Hi everyone.
Sorry for the delay. Here is chapter 14 of Arabflower's ff Inferno. I will try and send pm's as soon as it is possible.
WARNING: This chapter has some strong language, reader discretion in advised.
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CHAPTER 14
It was nearly nightfall when Rashid returned with the children, Siddiqui was pretending to be engrossed in the evening newspaper. He was actually waiting for their arrival; he wanted to hear all about Zoya and Maahir and whether Dilshad will give the necklace to Zoya. Once they had arrived, he wanted nothing more than to pull his younger daughter aside so she could tell him everything about Zoya and Maahir but his wife's presence in the lounge had stopped him. Shireen had called everyone for dinner and at the dinner table the children were busy chatting about their day and bursting into fits of giggles about something or the other that had happened. Rashid was busy talking to his mother while Shireen and Razia were eavesdropping on their conversation. He ignored the adult's conversation and was busy listening to the children. Nikhat was animatedly talking about something or the other that Zoya had said and done, while Nuzat was sparkly eyed talking about Zoya's fashion sense, Ayaan on the other hand was appreciating Zoya's sense of humour and her poetry, while Humaira was praising her sister's beauty. Humaira began wondering where exactly she had heard Zoya's voice before but brushed it aside the moment the heart the clattering of utensils and the raised voice of her Mumani Shireen.
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The moment Rashid Ahmed Khan had seen his mother, he rushed over to her to tell her about his eldest son's marriage and his first grandchild Maahir.
Rashid: "Ammi, I want you to take out the Ancestral Jewels their rightful owner has finally arrived..."
Badi Bi: "But Rashid, those Jewels are meant for the eldest daughter in law..."
The moment those words left Badi Bi's mouth Shireen and Razia became elated, each thinking that the Ancestral Jewellery was about to be given to Humaira.
Rashid: "Yes Ammi, the eldest daughter in law of our family has arrived... Asad has gotten married and I wish to follow our family's tradition and pass on those Jewels."
Shireen and Razia were shocked at first but their shock had escalated into rage very quickly. Shireen had thrown down her utensils and stood up
Shireen: "What!!! How can you give Asad's wife those Jewels!!"
Razia: "Shireen is right, Asad's wife has no right over them...they belong to Humaira."
Rashid: "They do not... they belong to the wife of my eldest son..."
Razia: "But Asad does not consider you to be his father, and you have cut ties with Dilshad and her children and by doing so they have NO right to this family..."
Shireen: "Rashid those Jewels belong to Ayaan's wife, Asad rejected you as his father so rightfully Ayaan should get his share..."
Badi Bi: "Absolutely not! No matter what happened Asad is still Rashid's first born and this is our family's tradition... whether Asad and Rashid like it or not, this tradition will not be broken..."
Shireen: "I knew it!! The moment it comes to Dilshad and her children you will deprive my children of their rights..."
Ayaan, Nikhat and Nuzat were shocked at their mother's outburst; the events of today had given them a better understanding of their father's first family. On one hand Dilshad Ahmed Khan was kind hearted enough to not differentiate between them and treated all of them equally on the other their mother was differentiating between the children. This enraged Ayaan, Nikhat and Nuzat as Najma and Asad were their siblings and they deserved their rights, just because their father had made a mistake Asad and Najma should not be punished for it.
Razia smiles evilly at Shireen's small mindedness. The woman used to fall easily into Razia's traps, all she had to do was wind Shireen up and then sit back and watch the drama unfold. Ayaan, Nikhat and Nuzat all were bursting to say something but their mother's glare had shut them up. Badi Bi and Rashid were trying to make Shireen see reason to no avail. Razia was happy, the kind of happiness that one gets when victory is within their grasp, but like those people Razia had made a fatal mistake, she celebrated a victory before she knew who the other players were because when something this valuable is at hand, new players will emerge and steal victory from under another's nose. This is exactly what happened, while Razia was mentally celebrating her almost victory, her own daughter had turned the tables on her. Humaira could not control her anger anymore, so she stood up and announced loudly
Humaira: "I don't want it..."
All eyes were on her, her mother was threatening her with her eyes, commanding her to sit down, Shireen was confused while Badi Bi was just plain curious.
Humaira: "...even if I wanted the Jewels Zoya will always have more right to them because Zoya is elder to me in every sense... both by blood and by marriage."
Siddiqui smiles inwardly at his daughter's words, while Rashid is happy that Humaira wants to do right by her sister. Ayaan Nikhat and Nuzat are unsure of the real reason why Humaira is doing this but because she is taking their Bhaijaan's side, they support her.
