Chapter 41
Zoya ran through the hall trying to find her father and his secretary was trying to follow and prevent her from interrupting a meeting. She barged into the conference room, "mujhe aapse baat karni hai," she firmly stated. Gaffur was surprised to see Zoya in the office, she never comes to his office. "Zoya, kya hua...sabh theek toh haina?" he asked stepping in her direction. "Mujhe aapse akele mein baat karni hai," she repeated. Gaffur excused himself and told his staff that they will continue the meeting later, and apologized. Once they all left, Zoya pulled out the photographs of their nikkah. "Kya hai yeh?" she asked. Gaffur felt the earth dislodge from beneath his feet. So many memories came rushing back. He snatched the image from her hand, "yeh tume kaha mila?" he asked. "Aap meri Ammi koh jaante the na?" she asked painfully. "Zoya, meri baat suno. Main tume samaja saktha hoon," he said as a sense of shame took over him. All these years, he has kept his past hidden from everyone. Now that it was staring at his face, he felt a tug at his heart questioning him of his wrong doings. "Kya samjayenge aap? Keh aap kyun meri Ammi koh nikkah karke akele chodiye? Kyun unne dhoka diya? Kyun itne saal mujhse jhoot bola? kya jawaab hai aapka?" she yelled as anger flashed through her veins. "Beta meri baat suno...main majboor tha," Gaffur pleaded. Zoya looked at him not knowing what she felt inside her. Was it anger? Was it pain? Was it the after effect of being deceived? She didn't know. "Kya bol na aapko?" she asked calmly after a couple minutes. "Yeh saach hai beta keh maine tumare Ammi se nikkah kiya tha lekin kuch majboori ki wajase main woh rishta nibhana saka," Gaffur said sadly. "Kyun?" Zoya asked. Gaffur explained how when he had returned to Bhopal, his father had adamantly fixed his nikkah with Razia. Gaffur tried hard to explain to his father than he liked someone else and wished to marry that girl. His father had been furious! How dare he like someone from a lower financial status, and think about marrying her. His father had threatened to throw him out of the family, the business, and the property. Being all of 26 at that time, he had been petrified. Having no choice, he married Razia.
By the time, he had found out about Zoya, he had been married to Razia and she was pregnant with humaira. "Agar aap meri Ammi se saach mein pyaar karte toh aapko paiso se zyada meri Ammi ki fikar hoti," Zoya said disgusted. "Nahi Zoya, baat paiso ki nahi thi. Mere Abbu beemar the issliye mujhe aisa karna paada," Gaffur said helpless. "Aur aap mujhe bhi apnana nahi chathe the na?" Zoya asked hurt. "Nahi beta...aisa nahi hai," Gaffur replied. "Jhoot Abu...main toh aapki majboor thi na," Zoya told him. "Nahi Zoya, tum meri beti ho. Maine itne saal tumari zimedaari nibhayi hai," Gaffur said lovingly. "Exactly Abu...aapne zimedaari nibhayi hai. Warna aap itna baada saach mujhse nahi chupa the aur itne saal mujhe zaleel hone nahi dehte," Zoya yelled as tears brimmed in her eyes. She composed herself. She wasn't going to fall weak. Not in front of the man who cheated her mother, who thought that she was a burden, and who lied to her all her life, who let her be named najayaz...never! "Beta, meri baat suno," Gaffur said as he moved forward towards her. "Nahi please...itni takleef mat kijiye. Itne saal akeli rahi hoon, aapke sahare ki zaroorat nahi hai. Aur ha...aaj main aapko aapki zimedaari si azaad karti hoon. Aaj se main sirf Zainab Farooqui ki beti hoon, mera aur aapka kohi rishta nahi hai!" Zoya said. Gaffur felt his heart break hearing her words. "Allah keh waaste aisa mat bolo beta," he pleaded. "Allah keh waaste mujhe beti mat boliye, takleef hoti hai," she firmly stated and walked out of the office. Reaching her car, she felt like her head was going to bust open. A throbbing pain started to erupt on her forehead and she started sweating. She pulled the bottle of water from her bag and splashed it on her face. Water along with her tears flowed to the ground. "Kaise karsakthe hai aisa mere saath...kyun Allah miyaan kyun khela aapne mere saath itna baada khel...kyun," she cried looking up at the sky which was floating with dark clouds.
