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Fat tears seeped down her soft cheeks as she stood there with no expressions on her face. Her forest green eyes were filled with tears, wetting her lashes as she stood there in front of the crowd, with a black dupatta covering her head.
She watched as four people lifted the dead body on their shoulders and taking it away but nor did she stop them, ran after them neither did she even flinch. She could feel others keeping a comforting hand on her shoulder but she didn't respond to that as well. She was well aware of the gossips bubbling in their hearts beneath that fake concern.
Ignoring the whispers behind her, she wiped the tears on her cheeks as she took feeble steps away from the crowd, taking in the fact that her husband was no more.
***
Entering her room, she uncovered her head and slumped down on the bed. Her eyes were red and puffy but there were no tears this time. As she heard soft gurgles, she turned around to see her bundle of sunshine, smiling her toothless smile at her.
She smiled at her 6 months old baby, picking her up. Poor thing didn't even have any idea she had lost a father today. Keeping her softly in her lap, she caressed her soft tresses lovingly.
"You know Mahi, mama loves you so much baby" She softly whispered in her daughter's ear as she listened intently to what her mother was saying and bobbed her head up and down, as if understanding everything, making her mother chuckle at her.
"Zoya!" She immediately straightened as she heard her mother-in-law's voice booming in the room.
"What are you still doing here?" She shouted.
"What do you mean by that Aunty? This is my.." Zoya replied but was interrupted by her.
"This is not your house! Did you listen to me? You don't belong here! I was simply tolerating you because I had to!" She screamed in her face.
"Aunty, how can you say this? You have a grand-daughter, your son's daughter..."
"Your daughter is not related to me! And what proof do you have that she is my son's daughter" She said, while Zoya looked up in shock.
"You...You think I...How can you accuse me of something so heinous?" She asked, shocked and outraged at the question on her character.
"Please spare me the drama! Aren't you satisfied after killing my son, you cursed woman!" She screamed at Zoya.
"I didn't kill your son, Aunty!" She shouted back, having enough of whatever she was saying "Infact, he was the one who cheated on me! Maybe he just got the punishment of his tortures on me..."
She was immediately stopped by a slap on her cheek followed by utter silence, "Get out of my house, right NOW!" And walked out of the room, leaving her rooted to the spot with her hand at her cheek as tears formed in her eyes, at this humiliation and her accusations.
Stunned, she sat on the bed with her hand still on her cheek, feeling the stingd of pain. After a while, when she was able to analyse the situation, she picked up her cell phone from the bed side table and punched a number,
"Humera, I need your help..."
***
"Thanks Humera. For letting me stay in your apartment" Zoya said sitting down on the couch, as she held her mug full of steaming coffee.
"Cut it out yar! Since when did we started being so formal?" Humera replied, sipping her coffee.
"I know, but still. Once I get a job, I'll move out of here"
"Hmm...And I'll be the next queen if England" She said sarcastically, following her tone, "Shut up, will you?" She rolled her eyes and Zoya sighed.
"Where's Mahi?" Humera asked.
"She asleep, was really tired" Zoya replied.
There was silence for a while after which Humera spoke, "Zoya?"
"Hmm?"
"You okay?"
And that had tears dripping out of Zoya's eyes. Humera was immediately by her side, hugging her, whispering soft words of consolation. All the anger and frustration Zoya had suppressed inside herself made way out of her eyes as tears.
After a while when she calmed down, Humera wiped her tears, "Wanna talk about it?"
"I...I don't know what to feel Humera. Whether I should be sad at the loss or relieved to be free of his tortures." She sobbed, "He never loved me, never respected me, never accepted our daughter because he and his family wanted a son!"
"But stilll I feel a void in my heart. After all, we did love eachother at some point of time, I have some good memories with him" She said, smiling a bit through her tears." That's a different thing the good ones are overshadowed with tge bad ones" She said, sighing hard.
"Ssh..Everthing will be fine" Humera consoled her. "You have to think about yourself and Mahi now." She advised her and Zoya nodded, thinking hard about something.
"It's late now, and you need rest." Humera chided, "Go to sleep!" She ordered her and Zoya held her hand.
"Thanks again Humera" She said sincerely, close to tears again, feeling lucky to have her as a friend.
"Once more I hear this 'thanks' from your mouth, I'll smack you!" She threatened her and Zoya smiled lightly. Hugging her, she left for her room where she saw her baby sleeping peacefully. She smiled and pecked her nose cutely, and closed her eyes, hugging her close.
***
A month had passed since Zoya had moved in with Humera in her apartment. Things were, if not fine, on there way to fine. Zoya had joined as a teacher in a school since she loved teaching kids. Even before marriage, she used to teach but her job couldn't last as she wasn't permitted to do that after her marriage.
Zoya would often wake up at nights, from horrifying nightmares of some of her husband's tortures. Humera had advised her to consult some psychiatrist, earlier she had rubbished the thought but when the nightmares didn't seem to lessen, she thought seriously about it.
Thoughts circulating her mind, she stepped out of the elevator after a tiring day at school. Suddenly, she bumped into a manly figure coming from the opposite side and almost lost her balance but held still. Knowing it was her mistake she looked up to Apologize but the man stared at her, shocked, "Zoya..." He whispered softly, unbelievably as a smile surfaced his face.
"Asad..." She spoke, still not able to believe it.
Asad smiled through tears, his face reflecting surprise and joy as he pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her while she stood there Stunned.
***
This idea just popped in my mind and so I penned it down :) I had to start an SS after all ;)
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Next update on Wednesday :)
Bigg Boss 19
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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