"I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there's a life after that, I'll love you then."
-Cassandra Clare (City of Glass)
Chapter 4
Zoya had been setting up the last of the folded laundry in her closet when her cell phone rang. It was Asad. They had been in contact for the past five weeks since they saw each other in the grocery store. Keeping her wish, he had not asked her out again but they had formed a sort of friendship; it was more than friendship - they had formed a bond. Zoya learned to lean on him and have his support when she felt she was drowning in her emotions. She had also met his mother and sister.
Dilshad Khan had engulfed her into her arms and for the first time in ten years, Zoya had felt the warmth of a mother's touch. She could hardly contain herself and had been reduced to a blubbering mess. She had instantly blamed the pregnancy hormones.
In Najma, she found a sister and a friend. She had even introduced Ayaan and Humaira to the Khan family. She felt her life getting a little better and coming together.
She grabbed her mobile and answered Asad's call.
"Zoya? Are you alright? What took you so long? Is the baby fine? Zoya?" he fired questions before she could even say hello'
Another thing that she discovered was that Asad was a compulsive worrier. He was always concerned about his family and loved ones well-being. He felt the need to always protect them. Now, Zoya was a part of that little circle of his family.
"I am fine, Asad. I was just sorting out my room. No life-threating situation, just plain-boring laundry attacking me." She replied; she was in a good mood today.
"Ha-ha. Very funny. Acha, listen, I was wondering, do you have any plans for lunch? I have a free hour at twelve. We can meet for a coffee and sandwich run at the bistro near Humaira's work. Ask her if she is free, can you?"
Zoya contemplated his plan when a thought popped in her mind. Yes, some people will say that it was still very, very early, and she should probably not be careless when there was going to be a baby involved, but still, she found herself replying to Asad's question, "I can't have coffee, DR. KHAN. But I love to go out for some tea and lunch. And there is no need to ask Humaira. We do not want a third wheel on a date, do we?"
Her response was met with silence. She could hear him breathing on the other line and she gave him a few seconds to realize what she had just said.
"Zoya? Are you saying what I think you are?" he called out, softly.
"Yes" she said, her tone equally soft.
"Are you sure? I mean, I can wait. I-"
Zoya cut her off before he could continue, "I am sure, Asad. I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't."
"Okay."
Both of them smiled, just holding the phones and cherishing the moment - it was big moment.
***
Coffee, or tea, on Zoya's part had been the catalyst to the start of a wonderful journey. It was that fated day at the grocery store, which opened up new roads in their lives.
That coffee date paved the way for numerous others; dinners and strolls - Asad did all the wooing that there is. And over all those moments of just being Asad and Zoya, they discovered each other in new ways and in turn re-discovered themselves. While they had known each other for some weeks now, Zoya had not opened herself to him completely, with the fear of a letdown.
But now, she felt the need for him to know the real her. Previously, Asad had known that she worked as a freelance photographer but now he learned about Zoya's love and passion for photography. Earlier, he had known about her parents' death and about husband's tragic fire accident, but now, he held her and soothed her as she cried while telling him about her life before she had met him.
She in turn supported him and reassured the boy in him, who was yearning for his father.
"Asad, if there is something I have learnt from life it's that pain and loss are a part of life, you never let your entire life become just a part of the pain." She had said to him.
Their relationship progressed and she seamlessly fell into a routine with her new family. Her innocence and pure soul filled the void in Khan household that no one had even noticed that existed. In the next few months, Zoya became a regular feature in their home. They had become a family and they couldn't care less about what anyone thought of them. No one in the family questioned or thought of it as weird when stacks of toys started making appearance in their house and filled the spare room opposite to Asad's.
But sometimes, Zoya herself felt as if she was cheating with Atif's memory by moving on so fast in her life. Often, Asad would find her lost in thought, with her hand splayed possessively over her swollen belly. He had understood her dilemma without her mentioning anything to him. It was only natural for her to consider it all. The society they lived in did not understand love in situations like these. Zoya had long talks with herself, with Dilshad and Humaira.
