Zaya FF: The meanings of Family (so far Chapter 1-5) - Page 6

Chapter 4-At last Barkat found!

The entire Abdullah family wiped their tears away brusquely and they all stood up together, each of them looking at each other and finding the same look of confusion on their faces.

Usman took a step toward the P.I. and asked in a small calm voice, being careful to keep his composure and not let his hopes run wild, " Can you please not beat around the bush, Mr Kumar and just tell us what is the good news that's making you grinning so widely?"

The Private investigator chuckled and decided it was time to break the suspense," Mr Abdullah, I'm sorry for keeping you on edge like this..but what to do the news is such that I can't help it. But I understand..I'm not going to keep torturing you all anymore. The news is..."

The P.I. paused and looked at everyone in the eyes before continuing," the only daughter of this family, Barkat Abdullah is alive!"

The living room went eerily quiet and everyone just stood there in a daze, their minds still registering from the shock. Suraiya and Usman looked the most baffled among all of them. From the looks of their faces, one can tell they are restraining themselves from crying out with joy in fear of their happiness being misplaced once again like with Bobby.

Seeing everyone's state, Aaliya decided to speak up and ask the questions that's on everyone's mind," Wh-What do you mean she is alive? I mean how is it possible..you just said that Barkat is the one who fell over the cliff..and that she was never found.." Aaliya's voice trailed off.

The P.I. smiled gently and answered while facing all of them:" You see the police couldn't find any information on the girl who fell over the cliff because they were looking for Bobby, so of course no one would have been able to find her as she was with Meer Khan all along. But now that we know it was Barkat and that she fell down and got hurt, it really narrowed down our search. I took the liberty to send her childhood picture to some of my colleagues and thanks to them, I found out that she was left at an orphanage in a pretty bad state. My guess is that Meer Khan had picked her up after he made a run for it..as he couldn't lose his golden goose. But she was too hurt and had to be brought to the hospital, however with you having the police looking for him all over he couldn't take that risk. To top it off, her wound was such that without treatment she would die, so Meer Khan probably didn't want to take the trouble of having her murder on his hands. So, he left her at an orphanage, possibly figuring that there was no use to Barkat now as he could just wait for his own daughter to grow up and make her pretend to be Barkat."

Usman asked breathlessly: S-S-So you are saying that B-Barkat is alive?! and she is living in an orphanage as we speak?

P.I: "yes she is."

Cries of joy resonated in Barkat villa, as everyone cried, cheered and hugged each other. Suraiya and Usman were cupping each other's faces and crying non-stop with their foreheads touching each other. Tears welled in Zain's eyes seeing his parents' happiness, and he turned to see that Aaliya was doing the same thing. He wound one arm around her waist and brought her closer to his side, and looked down at Aaliya who started blushing. She was about to tell something when the P.I. intervened.

P.I: "But-."

Everyone looked up tensed at hearing the word 'but'. Suraiya clasped Usman's hands tightly and asked worriedly, "But what officer?"

P.I: "But she isn't still living there in the orphanage. She only lived there for 2 weeks. and shortly after she was adopted by a couple who moved to the United States. That's also one of the reasons why the police couldn't find your daughter all this time. But as fate would have it, the couple moved back to India a year ago and they have settled here in Mumbai. I've done as much research as I could about them, here's the documents."

Everyone sighed in relief, and the smile was back on all their places. The P.I. handed the documents to Suraiya who had her hand extended.

Suraiya brushed her hand over the cover of the documents and replied gratefully," Thank you so much, Mr Kumar. You didn't have to do this as Zain and Aaliya only hired you to find out about whether Bobby was Barkat or not..however you went out of your way and found out more than we could possibly ask for. We can't thank you enough for this."

P.I.:" Please Ma'am don't embarrass me. I've only done my duty."

Aaliya: " No, Mr Kumar, Mami is right. It's a relief to see that good people like you still exist to help people for the sake of humanity, not just duty."

