Junoon Tere Ishq Ka
Chapter Two - A Fleet Of Hope
"Ahil Bhai is taking long!" Shazia whined. The three were seated in the car, waiting for Ahil. Rehaan absently tapped the steering wheel; he decided he would drive back home.
"You're right. That's unlike him" Rehaan added.
"Hmm I'll go check on him?"
"Okay Nazia, meet us back here okay?"
"Haan Bhaijaan"
Nazia got out of the car and since they were parked across the street opposite the dargah, she looked from side to side cautiously before setting foot on the road. When the coast was clear she began sauntering across.
Suddenly, the loud honking of a horn filled the air and alarmed her. She instinctively stopped and looked to her left where the noise was coming from. Her smile turned into sheer horror as she saw a truck driver recklessly speeding her way. For a second she was confused and startled and petrified in one. Before she could do anything she heard scream from her brother Rehaan and Shazia and another foreign voice.
She felt someone grip her arms and hauled her aside as the lady gasped in pain.
"Nazia! Nazia! Are you okay?" Rehaan asked frantically pulling her up. She clutched his shirt and nodded as tears rolled out of her eyes.
"Bhai!" Shazia shouted pointing to Nazia's savior who was still on the ground.
Shazia hugged Nazia while Rehaan attended to the fallen woman.
She had a bruise on her elbow and a wound on her head that was bleeding profusely.
"Are you okay? Here let me help you up! Are you okay?? Talk to me" Rehaan shouted, gathering her in his arms.
"We have to take her to the hospital immediately!" Rehaan said when he got no response. She seemed unconscious.
He lifted her and settled her in the car with both Shazia and Nazia propping themselves up to ensure she was in a good position, lying on top of them.
Rehaan jumped inside and called Ahil as he fastened his seatbelt.
"Ahil Bhai come quickly! A lady got knocked down and I'm taking her to the hospital now. Hurry up!"
"What? What's going on?"
"Just hurry up!"
"I just got a call that I have to go to office for an urgent meeting Rehaan. You Nazia and Shazia are alright?"
"Yes we're fine Bhai. Acha theek hain. You go ahead. We will meet you home. I'll use your car okay?"
"Yeah, I already called up home and asked for a driver to get me and drop me to office."
"Allah hafiz"
"Bye"
Rehaan sped off to the hospital. He was confused and scared at the same time. Meanwhile Nazia used the end of her dupatta to press on Sanam's wound to minimize the bleeding and kept her head upright while Shazia tried rubbing her feet which were cold. Rehaan's heart raced. What was going on? A stranger just saved his sister's life and now she was paying the price. He had never felt so relieve and helpless at the same time before.
He remembered looking out his window and seeing her on the other side of the road. She looked lost but her smile that adorned her face was as radiant as the sun. She was beautiful and had long hair. He couldn't help but smile as he saw her. What happened after was like a whirlwind of events; he couldn't even place how it all happened.
Rehaan lifted her and carried her inside once they reached the hospital. He met the doctor who would attend to her and explained what happened. Dr. Mehra seemed very wise and understanding and assured him it would be okay.
He left her to be taken care of by Dr. Mehra while he waited outside with his two sisters. Nazia had regained her composure and recounted what happened. She was so thankful that she was saved but felt horrible for the innocent girl who was suffering because of her.
The three prayed silently for this stranger who they now considered an angel for saving their home from sadness. More sadness.
A little while after Dr. Mehra came out and told them that she was fine, a minor bruise on her forehead that would soon heal. Her dressing should be changed twice a day. She also said that the girl had fainted, and that the wound was too minor to have caused her to be unconscious. When asked, she informed them that she seemed very weak and stressed and they should take proper care of their sister.
The three were slightly confused but then realized. Of course, she thought she was one of them.
"Anyway, she should wake up soon. Then, you may take her home. I have prescribed these vitamins for her, so please ensure she takes them. Also, I've written the name of a painkiller, if she needs them. Make sure she eats on time before taking them."
"Okay Doctor" Rehaan replied.
Turning to Nazia and Shazia, he said "You both go inside and stay with her. Someone should be there when she wakes up. I'll go and pay the bill and pick up these for her." He waved the piece of paper with the prescription scribbled on it to them.
"Ji Bhaijaan" they chorused and went into the ward.
At Khan's Villa:
Dilshad and Haya were sitting together in the living room, when the doorbell rang and snapped them out of their conversation.
