Chapter 5
Asad was still singing with the kids when he felt a gush of air against his face. He turned around to see someone walking in. He heard the air carry the sound of her bangles as she was stuffing something in her bag. She pulled her dupatta over the head covering it properly. Unknown to him, he felt the blood flow to his heart increase and his eyes drift towards her. Suddenly, he felt a tug at his shirt and he came out of thoughts to see one of the small girls calling him. He ignored the person, rather the beautiful lady, at the entrance of the dargah and went back to the kids. Zoya walked in and knelt on the floor raising her hands in prayer, "ya Allah, aapne mujhe yeh zindagi mein joh bhi diya hai, uss kehliye main aapka shukur aada karna chathi hoon. Bina kohi rehane ki bawajood aapne mujhe ek ghar diya, ek family di lekin main abhi bhi adhuri hoon Allah miyan. Bina apne ateet koh jaane ya yeh jaane keh mere ammi abu kya hai aur kyon hai main aage nahi badsakthi. Main yeh toh jaanti hoon keh meri ammi aapke paas hai. Lekin abu mujhe toh yeh bhi nahi paata keh woh iss duniya main hai bhi ya nahi. Please ammi kaha hai mujhe raasta dekhayi Allah miyan," she silently said as tears flowed down her cheeks. She silently sat there for some time not really knowing where to go from there. Picking up her things she was walking out of the dargah lost in her own thoughts when she felt someone tug at her bag. "hey...kya karaha hoon? Chodo!" she yelled at the thug who trying to tackle her and take the bag from her. "chodo...mera bag...kohi help karo...someone please help!" she called out but no one bothered. The guy grabbed the bag from her and started for a run. Zoya couldn't let it go, her most prized possession was in that bag so she started to follow him. "chor, kohi ruko uske...chor!!!" she yelled as the guy ran out of the dargah area and into the streets.
The sun had set and he was also tired. He decided that he would start heading home. He figured that by the time he reached home, everyone should be asleep except for ammi and may be Nikhat bhabhi, he thought. He was putting his guitar in the trunk when he heard a girl chasing someone yelling "chor!" He turned to see the same girl he had seen few moments ago. But, now something was different. Now, the smile on her face was replaced with worry and fury. She was trying to catch someone. He followed her eyesight to see the guy she was following. He closed the trunk and started to follow her and the thief. She was running out of breath but she couldn't stop, she had to get her bag back at any cost. Running, she didn't know when she had reached one of the dark streets alone. The guy stopped and turned to face her with a wicked smile. Suddenly, Zoya looked around. That is when she realized where she was. She felt scared. She stepped back. "dekho...mera bag mujhe wapaas dehdo, uss mein mere bahut azeez cheez hai," she said. The thief laughed, "phir toh aaj raat meri aish hai," he said. "nahi iss mein paise nahi, woh cheez sirf mere liye zaroori hai, please mera bag wapaas kardo," she pleaded. The guy pulled out his knife. "dekh ladki...chode mera peecha warna bahut pasthayegi," he warned. "nahi...mujhe mera bag wapaas do," she said as she tried to get the bag back from him. He pushed her back and slid the knife cutting her shoulder, "ahhh!" she yelled. On the other hand, Asad was looking around to where the girl he had followed her went. He had lost track of them in the dark streets. When he was looking around, he suddenly heard a scream. He followed the scream and saw her at the end of the street. Even after getting cut, she wouldn't let the bag go. She couldn't! This was the last thing she had of her mother's and she would give her life for it even if she had to. The thief kept fighting with her but seeing someone run up to them, he pushed her and left the bag with her.