She sat in the coffee shop as her hands clammed together in nervousness. "Humaira...exams mein abhi time hai, tum thoda relax karo," he said placing his hand on hers that were laid out on the table. "Kaise relax karoon Haider...final exams hai, yeh acche se hojaye," Humaira prayed. "inshAllah sabh theek hoga," he told her. "Paata hai mujhe sabh maloom hota hai bas exam paper dekhar itni nervous hoti hoon keh sabh bhul jaati hoon," she said sadly. "Humaira, tum agar sans logi na toh tume sabh yaad aajayega," Haider said. "Yeah shayad," she pouted. "Agar woh bhi tume relax na kare toh yeh yaad karlena keh tumare exams khatam hone keh baad, humari shaadi ki tyaari shuru hojayengi," he reminded her. "Oh please Haider, mujhe yaad mat dilana warna main aur nervous hojaungi," she said. "Humari shaadi se tum nervous hojaogi?" he asked. "Shaadi se nahi...saari tyaarion se. Aur zimedaari bhi toh hai, I am kind of scared about being in your family," she confessed. "Kyun? Kisine kuch kaha?" he asked. "Nahi Haider. Tumare saare ghar wale bahut acche hai. Bas thoda nervous hoon, I mean apna ghar chod kar tumare ghar aana aur phir mujhe nahi paata keh sabh mujhe pasand karenge ya nahi," she said nervously. "Oh come on humi! Tume kohi kyun pasand nahi karegi. I am sure everyone will love you," he said confidently. "Bas aisa hi hoon," she said. "Tum bilkul fikar mat karo, aur waise bhi main hoon na aur Zoya Bhabhi toh hai. tume kuch bhi madad chahiye toh woh tume help kardengi, waise bhi woh ghar mein sabh ka khayal rakthi hai aur unne sabh paata hai," Haider said. Humaira smiled. She intertwined her hand with his. "I love you," she whispered. "I love you too Humaira Siddiqui," he yelled happily. "Shhh...kya karahe ho? Sabh dekh rahe hai," she said as her cheeks flushed with color. He just chuckled at her reddened face.
Asad was in an important conference but he could see his phone vibrating on the table and his mother's name flash on the screen. He let it go to voicemail once but the second time, he knew that it had to be important if she was calling more than once. He excused himself and stepped out of the conference to attend the call. "Salamalaikum Ammi, sabh theek hai?" he asked concerned. "Nahi Asad, Zoya abhi tak ghar nahi aayi hai," Dilshad said on the other side. "Aapne phone kiya? Shayad school mein kuch kaam aagaya hoga," Asad said. "Ha Asad, maine kitne phone kiye lekin woh phone nahi uta rahi hai. Maine school bhi phone kiya aur unn logo toh baataya keh woh waha se tareeban teen baje nikal gayi thi," Dilshad said worried. Asad checked his wrist clock which was showing 6:55PM. "Kya chali gayi hogi, accha Ammi main jaake dekhta hoon," he said concerned. Asad ended the call, went back into the meeting and told them it was an emergency and that he had to leave. He grabbed his phone and keys and left from the office. As he drove, he kept calling Zoya but the phone kept saying switched off. Now, he was also getting concerned. Where was she? She wasn't irresponsible like this. She always informed someone before just taking off like this. At that moment, he decided to call Shyam. He had taken his number for emergencies and that had paid off, he thought.
