The Mark of Innocence: #3 Chapter 26 - Pg 116 - Page 2

Eighteen

Najma sat cuddled up to Zoya, they talked for hours on end. They laughed and cried at the same time 'Allah has given me the best birthday present, I will never be able to thank Him enough for giving me you back Api...I love you so much' Zoya kissed the back of Najma's hand 'I love you too Tamatar...now that I have found you I will never let you go' she said as she hugged her tight.

'Najma, beta I think you should let Zoya rest, it has been a long day' Dilshad said, Najma started pouting 'Ammi...a few more minutes please' 'Tamatar...Aunty is right you should get some rest too, I will come up with you'. Zoya held Najma's hand and led her to her room, Dilshad felt her eyes well up, somehow today her family felt complete.

Zoya lay next to Najma and stroked her hair 'Tamatar...I can still see...close your eyes' Zoya said making Najma giggle ok...but sing me that song you used to...you know the one to make me sleep' Zoya sat up and looked back at her you...still remember that?' 'Of course I do, I made Bhaijaan sing it to me all the time when I couldn't sleep' 'I thought Asad hated that song?' she said laughing at the memory of him holding his hands over his ears telling her and Najma to shut up. 'I never hated the song I hated the two hyena's who couldn't sing a word in sync...do you know how awful you sounded' Zoya and Najma looked at Asad with their mouths wide open, which made him laugh 'Bhaijaan you are so rude' Najma said folding her arms across her chest. Asad went to sit on the other side of her, he looked at Zoya and instantly lost himself in her eyes, he could feel his heart beat hard against his chest, it still didn't seem real. The whole time they felt love but chose to live in denial, they felt the heat but refused to take a chance; they felt the pain but remained indifferent.

'Bhaijaan, will you sing it with Api...please' Asad placed his hand over his siters head 'anything for my Tamatar' 'our Tamatar' Zoya corrected him. Najma lay down as Asad and Zoya sang her the song that she had been listening to for the last ten years of her life.

Zindagi ki yehi reet hai
Haar ke baad hi jeet hai
Thode aansu hai, thodi hasi
Aaj gham hai to kal hai khushi
Zindagi ki yehi reet hai
Haar ke baad hi jeet hai
Thode aansu hai, thodi hasi
Aaj gham hai to kal hai khushi
Zindagi ki yehi reet hai
Haar ke baad hi jeet hai

Zindagi raat bhi hai, savera bhi hai zindagi
Zindagi hai safar aur basera bhi hai zindagi
Ek pal dard ka daanv hai
Dusra sukh bhari chhaaon hai
Har naye pal naya geet hai
Zindagi ki yehi reet hai

Gham ka baadal jo chhaaye to hum muskuraate rahe
Apni aankhon mein aashaaon ke deep jalaate rahe
Aaj bigde to kal phir bane
Aaj roothe to kal phir mane
Waqt bhi jaise ek meet hai
Zindagi ki yehi reet hai
Haar ke baad hi jeet hai
Thode aansu hai, thodi hasi
Aaj gham hai to kal hai khushi

Zoya looked down at Najma fast asleep, she stroked her hair and let the tears that had been stinging her eyes finally escape. Asad held his hand out; Zoya looked up at him and then place her hand over his. Asad led Zoya out, closing the door gently behind him. Zoya wiped her face and raked her fingers through her hair letting out a pain filled sigh 'you ok?' he asked 'yeah...just a little overwhelmed that's all'. 'Maybe you should go and rest, you look tired' Zoya shook her head 'no...I am ok...the last thing that I want to do is sleep' Asad smiled 'come with me' he said taking her hand in to his leading the way to his bedroom.

Nineteen

Asad closed the door and then led Zoya through another set of doors which opened out to a balcony that over looked his beautiful garden; the garden had been lit by small lamps illuminating it's beautifully maintained landscapes. 'Ya Allah, how beautiful is this, it looks so different from up here' Zoya said as she looked from left to right in excitement 'here sit' Asad said as he pulled out a chair for her.

Both of them looked at each other not really knowing where to start. Asad reluctantly put his hand over Zoya and pulled it towards him, he looked up at her 'I am so sorry Zoya...I can't even begin to imagine what you must have had to go through all these years...and it's all my fault, if only I had come to you sooner...I just got up and left and didn't even think once how it would have affected you, I was here living my life with my new family whilst you were on your own living in a room with no one there for you...I will never be able to forgive myself Zoya...I am so sorry'.

