~~Sirf Mohabbat~~ Chapter 10 pg 8|| 31st August

It had been two weeks since the death of her father, Zara had spent most of her time with her mother, Salma had clutched onto Zara as if she were a life line and with the help of their relatives she was slowly picking herself up but it killed her every single day waking up to an empty bed.

Zara though spent her time with her mother, she was oblivious to her family and friends surrounding her, she was seemingly lost in her thoughts. She ignored them for the most part, she did not acknowledge their existence and it was slowly hurting the family members.

This had not gone unnoticed by Salma.

"Zara bete... Zeenat tumse kuch puch rahi hai?" Salma touched her daughter's shoulder.

Zara looked at her mother then at the woman who'd held out a plate of food.

"Kuch aur chahiye, Zara?" Zeenat repeated assuming she had not heard.

"Yes, stay away from me" Zara stood.

"Zara!" Salma straightened holding Zara's arm firmly. "Kaise baat kar rahi ho apni bhabhi se" she raised her voice.

"Woh meri bhabhi nahi hai" Zara argued.

"Teri chacha ke bahu hain" Salma reminded pointing to Shahbaz. "Kashaan ke begum hai" she gestured to Kashaan. "Aur teri..."

"Amma" Zara warned. "Kuch aur mat kahiye" she stated firmly. "Do hafte hogaya hai, main wapas UK jaa rahi hoon" she informed leaving the room.

"Wapas..." Salma whispered and turned hurrying behind Zara.

"Salma" Ayesha called out and followed.

"Wapas matlab?" Salma questioned holding Zara's arm.

"Amma, I only came back for abba" she replied.

"Aur main?" Salma cried. "Main yahan akeli ho jaungi".

"Toh aap mere saat chaliye" Zara suggested. "Main yahan nahi rahungi" she shook her head.

"Zara..." Salma gasped. "Aise mat kaho bete. Main tumhare begair marr jaungi".

Zara smiled sadly, "5 years ago, you didn't think like that when you asked me to leave".

"Zara" Salma blinked unable to believe this was her young innocent child. "Tab ki baat..."

"Nahi amma, nothing has changed" she responded shaking her head.

Salma inhaled sharply unable to take the accusatory eyes that were focused on her, she pressed her hand to her heart feeling as if someone had gripped her heart and squeezed until it burst, she collapsed.

"Amma" Zara crouched down in a panic. "Call the ambulance" she called out.

~~~

Zara gripped the edge of the chair as she waited patiently, she ignored the impatient pacing of her uncle and didn't bother acknowledging anyone else.

She turned her head watching a doctor walk through the glass doors and approaching them, she stood. "How is she?"

"You are?"

"Zara Siddiqui, she's my mother" Zara introduced. "Is she going to be okay?"

"Ms Siddiqui, your mother suffered a heart attack"

"Angina or Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or ST segment elevation myocardial infarction?"

The doctor looked at her curiously, "Are you a doctor?"

"I've finished medical school recently, which one is it?" she questioned.

"Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction" he replied. "The blood supply had been blocked and given the stress, it overworked which led to the heart attack" he informed. "I'll be taking your mother in for a Coronary angiography so we can determine where exactly is the blockage and see what is the best treatment for her" he continued. "It shouldn't take more than an hour. After that you should be able to see her".

"Okay" Zara nodded, he smiled and walked through the double doors.

Zara sighed returning to her chair and slumped down.

"Zara bete, would you like a coffee or tea?" Ayesha asked as Kabeer and Kashaan were going to bring some hot drinks for everyone.

"I respect and thank you for being there for my amma, but chachi please don't speak to me" Zara said without even looking at her once.

"Yakeen nahi hota ke tum mere bhai ke beti ho" Shahbaz said firmly narrowing his eyes.

Zara ignored his response and pulled her phone out from her jeans pocket.

The family members were certainly taken aback seeing such a different side to Zara, they knew she was upset over what happened 5 years ago however they didn't think she'd be so cold and rude towards everyone.

"Iss ladki ki jurrat toh dekhe..." Zeenat whispered to her husband. "Yeh Irfan chachu ke beti hain?" she questioned. Kashaan unfortunately nodded.

Kabeer looked at Zara feeling disgusted at her behaviour with his family, but he didn't say anything right now given the current situation. He told Kashaan he'd get the drinks and walked away before he loses his temper.

Zara stood walking away silently as her phone rang, "Hey".

"Hey back, how are you?" Iqbal softly asked.

"I don't know" Zara shrugged moving to a quiet corner and continued speaking. "I'm not sure how I'm supposed to be feeling. I was hoping to return by the end of this week but amma had a heart attack".

"Shit. Is aunty okay?"

"They're running some tests then decide what's best method of treatment" she replied. "I just want to come home" she sighed heavily.

"You want some company?"

"What? You're going to come all the way to India for me?" she giggled.

"Just ask and you'll find me there" he grinned.

"Thanks Iqbal, but I think I'd be okay. I'm hoping I'd be able to convince amma to come with me. That would be the best solution".

"Check with the doctor if she's going to be able to travel" he suggested.

"Yeah, I'll be checking that out first, I know she wouldn't be allowed to travel for at least a month so I may have to hang back for a month to be with her" she said with reluctance. "Can you speak to Saira and let her know whats going on. I'll try calling her but given she's away at medical camp, I don't think I'd be able to reach her before you".

"Yeah sure" Iqbal assured.

"Anyway, I'll speak to you later" she said bidding him bye and cut the call. She moved away and came to a sudden halt gasping as she nearly bumped into Kabeer who was holding a cup holder with hot drinks in.

"That was close" Kabeer commented with a small smile.

Zara scowled and started walking in the same direction.

"Zara" Kabeer called to her hoping to speak to her before she returned to the waiting area.

"Don't" Zara glanced over her shoulder narrowing her eyes. "I don't want to speak to you or any of your family members".

"You're probably forgetting that they are your family members. Tumhare abba humare abbu ke bade bhai hai" he reminded. "Aur Zara, shayad tum bhool rahe ho ke tumhara ek aur rishta hai humare ghar se. Tum hamare ghar ki bahu ho, meri biwi ho".

Zara clenched her fists by her sides, "Kabeer Ahmed, I am not tied to any of you. Not your family or you. Main uss nikah ko manti nahi hoon aur na kabhi manungi" she stated firmly then stalked away without a glance. Kabeer grated his teeth watching her retreating back, he closed his eyes inhaling sharply gathering himself together and returned to the waiting area.

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