A/N: This is just a random One Shot. It is not related to the serial at all 😊 It didn't turn out as well as I expected it to but oh well. It's kind of based on an idea I heard somewhere but I added my changes of course and the narration is mine 😉 Here you go!
Happy Reading! 😛
AsYa OS: I'll Be All You Need and More...
The doctor's words disjointedly reverberated in Zoya's head, bouncing around the insides of her skull, refusing to sink in properly.
"Mr. Khan, it pains me to inform you ... Your wife's accident ... severe concussion ... might be a case of temporary blindness ..."
She was far too shocked to even react. She felt an involuntary gasp leaving her mouth and Asad's arms encircling her numb frame gently while he murmured soothing words in her ear but they refused to make sense. Her mind was as blank as the world before her.
She tried registering the doctor's words but her brain didn't seem to be cooperating properly. What did the doctor mean by temporary blindness? That she wouldn't be able to see? That was ridiculous. She always had excellent eye sight ... But then why was the world black before her eyes? Why hadn't she been able to see anything but darkness ever she regained consciousness after that accident?
The cloud of numbness lifted when she noticed that Asad's voice sounded distraught. Though his tone was placating but there was an underlying tremor that she couldn't help noticing. For a second she wondered about that before it hit her that he was worried about her. That he had already managed to make sense of the doctor's words ...
Tears of disbelief formed in her eyes before she could stop them. She felt them sliding down her cheeks and knew that Asad's gentle hands would follow suit, wiping them off. As predicted, his hands caressed her tears away before they even had a chance to roll down her chin, all the while telling her that everything was going to be fine. But she could tell from the tremor in his voice that he too, was having a hard time fighting his tears.
How was everything going to be fine? She had woken up from that accident with the world blank before her eyes! She had first thought it was a nightmare. She had been hysterical when she realized that she wasn't dreaming and had to be given sedatives to calm down. Now she was once again awake, wishing that all this was a horrible nightmare. That she could go to sleep and find the world bright before her eyes when she woke up.
As her mind got clearer, the doctor's words finally began to make sense. And once they did, there was no stopping her tears. She could feel a waterfall was on its way and she didn't try to fight it. What was the point of wiping them off or pretending to be brave when she fell shattered on the inside?
She let herself get cradled in Asad's arms and cried till she found herself drifting off into unconsciousness ...
***
Asad felt the doctor's words hitting him like a truck load of bricks.
"Mr. Khan, it pains me to inform you that Zoya's accident did more damage to her brain than we first asserted. Your wife's accident resulted in a severe concussion to her head and that has led to the loss of her eye-sight. Our tests have led us to believe that this might be a case of temporary blindness ..."
The doctor kept talking, telling him that Zoya was most likely to get her eye-sight back in a matter of time but Asad had stopped listening. He was far too shocked. He heard Zoya let out in involuntary gasp by his side and he immediately engulfed her in his arms, telling her that everything was going to be fine and willing himself to believe the same.
He didn't know how Zoya was going to take this news but he knew that he needed to be strong for her. He saw tears making their way down her beautiful eyes and he wiped them off quickly. He hated seeing her tears. He couldn't bear them.
As the shock of the news wore off, Zoya finally broke down crying. He held her tightly as he repeatedly told her that everything would turn out fine. How, he didn't know. But he knew one thing for sure, now she needed him now more than ever and he would make sure that he would be always there for her. She'd never have to look twice ...
***
Zoya had been shifted to her house and her treatment had started but it was going to be a long procedure. Asad, Najma and Dilshad always remained hovering near her in case she needed something. All her needs were looked after but Zoya was not the same anymore. She remained quiet and subdued and that worried Asad to no end. He was so used to seeing his bubbly, chirpy wife on getting back from work that the sight of her solemnly sitting without saying a word broke his heart everyday.
