Part – 2
(Asad's POV)
I watched as the doctor and nurses worked on Zoya, adjusting then re-adjusting the oxygen mask. She was lying so lifeless. Allah please make her ok. I sat with her hand in mine rubbing her skin gently with my thumb, hoping beyond hope that she was going to be ok. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, I can't see this bundle of life, fighting for her own life.
I listened to the doctors, trying to decipher what they were saying but it was like they were speaking pig Latin, I couldn't understand anything other than 'stable' and 'conscious'. I saw the nurse put something on her finger.
"Excuse me," I whispered. "What's that for?"
"It's a pulse oximetry," she answered. "It's to let us know how much oxygen is in her blood." I nodded slowly.
"We need to intubate her," a doctor said to the nurse. "There's too much swelling in her throat and her BP's coming down." The nurse went to pick up a tube sort of thing and tilted Zoya's head.
I'm not a doctor but I knew that whatever it was, it was bad. The doctor asked me to leave the room. I turned to leave. I didn't want to see the doctor place the tube down her throat.
Outside najma and ammi were crying. How will I comfort them when I, myself is in need of consolation. I sat there with ammi and Najma, comforting them, trying to stop my own tears from flowing.
"Bhaijaan, Zoya will be fine na?" Najma asked in between her tears.
"Don't worry, Zoya is a strong girl, she is very brave. We will soon hear her laughter and her betuki shayaris. Just let the doctors' work, 'Kay."
I clasped my hand together, closed my eyes and silently prayed to Allah. She is going to be fine… I kept repeating it in my head like a mantra. I felt someone's hand on my shoulder, I looked up to see Ayaan, I looked at his hand and saw the engagement ring. She is not mine and she'll never be. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing down.
"Bhaijaan, I'm sorry I should've checked the house before leaving but mumaani……" Ayaan gave some lame excuse but before he could finish, I cut him off.
"She said and you believed her? weren't you the one who kept telling that you should never trust a woman like her? Then how can you believe her Ayaan? You know what don't answer that. I don't wanna talk about it, just leave me alone." Just then the doctor came out. I rushed towards him. She is going to be fine. I repeated in my mind.
"Doctor, how is she?" my voice had become shaky due to the huge lump in my throat.
"Mr. Khan, honestly, she is very critical right now. We can't say anything. Her throat is swollen because she has inhaled a lot of smoke and we sent her for a CT scan because we found a bump on her head, we're waiting for the results. Even after the results we have to keep her on a ventilator and an IV. Once she is out of danger, we'll see if she can breathe on her own, only then we'll remove the tube down her throat." Doctor said in a quiet sympathizing tone. She is going through so much and there's nothing I can do about it.
The doctor turned back and said in a soft tone, "Mr Khan sometimes prayers work better then medicine. Just pray to god and he will make everything all right and your wife will be fit and fine." Saying this she left.
I heard the doctor call Zoya my wife. I smiled, 'Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan' had a nice ring to it. I shook my head to make the thought go away. She was going to be 'Zoya Ayaan Ahmed khan' (please don't kill me for this)
"Asad what did the doctors say?" Ammi asked.
"She is very critical right now, we have to wait for the CT scans."
"CT scans? What happened to her?" ammi had started panicking. I took her hand in mine and tried consoling her.
"The doctor found a bump on her head so they are checking if it's serious."
"Oh okay. Ya allah please meri bacchi ko bacha lena." Even I silently prayed for her well-being.
After what seemed like ages the doctor came to me,
"Mr khan we have found a concussion on her head, maybe she fell on something or someone deliberately hit her with something hard. Do you know what happened?"
"Why would someone do that? I'm sorry I was not there when this happened. Do ya'll know anything?" I asked Ayaan and his family. They shook their heads. I was shocked, why would someone hurt her deliberately. Then I remembered that b*****d siddhiqui. He must have done something. If I come to know it's him then I will make sure he rots in jail for the rest of his life.
