"Because she is dead! She is f**king dead. You got that? The Zoya you and me knew is dead"
Her voice echoed throughout the hall stumping everyone. Asad dropped on his knees lifelessly.
One mistake! That's all it takes to shatter the otherwise perfect life. Asad's one mistake of falling in love with the wrong person had cost him his life. His life which other people envied had crumpled down like a card palace in wind. He was cheated brutally by the woman he loved. He was left devastated feeling the hatred emanating from his once good friend. He had to witness helplessly as the perfect day in his life turning to the terrible nightmare. He had rowed through all these tides, just to meet with a tsunami.
Asad was a simple man, a man who believed in love more than anything. He had done terrible mistakes in the past blinded by love. But he was a man of courage. He has the guts to stand up and ask for forgiveness when he is at fault. That's what he indeed wanted once he swam through the betrayal, agony and humiliation. He wanted to seek forgiveness from Zoya. After all what he had done, he was not sure whether Zoya will be even ready to face him. But he was adamant. He was even ready to fall into her feet and lick it like an obedient dog in front of thousands of people if it gives him her forgiveness. Once he was out of the sham of the marriage thing, that was his sole motive which made him end up in front of Humeira's home.
But the huge blow he got from Humeira had left him shattered. Zoya is dead!!! Her words echoed throughout his mind to such an extent that he screamed like a wounded animal clutching his hair. Everyone was startled seeing his condition. There was blood oozing out from his hand as his own nails dug deeper into his palms. The red liquid mixed with the tears drop as he cried into his hands. Ayaan pulled him into a hug trying to comfort him but Asad jerked away. He wanted no one to comfort him, absolutely no one.
Tears started streaming down form Humeira's eyes as she witnessed this. She could easily tell that he was genuinely sorry for all what he had done. Afterall it was not entirely his fault. It was that Jenny who played with Asad and Zoya's life. Only if Humeira had told him everything years back! As the thought crossed her mind, Humeira shivered at the endless possibilities that could have changed Zoya's life. A part in her broke down as she realized that somewhere she also a reason of Zoya's pain. But she couldn't do anything as she was binded by Zoya's promise. Only if she had the guts to break that promise!!! A sob escaped her mouth as she realized the bigger picture.
A loud knock from Upstairs' room broke everyone out of their trance. The knock was getting louder and panicky. Humeira wiped her tears and sprinted towards the room followed by a rather perplexed others except Asad. Humeira stopped as she reached the door of the room. She looked back and found everyone behind her. Taking a deep breath she opened the room and was soon found taking steps backwards due to lack of balance as another body clunged to her. Ayaan jumped in and supported her from back. Humeira murmured soothing word to the other person. She parted herself away a little and tucked the hair behind the other person's ear. As the other person's face revealed a collective gasp could be heard and only one name escaped everyone's lips;
"Zoya"
Asad who was crying his heart out in the down floor heard that. It was like someone had sent breath back into his system. He got up and sprinted towards the room. Pushing everyone aside he came front and looked at the girl infront of him with tears continuously flowing from his eyes.
Humeira who was pacifying a panicked Zoya was not in a mood to notice the change in the atmosphere.
"Shh... Zoe Baby... don't cry... I am here... Your Humzi is here..."
"Humzi Humzi... Where you went? Zoe baby was scared... there is a big rabbit bunny in the room. Zoe is scared of Rabbit bunny..."
The spectators were left gaping at their interactions. They couldn't understand what is going on.
"No Zoe. That Rabbit Bunny wanted to become friends with you. Did you forget that yesterday we bought that rabbit bunny for you from the supermarket? And you were friends with him. we had dinner together. We played with him. Did you forget?"
Cooed Humeira. An understanding smile broke in Zoya's face and she clapped and started jumping up and down.
"Yayyy... Zoe remembers it now. I was sleeping na. So I forgot. Zoe is going to play with bunny now Humzi."
Humeira nodded in approval and Zoya sprinted back towards the room. Humeira let out a sigh and turned back to face her perplexed friends. She knew it was the time for the real answers;
A humiliated and betrayed Zoya walked out of the office in tears. As if rain Gods are in her favour rain poured upon her washing the trails of tears to be replaced only by another fresh trail. She walked aimlessly. Her mind replaying all of Asad's accusations. Then his image was replaced by her father. She could see the loath in his eyes, his accusation of killing her own mother. She felt a terrible pain in her chest and she broke down in the middle of the road only to be hit by a speeding truck. Humiera who was running behind her stood rooted to spot as she saw her best friend flying in the air and falling down to a pool of blood. She forgot to breathe for a moment. She could see Zoya's eyes looking at her and closing slowly. She let out a heart wrenching scream and ran towards her,
"Zoyaaa"
Humeira shivered as she recalled that day.
