Forty
It didn't matter how much anyone persuaded her Zoya refused to leave Asad's side. Ayaan and Humera went back to Asad's apartment to pick up Zoya some fresh clothes so she could change.
As Zoya changed and came back into his room she saw Shireen, Humera and Ayaan standing around Asad, who was now awake. Zoya let out a deep breath and closed her eyes thanking Allah; there was no helping the tears that continued to come. Asad saw her and felt his heart flutter, she looked so tired and worn out, all he wanted to do was reach out to her and tell her everything is ok. 'Zoya come' Ayaan said as he held out his hand and walked to her, Zoya took his hand and let him lead her to Asad's side. As they both looked deep into each other's eyes Zoya felt her legs go weak she quickly held on to Ayaan's arm. Asad sat up a little worried at seeing her 'Zoya...Ayaan sit her down' he said 'Zoya beta, what happened are you ok?' Shireen asked as she came and stood by her 'I am ok aunty...just felt a little dizzy' she looked to Asad again with fresh tears in her eyes 'h...how are you feeling now?' 'I am ok, will be up and running in no time...so you can stop worrying' Zoya gulped the air that was blocking her airway 'worrying...if anything had happened to you I would have died too' she said to herself.
'Zoya, Bhaijaan is ok now, we should take you home, you haven't slept or eaten anything' Humera said, Asad looked at Zoya wide eyed 'Zoya...you planning to make yourself ill, please go home, I am ok' on the one hand he was concerned for her wellbeing and on the other he felt his heart expand at the thought that she was by his side the whole time. Zoya wanted to say no let me stay, but even she knew she wasn't feeling too good and also that Asad wouldn't let her stay, so she reluctantly agreed. Ayaan drove his mum, Humera and Shireen back to his house, where he asked them to stay put.
Asad was being force fed some medication when Ayaan returned back at the hospital 'just take it, it will be a lot easier than fighting it' he say smiling at him. Sitting down next to his bed Ayaan took in a deep breath 'I can't believe what you did Bhaijaan, what if something had happened to you, I would never have been able to live with myself, you should never have pushed me away like that' Asad placed his hand on Ayaan's head 'if I had to that again I would without thinking twice, Ammi and Humi need you Ayaan' pushing his hand down 'and what...we don't need you, are you not Ammi's son are you not Humera's brother...and what about Zoya...how can you keep fighting everyone back and saying that you have no one, when you have everyone right here that love you and want the best for you...I know you think relations make you weak but they don't, they give you strength to want to live on and fight...you know what Bhaijaan I have never agreed with your philosophy and it's about time you woke up and realised that you are wrong too...that girl, the one that you started off by hating so much, the minute I called her to tell her about you she ran all the way here, in the middle of the night not caring about anything or anyone, she sat here by your side, fighting with everyone who even came close to asking her to move...ugggh I don't even know why am I saying all this to you because you will never change' Ayaan looked at Asad with moistened eyes and then walked out. Asad didn't mind that his younger brother just told him off, in all fairness he probably deserved it, Asad was always one to stand his ground not letting anything cloud his decisions or judgments, he wasn't cold hearted just too principled when it came to his personal life.
Asad had a lot to think about after Ayaan left, he threw his head back against the pillow and closed his eyes, his mind went back to the words his teacher once said to him shortly after he was taken in by the orphanage, for him it was those very words that began to change him 'Asad, my son, just remember that no matter what life gives you, even if it hurts, just be strong and act like you are ok, strong walls will always shake but never collapse'. And that is exactly what Asad did and continued to do, he may have had a few shakes in life but he never allowed himself to collapse. As he continued to trawl though his thoughts he heard her voice 'it finally happened, I finally fell in love...I love you Asad'. Asad shot up and looked around 'what the hell was that?' he shook his head thinking he must have been dreaming, but it sounded so real, like he had heard it before 'I need to get off these meds' he said to himself sitting himself up. What Asad didn't realise that they were words he had heard before, words that Zoya spoke.
Zoya returned to see Asad with Ayaan, as soon as she walked in the room she sensed an uneasiness between the two brothers before she could say anything Ayaan stepped up to Asad and hugged him 'I'm sorry Bhaijaan, I didn't mean to go off into one' Asad patted him on the back 'it's cool, nothing to apologise for...how is Ammi and Humi?' 'They are ok, Ammi said she will come by tomorrow morning...but I did bring back my little sis' he said looking at Zoya. Zoya smiled at Asad with a little blush, she walked up to where he was standing 'you are standing...that has to be a good sign...you ok?' Asad nodded he tried to speak but couldn't as the voice he heard, Zoya's voice came rushing back taking him off guard.
'Bhaijaan, Mr Roy has asked me to come in...I'm going to leave Zoya here with you...you know just in case you try to escape or anything' Ayaan said laughing 'was that supposed to be funny?' Asad said raising his eyebrow; Ayaan took that his cue to leave before he got two fold of what he unleashed on Asad earlier.
Zoya and Asad sat down simultaneously, where Zoya was being her usual self Asad found it hard to engage with her. Just as he was about to speak the nurse came in 'Mr Khan, I need to change your dressing, could you please take your shirt off' Asad and Zoya looked at each other, both feeling a little uncomfortable. Zoya stood up and turned away from him to give him privacy, she could hear him struggle, as she turned around she saw him trying to pull down his top, closing his eyes every time his shoulder pained him 'wait' she quickly said then ran to the other side of the bed let me help you' Asad looked at her and then lowered his hand allowing her to take off his top, as her warm hands accidently brushed against his torso and back a bolt of electricity ran down his spine, he could hardly bring himself to look at her. The nurse changed his dressing and was about to put his top back on when Zoya stopped her 'its ok, I can do that nurse' the nurse smiled and nodded at Zoya and then left.
Asad stood up and Zoya helped him put back his top on 'thank you' he whispered 'is there anything I can get you...are you hungry?' 'No...I'm ok for now, I can ask Ayaan to bring something on his way back' 'how much longer to they plan to keep you in?' 'Not much longer, inshAllah will be able to come home tomorrow' Zoya smiled, she couldn't have heard better news.
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