I hope you are well.
I managed to finish writing it early so thought of posting it sooner rather than later.
NINETEEN
As the door opened Zoya and Asad both held on to their breaths, Ayra who looked very pale opened the door and froze seeing Asad and Zoya stand before her Zoya gave her a faint smile 'Salaam Ayra...c...can we come in' she said Ayra stepped back and opened the door letting them come in. Asad and Zoya walked into a room that was totally disorganised, they couldn't believe that Ayaan and Ayra were living in such conditions.
Zoya could see how panicked and scared Ayra looked as she kept staring at them in disbelief. Zoya walked up to Ayra and took her by the hands 'it's ok Ayra you don't have to look so scared...we have come here to take you home Ayra, you don't belong here you belong with all of us' Ayra started crying as Zoya hugged her, Zoya looked towards Asad who stepped closer towards them, he placed his hand over Ayra's head 'where is Ayaan Ayra?' 'He...he has gone out, he should be back soon' she said between her sobs.
'Asad you wait here for Ayaan I am going to take Ayra home' 'no...' Ayra said as she pulled back from her hold 'Ayaan, would never agree...after the mistakes he...we all made he will never come home' Zoya looked at her 'no matter what Ayra, you are his wife, the daughter in law of our house and the mother of his child that is yet to come...we can't let you live here like this, we are taking you home'.
Ayra wiped her tears 'why Zoya...why after all we have done...after all that you went through why?' Zoya smiled 'I don't know, maybe it's because I am such a great person...' She said smiling, taking her hand back into hers Zoya continued to speak 'Ayra when we do something wrong in life we turn to Allah and ask him for forgiveness and we believe, we have faith that Allah will forgive us...if Allah can forgive his people of the gravest sins committed then who am I? I am no one Ayra...all I know is that I want you to come home with us' Ayra smiled through her tears and nodded 'good, now let's pack up a few of your things'.
As Ayra stepped forward she stopped to see Ayaan standing at the door with tears in his eyes 'Bh...Bhaijaan' he whispered as he looked at Asad and then at Zoya. Asad stepped towards his brother who he could barely recognise, he had lost weight and looked so unkempt, Ayaan dropped the bag he was holding and ran into his brothers hold, Asad hugged him back as hard as he could, letting him cry his heart out 'I am so sorry Bhaijaan, I am so sorry, please forgive me...please' Asad wiped his tears and pulled his brother back 'it's time to go home Ayaan...lets go' Ayaan stepped back 'no Bhaijaan I can't not after what I did to Zo...' He looked at Zoya then looked away in shame 'not after what I did to Ammi and Abu, I can't, I know they will never forgive me'. 'They will Ayaan, we have come to take you home and we are not leaving without you now please come'.
Zoya held onto Ayra as she walked towards the car, Ayra was four months pregnant but was very weak, Ayaan sat in the back with his wife as Asad and Zoya drove them home. Ayaan took in a few deep breaths as he stood outside his house 'Ayaan, come' Asad said as he saw him hesitate, Ayaan took Ayra's hand in his and smiled at her trying to reassure her as well as himself.
Asad walked in with Zoya right behind him 'Ammi' he called out, Dilshad walked into the main living room and dropped the cups she was holding as she saw Ayaan and a young girl standing before her hand in hand.
It took a long time for Dilshad to come to terms with the fact that Asad and Zoya themselves had brought Ayaan back home, but not on his own, with his wife, who was now 4 months pregnant. After a lot of shock filled gasps and pain filled cries, after pleas of forgiveness and emotional words Dilshad wept as she held onto her youngest son and Ayra, her new daughter in law.
Najma came home to an emotion filled atmosphere; she too hugged her brother and cried to no end. Ayaan took Ayra to his room, Dilshad had asked them to shower and freshen up whilst she prepared dinner. Zoya had silently walked away a long time ago, no one had noticed until Dilshad turned around to thank her 'Asad...Zoya, where is she' Asad looked around and then walked towards her room. Dilshad and Asad found Zoya starring out the window 'Zoya, beta' Dilshad called out. Zoya wiped her tears and put on a smile before she turned around, but who was she fooling, as If it wasn't obvious that she had been crying.
'I really don't know what to say to you Zoya, Allah sent you to us as an Angel, you are Allah's gift to us, I have no words to express my gratitude, what you did today no one could ever do Zoya' Zoya smile through her tear filled eyes and hugged her 'I only did what any daughter would do for her family Ammi...I am ok, you don't need to worry...you go back outside'.
As Diilshad walked out Asad came towards her as soon as he approached her Zoya turned and walked away from him 'Asad, I was thinking of going back to work, I still have the presentation to work on...you stay here...you will need to be here for when Abu gets back, he will be harder to calm down and accept this...I'll see you later' Zoya picked up her bag and was about to walk off when Asad stopped her the presentation can wait Zoya, stay...or let me come with you...I can't leave you like this' Zoya smiled at him 'I am ok Asad...I promise you...look it not so late in the afternoon, can you do me a favour, can you book an appointment at the maternity clinic for Ayra and take her there with Ayaan, she looks like she needs some medical attention, I will be back later in the evening...' Zoya didn't wait for Asad to respond and walked out.
Ayaan came down with Ayra, Dilshad fed them as smuch as she could before Asad got up 'come on lets go' 'go where?' Ayaan asked 'Zoya got me to book an appointment with the maternity clinic...for Ayra...I got one so let's go' 'where is Zoya?' Ayra asked in a low voice 'umm...she had to back to work...she works with me and Abu ...so...' Asad started hesitating as he spoke, thinking back to how Zoya had just left, he couldn't figure her out. Ayra smiled in appreciation, whereas Ayaan felt a pang in the pit of his stomach, he was grateful but his guilt overtook his feelings of gratitude.
As Zoya walked back into the office she went to speak to Rashid, she knew at this moment in time it would only be her that would be able to convince him. Rashid had started to see red, he was angered by what Asad and Zoya had done, he had made it very clear that Ayaan was no longer a part of his family, and they had no right bringing him back after everything that happened. It took Zoya a long time to calm her Abu down, which at the end of Rashid shed tears; tears that he had never let escape his eyes before this very day.
'Abu please go home, your family is waiting for you, your son and daughter in law are waiting for you' Rashid smiled, he picked up his bag and walked towards the door, stopping just as he was about to open the door. 'Zoya, my family is not complete without you beta, you are coming with me' he said as he held out his hand. Zoya walked up to him and hugged him 'of course I am Abu, but you need to this, you have a lot more to resolve than me...you go, I will stay back...I will see you later tonight'. Rashid kissed the top of Zoya's head 'thank you beta, thank you so much'.
4