I know I ended it in an awkward position, here is the part 3. In the beginning, I was not planning to write such a lengthy story, but what to do? I will add the final part tomorrow and I promise it will be a happy ending. Let me see if I can bring out the frustrated in love wala Asad.
Part 3
Asad tried to wake up Zoya. She opened her eyes and before she could scream, he closed her mouth and pulled her down on himself on the floor. They were too big to go under the bed, but he just prayed that the ladies will not cross the bed and come on to the other side. Zoya had woken up completely and she could hear her Aapi and Phupi talking while they kept all the gifts on the dressing table.
"Dilshaad Bi, I wanted to tell you something" Zoya's Aapi went on. "Anwar has spoiled Zoya a lot. He almost treats her like a princess. So, Zoya doesn't do a lot of things that girls are taught to do like keeping the room clean and organized. I am so sorry about that. You will have to train my Zoya yourself"
"Tum fikar mat karo Zeenat. She will be forced to learn because of Asad's way of living. She calls him a robot. They will find a neutral ground. You don't worry. He will get a little messy and she will get a little clean to strike a balance" Dilshaad consoled Zeenat. Asad closed his eyes in frustration hearing to his Ammi's words.
Asad and Zoya on the floor one on the top of other were uncomfortable. Asad was having all these sensual feelings and Zoya was half shocked because of her position, half scared and she was going crazy due to his closeness. She closed her eyes thinking this was just a dream, but no. She could still hear the ladies taking their own time to organize the gifts.
"Ya Allah, look how messy this room is, let me straighten it up a bit" said Aapi. Asad was like "'NOOO' please let her not come this side God" and Zoya was thinking "Allah miyan, please bachalo".
Their prayers were probably answered since Dilshaad stopped Zeenat and told her to go to bed since it is very late. Ladies turned off the lights and closed the door and left. Asad took off his hand from zoya's mouth.
Struggling to get up Zoya said "Allah Miyan What is wrong with you Mr.Khan?"
"And what is wrong with you Mi... er Zoya? You left our room and came here? What if someone had seen you here?" came angry reply from Asad.
Zoya looked down. She could not see his face. She had no strength left. She said in almost a whisper "I cannot do this any more Mr.Khan. I am tired. Every second of my life, I am forced to remember that this nikah is fake and I am deceiving two people I love the most – my aapi and phupi. I cannot do this I am sorry, I just can't do this anymore" she wiped her tears.
Asad's heart warmed for his wife. He was the one who kept on saying that she has no tameez and tehzeeb and Zoya proved him wrong by not agreeing to stay in the same room with him since he called the nikah fake. He was getting emotional but that was not the way to handle this girl.
"Theek hai then. We will tell both of them about the truth right now. Just so you know, Ammi is not sick. She never was. She was acting and I knew it." came Asad's reply.
"Ya Allah, you knew it? Then why did you marry me? Wait, was it for my Aapi? Did you come to know about it after we had told Aapi that the wedding is real? You are confusing me Mr.Khan. My head hurts" she sat on the edge of the bed again.
"Look, we need to go back to our room and I will explain you the whole thing. I promise. Come on, let's go." Asad jumped out the window and turned to help her. When he saw that she had not moved even an inch, he whispered "Zoya, either you follow me to our room or we are going to Ammi and Aapi and telling the whole thing. Which one would you do?"
"I am coming Mr.Khan" said Zoya. When Zoya was about to climb out the window, Asad tried to hold her but she refused to take his help. They went back to his room the same way they had come.
"You better go change into something comfortable. I know you are not used to all these heavy jewelery " said Asad pointing to the closed dressing room. "Some of your stuff is already there. Your Aapi had brought them in" he added turning to face the window and looking outside.
Zoya dragged herself to the dressing room and closed the sliding door. She removed all her jewelery and changed into her night suit placing all her discarded clothes in a neat pile. Jewelery was also kept neatly. She didn't want to get back to the room and face him. Her head was hurting so bad and she felt dizzy. She remembered that with all the stress, she had not eaten anything the whole day. She thought she will sit on the leather stool in the dressing room for a minute or two.
Asad was pacing the room outside. "What is taking her so long? Does she need any help with all those heavy jewelery?" he walked towards the dressing room and knocked softly. "Zoya, are you okay in there? Do you need any help?"
He waited for few seconds before wondering what is going on. "She can't possibly run away from there. There are no windows" he was amused at his thoughts. He slowly opened the sliding door to see that Zoya was in a sleeping position but sitting on the leather stool. It looked almost like she had passed out while she was sitting.
