Asad walked into Zoya's room and found Najma and her snuggled below the covers giggling, mumbling in whispers, and smiled affectionately at the sight. He knocked at the door to get their attention and saw Najma sit upright immediately.
"Woh Bhaijaan .. woh.." Najma fumbled surprising Asad at her queer behaviour. He walked over to the bed and pulled her cheeks making her scowl," What? Don't be so scared, I won't do anything to you Tamatar. Why are you fumbling? Did something happen? Do you want to share it with me?" Asad inquired his voice laden with concern.
"Nothing Mr Khan, just some girly issues," Zoya interrupted saving Najma and blinked her eyes at Najma in assurance.
Asad looked at the both of them his brows knit in confusion but didn't voice it," Uh Zoya I have something to talk about," Asad said and passed a look to Najma. Najma nodded and left the both of them alone understanding it was something about Zoya's Abu.
Asad looked at Zoya and raised his eyes at her questioningly just as soon as Najma left the room," It's nothing Mr Khan, there are a few things Najma might not want to talk about to you, you have to give her space," Zoya tried explaining.
Asad sat down next to Zoya on the bed side and looked at her uncertainly. Zoya rolled her eyes at him," Mr Khan you have to stop being so protective please," Zoya insisted.
Asad nodded half heartedly not looking at Zoya, "But that's the only way I know Zoya..." Asad said.
"I know, but you have to realise that what has to happen will happen one way or the other and your fretting isn't going to change it Mr Khan, let destiny take its course and stop worrying so much about everything and everyone" Zoya pointed out in general about his behavior," And anyway Najma can't talk about everything to you can she? Not like you can tell her everything that's in your heart.."
Asad sat listening to her, remembering Ayesha explaining this to him all the years she knew him. But she never pressed at it and he knew why. Because she was just like he was, fearing losing people because she had none. Zoya didn't either he thought. But she was so fearless, wanted to fight life and its situations head on and never bend her back in defeat. He hoped he could be like her. Life would be so much easier that way.
"It's okay Mr Khan we'll talk about this some other time. Aap bataye, kya kehna tha?" Zoya changed the topic not wanting to offend Asad.
"Zoya actually, I wanted to know which orphanage you were in before Aapi came and took you to New York?" Asad spoke carefully.
"I don't know Mr Khan I've never asked her. I never really wanted to know and I anyway don't remember much since I was so small," Zoya stated.
Asad nodded," I understand Zoya, but to reach your father we'll have to go over everything from your past and the orphanage could be a big clue. I don't know how you didn't think about it so far? Asad questioned curiously.
"I did Mr Khan, but Aapi told me how there was no mention of my Abu there and none of them ever knew who my Abu was, so I never thought of going back to check," Zoya explained.
"Yeah but maybe whoever he was didn't know what happened with your Ammi and you, but must have come to check later? Must have found out you're there and come to get you? Who knows what the truth is, but it's worth finding out Zoya.." Asad said gently and took her palm in his and kept his other hand over her, wanting to promise his support.
Zoya nodded in agreement," Okay Mr Khan I'll call Aapi in a while and ask her the name and address and then we can go tomorrow?"
"Yes we will," Asad said and Zoya smiled back thankfully at him.
**************
Asad glanced at Zoya sitting next to him in the car. She had been talking more than her usual, trying to sound happier and jovial, which by now he had realised was her way of behaving whenever she was scared and anxious. The forever smiling and brave Zoya had her weak points and her father was that one issue which totally altered her. When she kept on the tirade, Asad bend over and took her right hand in his and held it securely.
His sudden movement and the grip around her hand halted her and she knew he understood. He knew she was raising walls around her, and he didn't even realise that by his one gesture of holding her hand he had broken those barriers around her once again, something only he could do.
***************
"I'll park and join you in a few minutes okay?" Asad said stopping the car in front of the orphanage entrance as Zoya got out and walked in.
When Asad walked towards the reception 10 minutes later he didn't find her around.
"Uh excuse me? Did someone named Zoya Farooqui come here?" Asad inquired.
"Yes sir she told us she was here for a few months and we're checking her records for more information, but since this is all years ago it'll take a while," the attendant explained.
Asad nodded," Uh where is Zoya right now?" Asad said looking around.
"She said she'd like to look around the place and went this way, uh but she asked you to wait Mr Khan.." the lady said distractedly.
Understanding that she needed her time with the surroundings she was in he sat back waiting for her.
****************
Zoya walked around, a bit dazed, a bit numbed by the surroundings. It felt weird to know that the same place that had sheltered her when she was in need for it, had protected her when she had been left abandoned with no one around, and it felt even more odd because she had no memory of it. She felt emotionally weak, unsure of how long she could keep up with pretending she was fine. She hoped Asad was with her that moment and wondered why he hadn't come behind her yet, when she had clearly told the lady at the reception to follow her when he arrived.
