Zoya watched the houses pass by as the car whirred on. The trees looked greener and fresher due to the rain this morning and there were decent sized puddles of water on the side of the road where children were indulging themselves by splashing water on each other. Usually this sight would have brought a small smile upon her face but not today. Today it was masked by the turmoil her heart was going through.
"Zoya please try to understand."
"No Aapi. No! I refuse to listen to what you are saying. How can you even think like that?"
"I have to be practical! Hope is fine and all but false hope isn't. And what you are exhibiting right now is ignorance and false hope."
Zoya's eyes filled with helpless tears and her body seemed to be drained of all energy as she slumped down on the chair. Zeenat moved to kneel in front of her and grabbed both of her hands in her own.
"Bache, try to understand that what I am doing is all for you. I want to see you settle. I want to know in my heart that when I die, my sister is happy and safe. That I have fulfilled my promise to Ammi and Khala. I want to be there on your wedding Zoya."
She looked into her Aapi's beseeching eyes feeling her heart breaking at the love that shone through them. Even now when she was supposed to be thinking of herself, her sister's only thought was for her.
"And you will Aapi. You will be at my wedding. You will be the-"
"The doctor's given me six months Zoya."
And this was the moment Zoya's heart stopped.
"What?" she gasped. She watched as Zeenat got up to sit on the chair beside her, running a shaky hand through her hair. She noticed her sister's bony fingers, the veins contrasting against the paleness of her hand.
"We went to the doctor today. He told me that the cancer is spreading faster than they expected. I only have six months to live."
Zeenat placed her hand on Zoya's cheek and forced her to look at her. She stared at her teary face as she spoke,
"Please Zoya. Agree to this. He is a very good boy and I believe you will be very happy. Anwar has known this family for a long time. Trust me and agree to marry him. We are going to meet them tomorrow."
So here she sat in the backseat of the car, heading towards an unknown face. She had already decided on getting married to the guy Zeenat had chosen for her. So meeting him and his family today was just a formality for her. How could she refuse her sister? The sister who had brought her up single handedly and without any complaints. The sister who had treated her orphaned cousin like her daughter. Zeenat was everything to Zoya. Her mother, her father, her whole family. And now that she was dying the least Zoya could do was give her what she wanted the most.
~******************~
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INDEX
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
46