(3rd person POV)
"Now what will we do? Razia because of you stupidity we will go to jail. Asad Ahmed Khan will not leave us alive. Let's just run away from here." Siddhiqui was furious at Razia.
"If we run away then it will be clear that we are at fault. And you are blaming me? You wanted to get rid of Zoya's mother and Zoya and now you are piling it all on me." Razia spat the words. Siddhiqui was shocked as it was the first she had dared to raise her voice in front of him. His phone began to ring, he picked it up without glancing at the caller ID.
"Hello?"
"Don't even think of hiding anywhere because I'll find you, even if it means I have to go to hell to find you. You and your wife have to pay for this." He heard the strong voice The Asad Ahmed Khan but before he could reply the call was disconnected.
~ IN THE HOSPITAL ~
The doctor came and informed them that they could meet Zoya but only one person at a time. Asad stood up but then he sat back when he remembered that Ayaan had the right to meet her first.
Ayaan placed a reassuring hand on Asad's shoulder and motioned with his head to go and meet Zoya. He ran to meet his Zoya, his life. There she was, lying so lifeless, his constricted at the sight of this bubbly girl lying on a hospital bed with various tubes around her. The tears which he had managed to keep at a bay had started to flow down his cheeks. He went and sat on the stool near the bed and took Zoya's hand in his. Even amidst the IV and the machines she still looked mesmerizing as ever. Please Zoya don't leave me. I'm nothing without you. I should've never let you go in that house. I miss you please don't die. Now I understand what you were trying to say that day.
~ FLASHBACK ~
"Mr Khan, believe me when I'll leave this house you'll miss me a lot." Zoya said in her chirpy voice trying to tease her jahapanah.
"Rubbish." Asad said annoyingly.
"Trust me Mr khan woh kehte hai na insaan ko kissi bhi cheez ki kadar tab hoti hai jab who unhe chodke chala jaye. Right phupi?"
"Yes Asad beta, yeh baat toh sahi hai. Even though you both fight a lot I'm sure you'll miss your petty fights when she leaves this house." Dilshad took Zoya's side. Her comment had made him roll his eyes.
End of the flashback!
"You were right Zoya. I did miss you like crazy when you left my house. I missed our nok jhoks and your betuki shayaris. Just get well soon, ammi najma and I have become so accustomed to your laughter that without it our world seems empty. Our house looks empty." He kissed her hand and cried.
Ayaan was watching his bhaijaan break down from the window. His bhaijaan really loved Zoya and he was no one to come between them. He had to do something.
The doctor came inside to check on Zoya. She asked Asad to go back home and rest but he refused. He wouldn't leave Zoya ever again.
The next day only Dilshad najma and Ayaan had come to the hospital. Asad was still inside curled up on the chair which was provided to him. The doctor came inside the room to check on Zoya.
"Mr Khan her BP is normal and the swelling in her throat has also decreased, we'll remove the oxygen mask to see if she can breathe on her own, is she can then we can discharge her and you can take her home tomorrow.
The doctor checked her pulse and then slowly removed the tube. Zoy had started breathing on her own but she was not responding.
"Doctor why is still sleeping when will she wake up?" asad voice had become hoarse due to all the cying.
"Mr Khan, it's the medicines, don't worry she is fine. She will wake up in a few hours." The doctor reassured him.
(ZOYA'S POV)
My head was spinning and even though I was awake I couldn't open my eyes. Why can't I open my eyes. Where am I? I want to get up but I can't move. I heard some voices in the background.
"Doctor she'll be fine na?" I could hear a strangely familiar voice, a soft velvety voice.
"We can't be sure Mr Khan." What was it? Who were they talking about? I wanted to ask but I was so tired that I fell asleep.
oOo
I felt someone squeeze my hand, the touch was so soothing and it made me forget the pain in my head. I wanted to squeeze back but I couldn't.
