Chapter 7: Even in the dark
AN : This chapter is from Zoah's pov. Just want to clarify Zoah is not a villian. This story focus on grief and healing, more than it does on lovestory. So Raya fans, who are looking for a Priya- Ram getting back together romantically this is probably not the right story for you. This story is more about family dynamics than it is about romantic relationships. Anyways, happy readings :)
Five years ago
"Zoah, I'm sorry but your father has reached stage four of cancer, there is not much we can do now. Spend whatever time he has left with him, Zoah."
Zoah looked at the doctor with tears in the eyes, standing outside of her father's room in the hospital. Zoah wiped her tears, she had to stay strong for her dad.
"There must be something doctor, you are a doctor please do something I beg you. Please save my dad" she whispered the desperation and pain evident in her voice
"I'm sorry Zoah" the doctor giving her hand a gentle squeeze before walking to her next patient.
Zoah took deep breathes before she slowly opened the door and walked towards her dad's bed. Her dad was giving her a sad smile, as if he already hadk nown what the doctor was going to say.
"Dad...." She whispered walking towards his bed, kissing his forehead gently
"It's okey, meri bachi" he whispered as he with his shaking hands grabbed her hands
Zoah's heart shattered into tiny pieces, her father who had always been the strongest person she knew was a ghost of the person he once was.
"Listen to me my Zo Zo. I don't know much time I have longer, but I want you to know that being your dad has been the greatest honor of my life.The decision to adopt you is probably the smartest thing your old man ever did.I just wish we could have had more time together, I 'm sorry for everything that I'm going to miss out on" Iqbaal said with tears shining in his brown eyes
Zoah wiped his tears away gently and hugged him close to her heart as gently as possible, she closed her eyes in the embrace, taking in his comforting cinnamon scent.
"I love you so much dad, thank you for accepting me and giving me a home. A family. It has always just been you and me. Dad, I really don't know how I will do anything without you" she whispered crying
Zoah lower lip shivered as she cried in his arms, the only parent she had known. Iqbaal kissed her forehead gently, trying to comfort his babygirl. But there was no word in the dictionary that could make this goodbye easier for both.
"I love you Zo Zo, promise me you will continue to live your life the way I taught you with hope, strength, warmth and kindness. You will not give up on people nor yourself, you will remember everything that I taught you.Mera bacha, even if you can't see me know that I will be there with you in spirit and in that big heart of yours. But mostly I want you to remember what I said when we met for the first time, you are bruised Zoah not broken. Your past, your pain and trauma does not define who you are. You are my light, Zoah Arshad Ali. I love you, sweetie" he whispered with love in his voice
"I love you too dad, forever" Zoah whispered her eyes swollen due to crying, when she moved away from his eyes, she saw that her dad had fallen asleep.
Some hours later when his heart monitor flatlined, for Zoah it feltl ike her forever fell apart.
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Four years ago
"It has been a year since dad passed away, and still, I just feel numb. Everyone expect that I should have moved on by now, but how I will move on and be okey after losing the only family I had? I have not been able to goi n the field, I have been on a desk duty and my team is probably frustrated with me. But I don't have energy to care. I'm barely holding it together. Please show me a sign, Allah" she said with her hands up in a prayer.
Zoah turned around as she heard footsteps approaching, being a detective for a few years she was trained to be always careful to her surroundings, even while praying in a mosque. There was a man in her forties with curly black hair dressed in a suit that probably was equal to her whole year salary. Zoah smiled in appreciation when she saw he was standing there in his socks, that he had been respectful enough to take of his shoes.
"Excuse me ma'am, do you know where the grief counseling sessionis happening. My car just broke down in the road, this mosque was the closest thing I saw"
"It's ten minutes from here, I can walk with you there. I was also on my way there, just thought to pray beforehand" she said as she stood up from the prayer mat
"That would be great, thank you. I'm sorry if I disturbed your prayer" she heard him say, his voice was gentle and kind, but she could see so much pain in his eyes.
"It's okey I was done with my prayer anyways. I'm Zoah Arshad Ali" she said introducing herself and offering him her hand to shake
"Nice to meet you Zoah, I'm Ram Kapoor" he said shaking her hand gently before they walked outside in the rain.
"Damn it, I forgot my umbrella in the car" she heard Ram say annoyed, his eyes full of hatred as he watched the rain.
"You can take my umbrella" she said passing her pink umbrella to him
"If you are not afraid to be seen in a pink umbrella" she said as she started walking in the rain, her father used to love rain and it made her feel closer to him in some sense.
"Zoah, we can share" she heard Ram say as he opened the umbrella
"Maybe another time, today I want to enjoy the rain it feels likei t's a sign from my dad that grief counseling is the right choice" she said as they walked towards the grief counseling group. They walked in silence but in comfort, not knowing they had found someone they would consider family one day.
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Present time
Zoah grunted in pain as she took out some icebags and put it on her black eye, she had gone undercover to catch a drug dealer, the team and her had solved the case but the drug dealer had not been too happy when he had found out she was working with the police force. He had gotten the first punch, but not the last.
Zoah's phone buzzed, and she grabbed it from the kitchen table and saw the group chatt was discussing which restaurant they were going to.
Zoah quickly texted "Sorry guys, I think I'm going to stay home,tired after work. You guys enjoy. Brinda and Adi, give Sunaina a hug from me and tell her aunt Zo is visiting her soon with a lot of gifts" she texted before laying down on her blue coach and turning on new girl.
An hour later she heard a knock on her apartment door, she walked slowly towards the door. Zoah looked at Ram, Adi, Brinda and Kunal was standing their with take out food and board games.
"Surprise" they called in unison before they saw her blackeye, they all gasped in concern
"How did this happen?" she heard Brinda say in her mom voice as she grabbed her hand and carefully made Zoah sit on the couch
"You guys should see the other guy" she joked and high fived Adi
Brinda and Ram both slapped Adi gently in the arm and said "Not funny".
Ram sat next to her grabbing the ice pack from Brinda and placing it on her eye.
Zoah looked at Ram, before turning her attention towards them all. Zoah wanted to thank them for surprising her, for caring and letting her become apart of this friend group, this little family that had saved her. Zoah had been alive before them, but because of Ram and their little friend group she was living as well.
"I'm okey guys I promise, just a little bruised. We caught him; he is behind bars now. Our street is a little bit safer. Anyways, let's eat I'm so hungry" she said
"This is the best thing you have ever said Zo" Adi said as he warmed the food quickly making all of them laugh
For many hours they talked, ate, watched some episode of new girl and played board games. Zoah prayed a silent prayer to keep them all happy and safe in this cruel world, because when she saw all of them, she got a little glimmer of hope that maybe forever did not fall apart after all. That even after all the pain and storm, there was still a light even in the dark. These people saved her, loved her and embraced her as their own. They gave her shelter in the storm, so Zoah would walk through any bad day and stormy weather with them offering her comfort, warmth, kindness and love. Zoah was worthy of their love just like they were worthy of hers.
A/N : Sorry for any typos !
Edited by Overthinking123 - 2 years ago
CID
Bigg Boss 19
