Posted:
Okay so here you go another OS. This is especially for Ankie( the sumo sized friend of an over sized friend) who made me write this.Its basically a continuation. For all those who haven't read the first part Here you go(https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/75164133)
~You belong with me~
"At the end, true love finds a way to succeed."-Anonymous
Life is strange. The games it plays are strange. The conclusion it draws are strange. And maybe this is how we need to embrace it. Ayaan had always loved Zoya. Yes that was the truth. She was his perfect mate yet there was something amiss. Even though their relation had evolved to so much more, still the connect was missing. Something that Ayaan wasn't able to put his finger on.
The last two years began unraveling themselves like a play by play. Ayaan had always liked Zoya. Just like her name she was full of life and zeal. So much like 'the one' he wanted. Then why was it that he needed Humeira for all his secrets first and Zoya second?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Allah mia!!! What is it with you two brothers? Can't you two get ready just for once on time?" Zoya shrieked.
"Well I'm trying to Zoya but this…..thing just wouldn't zip up!" Ayaan tried being defensive. It was like this their relation as man and wife had taken a toll on their nature. Ayaan had become even more careless and Zoya even more messy. So much for the old saying that marriage opens the mind and make people mature!
"Damn it! That's not a thing Ayaan. It's known as a sherwani. And the thing you're fidgeting with happens to be a stole that stuck in the zip lining! What should I do with you?" Zoya hissed clenching her jaw and trying not hit her husband on their first anniversary.
She began helping him fearing that if she doesn't then the sherwani might die at the hands of her husband's personal Waterloo.
"Zoya..."
"Hmmm"
"So….how are you feeling? I mean all this celebration and stuff…are you even..I mean…you know"
Zoya halted in her tracks. She was busy folding the drapes of his sherwani and letting that all go she looked straight up in the eye of her...friend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"May I come in?" Humeira asked.
"Ah what a perfect timing!!! Thank god you're here. Could you please help me up with this...whatever? I am running late and it would be rude if the groom is late for his own wedding!" Ayaan spoke in distress to which Humeira chuckled.
"Grow up for once Ayaan. You're getting...married" Humeira tried telling that to him or maybe herself.
" Yeah right if only I knew getting married means wrapping yourself in all this...stuff I would have preferred eloping with Zoya. By the way you're looking beautiful. Planning to steal Zoya's thunder or what?" Ayaan got back to his usual fun self.
Humeira took the stole and began draping it over his shoulder."I really can't do that you know"
"Do what?" Ayaan asked genuinely.
"Stealing Zoya's thunder. I mean you fell for her that makes her really special and one of a kind. How am I supposed to compete her?" Humeira replied a bit dejectedly.
"Why do you think like that?" Ayaan inquired.
But instead Humeira chose to be quite in return. She kept arranging the drapes over his...his wedding attire.
"Humeira...you didn't answer. Why do you thi..."
"Its not like that Ayaan. I...I'm just sad that I'd be losing my friend over Zoya.
You've been my only friend so far. Its...diffi...difficult" Humeira spoke hiding the tears that threatened to fall anytime.
Ayaan cupped her face and tried soothing her."Its not like that Humeira. You'd never lose me. You'll always be the first. Zoya came after you and hence will be a second. You needn't worry. Besides we're childhood buddies, right?"
And with that Ayaan moved out to join the baraat that was waiting for the groom to come when Humeira called out.
"Do you even know what you said Ayaan?" she clearly sounded disturbed.
"I did..." But before he could complete a giggling group of girls led by Nikhat, Nuzrat and Najma dragged him down.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"What!? What is it? Ayaan?" Zoya blurted out, trying to be as coherent as she could be.
"I was thinking...you know...I mean...are you happy Zoya? Ayaan finally spit it out.
"Happy? What kind of a question is that? And more importantly why do you have to ask it specifically now?"
Zoya was baffled. She couldn't think why those questions were so necessary, that too at this hour of time.
"Ayaan..."
"No let me finish. Ever since the day one we've been friends, right?"
Zoya simply nodded unable to understand where his line of thoughts was going.
"So we being friends make it much easier to...communicate. Hmmm"
"Ayaan spit it out. Is there something you wish to tell me? If yes then speak it out else lets just leave for the party"
"Well there is something"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It had taken more than mere strength for Humeira to let go of Ayaan and accept him as a married man. She had always loved him, if only he could understand.
Maybe then life would have been a lot easier than what it was now.
Ayaan was right that she'd always remain a first for him. He still confided in her for all little things. Not that she mind. But the guilt of betraying Zoya was killing her somewhere. Making her feel suffocated and the worst part was that even though she tried staying away, she wasn't able to.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asad was answering an important call when he felt something collide with his strong frame. Quickly excusing himself, he ended his call and turned around looking even more surprised or maybe that was an expression of shock.
Sprawled on the floor there was a crying Zoya. Asad panicked. He got down on the floor and helped her up.