In the force of the push, she fell back and hit her head on the pole. She felt everything in front of her go black. She was about to fall and hit the ground when a strong arm wrapped around her waist securing her. She tried to open her eyes but her eye lids felt too heavy. She felt her left arm become heavy with pain. "hello miss...miss...apne aankhe kholo," he said but she didn't respond. He lifted her in arms and quickly walked towards the car. Placing her in the back seat, he rushed to the hospital. Through the mirror, he kept looking at her and she kept clutching the bag and sobbing, "ammi...ammi," she said. He turned to look at her, he felt bad looking at her curdled up in the seat with blood oozing out of her shoulder and forehead. He felt bad! For the first time in years, Asad Ahmed Khan was feeling something, he felt her pain. The person who didn't care for anyone other than his family today felt bad for someone, that too a girl. He ignored it, "damn it Asad, she is hurt and she needs to be at a hospital," he mentally yelled at himself. Reaching the hospital, he quickly picked her up and ran inside. "nurse...doctor! She needs help," he said. Quickly, everyone came for his guide and she was taken into the emergency room. Most people were familiar with Asad as he was one of their generous donors. He also came to the pediatric ward often to talk to the kids and spend time with them. Once she was wheeled in, he gave her bag to the nurse and told her everything that has happened. He was thinking what he should do next. Should he stay? Should he leave? He should leave. It's not like he knew her or anything. After what happened on the way, he decided that it was best to leave. He just bought her out of sympathy. She needed help and he helped her and that was it! He convinced himself and walked out of the hospital.
When he returned home, everyone was already asleep. His mom has left him a plate of food and a note on the dinner table. "Asad, just because tum ghar late aaunge iss ka yeh matlab nahi keh main tumse woh baat nahi karungi. Lekin, late hogaya hai, mera seer bhi bahut dukh raha hai issliye aaj raat kehliye tume main thang nahi karongi. Bina khaana khaye suna mat." Asad just nodded his head reading his mother's words. She cared for him way too much and he hated hurting her. He wished there was a way he could make her happy without having to go against his own heart. He warmed up the food and quickly finished eating. He decided that he would take a quick shower before heading to bed. He stood in the shower, closing his eyes and letting the warm water run through his tired body. Standing in the shower, all he could think about was that girl he had seen moments ago. The girl kept flashing in front of his eyes. The way she kept sobbing for her mom, the way she was clutching her bag, the way she fought the guy. He had to give it to her, she was pretty brave to tackle the guy all by herself, he thought. But wait! "mujhe isse kya? Main kyun sooch raho ho uss keh baare mein?" he questioned himself with no answers to give. He finished his shower quickly, changed into a simple kurta pajama, and decided to hit the bed for the night.
Few hours later, Zoya woke up and found herself in the hospital. At first, she was confused how she got here but then she remembered someone catching her when she was about to fall. "kahi wohi toh nahi laaye mujhe yaha?" she thought. As she was about to sit up, she felt her head throb. "ahhh," she said holding her head. Just then, a nurse holding a medicine tray walked in. "aree udgayi aap, kaisa mehsoos horaha hai?" she asked. "jee theek hoon," Zoya replied. "nurse...main yaha kaise aayi?" she asked. "woh jaha aapko chot lagi thi waha se kohi aapko yaha le aaya tha," she told her. "oh, thank you. I mean mera khayal rakne kehliye," zoya told her. "it's our duty mam," the nurse said smilingly. "oh please, call me zoya. Main yaha jaa sakti hoon, mujhe kal school bhi jaana hai," zoya explained. "aapke chot itni gehari toh nahi hai, par main ek baar doctor se pooch leti hoon," the nurse said. "ok thanks. Aur ha nurse mera bag woh kaha hai?" zoya asked. "yahi hai," she said as she opened the little closet next to the bed and gave zoya the bag. Zoya sighed a breath of relief. "thank