Finally after a month like this, Asad had a talk with her doctor and he advised to get Zoya to continue with her teaching as it would give her something to do and make her feel useful. Dilshad and Najma required just a little probing to approve the idea and then he breached the subject at the breakfast one morning.
"Zoya, I think you should continue with your teaching." He said as he dropped two slices of bread in her plate.
"What?"
"You heard me." Asad said as casually as he could.
"But Asad, how can I teach like this?" Zoya tried to keep her voice level.
"The principle called me and said he'd be delighted to have you back."
"He might be but I'm not interested."
"Why Zoya? You love teaching and it would give you something to do as well. Don't you get bored sitting at home?"
"I do. Of course I do. Do you think I enjoy sitting at home, staring at the darkness that surrounds me?" Her voice was such a painful whisper that Asad felt her eyes tearing up.
"So continue with the teaching." He coaxed in a gentle tone.
"I can't, Asad! I'm blind!" Zoya almost yelled.
"Only for the time being," Asad completed her sentence calmly. "And I know you can. The Principle believes you can and the children want you back as well. Think about it please, Zoya. It'll divert your mind."
Zoya didn't reply after that and quietly resumed eating her breakfast with a stone face, trying to reign in her tears.
That evening, Asad returned back from office to find Zoya crying quietly in their bedroom. Without saying a word, he simply walked inside and cradled her to his chest, letting her frustration and helplessness flow freely from her eyes.
He waited patiently for her to calm down a bit and then asked her the problem.
"Asad, how can I teach? I'm not the old Zoya anymore ..." She drew a shaky gasp and continued, "The old Zoya loved life and I feel my life is a punishment."
"Don't think like that." Asad found his voice betraying him by breaking at the end.
"I can't help it. All I can think about is that ... I should've listened to you. I shouldn't have gone out driving alone that night for Ayaan and Humaira's place. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have had that accident and lost my eye-sight... Asad, you have no idea how helpless I feel when I wake up every morning and find the world black before my eyes..." Tears started streaming down her face and Asad pulled her for a hug, placing a loving kiss at the top of her head - his tears quietly escaping his blue orbs as well.
"Asad, I feel as if all the happiness and brightness of life have left me ... The Sun no longer comes out after the dark, Asad. It's always night, Asad. Always." She whispered, with tears running down her face.
"I promise you Zoya, one day the sun will come out. You will see the world around you. I swear." His voice was gruff with suppressed emotions.
"And Zoya, the darkness has not only enveloped you, it has enveloped us all. You have no idea how bleak and dark this house feels now. You were the light of this house Zoya, and without your laugher and Shairi, this house doesn't seem like home. Please don't do this to yourself and to us, Zoya. Return back to the way you were. Start by joining the school and I promise; everything will gradually fall into place, just the way it was."
Zoya went quiet for a while contemplating the idea.
"For my sake Zoya, just give it a try, please." He begged.
Zoya found herself slowly nodding and Asad swept her in a bear-hug, whispering his fervent thanks.
"But Asad, how will I get there? I used to go by the bus-"
"You don't have to worry about anything. I'll be your driver. I'll be your eyes. I'll be anything you want, Zoya. I'll take care of everything." He gently kissed both her closed eye-lids and Zoya felt an affectionate smile lit her face.
"That's it Zoya. Keep smiling. Your smile is like a light, a faintest flicker of which can light this whole house." He told her as his own face stretched into a smile and he pecked at her smiling lips.
***
From the next day, Asad left the house with Zoya, dropped her at the school which was situated at quite a distance from home and then went all the way back to his office, which was in the opposite direction. On his way back, he picked up Zoya and they both returned together.
Asad's idea turned out to be a great success. It did have a positive effect on Zoya. She began talking again, telling them all stories about her students at school and laughing more frequently. The house's atmosphere changed drastically. The gloominess that had surrounded them all slowly began to evaporate. And every time, Asad looked at Zoya he felt his heart bursting with pride.