Shireen stares at Humaira for a moment, wondering what on earth Humaira could have meant. Shireen was confused, firstly she did not know Asad's wife and was even surer that Humaira couldn't possibly give up her rights for a stranger.
Badi Bi was focusing on Humaira's words By Blood and by Marriage' she turned to Razia and smirked, having figured out exactly who Asad's wife was. Razia had told her of Siddiqui first wife and child long before and Badi Bi was happy that now the girl was getting her rights while bringing happiness into the Ahmed Khan family.
Razia stared at her daughter, utterly gobsmacked. The implications of Humaira's words had sunk in the moment Badi Bi smirked at her... Zoya? Zoya is Asad's wife? How can this be? I paid the guy to kill her? What is this girl made of that even death doesn't want to take her away?' She locked eyes with her daughter asking her telepathically What on earth are you doing?' her daughter stared back as though saying Righting the wrongs that you have committed' Humaira then gave one last look at the occupants of the dinner table and left. Razia stared at her retreating figure and pondered the new opponent she had found in her own daughter... Humaira can't possibly know the truth...She's probably taking Asad's side because of Ayaan, that's probably what she meant when she spoke about blood... but still What is this girl up to?' Razia Siddiqui was worried, she left the table soon after and pulled out her cell phone, it was time to call back her trusty partner in crime, and if she was correct Billo Rani had a score to settle with Zoya
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Siddiqui had waited for a few moments before he went after his daughter. His wife was curious about Humaira's actions and they couldn't risk Razia finding out that Humaira knew the dirty family secret. Razia fortunately (or unfortunately) was engrossed with a conversation with Shireen. His simple minded step sister was a smoking gun; she may never understand what's going on but was the perfect weapon used mostly by his wife to get what she wants.
Ayaan, Nikhat and Nuzat were talking with their father, clearly the Ahmed Khan's were smitten with Zoya and this made Siddiqui envious of them. He longed to meet his daughter but had to keep his distance for now because he feared for her safety.
His younger daughter was determined to get his eldest daughter her rights, but in her forage to do good she might end up unintentionally harming somebody. Her mother was an experienced hand at deception, betrayal, lies and manipulation. Humaira was playing with fire and if she was going up against her mother then someone was going to get burned. He walked into his daughter's room and smiled when he saw her pacing with frustration, muttering her annoyances in what she knew was in no way a whisper.
Humaira: "who do they think they are? How can they think that I'll accept the Jewels? Only Zoya has a right to those Jewels... I won't take them... Ammi will just have to accept it... Yes Ammi will have to accept it."
She stopped her rant when she saw her father in the door way, silently laughing at his daughter's adorable tirade.
Siddiqui: "You know... Sometimes you act so much like Zainub that I forget that you're Razia's daughter..."
Humaira: "Zainub Ammi used to do this to?"
Siddiqui: "Yes... All the time, she used to pace like this whenever I was late... I wonder if Zoya does this as well."
Humaira: "I'm sure she does... Why don't you ask Dilshad Ammi!! Zoya's been living with them for a while now so Dilshad Ammi will know... And I'm sure it she will be happy to tell you all about Zoya! Why don't you ask her?"
Siddiqui: "I can't face her Humaira... I just can't..."
Humaira:" Abbu... Dilshad Ammi has already forgiven you..."
Siddiqui: "I still can't face her..."
Humaira: "Abbu... You need to move past this, this is the only way to bridge the gap between father and daughter, Dilshad Ammi can help you get closer to Zoya"
Siddiqui: "ok beta... If you insist I will go speak to Dilshad Bi..."
He knew that this was right, for years something or the other would draw him to Dilshad's family, whether it was to tell Rashid to take away an infant Ayaan or to protect Nikhat's engagement from braking in all instances he was wrong but he was too proud to apologise...'This Is Allah's Will, Zainub I know that you are watching and I know that you're angry with me, I left our Zoya in the hands of strangers I couldn't even hold her hand and teach her to walk, I couldn't steady her when she fell, I couldn't wipe her tears when she cried, she came here looking for me and I couldn't even see her. But no more, Zoya deserves happiness and her Abbu will not stand in the way of her happiness, Dilshad Ahmed Khan has accepted our Zoya as her own... The very woman I tormented is now a mother figure to my daughter. Zainub today I am going to right my wrongs...' His Inner monologue ended when he found himself at the door of Khan Villa, his hand poised, ready to knock and in the process completely ignoring the doorbell.
