Hey my lovely QHians, back with another part. This part will be longer than the others. Enjoy
The birds chirping, the breezy morning, the sun up high, what else could a person ask for?
Zoya exited the house quietly. Her foot was feeling fine and she seemed to be walking by herself, just limping a little…okay a lot.
She put on her side bag and slowly turned the corner waiting for a rickshaw, the last thing she wanted to do was get caught and be brought back. Why did her foot have to be hurt! She saw a rickshaw and waved her hand until it stopped.
Rickshaw driver: Kahan jaana hai
Zoya pulled out a piece of paper from her side bag and handed it to the rickshawala, he nodded and started driving.
……………………………..
It was a far ride, a long way from the Khan residents. The rickshaw stopped and Zoya stepped out after paying. It was a quiet and small street, not a lot of people out, a couple of kids walking to school. She walked to the address she needed to go to. Her home…..
It wasn't at all what she expected, no flower bushes, no cars in the driveway, not even a single person near it, but there in front of her, an old worn down house, the colors fading and paint chipped. The windows broken…the place was abandoned, just like she was. She looked around and saw a couple walk by, they seemed like they were in their mid 50's.
Zoya: Excuse me
The couple stopped
Woman: Ji kahiye
Zoya: Kya aap mujhe bata sakti hai, iss ghar ke log kahan hai?
They looked at the house
Man: Kya batao, kismet hi kharab thi inke, bohot karab
Zoya heart was pouning hard
Zoya: K..kya hua hai?
Man: Yahan ek aurat aur unke beti rehti thi, unke pati kahin saal pehle unko ckorke chali gayi, aur phir beti ki shaadi ho gayi…
Woma: ek bohot aamir aadmi se
Man: beti chaali gayi, ma akele rehkar ek din guzar gayi…kya naam tha…oh han asthama attack se
Woman: aur unki beti jaane kahan hai woh….
Zoya had tears in her eyes…..was this her family, the family she was told about
Zoya: Toh…toh aap jaante te unhe?
Woman-Nahin, hum ne tho sirf yeh kahani suni hai, allah hi jaane agar sach ho ya nahi…
They started walking again, while Zoya stood rooted to the spot.
"Oh god, please let this be a story…this can't be true, this is my family…my mom…my sister. Sister…I have a sister….."
She started walking again and took out her phone. Did it take her that long just to arrive at this place? It was 7:56 already.
She looked back up, but to fine a couple of people staring at her. Most of them were women. They had shocked expressions.
"Why are they looking at me like that, is it because of my dressing style….yeah it had to be"
She looked at the apologetically and smiled. Some of the people walked away seeing her. What was happening?
……………………………..
Dilshaad walked out of the kitchen.
"Najma's up...check, Asad's up…check, Zoya….Zoya"
She headed to the stairs, where Asad was coming doen
Dilshaad: Beta zara dekho toh Zoya uti hai ya nahi, uski dawai ke waqt ho rahi hai…
Asad nodded and headed back.
He walked to the door, and stood in front of it. Letting out a deep breath he knocked the door. No answer. Again he tried to be welcomed by silence, and once more, but no luck. He held a confused face and turned the knob, empty.
"Was she gone? YES! Wait she has a broken foot…bathroom?"
He walked to the bathroom door and knocked that door. No answer. He opened it. Empty too
"That's weird? Where'd she go?"
Asad scratched his hear, the confused expression still on his face
Asad: Ammi Zoya's no in her room!
He called out as he ran down the stairs. His mother came out of the kitchen and so did Najma
Dilshaad: Kahan jaa sakti hai?
Asad: I would call, but I don't have hernumber…
"God, this girl!"
Najma: Mere paas hai….
She took her phone a dialed….
Najma: Bhai she's not answering
Asad held his head. This is what he had to wake up to….
Asad: Try again……
……………………………..
Zoya sat in a rickshaw, she was returning…defeated. She had tears running down her eyes Praying what she was told, wasn't true…
Thanks to her memory and the address Najma told her she was dropped off to where she started.
Zoya wiped hr tears and taking a deep breath walked in.
All heads turned. She looked at all their faces. Dilshaad…feared, Najma…worried, Asad…anger
Asad: Where the hell have you been?
He bursted out on her making her jump back
Asad: God knows how long we were trying to contact you, do you know how early it is, what if something happened to you, it would've been my responsibility…and on top of that you're wandering with an injured foot….
Zoya looked down
"He can't see you cry, not in front of others Zoya…"
She thought to herself, and slowly walked upstairs.
Dilshaad gave Asad…the look
Asad: What?
Dilshaad: Kaise vevhaar kiya tumne uske saath?
Asad: Kaise karoo? Welcome her in with flowers?
Dilshaad: Asad… you're too much.
She turned.
……………………………..
Zoya finally walked back out. It had been a couple of hours, but she did come out. The regular smile was on her face and the happy mood was back.
Zoya: Hello everyone…
Asad rolled his eyes
"And I thought I had knocked some sense into her."
Najma: Hello…
Zoya: So whats up?
Dilshaad: Kuch nahi, batao tumhari paer kaisi hai?
Zoya: Abhi kucj der pehle dard karna shuru ho gaya hai
Dilshaad: Tumne dawai nahi li iss liye….
Dilshaad stood up to get her medicine.
Asad stood and left….
……………………………..
Zoya sat alone, in the backyard, just staring up into the sky, the stars were out, but the moon was hiding behind the clouds. She was crying, not in front of Asad, not in front of phupi or Najma, but alone, the way she liked it…..
Hey….
It was him, his voice came from right behind he…she quickly wiped her tears, but not quick enough
Asad: I hope you're not crying because of me….I am sorry
"Miracle? The Rude, mean man was really saying sorry?"
She shook her head
Asad pointed at the bench
Asad: …May I?
She moved over a bit so he could sit.
Zoya: Mr. Khan…. Can I tell you something?
He nodded
Zoya: I think you're rude and judge full
"Wow, talk about Honest…more like straight forward"
Zoya: You totally embarrassed me; you didn't even know why I had to go out…
And all that, she said it low… the words which could of been told by a loud pissed voice, she said it so calmly.
Asad: I'm so-
Zoya: Do you know there's a 99% chance my family is dead…
He sat still, his eyes on her, while her's were at the sky. He was startled and more than that he was worried. The pain of someone's death, how can he not understand?
Asad: Are you sure? I mean maybe they're not residents of Bhopal anymore?
Zoya: Maybe…. But still it pains my heart even thinking about it…
There was silence for about a minute or 2
Asad: I'm sorry for bursting on you….
Zoya: It's okay…I should of informed you before I went
He played with his fingers and she kept her gaze on the stars. Soon awkwardness filled the air…again
...
Precap: Zoya finds out Asad's story
bump and fall scene 😉
...
Okay, I think the parts long enough right? I'm sending pm's to all as not a lot of people comment, but ehh, who cares. Ignore my mistakes and the next parts will be coming soon
<3 Farhana
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