Zain: "That's right, Mr Kumar. It's your good-nature that made you not only find the real Barkat, but to also gather all the information about her. Please accept our thanks."

P.I.:"Well if you all insist so much then, you are most welcome. And I am very happy that I could restore some happiness in this family. If you ever need anything else, then please do look me up. I shall take your leave. Have a good day."

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While the Abdullah family was still rejoicing their happiness in their big mansion, on the other side of the Mumbai city a young girl returned home after a long tiring day at college.

"Assalamou Alaikoum", she greeted. Then she dropped her belongings at the door and made way to the kitchen.

"Walaikum Salaam," a woman greeted her back. The woman smiled at her and said, " Go and get freshen up, I am almost done preparing dinner."

"Ughhh stilll?!", the girl cutely pouted," but I'm so-so-so-so hungry Mom." The woman who she referred to as her mother laughed and replied, " Yes I know how hungry you are, Samaira . It will just take a minute. Now go and get change. And while you are at it, get your little brother ready too."

Samaira replied cheerfully," Okie dokie Mom", and pecked her mother on the cheeks before going back to retrieve the things she dropped by the door and heading upstairs to meet her siblings.

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All the Abdullahs gathered around Suraiya who was holding the folder and eyed it with burning eagerness.

Nafeesa:" Samaira"?

Shazia:" What? Why does it say 'Samaira '?

Zain and Aaliya looked at each and shook their heads at the stupidity of some people.

Zain: " Barkat's current identity of course. She doesn't know she's Barkat, and she was adopted remember. So it is a given that she is presently going by a different name."

Shazia: " Oh right"

Suraiya:" It doesn't matter what she is called now. She will soon return back to being Barkat Abdullah. After all that's who she is and where she belongs."

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The Abdullah family just regained their happiness and are looking forward to welcoming the youngest member of their family back again after so many years. Will everything work out as they plan? Will Samaira react the same way to them after finding out who she really is? How will this affect Zain and Aaliya's life?

You'll have to wait to find out. :P

NEXT: Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Usman and Suraiya sat beside each other in the living room and waited till everyone else gathered around them closely before opening the document that held information about their beloved daughter.

Suraiya shakily opened it with trembling hands and gasped as her eyes fell on the first picture. A similar gasp can be heard from Usman and they both extended their hands to softly touch the little girl in the picture.

"B-Barkat. Usman saab, it's really Barkat," Suraiya cried with tears overflowing her eyes. The little girl in the picture appeared to be about five years old and she was being held by a middle-sized woman with a man, presumably her husband, holding the both of them with his arms around the woman's shoulders. Usman took out the picture of Barkat that he always kept in his wallet and placed it beside the picture.

Usman:"It's her. There is no doubt that it's her"

Zain and Fahad came forward and joined their parents, happy now that their family is finally going to be complete for real.

Zain:" Well what are we waiting for? Let's keep looking through, I'm so curious to see how she grew up and what she looks like now. Mom, please turn the page."

Suraiya laughed and did as Zain asked. From the documents, they all found out that the couple who adopted Barkat were having trouble to conceive a baby. After struggling for two years to have their own child and failing every single time, they finally decided to adopt one instead. However, three years after, they were able to get a child of their own, a daughter. And as time passed by they had two more sons, the youngest being merely six years old. They used to live in the U.S. but a year ago, the man got promoted to a more powerful position in a branch of the company he works for. That branch happens to be in Mumbai and that's why they all shifted here.

There were several pictures of Barkat together with her three other 'siblings' included in the folder and Usman felt grateful to see his child smiling so happily in all of them, "Thank goodness. Our daughter really grew up well and she looks very happy."

Suraiya agreed:" Yes she does. Well, she has always been a cheerful child. I still remember how her laughter used to resonate in the house."

