Prashni and ABI inspired me for this Epilogue. Special thanks to Prashni for your yearning and ABI for "their" beautiful image.
Ude, khule aasaman mein khwabon ke parindey
Ude, dil ke jahaan main khaabon ke parinday
Oho, kya pata, jaayenge kahaan
Khule hain jo pal, kahe yeh nazar..lagta hai ab hai jaage hum
Fiqrein jo thi, peechhe reh gayi...nikle unse aage hum
Hawa mein beh rahi hai zindagi
Yeh hum se keh rahi hai zindagi
Oho, ab toh, jo bhi ho so ho
Epilogue
They talked about everything and anything just lying beside each other. Zoya was the one who was talking and sharing about everything what she did in these two years. Asad had only listened to her attentively and asking some questions in between. He told her about Zerin and his conversations and how Dilshad had said him to make her fall for him again after knowing about her comeback. Zoya looked at him quizzically and asked him "And what you did after that?" She kept her palm on his which was thrown leisurely over her stomach.
"Nothing, infact I still do not even know why you fall for me at the first time" he yawned and she looked at him side wise.
"You did not need to try actually. You accepted all the conditions I had put upon you that time and never tried to cross the line and look at me still I fell for you despite of having all the bitterness towards you how you treated me that time. You know you should have tried once but you..." Zoya looked from ceiling to his face and realized his even breathing. She could tell he had gone through so much being it emotional or physical in these last days looking into his tired yet serene sleeping face. She had gone through the same and she was tired too. She turned to her side backing at him and pulled his hand more as she snuggled into his embrace. She adjusted the comforter over them. He stirred a little, adjusted himself with her back and his hot, even breaths were touching her neck which gave her some intangible sensations but she could not think much of it as she drifted into her slumber very soon.
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Asad's eyes were opened first as he could feel her hot breathing through his kurta. Her head was on his arms as she kept her arms over his torso. He angled his neck only to take a look of her face and slightly adjusted her head on a pillow and removed her hand from his torso. He looked at the clock and jolted up seeing the time as it read 9 already. His sudden movement made her frown in her sleep and he remained stilled there for moments just waiting for her to go back to her sleep. She needed that badly. So he got up gently this time but before that he leaned and kept a lingering kiss on her forehead.
He came out of his room only to find Ayaan was leaving by saying good bye to Dilshad and Humaira. As he turned around he gave Asad a sleazy smile and Asad's nails dug into his palms while squeezing shut his both eyes.
"So have you got your beauty sleep Bhaijaan?" He asked loud enough to hear their Ammi and Humaira where as Asad showed him his "Mukka" muttering under his breath. "It was nothing like that what you are thinking." Ayaan scurried through the door and exclaimed loudly "You don't need to come to the office today. I will handle it." Asad felt embarrassed as he realized his Ammi and Humaira were trying to suppress their giggles, he hurried to check on Zinia.
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Zoya woke up the very moment when Asad had kissed her and was coming out of the room just behind him halted as she heard everything and turned into a red tomato. She thought not to go outside just then as Ayaan would tease her too. She went outside after waiting for a while after being sure that there was no one out side. She was going to dining area but stopped at Zinia's room door, looking an endearing scene played infront of hers.
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Asad entered at Zinia's room and forgot all the teasing instantly just watching a glimpse of his daughter. She was lying across her little bed spreading her legs and hands all over; the blanket was thrown half on the floor. He chuckled inwardly looking at it though he pinched his nose irritated at outside. He took the blanket, folded it neatly and caressed her hair gently while half lying on her bed. Just at that time Zoya came out from their room and hid herself behind the pillar.
Asad passes her hands through her hair and kept saying sweet nothings to her. Zinia stirred lazily and snuggles into his warmth-
"Babuni, wake up, it's already 9.30. Don't you want to go to the play-zone?" Asad cooed to her.
Zinia opens her eyes lazily to him and Asad bent his head as Zinia encircled her arms around his neck and closed her eyes again, yawning.
"Do you want to skip it babuni? Want to sleep more today?" Asad straightened himself as she was now hanging flat from his neck and he carefully secured her in his arms getting up from the bed. Zinia again placed her tiny head comfortably over his big shoulder and again yawned.
"You want to skip it as your Ammi came back?" He hummed along and started to pat her again while slowly pacing in her room.
"Abbu..." Zinia was wide awake by now.
"Hmmm babuni..." Asad was distracted.