you Allah miyan aapne bacha liya," zoya said looking up at the ceiling. The nurse asked the doctor and told zoya that she could leave but had to take some pain killers for a couple days and change her dressing twice a week. Zoya agreed to all the regulations and headed out of the hospital. She hailed a taxi to go back to the staff hostel. Her phone beeped letting her know of low battery. "ya Allah...maine toh ghar peh phone hi nahi kiya aur aabh toh battery bhi dead hogayi, mar gayi main toh," she thought. Soon she reached back and she rushed up to her room to charge her phone. She quickly dialed, "hello bhaji, kaha hai aap? Sabh theek toh haina?" a tensed humaira asked. "I know, I am sorry humi! Bahut kaam tha aur phone bhi dead hogaya tha," zoya said. "aapko paata hai, abu bahut gussa hai aur ammi koh toh aap jaante hi hai," humaira said. "ya Allah I am sorry humi, main kal subhe phone karke sabh theek kardongi, please mere liye aaj samaal le please humi," zoya pleaded. "bhaji, aap toh abu ka gussa jaante hona aur phir bhi yeh sabh," humaira reasoned. "please humi aaj ek din. Aur mere paas tumare liye ek bahut acchi news hai," zoya said excitedly. Zoya told humaira everything about how she has been offered to teach at the school and about Sonal being on leave. And about going to the dargah but she left out everything afterwards. She didn't want to worry humaira and besides, zoya hasn't told humaira that she was looking for her parents. She felt it wasn't right. She didn't want humaira to feel like she didn't feel part of the family. That was the only thing she hadn't told humaira. Since they were kids, zoya and humaira always shared everything with each other and zoya felt bad she couldn't tell humaira this. Humaira, on the other hand, was really happy for her sister. "wow bhaji, that's awesome! Since aapne itni acchi news di hai, main abu se baat karongi," humaira said. The sisters bid their good byes and hung up the phone. Zoya decided to take a shower and then changed into her pajamas, and hit the bed.
The sun rose the next morning and zoya woke up feeling a little sore. But, she was too excited to care. She didn't really have time to plan lessons or anything since last night didn't go as planned. She refreshed herself and changed into a jeans and kurti and added a scarf around her neck. She added matching earrings and a bracelet and walked out grabbing her purse. Asad stood in front of his mirror trying to pick out something to wear for office. Suddenly, his thoughts drifted again to her, the girl he had saved last night. "kya phone karke pooch keh woh theek hai ya nahi?" he thought. But why? Why should I call? Why does it matter to me? "lekin woh roh rahi thi na, pooch na chahiye," he decided and dialed the doctor's number. Talking to the doctor, he found out that the girl was fine and that she had left the hospital last night. He felt relieved to know that she was ok. Later, he got dressed, had breakfast, and left for office.
Time passed and zoya was getting really comfortable with the kids, she loved what she was doing. Whenever she had time from planning lessons or doing something for the classroom, she tried to find out more about her mother. A week later, zoya had an incident where one of the small girls had taken a strawberry shaped eraser from another girl. She had now got caught and was bawling her eyes out. Zoya knelt down and wiped the little girl's tears. "aapne aisa kyun kiya?" Zoya asked. "mujhe woh accha laaga toh maine le liya, I am sorry miss," she said in her sweet voice between her sobs. "beta, I know keh aapko accha laaga lekin woh eraser toh payal ka haina, aur kissi ki bhi cheez unse bina pooche nahi leyte right? Yeh toh galat haina," Zoya explained and Asma nodded. "I know I am sorry!" Asma said. "its ok lekin aap mujhse nahi payal se maafi maangna chahiye kyun ki cheez toh uski thi na," zoya said. The little girl turned to her friend and sincerely apologized. Payal smiled and both the friends hugged each other. Zoya smiled at the sight in front of her. "yaad rakhna baccho, agar kohi galati kare aur dil se maafi maange, toh unne maaf kardena chahiye aur sabh baatein wahi bhul jaana chahiye aur dil se maafi deh deni chahiye," zoya told the kids as everyone smiled at her.