When she had asked the lady to check for her records she had said it would be difficult to search through millions of documents in a short span and could take a lot of time. She had told Zoya to go and explore their record room herself if she wished to. Finding the woman a little weird and unhelpful she agreed, hoping she would fall upon something or the other if she looked out herself.
The room she had spoken about seemed far away from the main building at a secluded spot in the backyard.
She coughed as she unbolted the room which had barely any light and no ventilation and wandered around the shelves across the area. Walking to the last shelf in the room she started looking up the files one after the other.
*****************
"Damn it ! Why isn't she picking up the phone?" Asad grunted. He was beginning to worry for Zoya as time passed. Where had she gone and why had she asked him to wait? He had begun to feel weird about the entire situation.
*****************
A sound from the door startled Zoya and the file in her hand fell down. She looked up from the files she had been so attentively involved in and only then realised how long she had been in there and unconsciously forgotten that Asad would be looking for her. Fiddling inside her purse she removed her phone only to find it dead.
"Oh God ye phone kaise dead ho gaya, Mr Khan must be trying to reach me. Mai kitni dair se yaha pe hun, ab tak toh orphanage sar par utha liya hoga." Zoya stacked the files in place again and walked to the door. But when she tried opening it she found it locked.
"Ya Allah ye kamra lock kaise ho gaya," Zoya panicked and tried opening it by pulling the knob as forcefully as she could.
"Koi hai? Is anyone outside? Please ye darwaza kholiye, I am locked in here.." Zoya shouted, hoping someone passed by the secluded spot of the yard.
"Ya allah ab mai kya karun," Zoya said shakily her palms wet and trembling.
****************
"Ye Zoya kaha chali gayi, pehle phone nahi utha rahi thi aur ab phone off aa raha hai, where is she?" Asad mumbled worriedly. Zoya had been gone for quite a while and not returned.
He decided to go look for her, what if she had found something, what if she couldn't keep up with whatever she had gotten her hands on.
"Where did you tell me she went Miss?" Asad asked the attendant again.
"This way sir, uh but sir she asked you to wait," the lady replied nervously.
"I don't care what she said. She isn't back here and I am going to go look for her and if I don't find her I don't know what I'll do with you," Asad warned her.
"But Mr Khan how is it my responsibility?" the lady questioned.
"It damn is, I don't know why but I just know it is," Asad yelled.
The phone rang just as soon as he left, "This better be the first and last time you've asked me for a favour, that man looks like he'll kill me any moment. The work is done, but you had better reached here in time," the attendant spoke into the receiver nervously.
***************
Asad coursed through every room, every corridor, every nook and corner of the building, asking anyone and everyone if they'd seen Zoya. He kept calling her but only got the same damned message saying the phone was switched off. He had already looked around the entire orphanage, had even gotten the staff boys to help him but none had found any lead to her.
The concern for her whereabouts had now turned into full blown panic. He couldn't find her; no one knew about her, he couldn't reach her through the phone. Where had she disappeared to?
Standing in between a now empty corridor a frustrated Asad had no choice but to scream," Zoyaaa!" he roared, hoping she could hear him wherever she was.
****************
"Can anybody hear me? Mai yaha band hun please ye darwaza kholiye," Zoya yelled kicking and pushing the iron door even though she knew it wouldn't help. She walked back into the room to look around for anything that could help her push open the door. But there were nothing but racks of shelves and files piled on it. There was no window to escape, just a ventilator which was various dangerous feet's high. How was she ever going to escape? How was Asad going to find her? How would he ever realise she was at the farthest corner of the building.
Zoya shouted some more, hoping some passerby would hear her. But there was no one to help her. She went in again and found a rod lying below one of the racks and pulled it out, but as soon as she reached the door the lights went off making her slip in her panic and she hit her head on the shelf next to her.
"Ya Allah," Zoya cried in pain as she held her head that was now bleeding. Her vision blurred and she felt uneasy.
The room had no air and was badly lit, Zoya had begun to feel severely claustrophobic as she had always been scared of enclosed dark places. She held onto the wall and slid down panting slightly, holding her head," No this can't happen, how am I going to find a way out.." Zoya croaked," I need you Asad, I need you to find me," she whimpered as tears streamed down her face.
The dark room felt like a monster that had surrounded her and would consume her within it. Flashes that terrified her every night since her childhood surfaced making her shut her eyes and ears to evade them. A dark closed room, fire all around devouring her within its furious arms. She bundled into a corner and cried, "Asad!"
*******************
"Nahi sir woh kahi nahi mili, hum sab ne har jagah dekha, iss building mai toh nahi hai sir, shayad woh chali gayi hogi?" a staff member said trying to reason with a livid Asad who had been grappling them angrily on their failure of finding Zoya.
