FF - A Rude Awakening COMPLETE STORY PG 145

Chapter One - Scroll down.

Chapter Two - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/118041806

Chapter Three - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/118166930

Chapter Four - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/118238800

Chapter Five - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/118350238

Chapter Six - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/118464286

Chapter Seven - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/118609693

Chapter Eight - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/118766715

Chapter Nine - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/118899896

Chapter Ten - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/119014630

Chapter Eleven - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/119121847

Chapter Twelve - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/119263959

Chapter Thirteen - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/119371756

Chapter Fourteen - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/119517784

Final Chapter - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/119625768

Epilogue - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/119739353

A Rude Awakening

Chapter One

The blood curdling scream that rendered the silence of the midnight jerked Sahir out of his fitful sleep. And it didn't stop. One scream escalated to another and another, each more terrifying than the one before. Louder than the one before. He was out of the bed and at the door before the first scream ended. His back was still shrieking from the abuse it had taken just a couple of hours before. He ignored it. Just as he ignored his throbbing hand. In fact, nothing registered except the screams as he ran out of his room and jerked to a halt right outside Arzoo's room. Everyone was there. Well, almost everyone. Kurti apa and Anam were missing and he couldn't help but be grateful for that. Alvira, like him, was standing at the door, and they helplessly watched Arzoo..his Arzoo fall apart at seams. She was not aware of anything, not her mother, who was appealing to her with tears streaming down her cheeks. Not her sister Zara, who looked terrified to see her strong, firm appi cower like a terrified injured animal. But Zara was trying to put on a brave face as she tried to hold on to Arzoo's hand..to reach out to her somehow only be batted away in fury and fear. His eyes darkened further in pain and despair as it hit him that Arzoo was not with them. Her mind locked on to the time when that bas***d had turned her into an impotent victim.

"Maybe we should call the doctor again Sahir," Alvira worriedly said in a low tone.

He was about to nod and pull out his phone when Zaki pushed past through them and barged into the room before Sahir could stop him.

"Jahaara! Jahaara! Arzoo! Arzoo! Please, listen to me. See..look at me. It's me. You are safe. You are with us now."

"NO! NO! LEAVE ME! NO! LEAVE! HELP! HELP! NNNOOO!" She boxed herself into a corner of the room and curled herself into a tight ball, crossing and wrapping her arms tightly over her chest.

"Jahaara! Please.." Zaki reached out his hand but couldn't bring himself to touch her in that state. "Listen to me Arzoo. It's me."

But she was beyond listening. Beyond Zaki or Zara or Nausheen. All she could see was a man crouched low in front of her with his hand outstretched towards her. Her terror escalated and with the last of her breath she screamed out one word. "SAAAHIIIRR!"

Nothing in the world could have stopped Sahir from reaching her after that. He pushed his way through until he reached Zaki and growled in a low tone. "Zaki, leave."

And for once, Zaki obeyed without question. Maybe he realized his brother would lift him and throw him out of the room if he didn't. Sahir didn't care why he obeyed or what he thought. His eyes were already locked with Arzoo's terror-struck ones. He didn't speak. Didn't try to go close. Just stood there with his hand extended. Asking her. Demanding her mind to let go of the nightmare and see the reality of his hand. And he saw. He saw the petrified look slowly fade. Saw the gradual dawning of relief. Sweat rolled down her face, mingling with her tears. Her fists let go of the death-grip she had on her nightshirt sleeves. He knew his eyes were probably giving his secrets away. They were telling her how much it was killing him to see her in that state. They were telling her..begging her to let him hold her. Soothe her. Heal her. His only hope.. and despair was that she was too dazed to read. He was right. Because in the next moment, her eyelids drooped and her head dropped to the ground in a dead faint. Or rather, it would hit the ground with a sickening crack if not for his palm. His thumb instinctively wiped away the last of her tears rolling down her cheek.

Silently he lifted her up and placed her back on the bed before backing away, leaving it to Zara and Nausheen to adjust the blankets. Another long look at her and he was gone. As quickly as he had barged in. Alvira and Zaki followed him until all three of them reached the main hall.

