Inferno-A FF by Arabflower. Chapter 19 page 36 - Page 26

Authors Note (A/N):

The success of this story is split in the following ways

1. A part to my Sister Az3003 for her encouragement

2.A part to my best friend Azmahish for giving this story a purpose

3. A part to my saviour Xarina for breathing life into my story when all hope was lost

4. A part to Linsie who supported this story throughout and saved it from obscurity

5. A part to maheenKhan648 for their constant encouragement

6. And finally a part to YOU...my wonderful reader for deciding to take this journey with me

A big THANK YOU to all who have made this story a success, you guys are truly amazing!!

Regards

ArabFlower

XXX

EPILOGUE

He stared at his reflection in the mirror, the only sign that Time had passed was that his once completely brown locks were now ridden with highlights of grey. His appearance immaculate, a Greek God in a three piece suit, tie in his hand waiting to adorn his neck. There was a time when he would tie the neck piece around his neck himself, but now he was spoilt by his darling wife who would do it for him. At the time this ritual was created he deduced that she insisted she tie his tie for him either so she could feel him up before he goes to work or because she wanted to show off her tie tying skills. Now Asad really didn't care why she did it, he just loved watching Zoya fuss over him in the morning, her adorable face screwed up in concentration as she worked to knot the neck piece perfectly. So instead of tying it himself, he waited...tie in hand for his wife to arrive.
They had been married for quite some time now, but still his heart would flutter the moment he saw her. She looked ethereal in the emerald green Salwaar and minimal make up, she was the same woman he fell in love with, and it was just that she swapped her crazy antics and schemes for business strategies. She was more mature and if possible even more alluring than when he first laid eyes on her at the Dargah all those years ago and in every breath he took he thanked the Almighty for making Zoya his wife. She walked into the room, fixing her earring when she spotted her husband in front of the full length mirror, tie in hand.
Zoya: "Allah Miyan... You've become too spoilt Asad."
Asad: "well if it means looking at you for a few extra minutes then yes... I am spoilt."
Zoya sashayed over to him and removed the silken neck piece from his out stretched hand, placing it around his neck and she began to tie it. While her hands were occupied with his neck, he snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, her scent intoxicating him and her touch driving him crazy. She had knotted the silk tie and leaned in closer, tucking her face into the crook of his neck as she placed soft kisses against his exposed skin, he moaned in pleasure and was about to lose control when a knock on the door interrupted their private moment.
Asad looks at the twenty something young man leaning against the door frame, he was handsome in his suit, his chocolate locks tousled and rimless glasses complimenting his face perfectly. Maahir was the perfect combination of his biological parents Anwar and Zeenat Faarouqui. His demeanour and attire resembled that of a Wall Street banker and with the amazing business acumen he possessed Maahir Faarouqui- Khan could seriously pass as one. He watched his adoptive parents' romance like teenagers and he was both happy and wierded out that they could keep the romance alive after all these years.
Maahir strolled into the room and took the woman who raised him into a hug, allowing her to kiss him on the cheek as he did so. With his mother now fully engrossed in her son, completely ignoring his father Maahir chuckled when he saw his father pout cutely to gain Zoya's attention.
Zoya had seen her husband pout and subtly reverted her attention to him, making Asad's chiselled features break out into a warm smile.
Maahir looked at the two lovers and kinda began feeling like a third wheel. So he cleared his throat to bring those two out of one of their endless eye-locks and spoke
Maahir: "Dad we're going to be late for that meeting...mum stop distracting dad".
Zoya chuckles at her son's words and placed her left palm in the hand of her son and her right in the hands of her husband and lead them all downstairs where the family was gathered for breakfast.
Their daughter Asya was busy chatting with her grandmother Dilshad, Asya could pass as her mother's doppelganger if not for her emerald eyes but in every other respect she was Zoya 2.0 and Ayaan was right, they couldn't handle the original Zoya Faarouqui so there was no way that they could handle her daughter. Dilshad's laughter rang through the house and was joined by that of her step son Ayaan. He looked handsome, finally cutting his wild mane and grooming his beard regularly (clearly the influence on his wife Humaira) his face adorned with the happy glow of fatherhood. Well 'almost fatherhood' as his very pregnant wife Humaira was seated next to him busy discussing some colour scheme's with Najma. Najma had grown into a strong, confident successful young woman with her career as an interior designer and board member of her family's business making her a force to be reckoned with. She kept glancing at the door, obviously waiting for the arrival of her husband Aasif.
Zoya watched her daughter engage with Dilshad and Ayaan and her son talk business with Asad and Najma and began beaming proudly at them.
Her smile faltered when she realised that someone was missing, slightly worried she quickly scanned the table, her heart in her throat, not satisfied or relaxed until she laid eyes upon her youngest child her son, Arbaaz Asad Ahmed Khan. She abandons her search in the kitchen and subtly moves towards the garden, her motherly instincts telling her that her youngest child has taken refuge in their favourite part of the house... the bench of their glorious garden. Her motherly instinct did not fail her as once she entered the garden, she had seen a teenage Asad Ahmed Khan, dressed casually, the music box made by his grandfather opened in his hand listening to the soothing tone emitted from the box, she goes up to him and places her hand on his shoulder, breaking him from his thoughts. She sat beside him waiting for him to speak.

