He sat on the edge of his bed, bidding a good bye to his sleep like he did in the past few days. It had been a long day for him, and he was exhausted. Not physically, but mentally and emotionally. He didn't even realize when tears started streaming down his eyes, but he didn't bother to wipe them this time, he wanted to cry.
He had to put up a strong act in front of his mother, who needed him more than ever. The house was empty, and this emptiness was beginning to haunt him. Wasn't he used to this before a certain "mehmaan" had arrived at his door step? But now he was completely lonely, he wanted his house to be just like it was, in the last one year. But most importantly, he wanted her back.
It had been 6 months ...and so much had changed. His little Najma was married, and she had left home. This definitely had to happen one day, but his Ammi was not as sad as he had imagined her to be, as she had found another daughter, her bahu, who was a part of their family now. His Ammi was sure she'd fill the void and she was right, if you had this girl around, you wouldn't need anybody or any source of entertainment. But she was not there, she had left his home. Their home. He was lonely, he needed her, he wanted to spend a normal life with her, but that would have to wait. Her happiness was more important, he reminded himself, every day.. And even though he could not stop those tears that had filled his eyes, he felt proud for of her, proud of what she was doing. He knew it wasn't easy for her, she couldn't live without him, and it was the same for him. But they had to, they had to do this.
He had got married on the same day as his sister, just like his ammi had planned. He was finally married to her, finally. Everything was fine since then. They had decided not to consummate till they found her Abbu , it was in the back of her mind , throughout the nikaah . Now that she knew her abbu was alive, and in the same city ., she wanted to wait ... Wait till her abbu himself handed her over to her husband , and he was absolutely fine with it . Only circumstances weren't, because they had eventually lost control one night, but none of them regretted it, it was the most beautiful memory of his, with her.. And he would hold on to it forever. . They were very happy, but their happiness was short lived, because soon after that day, he had found her Abbu .
To say he was shocked would be an understatement. He was angry, puzzled and frustrated, he didn't know why destiny was playing such a cruel game with him, with them, after making them endure so much.
She was the daughter of his enemy, he hated him. He hated her father. When he had told her the entire truth, she was broken; he had thought she would leave him, for the man who was responsible for all the pain his mother had to go through. But he was wrong, she had proved him wrong once again, and had decided to lead a normal life with him, promising to forget what he had revealed to her. She had tried to be happy, only he wasn't, because he had realized what a jerk he had been. He had to forget the past , she deserved her Abbu , at least a chance to know him , and he couldn't take it away from her , not after promising her all the happiness in this world . She had revolted, fought and cried, but he had eventually convinced her to spend some time with her Abbu in his house, to get to know him. He would be around, he had also told her . To protect her from all the evil eyes.
It had been 2 weeks already. He would climb up to her room every night, and just be with her, because she was not happy, he knew that. He had realised that the man was not right, and he didn't deserve Zoya as his daughter, only she hadn't. He used to make her cry, she didn't tell him but he knew. But she wanted more time. And he couldn't thank his brother and sisters enough for helping them meet up every day of the week. But they had got into a habit of seeing each other before falling asleep, and no, video chat was not enough. So he had to ultimately break his resolve of not entering that house, just to meet her and spend some time with her. Everything was fine; they would see each other every day. She was not with him but she would soon be, he was sure about that. But what was making him cry today? He had just returned from that house, after putting her to sleep. .. But he was not happy. Those tears that had filled his eyes were tears of helplessness, of desperation; he needed her this time, more than ever, after what she had revealed to him .
"I ... I am pregnant, Asad . I am sorry, i know this is not the right time, but i.. So much happened, the morning after that night... I completely forgot to ... I'm so sorry. "
But he was happy, so happy that he had taken her into a rib crushing hug, he was going to be a father? He couldn't believe what he had heard, but why was she apologizing? Just then reality struck him, they were not together. They couldn't be, but he would take care of her . He would do all it takes and prove to be a better father than what his father had been, what her father had turned out to be. He would bring her home when she was sure she had known enough of that man, and couldn't live with him, he would give her time because she had asked for it, and he would give her and his child all the happiness. This was his promise to himself, and to them.