"Ya Allah! This girl is scared out of her wits Sahir," Alvira looked worried but in a way she couldn't help but feel relieved. Now Arzoo will be here for a few more days. She was obviously in no condition to go anywhere. Maybe this would also give a chance for Sahir to be himself around her. Not the man he had become in the last seven years. But the real Sahir. The one behind the pain, anger and hatred.

"I'll be there for her ammi. I won't leave Arzoo alone even for a moment." Zaki was quick to offer.

Alvira sighed impatiently. "Didn't you see what your presence did to her just now? Zaki, stop thinking about yourself for once and think about her. I know you want to help her but this is not the way. She is not going to tolerate your..any man's presence any time soon. She has been through hell. You want to help her, the best thing to do is stay away from her. Give her time to recover."

"But ammi.."

"Ammi is right Zaki. Stay away from Arzoo." Sahir had his back to Zaki but there was no mistaking the angry possessiveness in that tone.

"Then promise me that you will also stay away bhai. Promise me."

Alvira intervened. "If that's what she wants, then that's what he will do. Didn't you see? No one in there could reach her. She screamed Sahir's name. Not yours. Not her mother's or sister's. For now she associates her near escape from the attack with Sahir. In her mind, he is her savior. And it's the truth too. He did reach her. So if she needs him again, asks for him again, he will be there."

Zaki looked ready to argue but he knew it wouldn't yield him anything. His ammi was right. "But doesn't mean I'm going to leave her alone under your mercy bhai. Remember that." Satisfied that he had the last word, Zaki walked away.

"In a way it's a good thing that Rahman saab and Samaira have gone to Goa. We don't need to worry about what they would think about all this." She sighed again. "It's quite late beta. You also go and get some sleep." Alvira also left.

Leaving him alone with his thoughts. Or so he thought until he heard a soft voice, "Sahir sir?"

He turned. It was Zara. Looks wise both sisters were as different as they could be. But Arzoo had passed on her bright spirit to both her sisters. Their eyes always seemed so alive. Sparkling. Not tonight though. Tonight Zara almost looked like a little girl. Scared but trying not to show. Sahir made a conscious effort to relax is facial muscles enough to give her a reassuring look. "Has she slept?"

She nodded jerkily. "Sir, wh-what happened to Appi? I-I want to know. She is always scolding me for going out after it gets dark. Why did she do it?"

Because I told her I wanted her out of this house. Out of my life. I told her I felt nothing but despise for her. I told her she means nothing to me. I told her I was married. The image of how her knees had given out and she fell to the ground as he said those words danced before him. "Zara, Arzoo has been taking care of all of you all these years. Now it's your turn to take care of her. Will you do that?"

Zara nodded before he could finish. "Yes sir. I'll do whatever it takes. You just tell me what and I will do it." Tears rolled down her cheeks but she swiped them away with an impatient hand.

"I know a doctor. A psychiatrist. Let me talk to her. She might be able to shed more light on what Arzoo is going through right now. But until then, just make sure she is never left alone. Stay with her at all times. Come to my office tomorrow morning."

She nodded again. "I won't leave her even for a moment. Tomorrow I'll tell ammi to stay with her and come to the office."

"Now go and try to get some rest. Ammi said the doctor had given her some sedative so hopefully she will sleep through the night now."

As he turned to leave, Zara's shaky question reached him. "If she screams again?"

"I'll come Zara. Don't worry."

****

Gabbar Chaudhary! Gabbar Chaudhary!

Sahir heard Asharfi's voice a moment before he felt her landing on his shoulder. It was morning and he was getting ready for work. He stopped tugging his tie to slant a smiling glance at the parrot. "How come you are here so early in the morning?"

Arzoo! Arzoo!

And just like that that little smile slipped and fell off. "How is she doing?"

Arzoo sleeping. Arzoo wake up. Arzoo wake up.

"No Asharfi. Let her sleep. She needs it." He transferred the bird on to his table. "But I need you to do something for me. For your Arzoo. Will you do it?" Asharfi cocked its head as if waiting to hear what he had to say. "Stay with her. She likes talking to you. Maybe she'll feel better if you're there with her. Maybe she'll smile again if you talk to her. Will you do that?"

