FF: Only If I heard you calling out to me. (Chapter 7 UPDATED pg 21) - Page 11

Zain: "Mom why are you crying? What happened?" Zain's voice was full of worry and tension as despite his mom's mistakes he still cares for her and loves her. He just wished that his mom could make a better judgment when it comes to people's intentions and personality.

Fahad: "Mom why are you quiet? Please answer us. What's wrong?"

Surraiya spoke in between her sobs: "I've failed...I've always wanted my family..the Abdullahs to be one and united forever..after what happened to Barkat, I just wanted to keep my family safe that's all.."

Zain and Fahad looked at each other in alarm. They both understood that finally reality has struck their mom. They didn't know how but somehow she seems to have accepted the fact that Barkat is not the girl that they've been thinking all along. And by the looks of it, it had hit Surraiya really hard that's for sure. They both tried to calm her down to no avail, the guilt was eating Surraiya and she couldn't stop it.

Surraiya cupped Zain's cheeks into her hands and apologized: "I'm sorry Beta. I'm really sorry. I'm sorry that because of me you are suffering so much. I'm sorry for whatever happened to Aaliya. I'll admit that I never liked her but I swear I never.. never wanted her to get hurt like this..I thought Aaliya wanted to get rid of Barkat..." Listening to her own words, Surraiya realized how ridiculous and illogical her reasons sound to herself. Unable to bear with the shame, she covered her face with her hands and cursed herself for being so partial to her kids that it let her cloud her own judgement.

Zain: "Mom please no don't blame yourself. I'm sorry for talking to you the way I did..I was mad at that time but it's not just you..it's my fault too for whatever happened to Aaliya. So please don't apologize to me."

"Leave her be Zain", Usman ordered. Despite the doctor's and his sons' warning, Usman had gotten out of bed anyway to meet Aaliya because she wasn't just his niece, she was his daughter. And no father can sit still when their daughter is in a critical state. On his way to Aaliya's room, he had witnessed Surraiya's break down. After living with her for over 25 years, Usman knew that something must have happened for Surraiya to have accepted the truth. He knew his wife really well, for her seeing the truth and accepting it, is two very different things. She can see something but she may choose not to accept it. That's how she is. And Usman wanted to make sure that she remembers this and not repeat the same mistake again.

And so Usman approached Surraiya and vocalized his thoughts on his wife's hate for Aaliya for the first time: "Surraiya begum, I've always done my level best to explain to you in the most dignified way possible that Aaliya is a pure soul which we should treasure. But you never even tried to understand me, all you saw was my blind love for her. You were upset thinking that I gave Barkat's place to her. But Surraiya begum, tell me how could I not have given her the place and respect of a daughter when she loves me as a father. And the truth is Aaliya loves you as a mother as well, but she could never be open about it because you made your hate for her and her family very obvious since childhood. Now look at the result, you are the one who has lost the chance to share the love and happiness of a daughter that was in front of your very own eyes for the past 18 years!"

Zain and Fahad looked at their father in astonishment. They knew how their father felt and Usman has never hidden his love and support for Aaliya, but this was the first time he directly said it all in plain simple words flat out to Surraiya. Zain could see that Usman's words were affecting Surraiya even more than she already was. He knew that his mom needed to hear all these things but right now didn't seem to be quite the time for it and so he decided to step in.

Zain: "Dad, please can we talk about this later. I don't think this is the right for it. You need to rest as well-"

Usman cut in:" Now IS the right time Zain. If I don't say this now, then I never would've been able to. After everything that has happened in my absence, I have lost faith in all of you. It worries me to see all of this. It makes me wonder what will happen to my family when I'm gone one day. Most importantly what will happen to my niece!"

Usman looked at Zain directly in the eyes and said to him: "My happiness knew no bounds when I saw you taking Aaliya in your arms while entering the house after coming back from Bhopal. I understood that you two finally professed your love for one another and so I was put at ease. I thought that no matter what happens to me, it wouldn't matter because all will be well. Because my son Zain will be with Aaliya no matter what and when you two are together then nothing wrong can ever happen to this family! But what is this Zain? Huh?! you failed to stood by Aaliya?"

Zain badly wanted to look away to escape his father's glare but he couldn't. Usman's look held him prisoner and hearing what Usman was saying made Zain feel like he was frozen to the ground he was standing on. He couldn't budge, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't respond because he knew that his father was right and he didn't have any words to show how sorry he was. But judging from his father's face, Zain could tell that Usman was expecting him to say something.

Zain: " I didn't just let you down Dad. I let Aaliya down. I let MYSELF down. I know you are right and I am also very well aware that I no longer deserve to be called her husband after this action of mine-" Zain's voice broke and his eyes started to brim red with tears once again but he gathered himself together and went on, " But Dad I love her. I can't let go of her. I know it's selfish of me as she deserves the best husband in the world which clearly I'm not...but I can't live without her...so what can I do.."