He knocked softly at first and received no response, he knocked again but this time louder than the first. His second knock was heard by the occupants of the palatial home as he heard shuffling and the sound of footsteps approaching the door. The handle turned and he readied himself.
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Dilshad Ahmed Khan was in the kitchen when she had first heard the faint sound of someone knocking. Asad was at work and Najma in college, leaving Dilshad at home with Zoya and her adorable grandson Maahir. Her hyper active grandson had insisted on spending every moment with his grandmother (something his grandmother would never complain about) and now once the little guy was exhausted, Zoya had taken him away for their ritual of watching a video diary and then putting him down for his nap. Today's segment from the video diaries was a video Zoya had taken while Zeenat was at her first OB/GYN appointment, Dilshad had stayed for the first few minutes and chuckled when Zeenat, being blinded by happy tears entered into a full blown panic because she could not find her baby in the sonogram (a fact she wished to hide from her OB/GYN because she didn't want people to think she was a bad mother). Watching Zoya be so involved in Maahir's life even though her life was in turmoil, made Dilshad want to do something nice for Zoya, so that's how she had found herself in the kitchen, recipe book in hand searching for a recipe for home made Pizza. The first sound of knocking could have been her imagination but the second time there was no mistakening it. Not expecting any visitors Dilshad had stopped what she was doing and walked towards the door clearly unprepared to see Gaffoor Ahmed Siddiqui on the other end of her door. The last time Dilshad Ahmed Khan had seen The Siddiqui patriarch was when he made the declaration that he will never set foot in this house. The Gaffoor Ahmed Siddiqui she had seen then was a proud, powerful and arrogant man, a stark contrast to the man before her now. This Gaffoor Ahmed Siddiqui looked worn, defeated, embarrassed. She was about to welcome him in when he had spoken
Siddiqui: "I had insulted you while I stood outside this very house...it's only fitting that I apologise to you before I take my first steps into your home..."
Dilshad: "All is forgiven, now this is the first time the bride's father and the groom's mother are meeting before the Nikaah has taken place, this occasion calls for something sweet to give favour to this union, Please come in..."
Siddiqui had taken his first steps into Khan Villa and was amazed. The pure white walls were brilliantly offset with the accents of blue and green found in the furniture, kitchen or windows, the house was open, spacious and well lit, making it every home owner's dream. They have come far... Asad is exceptionally talented... Zoya has found a good home, husband and family...she will be happy here...'
His thoughts were interrupted when Dilshad had gestured for him to sit down on one of the many couches in the longue and once he was seated she placed tray laden with small bowls of Halwa on the coffee table. Each picked up their respective bowls and extracted a spoonful and fed the other the first spoonful from their bowl.
Siddiqui: "Dilshad Bi...this is truly delicious..."
Dilshad: "Shukriya, now down to business... the Nikaah is soon and I want Asad and Zoya to marry in splendour; it should be an event that will be the talk of Bhopal for years to come..."
Siddiqui: "I agree completely, the union of our children should be a grand celebration. If you don't mind I have a few requests... my eldest daughter is getting married and Zainub and I had certain dreams about how we wanted the wedding to be..."
Dilshad: "I have woven many dreams about Asad's wedding and I am sure you have done the same for Zoya."
Siddiqui: "Her Ammi and I would talk about our little princess getting married, so the wedding should be no less than a royal affair."
Dilshad: "I agree, Asad is a prominent business man in India as well as overseas, plus I think he wants to shout it from the rooftops that Zoya is his wife..."
Siddiqui: "I want to give Zoya her share of happiness, Dilshad Bi... with this one event I want to make up for all those years where she had lived without me. I spoke to Rashid Miyan and even he had some dreams about his eldest child's wedding, he ran a few ideas by me and I think that we should all get together one day and plan the wedding of the century."
Dilshad: "But, if I know Zoya as well as I think I do, she would also wish to donate a large sum of money to those who are in dire need..."
Siddiqui: "Then it shall be done... She is so much like her mother..."
Dilshad: "Humaira had mentioned Zoya's Ammi and what had happened between the two of you... but Humaira didn't tell me much about Zoya's Ammi, just that you had met her in New York and had fallen in love..."
Siddiqui: "Dilshad Bi... how about we trade? I'll tell you about Zainub if you tell me about Zoya..."
Dilshad: "Seems fair... but before you begin, you should at least know what your daughter looks like..."