"Zoyaaa" he sprinted towards her and lifted her in his arms. He brought her to their bed covered in flowers and placed her gently on the top. He patted her cheeks "Zoya, wake up, please look at me".
Asad got some water from the wash room and sprinkled on her face. She stirred but didn't wake up. Asad was really scared now. "Did she take something that can harm her? No, she is not like that." his mind went on.
He went out of the room and went upstairs without making noise. He knocked on his Ammi's door softly.
"Ammi, can I come in?"
Dilshaad was surprised. "What is he doing here on his wedding night?" she thought.
"What happened Asad? Why are you here? Is everything alright?" she was concerned.
"Ammi, aap chaliye mere saath. Woh zoya.."
"Kya Hua Zoya ko?" Dilshaad got up from her bed.
"She fainted and she is not waking up Ammi. I don't know what to do" was the reply from Asad.
"Ya Allah, what did you do Asad? Did you scream at her for something? She looked so stressed the whole day" both walked towards Asad's room. "I didn't do anything Ammi" Asad was hurt that his Ammi didn't trust him.
"Zoya, meri bacchi, utho" said Dilshaad softly. "Asad, go get some juice from the kitchen. It looks like she has not eaten anything at all. I was so busy that I didn't pay attention" continued Dilshaad.
When Asad came back with a glass of juice, Dilshaad was still trying to wake up Zoya. When Dilshaad sprinkled more water, Zoya stirred again and started mumbling something in the unconscious state.
"Jeeju, you made a mistake by sending me to stay here. I shouldn't have come here. Dekho what happened. My life has become a joke. I am married in a fake nikah Jeeju. He doesn't love me. Forget about love, he doesn't even respect me as a person. I have to keep doing this drama for Aapi. I cannot break her heart Jeeju. Mein kya karoon? I am a misfit Jeeju. I shouldn't have come here." Sobbing sound came from the girl who looked as if her life was over.
Dilshaad cried "Ya Allah, yeh maine kya kiya? I made a huge blunder. Asad, I thought you really love her and I still do. I shouldn't have started the drama. I spoiled her life. " she wiped her tears.
Asad had tears in his eyes. He knew the mistake was his, not his Ammi's. "Nahi Ammi. Yeh galti to meri hain. I still haven't told her that I love her and this nikah is not fake. She has taken that into her mind and torturing herself."
"Don't worry Ammi, I will set things straight. I will convince her that this nikah is real and is forever" added Asad.
"Zoya, utho beta" Dilshaad patted her again and slowly Zoya opened her eyes.
"Yeh juice peelo Zoya." Dilshaad made her drink the juice slowly.
"Feel better?" asked Dilshaad to which Zoya nodded. "I am sorry Phupi,mein" before Zoya could finish the sentence, Dilshaad said "Koi baat nahin. Tum aaram karo" she got up to leave.
Zoya held on to Dilshaad's hands. "Phupi, can I stay in your room tonight? I don't want to stay here" sobbed Zoya.
Dilshaad looked at Asad and then at Zoya. "Theek hain. Chalo, I will help you to my room" said Dilshaad signaling Asad with her eyes to let her do whatever she wants.
Asad nodded and tried to lift Zoya to take to Dilshaad's room. Zoya stopped him saying she could walk by herself.
Asad stood there standing and looking at both his Ammi and Wife going upstairs to his Ammi's room. He closed the door gently and sank on the bed. "What am I going to do now? How should I convince Zoya that I love her? Allah, help me." He got ready for bed silently. For some reason, he didn't like the quiet in the room that night.
In the morning, Asad woke up and got ready. He was about to get out of his room when his phone rang. It was Ayaan calling.
"Salam alekum bhaijaan. Did I wake you up? How was your first night? Did she bore you to death with her shayaris the whole night ha?" Ayaan was in a playful mood.
"Stop it Ayaan." Asad tried to stop his kid brother from pulling his legs.
But it was Ayaan, who went on driving Asad nuts and finally Asad blurted out "Suhag raat keliye Dulhan ko bhi hona hota hai. I have married the girl who runs away on her wedding night and hides in another room, then when I bring her back, she faints and prefers to go with my Ammi leaving me alone. So, stop talking to me about it" Asad hung up the phone.
Final part - tomorrow. It will be a happy wala ending just like you all love.
How was it?
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