"You never repeat this mistake again that's what you do Kitkit Ka Bacha!", Aaliya interrupted out of the blue. She had heard her Mami crying from inside her room, out of concern she had slowly and carefully gotten out of bed to see what was happening. She was stunned to see her Mami in that broken state but she didn't come to comfort her in fear that her company was still unwanted. She wanted to go back to her room without her presence known but then Usman came and she silently witnessed the whole conversation. She could feel her heart twisting into knots seeing Zain in that state but that last question that Zain posed infuriated her and so she could no longer held herself back and intervened it.

Fahad, Surraiya and Usman were at first shocked at Aaliya's use of words with her husband but then again this is how Zain and Aaliya was so somehow they all decided that it was best to just stay quiet. Aaliya and Zain had both caught their reactions though and they both seem to have silently communicated to each other that it was probably best to resolve their personal issues later when they're alone as they both preferred to keep these kinds of discussions between them.

So, as usual Zain smartly diverted everyone's attention to another topic.

Zain:" Dad, you should really go back to your room before the doctor catches you. Do you want your discharge to be delayed? Let's go. Fahad Bhai, please take Mom home she really needs some time to settle down and wrap everything that just happened."

While Fahad did as he was instructed, Zain looked at Aaliya briefly in the eyes before accompanying Usman back to his room.

"There goes my plan to make him suffer some more", Aaliya mumbled to herself and retreated back to her room where she knew she wouldn't alone for long. Aaliya could feel the excruciating pain in her chest after she laid back on the bed. "Ughh why did I get out bed", Aaliya whimpered to herself.

The door opened and Zain entered surprisingly followed by the doctor.

"Mrs Abdullah, I heard that you got out of your bed. So I came for a check up", the doctor announced.

Aaliya shot Zain a deadly glare but Zain looked back at her in concern. The last thing he wanted was for Aaliya to stay in this hospital longer but he also needed to make sure that she was perfectly alright and so he wasn't about to take any risks.

The doctor touched some places on Aaliya's chest which caused Aaliya to scream slightly in pain. Zain automatically moved forward to Aaliya's side and took her hands in his.

"As I thought, you made it worse. Mrs Abdullah a few of your ribs are broken and so you need COMPLETE bed rest until you are advised otherwise.", the doctor said.

"Complete bed rest?!", Aaliya exclaimed in horror. Aaliya is the type of person who always like to find something to do to keep herself busy, staying on the bed 24/7 was nothing short of a nightmare for her. "But how will I go to the washroom then if I can't get out of bed", Aaliya asked the doctor in defiance.

"I'm here for that aren't I?", Zain butted in with a smirk on his face," I will take you in my arms to the washroom and I'll even stay in there with you to make sure you don't get hurt in any way."

Aaliya's eyes popped wide open and she blushed crimson red in embarrassment. She took a swift look at the doctor who was staring deeply in the report that he was holding but still smiling at it as if he wasn't reading some important medical stuff but a cheesy love story. The doctor quickly wrote something on the paper and handed it to Zain.

The doctor put on the most straight face that he could and said: " Here you go Mr Adullah. You can take your wife home. I will be coming to check every so often to see how her health is improving." And with that the doctor left Zain and Aaliya to themselves in the room. As soon as the doctor shut the door behind him, Aaliya's head whipped back fiercely to glare at Zain.

Aaliya: "Zain what in the world were you saying? Can't you watch what you are saying in front of other people?"

Zain:" What?! What's wrong with what I said? We are husband and wife." Zain finished the last sentence with a cheeky smile playing on his lips.

"Wipe that smile of your face, I haven't forgiven you yet", Aaliya said angrily. However, Zain's smile just got even bigger, he was grinning from ear to ear now.

"What are you smiling at? I said I'm still upset at you!", Aaliya said. But Zain just sat on the side of the bed and placed his hands firmly but gently on either side of Aaliya's body. He locked Aaliya's eyes with his and he slowly started to lean in close to her. Aaliya's breathing hiked as she noticed Zain staring intently at her lips and her eyes back and forth. Finally, Zain removed his eyes from her rosy lips as he knew he had already created a havoc in Aaliya's mind by now and instead he placed a soft kiss on Aaliya's forehead.

Zain pulled back and looked at Aaliya's face lovingly.

Aaliya: "What was this for?"

Zain: "For coming back to me" And then Zain placed a sweet kiss on her cheeks.

Aaliya:" Now what was that for?"

Zain smiled: "For still loving me"

Aaliya's eyes soften and she finally gave him a warm smile. This is why she can't stay mad at him for too long, because no matter what they go through he still loves her just as much as she loves him.

---End of Chapter 6----

I'm very sorry for the late update.

But thank you for all your patience.

I hope you all enjoy this part as well!😛

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NEXT : Chapter 7