Hello there. I am back with another OS. Just wrote after seeing today's episode. I felt bad that not even once Asad thought about the slap. But I hope he remembers it when his ammi is out of danger. Please ignore the typos. Looking forward to the comments.
A Promise for Life
Zoya sat on the Garden bench clutching her hands dearly bending her head. She did not notice the pain in her wounded hand. World bristled past her and she, unknown to herself was sitting motionless for the last two hours. Smeared images flashed in front of her eyes and all she did was stare into nothingness. Finally a tear drop rolled down to her nose tip and fell on her wound breaking her trance. Cut in her hand burned like fire reminding her of the mortifying humiliation.
Phupi...
She muttered silently. She was responsible.
She could not understand how! But she was sure that she was responsible for the mishap. May be she should not have saved Mariam. A muffled void inside her brain tried in vain to reassure her that she was not wrong. The voices of accusation just overpowered her dampened reasoning and the sound of his slap reverberated in her ears confirming her thoughts.
Yes, she is responsible.
She could not blame him. She understood the pain of losing one's parents more than anyone else. She shuddered at the thought that she is really alone in this world.
May be if they were around, I would not have been roving like this. Things would have been different. There would have been someone for me.
Flood of self pity and sadness broke her restraint and Zoya cried bitterly looking at the skies.
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Few hours later
Asad lifted Dilshad slightly with at most care and placed a cushion under her right hand. Dilshad blinked slightly to adjust to the sudden brightness. Her vision still foggy but she instantly recognized Asad. She smiled seeing Asad and Najma in front of her eyes. When the bullet hit her, her only thought was how Asad and Najma will be left alone if something untoward happens to her. She thanked God almighty.
Dilshad assured Najma and Asad that she is perfectly alright. Mariam was beaming with happiness seeing Dilshad talking with Najma and Asad. Duty nurse asked them to disperse this small reunion and allow Dilshad to take rest.
Asad sat on the bench outside ICU. Last 24 hours has been rushed past like a dream. He was out of his wits and the thought of losing his Ammi nearly drove him mad. He rested his head against the rail and closed his eyes to take a quick nap.
It was wrong to keep a blind eye against all the crimes committed by his mama and his Panchayat and now I am paying the price for it. But this time I will make sure Mariam's father suffers for this act.
Asad swore in his head with clenched fists.
I should have acted when they buried Zoya alive...damn... Zoya..
He remembered the slap and got up panicking. He could not believe for a second that he actually slapped a woman. Remorse and embarrassment filled his mind, tears blurred his vision and a pang of nausea hit him hard.
Oh My God, What have I done? She deserved it. Whom are you to give the punishment. She nearly killed my ammi. Mamu tried to kill her not Zoya. She was the reason. She did not wish to be the reason. You hit a woman, you insulted a woman, you disrespected a woman, Ammi will not be happy hearing this.
You hit Zoya''NOTHING justifies that.
A voice screamed inside his head. Sickening thoughts were not helping and his nausea worsened.
How can he hit Zoya? He was supposed to protect her''
Mangalpur incident flahsed in front of his eyes. Frantically he started searching for Zoya. Najma was coming from the other side of the corridor and he ran to her
"Have you seen Zoya?"
"No bhaijaan. What happened? I saw her going to the prayer room a while ago but then she is missing. She might have gone home to take ammi's medical reports."
Asad dashed towards his car.
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Zoya was busy packing her bags in her room. She called up the hostel room and they have confirmed the availability. The hostel is near to the hospital and she can visit with Dilshad till she gets better. She has made up her mind on this. She is not going to stay here anymore. She understood the pain Asad was going through at that moment and she understood the spur of anger but not anymore, she cannot stay here anymore considering the height of danger she bought to this family. If she is here, no one is safe.
Let them leave in peace.
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Asad entered an empty house. Security guard confirmed that Zoya left 10 minutes back taking her bag and everything. Cursing his bad luck, he drove around the place searching for any sign of Zoya. He tried reaching her mobile number and no one picked up at the other end. With every passing minute Asad was getting desperate. He should talk to Zoya! Should apologize for the mistake. He was resolute but Zoya, she just disappeared leaving him broke inside.
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It's been three days since the accident and Dilshad is doing well. She was shifted to normal room and Najma was nattering happily sitting on her bed side. Mariam was sitting close by. Asad as usual assumed the spectator role and was watching Dilshad closely to see if she is troubled by anything.
"Zoya did not come today." Dilshad wondered.
"Ammi, She will come in the evening" Najma assured her.
Zoya just called her to inform her that she will be coming late as she has to go to the embassy to get some papers for her Visa. She made Najma Swear on god not to reveal anything about her to Asad. Sensing that something happened between Asad and Zoya, Najma kept mum and decided to ask Asad later.
Asad bent his head in shame when he heard Zoya's name. He has no idea how to react. He was reluctant to go to Zoya's hostel. The slap has totally turned his world upside down.
The confident Mr Asad Ahmad Khan has gone and all left is a man who cannot even lift his eyes to face anyone out of shame. He scoffed himself.
How did I stoop so low? Why did I do that?
"I am sorry. I never thought because of me you would be in trouble like this. I should have said no when you asked me to come home."
Mariams voice broke his chain of thoughts.
"How can I not help you knowing that you are in trouble? Would I have left without helping if it was Najma? It is my duty to protect you and god would just be happy to see us help each other. Don't blame yourself. Everything happens as per his almighty's wish." Dilshad patted Mariam's hand slowly uttering these words.
Asad was too stunned even to ask Mariam to recite the events. It was Ammi who bought Mariam back home, His Ammi has done exactly what Zoya was doing, helping and protecting a desolate woman selflessly.
I should talk to her.
He bolted out of the room and clashed with a racing Zoya. She fell backwards in the impact and he caught her on time.
There you are...
He breathed a sigh of relief and pulled Zoya into a fierce hug. A thousand apologies were sounding inside his head, but he just held her close, tears streaming from his face. No word is strong enough to express his remorse. He pleaded her wordlessly to understand him. Zoya, who was wriggling to get out of the iron grip, paused for a while and raised her hands a little and touched his back giving him a awkward half hug.
"It's ok Mr khan, this hoity-toity girl from Newyork forgive you!"
Asad smiled a little and hugged her a little more tighter, promising himself never to let her go again, promising himself to respect her every moment of his life, promising himself to make her a part of his life' A promise for life'.
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