"Woh kahi nahi gayi hai, woh issi building mai hai. Woh mujhe bina bataye kahi nahi jayegi. Tum logon ne theek se dhunda nahi hai, agar nahi mili na,I am going to bloody kill each one of you." Asad said unmindfully not realising the words spewing from his mouth.
The boys stared back at him in fear," Sir humne sach mai har jagah dhunda woh kahi nahi hai.."
"Toh kya aasman nighal gaya usse, ya ye orphanage ki deeware kha gayi, agar meri Zoya nahi mili na I am not going to leave anyone of you, I am going to take you to court," Asad bellowed.
The warden who had been informed of the situation came running seeing the ruckus and inquired about the problem." Aap logon ne garden check kiya? Peeche ki gate?"
Asad's ears shot up at the mention of the second gate," No we haven't checked the other gate, what if she's there.." Asad said as he sprinted away asking the direction.
"Zoyaaa!" he bawled reaching the backyard of the building. He ran through the entire field in front of him shouting her name helplessly but got no response.
His knees gave away and he fell to the ground. He was wet with sweat, his body trembling in fear and anticipation, his eyes red in rage, in panic, and that dreaded feeling of losing her. Just as that thought crossed his mind, he felt an unknown strength gush into him. NO! He wasn't going to give up, she had to be around, she had to be safe, it was just an orphanage, what harm could come on her?
He got up and ran ahead as far as he could see. He spotted a gate and paced towards it. When he neared the end he saw a cubicle at the corner of the yard.
"ZOYA!" he said running to it, getting an uncanny feeling that Zoya was there.
Zoya stirred a little hearing someone and strained her ears to the door," ZOYA!" she heard a blood curdling roar and jerked up. Asad had found her; he had come looking for her. A smile of relief crept over her face and she weakly stood up leaning herself on the door and hit it with her hands.
"Mr ..Khan... I am here.." she uttered timidly.
"Zoyaaa!" Asad shouted again approaching the cubicle and banged on the door.
"Are you there Zoya? Asad called out praying furiously for a response as he tried to open the door but found it locked. He immediately rang the reception shouting for aid.
"Mr Khan... " Zoya mumbled feebly.
"Oh God thank God, you're here. Allah ka shukr hai aap yaha hai..Zoya are you okay? Aap theek hai na?"
"No Mr Khan, I can't breathe Mr Khan, please open the door, I want to come out, please Mr Khan," she kept mumbling softly. She couldn't feel herself anymore, and felt like she had lost quite a lot blood. She was drenched in sweat, her face wet with tears and her body was trembling and cold. She struggled to breath, gasping at every interval.
"Calm down Zoya, I am right here, tumhe kuch nahi hoga I promise you.."
"I can't breathe Mr Khan, I can't keep up, I am going to..."
"No nothings to happen to you. DID YOU HEAR ME ZOYA? Nothing will happen to you, I am coming to get you, just calm down, try and breath, distract yourself, think about something that makes you happy Zoya, remember you told me to do that when we had gone to the fair. You never told me what you saw, now close your eyes again and tell me.." Asad kept talking to Zoya, distracting her as he begun to look around for something to help push open the door.
"Did you shut your eyes yet?" Asad asked. Zoya smiled unknowingly as she remembered what she had envisioned the last time and shut her eyes.
"Now think of something that makes you the happiest Zoya, something or someone who makes you feel safe hmm?" Asad mumbled as he tried pushing the door with his shoulders.
Asad kept talking to her loudly as he spotted a huge rock at the other end and ran to fetch it.
"Zoya keep your eyes shut okay sweetheart? And just move away from the door, I am going to get you.. did you hear me?" Asad asked fearfully, hoping she hadn't passed out.
"Ye.. yes Mr Khan," Zoya croaked.
Asad held the rock a little away from the door and crashed it on the lock once, twice and a few other times before it broke into pieces. Asad sighed and frantically opened the door to the room. The sight in front of him shocked him terribly. A few steps ahead Zoya lay frail and injured, merely able to keep her eyes open.
Asad dashed towards Zoya and knelt down next to her. Holding her in his arms he patted her face,"Zoya open your eyes sweetheart, " Asad said gently, terrified at her state. Removing his handkerchief he dabbed at the wound on her head trying to stop the blood. Tears blurred his eyes as he gathered her weak form against him and dropped soft kisses on her hair.
She gasping for breath, rambling softly,"Asad..." she said looking up at him with her eyes half open and smiled slightly, the vision she had seen with her eyes closed was right in front of her. She raised her hands to caress him but felt a black out and collapsed in his arms.
"ZOYA!" Asad screeched hysterically and picked her in his arms and walked out.
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