"Thish time Ammwi will be with ush forever and will not go away again while I will be shleeping, like other times? Or is she gowe by now" She asked to her dad by searching her Ammi here and there.
Zoya's eyes moistened without any reason. She had an urge to go there and held Zinia by herself but somehow she did not want to break their conversation. Hearing the most common question from her mouth like always Asad pressed her more close to his chest and kissed gently her hair.
"No babuni. This time Ammi will be with us. Her work has been finished. Now, no more talking, you go back to sleep if you want." He patted her back again.
"Bawbunwi misshed her Abbu very mucsh." She straghtend herself and kissed his cheek.
"Abbuni misshed his babuni too." Asad kissed her chubby cheek.
"Let'sh go Abbu, letsh brush our teethy and go to plawy zhone."
"You really want to go. But now Ammi is here na. You can play with her today."
"I will play with Ammi but I want to shee my friendsh too" She pouted.
"Huh!! Friends! Now who are your friends here" He scrutinized about it and Zinia starts counting. Zoya smiled seeing the overprotective Ahmed Khan. Asad-Zinia reached to Zinia's washroom where Zoya followed them from behind.
"How you know their names?" He inquired. He was surprised when she told some boy's name. He was alerted at once.
"Chowte Abbuu told me" She said cheekily.
"Ayaan! I will kill you for choosing my daughter's boyfriend from now on." He muttered under his breath and put some toothpaste on Zinia's brush. Zoya again nodded her head in amusement hearing his monologue.
While Zinia was brushing her teeth, Asad adjusted the temperature of the water and took Zinia near the small bath tub, put her there after removing her dress. He squeezed baby shampoo and took Zinia in his hand where Zinia screamed that she did not want to do the shampooing. Asad captivated her in his arms and started to tell some fairy tale only to distract her and massaged the shampoo efficiently. Zinia screamed after being fooled by his father again and started to splash water on him. Asad caught her and tickled her and she laughed loudly while blowing the foams of the shampoo all over. Asad made her stand under the shower as the shampoo started to flow away and he gently rubber her hair.
"Babuni you are just like your Ammi you know that" Asad said scrunching his nose and looking at the mess all over the floor. His eyes roamed all over and stopped at the leaning figure with longing, shimmering eyes. A small smile tugged at her lips as she responded to him instantly. Asad rubbed Zinia off gently and asked Zoya for a towel. Zoya stood there baffled at once and then dashed like a mad woman overwhelmed by the emotions. She found the tiny towel and was going to pass him when he directly passed Zinia to her over her towel. She gripped her tightly and pressed with herself while Zinia squealed with joy after seeing her Ammi doing this for the very first time.
Asad left the duo saying that he needed to be ready and now it was his turn to observe them behind the pillar. Zoya opened the closet after drying her and looked everything was in its rightful place. She smiled at them knowing very well who did this. She brought out a dull violet colored dress and started her work on Zinia. Asad felt contented and left from there to get ready.
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After getting ready, Zoya and Asad both joined Zinia for breakfast. Humaira and Dilshad looked at the trio and smiled broadly. Asad took Zinia on his lap and started to feed her the pudding that she had demanded last night to Humaira. She relished it and everyone smiled watching at her. Asad then slightly passed the bowl towards Zoya gesturing her to feed Zinia. Zoya nodded and fed her while Zinia made faces to her Didan- Ammi and Choti-Ammi. After breakfast Asad had asked Zoya to join with them but Zoya refused it as she wanted to chat with Dilshad and Humaira.
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Asad came inside Dilshad's room before leaving. "Ammi, can you please talk with Zoya? Something is bothering her since morning. She was okay with all this last night but I can feel she is hesitating about something now. I have to go to police station and will come back soon. She is not going with us either" Dilshad nodded at him.
Zoya escorted them to the SUV. She was wearing her old baby-pink salwar Kamiz where Asad was in his beige colored shirt and pair of jeans. Zinia was in Zoya's arms.
"You look more handsome in casuals" Zoya made Asad startled by her comment. He smirks at her and the dimple dug inside his cheek, Zoya's free hand involuntary touch where his dimple had resided. Near the SUV Asad took Zinia in his arms.
"Well we will be back in two hours. Till then you catch up with Humaira and Ammi. I wish you would come." Asad hugged her in side wise.
"Oh! Did you notice Humaira? She is looking gloomy for some reason. I need to know what is bothering her. I want to go with you both but I will not able to concentrate anything if I go." Zoya explained to him.