As they kept flipping through, they stumbled upon a picture of Barkat's graduation-she was holding a bouquet of red flowers and smiling happily with her adopted parents standing behind her. Suraiya felt a pang of unease and sadness in her chest and whispered," We sure have missed out on a lot of things haven't we? "

Usman examined her silently and replied ," I know Suraiya begum, but we can't do anything about that now, can we?" The question Usman asked was rhetorical but Suraiya answered him anyway, " No we can't. But we CAN control what will happen from now on. We won't miss out on anything in her life than we've already have right?".

He gave her a reassuring smile and replied, " That's right since we've found her now."

They both leaned onto each other's shoulders and smiled warmly while looking at their daughter's pictures together. Zain couldn't help but feel emotional looking at his parents. After all, this is the first time that he has ever seen them so close to each other. It seems that the loss of Barkat had strained their marital relationship, especially with Suraiya's developed hatred for Bhopal as well as for Usman's family whom she held responsible.

But now all that hatred and agony seem to have vanish as they both stare at the pictures that show Barkat's life progression.

Zain took a peek at Aaliya who was sitting quietly and noticed that there was worry etched on her face. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her eyes were narrowed as if she were in deep thought. Zain nudged her slightly with his elbow which snapped her out of her reverie. She looked up at him, startled. He signalled her wondering what's wrong but she only shook her head at him and gave him a faint smile. However, the worry was still clearly evident in her eyes and Zain was going to find out the reason no matter what.

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Everyone had retreated to their respective rooms after going through Barkat's folder for hours. Back in their bedroom, Aaliya did her best to fall sleep but she just couldn't shake off her worries. It was eating at her. She turned on her side for what seemed like the tenth time, and accidentally kicked Zain on the face. Again.

"Ughh, that's it!," Zain fumed and flipped the cover before sitting up on the bed," Spit it out Mamu Ki Bhanji, what is bothering you." Zain stared intently at Aaliya and watched as she opened her mouth but before she could say anything he cut her off, " don't even bother trying to deny that there's nothing wrong. You can't fool me, you know you've just kicked me four times in less than 30 minutes! Also, I am your husband and I have been looking at you for the past 2 months so I can pretty much read the expressions on your face by now."

Aaliya blushed slightly at that, but she still didn't want Zain to know what was worrying her. So, she tried to divert his attention by pulling his leg. She raised an eyebrow in challenge and teased, " Oh? So that's how closely you've been looking at me all this time huh."

Zain let out a frustrated breath and replied," Yeah that's not going to work on me. On any other day, I would have bought it and kitkit with you, but not today."

Aaliya: " I don't know what you are talking about."

Zain: "Sure you don't. Come on! Don't try to change the topic. Tell me! What is it, MKB?"

Aaliya sighed in defeat and sat up on the bed too, "Alright. I'll tell you. But please promise me you won't get mad. You don't have to think the same way I do, but just don't get mad.

Zain didn't know what Aaliya was going to say but still he promised her. Aaliya stared at him for a few minutes before finally revealing to him what was going on in her mind.

After telling him everything, Aaliya waited for Zain's response with a tense look. Zain thought carefully before replying to her, " You have a good point, Aaliya. I mean when you say it that way, whatever you are saying is right..but there's our family's feelings to consider as well. Especially mom and dad's feelings."

Aaliya looked down and let her hair fall to hide her face," I know Zain. That's why I didn't want to tell it to anyone." she said dejectedly.

Zain wiped her hair from her face and tucked a few strands of her bangs softly behind her ears. Then he took both of her hands in his and gave them a light squeeze," No, Aaliya. I'm not telling you that you shouldn't have said that. I'm actually glad you did. What I am trying to say is that we should share this with mom and dad. And then we should let them take this into consideration while making their decision. However, after that we should just respect whatever decision they end up reaching okay?"

Aaliya gave him a small smile and nodded. Zain smiled back at her," Good. Now let's go to bed. And please spare my face, or else I would end up with a bruise tomorrow." Aaliya laughed," Alright, I will do my best not to." With that they both went back to their place on the bed and fell to sleep.