Chapter 42
That night, Gaffur sat in his chair thinking about what had happened. He had lost his daughter forever. After that day, he had called her many times but she didn't answer. Each time, the call went to voicemail. He couldn't gather the courage to leave her a message. What will he say? That he was sorry to have cheated on her mother. He was sorry that he didn't tell her all these days that he was her father. That he was sorry to be a coward. What all will be apologize for? It was easy not to feel guilty when no one knew about your deeds. But, now...Zoya's words ran through his mind day and night. When Zainab had told him about Zoya, he had been ecstatic. But, he was afraid about what would happen if society and Razia found out about his previous marriage. He told Zainab that he will get Zoya when the time comes. Zainab started to rent a place in Bhopal and was living there with Zoya. Gaffur was trying to figure out how to tell Razia. Unfortunately during this time, Zainab died in a fire accident at her home. Zoya had been caught in the fire too but she was saved with some scars to her arm. Zainab has not told anyone about Gaffur so Zoya was sent to an orphanage that Zainab has already chosen for her in case something happened to her. After what Gaffur had done, Zainab didn't trust him. Even though he had said that he will take care of Zoya, she didn't know if she could trust to keep his word. So, she had talked to one of the orphanages in Bhopal and arranged for Zoya to be sent there in case anything happened to her. Zainab had given the orphanage the letter, some of Zoya's clothes, and Gaffur's information. After Zainab's death, the orphanage had contacted him. Bringing Zoya into his life, had taken it by a storm. Razia had been livid. She had threatened to leave him along with Humaira. The only way that she would stay was if Gaffur didn't reveal Zoya's identity to anyone. And if he dared to tell anyone, she told him that Zoya would be thrown of the house. All life, he had kept mum. He had distanced himself from his daughter so he wouldn't tell her the truth by mistake. He had been scared about how she would grow up to be. But, she was Zainab's daughter. She had grown up into a great human being, a wonderful woman. "Kis sooch mein dhobe hai ji," Razia asked. Breaking from his thoughts, "kuch nahi," he said and left the room before she could ask him anything else.
A couple days had passed since Zoya found out about her past. It was a lot to take in but she was lucky to have everyone with her. She was starting to be back to herself again, at least trying to. Zoya had noticed that her gloomy self was rubbing on everyone else. She didn't want her past to haunt her present or the future. It wasn't fair! She wouldn't let her father take away what she had built in a year. He had already taken a lot from her and this was it! She wasn't going to let her affect him anymore. Her life was in her own hands and she was going to decide who will affect it. And she had Asad, who had always stood by her in everything. Though Allah had put her through many trials, the almighty had also blessed her with a wonderful life partner and family. And nothing was going to ruin it. One afternoon, she was returning from work when the doctor called. She had visited the doctor the day she had visited the ashram. The dizziness and nausea was becoming constant and she was worried. She didn't want to tell Asad and concern him. So, she went to the doctor to be evaluated. Her thoughts wandered back to the conversation on the phone just a few minutes ago. "Hello doctor," Zoya answered. "Hello Zoya, tumare test results aagaye hai. And its good news," the doctor had announced. "Really? But doctor home test toh negative tha," Zoya said confused. "Khabi khabi aisa hota hai Zoya, but your blood test shows that you are expecting. Congratulations!" the doctor said. "Thank you doctor" Zoya said happily. She couldn't help but plaster a smile on her face. She was expecting. She was going to be a mother, she thought as she placed her hand on her abdomen. She felt this serene completeness thinking about the life growing inside her. The car came to a halt and she fled out of the car and into the house. Seeing Dilshad on the living room couch, she ran up to her. "Ammi!" she said as she engulfed her into a hug. "Aaj main bahut khush hoon...bahut khush," Zoya declared. Dilshad smiled and caressed her hair, "hume bhi toh paata chale keh kya khush kabri hai?" she asked. "Woh Ammi...main...," she stopped biting her tongue. She wanted to tell Asad first. He had the right to know, she thought. "Bas aise hi khush hoon," she said breaking the hug. "Tum aise hi haste huwe raho, bahut acchi lagthi ho," Dilshad said patting her cheek. Zoya smiled, "main abhi aayi," she said. Walking up the stairs, she dialed her husband's number. It went straight to voicemail. She pouted, "Yeh Mr. Khan bhi na...phone kyun nahi utarahe hai," she said to herself. She dialed again and the phone went to his voicemail again. "Mr. Khan...mujhe nahi maloom keh aap kaha busy hai lekin saare kaam chodiye aur jaldi ghar aajayiye. Mujhe aapse ek bahut important baat karni hai, bahut hi zyada, please jaldi ghar wapaas aajayiye," she said and ended the call. She walked into the room and closed the door, missing the two eyes keenly watching from the other end of the hallway.
