FF - The Colour of Love - Link to #2 Page 148 - Page 97

TWENTY NINE

Asad's phone buzzed non-stop with messages from Sara and Sahil but he didn't have the mental capacity to deal with them at this moment in time. As he sat patiently waiting to hear from the doctor he saw Karan and Aisha walk up to him. Asad stood up 'how are you guys?' looking towards Aisha 'I am so sorry Aisha after seeing Zoya in the state she was I totally forgot about you' Aisha smiled 'its ok Mr Khan, I can understand' Asad nodded in appreciation 'um have you been seen by a doctor? Is there anything I can do for you or get you?' Asad asked feeling some responsibility towards Zoya's friends. 'No we are fine' Karan answered 'our families are on their way and then we have to go to give our respective statements to the police...um Mr Khan, how is Zoya?' Asad didn't know any more what was he to tell them 'Aisha, you were with Zoya, what happened to her, her forehead was bleeding, what caused her to faint?'.

Aisha started crying Karan held her by the shoulders to support her as he got her to sit down. Asad bent down and kneeled in front of her, he placed his hand on her shoulder making her look up 'please Aisha...I need to know'. Asad's heart started to pace as he waited for Aisha to speak.

'The men that took us started misbehaving with some of the girls everyone was...so..so scared we didn't know what was going to happen to us...Zoya tried to pull back one of the passengers as one man tried dragging her...I tried to stop Zoya but she wouldn't listen she tried to fight the man during which he hit her so hard she fell hitting her head...' Aisha started sobbing uncontrollably as she tried to speak 'I...I tried to wake her up but she wouldn't, I was so scared I kept checking to see if she was still breathing'

Asad's eyes turned black he was enraged how dare anyone touch his Zoya. Asad got up giving way to Karan to comfort and calm Aisha down. As he moved he saw the doctor come out and walk up to him 'you are the person who came in with the patient' he asked 'yes...is she ok' he asked with urgency 'yes...well she will be, she hit her head hard and by the looks of it she has been unconscious for quite some time. It will take time for her to recover, she required a few stitches, and she is still under the effect of the anesthetic. You can go and see her but it may be tomorrow by the time she comes round' with that the doctor walked away leaving Asad to fully register what he had just heard. There was a slight sense of relief but he knew that nothing was going to be ok until Zoya woke up.

If Zoya was going to be in hospital overnight and possibly a few more days he needed to let his family know. He called Naani and explained everything to her Naani was shocked to the core she couldn't believe what had happened. Asad reluctantly asked her to tell Najma and inform Zoya's parents; Asad said that once Zoya came round he would have her transferred to their local hospital in Delhi. After a long conversation they mutually decided not to tell Ayaan and Humera for the time being.

Asad walked into the room where Zoya lay, it was dark the only light came from a lamp that was placed in the corner. Zoya lay wearing worn out hospital clothes covered with fresh white sheet. Her forehead was bandaged and her arms covered with needles that were attached to various IV fluids. Asad stood by her and he gently stroked her hair, he bent down to place a kiss on her cheek. It was just then he saw a tear drop on her that he realised he was crying. 'Everything will be ok Zoya; I won't let anything happen to you...I promise...I...I love you'.

Asad spent the whole night holding onto her hand he couldn't take his eyes off of her he wanted to make sure he was awake for when she woke up. Asad nodded off only to be startled by a nurse who had come in to check on Zoya, Asad smiled at the nurse as he adjusted his position. 'Sir can I get you anything to drink?' she politely asked um I wouldn't mind a black coffee' 'of course, no problem'. After a few minute the nurse returned with his coffee. 'Is she your wife?' Arnav looked at the nurse 'n..no but she soon will be' he smiled replying.

Not wanting to nod off again Asad paced the room waiting for morning to break. As the sun came up rays seeped through the blinds lighting up Zoya's face, she looked so angelic so beautiful, as he walked towards her bed he saw her hands flinch he quickly ran up to her and started calling out 'Zoya...Zoya..can you hear me...nurse...doctor' he screamed out he could see her eyes move as she tried to open them 'please sir we need you to wait outside' the doctor demanded as he and his team gathered around Zoya. Asad had been waiting for over fifteen minutes he let out a sigh of relief when the doctor came out 'sir, there is nothing to worry about she is fine...a little weak but fully awake now, you can see her but let her rest, talking too much may not help'. Asad nodded and ran into the room.