"Do you remember I had taken a week's day off after that? I was in hospital with Zoya. For around 5 months she was in Comma."
"Why didn't you tell me anything at that time Humi?" asked a little hurt Ayaan.
"Oh come on Ayaan. It was your best friend who was the reason behind her condition. So why the hell would you think that I will inform you?" retorted Humeira.
Ayaan kept quiet understanding that what she told was also true. He gestured her to continue.
"After 5 months when she opened her eyes, she was not the same Zoya anymore. Doctor told that due to the accident her brain cells were damaged. As a result of this Zoya's mental state has diminished to that of a 10 year old kid. It was just like a slate was wiped clean. She neither knew her name nor me. So I had to once again start my friendship with her from the scratch. For her, I am just another 10 year old Humeira. The Zoya me and you knew is dead. Or perhaps she is dormant somewhere in that 10 year old Zoya."
Again the deadly silence spread in the atmosphere. Only soft sobs could be heard.
"I am responsible for her plight. Only if I did behave with her like a good friend, she would have never been in this condition. I became blind in love and insulted her for someone who doesn't even deserve my love. And when I want to beg infornt of Zoya, she doesn't even recognize me. I get it. This is my punishment. But why did God punish her again? She doesn't deserve this. She deserved to be happy. Why she? Why everytime she is losing? Why?"
Asad broke down for the umpteenth time infront of his friends. He let Ayaan hold him. Ayaan's shirt became wet with Asad's tears and blood.
"Shh... Asad... Please be strong... Please..."
Asad closed his eyes and a memory from past came to him.
He was walking through the college corridor enjoying the mist descending down from hill. His eyes caught sight of Zoya who was looking like an angel in the mist in that white colour salwar. He sprinted towards her.
"Hi Beautiful..."
A slight blush crept upon her cheeks. He flicked her nose with his fingers and walked away. In a distance he looked back and saw her lost in a dream world, a beautiful dimpled smile adored her face.
His eyes jerked open and he pushed himself away from Ayaan. He suddenly closed his eyes in pain as another memory hit him hard.
It was one of those initial days when Zoya was there in the company. She had gone out of the office with Humeira to purchase some paint supplies. Unknown to this he entered her cubicle to discuss some work related matter. Not seeing her upon there he was about to go back when his gaze fell on a book. A paper was sticking out from that book. He took it. It was a beautiful pencil drawing. It showed a guy and girl departing from each other. It read;
"You had me at Hello. You lost me at Good Bye. And everything in between, I guess was all lie."
He stumbled in his steps as he relieved those memories. The distance between those memories and the people in it were of earth and sky. The distance between the happy memory to that sad memory was him and his one deed. His one deed had changed the dynamics of their relation and their lives as well.
He walked towards Humeira.
"Humi, you are the best friend anyone can ask for. You were her rock. You stood with her through thick and thin. And what you did with me was correct. I needed the reality check and I got one. You remember half an hour before I told you that I will ask forgiveness from her, she will forgive me as she loves me too much and I will make her mine? That time I was just trying to come out of the guilt and my confidence over her love for me spoke. But I was dumb. How did I expect her to forgive me after I have done all those things to her intentionally or unintentionally? Humi, I want to correct my mistake. Please give me a chance"
He looked at Humi hopefully. Her questioning eyes gave him the idea that she hasn't understood what he meant. He took a deep breath and let out what he wanted to tell.
"I know after what I have caused in her life I am not even fit to get her forgiveness. Everything happened because of me even though I was not aware. She is in this state because of me. So I will take care of her till she is fine, even if it takes days, months or years. I will protect her from the world and myself. I am not doing it to get her forgiveness because I know once she get back her memories she will remember all that I had done to her and she will never forgive me. That's my punishment for not trusting her. As of now I just wanted to take care of her, give her all the happiness atleast in this situation. I want to pamper her, give her the happiness. I am not seeking her forgiveness or love. Because I don't deserve her forgiveness and I am not in a position to fall in love again. Please Humeira. All I want is to be with her till she recovers. Please. Please let me do that."
Humeira looked at Asad who looked like a wreck. She pondered on his words again and again. Somewhere everyone was responsible for Zoya's plight. And now all she wanted was Zoya to be happy. She had to decide. Soon...
I didnt had much time to type this update. i am not satisfied even. I am in office., but since i promised an update i am uploading it.😳 for this I had to turn down coffee invitation from my colleagues cum best friends and now they are angry with me. So you better leave me loads of comment😳and some way to manofy my frnds😆
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
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