The Day After: OS
This is a short AsYa OS about the day after Tanveer has been kicked out of the Khan Villa.
After throwing Tanveer and her belongings out of his house, Asad had locked himself in his room all night. He didn't even join the family for the morning sehri.
At the dining table, Dilshaad thanked Allah for guiding them through one of the toughest times of their lives.
"Najma? Zoya? Arre dekho tho Asad kyun nahin aaya? Na jaane raat ko soya bhi hai ya nahin. Bahut kharab mood mein tha."
Zoya, who had probably not slept all night herself, stood up, her eyes swollen but face relieved as they had just conquered the biggest battles of their lives. She was hoping to see an equally relieved and happy Mr. Khan at the dining table, but was surprised to see his seat empty.
"Phoophi main dekh kar aati hoon."
"Zoya, main bhi aati hoon. Kahin bhaijaan bahut gusse mein na ho." Najma tried to get up but Dilshaad stopped her, "Najma, jaane do. Ab yeh pehla haq Zoya ka hai. Let her go."
"Jee ammi," Najma nodded and sat down.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
A hesitant Zoya knocked at his door. It was bolted. Even though, she thought she knew Asad well, last night she had seen a different man. The fury that she had seen in his eyes surpassed that of the slap in the hospital. It was hatred, revulsion and agony that emanated from his eyes last night. Tanveer had tried to burn her alive but Asad's fury had burnt Tanveer's evil plans and her intentions into ash. They had all given him space and time to recover from the big betrayal. After all, his trusted childhood friend had robbed him of his self-respect, his happiness and the love of his life.
"MR. KHAN! MR. KHAN! May I come in?" She asked softly
After a few minutes, she heard his footsteps.
He unlocked the door but opened it just slightly. His eyes were puffy and red, his hair unkempt and his jaws clenched.
"Mr. Khan, sehri ka waqt ho gaya hai. Please come and join us."
He turned around and walked back into his room, leaving the door ajar.
Zoya walked in and stood behind his back.
"Mr. Khan?"
"I TOLD YOU I AM NOT HUNGRY. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"
She was taken aback but knew he was probably angry at himself more than anyone else.
"Mr. Khan? Kisi aur ke zulm ki saza aap apne aap ko kyun de rahe hain?" She asked gently and placed her palm on his shoulder.
"Main isi laayak hoon." He calmed down.
"Aap aisa kyun keh rahe hain Mr. Khan? Galati Tanveer ki thi. Usney aapki sharafat ka naa jaayaz faayda uthaya. Sazaa tho usey milegi. Aap bekasoor hain."
"NAHIN MS FAROOQUI!" He hung his head, "zulm Tanveer ne kiya lekin gunahgaar main hoon. I am your culprit. Aap-aap…," his eyes were misty, "you could have lost your life. Aap kitne din us se akeli ladhti rahi. I didn't trust you. It's my fault. Main sach mein aapke laayak nahin hoon Ms. Farooqui."
"Iska faisal karne waale aap kaun hote hain Mr. Khan?" Zoya choked on her tears.
He turned around and faced her, "I-I should have trusted you. Jaanti hain meri bewakoofi ki wajah se aapne kitni sazaa paayi hai? Aapka dil kitni baar thoda hai maine?"
"Sazaa tho aapne bhi paayi hai Mr.Khan. Dil tho aapka bhi toota hai. Tanveer is the only culprit and we both were her victims." She stepped forward and touched his arm, "please Mr. Khan, don't punish yourself. "
"Zoya," he glanced at her with tears in his eyes, "aap chaahe tho wapas New York jaa sakti hain. Mere jaise insaan ke saath aapko kuch nahin milega. Main tho aapki hifaazat bhi nahin kar saka."
"Mr. Khan, jiski hifaazat Allah karta hai, usey kisi aur ki zaroorat nahin hoti. "
"Lekin aapki zindagi ki saari khushiyaan cheen li maine."