Almost an hour later, he slowly pulled into the parking lot. It has been raining for almost two hours now and Asad knew that the muddy parking lot would be slippery. He parked his car and rushed inside, his eyes searching for his wife. Calling Shyam, he had found out that Zoya had told him to drop him of at the dargah and leave. He ran through the dargah not caring about his drenched clothes making the floor wet or about the people staring at him with questioning eyes. Finally, he saw her! She was on the ground next to her mother's grave. Her head was covered in her dupatta and her face was buried in her hands. He sprinted towards her and kneeled, "Zoya, tum theek ho?" he said. She didn't hear him with the thunder and lightning in the sky. He placed his hand on her shoulder, "Zoya," he called out. Feeling his touch, she looked up. He saw her blood shot eyes and his heart clenched at the thought that she was crying. "Kya hua?" he asked caressing her wet cheek. She just crashed on to his chest and started to cry louder. Asad knew something was wrong. She visited her mother often since she found out that she was buried here. Zoya missed her mother and she would become sad occasionally thinking about her. But, today her tears reflected a pain in them. He tightened his grip around her, telling her that he was here and that she could share anything with him. "Zoya, andar chalo. Hum baat karte hai," he told her. She nodded. She felt better here, being in his arms. She just wanted to stay that way. "Zoya, tumari tabeyat karaab hojayegi, tum kabh se yaha ho," he tried to reason. She moved back and nodded, agreeing to go inside. He grabbed her bag from the ground and helped her up and they proceeded inside. They went inside the dargah and Asad took her to a quiet corner and they sat down. The expression on her face was scaring him. She seemed so hurt and in agony. He felt her shiver next to him. He removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulder. Though it was wet, at least it was thicker than her anakarli material. They sat together in silence. He waited for her speak but when she didn't say anything. "Zoya, please kuch bolo," he said. She sat in silence as fresh tears rolled down her tears. "Say something dammit...you are scaring me," he almost yelled making her jump out of her trance. "Mujhe paata hai keh mere Abu kyon hai," she finally blurted out. Asad was caught off guard. Out of all the things he had thought that could have happen, this one was definitely not on the list. Zoya told him everything...from the letter, to the argument she had with her father, and the truth that she had broken her relationship with her dad. It was like she had found and lost him in a matter of few moments. "Main hi kyun Mr. Khan...kyun?" she asked as she sobbed again. He pulled her into an embrace having no answer to her questions. His eyes brimmed with tears as his heart ached for her. They sat together in each other's arms. After some time, Asad realized that everyone must be worried at home. He pulled his phone out and realized that it was dead of battery. "Zoya...ghar chale?" he whispered. "Nahi Mr. Khan...mujhe kahi nahi jaana hai," she said adamantly. "Zoya, yeh kya zidd hai? I know that this is all a lot to take in but ghar toh chal na hoga na. Please ghar chalo, Ammi aur sabh intezaar karahe honge," Asad pleaded. Hearing Dilshad's name, she knew he was right, Dilshad must be worried. "Theek hai, chaliye," she said wiping her tears away.
At the Khan mansion, everyone was in the living room concerned about Asad and Zoya. Initially, it was Zoya not answering the phone. Now, even Asad's phone was switched off. "Paata nahi kaha chale gaye yeh dono," Rashid worried. "Abu...kuch nahi hoga. Bahar mausam theek nahi hai toh shayad kahi rukgaye honge, aap fikar mat kijiye," Farhan tried to calm his father down. From the past hour or so, either his mother or his father was getting worried and angry at the same time. Farhan and Nikhat were worried themselves but they were trying their best to comfort their parents. Everyone being worried is not going to help anyone, they thought looking at each other. On the other hand, the ride home was a silent one for Asad and Zoya. Asad had turned the heat on in the car and Zoya was just relaxing with her eyes closed. He knew she wasn't asleep but she had stopped sobbing, which was a little relief. He pulled into the khan mansion parking lot. Feeling the car come to a stop and hearing the engine turn off; she opened her eyes and sat up. Asad got off and came to the other side and helped her out of the car. They walked in to see everyone in the living