"Please don't leave me Zoya. Wake up, please for me." It was the same voice. It was Asad's voice. But his voice was very sad. No… why is he sad? What happened?
oOo
"I love you Zoya! I've tried a lot to hide my feelings but I can't hide them anymore. I love you please wake up." Asad loves me. I wanted to say "I love you too" but I couldn't. I felt something wet on my hand and then I heard a sobbing sound. No no no no jahapanah can't cry. I'll make him smile. Damn it why cant I open my eyes. I try to fight the darkness which was creeping in again but I couldn't.
oOo
I wake up to find myself in a white sterilized room. What is it? Where am I? why the hell is my head hurting so much? Why is my throat so dry? I lift my hand to clutch my head but my hand was attached to an IV. I looked to my right and saw Asad sitting on a chair with his eyes shut tightly and hand clasped together as if he was praying.
"A-A-Asad." Allah miyan why was it so difficult to speak.
"Zoya….Zoya, shukra allah ka tumhe hosh to aaya. I'll call the doctor." I simply nodded.
The doctor came in after a few minutes.
"Her vital signs are normal. Can you open your mouth a little?" I did as I was asked.
"The swelling has reduced but she will have a little trouble while speaking. She is fine and you can take her home by the evening." The doctor smiled at me. She was very sweet and she reminded me of the dentist who used to give me chocolate when I was small and scared to get my teeth checked.
"What happened?" I somehow managed to say.
"Nothing to worry about, you were caught in a fire but you are absolutely fine now." Fire? Images of abbu and that witch laughing came in front of me. Abbu's revelation, their conspiracy, everything came crashing down. Tears welled up in my eyes. I looked at Asad, his was blurred with my tears. He took my hand in his and gave a light peck on my palm.
"You are fine now Mrs Khan. You have such a loving husband." Saying this the doctor left.
"What did she say?" I asked Asad.
"Nothing, why don't you rest."
Phupi and najma came inside. Their eyes were red, probably because of crying. Phupi gave a light hug, careful with the IV.
"Oh thank god you are fine. We all were so scared Zoya. Beta if you want something then just ask, ok beta." She always reminded me of my ammi.
"Yes, some clean clothes for Mr Khan." I pointed at Asad. His top button undone, his shirt not properly tucked in and he was in desperate need of a shave, his stubble had grew into a beard.
"When was the last time you checked yourself in the mirror?" I tried to lighten the mood.
"Look who's talking and you shouldn't be talking. You should rest, although you've been sleeping for 2 days."
I've been sleeping for two days! Woah my condition was that bad, huh?
"We'll let you rest and I'll get some clean clothes for your Mr Khan." Phupi giggled.
After they left the room there was silence. Neither one of us spoke for some time. The silence was broken by Mr Khan
"If it wasn't for the gentle ticking of the heart monitor, I would've thought you were dead."
"Don't worry Mr khan… mujhe maarna itna aasan nahi hai." That certainly brought a smile on his face. Aahaa! Mission accomplished.
"Why don't you rest. The doctor will discharge you in the evening." He adjusted the pillows to make them comfortable and patted my head.
"Yes… I can't wait to go home."
"Errr… which home are you talking about?" his voice had become sad again.
"I have only one home and that's yours." I smiled. Asad kissed my forehead and went out of the room.
A/N – I know I know, it was supposed to be a Two shot but the story was getting very long and my brain has stopped working temporary. So it'll be a three shot ( if there is such a thing) I'll post the next and the final part by tomorrow.
Now my knowledge about hospital and medicines and stuff is only restricted to the 7 seasons of grey's anatomy so any doctor or medical student reading this please try not to kill me for any mishtake *ducks behind the chair to save myself from chappals* the diagnosis is mine and I don't know whether it's correct or no… so I'm really sorry.
I have not checked it so please forgive any grammatical errors. If you are disappointed with this chapter then I'm really sorry.
Now anyone who knows me well, will know how much I love your comments be it criticisms or anything else. Please don't forget to like it and I'll speed up my update. Don't forget to comment and please avoid reserving. Many people reserve and then forget to unres it.
Cheers!
~ Sadie! 😃
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