Christmas in New York : the city of fairy tales
2
Mr Khan's First Christmas
Asad and Zoya stood outside the door after pressing the bell a few times, the bakery boxes concealing their faces.
Aapi opened the door and stared at the familiar bakery boxes, warmth and longing engulfed her on seeing the pink and gold coloured bakery boxes with the bakery's initials embossed in gold print, and a smile crept on her face as she remembered that Zoya always use to gift these European delicatessen on Christmas Eve. Could she possibly be dreaming?
"Surprise Aapi," Zoya screamed ecstatically startling Mr Khan and eliciting a considerable amount of happiness from her Aapi. Her Jeeju who was busy in the study, on hearing Zoya's gleeful voice and the joyful exchanges from the confines of his study made his way to the front door and welcomed both Asad and Zoya into the home.
"If you had informed us we would have come to the airport to pick you up personally. You both look tired. Asad, I'm Anwar Farooqui. Zoya's told me everything about you, har din chat pe Mr Khan ye ... Mr Khan vo ... etc etc," Anwar greeted Asad with warmth, taking an instant liking to him.
"Really, well now that I'm here I have a lot to say about Zoya too," Asad sniggered teasing Zoya giving her a lingering mischievous look.
"We should definitely have a man-to-man talk over coffee and it's a pleasure to meet you Jeeju," Asad replied as he shook Anwar's hands only to be pulled into an embrace by Anwar, a warming and belonging to the family sort of hug, welcoming Asad into the family.
"Bas bas, they're tired Anwar, itne duur se aaye hai, lambhi flight thi aur na jaane hamaari Zoya ne kitna sataaya hoga beechare Asad ko. Dekho na Asad kitna kaap raha hai. He must be cold and I'm sure Zoya has already given him a quota of fright today, scaring him senselessly. Why don't you take their luggage upstairs and allow him to settle in and rest and I'll go and turn up the heating and prepare some food, they must be hungry," Zeenat Aapi instructed her husband Anwar.
"Aapi, wo bechaare nahin hai, hamesha mujhe sataa te rehte hai," Zoya snapped back, finally it was her turn to rebuke Mr Khan for all his 'Ammi woh beechaari nahin hai' taunts.
With that said Zoya pouted and made her way to her room, looking back at Asad sticking her tongue out cheekily and finally running the final flight of the stairs to her bedroom closing the door with a thunderous thud. Aapi and Jeeju laughed at Zoya's antics, it had been a year since they last saw her, her usual mischievousness and child-like nature brought a smile to their heart and a tear to their longing eyes. Asad simply smiled at Zoya's immature behaviour and once again warmth infiltrated his heart seeing how much Aapi and Jeeju missed Zoya, but he decided he would make the rest of Christmas Eve special for her by putting an effort into taking interest in her ways. Asad excused himself and retired to his room to freshen up and get ready for the meal Aapi and Jeeju were now busy preparing.
It was almost 2pm and Asad decided he would go and check up on Zoya. He knocked on her door a total of three times but she didn't respond to his calling. Asad decided to enter the room as he pried the door open entering her room. The bed was empty, an open suitcase rested on the floor in the centre of the white room which was elegantly designed with flowing white voiles hanging along the balcony window overlooking the beach, fairy-lights strung the back wall adjacent to the bed, a white glass table each was positioned on either side of the chimney feature wall, one operated as a dressing table and the other a resting place for her Apple Mac and her clothing as usual scattered and graced the floor, probably flung by her during her unpacking session. A large walk in wardrobe occurred north of the room which too was devoid of Zoya's presence. He walked further into the room searching for Zoya to find her sleeping like a log on the opposite end of the room, on a round bay window seat facing the beautiful back garden amongst her soft toys, giant teddy bears and ample cushions to comfort her.
Asad walked over to the bed to get a warm fleece blanket and proceeded to where Zoya was, he didn't want to wake her so he tucked the thick fleece blanket around Zoya as she slept peacefully at the bay window, protecting her from catching a cold. He stared at her beautiful face, his dark and intense eyes softened on seeing her so peaceful, lifting his hands to trace the dark circles under her eyes gently with his fingertips concerned about her fatigue. He traced the contours of her face affectionately and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, whispering his love for her, "I love you Zoya."
Zoya smiled in her sleep as though she could hear Asad's words. A smile too traced his lips seeing her smile at his touch, warming his heart and setting off a whole host of desires within him.
Asad controlled his feelings and decided to make his way down to lunch. Aapi and Jeeju would be calling him to lunch in a few minutes and he certainly didn't want to disappoint them. He turned and walked himself out of Zoya's room giving a final glance at his sleeping beauty Zoya before heading down to the dining room.
"Come Asad, sit right here, next to me," Anwar instructed.
"Is Zoya not coming to lunch?" Aapi questioned Asad.
"No she's asleep, so I didn't want to disturb her. She never rests, she's always restless and always doing something or the other but never caring for her health," Asad replied.
"Bachpan se aisi hi hai, hamesha apni mann maani karti hai phir baad mein sabko pareshaan karti hai. Khair, let her sleep, she'll be up and alert later on keeping everyone else awake till the wee hours of the morning, it's her usual Christmas Eve habit," Aapi responded.
"Asad, ye apna hi ghar hai, so don't be shy, please start eating and if you need anything just let me know," Anwar Jeeju told Asad.
Once dinner was complete Asad decided to retire to his room till supper time. He needed to make a few calls, his mobile would've been charged by now and he thought it would be best not to disturb Aapi and Jeeju, who needed some rest too after that quick but extremely satisfying lunch they prepared.
Asad entered his room but was astonished to find a letter and some clothing placed on the bed for him. A pair of black jeans, a winter jumper, a woollen coat, some gloves and a thick scarf and designer boots fit for walking in snow and ice awaited his arrival. He approached the letter with caution, given that Zoya was definitely the author of the letter and the perpetrator and genius of her new mischief; he really wasn't up for this given the weather outside looked cold and unwelcoming.
Asad immediately opened the letter to read what Zoya had written.
Dear Mr Khan aka Santa baby,
It's Christmas Eve and we're in New York. After the lecture on the waste of space Christmas is in your opinion I decided that I would somehow bring the festivities into your somewhat mundane and Grinch-like life.
I have a series of things planned for today. Yes, that's right - I sooo brainstormed the entire thing during the cab drive to the bakery and decided that I would create the magic of Mr Khan's First Christmas. Yes that's absolutely right, I'm mean YOU. I bet right of now you are pinching your nose bridge, furrowing your eyebrows in frustration and uttering in true Scrooge style "Bah Humbug."
But Mr Khan I truly love irritating you, you look so hot when you're angry. Hai woh ankhen ... Anyways ... Christmas a humbug Mr Khan? ... Never.
I want you to see Christmas and New York from my eyes, Mr Khan and hopefully you will come to appreciate the non-materialistic side that I TRULY love and cherish and hopefully by the end of tonight we can make a new promise, to a new beginning, together.
In the meantime, I want you to get dress in the warm clothing I have left for you on the bed and make your way to Greenwich Village, Manhattan where I will be waiting for you. But there are a few things you need to do when you get there before you can get to see me. Abide by my rules and I won't annoy you till after New Year's. I pinky promise.
Yours and only yours,
Your Naughty Princess Zoya
End of part 2
© Fatima B Lunat 2013
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