Chapter Nine: The test of love
Zoya s room
Zoya was offering her prayers when Badi Bi came to see her. Badi Bi waited for her prayers to finish so that she can talk to her regarding Asad. Badi Bi when heard that Asad loves Zoya from Usma's mouth was shocked at first, then understood situation is very tricky, she didn't want Asad to be another Zeenat. All that now she had is Asad and now Usma too. She didn't want to loose them at any cost, hence she thought to talk to Zoya and test her love for her grandson and if Zoya successfully passes the test, she decided to proceed with their relation. She wanted some sort of assurance that no matter what happens Zoya will not leave Asad. As far as Asad is concerned, Dadi thought she made a choice and forced it upon Asad which miserably failed and now why not give a try to his choice and see what it holds out. Zoya offered her prayers and saw Badi bi. She said salam to her. "Badi bi muje bula liya hota, apne takleef kyun ki" Badi bi said "isme takleef ki koi baat nahi hai, vaise bhi muje tumse kuch baat karni hai, tho mera kaam hai, tho muje hi tumhare paas ana chahiye" She said in a stern tone which made Zoya to stop her counter questions. She said meekly "kehiye na" and she waited for Badi bi to continue the talking.
Badi bi started "tum yahan India main pehli baar ho?" Zoya nodded "jee" Badi bi "Asad ke saath kaise, mera matlab ki tum usse pehle se hi janti ho" Zoya "ji nahi meri unse mulaqat New York main huyi thi" Badi bi "aur pehli mulaqat main tum Asad ke saath uske ghar tak agayi?" Zoya said "nahi nahi aap galat samaj rahi hai, vo baat aisi nahi hain, main Usma ki phoppi nahi hoon.. main apne ghar se bhaag gayi thi aur phir achanak Usma se mulaqat hogayi aur phir main Usma ke saath ghar par... phir Asad aye Usma ko lene aur phir thoda jan pehchan hogaya... actually muje pata nahi tha ki main India arahi hoon, main tho behosh thi na" She stopped and bit her lip that she blurted out that part. Badi bi arched her eyebrows. "Zoya dikhne main tho tum shareef ghar ki lagti ho, aur shareef ghar ki ladkiyaan ghar se nahi bhagti hai" Zoya again convincing "nahi vo main apni souteli maa ki vajah se bhag gayi thi, mere abbu bol nahi sakte, chal nahi sakte, aur meri souteli ammi ne mera nikah zabardasti unke bhai ke bte ke saath tay kra diya, jo ki bachpan se gunda hai, main kya karti, muje bhagna pada, aur kismet ne muje Asad se mila diya" Badi bi "tumhare abbu kya karte hai?" Zoya "vo New York shehar ke jane mane vakil the, lekin bachpan main mere saath ek hadsa hua jiske vajah se vo hamesha hamesha ke liye bistar par..." she stopped sobbing there. Badi bi "mujse sunkar bohot afzoz hua" Zoya continued lekin agar Asad nahi hote tho aaj mera uss akram ke saath nikah hogaya hota, unhone muje bachaya, lekin kuch halat ki vajah se main behosh hogayi aur phir jab maine ankhen kholi tho main Asad ke saath plane main thi." Badi bi saw that Zoya words were genuine. But still she asked "tho Asad ke saath tumhara koi rishta nahi hai, Asad ne tumpar tara kha kar tumhe bachaya, aur India lekar aya haina" Zoya couldn't bring to her mouth that she loved Asad so much instead she preferred to be silent which was noticed by Badi bi. She repeated the question "tumhara Asad ke saath kya rishta hai?" Zoya this time "dosti ka, insaniyaat ka, moh..." Badi bi smiled "teek hai, agar main kabhi tumse kuch mangoongi tho kya tum vo muje dena ka vada karogi?" Zoya "ji bilkul aap kehkar tho dekhiye, main vada karti hoon aap jo bhi mangegi main apko donngi, yeh Zoya ka vada hai" Badi bi in her mind"ladki buri nahi hai, mere Asad ko khush rakhegi, pata nahi iske ghar wale koi bakheda na khada karde" Badi bi said "teek hai main ab chalti hoon" As soon as Badi bi got up Zoya said "muje apse kuch kehna hai,"
