Chapter 7

Zoya "I want to go too."

Zoya (Gosh! Everyone is staring at me.)

Asad "You idiot, we are not going there for a snowball fight."

Zoya "I know. But I want to pay you back for saving my life..."

Captain Jack Sparrow "Asad and Zoya are in charge of exploring the island."

Asad "She may slow me down."

Zoya (That may be true. There's a big possibility that I may be only a burden to him.)

--

*Two Days Later*

They all finally reach the Magic Islands'.

Zoya is anxious about the whole thing wondering what's awaiting them on Ice Island.

--

Arjun "Come back no matter what!"

Zaroon "Be careful."

Matthew "Here is food and water."

Haider "We will be praying for your safety."

Asad "If we don't come back in one day... Forget about us and keep on going."

Matthew "Oh, come off it."

Riya "I knitted gloves for you both."

Zoya "Thank you so much, Riya."

--

Zoya "Huff huff huff."

Asad "Look at you. Are you gonna make it?"

Zoya "I'm... I'm fine."

Zoya (This is harder than I imagined.)

Asad "The map is in a cave under the ice."

Zoya "But all we see is ice everywhere."

Zoya (We have been walking for almost five hours.)

Zoya "This island has avalanches and blizzards very often, doesn't it?"

Asad "How do you know that?"

Zoya "My grandpa is 100 years old and always tells me stories about many countries whenever I visit him."

Asad "Wow... 100 years old. You look like you have a strong hold on life, too."

Zoya "A strong hold on life?"

Asad "You were jumping around after you fell into the sea as soon as you were out."

Zoya "Cause you saved me... Whoa!"

Zoya (I am stuck in the snow now.)

Asad "I'm not here for you to pull you up."

Zoya "I'm sorry."

Asad pulled Zoya out of the snow with both his hands.

Zoya "I left my boot in the snow."

Asad digs her boot and hands it to her.

Zoya "Thank you."

A gust of wind blows and takes the boot with it.

Zoya "My boot is gone."

Asad "I can see that."

They both ran to where the boot was blown.

--

Asad "Here. Found your boot. Give me your foot."

Asad puts the boot on Zoya's foot.

Asad "You are a real idiot."

Asad touches Zoya's toes gently.

Asad "You toes are cold as ice. How could you volunteer to come with me?"

Zoya "I wanted to help you but seems like I'm only a burden to you."

Zoya (I am so ashamed of myself. I feel like crying.)

Asad "Don't cry."

Zoya "I won't..."

Asad "I'll feed you to a seal if you cry."

Zoya (All kinds of animals like sharks and seals to be fed to...)

Asad "You might not be so worthless though."

Zoya "Huh?"

Asad "Look!"

Zoya looked in the direction that Asad was pointing to.

Zoya (Is that... Is that the map in ice?)

Zoya "Yay!"

Zoya hugged Asad before she knew it.

Asad "Don't cling to me."

Zoya pulls away abruptly.

Zoya "I just got excited."

Asad doesn't reply and starts to scrap the ice to get the map with a knife.

Asad "The map to the treasure finally."

Zoya "Whoa! This looks really complicated. I have no idea what to make out of it."

Suddenly the wind kicks up and Asad keeps the map inside his pocket.

Asad "We got to stay over night here."

--

It's night and Asad had lit up a fire. Zoya is trying to sleep but unable to do so.

Zoya (A small fire isn't enough. I'm shivering. I don't want to wake up Asad though.)

Zoya tries to sleep.

Zoya "Mom!"

She wakes up startled.

Zoya (Oh! I had a dream about my mother.)

Asad wakes up due to Zoya's voice.

Asad "A dream?"

Zoya "Yeah... I fell into a lake when I was a child... and my mother hugged me as I was shivering..."

Tears fall out of Zoya's eyes as she tells the tale. Asad wrapped Zoya up in a blanket and hugged her gently.

Asad "Stop crying."

Zoya (I am suddenly feeling very relaxed. Asad's body is warming me up.)

Zoya closes her eyes trying to sleep.

Asad "How can you sleep like this?"

Zoya "What do you mean?"

Asad "Aren't you nervous, ya virgin?"

Zoya "Don't say that word. From now on, that word is taboo."

Asad laughs hearing this and squeezes Zoya gently.

Zoya "I feel safe in your arms."

--

The next morning, both wake up as the sun rises.

Zoya "I am sure that everyone will be delighted that we found the map."

Asad looked at the compass.

Asad "We'll get back to the ship in an hour if we just keep going South."

Zoya "I wanna go back to the ship soon."

Asad "Didn't you wanna go home?"

Zoya (But, right now, I wanna see Haider, Zaroon, Riya and everybody else.)

Asad "Don't get too involved with pirates."

Asad starts walking and Zoya has no choice but to follow him.

Zoya (I was feeling so close to him yesterday... and today...)

Asad "Walk faster."

Zoya "Yes."

After a while, Asad paused suddenly.

Zoya "What's the matter?"

Asad "Quiet!"

Zoya (Asad is listening carefully.)

Asad "Oh no... snowslide."

Suddenly the wind gets stronger and slowly Zoya blackens out.

Asad "Zoya."

--

After a while, Zoya opens her eyes.

Zoya "Where am I?"

Zaroon "Hi... You're awake."

Haider "Arjun saw you through the telescope as you got covered up by the snowslide."

Arjun "We rushed and dug you both up."

Zoya "Where's Asad?"

Zoya (Why isn't anyone saying anything?)

Matthew "He tried to protect you from the impact of the snowslide."

Zoya "Where is he?"

Riya pointed to the bed next to hers.

Zoya "Asad!"

Zaroon "He hit his body hard, and has been unconscious ever since."

Zoya "Will he be alright?"

Zaroon "I have tried all kinds of medicine, but nothing's worked. I just have to wish for a miracle."

Zoya "Long time ago, my grandpa told me that there is the Weed of Life' on Ice Island that can cure any disease."

Matthew "Great! We're going to go and find the weed."

Arjun "Tell us more about it."

Zoya tells them everything she knows.

Zoya (The captain's been mute. I am sure now that he has the map, he won't want to risk any life.)

Zoya "Captain. I'll go."

Zaroon "You can't go in this condition. You will die."

Captain looks in Zoya's eyes which are full of determination.

Captain Jack Sparrow "One question or there's no use going: how far are you willing to go to save him?

Zoya "I'd die for him."

Captain Jack Sparrow "Oh good. No worries then."

Zoya "So I can go?"

Captain Jack Sparrow "Arjun, Matthew and I shall go. You take care of yourself."

Zoya hugs the captain in gratitude.

Captain Jack Sparrow "I told ya that my first and last love is the sea so don't fall in love with me."

--

*One Day Later*

Zaroon "Zoya, you haven't slept at all? You'll get sick if you don't sleep."

Zoya "Hmmm..."

Haider "It's only been a day since they have gone."

After a while, the three of them return covered in snow.

Arjun "We got the weed."

Zaroon takes the weed and gives it to Asad.

--

It's night and Asad hasn't gained consciousness yet.

Zaroon "Why don't you go back to your room and sleep?"

Zoya "I'll stay here for a little while. You should go rest for a while."

Zaroon "Ok. Let me know if anything happens."

Zaroon leaves the room and only Zoya and Asad are left.

Zoya "Asad..."

She held Asad's hand and drifted off to sleep.

After a while she got up.

Zoya (It's five in the morning. I should go get the doctor.)

As Zoya starts to get up she feels a squeeze on her hand.

Asad "Don't go."

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