As she neared the end of her pregnancy, on top of the rapid chances that were happening in her life and over active hormones that made her emotional very easily, her fears of abandonment would resurface. Dilshad had noticed Zoya worrying and withdrawing back into her shell and she had tried to soothe the distraught girl's fears.
"Zoya, I already consider you my daughter and this baby as my grandchild. You know that Asad doesn't care about what anyone might say, right? Zoya, beta, I know it's hard for you to take in all these changes in your life, but remember, the moments that have passed should only be remembered for what they taught us."
Zoya's eyes brimmed with tears and a few fell and raced down her worried face. "Ammi, what if things don't work out between us? What if a baby is too much for Asad? I can't lose another family! And Atif! What would he think of me?"
Dilshad took her in her arms and pacified Zoya. She knew that it was the pregnancy hormones and emotions talking.
"It is going to work out just fine! Asad loves you, and he loves the baby, so much and you know it.You are family now, Zoya! Even if you two decide to separate your ways, which I know would not happen, you will still have me. You are my daughter first, Zoya. And..."
"And Atif would want you to be happy, Zoya" Asad's voice rang out. He had walked on to her mother reassuring Zoya.
Zoya turned her head toward him and he walked over to where she sat. Kneeling before her, he took her hands in one hand and caressed her tear-stricken face with another.
"From what you have told me, I can tell Atif was an amazing man. And he would want you to be happy; his daughter to be happy. You would not be honoring his memory by putting your life on hold, Zoya."
He took a deep breath and continued, "And I want you to be happy; be it with me or anyone else. Be it now, today, or in the years to come. No one is pushing you to do anything, I hope you know that."
Zoya cried and threw herself in his arms.
"I love you, Asad. And I want you, now, today, and forever. I want happiness and I want it with you. Always." She sobbed into his chest, this time, tears of liberation.
He engulfed her in his arms and murmured his love for her. And his arms, with the baby nestled between them, Zoya's mind was finally clear. Her epiphany was a quote she had once read in passing.
"The future was always more important from the past"
Asad was her future, this baby was her future. Just like she had been Zoya Farooqui once, she had also been Zoya Nasser. But she was not anymore. She had a bright future to look forward too. As much as she tried to tell herself that it was too soon for it, she had fallen in love. With that epiphany, she had let go of the last barriers she had been unknowingly keeping, and let the new love fill every part of her body.
***
And when she had gone into labor, it had felt only natural to have Asad with her. When she held her daughter for the first time, she knew. She knew that it was time to let go of pain of the past, remember it only for the happy memories; her future was waiting for her.
While Atif and Zoya had bonded over loss and loneliness, Asad and Zoya had healed each other.
Zoya named her daughter Renee Atif Khan. Renee, meaning born again. And in every sense, her daughter had brought Zoya back to life; Zoya was born again. She named her after both her fathers. She was a Khan, it was inevitable that Zoya will be too, one day. But Renee was born a Khan - she was Asad's daughter.
Zoya had loved Atif, really, truly, madly loved him. He was her love, but perhaps not the love of her life. He would always be an inevitable part of her; after all he had blessed her with Renee. And in a series of effects, it had landed her with an amazing family and the love of her life, Asad. Atif was only a chapter in her life and now it was time to get on with the real story of her life.
Zoya looked over to where Asad was standing hear the window of her hospital room, holding the tiny newborn baby girl in his arms. He was rocking her gently and whispering softly to her.
Renee was Atif's last gift to her, and it had led her to Asad. Atif would always be with them. In memory, in heart and in Renee. He had been her guardian angel, just not her soul mate. With Asad was her real love story.
And, Real love stories never have endings.
A/N : Chapter title: A quote from City of Glass, a book by Cassandra Clare. Great series of books, FYI!
Story title: "Real love stories never have endings" - Richard Bach
Anddd it's done! Yes, this was the last chapter! I hope you liked this story! The last part was hard for me to write. I know it's just a teeny weeny story, but still very dear to me!
I hope that it lived up to your expectations. I feel like I have incorporated all that I wanted to send out through this story.
Life will leave your dumbfounded with the strange curve-balls it throws at you. But you will always have your ways out, and sometimes life itself leads you to them. You only have to realize what they are!
Much love,
Simi
Edited by saida.m - 11 years ago
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