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Congrats for new thread!
the update was awesome
hope zoya opens up with asad soon!
continue soon
the update was awesome
hope zoya opens up with asad soon!
continue soon
Banner Credit - Me
Part 13 - The Place That Makes You Happy!
Zoya had the next day free, there would be a small party at night, party that was handled by an event planner and didn't require her services so she thought about roaming around in the old streets of Bhopal, reminiscing those good ol' days. That was what she kept telling her Phupi but what really was the reason for her to go visit those old places where she spent a large part of her childhood? Here was the thing she didn't tell anyone and possible couldn't tell. It was something she had read in a novel and decided to try it out. She was trying to find a specific place that made her... happy. The idea was to find a place that had the potential to brighten your moods, to lift you up in spirits from the dull life to a more joyous environment. The place could be anything, it could be anywhere, it could be a place where you had some of your best memories, it could be a place where something major and important in your life had once occurred or it could be a trivial place where you had been for a fleeting second; as long as the place manages to give you that tranquillity, nothing else mattered. And even since she read about this technique she went on a wild goose chase finding this one place where she would feel safe and content. She couldn't find such a place in New York and now that she was in Bhopal where she had spent some of the best and the worst years of her life no matter how small that time span was, she decided to search for that one place here.
She went everywhere, to the park where she played, where she and Asad made several sand castles in the sand box, she went to the lake where she had once pushed Asad, she went to the school she, Asad and Ayaan used to go, she went to Asad and hers hiding place which now wasn't a good option for hiding as a huge Multiplex stood there instead, she went to the garden that she and Asad frequented as children and played hide-n-seek and catch me if you can and now she walked around this huge fountain where she and Asad as kids made several of wishes. The fountain was beautiful, it was magnificent. She thought of this place to be the one because she always remembered coming here after witnessing yet another fight between her parents. She would stand here holding Asad's hand and leaning against him or sometimes hiding behind him just listening to the soft murmuring sound of the water, she would stare at the water rising and falling and then rising again. She always felt calm when she was little. Everything about the fountain was so surreal. The mesmerizing sound, the transparent movement, the cool, fresh sensation, it was perfect. But now as she stood in front of that very same fountain, looking a little old and dirty with moss growing around it's edges she felt nothing. She concentrated hard on the patterns the water made as it rose, she tried really hard to feel at peace with herself but she sighed and her shoulders drooped. You can't put physical or mental strain on yourself to feel serene, serenity should come to you and not the other way round.
She suddenly felt helpless and looked around as if the old bending tree would be that place, as if that worn out building with crumbling walls and peeling plaster could be the place' that she was in search of. It was dusk and the place was deserted, she had to leave now if she wanted to reach on time for the party. She took one last look at the fountain and then at the orange-y sky, sighing heavily she turned around and began walking the path she came from. The area gave a rather spooky look and so to distract her thoughts from going into the worst case scenarios she thought about other stuff that she wanted to avoid. Well, better that than thinking about getting mugged, raped or murdered. She shook her head and thought back about this morning.
She had woken up because she felt warm, way too warm, in a good way of course. Her body was obviously welcoming that warmness and she had smiled unconsciously until she smelled that all too familiar cologne and her eyes snapped open. Her face was buried in the crook of his neck, her nose and lips touched his neck and his face was in her hair. She gasped when she remembered how she had fallen weak last night, how she had broken down in front of someone, in front of Asad. She had never cried, not in front of her friends, not in front of her Appi and she definitely didn't want to cry in front of Asad. She was the suffer-in-silence kind of girl, the only witness of her tears before Asad was her favourite pillow back in New York. She knew she should be feeling embarrassed but surprisingly she wasn't. She actually felt very light; when Asad had opened his eyes she had expected to see pity in those brown orbs but as soon as he saw her he smiled at her his dazzling smile and whispered Good Morning in that groggy, sleep-induced, sexy voice of his that made her heart skip a beat and think of a possibility of waking up to that mesmerizing smile and amazing voice. She hadn't let her mind wander to that fantasy then but now as she walked alone on the deserted path she let her mind free. She imagined a life with Asad and his family. Oh how she would love to be with her phupi forever, Ayaan and she shared a lot of qualities she was sure she would be entertained even if she had the most boring husband ever, Najma was like her sweet little sister; She had always been the pampered one, Her appi and ammi pampered her, Asad always took care of her, her phupi and uncle who hadn't had Najma at that time always wanted a daughter and treated her like one and even though she loved being doted she too wanted a younger sibling to shower her love on. Ever since she was five she was fascinated by babies, they were so small yet so innocent. Yes she would love to be Najma's partner in crime, to cover her mistakes, to talk about boys that Najma should date, to have girl's night outs and sleepovers even if they stayed in one house and Asad? She knew this that he would be the most caring husband ever, she knew he would take care of all her needs, she knew he would be there with her in every step she took.
