"What are you saying Kevin? You' You are engaged? That too to someone else?"
"I know this is hard to digest. But please forgive me Zoe' What you heard is correct' I got engaged this morning"
"What a silly jock is this Kevin? I know you love me' You cannot do this to me'"
"Please Zoya' Please understand' I didn't have any other choice' I do love you' But' I was helpless'"
"What on earth you mean by helpless? What you made you take such a decision? Why did you forget me? Us? Wait' Today was your sister's wedding na? Then how come you got engaged?"
"Zoe' Listen to me' it's true that today was my sister's wedding. But the groom's family put forth a condition in the last minute. That is to bind me and groom's sister in an alliance' that girl had fallen in love with me it seems' I couldn't do anything but to agree with whatever they say as my sister's life was at stake'"
"And you agreed to their stupid condition? Come on Kevin' How can you do this? Didn't you think even for once about me? How I will feel? Why the hell didn't you tell anyone that you are already committed?"
"Be rational Zoya' For God's sake, you are a Muslim and I am a Christian! How am I supposed to tell everyone that I am in love with a Muslim girl and want to marry her? If I said so, my sister's wedding would have been over. She wouldn't get the only man she ever loved'"
"What about I LOSING THE ONLY MAN I EVER LOVED? Doesn't my love have any value in your eyes? Or is it that you fed up of me?"
"ZOYA' Stop being soo irrational and try to understand me' Are you the only one suffering here? NO' I also love you damn it' Look Zoya' we are never meant to be together' you and I are different in every possible ways' I thought our love will be enough to overcome all those barriers between us. But apparently, it's not' I have certain responsibility towards my family' I am not ready to sacrifice their happiness for anyone, even for you'"
"What about my happiness Kevin? What about your happiness?"
"Zoe' My happiness lies in my family's happiness'. If they are happy, I also will be happy' and for your happiness'. I am sure you will be able to overcome this pain too'"
"How can you talk to me like this? Let's meet na? Why are we talking over the phone? I am sure we can sort out everything once we meet' it's just engagement. We can make everyone understand our love' we have time'"
"'Zoya, why don't you understand? It's OVER between us' we are not US anymore' It's YOU and ME' and nothing can't be changed now' for me my family is the priority' I love them soo much to let them hate me'"
"But you are leaving me'"
"If that's the small price I have to pay to make my parents happy, then I will do that'"
"Won't you meet me for the one last time Kevin?"
"No Zoya' I am sorry for everything' I will be a new person from tomorrow onwards' I don't know whether I will be able to love my fianc as much as I loved you, but I will try' that girl truly deserves it'because she loves me unconditionally'"
"What about me Kevin? Don't I deserve it?"
"Zoya'. For one last time' Let me go' Let me fulfill my responsibilities' You don't have responsibility towards anyone' it doesn't mean that others don't have any'"
"Kevin'"
"Bye Zoya' I hope you will forgive me one day' Bye'"
"Kevin' I'"
And that line went dead. Zoya stared at her phone trying to digest the truth in her life. Slowly she slide down the wall to the floor with tears slowly falling from her big eyes.
**************
Even today when she recalled her last conversation with Kevin, a shudder runs through her body. Its been months she meet him or talk to him. The job far away from her home state had helped her a lot in distracting the pain. But it didn't help to reduce the etching pain in her heart deep inside. It was there until she saw Asad. The friendship which she entered into so as to heal Asad had done its effect on her as she gradually realized that the etching pain in her heart has been replaced by happiness. She no longer cried for Kevin. Instead she laughed with Asad. She no longer looked at Kevin's photos. Instead she watched Asad's movies and comment about his acting. Her life now seemed more blissful. But when her past decide to revisit her again, she couldn't help but to painfully realize that the etching pain still remains and that too this time it's gonna double fold'
She was heartbroken when she came to know from Najma that Kevin is gonna come to her city, that too with his fianc. He was coming to invite is friends for his wedding and apparently the girl have some of her long lost relations here so decided to tag along. To add more salt to Zoya's wound, Kevin had requested Najma to accommodate his fianc in Najma and Zoya's flat for three days and poor Najma had to agree to this as Kevin was a good friend of her.
Zoya's thoughts were broken by Najma's sound.
Najma: "Zoya, where are you lost? Are you angry with me for letting her stay here? I am soo sorry baby'"
Zoya: "It's okay Najma' I can understand your situation' don't worry' I will be fine'"
But Najma knew better than to believe the faade Zoya put. She simply hugged her close and she felt Zoya sobbing against her body. Najma knew she had done a biggest mistake in agreeing to Kevin. But what to do' Damage is already done' she could only pray to Allah to give strength to her Zoya' they broke the hug as they heard the doorbell.
Najma went to open the door followed by a meek Zoya. As expected it was Kevin and his fianc, Kate along with Zoya's other friends. Zoya tried her best to avoid looking at Kevin. But she couldn't help but to notice how close Kate was with Kevin' she was the chipkoo type. And again she felt a pang of jealousy in her heart. She felt suffocated. She wanted to go to her room as the environment, laughter, pleasantries were killing her' she wanted to shout at the top of her lungs to the world'
As another doorbell ringed, Najma went to open the door. For a fleeting moment Zoya's eye got locked with Kevin's. She cursed the moment as she realized that all the pent up pain has found its way outside of her heart in the form of tears. She quickly averted her gaze from him.
"Zoya'."
A voice from the doorway caught everyone's attention as they looked at the source of the voice. Zoya couldn't believe her eyes. There he was standing' the person whom she needed most right now' she couldn't help but to whisper.
"Asad'"
With that she ran into his outstretched arms and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back pressing her even more close to his body. After a few minutes they broke apart.
"Asad' You are really here' But how?"
He cupped her face and wiped the tears that were flowing from her eyes.
"How can I not come when you need me Zoya?"
And the response he got was more tears from Zoya's doe-eyes. He pulled her into another round of embrace as he caressed her hairs whispering sweet nothings into her ear. The whole room had gone into silent mode as everyone was shocked seeing Asad and Zoya hugging. It was a huge blow to them as they were unaware about Asad and Zoya' friendship. The hardest blow was of course directed towards Kevin as his mouth shaped a perfect 'O''
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