FAASLE II: QH FF. Links to Threads I and III pg 1 - Page 49

Ghafoor Ahmed Siddiqui waited impatiently in his car. The last 10 minutes of his life had been as tumultuous as that day, seventeen years ago, when he had fled India. He had severed all ties with his past life, but his daughter had forced him to revisit those memories and people he'd tried so hard to forget.

As he thought about Dilshaad, he felt his eyes moisten a bit. She was one of the most beautiful women in his college days. Even though his junior, he spent considerable time with her in the various art workshops. She still had the same charisma but looked pale and that large bandage around her head worried him a little.

Quickly, he dismissed the compassionate thoughts; instead derided her decision of rejecting him, "she deserves to be in this condition. If she had chosen me, she wouldn't have suffered this way. Sachchi mohabbat ko thukraane ke yahi anjaam hota hai."

He stared out of the window and saw Zoya at the door, bawling with her palms folded and head lowered.

"Yeh ladki kab samjhegi?" Enraged, Ghafoor stepped out and dragged Zoya by her hand. "Driver, madam ka bag car mein rakh do."

"Jee sahib." The driver walked over and collected Zoya's belongings.

Despite her protests, Ghafoor shoved Zoya in the back seat and sat right next to her, "chalo driver. Yahan aur waqt barbaad karne ka faayda nahin hai."

Even though she had turned 21, her abbu still treated her like a little girl who he could bully and intimidate if defiant.

"ABBU! PLEASE LET ME OUT! I CAN'T GO WITH YOU!" She tried to unlock the car door but Ghafoor had gestured the driver to place the childproof lock into place. Ghafoor kept his fingers wrapped around Zoya's wrist firmly.

"ZOYA! Chupchaap baithi raho. I have had enough of this nonsense. I don't know why I agreed to send you to India."

"Abbu! Yeh meri life hai. I have the right to make decisions that affect my life."

"Tum abhi bhi naa daan ho. Sahi aur galat ki pehchan nahin hai tumhein."

"Aur aapko hai?" She pulled away from his grip and massaged her sore wrist. Ghafoor realized he had been a bit harsh. He touched her wrist gently, "sorry beta. I hope I didn't hurt you there."

"Of course you have hurt me abbu! Mujhey mere apno se door kar rahe hain aap." She withdrew her arm and tucked her wrist in her lap, away from her father's reach.

"Yeh log tumhare apne kab se ho gaye? And, how did you find them? Agar paying guest ban ke rehna hi tha, tho why this family?" Ghafoor was appalled to hear her call them 'apne.'

"Because I am in love with them."

"Love?" Ghafoor was stunned, "yeh kya pagal pan hai Zoya? Ek mahine pehle tho tum in logon ko jaanti bhi nahin thi, aur ab in se itni mohabbat ho gayi?"

"Kisi ko jaan ne ke liye waqt nahin, dil chaahiye hota hai. Aapke saath 21 saal rehkar bhi aapko jaan nahin paayi main abbu." She recalled Anwar's words. Her tears had dried up. She stared out of the window as the car navigated through the crowded streets.

"Zoya! You are insulting your abbu! Yahi tehzeeb sikhaayi hai maine tumhein?"

"Abbu, tehzeeb dil se aati hai, zabardasti nahin."

"ZOYA! Please stop this drama! This is totally unacceptable. "

"What you have done today is also unacceptable."

Ghafoor was stunned by his daughter's insolence. He was sure Dilshaad had used his daughter to create this disrespectful monster. She sounded just like Dilshaad- insubordinate and defiant.

"Mohabbat ke maayne bhi samajhti ho tum?"

"Aap se zyaada samajhti hoon!" Zoya replied angrily.

"ZOYA! TUMHEIN KOI HAQ NAHIN HAI MUJH SE AISE BAAT KARNE KA!"

"Abbu, aapne tho shayad kabhie kisi se mohabbat ki hi nahin hai. Na aapi ki aami se, aur na meri ammi se! Tho aap kya samjhenge?"