Days later, Farhan was sitting in his room trying to compile some important documents for the meeting tomorrow. Nikhat had just taken a shower and was drying her hair when she saw her son run into the room with his chocolate milk. "abu abu," he said but suddenly the carpet caught in his feet and he tripped, dropping the milk on some of Farhan's important documents. "Imran...yeh kya kardiya tumne?" he yelled. "I am sorry abu," he sincerely apologized. "bahut badmaash horahe ho tum Imran? Har waqt huchal kood karna hai tume?" Farhan said as he gathered his documents. Seeing her son get tears in his innocent small eyes, Nikhat stepped forward, "galati hogayi Farhan, woh sorry keha raha haina," she explained. Imran hid behind his mother like he always did when he was scared of anyone in the house. "tum uski side mat lo aaj kal bahut badmaash hogaya hai yeh, doh dino phele bhi iss ne vase thoda aur aaj yeh," Farhan said still angry. Nikhat was about to speak when, "agar kohi dil se maafi maange toh unne maaf kardena chahiye aur sabh bhool jaana chahiye," Imran spoke up peeking behind from Nikhat. A smile came upon Nikhat's face and Farhan too smirked a bit. He knelt down and took Imran's hand and bought him forward, "I am sorry abu," he said again. "its ok beta, I am sorry too abu thoda zyada gussa hogaye," Farhan said caressing his cheek. Imran smiled widely happy that his father was not mad anymore. "ek baat batao, aapko yeh baat kisne seekayi? Ammi ne?" Farhan asked. "nahi abu, yeh toh mujhe zoya di ne seekaya hai," Imran said. "zoya di?" Nikhat asked. "ha ammi, zoya di meri nayi teacher," Imran said. "par aapki teacher toh Ms. Sonal hai na?" Nikhat asked confused. "Ms. Sonal beemar hai issliye Ms. Zoya aayi hai hume padane," Imran said. "aapki zoya di toh bahut acchi maloom hoti hai," Nikhat said. "ha ammi, woh bahut acchi hai woh hume padathi hai aur humare saath bahut khelti bhi hai, I love her," Imran declared as Nikhat and Farhan giggled. "bahut accha hai, chalo now bed time!" Farhan said as he picked up Imran in his arms and left for his room to change and put him to bed.
Later that night, everyone decided to watch a movie since it was Saturday the next day. Everyone settled into the family room that had a big flat screen TV and speaker sound system. They decided to watch heropanti as it has recently released. "ammi...main bhaijaan koh bhula loon?" she asked. "ha Najma beta, kosish karle," dilshad told her. Najma ran upstairs to her brother's room and knocked. "come in," Asad said when he looked up to see his sister walk in. "kya hua tamatar?" he asked. "bhaijaan woh hum sabh movie dekh rahe the toh main aapko bhulane aayi thi," she said. "nahi tamatar mujhe kaam hai, aap sabh enjoy karo," he said. "lekin bhaijaan, sabh dekh rahe hain, aap bhi aate toh," she said. "tamatar maine kaha na mujhe kaam hai, tom jao," Asad said firmly. Najma knew not to push her brother any more. She was aware of how easily Asad gets mad. He wasn't like this before but she understood why he became this way. She returned to the family room and looking at her face, dilshad understood what would have happened. Seeing Nikhat walk in with popcorn, Najma's face lit up. "popcorn!" she said excitedly as she took the big bowl from Nikhat. As she sat on the cushion on the floor munching on the snack. She felt the bowl slip from her hands. "Bhai, yeh mera hai," Najma pouted. "moti, waise toh roz kehti ho keh tum dieting karahi ho aur popcorn aise karahi hoon jaise eid ki sevaiya hai," Haider teased as everyone laughed. "Bhai! Ammi dekho na," Najma complained. "Haider, kyun thang karahe ho, dehdo waapas" dilshad said. "saach hi toh hai ammi," Haider said and she received a slap on his shoulder from Nikhat. "sush! Tamatar tume kohi dieting karne zaroorat nahi hai, tum jaise ho waise hi bahut acchi ho," Nikhat said as she took the bowl from Haider and gave it back to Najma. Najma stuck her tongue out to her brother and started munching on the popcorn again. In between the movie, Haider kept stealing the popcorn from the bowl and Najma kept getting mad at him. The family just laughed at the two. Being only 2 years apart, Haider and Najma were still like little kids. They loved each other but also loved to tease each other. But, Najma was sided most of the times being the youngest of all siblings, she was pretty spoiled by all her brothers and family.
Thanks everyone for reading and the amazing comments...🤗
Asya kind of met in this chapter so I would love see your feedback, please do leave a comment 😉😊
Edited by asyasahil928 - 10 years ago
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