room. "Usman...humare bags, ghadi se lakar humare kamre mein rak dena," Asad informed. Usman just nodded and left. Dilshad saw Zoya and rushed up to her, "beta...yeh kya halat bana di hai tumne apni, kya hua hai?" she asked caressing her cheek lovingly. Zoya felt fresh tears form in her eyes but she composed herself. "Kuch nahi Ammi, bas main Ammi ki kabar keh paas chali gayi thi aur...aur waqt ka paata nahi chala. Main theek ho," Zoya said trying to bring a smile on her face. Everyone noticed the gloomy face of Zoya but the fact that she didn't want to say anything, they knew something was wrong. Zoya excused herself and left from there saying that she had to change and that she is cold. "Lagtha hai Asad aur Zoya keh beech kuch jhagda hua hai, shukur hai Allah. Main toh pakgayi thi inn dono ka khbahi na juda hone wala pyaar dekhar," tanveer thought. She quickly left from there to inform someone of the new developments in the Khan house. Once Zoya left, all eyes turned to Asad, "Asad...kya hua hai? Tum dono ka kohi jhagda toh nahi hua?" Dilshad asked. "Nahi Ammi, bas Zoya kuch baatein paata chaliye hai uske Ammi Abu keh baare mein, issliye woh upset hai," he replied honestly. "Allah! Bichari bacchi, usse paata nahi kyun har baar kohi na kohi baat usse dukh pauchane wali hi hoti hai," Dilshad said sadly. "Main aata hoon Ammi," Asad said as he followed his wife to their room.
A little while later, she sat on the bed in a black night dress as her knees clung to her chest. Fresh tears brimmed in her eyes. What a day could do to your life, she thought. All these years, she had hoped that may be somewhere her father was looking for her just like she was looking for him. May be sometimes when things were unknown, it was better. All her life, she had been lied to. Her father never wanted her in his life. Circumstances have forced him to take her into his life. If her mother didn't get sick, he would have probably left them to die on the streets. She was just a responsibility for him, not a relationship he wanted. How could anyone leave their wife when she is pregnant and marry someone else. How? She thought to herself. Life felt so deceiving at the moment. Just then, she heard the room door open. She wiped her tears away and looked up to see her husband enter. He walked up to her with a tray of food. Placing it on the bed, he took a seat in front of her. "Bahut raat hogayi hai, chalo khana khate hai," he said. "Nahi Mr. Khan, mujhe bhook nahi hai," she said. "Phir chodo, mujhe bhi nahi chahiye," he said moving the tray away from them. "Please Mr. Khan...aap khalijiye," she said worried. "Zoya, main tumare khana khaye bina, khabhi khaya hai. Nahi na? Toh aaj bhi nahi," he told her. She just looked him, "itna pyaar mat kijiye mujhse, dar lagtha hai," she said. Asad was surprised at her words but he knew where she was coming from. And he understood very well how it felt to be misleaded all your life and to have your trust broken in a matter of seconds. "Zoya, tume kuch bol na hai? You know you can talk to me," he asked. "Kohi aise kaise karsaktha hai? Kaise Mr. Khan? Aapko paata hai woh jaante the keh main mere Ammi Abu koh doond rahi hoon phir bhi unone mujhse jhoot bola. Saari zindagi maine unki izzat ki hai kyun ki unone mujhe apna naam diya, apne ghar mein jaaga di thi. Lekin aaj yeh paata chalne keh baad main kaise unki izzat karo, uss insaan ne meri Ammi koh dhoka diya, mujhse jhoot bola, kyun?" she cried. He moved closer and pulled her into an embrace, "shhh...Zoya...chup hojao! I know aaj bahut kuch hua hai lekin rohne se joh kuch hogaya hai woh badal toh nahi jayega na," he explained. "Main unse khabhi baat nahi karongi...khabhi nahi!" she said. "Theek hai...mat karna," he told her. Few minutes later, they broke apart. "Aabh please khale?" he asked. She nodded in agreement, "main face wash karne aati hoon," Zoya said. As she stood up, she felt darkness flash in front of her eyes. She stumbled back but Asad moved forward and caught her in time. "Zoya...are you ok?" he said concerned. "ha...woh itni dher khana nahi khaya toh bas thodi si chakkar aagayi," Zoya said. "Tum baito yaha," he said and made her sit on the bed. He quickly poured her a glass of water and offered it to her. Zoya drank some water. "Main theek hoon," she said seeing his worry filled face. "Tum abhi khana kharahi ho," he said sternly. Asad made her eat some rice and half a roti which wasn't much but at least it was something. Then, he gave her a cold medicine since she was in the rain for such a long time. He made her lay down and tucked her in. Asad made sure that she was asleep before climbing into bed himself.