It was dinner time and Asad had still not returned. Zoya had made his favorite kheer. She was serving it out in dessert bowls for everyone else. She walked to the dining table, "aree wah kheer bani hai, kya khush kabri hai?" Rashid asked. "Bas Abu, aaj main bahut khush hoon," Zoya told him. "Aisa hai toh main ek aur bowl lunga," Rashid said and Zoya giggled. "Bas ek bowl dehna Zoya, inne toh sirf bahana chahiye meeta khane kehliye," Dilshad said. Everyone at the table chuckled. "Zoya, tum bhi aajati dinner kehliye," Nikhat said as Zoya served her a bowl of dessert. "Nahi Bhabhi, Mr. Khan koh aajane dijiye phir main khalongi," Zoya said. "Waise dher hogayi...Asad aaya kyun nahi?" Dilshad asked. "Paata nahi Ammi, maine phone kiya tha lekin unka phone band hi aaraha hai," Zoya told her. "Bhabhi...yeh kheer toh bahut acchi hai, ek aur milegi please," Haider said. "Ha..abhi laati hoon," she said. She went into the kitchen and returned with a few more bowls of kheer. "Sabh kheer ki tareef karahe hai, paata nahi Mr. Khan kaha rehagaye hai, unkehliye kheer banayi hai aur akdu abhi tak nahi aaye," she thought. But, nothing was going to make her angry today. She couldn't wait for him to get home. She wanted to share the good news with everyone but with him first. She excused herself and went into the kitchen. She dialed his number and it said switched off. She looked out the window and could see the winds picking up. "Mausam bhi karaab hone wala hai aur yeh Mr. Khan hai keh inne office aur kaam keh alawa kuch dikhta hi nahi," she muttered to herself as she put her hand out and felt the water droplets touch her skin.
Everyone had retired to their rooms after dinner and Zoya sat in her room waiting for Asad to return home. As time was passing by, she felt her heart palpitate. Where was he? He wasn't answering his phone nor has he come home. He has never done this, then why today. She felt like the thunder and lightning on the sky were falling on her heart. The clock that sat on the night table struck twelve and she felt tears roll onto her cheeks. "Kaha hai aap Mr. Khan...mujhe itna ajeeb kyun lagraha hai. Allah kare aap theek hai," she thought. As the storms became heavier, her heart filled with worry. Being alone in the room was only making things worse. So, she decided to tell others and ask them for help. She didn't want to alarm Dilshad or Rashid, so she went to Farhan and Nikhat. Knocking on their room door, she waited. Farhan opened the door and stepped out. With sleepy eyes, "Zoya...tum? Sabh theek haina?" he asked. "Sorry Bhaijaan, itni raat gaye aapko disturb kiya lekin Mr. Khan abhi tak ghar nahi aaye hai. Main itni dher se phone karahi ho, phone bhi band aaraha hai. Mera dil bahut gabraha raha hai," Zoya blabbered on, scared. "Zoya, shant hojao. Main kuch karta hoon," Farhan said. Soon, the whole family had gathered in the living room except for Dilshad and Rashid. Zoya advised everyone not to wake them up, she didn't want to worry them. Haider left to find Asad, may be he was stuck somewhere on the road due to the heavy rains. Zoya protested against it worried about Haider's safety. He assured Zoya that he will be fine and left. Farhan called one of his friends who worked in city patrolling and asked him to check the streets. He gave him Asad's car number to check on any accidents if possible. Zoya sat on the couch worried out of her wits. "Mujhe bahut dar lagraha hai Bhabhi," she said to Nikhat who was sitting next to her. "Zoya, tum fikar mat karo, Allah sabh theek hi rakega. Asad jaldi ghar aajayega," Nikhat said as she pulled Zoya into a hug. "Aap kaha hai Mr. Khan? Mujhe itna dar kyun lagraha hai jaise kuch galat horaha hai...Allah miyaan please sabh theek rakiye," Zoya silently prayed.