"Aur ab aap kya kar rahe hain Mr. Khan? Meri zindagi phir cheen rahe hain mujhse? Mujhey meri zindagi wapas chaahiye Mr. Khan," she cupped both his hands in hers, "saari khushiyaan wapas chaahiye, sood samet. Aur wo sirf aap de sakte hain mujhey.
"Zoya," his voice quivered, "I am a broken man. I can't believe she could do this to me. I was always a good friend to her. Why didn't I pick on the clues? Why was I so blind?"
"Kyunki aap ek bahut achche insaan hain Mr. Khan." She smiled at him and wiped his tears with her finger. She let her fingers rest on his face and caressed it gently with her thumb, "and that's why I love you Mr. Khan. I can't imagine my life without you. Maine kitni baar chaaha ki New York wapas chali jaun, lekin kabhie jaa nahin paayi. Jaante hain kyun? Kyunki aapke aur mere beech ab ek aisa rishta judh chuka hai jo kisi ke bhi chaahne se toot nahin sakta hai. Don't send me away from you Mr. Khan. Aap hi meri manzil hain, aur aap hi meri zindagi."
Asad placed his hand on her hand. He couldn't say anything. His tears spoke for him. He came forward and pulled her into his arms. In the past, it had always been Zoya who had collapsed in his arms for comfort but today he needed her soothing presence, her comfort more than ever. She encircled her long arms around his strong torso and placed her head on his shoulder.
Both stood in a silent embrace; an embrace that washed away the bitter memories of separation, pain and humiliation. They tried to stifle their sobs but the warmth of their tears soaked right through their hearts and soon the tears were replaced with faint, delightful cries of happiness.
Zoya pulled away gently, "Mr. Khan, can we eat before the sun rises? Aapke pyaar se dil tho nahin bharta lekin pait nahin bharega. Poora roza karna hai."
Both burst out in laughter.
Asad wiped his face with his palms and pulled her closer, "sehri se pehle ek zaroori kaam karna zaroori hai."
"Kya? Khaane se zaroori kya ho sakta hai Mr. Khan?" She frowned.
He pulled her by her hand and walked towards the closet. He pulled out a box and removed the ring.
"Yeh ring aapke paas wapas kaise aa gayi? I thought I had lost it." She was pleasantly surprised.
"Jaanti hain is ring ki wajah se I was able to find you behind that wall in the madarsa?"
"Really? Yeh ring mujhey pehle bhi bacha chuki hai."
"Kab?" He gave her a quizzical look.
"Bathtub? Remember the electric wire?"
He shut his eyes and cursed himself for not connecting the dots sooner.
"Koi baat nahin Mr. Khan. Your ring has saved my life many times. Aap nahin tho aapki ring hi sahi." She teased him.
"Tho aap ring se hi nikaah kar lee jiye na." He teased her back, "meri kya zaroorat hai?"
"Ring shayad qubool hai na bol paaye." She smiled, "uske liye tho jahanpanah six packs ki hi zaroorat hogi."
He turned red and held her palm. Gently, he slipped the ring back into her finger, "now this ring stays here. Aap chaahe tho fevicol se permanently fix kar doon?"
"Yeh ab meri zindagi ke akhiri din tak yahin rahegi Mr. Khan. Fevicol ki zaroorat nahin hia."
He placed his hand on her lips, "ZOYA!"
She was stunned to see him enraged again, "Mr. Khan?"
"Aaj ke baad kabhie aisi baat nahin karna." He stiffened but held her hand and walked out of the room, "chaliye, sehri ka waqt ho gaya hai. Aapke chakkar mein roza bina khaaye na karna padhe."
Her jaws fell to her knee, "so it's my fault? Meri galti hai ki sehri ka waqt khatam ho raha hai?"
"SAB KUCH AAPKI GALTI HAI!" He squeezed her hand and strode into the dining room authoritatively.
Dilshaad and Najma exchanged glances and smiled.
They both knew things were back to normal. Their banter had started and it didn't matter that the morning sunrays had already made their way through the windows and they had all missed their sehri.
…the end…
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