Chapter 2

3 years ago

Aditi

@desidillse

Zoya threw herself on the bed, her pillow was wet, which meant she was crying hard. She never wanted to be a part of the ruler on the throne of dirty politics. 

She recalled how the crown was passed on from her mother, and after her demise to 18-year old Eijaz who was now chief minister of the state.  He was no longer her Bhai.

She had sacrificed a lot, being a part of that family and its status. She had given her loyalty, trust and companionship, but she never got them back in return. She had learnt to accept it, but being Chief minister had never been her cup of tea. She had never wanted to walk over a red carpet of corpses.

She heard a knock on the door thrice, and understood who it was. She wiped away her tears with the back of the palm saying, "Come na, Bhai"

Eijaz fetched a glass full of water and offered it to her. "Have some. Rona dhona band ab."

She didn't have the water and ran into his arms. "I can't do that. What do you want from me?"

She pressed her eyelids as her tears rolled down. "I am sorry."

He caressed her sister's head. "I wouldn't force you. Just look at me."

He wiped her tears and sat her next to him on the bed. "After me, there is no future for this family. I cannot ask Hina to be the heir because....". 

He closed his eyes and was silent when Zoya intervened. "No, we don't want a Zoya in this house again, not at all."

He kissed her forehead. "Then what is the plan? What will you two women do after me?"

"Anything, but not this bhai," she replied.

He chuckled, "Do you think is it that easy to earn by yourself?"

"I know it is not but...," she replied but he intervened this time. "Look! I have an idea!"

She frowned and he looked into her eyes. "I will not force you, but you can learn to earn by working in our company."

"Done", she smiled widely and promised him but he laughed. "Do you really think it is that easy to earn?"

"What do you mean?" she retorted.

He got up to leave the room. "I have thought something, follow this path and you will not have to walk over the red carpet of corpses", he promised and she too agreed with confidence.

But what he had planned?

---

The next day, Zoya heard her door knock three times again and she rushed to open it. It could only be Eijaz, Zoya knew. She had forgotten what they had talked about and all the promises she had made to him last night.

But the stubborn and ambitious Eijaz hadn't. He still remembered every single word of their conversation.

Zoya was a little irritated being woken up from her sleep. "Bhai, what happened? Today is a holiday, let me sleep!"

"There will be no holidays here on." He swung the door open as she was about to shut it on his face.

She rubbed her eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"Earning is not easy darling, sacrifices have to be made." He winked and ordered her to take a shower quickly, timing her to less than 7 minutes.

He set an alarm clock and asked Amir to knock every minute at the bathroom door. When she came out, she was seething with anger. She was more stubborn than Eijaz after all.

She lashed out at him when was she got out. "This isn't done, bhai. Are you training me right now?"

He laughed. "You're speaking as if you have forgotten the promise you made to me."

She took a deep sigh, "No I am not, but this isn't the way to tackle this."

"Oh! So you're going to break your last promise?" His face fell and she shook her head in disbelief. "Stop this emotional drama now." 

He stepped towards her, settled her over the chair and said, "Okay I won't, but will you be able to forgive yourself for not keeping your promise? The last one?"

Her eyes filled with tears. "I am sorry."

He wiped her tears and announced. "So, he is coming tomorrow."

"Who?" she asked with frown.

"Your trainer," he smirked and she snapped her head. "Not again."

But she had no option but to give in. Zoya had to keep her promise to Eijaz. He was more stubborn than little Amir. He knew how to compel people to listen to him, after all he was a diplomatic bureaucrat.

Zoya could do nothing but wait for this mysterious trainer to be unveiled, who she suspected would be harder to crack than a walnut.

But she didn't had any idea what was waiting for her, it was a puzzle or say he was a puzzle and was coming to distract and mislead from her the promise she made to her brother, her bullseye. 

Who was he?

The famous Asad Ahmed Khan.

[BETA-ing by Lizzibennett]