SS - No Regrets: Chapter 10 & 11 Pg 101 (Completed) - Page 9

Over the next few days Zoya continued to experience morning sickness, she was finding it hard to concentrate on anything. She came down as she was leaving for Uni when she saw Dilshad 'Zoya, try and come back quick, the Malik's are coming tomorrow and I have much to organise' Zoya looked at her 'Phoopi...but I thought...I mean Asad' 'Zoya...you should know Asad will never say no to me...and I am sure he will not put who ever this girl is before me...so don't worry' Dilshad's confidence was over bearing, she had full confidence in her son and his decision.

The next day the Malik's came in, where they were given a very warm welcome by Rashid and Dilshad. 'Suhana, welcome to our home, I must say you look absolutely stunning' 'thank you aunty'. After a short while Dilshad asked one of the maids to call Zoya down 'Suhana, I want you to meet Zoya, she is...' 'Asad's best friend' Suhana said finishing her sentence Zoya looked at Suhana, who then stood up and extended her hand nice to meet you Zoya' 'me too'.

Zoya sat next to Suhana, she had to admit she was extremely pretty. As the elders engrossed in conversation Suhana asked Zoya questions about her studies 'fashion, wow, you must be really talented' 'I am ok...how about you?' 'I am studying architecture, it's my second year...so I hear you and Asad are really close...i guess I can always rely on you to get info on him' Zoya gave her a faint smile 'yeah, sure anything' Suhana shuffled in her seat bringing herself closer to Zoya does he have a girlfriend...or an ex' Zoya looked at her wide eyed 'girl...no, Asad is not like that...he has never had a girlfriend' 'oh good, you know being from one of the richest families, so young, good looking...I mean India's most eligible bachelor, you would think he had a long list' 'true you would but Asad isn't like that...' 'Zoya, why don't you show Suhana around, I will call for you when dinner is served' Dilshad said not letting Zoya complete her sentence 'jee Phoopi'.

Suhana was pleasant enough to talk to, but only Zoya knew what she was going through having to put on a smile and pretend that all was ok. After Dinner Dilshad asked Zoya to talk to Asad and to convince him to at least come on line to say hello, the last thing she wanted was to be embarrassed in fron of the Malik family. 'Asad please...' 'No, how many times do I have to say that...and Zoya you of all people are asking me...do you even know what it will mean' 'please Asad, I don't want Phoopi feeling embarrassed, just this once...' 'man you are impossible' Zoya let out a little laugh 'I take that as a yes...give me a few minutes' 'no wait...you put on the laptop now, I want to see you before I see any of those people' Zoya fell silent, as much as she did want to see him she knew that he was one person she could not fool 'Zoya, you don't have a choice...deal or nor deal' 'ok...deal'.

Zoya managed to speak to Asad before she took down the laptop 'Phoophi...I have Asad online' 'oh good, here give it to me' Dilshad took the laptop and placed it on the coffee table 'how is my prince?' Asad rolled his eyes 'I am fine Ammi, how is Dad...and what is wrong with Zoya, why does she look so pale' Dilshad looked up at Zoya who shrugged her shoulder 'idiot' she said to herself not believing what he was saying 'Zoya is fine beta, look I want to introduce you to Mr and Mrs Malik...and their daughter Suhana' Dilshad looked at Asad as he continued to pull faces. Zoya knew exactly what he was doing so she went and stood behind Dilshad and placed her hand on her shoulder 'she looked at Asad and narrowed her eyes at him 'ok...ok, stop looking at me like that' Dilshad smiled at him then looked up to Zoya and whispered thank you.

Asad was polite to the Malik's and when Suhana came to sit in front of him he was courteous, he didn't give her much eye contact, but you could tell from her face she was totally smitten. 'Asad, I will get Zoya to text you Suhana's number, so you can talk in your own time, I can imagine it must be a little uncomfortable' 'Ammi, if you are done, I really need to go, can you tell Zoya I will call her a little later' sure'.

Zoya sent him Suhana's nuber via a text, when Asad opened the message he deleted it straight away and then sent her one 'I don't need her number or anyone else's there is only room for one number in my life and that is yours...so stop texting it to me'

After a few days Dilshad approached Zoya 'did you give Asad Suhana's number, I spoke to her mum and she said she had not heard from him' 'jee Phoopi, I text him the very same day...he must have just forgot or got busy...you know what he can get like' 'hmm...ok...are you going to Uni, come I will drop you off' 'no...I was...umm...I was just going to pop by the clinic again, I needed to pick up some medicines' 'medicines, are you ok?' 'jee Phoopi, just some vitamin supplements'.