Zoya was sitting up with her back and head resting on a mountain of pillows, he waited until the nurse exited the room before he slowly walked up to her. Zoya looked at him emotionless he could see that she was looking but not seeing it was like she was looking straight through him. Asad gently picked up her hand as he sat beside her 'Zoya...Zoya are you ok?' Zoya looked at him blankly Asad started to panic why was she just staring why was she not talking to him. Asad moved his hand up to cup her face as his hand touched her face Zoya gasped she quickly moved her hand to cover his and held on to it tight as she totally broke down un controllably crying. Asad grabbed her crushing her into his embrace 'shhh Zoya it ok, I'm here please don't cry I won't let anything happen to you, you're safe...shhh' Asad felt a lump in his throat he couldn't bare seeing her like this he gently stroked her hair and rubbed her back to comfort her. They sat like that for the longest time until Zoya safely fell asleep again.

Asad had arranged for Zoya to be transferred to the hospital in Delhi the ambulance had picked them up and safely taken them. As Zoya was admitted the doctor came to read over her notes and examine her. Asad waited outside making a few phone calls. He first asked Aman to continue to deal with everything at the office and to update Sara and Sahil, he also called Zoya's parents they were on their way. As he finished making his calls he heard his name being called out, it was Naani, Imran and Najma, relieved to see his family Asad ran into their open arms trying to find some solace after having experienced the worst forty eight hours of his existence.

By the time Asad finished explaining what had happened the doctor came out and informed them that they were free to see Zoya. Naani and Najma went in first leaving Imran and Asad outside. 'Asad, have the police fed back any more information' 'No but I do know that they will be coming to take a full statement from Zoya, you know Imran she hasn't said a word since she woke up' Imran had never seen his brother in law so emotional he wondered if Asad's state was because he had feelings for Zoya, he placed his hand on his shoulder 'don't worry Aad she will fine inshAllah, we won't let anything happen to her'. After around fifteen minutes Najma came outside and broke down in tears 'Baji, what's wrong?' Asad ran up to his sister holding her in his embrace 'Asad what's wrong with her? What did they do to her? She won't talk, she won't respond to anything...' Najma sobbed as seeing Zoya in this condition was unbearable. Asad left Najma with Imran and walked in to see Naani holding Zoya's hand trying to get her to talk. Zoya sat in the bed staring straight ahead as if she was a statue Asad gently tapped Naani who clearly looked distraught 'Naani go and sit with Baji for a moment let me...' Naani stood up and stroked Asad's cheek before she exited the room.

Asad inhaled as much oxygen as he could he sat down by Zoya, he placed his hand on the side of her face and turned her to face him he had hoped that by seeing him by looking straight into his eyes it would awaken bring her back from wherever she had gone but all he saw was emptiness her face her eyes everything was void of any emotion 'Zoy...Zoya please say something...look everyone is here aunty and uncle will be here any minute...please say something anything...' Zoya continued to stare at him blankly his heart felt like it was about to explode out of his body the pain he felt was nothing like he had experienced before. Asad leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her check and then pulled her in holding her. Naani and Najma looked on through the small window in the door Najma smiled through her tears she knew that finally her brother had found someone he had after so many years been able to open up his heart and let someone take place there.

Ghaffur and Razia had arrived and were sitting with Zoya while the rest of the Khan family waited outside. Asad and Imran had gone to talk to the doctor. They had been told that Zoya was suffering from post-traumatic stress and it would take time for her to come to terms with what had happened, at this time all they could do was to support her and be patient. The doctor wanted to keep Zoya in for further observations but Asad refused he thought it would be better if Zoya moved into KM and had a nurse present at all times to look after her. The doctor wasn't given much choice as Asad was adamant that Zoya was going with him.

By the evening the Zoya had been discharged from the hospital and was taken to KM. Naani and Najma had made arrangements for her to move into the guest room which was adjacent to Asad's room. As news spread of Zoya's return from hospital her colleagues started flooding the place much to Asad's annoyance, at this time she needed to be resting she wasn't in a fit state to have so many visitors but he couldn't protest either. He strictly instructed Najma to ensure that they were only allowed to see her for ten minutes.

Naani insisted that Razia stayed back with Zoya. Razia sat by her daughters side the whole evening she caressed her hair and patted her until she fell asleep as soon as she did Razia was unable to hold back her tears any further. Asad came in with Ram Aunty please have something to eat' he instructed Ram to place the food on the side table and then walked up to Razia bringing her to sit and eat.

'Aunty you must be tired please get some rest I will stay back with Zoya and the nurse is here too'. Razia smiled at Asad and nodded she got up after having eaten and went to sit with Naani.

Asad looked down at his sleeping beauty; she truly looked like someone who had just descended from heaven. Asad sat there for the longest time his mind went back to when they first met he reminisced over every moment he had spent with her, lost in his reverie he was suddenly brought back by the ringing of his phone 'Hello' he whispered in the phone then slowly got up and walked to the window not to disturb Zoya. 'Yes Inspector...no she is still not talking...yes she is at home now as soon as she is well enough I will let you know'.