The next day, Zoya didn't wake up till early afternoon. She got up to find the room empty. Zoya freshened up and changed into a pair of blue jeans and pink kurti. She looked for him in the house and found him in the study. He was on the phone and she waited for him to end the conversation. "Good morning," he said. "Good morning," she told him. "Kaisa lagraha hai?" he asked standing up and caressing her cheek. "Main theek hoon," she said as she smiled. "Mujhe thodi dher kehliye office jaana padega, woh kal ki conference aaj shift hogayi hai," he said. "Sorry Mr. Khan, meri wajase aapko apna kaam chodke aana paada," Zoya said. "Tumse badkar kuch important nahi hai," he said. "Main sooch rahi thi keh main ashram thodi dher jaake aao," Zoya told him. "Main chodo?" Asad asked. "Nahi Mr. Khan aap office jayiye. Main Shyam Bhaiya keh saath chali jaungi," Zoya said. "Please ghar jaldi aajana," he said to her. "Main time se aajaungi," she told him. He smiled and started packing his stuff so he could leave for office. "Mr. Khan," she called out to him. He stopped and turned to face her. "I am sorry Mr. Khan! Kal mujhe aise hi nahi jaana chahiye tha. Maine apni tension mein sabh koh pareshaan kardiya, aur aapko bhi apni meeting chodke aana paada. I am really sorry," Zoya said feeling guilty. "Tume maafi maangne keh kohi zaroorat nahi hai. And Zoya, sometimes you are allowed to let go and think about yourself. Tum hamesha sabh ki fikar karti ho, tume apne baare mein bhi khabhi khabhi sooch lena chahiye," he told her. She smiled at him. "Ek aur baat bolo?" she asked. He nodded telling her to continue. "Actually Mr. Khan, main nahi chathi keh iss sabh keh baare mein ghar mein kisiko bhi paata chale. Paata nahi ghar wale kaise react karenge aur main nahi chathi keh Haider aur Humaira keh rishte par kohi problem ho," she said. Before he could speak, "Aur Humi...usse kya bolo? Nahi usse nahi bol sakthi. Usse nahi bol sakthi keh uske Ammi aur Abu ne usse itni dino se jhoot bola hai. Woh toh toot jayegi," Zoya realized as tears filled her eyes. "Hey...main kuch nahi kahonga. Please, tum fikar mat karo," he said cupping her face. "Mujhe kuch nahi samaj aaraha hai," she said sadly. "Tum jaisa chaogi waisa hi hoga, sabh theek hojayega," he said moving forward and placing a kiss on her head. As he was about to step back, she held his arm. They just stayed in that position. She wanted to stay with him. He was the only one who knew what was going on, and the only one who could make her feel better at that moment. "Main meeting cancel karta hoon," he told her. "Nahi! Main theek hoon, aap jaayiye," Zoya said and they broke apart. "Zoya, the meeting is not important," Asad stated looking at her. "Main saach mein theek hoon. Aur waise bhi main orphanage jaarahi ho, aap jayiye," Zoya said. "Sure?" he asked. "Yup," she replied. "Apna khayal rakna," he told her and bid her goodbye. After a while, Zoya too informed Dilshad and left the house.
Thanks for the lovely feedback on the last chapter. 🤗A lot of you want to know whats' happening to Zoya, that will be revealed in the next chapter 😉😆 Looking forward to the comments on this chapter 😊 Edited by asyasahil928 - 10 years ago
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