"Itsh okay Ammi. Abbuni can understand and Zinia too." Zinia said cheekily where as Zoya looked at her with wide eyes. Asad looked at her sheepishly and Zoya laughed out loud.
"Miss Ammi there okay" Zinia kissed the side of Zinia's head. "I will" both father-daughter blurted at the same time and Zoya gave a shy smile looking at Asad. He placed a kiss at the side of her head followed by Zinia on her cheeks. Zoya blushed hard. Asad gave a faint smile at her and left for play zone.
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Zoya suddenly felt barren. She went to her room and sat thinking about many things happend last day. She felt lost among all the revelations. Zinia, Anwar, Zenaat, Humaira, her Abbu, Asad. Only if she could remember her past then these things would not be happened. She jolted back to reality when Dilshad put her hand over her shoulder.
"Why you excused to going with them?" Dilshad passes her hand through Zoya's hair. Zoya lowered her eyes with guilt.
"What happened now? I thought you made up with Asad"
"I don't know Phooppie. I am feeling uneasy. Why I forgot my life? Why Phooppi? I missed so many memories, so many precious feelings. This morning I saw Asad with Zinia and you know Phooppi, I felt jealous. Why I missed her first call, first standing?" Every complaining came back from her.
Dilshad hugged her tightly. "Zoya what happened happened! Why you are thinking so much? I know it can't be accepted that easily. But look at the bright side at once! It is better that you don't remember. If you would remember then all the bad memories would hunt you too and you would get hurt more. Look at Asad he lived in these years just with your memories. Not only Asad but me too and I know how it hurts when you are stuck with your past memories in your life. But that does not mean I left living. Does it? I can remember how Asad had gone through the mental trauma after you had left. But he did live, no? And he lived that's why he got Zinia. Otherwise what would happen to her? So everything has its bright side. Concentrate on it only."
"For that only reason I am feeling bad Phooppi. I made him to go through all these. He got every punishment here. I should have been there for Zinia. In our relationship he had always punished with pain where as relationship is the name of sharing. I could not share his pain. I was not there when he needed me the most. I flee away." Zoya sobbed in Dilshad's lap.
"Zoya, what he did to you that time for that he had to be punished. He did wrong to you and yes in relationship he bore the pain but you bore the whole insult, in return what you gave? You gave unconditional love; you colored our lives with love and joy. You even taught him how to love, how to live. This Asad is like this just for you, only for you. It was not you who punished him; it was Allah who punished him and what Allah's decision it is always right. Just let it go! Don't mess up your new life for the past memories. Besides you can make new memories every time. And as for your precious feeling, you can feel that as you have total access for it, no? I will not mind having another grandchild" Dilshad asked at her innocently and Zoya nodded distractedly but shot up to Dilshad being red after realizing the hidden meaning of her clue. "Phooppie!"
"Oh yes one more thing. You used to call me Ammi after your nikaah. Though I do not mind about Phooppie but I love to hear Ammi from you." Dilshad kissed her forehead as Zoya nodded her head slightly with teary eyes.
"Now be ready as you are going outside" Dilshad ordered.
"Where Phopp...Ammi?" Zoya corrected.
"To Zinia's play-zone"
"But?"
"No ifs or but...move and make yourself active as a mother and free my son from your daughter's duty" Dilshad mocked.
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Asad ran to the orphanage play area as he was late. This orphanage was that from where Zoya was picked up by Zeenat and Anwaar. When he was searching the legal will of Anwaar in the New York house he found the paper where it was mentioned. He dashed inside the gate while he found Zoya coming with a tired Zinia in her arms. Zoya's eyes were dampened and she smiled widely looking at him. He covered the distance with long strides and hugged both. Zinia kept her head on Zoya's shoulder. She was sleepy so did not react much.
"You did not tell me about this?" Zoya asked.
"What?" He said kissing side of Zinia's head and took Zinia in his arms and held Zoya side -wise. Zinia then placed her head over her Abbu's shoulder.
"This is the same orphanage where I lived once and you are looking after it. You brought her here to play with the orphans every Friday. Why you are so bad with voicing your feelings Asad?"
"Yeah I know. She loves to play with them. They were slowly walking to the parking area. "You also did not tell me that you went to the jail to meet your Abbu" Asad changed the question.
"I forgot. Yes I did it as Ayaan told me the truth. I had to meet with him to get some answers" She exclaimed loudly.
"Ah! Don't scream. My ears are working properly you know and I was just asking by the way. After you came you are always complaining about me and my actions so I thought to make a complaint against you." He said coolly. Zinia was looking at her Abbu and Ammi now and then without understanding a thing.