Zoya got of the chair and knelt in front of him; she cupped his lowered face and raised it so his eyes would meet hers. His eyes were red and shedding tears that he had probably been holding on to for so long 'I may have been angry, I may have cried and screamed but never once did I hate you nor did I stop loving you Asad, the only thing that kept me going was the belief that one day we would be together and even if today I wasn't here sitting in front of you, even if I hadn't found you I would have lived the rest of my life with that hope with that faith as without that I wouldn't have survived...you have nothing to be sorry for Asad, we don't always have control over the direction in which life takes us as adults and we were only little children then, what could we have done...I say what could we have done...but the truth of it is that we did do something...you asked me to carry this mark as something that would keep me, us a part of each other no matter what happened...even if I found you years later with another girl and four children, my love for you would have remained, its embedded in me Asad it's not something I could part from'

Asad let out a pain filled cry as he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her 'I love you Zoya, I love you so much...I am never letting you out of my sight...never' Zoya smiled as through her tears as she hugged him back 'I love you too Asad, I love you too'.

Asad moved onto the larger chair and sat Zoya next to him they sat there close to one another holding each other's hand talking to their hearts content, they talked so much that they soon fell asleep.

Dilshad joined Rashid back downstairs 'where are they?' 'Sleeping, they fell asleep on the balcony, I didn't wake them...Rashid...I know it may be soon but do you think we should ask Zoya to move in with us?' Rashid looked at Dilshad 'having a girl stay with us, who we know that our son loves...is that right...I mean what will people say Dilshad, I am not against Asad and Zoya being together, I know, I have seen my son suffer all these years, but having a girl live with us I don't think it is a good idea, we may be modern but I still have my principles and practices' Dilshad wanted to try and convince him otherwise but didn't, this was something she had thought of not something Asad or Zoya had asked for, so until they expressed their wishes she would go along with Rashid.

Zoya and Asad would have stayed in the warmth of each other's arms if it hadn't been for Najma screaming out for them. Both of them opened their eyes simultaneously and looked at each other, Zoya was the first lift her head off his shoulder and pull back 'Ya Allah, its morning already...sorry I never realised...' she said looking a little embarrassed 'sorry for what Zoya...' Asad wasn't able to complete his sentence as Najma came running towards them. Zoya stood up and hugged Najma 'good morning Api' 'good morning Tamatar, did you sleep well?' 'Yes, I had the best sleep...come Api lets go and have some breakfast'.

Zoya looked at Asad 'I have been in these clothes since yesterday; I really need to freshen up...any chance of borrowing something?' Asad was just about to reply when Ayaan came in 'seriously Zoe, you want to look like a drag...here Humera gave me a bag for you' Zoya walked up to him 'thank you so much Ayaan, it was really sweet of her...when did you get back? Ayaan started to smirk, he leaned towards Zoya 'in good enough time not to be caught out by the oldies' he said winking at her. Zoya started to laugh 'ok...well I guess I will see you all downstairs' she said as she walked off.

Breakfast was a pleasant affair, Zoya couldn't remember the last time she has seen so many dishes just for breakfast 'Zoya, you have hardly touched anything beta, please have some more' Dilshad said as she filled her plate with more food 'Aunty please, I don't think I can eat anymore I am so full'.

'Api will you stay here with me' Zoya looked at Najma 'I can't stay here Tamatar, but I promise to come and visit you every weekend' 'ohhh' Najma said a little disappointed. 'Asad can you drop me back, I have my first dance exam tomorrow I need to get a few extra hours in' 'sure'. Zoya met Dilshad and took blessings from Rashid as she got ready to leave, she kissed Najma and hugged her for the hundredth time 'you have my number so you call me at any time...I will see you next week inshAllah, until then you be good'.

Ayaan left with them seeing that they were due to go back this evening they decided to go back earlier so they didn't have to make a repeat journey. Zoya received a warm welcome from Priya and Humera, they still couldn't believe it 'now that I know you are Bhai's Zoya, I don't think I could ever call you Zoe' Humera said honestly 'and I would prefer nothing else but that...I was given that name by a girl I met at the hostel, she couldn't pronounce Zoya so started calling me Zoe...and I guess the name just kind of stuck...Zoya is more than ok with me'.