Zoya sat down with the Doctor 'what have you decided Zoya, have you spoken to anyone?' Zoya shook her head 'no...it hasn't been easy...I don't know what to do?' 'Zoya, you need to decide as if you don't terminate it won't be long before you start showing...and if you have decided to terminate we need to do it with in a set time period otherwise it can become dangerous' Zoya started to well up again. Zoya sat there and explained everything to the Doctor. The Doctor place her hands over hers 'Zoya, you have until the end of the week, you need to make a decision'. Zoya stood up and left feeling just as heavy and burdened as she did when she came in.

Zoya left the clinic and as she did Dilshad's car drove past 'driver stop' the driver stopped the car immediately 'what is Zoya doing here?' she rolled down the window and looked behind her 'Gayatri Maternity Clinic...I thought Zoya was going to see her doctor for...what is she doing here' Dilshad tried to call out for her but by the time she did Zoya had sat in a taxi and left 'driver, take me to that clinic' she ordered. Dilshad walked inside and went to the reception desk 'excuse me, the girl that just left...what was she doping here?' the receptionist looked at Dilshad with a funny look 'Ma'am this is a maternity clinic, there is only one reason any girl would come here...she must be pregnant' Dilshad stumbled backwards 'pregnant...Zoya is pregnant' as she looked on in shock the past few weeks kept playing back in her head, when Zoya said she was sick, the times she looked so pale and felt light headed. Dilshas'd shock soon turned into anger and disgust, she walked back outside and ordered the driver to take her home.

'Zoya' she screamed out as she entered her house. Zoya came running out of her rom, she had never seen or heard Dilshad speak out so angrily 'Ph...Phoopi, are you ok, what happened' 'what happened...why don't you tell me...where were you Zoya, where did you go?' 'I went to the clinic...I told you...' 'I know what you told me...but what you forgot to mention was what clinic you went to ...I saw you Zoya...I saw you coming out of the maternity clinic...what were you doing there?'

Zoya felt her stomach churn and her heart beat out of control 'Phoopi...I' 'I what Zoya...what...' she screamed making Zoya jump 'you are pregnant...how could you...of all people Zoya...I never thought for a second that you could stoop so low, that you could do anything as disgusting as you have done, do you not realise the sin you have committed...and to think that I have been letting you stay here...be a part of our lives...a girl who has no shame has no self-respect'.

Zoya started crying 'Phoopi...please...it's not what you think' Dilshad raised her hand 'don't call me that...you have shamed me, Rashid and your own father Zoya...and what about Asad, if he ever found out...he would hate you' Zoya held her breath as Dilshad continued with her onslaught 'I want you to leave...' 'leave...but...' 'but nothing Zoya, I can't have someone like you staying here...go and be with the person who committed such a crime with...I want you nowhere near me...do you understand...and one more thing you stay away from Asad, if Asad ever meant anything to you...you won't call him or contact him, I can't bear to think what he will go through knowing what you have done'

Zoya cried to no end as she packed her bag, she didn't know how to tell Dilshad that what she had done was not a sin, not a crime, the person who she loved was none other than her very own son. Zoya came down and stood behind Dilshad 'Phoo...' Dilshad turned around again 'I can only be thankful that your Ammi is not alive to see this Zoya, your Baba...Allah only knows what he will have to go through to know that you have tarnished his name and reputation...there is no place in our lives, homes or society Zoya...please leave...and don't ever come back'.

Zoya who was just about managing to stand walked out of the front door and then the gate she turned around to look at the house one more time 'I promise Phoopi, I won't come back...I won't contact Asad...and as for Baba...' Zoya started crying, she held onto her stomach 'if today I have no one, I know I have you...I won't give you up...not today not ever'

'Zoya, I am sorry that you have had to face so much alone, but believe me when I say that you are not alone or the first girl of your age to face such circumstances. There is an NGO, that has a small single parent and baby unit...I think it would be ideal for you, you can continue your education, we can arranged long distance learning for you, you will get all the support and help you need during your pregnancy and after you have had the baby, and even after that you can stay there for as long as you like' Zoya looked up at the Doctor 'where is it?' 'it's in Dehradun' 'so far' 'yes it is...but you don't need to worry, we will take you there ourselves...let me get your report file ready, and then I will arrange for you to leave'.

Zoya didn't know if what she was doing was the right thing or not, all she knew was that she couldn't go back. Dilshad never gave her an opportunity to explain or tell her the truth but Zoya knew that even if she had she would not have believed her, as much as Dilshad had hurt her she still loved her Phoopi and respected her. it wasn't only Dilshad, Zoya also would never let anything come in between Asad and his goal in life, she knew if she told him that she was pregnant and that he was the father of her child he would drop everything and come running back to her, and she would never allow that.

'You ready?' Zoya stood up 'yes Doctor...and thank you for everything' 'that's ok Zoya, I am here to help, this is a part of my work too...if you ever need anything please call me' 'I will'.