Haider returned with no sign of Asad. He had looked in the office and on the way but was unsuccessful. Zoya had been crying non-stop, she was trying to be strong but her heart constricted at the possibilities of what it could mean if Asad hasn't come home till this late. Her eyes stayed glued to the entrance hoping that he would come any second. Each passing tick on the clock made her heart sink further. Nikhat held on to her, praying and comforting her that Asad is probably fine and that he is just stuck somewhere due to the weather. Zoya debated waking up Dilshad and Rashid but aren't enough people worried already. Dilshad was sick and it wouldn't be good for her high blood pressure to take the stress of not having her son home at this time. In the haziness of her vision, she saw his figure appear at the front entrance. She blinked her eyelid and as it became clear, she saw him. She felt a tug of life string at her heart. He was here and he was alright, her mind told her. She jumped up and dashed towards him. She reached him and wrapped him in a hug. He almost tumbled back with her force but steadied himself. "Kaha the aap Mr. Khan? Main aapko kabh se phone karahi hoon, at least ek phone toh answer kardete. Kitne irresponsible hogaya hai aap? Aapko paata hai mausam kitna karaab hai? Allah ka lakh lakh shukur hai keh aap theek hai." In her constant banter, she didn't realized how hard she was pressing against him. "Zoya, sabh baataunga lekin abhi mujhe dard horaha hai, ahhh" he winched in pain. She quickly moved back and that is when she noticed the scar on his forehead. He even had a bleeding wound on the corner of his left neck. "Allah miyaan...yeh kya hai Mr. Khan? Aap theek toh haina?" she asked worried. "Yeah Zoya, bas choti si chot hai," Asad told her. "Asad...kaha chale gaye the tum? Sabh theek toh haina?" Farhan asked. At the moment, another figure emerged next to Asad. Zoya felt her body stiffen at the sight of tanveer. She had a small abrasion to her head and her dupatta was wrapped around her shoulders. Everyone was confused and looked at Asad for answers. "Sorry, meri wajase aap sabh koh pareshaani hogayi. Dher hogayi, aap sabh jaake rest karlijiye," he said as he went towards the stairs. Zoya just thanked everyone and followed him upstairs. Everyone left leaving tanveer alone in the living room. She laughed wickedly. "Jao Zoya...apne Asad keh saath...tumare paas joh bhaje din hai woh khushi se mana lena tumare shohar keh saath. Kuch dino mein joh toofan main leke aaungi woh tumari zindagi aur tumara pyaar koh hilake rakdega," she said looking at the way that Asad and Zoya had just gone.
Upstairs, Asad took a seat on the bed. He tried to move his arm but flinched in pain. Zoya went to the bathroom and returned with the first aid box. She took a seat in front of him on the bed. She poured some antibiotic over the cotton ball and started to clean his head wound first. After cleaning the wound, she applied some antibiotic cream and wrapped his head with the bandage. She then started to unbutton his shirt so she could tend the wound on his neck. "Kuch poochogi nahi?" he asked breaking the silence between them. "Kya poocho?" Zoya said as she slowly removed the shirt. She took some more clean cotton and applied some antiseptic to it. "Zoya, main tanveer keh saath tha. Tum kuch nahi jaana chathi?" he asked. Hearing the name, her hand which was nearing the wound, stopped. She looked into his chocolate brown eyes. "Mr. Khan...aap kiske bhi saath rahe, mujhe baroosa hai keh agar aap mujhe kuch baatana chathe toh baata dehte," she said and went back to cleaning the wound. He winced as the cotton turned the lacerated skin. "Sorry," she whispered and slowly and carefully wiped the dried blood off. "I am sorry Zoya. Main office se wapaas aaraha tha aur raaste mein maine dekha keh kuch gunde tanveer koh kidnap karne ki kosish karahe the," he said. "Kya?" Zoya said shocked. "Kaha? Aur kyun?" she asked. "Paata nahi. Main office se wapaas aaraha tha...," Asad said as he started to narrate what happened a couple hours ago. He was driving back from work when he saw a girl being pulled into a car and she was yelling for help. Asad parked his car and got off to go help but they already took off. He returned to his car and followed the other car and they reached an empty warehouse. He was fighting with the goons when he saw that the girl was tanveer. Suddenly, someone attacked him from the back with a wooden rod and he remembered falling to the ground and that's all he recalled.