Arzoo. Arzoo.

With a wild flutter of its wings, Asharfi flew off to do the task given to her. Arzoo. His heart echoed.

****

"Good morning sir. You called?"

Sahir turned towards Linda and nodded. "Come in. I have something that I need you to do."

So he was not going to slay her for giving her address to Arzoo the previous night. Linda sighed in relief for the first time since that morning and entered the cabin. She had been on her way to go and see Arzoo when her boss had delivered his royal summons.

Seeing that Zara had also just walked into the office, Sahir gestured her also to come in.

"Assalamualaikum sir."

He nodded. "Walaikum salam. Have a seat." And turned to Linda. "We have a special order. We need to design a complete new and full range of wedding collection and we have one week to do that."

Linda looked ready to faint. "S-sir, just one week?" Her voice turned squeaky.

Sahir didn't blink. "Yes. One week. I want the final designs on my table five days from now."

"B-but sir.."

"Handpick your team and get to work." He looked straight at Linda as he delivered his next order. "Make sure Arzoo is in that team."

"Arzoo but she..I mean.."

"Demand, request, beg. Do whatever is required but I want her in your team for this project. She is new and her ideas are unique and fresh."

"Yes sir." Linda turned to go but halted at his next words.

"I don't think I need to tell you that what I told you just now should not go out of this room, right?"

"No sir.. I mean yes sir.. I mean u-understood sir."

He waited until Linda left the cabin, closing the door behind her before addressing Zara. "Arzoo needs to be kept busy."

"You talked to that doctor?" He nodded. "What did she say?"

Other than berating him for taking the patient home instead of to the hospital? "It will take time for her to recover. But with the supported of the loved ones, she will pull through and will be able to put the whole thing behind her." He made sure his face was turned away from Zara as he continued. "She is..going to feel low. I..You need to restore her self-confidence and convince her that whatever happened is not her fault. That if she continues to blame herself, it means that she is letting that bas..that guy win. Keep her busy. If her mind is occupied, she won't think too much."

"Is that why you want her on that project?"

He sidestepped the question. "Once she starts on the designs, you can help her by modelling some of them. There is an empty conference room downstairs. You all can use that. No one will disturb you there. Linda has the keys."

"OK sir." Zara got up to go but stopped. "Sir, I have an assignment this morning. Shall I cancel?"

"How long will it take?"

"I'll be back before 3."

Sahir thought for a moment before replying. "Don't cancel. Linda will be here until then." He paused. "How will you go?" Any other time Zara would have said I'll manage but after the previous night, a kind of strange fear had taken over her. Maybe she should cancel the assignment.. Sahir noted the hesitation. "Don't go alone. Take Zaki with you. He'll stay there until you finish and bring you back." Arzoo didn't need Zaki tagging behind her like a love-sick puppy right now. No. Arzoo doesn't need Zaki. She needs.. He chopped off the rest of his thoughts.

****

Arzoo scrunched up her face and blinked her eyes open. Bright sunlight streamed through the curtains. With a hoarse exclamation, she tried to roll out of the bed and yelped in agony. Her whole body seemed to have turned into a huge mass of bruise. Her head was throbbing, her back was aching like it had taken a beating and her neck.. Her fingers felt and found four long scratches. Events of the previous night hit with the force of a speeding truck. Tremors started wracking her body as reaction set in.

"Arzoo? Arzoo beta? Look at me. See, this is me. Your ammi. Look." Nausheen's soft, teary voice reached her.

In the next moment, she hid her face in her mother's bosom as her dam burst. "A-ammmiii.."

"Shhh.. Arzoo..Everything is going to be fine. Don't cry beta. I can't see you cry like this. You are my brave child, aren't you? Everything will be fine."

But Nausheen's words fell on deaf years as Arzoo curled into a ball and hid her face deeper in her mother's chest. "A-ammi..I..I didn't do anything ammi. Khuda kasam ammi, I didn't do anything."

Nausheen continued to hug her daughter. Ya Allah! Will she ever recover from this? Who will help her?

Thats the end of the first part of this OS. An attempt to rewrite the events that had transpired after the incident that night. Thank you all for reading.