But there was something he noticed. Zoya's self-confident had gotten really low after the incident. She heavily depended on others and though it caused Asad no problem but still he missed the self-assured and confident Zoya. At first, he dismissed it but slowly he noticed how Zoya's self-confidence refused to resurface again and it worried him.
Zoya's treatment was still taking place. An expert optometrist was scheduled to come to India the next month to operate Zoya; a high-success rate operation that was hoped to return Zoya's eye-sight.
But in the meanwhile, Asad noticed how Zoya's low confidence was affecting her self-esteem too and he knew it was time to take action. Zoya had to get her self-confidence back. She wasn't the one who depended on others and now that she did, her self-respect for herself had decreased severely. And finally with a heavy heart, Asad took another decision.
"Zoya," He said as they sat in their bedroom one evening, "I want you to go to your school by yourself from now on."
"What? What do you mean by that, Asad?"
"I mean that your school's employee's bus comes at a nearby stop. I'll drop you there and you can go the school yourself."
"But why, Asad? This arrangement of you, dropping me before going for work, works just fine."
Clenching his teeth, Asad forced himself to lie, "It works fine for you. For me, it doesn't. I have to drive you all the way to the other part of the city before going to my own office and I'm late everyday. The office work is getting affected and I can't afford it any more. I'll take you to the bus stop tomorrow and you can ask me all you need to know ... You don't have to worry. It's your own school employee's bus and it'll drop you right at the school gates-"
"You don't have to worry about me. I'll manage by myself." Zoya said in as steady a voice as she could manage before she excused herself for the bathroom.
Asad watched her retreating figure with sadness etched on his face. He knew he had hurt her but it was necessary. He had to make Zoya realize her self-worth - make her realize that she was still capable of doing things herself. To hear her announce proudly that Zoya Farooqi can do everything in this world...
***
Zoya quietly felt her way towards the bathroom, trying to hold her tears in. As soon as she bolted the door behind her, the pearly droplets began their descent down her face. Though what Asad had said totally made sense but still, she felt hurt at how quickly Asad had gotten tired of taking care of her.
She couldn't bring herself to blame him. For the past one and a half month, he had been the one taking care of her and she had not been able to reciprocate in any way. But it was not her fault. It was all a cruel game of faith.
Though he hadn't done a single thing that showed that she was a burden to him, his conversation this night had struck a nerve. His words had hurt her. Had it been the other way round, she wouldn't have left him alone for a second. She loved him more than anything in the universe. And she knew he did too, but after that accident, she had changed so much that she wasn't sure herself what kind of a person she was now. Asad fell in love with a girl who was chirpy, bubbly and beautiful. She was no longer that girl. Maybe it was possible that Asad was losing his interest in her...
She vehemently shook her head as if physically forcing these depressing thoughts to disappear and started doing ablution. Once she was done and exited the bathroom, she decided to rely on others as little as she could and do things herself. She would become the old Zoya Farooqi who could do anything in this world ...
She laid the prayer mat and started praying, asking Allah to give her strength and confidence.
***
The next day, Asad dropped Zoya at the bus stop near their house. He waited till the bus came and helped her on it. As he said Allah Hafiz and told her that he was leaving, Zoya felt an overwhelming urge to stop him. To ask him not to go and leave her all alone like this. The absence of his arm to hold on to, made her feel lost. And suddenly she realized that she couldn't do it by herself.
"Asad?" She called out but got no answer.
She called out again and this time a woman's voice answered. "Miss Zoya? Are you calling for the man who just dropped you off? I'm sorry but he's gone. Do you want me to call him? He's heading for his car. The bus will stop here for 5 minutes so if you want, I can quickly go and call him for you."
"No, I'm fine." Zoya whispered in a low voice as her heart shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. He left me alone so easily? He didn't even wait for the bus to start moving? She thought, biting her lips to stop herself from crying.
The woman continued speaking telling Zoya that she was also a new teacher at Zoya's school and that her name was Anaya but Zoya didn't hear her...
