Chapter 21
Everyone found it hard to take in his words. Dilshad gaped at him in astonishment, Najma who was shedding tears like a waterfall slumped on the couch behind her, Ayan didn't know how to react he stood there like a dumb statue.
Asad, flabbergasted and dumbfound supports himself there, where Sid'ds voice echoes inside his mind, bouncing back and forth.
"I am here to congratulate you two on your engagement."
Asad who sometimes back felt like bursting at the old man was suddenly silenced.
"I think its getting too late now…..i will come again tomorrow." Sid tapped on Zoya's cheek, his voice brought Asad back to reality.
He stared back as he left, Zoya who was stuffed with joy and excitement hugs Asad as Sid left squealing,
"Mr. Khan did you see that?...he came here….. he came here for me!" She could hardly complete her sentence when Asad pulled her back a little harshly, glaring intently into her eyes with his 32 teeth tightly clenched, he growled,
"You said your father didn't know about you."
Zoya stared back in shock; his grip suddenly started hurting her and his words felt like they were dripping venom.
"Mr. Khan….i …I don't know how…"
He didn't let her complete.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" he yelled again, Ayan, Dilshad, and Najma gasped.
Zoya could do nothing but stare at him; she was utterly baffled and could hardly comprehend his sudden reaction. He out of habit was yelling at the wrong person at the wrong time. His grip suddenly loosened and he stomped away towards his room, slamming the door shut behind with all force he could summon, leaving her and everyone else saturated in shock.
Zoya in a state of complete chaos and misunderstanding of his sudden out bursting reaction felt her head flighty, tiny black and white circles spiraling in front of her eyes.
--------------------------------
Asad slumps on his bed sinking his head in his hands, more or less ripping his hair apart. Ayan nears his brother to settle down beside him. He gently places his hand on his shoulder.
"No….Not now Ayan….not now!" Asad croaked.
Ayan deliberately pulls his hand back, stays there thinking something then leaves after a while.
Later that night:-
Najma peeps in Zoya's room to find her missing. She rushes inside and knocks t the washroom's door. No response. She frowns thinking 'Where can she be?'
Something clicks and she makes for the balcony at the second floor. There she was sitting silently in one corner, in a white dress, staring at ring- engagement ring. The blew the lose strands of her hair, a bead rolls down her cheeks.
Najma silently paces towards her and settles beside her. Their ain't any reaction from Zoya's side. Najma found the silence between them quite awkward; she slowly places her hand on Zoya's shoulder.
"Zoya!"
"Why did he do this?" She whispers, Najma sighs.
"He is only shocked."
"Still why?"
Najma didn't know what to say.
"You guys already know abbu?"
"Kind of."
"Not in a good way right.?"
"Its not that Zoya!"
"I still cant connect anything."
"Zoya…"
Zoya was silent now, staring at nothing now.
"I wanna know." She whispers after a long time.
"Know what?"
"The missing chunk."
"I don't know how to….." Najma ran out of words.
"Don't lie….i know there is something seriously wrong here and I wanna know it. Asad simply cant be that mad at me just like that."
"Zoya…"
"Plaease tamater…" She pleaded.
"Fine I will tell you everything but not now….tomorrow, early in the morning, I promise."
"Why not now?"
"You need to have some rest." She pressed.
Zoya made a scuffing sound. "Huh! You think I can sleep- not tonight Najma."
"At least take your medicines."
And she knew they would somehow make her sleep for some time at least.
-------------------------------------
Dilshad entered Asad's room as she saw the lights on. He was still positioned on is bed with his head in his hands, and still hadn't changed yet. Dilshad composes her expressions and settles beside him; gathering up courage to address him.
"Asad?"
He doesn't budge.
"Asad….look at me."
"Please Ammi."
"Whats wrong with you Asad?" Dilshad finally broke up in frustration. He sighs and looks up at her, an amazingly incredulous look on his face.
"Whats wrong with me? Ammi everything happened there right in front of you and you are here asking me ke what's wrong with me?" He replied in aggravation.
"I know Asad, its equal a shock for me but……what can be done?"
"I don't know……..i seriously don't have the spirit to know anything right-now."
Dilshad kept silent for long.
"Why him ammi? Why him of all the people? The one person I acutely can't stand in front of my eyes."
"I don't get one thing….why didn't Zoya tell anyone of us about all this?"
"She did, I knew everything, everything except that her damn Abbu was this smudge Siddique."
"Really?" Dilshad was confuzzled.
"Yeah! And worse of all I promised her that no matter what….i wont leave her, that her past wont affect us, that I don't care where she belongs to….Now I feel like I am losing myself. How on earth was I ever supposed to know that my ill fate is ever sick!?!"
"You don't have to leave her, if you think rationally, I don't think she gets any share of the blame in anyway. As far as Siddique is concerned, I am not so certain what he has in mind…….. his sudden appearance and reaction to our engagement has left me thinking many things."
"I don't know, I just feel so sick, so weak…."
"What do you want to do now?"
"Huh! Shoot that old man in front of my eyes, or at least myself if not him."
Dilshad sighed giving up.
--------------------------------------
Early next morning:-
Zoya sat there, shell shocked as Najma narrated everything to her. Every sentence, every word pierced down into her like arrows. When she knew she couldn't take anymore she started sobbing loudly. Najma cleared away the salt solution from her face and hugged Zoya.
"So much?...Why didn't you tell me before?"
"We never knew…..that you could be connected…to you know…..in any way."
"No wonder he was so mad at me………… Mr. Khan would never want to see my face again."
"No! Don't say that…. Didn't he support you there last night….i know Bhai jaan would keep his promise under any circumstances."
"I never knew I could be a cause f so much pain for him ever."
"You cant blame yourself, I don't see your fault anywhere."
"Fault or not….i will always be a source of reminding him of his bitter past."
"Don't forget your past is equally bitter."
"Still….."
She started crying again. Najma knew she was nowhere near stopping. All her efforts were going in vein because nothing was going to calm her down now.
"Zoya……..Zoya………….Please stop crying."
But she didn't. this went on for a while.
Dilshad banged the door open and sighed with relief seeing Zoya there with Najma.
"Thank God you are here….i have been looking for you and Asad all over the house."
"Where is Asad phupho?"
She looks back blankly.
"I don't know…." She starts clicking her cell phone to dial Asad's number but it was busy.
Zoya and Najma fixed their eyes on Dilshad, who tries again but it was unreachable this time. She sighed putting the phone down; at last she tried his office's number.
Someone picks up to inform her that he had left this morning for Sharjah for a re-scheduled meeting which was to take place two weeks from now……………
*-*-*
There has to be a reaction. No?
Time for your reaction!!!!!!!
Members Lounge
Music Corner
47