum humara paati ho toh phir kuch hi dinno ki liye. Uske baad tum aur main, hum dono iss choote rishte se azaad. Lekin! Tab tak, tab tak Mr. Raizada aapko iss rishte ki izzat karna padenga." She said and Arnav rolled his eyes. Really, she'd gone back to that? After all they'd been through? Arnav felt his blood boil.
"Oh really? Jaise tumne kiya? Tell me Khushi how many wives that respect their husbands leave their home to live with their parents? Bolo, abh chup kyun hai, come on, bolo na, tell me DAMMIT!" He said as he grabbed her wrists and shook her. Those doe like eyes looked up at him and he instantly regretted it.
"Main shuru main sahi thi." Khushi said.
"What?" Arnav asked baffled.
"Aap pyaar kar hi nahin sakte, aap pyaar ki kaabil hi nahin, tum toh sirf aukaad dikhana aur haq jaatana aata hai. Aggar tum such main mujhe pyaar karte, toh aap-" The tears streamed down Khushi's face, Arnav raised a hand to wipe him, the apology ready on his lips.
"Chodiye, tumhe bataana main kya faida? Tumne mujhe khabi samja, meri nazaariya se khabi dekha? Agar dekha hota toh tum khabi mujhe shaadi hi nahin khi hothi!" Khushi said with a cold laugh.
"What does that mean?" He asked.
"It means Mr. Raizada, aggar ek bhar, tumne mujhe khabi bhi samja, you would have never thought I would have an affair and with your brother-in-law of all people. But you thought that and for your sister you married me. Tumne mujhe galaat teheraiya, aur khabi mujhse saach bolne ka mauka hi nahin diya. You want respect? You don't get respect by demanding it, your actions should make people respect you. Lekin afsaus ki baat hai, itna bade aadmi hokhe tumhari soch bilkul choti hai. Mera pyaar toh dhur baat hai, aur meri chaapal bhi tumhari izaat nahin karti." She said and before he had a chance to even defend himself she ran away. Arnav began to run after her but as he ran inside, he was dragged to his seat as his fashion show had began. Where once at a fashion show their love story began, could it be possible that today, here, when Arnav loved Khushi, their love story would end?
Khushi made it home, just about. She locked her doors and collapsed onto her bed and cried all those tears she had held back and let out the pain she'd been holding in. How could he be so cruel? Khushi could see the bruises on her wrists and was haunted by Arnav Singh Raizada the monster. When she'd fallen in love with Arnav Singh Raizada the man. Was it possible that she'd made him up? In love she'd been blinded and only now she could see his reality? Maybe this divorce was for the best....
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