Hi Everyone,
I am back with another ASYA story "Together... A Compromise No More". This is a MINI SS, which starts from after Dilshaad challenges to get Asad married in 10 days. So here the challenge is met and moves forward from there. I hope you all like and support my efforts once again.
Before I start posting, I have to thank my Sis, Saima, who never fails to encourage me to write. Also the credit for the title goes to her. Sis this is the best title I could have gotten and it fits the story perfectly. Thank you once again.
Another shout out is to another Sis I have been able to connect to on the forum, Divya, who made this beautiful banner for me. Divs, it's simple, beautiful and captures the essence of my story so well. Thank you so much, you are a sweetheart.
"Together... A Compromise No More"
Chapter 1
After
the faceoff with Shireen at the Walima, Dilshaad had vowed to get Asad married
in 10 days and Asad had finally fulfilled his Ammi's challenge and proved to
his father's other family that they too could be happy and that they deserved
all the happiness that Allah had showered on them. Dilshaad had asked Asad to
marry Zoya which he had reluctantly agreed to after his Ammi's health
deteriorated. On the face of it both he and Zoya kept telling each other that
this was all a farce but they were well aware of what they truly felt for each
other.
As they entered the Khan Villa, Dilshaad took them both into a hug and kept thanking them to have fulfilled her wish and kept her word. She had been scared thinking what if Asad had not married in these 10 days; she and her family would have had to face another round of taunts and mockery at the hands of Shireen and Raziya. With tears rolling down her cheeks she thanked both of them for fulfilling her dream. Dilshaad sent Zoya off to Asad's room with Najma and stopped Asad to have a word with him.
"Asad, mein jaanti hoon ki tumne yeh nikah meri kehne se kiya hai, meri baat ka maan rakhne ke liye kiya hai. Par mein yeh bhi jaanti hoon ki tum Zoya se mohabat kartey ho, Uske liye jo tum mehsoos kartey ho vo tumhari aankhoon mein saaf saaf dekh sakti hoon mein.." Asad tried to speak in between but Dilshaad put her finger to his lips, stopping him and then continued.
"Jis tarah se tum use dekhte ho, jis tarah se tumhe uski fikar hoti hai uske liye pareshaan rehtey ho, yeh saari baaten yehi batati hain ki tum Zoya se mohabat kartey ho" Asad looked away trying to conceal his smile, he felt relieved, there never really was a time where he could hide anything from his Ammi, and the best thing was that he would not have to pretend or try and hide his feelings in front of her. He looked back at Dilshaad smiling and whispered a thankyou to her. Dilshaad pecked him on his forehead and prayed that he gets all the happiness in the world and then got up to leave. Asad saw her going towards his bedroom and called out to her.
Dilshaad
turned around and saw her son looking at her with confusion. She chuckled and
said "I need to speak with Zoya too before I sleep, you wait here and as soon
as I am done talking to my Bahu, I will let you in" Asad though felt a little
embarrassed, smiled and then nodded at his Ammi.
As Dilshaad entered the room she saw Zoya sitting on the couch looking like the most beautiful bride ever but also someone who was very conscious of her surroundings. They both looked at each other and smiled, where Dilshaad's smile was warm Zoya smiled nervously.
Dilshaad
sat next to her and caressed her head. "Darr lag raha hai?" she asked Zoya, to
which she nodded. Dilshaad chuckled at her nervousness and pulled her into a
tight hug. Zoya who had been feeling at edge for all that was happening, for
she knew she had feelings for Asad, she knew he did not reciprocate them, she
knew she was madly, deeply, hopelessly and irrevocably in love with her
Mr.Khan, she knew he didn't love her or rather if given a chance she would have
been the last girl he would have married. All these pent up emotions, in
addition to now the whole nikah happening at almost jet speed, caught up with
her and she broke down in her phoophi's arms.
She held Dilshaad close to herself; feeling relief wash over her as she let all the pain of helplessness, neglect, rejection and the feeling that the nikah was just a compromise for Asad, flow out in the form of her tears. She was happy to be in the arms of the one person who she knew was like her Ammi. Zoya cried her heart out at her own situation. Dilshaad who knew the reason behind this break down gently stroked her back calming her down. As Zoya felt her body relax and her insides calmer she looked at Dilshaad and mouthed a sorry. Dilshaad wiped every tear away from her face and shook her head telling her not to cry.