"What happened? Zoya? Wha..."
He was answered with only more sobs in return. He looked around and thought it would not be nice if people found them at this hour together and so taking her to his room and having bolted the door and making her sit on the bed, he finally asked her to let it all out.
"A divorce happened Asad. Ayaan wishes...wishes to divorce me. I...I.." She screamed out crying. She sounded dejected and shattered and this was what Asad hated the most.
To say Asad was shocked would have been a gross understatement. He was way beyond that.
"It can't be" Asad tried telling that more to himself than her.
"Zoya I'm sure it must be some sort of a joke. You know how Ayaan is. Mad and all that. He must be playing with you that's it"
"Of course after all my life is a joke, right Asad? Earlier it was you and now your brother." Zoya got up this time to face him in the eye. The tears were long gone and were replaced with sheer disgust.
"You know what he said Asad that we're not happy in each others company and that we should let this marriage dissolve. Now tell me do you still find this as a joke?"
"Zoya maybe you understood wrong, Ayaan couldn't have said that. He must..."
"He must have what Asad? Do you even know how difficult it was for e to start from a scratch? Letting go of the man I loved and accepting his brother happy. Today Ayaan says that I am not happy BUT CAN'T YOU PEOPLE REALISE THAT I CAN NEVER BE" Zoya screamed out loud. Deciding to hold back nothing no matter what consequences she might face.
Asad cupped her face and tried soothing her."It's not like that Zoya and..."
She slapped his hands away. Her eyes were swollen and the pain made her look maybe older than what she was.
"It was you Asad that I thought would bring me happiness but you had to kill that dream of mine. You handed me over to Ayaan and then expected me to be happy. I wasn't but still I tried and now all this. Can't I have a family for once Asad? Why give me something that doesn't belong to me?"
"You deserve every happiness Zoya and this family belongs to you Zoya. It.."
"You belonged to me Asad, but are you even mine?"
Asad this time failed to give an answer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It takes real guts to set things right. And Ayaan had decided no matter what tonight he'd get everything to fall back in place. It was as if it was a day of realizations. Ayaan had finally found out that his heart belonged somewhere else. And today he just had to claim it.
He had seen the love for Zoya in his bhaijaan's eyes and something of the similar sort for himself in Humeira's. Today he just had to find the way to get the true directions for himself and others
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been a draining task for Ayaan. First the cancellation of the party then getting all the family down to at least listen to him for his hasty decision. Ayaan wanted to take a nap before dealing with his family but then the sooner he got through with this the better.
"So now will you explain what's all this. Ayaan." Asad spoke a bit too harshly, indicating what doom might befall him.
"Bhaijaan trust me whatever I am doing is for everyone's good." Ayaan reasoned.
"Beta please speak out. This isn't a game going on. We need answers and more importantly Zoya needs them" Dilshad said. She of all wanted Zoya to be happy the most. After all having seen her break down was no easy task.
"Ammi, bhaijaan loves Zoya and so does she. And if that's the case then who am I to keep them away" Ayaan said it and exhaled in what you might call as relief.
He had expected everyone to be just as relaxed as he was but instead there was silence, a very uncomfortable one. And before he could understand all of that Zoya slapped him hard.
"Do you even know what you're saying? How could you even think like that? I agree that deep down I love him but that doesn't mean I'll cheat" Zoya felt aggrieved and agitated. How could Ayaan even think like that? Maybe this was the reason of that divorce talk.
"Ayaan you're out of your mind. There's nothing going on between the two of us. You are possibly insane." Asad too lashed it out.
Ayaan visibly flinched. The evening was scandalized, something that he didn't want to. His sisters and Humeira looked equally lost and Dilshad and Dadi were fuming.
"God its not like that. Just hear me out. I know that you two love each other but practically kill yourself before ruining a household. But then that's not what I mean. Zoya has been the best friend I could ever have but she isn't my love and that's what I am trying to tell you guys"
He walked over to Humeira and dragged her along to stand with Asad and Zoya.
"This girl here has been there to support me always. Do you guys even know that I have been relying on her for the past god knows how many years? I've always taken her for granted, knowing that she'd be there to help me out. And as much as I care about Zoya I can never deny that it'll always be Humeira first and Zoya second. I know it was me who wanted to get married to Zoya in the first place but then this isn't man and wife together. Its just two friends. Bhaijaan loves her and I love Humeira. And with equations such as this why complicate things. I know I've made a mess trying to figure all this out but then this is the truth. And deny as much as you people can but even you all wanted the match to be fixed like this."
Ayaan finally let it all out. And made everyone agree that yes somewhere this was what they had initially wanted. Maybe things were finally getting back to how it should have been.
And this was how it should be.
Sometimes, you don't know how to distinguish between your wants and needs. We keep thinking what we want is what we need and head for a wrong direction only to realize that our lives, our joys are abandoned somewhere.
Udne Ki Aasha