Badi bi turned and looked at her and thought may be wanted to say the she loved Asad. Zoya said "vo jo bahar sagaai main hungama hua tha vo sab kuch Usma aur Asad ne milkar plan kiya tha, sagaai thodne ke liye, shayad apko pata nahi hoga, lekin main apse kuch chupana nahi chahti, apko janneka haq hai, aap iss ghar ki badi hai, koi angooti ki chori nahi huyi thi, vo Usma jo cake Hasina bi ko khilaya usme angooti dalkar dedi aur phir Asad ne Tanveer se jhoot bola ki unhe pagalpan ka doura padta hai, taki Tanveer khud se yeh rishta thod de" Zoya stopped. Badi bi was shocked at this revelation but nevertheless she was impressed with Zoyas true nature. For the second time in a span of half an hour this girl has really impressed her. Badi bi asked "Asad ne aisa kyun kiya, kya tumhe pata hai?" Zoya again stumped at this question but diplomatically told "shayad Asad ko tanveer pasand nahi thi" Badi bi "yah phir koi aur pasand hai, issliye?" Zoya "jee" shocked. Badi bi smiled and said "jobhi hua ache ke liye hua, usse yeh pata chal gaya ki mere Asad ke liye Tanveer teek ladki nahi thi, kya agar Asad nikah ke baad pagal hojata to vo tho usse chodkar chali gayi hoti, muje mere Asad ke liye ek aise dulhan chahiye jo zindagi bhar uska haath thame, chahe gam ho yah phir khushi ho, aur mera Asad tho usse hamesha khush rakhega, itna vada tho main kad sakti hoon" She exited saying "ab main chalti hoon"
Asad's room
Asad was going to get Usma's admitted in one of the best schools in Bhopal. He has already talked with Badi bi regarding the same and taken her permission. He was getting ready that Usma came to him and perched upon his dressing table. "Mamu, ek baat batayiye, apne Badi nani se baat ki, phoppi ke bare main" Asad combing his hair said "nahi abhi tak tho nahi, lekin jald hi karunga bas sahi waqt ka intezar kar raha hoon" Usma "mamu aaj school main mera pehla din hai?" Asad "ji nahi aaj hum sirf admissions ke liye jaa rahe hain, interview ache se dena Okay" Usma "hmm vo tho mera bhaiya haath ka khel hai" Asad "main janta hoon, tumhara dimag kitna tez hai" Usma "koi shaque" Asad "ji bilkul nahi" He carried her in her arms after kissing her.
Asad was called by Zoya "vo Usma ne kaha ki aaj uska school main interview hai, issliye yeh dahi shakkar khane se sab kuch acha hota hai" She fed Usma a spoonful of sweet curd and wished her all the best kissing her cheeks. She was about to go Asad opened his mouth too "tabto muje bhi chahiye, main bhi to school jaa raha hoon" Zoya said "lekin test to Usma ka haina, apka thodi hai" Asad "phir bhi muje bhi chahiye, jaldi kijiye late horaha hai" Zoya fed him too with a spoonful and Asad took his own sweet time to take it in his mouth not breaking the eye contact with Zoya and then he took the spoon from her and dipped in the curd and fed her too. Finally Usma said "chaliye mamu der hogayi, aap na phoppi se baad main romance kar lijiye ga, varna aaj mera pehla impression hi kharab hojayega der se pohunch ne se" Asad gave a what look at Usma and Zoya giggled. All this was witnessed by another pair of old eyes. She was happy that Asad found his girl and now the urge to test their love was more, this time she didn't want anything wrong to happen like the last time.