***
From that one day onwards, Zoya went to the school on the bus herself and she was surprised to find how easily she could manage it. She was a fool to think that she would need Asad by her side for everything. She was more than capable of doing things by herself, even now in her blindness.
Without Asad's assistance to rely on for everything, Zoya had come to realize that she was still the old Zoya Farooqi who was capable of doing everything in this universe.
ONE MONTH LATER
The operation was successful. Zoya's eye sight had returned and life was back to normal.
Asad still love her the same way he did before this tragic incident happened in their lives. And Zoya still loved Asad but ever since the bus episode, she had reluctance showing her love for him. Something inside her had shattered that day he left her alone on the bus. Something irreparable. And no matter how much Zoya tried to forget it, she couldn't. She couldn't bring back the old Zoya who trusted Asad's love with every fiber of her being. She had changed and her love for Asad had changed as well...
***
One day, while roaming the mall, Zoya went to the clothes section by herself, leaving Asad with Najma and Dilshad. As she was looking through the clothes, she came across Anaya, her bus companion who gave a shriek of delight on seeing Zoya with perfectly working eyes and enveloped her in a tight hug. Anaya had quitted her job around the time Zoya had her operation and was meeting her the first time since Zoya regained her eye-sight.
She excitedly told Zoya that she had to quit the job as she was getting married and then asked Zoya how Asad was doing.
"He's fine Alhamdolilah. He's here, you can meet him if you want." Zoya smiled. She liked Anaya. She had become really close to her in the past month. Anaya was constantly by Zoya's side at the bus and would always come to check on her at school too, whenever she was free.
"Oh yes, I'd love to meet him." Anaya smiled back. The conversation drifted to the school days and then Anaya said something which surprised Zoya.
"Do you have any idea how jealous I was, of you when I first met you on the bus?" Anaya asked.
"Excuse me?" Zoya asked incredulously, sure that she had heard wrong.
"You heard me. I was jealous of you." Anaya replied simply.
"What? I was blind at that time. How can you be jealous of a blind person?" Zoya asked disbelievingly.
"I was jealous of the fact that how much your husband loved you. And cared for you. If my husband loves me even half the amount Asad loves you, I'll be happy."
"You should've seen Asad's love before I went blind. His love changed when I lost my eye sight." Zoya told her in a low voice.
"No, I'm sure it didn't."
"It did."
"I wouldn't doubt that man's love if I were you, Zoya... After seeing how much he loves you-"
Suddenly, Zoya was irritated. "Why do you keep saying that?! What love of his did you witness? All he did was to drop me at the bus stop every morning before rushing back to his precious office!" Zoya let out bitterly. "The first time he boarded me on the bus, he didn't even wait for the bus to start moving, so eager he was to leave. You were sitting next to me that day, right? I had at least thought that he'd ask you to take care of me for him but he didn't even bother doing that. The old Asad wasn't like that..." All the hurt Zoya had been hiding in her heart came tumbling out as tears rushed to her eyes.
"You still don't know, do you?" Anaya asked almost sadly.
"Know what?"
"Zoya, the reason he didn't ask me to look out for you that day was that he had already requested me to do that the day before. Why do you think I knew your name and all?" Anaya explained impatiently.
"What? What do you mean?" Zoya asked slowly.
"A day before your first day on the bus, Asad boarded the bus and sat next to me. I already knew him because I had seen him around school-"
"You had seen Asad around school?!"
"Yes, he used to repeatedly come to our school to check on you the first few days after you joined. He didn't talk to you or say anything, he'd simply stand in the doorway and watch you with a proud smile on his face as you lectured the students."
Zoya was too surprised to speak. Tears sprang in her eyes as she realized that she had doubted Asad's pure love for her.