Arbaaz: "I'm scared Ammi..."
Zoya: "Fear nothing child...You're the son of Asad and Zoya Ahmed Khan..."
Arbaaz: "But that's just it...I am YOUR Son...so everyone expects me to be perfect...everyone expects me to be as successful as Maahir and Asya, but what if I'm not...what if I mess up?"
Zoya: "Messing up is not such a bad thing...my Jeeju used to always tell me 'Zoya, you learn more about yourself in failure than in success...don't take a success for granted and never let a failure dampen your spirits, don't give up hope... so if you fall, pick yourself up and try again'."
Arbaaz: "That's great advice...but Ammi everyone expects me to act in a certain way and behave like Maahir but I want to be me..."
Zoya: "I hear you... When I was your age I was a stubborn, impulsive, spoilt, free spirited and head strong. I was the quintessential 'wild child', I did what I wanted when I wanted ...well I'm still all those things, but that's not the point...the point is, that at this age you're still discovering yourself so enjoy your youth and plan to take charge of your future."
Arbaaz stared at his mother, having grown up witnessing his mother being the perfect socialite and successful businesswoman he could not imagine his mother being a 'wild child'
Arbaaz: "So what did you do that was soo bad?"
Zoya: "Well I got into fights, hacked into secure government websites, got arrested for hacking into secure government websites, ran away from my first Nikaah, beat up some guys who were teasing your aunty Najma and got arrested, tried to set your father up with one of his clients, helped a girl run away from her Nikaah, planned with your uncle Ayaan against your father, bought and ate Bhaang pakodas by accident, got deported, ran away to Ajmer and...Well that's most of it..."
Zoya counted the list off her fingers as though her escapades were the most Blas things in existence, clearly missing her son's shocked expressions as he heard what havoc his mother had created... It was surreal to him.
Arbaaz: "Don't lie to me Ammi... You couldn't have been that cool...I mean you married Abbu and he's a stick in the mud."
Zoya: "Hey if you don't believe me ask you aunty Najma and your uncle Ayaan...they were my partners in crime but you know something, there was a stage of my life where even I didn't believe in myself, when I was in New York, I was expected to uphold the Faarouqui name and the family honour but I realised something when I was around your age...and that is one must live for oneself and not for the next man. Live your life on your terms, but never do anything that'll cause you to fall into your own eyes... And always remember: if you value your family above everything else, success will easily follow you..."

Asad and Maahir had excused themselves from the dining table and began making some last minute adjustments for their meeting and since it was her day off... Asya elected to stay behind and catch up with her grandma and aunties. Asad looks around for his darling wife, wondering what new trouble she could create and smiled when he saw his wife and youngest son deeply engrossed in conversation. Outwardly Arbaaz Asad Ahmed Khan resembled his father, but his free spirited and jovial personality was a clear indication that inwardly he resembled his mother. There were times when Asad had expected his son to either quote his mother's famous dialogue "Allah Miyan! What's wrong with you!" Or spurt out cute nonsensical poetry, both of which he did do at times but they were nowhere near Zoya's level of crazy...the only person who could reach and surpass 'Zoya crazy' was Ayaan...and at the mention of his brother Asad began remembering all the crazy things his wife and brother got up to and started to develop a slight migraine. So forcing himself to take his mind of the crazy people that he loves, he called out to his son
Asad: "Arbaaz..."
Arbaaz turned around at the sound of his father's voice
Arbaaz: "Jee Abbu?"
Asad: "Why don't you join us in the office today? I think you'll find this project of ours very interesting..."
Arbaaz turns to his mother, his eyes searching hers waiting for her opinion, his mother looked deep into his eyes, smiled and said
Zoya: "Nothing ventured nothing gained, go spend time with your dad and brother..."
The moment the words left her mouth, he planted a kiss on her cheek and rushed off to the awaiting car, joining his dad and big brother at work. While Arbaaz rushed off, Dilshad strolled into the garden, stood beside Zoya and watched as her son and grandsons went off to work, she then looked into the house and saw her granddaughter engage with her daughter and the rest of her family. She then faced the woman next to her, the woman who united her scattered family, and the woman who brought light, laughter and happiness into their darkened lives, the woman who painted her life with such vibrant colours that darkness would never recast its shadow over their happiness. So she addressed her daughter in law with tears in her eyes