Rahat looked at his watch and then knew who would be arriving now.
He came outside and greeted the lady at the door and told her that she has to make enough for three now.
Dilshad stood up and came to them.
"Dilshad Khala, this is Nafeesa, she cooks for me. Nafeesa, this is Dilshad Khala. She will be staying with us now."
"Asalaam walikum"
"Walikum asalaam"
"Nice to meet you, she is my granddaughter, Haya" Dilshad said pointing toward Haya.
Haya saw her BadiAmmi pointing toward her and smiled to the lady standing next to Rahat.
Soon after Nafeesa went to the kitchen and began preparing khana. Rahat returned to his room. Haya noticed the small smile on his face disappear as he turned around and headed back to his "man-cave". Yes, she made up that name. He actually seemed warm just now with Nafeesa, he was actually speaking and looked comfortable with someone but she guessed it was just politeness. Dilshad went to sit next to Haya and began thinking. With a pensive look on her face, she sat, absently knocking her fingers on the side-table.
"Kuch nahi" she responded when Haya tilted her head up at her Badi Ammi, with questioning eyes.
Dilshad decided to approach Rahat after dinner that night to talk to him about her decision. She had something else to worry about at the moment. Where was Sanam? Why wasn't she back yet? She asked Allah to protect her Sanam. She sighed after, thinking she was being melodramatic. She shouldn't base Sanam's fate on her parents'. She decided Sanam was safe in Allah's hands. Who else could truly handle Sanam? Besides Sanam was a smart, brave and dependent woman. Being a little late couldn't mean something was wrong. Right?
At the hospital:
Her mouth felt a bit thick and her eyes were tired. She wanted to open them but the thought of doing so seemed to take all her energy. She heard some distant voices, feminine voices.
Maybe it was Badi Ammi, she thought.
She felt something, more like someone touching, her hand. She sighed and felt her eyes opening, surrendering.
Her eyelids seemed to rip open and she shut them back immediately and blinked twice to adjust to the brightness surrounding her. Two blurry faces hovered over her and as she tried to figure out who they were, she realized her head was paining.
She tried to sit up but felt dizzy.
"Are you okay" One of the girls called. Her image as clearer now, she could see two girls fussing over her.
One was in a salwar suit and glasses. The other, in jeans and a jacket. She had no idea who they were.
They helped her sit up and she looked around. It was revealed to her that she was in a hospital.
"What am I doing here? Who are you? And why does my head hurt so much?" she blurted out, then rested her hand on her forehead to emphasize her last question.
Nazia came forward and gently held her hand, explaining all that had happened.
"Oh yeah." She said slowly, the confusion disappearing. As she gathered her memories she asked worriedly, "Tum theek ho na?" she squeezed Nazia's hand a bit.
"Haan sirf aapke wajah se. I can't even tell you how grateful I am"
"Ya Allah! Yeh sab bas kijiye! And first tell me. If you're crossing the road and a truck comes speeding why would you stand up in the middle of the road?" She asked, her voice slowly getting louder, back to its usual pitch.
"I didn't realize. I was so scared" Nazia started and her eyes welled up.
"Acha theek hai. I'll give you my phone number okay? If any vehicle comes speeding by you, call me okay? I'll volunteer as tribute" Sanam giggled, and hoped she was a fan of The Hunger Games. She could tell the girl in front of her was still traumatized. She looked really small and nave. She wanted to cheer her up.
Nazia smiled and laughed along with Shazia.
"Vaise tumhara naam kya hai?" Nazia asked.
"Mera naam Sanam hai, aur aap dono?"
"Mera naam Nazia hai, aur yeh mere behen hai, Shazia"
"I can't tell you how sorry I am for your condition but I am also very happy that my pagli sister is safe too" Shazia said.
"Koi baat nahin" Sanam replied politely.
She looked around the room and when she saw the clock on the wall, she panicked.
"Ya Allah, Badi Ammi must be worried!" She moved the sheet that was covering her hurriedly, muttering away to herself.
"Kya hua?"
"I need to get home, abhi!"
"Wait!" Shazia said, while Sanam was trying to get up.
"Rehaan Bhaijaan went to get your medicine for you, please wait na, and we will drop you home"
"My Badi Ammi will freak out if she finds out about this accident. What to do? How do I hide this wound?" She asked, pointing to her head.
"Just tell her. In any case, you will be okay. Dr. Mehra said it's just a minor injury and will heal very soon. She prescribed some vitamins and painkillers for you."