Her words pricked his heart through and through. How did she know that he had never loved any of the women who had borne his kids? Someone has corrupted her mind in this past month.

"Kis ne behkaaya hai tumhein? Dilshaad ne?"

"Phoophi ko tho kuch pata hi nahin tha."

"Phoophi?" Ghafoor cringed at that thought. Zoya had even changed his relationship with Dilshaad.

"I wish I had known about your animosity before. I would have never lied to phoophi. Aakhir is mein meri kya galti hai? I can't help it if I am in love with-----" She paused.

"Tumhein Dilshaad ke bte se pyaar hai?" Ghafoor asked sternly. Zoya glanced at him and lowered here eyes.

"Kab se jaanti ho uske bte ko?"

"Since I met him in Europe."

"Oh! Tho yeh India mein college jaana sirf bahaana tha?"

"Aapko jo samajhna hai samajh lee jiye. I can't change this reality. Yes, I love Asad and I will not change my decision."

"Yeh rishta mujhey kabhie manzoor nahin hoga! Kal tumhari sagai kar raha hoon main."

"What?" She was mortified, "sagai?"

"Yes, Akram is here. I don't want any more delays. You are getting engaged to him tomorrow. Bas!"

"In your dreams abbu! Main kisi aur se sagai ya nikaah ki soch bhi nahin sakti. Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan is the only man I will marry or I won't marry anyone."

"ZOYA! Yeh bachchon ka khel nahin hai. Akram is the right man for you. Tum chaaho tho engagement ke baad Mumbai mein apna course kar sakti ho. Then once you are back in New York, we will arrange for the nikaah. I am willing to compromise here."

"I am not willing to compromise at all! This is not a business deal. Aapke liye tho har rishta bhi ek business deal hai na abbu?"

Ghafoor was exasperated. He was not getting anywhere. She had completely changed. It was his fault. He should have never approved the 'study abroad' plan. Although, he hated to do that, he had no choice but to stop all financial funding for Zoya. Lack of finances would bring her back to her senses.

"I am going to stop your tuition payment for college and all your accounts will be frozen."

Zoya was bemused, "really abbu? Please go ahead. In fact, that would relieve me of any obligations towards you."

Ghafoor was taken aback, "jaanti ho paise ke bina zindagi kitni mushkil ho jaayegi tumhari? You have lived in luxuries all your life. You are used to a certain standard of living. Do din mein wapas bhaagti huyi aaogi. Akal thikaane aa jaayegi."

"So be it abbu! I accept your challenge. Agar aap ziddi hain, tho main bhi aapki beti hoon. I will survive on my own."

The car pulled into Bilawal's driveway. Bilawal, with a big grin welcomed them home, "Akram bhi ghar aagaya hai. Chalo achcha hai dono bachche yahin hain ab."

The chauffeur helped Zoya out of the car. She picked her bag and instead of walking towards the house, walked out of the gate.

"ZOYA!" Ghafoor yelled at her.

"Allah Hafiz abbu! Thanks for releasing me from your leash." She paused and gave him a sour glance. Then rolled her bag down the driveway, into the street.

"Bhaijaan!" A worried Bilawal ran after Zoya, "yeh kahan jaa rahi hai?"

"Jaane do Bilawal," Ghafoor was beside himself, "ek ghante mein wapas aa jayegi. She has no money, and no place to live. Gussa khatam hote hi aa jayegi."

"Lekin bhaijaan? Akele? Ajnabi sheher mein? Akram ko bhej deta hoon peeche."

"Haan bhej do. Lekin main nahin jaaunga peeche peeche. Ek din khud aayegi mere paas."

Ghafoor didn't waste any more time. He cancelled her mobile account, froze her ATM, credit cards and tuition account at the college of arts.

With the cash and change in her purse, she boarded a bus and headed towards the women's hostel at her college.

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