Siddiqui: "I already know... I saw her in Central Park a while back; she is the spitting image of her mother, the same eyes, smile, cheekbones...the resemblance is so startling that when I had seen her for the first time in Central Park, I knew who she was instantly."
Dilshad: "Zoya does have that affect... When I had seen her for the first time I had known that this was the girl who would bring laughter, happiness and love into our colourless lives. Her adorably silly Shayari's and warm hugs made life that much easier to live. By the way does the Shayari's run in the family?"
Siddiqui: "if she's spurting cute poetry that doesn't make sense...then she's definitely her mother's daughter..."
The Khan Matriarch and the Siddiqui Patriarch shared a knowing look before bursting into rib tickling laughter.
Wishing to know more, Siddiqui had inquired about Zoya's antics, to which Dilshad began regaling him with the many tales of the one and only Zoya Faarouqui. From baking Asad's presentation into a cake, her camaraderie with Najma and her attachment to Dilshad to trying fix Asad's marriage with one of his foreign clients to planning her schemes with Ayaan,
After the laughter subsided, a more serious tone was set for the conversation...
Dilshad: "I need to know... did you look for Zoya? Did you search for her after her mother passed on?"
Siddiqui: "I had known where she was... I reached the orphanage a day after Zeenat and Anwar had adopted her. She was alive, well and going to live far away from any danger that Razia could cause. Bhopal was not safe for her and will never be safe for her if Razia is still around. I was both sad and relieved when I had found out that Zeenat and Anwar had adopted her, sad because I could not raise my daughter fulfilling the promise I had made to my love and relieved because I knew that IF I was close to finding Zoya first, Razia would not have hesitated to kill her, Razia has destroyed both my family and yours, and we can't let her get away with this...if it was not Razia killing Zoya's mother, Rashid would have never left you and then Asad would have never hated his father. I am the cause of the problem it is my duty to solve it. Dilshad Bi... but I can't protect my daughter alone... I need help and therefore I think it's time for Asad to know that I am Zoya's father... no one will be able to protect her better than her husband."
Dilshad: "I think I should tell him... Asad will take it the wrong way, he'll think that you are lying to him because you don't want to see him be happy..."
Siddiqui: "Dilshad, I am aware of how Asad will react when he learns who I am, but I'm sure his love for my daughter is greater than any hatred that he has for me. Allah had witnessed me wronging you and your family and now let He be my witness again as I attempt to right my wrong. How strange are the ways of the Almighty? The very home which I had filled with darkness was filled with light by the very daughter I had lost all those years ago, she was to be my light but my helplessness drove her from me... but not anymore. Gaffoor Ahmed Siddiqui is not and will never be helpless again and I have full faith in my son in law and his love for my daughter, I am sure that he will do the right thing."
Dilshad Ahmed Khan was surprised at first but knew that Siddiqui was right, the recovering of his daughter had made him a better person and father and Dilshad knew that IF Siddiqui has taken the decision then maybe it is for the best, after all he knew Razia better than all of them.
Dilshad: "Siddiqui, Zoya is upstairs...won't you at least meet her?"
Siddiqui: "No...Until she is safe I must act as though I never found her, but I promise to visit soon or send my daughter Humaira as my proxy..."
Dilshad: "Whatever you deem appropriate..."
Siddiqui had wished the Ahmed Khan Matriarch well and left, he had a meeting with his son in law, and IF he knew Asad Ahmed Khan as well as he thought he did, being early for this meeting was of utmost importance.
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Shireen Ahmed Khan had always been taunted for being Rashid Ahmed Khan's second wife. It was clear that both Rashid and his mother had a preference for Dilshad but they had never been heartless enough to say anything to her face. It was her sister in law, Razia who had always told her what people said about her behind her back and it was her sister in law Razia who had told her how to handle these people and helped her at every turn. Had Shireen been wiser she would have seen Razia's manipulating hand in guise of a helping hand, but alas Shireen Ahmed Khan had been manipulated by her sister in law for soo long that she accepted her sister in laws lies without question. But she was also a mother who was being manipulated into thinking that her actions were justified because she was fighting for her children's rights. She had walked up to the front door of the woman who, in her opinion ruined her's and her children's happiness. She knocked angrily and waited to meet her rival, sure enough Dilshad Ahmed Khan had opened the door and her reaction upon seeing Shireen clearly indicated that she was expecting somebody else because had Shireen arrived a few minutes earlier she would have came face to face with her step brother, Gaffoor Ahmed Siddiqui.