Anaya continued, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside Zoya. "So he sat next to me and told me all about your temporary blindness and how he was afraid that you were losing your self-confidence and with it, your self-respect. He seemed genuinely worried about you, Zoya. He wanted you to get your confidence back. That was why he wanted you to travel by yourself. He wanted you to know that you were still capable of doing everything yourself. That you didn't need to depend on others... He didn't want to leave you alone on the bus but at the same time he had to. So he asked me, no he literally begged me to keep an eye out for you because he simply said, Zoya is my life. If something happens to her, I'll die." Anaya's eyes suddenly shone with tears, showing how touched she was by Asad's statement. "I had, never in my life, witness such pure love, Zoya. Asad made me believe that true love still existed. And the fact that he still hasn't told you about this makes me respect him all the more. I thought that once you'll get your eye-sight back, he'll tell you all he did for you. But he didn't..." Anaya shook her head, looking too spellbound and awed to continue.
"He asked you to keep an eye on me for him?" Zoya repeated in a small voice, stunned by the revelation. She had been wrong. Asad had not changed. It was she who had gone paranoid.
"Not only me, he asked half the bus. He even asked the conductor and the bus driver but he didn't want you to know because that wouldn't have helped you with the confidence thing. He wanted you to think that you were managing everything on your own... But he shouldn't have asked us when he was there himself."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Zoya almost stuttered so struck she was by the realization.
"Asad never really left you alone Zoya. He followed our bus in his car every day. When we would reach school, he would get out of his SUV and walk you in quietly. He was the one who held the school's entrance glass doors open for you every day and as you would pass him, he would throw a flying kiss your way and then give a salute before going back to his car. He did this every freakin' day, Zoya. I always thought there was a limit to how much a person can love another. Asad's love for you has no limits."
Zoya stood rooted at the spot as tears of self-shame cascaded down her cheeks. She had doubted Asad's love for her? She didn't even deserve to be love by him in the first place.
"Zoya, you're here? I was looking all over the mall for you." Asad's angelic voice suddenly reached her ears and she lost all control as she raced towards him, flung herself into his arms and started crying her heart out.
"I'm so sorry, Asad. I'm so very sorry." She sobbed into his chest.
"For what, Zoya? You did nothing wrong." Asad gently tried to lift her face but she stubbornly kept her face down, too ashamed to look into his love-filled eyes.
"I did... I did, Asad. I did something terrible. I doubted your love for me. I... I thought your love for me lessened after I got blind. I thought you got sick and tired of me and... and that was why you were trying to distance us. Why didn't you tell me you were doing it for my own good, Asad? Why didn't you?"
"I never felt the need to. Sshh now stop crying. I'm not angry at you." He told her, kissing her forehead. "And it's not your fault. You must not blame yourself for thinking what you did in those days. Those were dark days, Zoya. They are over now."
"I don't deserve your love, Asad. I deserve to be left alone in the darkness. I deserve to die." She mumbled in a broken voice.
"Never. Never say that Zoya." Asad reprimanded her almost harshly. "You deserve all the love this world has to offer!"
"But-"
"Nothing Zoya. You will say nothing more. Look at me. No, look into my eyes properly and listen. Yes that's it..." He gently cradled her face in his palms and looked into her eyes intently. "Zoya, you went through a big trauma in your life. And any person in your situation can get paranoid. As for me, I didn't do anything special. I only did a husband's duty and that was to look after his wife. Allah has blessed us with a second chance to lead a normal life, not many people get that, Zoya. So wipe your tears and start smiling because we have a long life ahead of us."
"I love you, Asad. I love you so very much." She gasped between tears as she buried her face in his chest, hugging him fiercely.
"I know you do. I love you too, Jaan. And I'll be always there for you. I'll be all you need. And more..." Asad's husky voice added in her ears and she hugged him with all her might as if she'd never let him go.
***
Please leave your thoughts behind. I live for them 😉This OS took special effort to write cos I'm not good at writing emotional and sad stuff so your reviews really would mean a lot 😃
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