New York
Akram "Mumani kuch pata chala zoya ke bare main" Akram "yehi batane ke liye tho maine tumhe bulaya hai" Ladki ka pata lag gaya, vo Hindustan main hai" Akram "India main, vo India kaise pohunchi" Razia "vo sab chodo, mudda yeh hai, ki ladki hindustan main hain, aur Bhopal sheher main hai, mere admiyon ne khabr diya hai ki, yahan embassy se uska visa sanction hua tha kissi Asad Ahmed Khan ki mangetaar ken ate, muje darr hai kahin Zoya ne uss Asad se nikah na kar liya ho, tab to hamara sara phasa ulta hi pad jayega, jaldi hi kuch karna hoga, hum sabka India jane ki tayyari karo, aur haan uss budde ka bhi ticket katana, akhir ladki ko qaboo main karne ke liye kaam ayega"
At about evening
Zoya was roaming about the house and the telephone rang. She picked up the phone still humming but soon dropped the phone hearing it. She shouted for Badi bi and went running to tell her. She panting and sweating reached Badi bis room. Badi bi was keeping her clothes in her cop board. Zoya shouted "jaldi chaliye Badi bi, Asad aur Usma ka accident hogaya, kissine Lifeline Hospital se phone kiya tha" Badi bi dropped the clothes and proceeded with Zoya and soon reach the hospital, they see that Usma was fine and just having some bruises but where was Asad. Zoya sat with Usma while Badi bi went to speak to the doctor. Doctor informed that Asad's car's brakes failed and crashed against a tree, since Usma was sitting in the passenger seat, she was thrown off but Asad sustained serious injuries particularly to his eyes. His eyes needed to be bandaged for around 15 days or so and then they will remove to see whether he is capable of seeing. Doctor said that there is 5% of losing eyesight and that they can't tell anything about it now. Badi bi went to see Asad as he was in ICU.She looled through the glass window on the door and cried. Then she suddenly got reminded of Zoya. She went to her and gave her permission to meet Asad. She too came and stood at the door and cried for him staring him through the small round window in the door. She kept her hand on the glass like that she was touching Asads face. She saw him with tubes running from all over his body to various machines, some beeping, some silent, some showing some numbers and at last Zoya saw Asads expressive eyes were behind a white bandage. She didn't know what to do but wanted to open the door, go inside and hold him in her arms. Soon she saw a nurse coming to Asads room. She asked whether she can just see Asad for 5 mins by going inside. She promised that she won't disturb him. Nurse seeing her tears agreed and let her in. Zoya went and sat on the stool provided and kept her hand on Asads face. She then held his hands in hers and made him feel her hearbeats and kept it back. She bent down and kissed his forehead and after staring at him for sometime when nurse came in and prompted her to go out she complied with teary eyes.
Zoya went to Badi Bi and asked "Badi bi unhe hosh kab ayega, doctor ne kya kaha?" Badi bi didn't have the courage to tell her that Asad may lose his eye sight yet she told Zoya that doctor had predicted that Asad may lose his eyesight when the bandage is opened. "badi bi, kya Asad kabhi dekh nahi payenge" Badi bi "doctor na aisa hi kuch kaha hai" Zoya just slumped against the wall for support hearing this. She was so shocked that nothing came out of mouth at that time. Badi bi saw the pain in zoyas eyes, even though it was Asad who met with accident, it was Zoya who was more suffering than him right now.
After a week time
After a week Asad was discharged from hospital and was taken home. Badi bi entrusted zoya with all the responsibilities of Asad till his bandage si removed. Zoya used to do all things for Asad now like a nurse, right from giving him bath to feeding him with medicines and food. It had become a routine for her now. But above all, she never missed her prayers, she always did that in right time and she asked nothing but for Asads good and speedy recovery. Badi bi saw that Zoya was indeed perfect for Asad and now she was proud of his choice. She thought to ask Zoya about her engagement with Asad now, but will she agree to that Asad being in risk of losing his eyesight.