She sighed sadly at her fantasies as they were just that. Reality on the other hand was very different to these silly teenage girl dreams. She didn't believe in love or marriage. Love was overrated and marriage simply a social sanction, an obligation. She never intended to get married, her parent's failed marriage was enough for her to abhor the idea of giving herself to a man, to give everything into the marriage, to do everything in her power to make the marriage work only to get nothing but pain and anguish in return. She shook her head at the thought, no she wasn't weak like her mom, but then again her mother wasn't weak either; she was a woman in love and this is why she hated love, it had the power to crumple you into pieces that could never be picked. She knew it would make her a hypocrite if she said she didn't believe in the institution of marriage when she was a wedding planner herself. She didn't know how to explain to these silly people that she was a wedding planner not a marriage planner. She took care of the superficial things, the flower setting, the decoration, the events, the guest list, the gifts, the food, the everything else that made a wedding but to organise a "marriage" that was not in her job description, that solely depended on the two people who had willingly entered into this bond of matrimony. To love and to hold, in sickness and in health; she could write the vows for them but she could not make them adhere to it. She made weddings and it was up to the bride and groom to make a marriage. A few people who knew her well enough often asked her if she hated marriages so much what made her select this field and she had absolutely no answer. She had nothing to answer them and she had nothing to answer herself.
Her inner musings were halted when she heard the banter of some drunkards ahead, warning bells rung in her ears and she turned around immediately to take a different route. Maybe luck wasn't on her side today for she soon heard footsteps behind her and she increased her pace. She didn't dare turn back and kept walking forward frantically searching for her phone and her pepper spray in her sling bag. She found the pepper spray and clutched it in her hand tightly shaking the bottle lightly and keeping her finger on the top of the nozzle ready to press it at the first sign of danger. She half ran, half walked down the road, her ears were ringing as her body experienced adrenaline course through her. Her heart was thumping so loudly that she could her, her throat was dry and eyes wide when she heard the footsteps behind her pick up pace too in order to catch up with her. She soon reached the outside road which had a few shops and she felt a little safe, only a little as the person behind her continued to stalk her. She saw a car stop ahead on the side of the road and a man emerged from it. Zoya saw that the man was none other than Asad and heaved a sigh of relief. She ran up to him and hugged him, wrapping her shaking hands around his neck and mumbling thank you over and over again. Asad hugged her back and looked behind her to see a man, visible drunk look at her uncertainly then at him and then turned back grumbling under his breath, cursing his missed chance probably. As soon as she started walking back Asad pulled back and glared at Zoya for her carelessness.
"Ms Farooqui are you out of your mind? What do you think you are, some sort of super woman? Why are you out on deserted streets all on your own, don't you know what type of people lurk around here? This is not your New York for heaven's sake if something had happened to you I would've gone crazy." He blurted out in the moment and Zoya looked back at him shocked. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it. Asad moved to open the passenger seat and motioned for her to get inside, she obliged and sat inside the plush seat of the obviously expensive car and waited for him to get inside too. He closed the door a little too roughly and sat on the driver's seat starting the ignition, not sparing her a glance. He was angry, oh yes he was and she was pleasantly happy. She was happy because she knew she was wrong, she knew Bhopal wasn't New York, the streets weren't safe for girls after a particular time and she was happy that he cared so much about her safety. She was happy to know he was still as overprotective about her as ever and that was delightful. A thought struck her mind and she voiced it out.
"How did you know where I was?" she asked curiously while Asad conveniently ignored her.
"Asad!"
