The Sins of the Father ...An Asya Story

Part 4

..."Why didn't you trust me Asad? Why, why did you let me go"...

"Zoya Farooqi sab jaante hai" said Asad with a slow smile. Asad felt Zoya smile against his chest. Asad had always wished Zoya never left. "I do trust you Zoya more than I trust myself but why couldn't you see I was bound by my guilt, I have a responsibility" said Asad softly still holding Zoya to afraid to loosen his hold on her, she might disappear again. Zoya lifted her head and looked straight into Asad's teary eyes "Asad, even after what I saw I still believed you. You were not to blame for what happened I never blamed you, you could will never betray me like that I told you everything about how Tanveer plotted against us, the attempts on my life, the acid mendhi and the most important fact and why I know you are not to be blamed she challenged me that she would spend our suhag raat with you, you still didn't trust me enough to believe me" said Zoya teary eyed and continued, "that's what made me leave Asad, not what had happened that night in the factory" Asad's guilt was eating him up from the inside. "I left, so no one would doubt your character or have anything to say if what happened in the warehouse did ever come out or accuse you of cheating on your wife. I couldn't stand to see ammi hurt again, I didn't want anyone to question her upbringing or blame you of being your father's son. We made ammi win her challenge, but I didn't want her to realise the curse had come true. Even after everything you still choose Tanveer over me" cried Zoya. Zoya stepped away from Asad "but above all I could not stay where I was not trusted and that to by my own husband, you had accepted that you are do be blamed for everything you didn't even want to investigate, you still can't remember anything all you remember is Tanveer being kidnapped and then you waking up next to her – can't you see that right there that's not right. You are to noble to even think that you might have seduced by your best friend and she actually planned everything. What was the point then of even staying here and fighting for you, when you yourself had already given up. I told you once before, that when I get married I will fulfil my marriage till I die. I am doing just that but I could not stay here watching you die a million deaths of guilt every time you looked at me. I told you repeatedly Tanveer set everything up. I am also sure that you did not sleep with her and everything was staged. But why would you not believe me. You only believe in the proof. And to you what you saw when you woke up was the truth" shouted Zoya.

Asad pressed his forehead. "Not all this again Zoya" said Asad exasperated and continued "In Ajmer, I told you Zoya that I am sorry and that I love you. I wanted you to come home. But you insisted on blaming everything on Tanveer, Zoya which girl would deliberately in their right mind would do what you are accusing Tanveer I know her from childhood and she is not like that. Why couldn't you just leave Tanveer out of our lives" Asad took a step towards Zoya and held her hands. "Zoya so much has happened since Ajmer" said Asad. Zoya looked at Aakheer on the bed. Zoya removed her hands from Asad's and looked in him the eye and said "Yes , it has. But one thing hasn't changed you still believe you friend over your wife. I tried you leave Tanveer out of lives Mr Khan but you kept bringing her back. And look at where that got you. Loving me and wanting to be with me is nothing when you don't trust me. Love is nothing without trust. I will fulfil this marriage till I die. I will be the perfect daughter in law that ammi's always wanted me to be and once she okay. I am done I will be gone again. I will always be Mrs Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan, but I will be that wife, who doesn't know how it feels to wake up next to her husband. I will be your wife but not your bride. Good night Mr Khan" cried Zoya and walked away. Asad wanted to run after her, but he couldn't just like the last time. Asad looked at his wedding ring "Zoya, I wish I could tell you what happened in Ajmer after I saw you, after I had half convinced you to come home. Zoya, I will also fulfil this marriage till I die , Zoya only because I can't see anyone in my life but you, my heart is yours. Love is not how I would describe how I feel for you. People get over love, they fall in and out of love, they move on. What I feel for you is forever and so much more than love" whispered Asad.