"Paata nahi mujhe uske baad kuch yaad kyun nahi hai?" Asad wondered. "Shayad aapko chot lagne ki wajse aap kuch yaad nahi hai, kal subhe hote hi aap doctor keh paas jaakar check karlijiye," she said worried. "Ha lekin kuch toh yaad hogaya, I am like blank," he said frustrated. Asad was a man who liked to know things. Being in the dark wasn't something he was very fond of. "Aapko main toh yaad hoon na?" she asked. "Of course Zoya," he told her. "Aur ghar wale sabh?" she questioned. "Ha woh bhi yaad hai," he said, whimpering at her silly questions. Zoya giggled. She moved forward and pecked his lips, "aur yeh?" she asked teasingly. Asad chuckled and a smile spread across his lips. He nodded saying yes. "Toh aapko saari important cheeze toh yaad hai, toh kis baat ki fikar," she said. She stood up from the bed, "aap fresh hojayiye, main aapke kehliye khana garam karke laati hoon," Zoya told him. "Nahi Zoya, bahut takgaya hoon, khana nahi chahiye," he said. "Mr. Khan...khana nahi khayenge toh chot kaise theek hogi. Aur waise bhi maine kheer banayi hai, aapko khana padega," she ordered and left the room. Asad went to the bathroom and washed his face with water. He tried to change into fresh pair of clothes but he couldn't see his kurta on. The pain in his neck was starting to radiate down his shoulder so it was hard to put it on with one hand. Zoya returned with the food to see him sitting on the bed and struggling with the kurta. She chuckled, "Mr. Khan...aap yeh kya karahe hai?" she said as placed the food tray on the table in front of the couch. She walked up to him and slowly helped him put the kurta on. "Aap doh minute ruk bhi toh sakthe the," she said. Asad just shrugged. She smiled, "chaliye, khana ready hai," she said. "Tumne khaya?" he asked. "Aap ka wait karahi thi, hamesha ki taara," she told him.
They both sat on the couch and she gave him a spoon. "main khilado?" she asked. "nahi...main khalonga," he told her. They both eat together as they looked at each other and smiled in between their morsels. After they finished dinner, "aabh kheer toh aapko mere haath se hi khani padegi," she said as she took the bowl of dessert and offered it to him. He took the bite, "yummm...kis khushi mein hai yeh kheer?" he asked. Zoya felt blush creep upon her cheeks. She wanted to tell him but not now, not like this. She wanted it to share the news when they were both happy, she wanted to celebrate it. "Aaj main bahut khush thi," she said happily. Suddenly, tears stung her eyes. The thought that something bad could have happened to him tonight, he could have possibly lost his life, clenched her heart. "Zoya, main theek hoon," he said as he cupped her face. "Jaanti hoon. Lekin jab aap ghar nahi aaye aur Farhan Bhaijaan unke dost koh accidents...main...main bahut dar gayi thi," she said in between her sobs. "I am sorry Zoya, par main kisiko musibat nahi chod saktha tha especially a ladki," he said as he moved forward and pulled her into a hug. "I know. Bas yeh yaad rakiye keh ghar par kohi aapka intezaar karaha hai aur uss kehliye aap uski puri zindagi hai," she told him. "I know," he said placing a kiss on her forehead. They broke apart, "Oh main toh bhul hi gaya, tume toh mujhe kuch baatana tha na?" he asked remembering her voice mail. "abhi aap kheer khayiye, main aapko baad mein baataungi," she told him as she fed him another spoon. After they were done, Zoya gave him a painkiller and some cold medication so that he can sleep well. She caressed his hair till his breath steadied and he was in deep slumber. Zoya looked at the clock; it was almost time for sunrise. She called the school office and left a message taking the day off. There was no way that she could go to work leaving him like this. Later, she changed into her pajamas and snuggled next to her husband, "I can't wait to tell you," she said as she smilingly placed a kiss on his cheek.
What is Tanveer planning to do? Will she be able to break the trust Asad and Zoya share? How will Zoya share the good news with Asad? Keep reading to find out!
You guys really have no hope from me, do you? 😆 So, Zoya is not having any serious thing like cancer or tumors, just pregnancy hehe. Thanks for the support always 🤗
Note: My PM has been attacking really weird. I click on one name but when I click send, it goes to someone else. Dont know why, it is so weird. I try to double check and resend PMs but for some reason I miss you, I am really sorry.
Edited by asyasahil928 - 10 years ago
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