Zoya offered her prayers and was now helping Usma with her studies, Badi bi came to her. She asked about asad and she said he was sleeping. Badi bi diplomatically asked "kya main tumse kuch maang sakti hoon, yaad hai tumne mujse vadaa kiya tha" Zoya without any hestitiation said "jee kahiye na kya kar sakti hoon main apke liye" Badi bi "mere Asad se sagaai karogi?" Zoya was swept off her feet hearing this. Badi bi "yah main yeh samjoon ki Asad jo ab andha ho chukka hai tho.." She was stopped by Zoya "khuda ke liye Badi bi aisa mat kahiye, main tho din raat yehi dua karti hoon ki unki aakhon roshini salamat rahe" Badi bi smiled a little. "tho main yeh samjoon ki tumhe yeh rishta manzoor hai" Zoya lowered her gaze in approval. Badi bi "lekin main tumpe koi zor nahi dena chahti chahe tho tum 24 gante ke baad soch samaj kar jawab dena teek hai"
She was going to go "Rukiye, maine soch liya hai, main yeh sagaai karungi, agar apko vada nahi bhi diya hota, tho bhi main yeh sagaai zaroor karti, kyunki main Asad se bohot mohabaat karti hoon, kya hua agar vo dekh nahi paye tho, main unki ankhen banoogi, aur medical science bhi bohot taraaki kar chukka hai, hum unhe ache ache doctor ko dikhayenge, chahe tho main unhe New York leke jaungi, zameen asmaan ek kardungi, lekin har vo mumkin koshish karungi jisse unke ankhon ki roshini unhe vapis mil jaye." Badi bi saw that she truly loved her son. "tho tum Asad se mohabbat karti ho?' Zoya now realized that she blurted out everything in desperation. "ji vo main...main...vo" she was cut off by badi bi "chalo kissine tho apni mohabbat ka ikrar kiya" Zoya blushed and lowered her gaze. Badi bi "ab muje tumhare ghar walo se milna hoga baat age badane ke liye" Zoya immeditaly said "nahi,, aap unse kuch nahi kehengi, maine kaha na mera iss duniya main mere abbu ke alawa aur koi nahi hai, aur abbu iss halat main nahi hai ki vo apse baat kare, main apse vinti karti hoon badi bi, aap unse koi baat mat kijiye, varna... vo muje Asad se alag kardengi" Badi bi saw that Zoya was frightened now and she said "teek hai main unhe kuch nahi bataungi, lekin tumhare gharwalo ke bagair, yeh sagaai kuch teek nahi lag rahi" Zoya said "ek baar sab kuch hojayega, phir main abbu ko samja doongi, vaise vo mujse bohot pyar karte hain, aur mere aankhon main aasoon nahi dekh sakte" Badi bi teek hai jaise tumhari marzi" "Lekin meri ek shart hai, tumhe Asad se kuch ghanto ke liye door rahna padega, koi sawal mat karo, bas yeh mera hukum hai" Zoya though was worried for Asad agreed to it respecting Badi bi'sdecision.
Badi di arranged for a nurse to take care of Asad for the time being. She was giving her some instructions and making her understand something in animated languages. Asad as usual was expecting zoya when the door opened "agayi aap, fursat mil gaya apko mere paas aneke kiye, main kabse apka intezaar kar raha tha, muje apse der sari baat karna hai, idhar ayiye, yahan mere paas."nurse didn't tell him anything but was silent. "zoya vahan kya kar rahi hai aap, muje apki zaroorat hai yahan ayiyie na please" Asad requested again but seeing no response from her he got up from the bed and searched in the air walking with his both hands extended. Nurse saw this "are apko aram ki zaroorat hai, chailye idhar ayiye" Asad asked "Zoya apki awaz ko kya hua" nurse replied "vo muje zukham hogaya hai" Asad "oh, apne dawayi liya?" Nurse "jee, liya" Asad "zoya idhar aao na please, mere paas baito, muje apse kuch kehna hai" now nurse was felling very uncomfortable in Asad's proximity, Asad is assuming that she is Zoya and speaking to her in a lover dovey manner. She looked onto Badi bi and she signaled her to continue. Nurse replied "abhi ati hoon, vo main bas