"You don't understand"
"What don't they understand?" asked a foreign voice.
Sanam looked to the door and saw a young man. He looked like he was in his early twenties and he was thin and lean, his smile was his most attractive feature.
He walked in. "I hope they are not bothering you"
"Bhaijaan!" the two sisters scolded.
"No no, they're very sweet" Sanam assured. "Thanks so much by the way. You didn't have to do all this"
"I did. And in fact, I should be the one saying thanks, for saving my little sister's life" he said, patting Nazia on her head.
"It's okay"
"Here are your vitamins and painkillers, Dr. Mehra has prescribed them"
"Oh...there was no need. You bought those?" she asked, embarrassed and looked down.
"Yes"
Seeing her expression, Rehaan felt the need to go on. "Don't worry about the money. This can't even being to repay you for the favour you did for us today."
"Don't say that. It's okay, really. And... woh.."
Sanam looked like she wanted to say more but hesitated.
Shazia and Nazia crinkled their eyebrows wondering why she stopped but then thought maybe she was uncomfortable with so many strangers, so the sisters decided to step outside.
"Sanam, we'll be outside okay?"
Sanam nodded and smiled as they left.
Oh, so that's her name, Rehaan thought.
"Sanam, if you need anything else please let me know. And tell me where you live so I can drop you home, okay?"
"It's okay. Actually, if you drop me home my Badi Ammi will suspect something so it's better if you don't. Thanks, though."
"So why don't you tell her?"
Sanam sighed. "It's a long story. I came here to Bhopal today, to find a job. If I go home like this, Badi Ammi will forbid me from doing any work at all."
"You came here to find a job?"
"Long story."
"Rehaan sensed she didn't want to get into details and so, respected her privacy.
"So what's the plan?"
"I really don't know. Looks like I have no other option than telling her" she sighed in defeat.
"By the way, what kind of work are you looking for?"
"Honestly, anything" she said, she didn't even feel the need to hide her desperation.
"Maybe I can help you with that"
"Really?"
"Yes, but you will have to leave your Badi Ammi and your home."
"What?"
"Our head caretaker at home, well she was primarily in charge of the kitchen, she is ill and can no longer work for us. So if you want, you can take her place"
Sanam narrowed her eyes. Head caretaker? Ya Allah! Who has caretakers ? He is definitely some rich man. But how come he is so humble?
"So..." Rehaan probed further.
"I.. Honestly you've already done a lot for me, I can't take advantage of your goodness" She said sincerely.
"Think of it as a compromise. You save my sister's life, I saved yours. Now we're even. And a random person is offering you a well enough - paid job, which you need. A lot."
"Well, when you put it like that" she grinned.
"You'll have to stay with us though"
"Hmm"
"Dr. Mehra said you're quite stressed and weak. I'm guessing this is related to your pressure of finding a job? I may not know your reasons, but it's my duty to help you, as you have already helped me and my family way too much. Nazia is the youngest of us. If we lost her..." He broke off.
Sanam saw how much he cared for his family. She felt a pang of sadness that she had no one, but then thought of Haya and Dilshad and realize she had everything she needed. Rehaan broke her away from her thoughts when he continued.
"So yes, please consider this. And anyway, we only hire people whom we can trust. After Abia Khala left yesterday, we are wondering whom we can hire. And seeing what you did for Nazia, I can trust you without batting an eyelid." Rehaan finished and took a deep breath.
Sanam looked engrossed in her thoughts.
"It's your choice. For now, come on, let me drop you home to your dear Badi Ammi. She must be worried."
Sanam smiled and followed him out.
Chapter Three - A Trick of Fate & Chapter Four - The Confrontation________________________________________________________________________
So guys, that was Chapter Two😃 I know there wasn't much Sahil, or even Ahil, actually, but I am giving equal importance to the characters right now as I am now setting up 😉
Lots of Sahil moments to proceed so dont worry☺️
Thanks for all the comments and love and encouragement thus far, you guys are the best❤️ Do continue leaving comments and love for me, really means a lot🤗
Also, remember to buddy me if you want PMs okay?😉
And What do you guys think?What will Ahil think of Rehaan's decision, more so when are Sahil meeting again? Will Sanam accept Rehaan's offer or not? And what is Dilshad thinking about? Hmmm think about all these while you await Chapter Three!
Take care, my lovies 🤗
Lots of love,
Vaish
Edited by vaishnavi31 - 11 years ago
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