Dilshad: "Thank you..."
Zoya: "Ammi, we've been through this... You don't need to thank me for uniting the family every time we have a family moment..."
Dilshad: "I'm not thanking you for that... Thank you for making my son fall in love..."
Zoya: "it was difficult..."
Dilshad: "soon Maahir will find someone, then Asya and then finally Arbaaz..."
Zoya: "wow... I'm going to go through that soon... How did you manage?"
Dilshad: "simple, Instead of bidding farewell to my son and daughter I just welcomed their spouses as my children... That way everybody wins..."

Najma noticed her mother's absence coupled with the lack of Zoya's craziness so she set off in search of the two and after a quick search she had located their presence in the garden so she walked outside to see what her mother and sister in law were chatting about. She was about to join their conversation when a car pulled into the driveway of Khan Villa. Her husband, Aasif, had arrived. Her mother and sister in law greeted him happily and they are chatting about something or the other when Najma practically ran over to them and was about to envelope her beloved in a bear hug when a shrill cry, emanating from inside the house, pierced the air. All had stopped their movements, paralysed with shock, hoping the cry to be a figment of their imagination when they heard it again...this time accompanied by a sting of cursing
Humaira (From inside the house): "Aaahh! This hurts sooo f**'ing much! Ayaan don't just stand there...f**king help me!!! I'm in labour you idiot"
As much as Humaira loved Ayaan, and even though she was a demure girl by nature, she could swear like a sailor when she was in pain, and being Humaira's first successful pregnancy, she was obviously not prepared for the pain.
They hear Humaira screaming bloody murder inside, no doubt traumatising Asya and Ayaan and causing Zoya, Najma and Aasif to hold back fits of laughter, finding the humour in the fact that such a small girl could scream so loudly. Dilshad gave them all an admonishing look, before she winked at them mischievously and rushed inside. When Najma and Aasif heard Humaira erupt into a fresh batch of curse words they sprinted inside to help Dilshad and Ayaan deal with Humaira. Zoya laughs and pulls out her phone, and began dialling the office number of the expectant grandfathers, its rings for a few seconds before it is picked up by Rashid.
Zoya doesn't let him speak; she relays the message as quickly as possible.
Zoya: "she's in labour..."
Rashid yelled out in shock
Rashid: "HUMAIRA'S IN LABOUR!!!!"
Zoya then heard her father in the background...
Siddiqui (in the background): "I bet you it's a boy..."
Zoya hears this and laughs knowing that those two will never change...before she cuts the call, she turns to go inside, but doesn't. She looks up at the sky and converses with those in the Heavens above.

Zoya:"Allah Miyan, whatever you have taken from me, you gave back tenfold... Thank you for giving me what I've always wanted... A family. Ammi I love you and only wish and see you again, Aapi and Jeeju thank you for all that you have done for me and Maahir is my son, no matter what you say Aapi... Arbaaz...I miss you, I wish you could meet our daughter... She has your eyes...'
Another one of Humaira's screams filled the air and Zoya withdraws her gaze from the cloudy sky and turns to face the house... She stares at it for a few seconds, letting one of Humaira's screams die out before she returns to looking at the sky, resuming her conversation.
Zoya: 'Well Humaira needs me now... I think we should all take this moment to wish her good luck... She's giving birth to Ayaan's child... She's going to need it...'
And with that a slight drizzle was released from the sky, as those above showered their loved ones below with their love and blessings. Zoya enjoyed the rain for a few more seconds before she rushed to her baby sister, Humaira's side, because the miracle of life waited for no one...
Chaos ensued as the collectively began moving Humaira from the dining room table into the awaiting car. Ayaan, Najma and Asya were supporting Humaira while Aasif had the engine running outside. Zoya detached herself from all the crazy and rushed into her room to grab her video camera. After she found the device, she sprinted towards her car and before she put the key in the ignition she smiled and said to no one in particular: "Life goes on..."

And life continued... leaving her story here and began writing a new one.

The End

To those who have said that my story was a 'pleasure to read' and have labelled my work as 'brilliant', 'mind-blowing', 'excellent' etc. all I can say is that it was a pleasure writing for such amazing people🤗