Dilshad was stunned, but her curiosity took over and hesitantly she welcomed her husband's second wife into her home. Dilshad Ahmed Khan was always thought to be graceful and dignified hostess so she was about to politely offer her guest refreshments when all hell broke loose.
Seeing Dilshad so calm had sent Shireen over the edge, Ya Allah!! This woman has nerve! How can she act as though she has done nothing wrong! My children are being denied their rights while she is playing the gracious hostess? How dare her!'
Shireen: "ENOUGH!"
Shireen Ahmed Khan's voice echoed throughout Khan Villa and if Dilshad Ahmed Khan was taken aback by her tone she never showed it.
Shireen: "Enough! How dare YOU! Rashid left you many years before and now for that you are taking your revenge from my children! How dare you deprive my children of their rights! Rashid has cut off all ties with you but how dare you ask for your children's share! They have NO right to anything that my husband has earned... How dare you think that you can use your children to get my husband to fall in love with you?"
She was about to degrade her rival further when she sensed another's presence with them. She turned to the staircase to see a strange girl wearing a loose Kurti top and jeans. She snorted in disgust at the jeans and realised that the girl before her was Asad's American wife,
Shireen had kept her gaze on Zoya when she spoke to Dilshad
Shireen: "I would expect nothing less from a woman like you Dilshad, only you could go halfway around the world and bring home a wh**e like you as a daughter in law..."
At this Zoya became angry, NO ONE calls her beloved Phuphi (now mother in law) a Wh**e in front of her
Zoya: "Never ...Insult... My...Ammi...In...Front...Of...Me"
Zoya had punctuated each word by taking a threatening step forward towards Shireen. She was now standing tall, before the person who dared to insult the woman who meant the world to her. Zoya stared Shireen down, like a predator analysing its prey. Being an Upper East Sider, Zoya would never take such an insult nor allow someone she cares about to bear such insult especially if the insult in question came from someone as small minded as Shireen. So embracing her Upper East roots, Zoya stood tall and looked her opponent down, her aura striking fear in the heart of her opponent.
Shireen was scared; she did not expect this girl to retaliate. The girl stood menacingly before her as though poised to strike and without Razia there to help her, Shireen was left to fend for herself. So playing the only card she knew, Shireen decided to stick to her guns and reaffirm her statement.
Shireen: "It's true... respectable people would never do what this B**ch has done to my family, and I belong to the most respectable family in Bhopal..."
Zoya stared at Shireen and smiled wickedly, her voice became menacing as she issued her threat
Zoya: "Respect that means nothing outside this City, Time to play with the gloves off... Let me make this clear to you, Hurt or Insult my Ammi again and I WILL destroy you and your family..."
Shireen stared at her wide eyed, completely taken aback by the girl's fierceness; her resolve began to falter under Zoya's threatening glare
Shireen: "You couldn't possibly..."
Zoya: "Oh...but I will. You see... your family may have the power in this City but to the outside world, your family name means absolutely nothing, so if I were you I'd pick my enemies very, very carefully...you wouldn't want your family to crumble because you pissed off the wrong person."
Shireen: "My brother has this entire city dancing to his tunes..."
Zoya: "And I have the rest of the world dancing to mine... so before you make threats that you can never execute, leave...leave now and save your family the destruction..."
Shireen looked as though someone had just slapped her across the face; clearly she had underestimated the power of Zoya Faarouqui and the weight that the Faarouqui name holds. She turned on her heel and left, defeated and ashamed. She had acted in anger and once that anger became replaced with shame, she had no reason to stay at Khan Villa.
Dilshad had watched the entire exchange and was at a loss for words. She had never known Zoya to have a temper
Zoya: "Ammi are you alright? I just finished the video Diary and was putting Maahir down for his nap when I heard someone yelling..."
Dilshad: "I was wrong that day Zoya...bring you into my family is the best thing I ever did. Today you fought for me like a daughter would and although I don't condone your treatment of Shireen, I am proud that you care so much for me."
Zoya: "A child is their mother's shield so how could I stand by and watch my mother get hurt?"
Dilshad began to tear up at Zoya's words and, not wanting to breakdown in front of Zoya, gave an excuse of going to the market and turned to leave.
She was at the door when Zoya walked over to Dilshad and embraced her, the two woman pouring all their love and emotion for each other into the hug, they had started out as strangers and now each had considered the other their own, each would go to the ends of the earth for the other. Dilshad Ahmed Khan had teamed up with her daughter in law Zoya Faarouqui, a union that the city of Bhopal will remember for many years to come.
Link to Chapter 15
Edited by Xarina - 11 years ago
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