He gripped the steering wheels and took a sharp right turn making Zoya fall over him, he stopped the car immediately and turned to steady her but found himself lost in her deep brown eyes. She too looked at him still leaning against his hard body, her hand on his broad chest. Her hair covered her face and his hand involuntary reached out to push it back giving him an un-interrupted view of her angelic face. He continued to check her out, her eyes, her nose, her plump pink lips that begged to be kissed, the crimson hue on her cheeks that was so endearing to watch, her long slender neck which ached to be marked by him. Zoya too took this opportunity to see him up close, she had an undeniably urge to caress his scruffy jaw and to kiss that Adam's apple that made it's appearance as he gulped. She wanted to run her nose along his neck inhaling deeply that smell she had come to love, she wanted to unbutton top few buttons of his white shirt and to run her hands on his smooth chest and boy, did he work out a lot? She could definitely feel his biceps and triceps. Asad leaned in involuntarily and Zoya pushed herself up too, their noses touched and caressed and teased and kissed while their lips were mere inches apart, their breath mingled as they breathed and their eyes closed on their own accord. Just as their lips were about to meet they were brought back to Earth by the loud honking of a car behind them.
"f**k!" Asad muttered under his breath and pushed Zoya back on her seat as he started the car again.
"You know instead of asking me silly question why don't you put your seat belt on. I believe that's a compulsory rule in the States, huh?"
Zoya rolled her eyes and put the seat belt around her thankful for the distraction and saving her a really awkward moment later if they had actually kissed. What the hell was she even thinking? Yeah right, she wasn't thinking at all. Asad too was cursing for losing control. Every time he made a resolution to stay away from her something or the other just brought them closer. This was so frustrating and he was sure he was going to lose his sanity over this woman that drove him and his hormones mad.
"You know you still haven't answered my question."
"How about you tell me what the hell were you doing here and I'll answer your question."
"I was sight-seeing." She lied, and Asad knew.
"I'll ask again, what were you doing here?" He urged and she just had to relent. She told him the actual reason doesn't matter how crazy it sounded because the truth was it really was crazy. She thought Asad would look at her as if she has grown two heads but instead he looked angrier than before.
"Zoya are you crazy?" He reigned in the anger and spoke in a low voice which turned hoarse and he cleared his throat.
"Yes, I am!" she replied honestly. Asad stared at her and shook his head turning his attention back on the road.
"Your turn!" she probed.
Asad sighed and then replied, "Najma saw your check in and told me and I knew what type of place it is at this time so I came here to pick you up."
"Najma saw?" she enquired.
"Nope, I did!" He replied truthfully a moment later to which Zoya giggled.
"Haw Asad you were stalking me on Facebook?"
"It's not stalking if you reveal your whereabouts openly on a social network." He rolled his eyes. There was a moment of comfortable silence before Asad spoke again.
"You know Zoya happiness cannot be found in a place, at times it is found in a person, it might be you, yourself or someone else, someone who makes you happy, calm, peaceful, safe and content."
Zoya stared at him in awe, here she was going crazy finding that one place and he solved her problem in just one sentence. She thought about what she said and she looked back at her life, she now knew what was it that could make her forget her pain, that could make her smile on the worst days, that could lift her spirits and lighten her mood, that could challenge her and push her buttons, that could be her problem and solution at the same time and above all that could be with her when she needed it the most. It wasn't a place or an object it was a person as he said and that person for Zoya was no one else but Asad. The one thing which was common in all the places she had visited that day was that she had been there with him, the reason why the fountain failed to soothe her was because there was no Asad with her. She continued staring at him as she thought more about this epiphany. Yes, the person was Asad!
XXX
A/N - That's a whooping 2,800 words so DO NOT crib that it was small because it seriously wasn't! Dunno how this turned out to be as I'm still suffering from that writer's block but it has been a while that I updated so I just let my fingers work on the Key Pad. Pretty please leave your comments guys and please please please hit the like button.
This update goes to my dear Juliet and KSGmiAmor. Oh Juliet where art thou? I love you for changing your mind and I just wanna say you are the best! 🤗 @KSGmiAmor thanks for being the sole spammer 😆😆
Love,
Sadie!😃
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