"Allah Miyaan! What's wrong with you Mr. Khan? I was clearing my doubts and yes you did wrong by assuming me and Omar just too on a basis and by the way you lectured me on Tameez and Tehzeeb then why you eavesdropped my phone conversation with anyone? Where were your Tameez went that day?" Zoya stopped and keep her hand on her hips.
"Woh..actually! I wanted to say something to you and heard that. Now leave it. Tell me why you are here? You said you needed to chat with Ammi and Humaira. How is Humaira by the way? Is she okay now?" Asad pulled her with him and started to walk again. Zinia yawned lazily. She did feel interested.
"What happened to her?" she was confused.
"You said she was upset for some reason"
"Huh! Oh! Me...by the way my wish I can go anywhere in anytime."
"No! You are not going anywhere from me this time" He said with urgency. Zoya halted again and looked at him, Asad's grip tightened though he was looking ahead. Zoya said nothing but kept walking.
"I am ..sorry!" she whispered.
"Humaira is pregnant. You don't think we should buy something for to be mom-dad?" Asad changed the track and that worked.
"WHAT?? She did not tell me." She screamed.
"Ssh!! She is sleeping" Asad said gesturing at Zinia.
"Oh! She just got the confirmation and told Ayaan. Ayaan called me as they don't know your number." Asad reasoned.
"Oh! Yeah! I forgot. But I am really happy for her" She was excited and by the next moment she blushed remembering Dilshad words.
"Did Ammi talked to you?" Asad gave a half smile.
"Ye...yes. How do you know?" She was nervous.
"She is my mother, Zoya. Remember?"
"Yeah! But what she told you?" Zoya enquired keeping her finger crossed that Dilshad might not share with the last part of their conversation.
"Everything, I think she gave the better idea and we should work on it from this instant. What do you think?" He winked at her.
"Allah Miyaan! This is so embarrassing!" She muttered blushing really hard.
"You know Ammi was the one who first realized that I am in love with you and you are in with me before we realized it"
"Really! Oh Yes! I read about it too. She is the best Ammi in the world."
"And you will be too" Asad stated simply and Zoya nodded.
"But Ayaan is tensed as Humaira has heart disease. This might affect her body." Asad passed their vehicle.
"Where are we going?" Zoya asked after realizing it.
"To that shopping mall, we met here second time infront of this shopping mall" Asad smiled.
"Really?! Yeah I remember this incident as I read about it too" Zoya smiled too.
"So, you remember me." He looked at her as Zoya looked up at him. Their nose nuzzled each other a little.
"Yes I remember you. Be it as your feeling but it is our memory. So I remember you." She said not breaking their eye-lock.
"And as for Humaira we will face it together." Zoya confirmed.
"Yeah! We will" Asad sealed the deal.
"Let me share a shayari with you" Zoya jumped again.
"Not again!" Asad muttered. But Zoya ignored him.
"Tedhi medhi zindagi ko mil gaya ek naya track,
Tedhi medhi zindagi ko mil gaya ek naya track,
Jab Zoya ko mile Jahpannah-Six-Packs."
Asad face twitched a little as he listened to her but could not pinch his nose as his both hands were busy. Zoya hit his arms. "Praise me, na"
"Wah wah! Now listen to mine"
Chand raat wahi hai meri, jis raat tum nazar aao,
Chand raat wahi hai meri, jis raat tum nazar aao,
Ussi din Eid hai meri, jis din tum nazar aao
Zoya's mouth formed an "O" after hearing it. It was really a good one. This time Asad hit her arms lightly. She gulps down and praised him meekly.
His hand slid from her shoulder to the waist as they kept walking with sleeping Zinia. They made their way slowly where destiny was going to take them. Both were going to "Remember" their journey together this time, with happy or sad ones!
Roshni mili...ab raah mein hai ik dilkashi si barsi
Har khusi mili...ab zindagi pe hai zindagi si barsi
Ab jeena hum ne seekha hai...
Yaad rahe kal, aaya tha woh pal...jisme jaadoo aisa tha
Hum ho gaye jaise naye...woh pal jaane kaisa tha
Kahe yeh dil ke jaa udhar bhi tu...jahaan bhi leke jaaye aarzoo
Oho, ab toh...jo bhi ho so ho
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The journey with "Remember Me" stops here finally. Hope you all will like it. Thank you all for their unconditional support.
Lots of love 🤗
Swapno
Edited by swapno - 10 years ago
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