"Zoya,
mein jaanti hoon in ansoonon ki vajah kya hai. Please mujhe maaf kar do ki
meine itni jaldi mein yeh nikah karva diya ya phir mujhe yeh kehna chahiye ki
tumhara nikah zabardasti Asad se karva diya." Zoya looked up at Dilshaad not
understanding what she was saying. Dilshaad cupped her face and said "Mein iss
duniya ki sabse badi bevakoof hoti jo tumhe yahan se jaane deti. Zoya tumhare
aane se iss ghar mein, hum sabki zindgi mein itne saare rang bhar diye, itni
khushiyan bhar di ki ab humse yeh sab sambhale nahi sambhalti" Zoya closed her
eyes and let the few tears that had formed in her eyes roll down her cheeks.
Dilshaad immediately wiped them away. "Mein jaanti hoon Zoya ki tum Asad ke liye kya mehsoos karti ho, maa hoon naa, badi aasani se in sab ehsaason ko tumhari aankhon mein padh sakti hoon. Asad ke liye jo tumhare dil mein pyaar hai use tumhari aankhon mein dekh sakti hoon mein. Mein jaanti hoon ki Asad ko samajhna bahut mushkil hai aur issiliye uske saath tumhe thodi mushkilen bhi aayengi , par Zoya mera yakeen karo uska dil sone ka hai, vo baat kam kehta hai par agar vo kuch kehta hai toh vo sache dil se kehta hai." Zoya looked at Dilshaad with gratitude in her eyes. Dilshaad placed a soft kiss on her forehead "Mein jaanti hoon ki yeh safar aasan nahi hoga, shuru mein tum dono ko bahut si mushkilon ka saamna karna padega par mein jaanti hoon ki ek baar jab tum dono in sab ko paar karke saath hoge to yeh shuru ke kuch din, kuch hafton ko yaad karke hasogey"
Saying that she got up and left the room thinking to herself "I know what the two of you feel for eachother, but I am not going to be the moderator anymore. My work is done here, now its upto you two to find each other in the true sense." Thinking that, she went to her room and called it a night.
Asad entered his room he looked around and found Zoya standing next to the bed. He did feel a little let down as no matter what he had been saying to her for the past 10 days, he did want to see how she looked, dressed as his bride and sitting on his bed. He had been dreaming of that site almost all these nights when he had been telling her that all this was just a farce, that this nikah was nakli, that they were doing it all only because his Ammi had vowed to do so and then ultimately she had fallen ill and they were left with no other option.
As the two stood rooted to their spots, their eyes spoke volumes. Asad could see her eyes still glimmering with tears and he could feel a dull pain in his chest knowing that somewhere he was responsible for them. He knew how much he had hurt her feelings, constantly reminding her that all this was not true. He could hear her voice ringing in his head on a repeat that whenever she would marry it would be for life, and here he had unintentionally shattered her belief. Asad closed his eyes in frustration at his actions and words that he knew had hurt her so often. As much as he wanted he could still not get himself to walk upto her and express his feelings.
Zoya looked at him as soon as he entered the room and couldn't help the tears pricking her eyes. She fought hard to keep her tears in check and just looked at him standing at the door. She didn't know exactly what she was supposed to do in HIS room. The past 10 days had been filled with his rant of this nikah not being real and that he had agreed only because his Ammi was not well. She knew if it was in his hands he would walk out that door immediately. As soon as this thought crossed her mind, she drew in a sharp breath trying to ease the pain in her heart. She could feel her heart ache at the thought that she had always believed that her nikah will be for life and as much as she wanted things to work out between her and Asad, he was far away from any such feelings. Not able to bear his intense gaze anymore she lowered her eyes waiting for him to say something.
Asad
looked at her nervousness and took a step in her direction and as soon as Zoya
saw him move she looked up. "Aap khari kyoun hain? Aap baith sakti thi" As soon
as she heard him she looked up in his eyes trying to read any emotions that she
had missed. But Asad was quick enough to look away hiding the twinkle in his
eyes as he said that realizing that this was her room too now. "Mujhey samajh
nahi aaya ki aapke kamre mein kya karoon, Mr Khan" Asad looked at her but found
her playing with her fingers looking down. He could hear the nervousness in her
voice and knew where all her insecurities stemmed from. He looked at her
intently not knowing what to say and how to make her feel comfortable.