apke garam pani ka intezaam kar rahi hoon." Asad "teek hai" Nurse breathed a sigh of relief. After sometime nurse came upto him and helped him to get up. Asad at one touch of the nurse recognized that something was wrong. He asked her "Zoya apke haath itne badle badle kyun hai, aisa lagta hai ki aak kal aap bohot sara kaam karti hai, yahan bohot naukar hai zoya, aapko sab kuch karne ki zaroorat nahi hai." Nurse looked onto Badi bi and said "hmm". "aap muje kaha leja rahi hai" nurse "vo apko sponge baath dene ke liye" she made him walk supporting him on her shoulders. Asad felt something weird like the nurse was not perfectly fitting into him. Usually when Zoya used to take him, she perfectly came within his arms. Asad again asked "kya aaj sponge bath zaroori hai, aaj rehne dete hai" and he tugged her back and showed that his reluctancy to take bath. Nurse said "tho teek hai, main apko yahi bed main sponge karti hoon" and she led him back to bed and made him to sit. Asad was feeling weird vibes that the lady assisting him was not his Zoya. Nurse tugged his shirt and slowly started to remove it. She was a little close to him and he could sense her scent. When he saw that nurse was unbuttoning him he immediately jerked away her hand and said "aap meri Zoya nahi hai, koun hai aap? Aur yahan kya kar rahi hai vo bhi mere kamre iss tarah se" Nurse looked at Badi bi and she signalled her to go outside and she herself came inside and called him "Asad" Badi Bi "aap, acha hua aap agayi, vo yahan koi ladki thi, jo meri maddat kar rahi thi, maine usse zoya samajta tha, koun thi vo?" Badi bi "are vo votho nurse thi, hospital se ayi thi tumhari check up karne ke liye" Asad "lekin usne check tho nahi kiya" Badi bi "haan usse hospital se call agaya tha, issliye vo nikal gayi" Badi bi "lekin tumne pehchan liya ki vo Zoya nahi hai, kaise" Asad "kyunki main unke rag rag se wakif hoon, mohobbat jo karta hoon unse" Badi bi got what she wanted from his mouth. Asad realized that badi bi tricked him into confessing his love for Zoya. "vo Badi bi main apko sahi waqt par batane wala tha" Badi bi "lekin maine tumhari sagaai pakki kar di hai" Asad "phir se, mujse bina pooche Badi bi" Badi bi "poochoge nahi ladki koun hai" Asad looked away in despair "meri marzi kabhi chalti hai, aap hamesha apna hukum suna ne ke liye tayyar rahti, agar apne barson pehle aapi ko ek baar mouka diya hota vapis aneke liye tho aaj vo hamare beech hoti, aur shayad zinda bhi hoti, lekin aap kabhi nahi samjenge, mohabbat ke mayne kya hote hain, apko sirf apni jhoote shaan aur shoukat se mohabbat hai, jo koi kaam ki nahi hai, main Zoya se mohabaat karta hoon aur main unse hi nikah karunga, aap chahe yah na chahe"
Badi Bi exited the room unable to take Asads accusations, she sat in her study, remisinsing her past. "muje mohabbat ke mayne pata nahi hai" she remembered Asads words. "ab main kya kahoon, mohabbat se muje sirf dhoka mila hai aur kuch nahi, lekin phir bhi main apne sare ahem ko alag rakh kar, tumhari pasand ko apnaya hai Asad, kash tum meri poori bat sunte, tumne sach kahan barso pehle maine agar Zeenat ko ek mouka diya hota tho aaj Usma ke sar par uske abbu ka haath hota, uski ammi ki anchal hoti, maine bohot galat kiya hai, lekin abhi aur nahi. Kal tum ek Naya Ayesha Ahmed Khan ko dekhoge Asad. Kal ka savera hum sab ke liye bohot khush nazeeb hoga, aur kal tumhari patti bhi khul rahi hai. Mujse zyadaa iss pal ka intezaar Zoya ko hai aur muje yakeen hai patti khul ke baad pehle tum apni Zoya ko dekhna chahoge"
Next Chapter: I will never leave your side and I will always hold on to you forever
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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