"Aap
change kar lijiye. Mein jaanta hoon aap kitna uncomfortable hongi in kapdon
mein." With tears brimming in her eyes she shook her head in denial and without
looking at him said "Mujhe der lagegi yeh sab nikaal ke change karne mein,
please aap pehle bathroom use kar lijiye, mein baad mein kar loongi" Asad
nodded at her and taking his clothes from the closet he turned around and said
"Aap chahen toh guest room bhi use kar sakti hain." As soon as those words left
his mouth the tears in her eyes rolled down which she wiped immediately. After
a second he again said "Oh no no, agar Ammi ne aapko aatey huey ya jaatey huye
dekh liya toh bekaar mein pareshaan ho jayengi aur bahut savalon ke javab dene
padengi. Kahin unhey iss nikah ki sachai pata naa chal jaye." Before he could
stop himself he had unintentionally hurt her again. Zoya looked away hiding her
tears from him and nodded her head "Mein yahi intezaar karti hoon" She whispered
trying to keep the heaviness out of her voice but Asad knew he had hurt her
again. Mentally kicking himself he entered the bathroom and sighed at his
carelessness.
He
quickly changed not wanting her to wait for too long. He knew how uncomfortable
she must be in that dress as it was nothing like what she was used to wearing.
As he came out he saw her still standing where he had left her. He looked at
her and then at the bed and the couch trying to tell her that she could have
sat but Zoya only looked down "Mujhe pata nahi tha ki aap kahan baithna pasand
karengey. Ya phir I didn't know bed ka kaunsa side aap..." she trailed off
indirectly telling him again that she didn't know what to do in his room. She
slowly walked past him taking her clothes from the cupboard and quietly closed
the door to the bathroom.
As soon as she locked the door Zoya let her tears roll down freely but silently. She turned on the tap so any sniffs and sobs would die down and he would not know about her condition or the torment that she was going through. She looked at herself in the mirror and cried harder into her towel feeling sorry for herself. This was definitely not like anything she had thought her wedding would be like. Taking deep breaths she tried to get a grip on her emotions and splashed water on her face, trying to wash away the pain she felt within. Taking a last look at herself dressed as a bride, Zoya smiled at herself sadly and started removing her jewelry and the heavy dress she had worn. She changed into her pale pink kurta and white pajamas. Neatly folding all the clothes into a pile and then placing the jewelry on top she carefully took everything out. Before she opened the door she looked at herself once again making sure her eyes didn't give away the breakdown she had just experienced. She looked around the bathroom making sure she had cleaned all the mess and put everything back in place. Infuriating him over a messed up bathroom was the last thing she wanted.
As
soon as Asad heard the tap running in the bathroom he stood right next to the
bathroom door listening intently. He had already seen the tears roll down her
cheeks and knew she would be crying. Her attempts to muffle her sobs went in
vain as he could still hear her faint sobs. All he wanted to do at this point
was to hold her in his arms and confess his love for her. But he knew that the
time was not right. She could easily misunderstand his feelings for being out
of pity. He didn't want her to misunderstand him once again. He raised his hand
to knock at the door but refrained himself, letting her cry to her heart's
content. He had seen a drastic change in her behavior towards him right after
the nikah and it pierced his heart to see her like this.
He wanted his Zoya back but knew she needed her space to adjust to everything that had happened and he was ready to give her just that. He knew his confession could wait a little longer. He wanted her to be as comfortable as she always had been with him and only then would he confess. He stood outside the door waiting for her sobs to subside. As he heard the splashing of water he sighed in relief understanding she was calmer and then swiftly moved to his side of the bed. He looked at the decorated room and felt his heart swell at the thought that tonight was their first night as husband and wife. But that feeling didn't last long as the circumstances under which this nikah had happened came tumbling down on him. He felt embarrassed seeing all the decoration and the flowers. To spare her from any more embarrassment he did what he thought was best for both of them at this point in time.
Unsure of what to do or what to say to her once she came out, he lay on his side of the bed facing the window. Pulling the duvet upto his chin he closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. As Zoya stepped out the room she felt fresh tears piercing her eyes. She knew Asad was not happy with the nikah but this was the last thing she expected. He had already slept without giving her a second glance and not bothered what she would do. She very quietly opened the cupboard and placed everything in it neatly. Closing the cupboard she turned around looking at the room decorated for a wedding night and then her eyes fell on him, his back turned towards her. She waited for a few minutes for him to react to her presence but he didn't even stir, taking a deep breath she picked up the spare pillow and walked towards the couch. She extracted a spare duvet from the cupboard and glancing at him one last time she settled on the couch for the night and let sleep engulf her and take her far away from all the hurt and misery she felt. Asad opened his eyes to look at her sleeping form on the couch and could easily see her puffy eyes and her red nose. How desperately he wanted to ease all her pain but knew he had to wait, for their good.
P.S. Please do hit the like button and leave your comments they will really encourage me to write.
INDEX
comment:
p_commentcount