Mini SS - Broken: Part 5 (Completed) Page 61 - Page 12

On his way back Asad kept thinking about her, praying that she would be ok. She was the first patient he had ever had that he went the extra mile for, in his short but extensive career the one thing that Asad took seriously was his professionalism and conduct. But why he felt compelled to look out for her and support her that much more he didn't understand.

Sasha gave Zoya a small bag 'what is this?' 'A few pairs of clothes, and some toiletries...I think Dr Khan and Humera put them together for you' Zoya took the bag and thanked her. Zoya found a few plain shalwaar kameez and a few pairs of jeans with various tops, a towel, and a whole bag full of toiletries.

She picked up the phone that Haier had given to her a few days back and texted Asad

Asad picked up the phone to read the message , a small smile played on his lips as he read it

Zoya kept herself in her room for the rest of the day, Aarti and Sasha came in a number of times to bring her out but she kept refusing 'it's ok Sasha, it's her first day. I will be stating her one to one sessions tomorrow...once she is undertaking all her forms of treatment she will start getting better, we just need to give her time as we do with everyone else' Aman said.

That night Zoya sat holding her legs close to her chest, every noise, every creek startled her. Her eyes moved from left to right frantically as her breathing quickly became unstable 'Ya Allah please make it stop...please make it go away...why are you doing this to me' Zoyas voice started to get louder, her panic started to spiral out of control and before she knew it she was screaming out. Aman and Sasha cane running towards her room, they were soon followed by Aarti and another doctor.

It took them the best part of half an hour to try and calm her down, in the end Dr Aman gave her an injection to put her to sleep 'I...I don't think I have ever heard anyone scream with such fear' Aarti said as she placed her hand over her own erratic heartbeat. 'She should stay asleep until the morning now...Sasha, the minute she wakes up I want you to call me, the quicker we start the quicker we can try and address this' 'yes Dr Aman, I will do'.

Aman called Asad to let him know what had happened 'Asad, I don't think she wil be ready by the time Inspector Haider needs her to testify...and any progress we make from now to then will just cause her to relapse and there is no knowing what kind of an effect it will have on her already weak and vulnerable mental state' 'Aman, she doesn't know about testifying, I thought if she could just become that much more stable that much more stronger through therapy then I would let her know...but' 'Asad we will need to tell her, this is not something you can hide and ethically it would be wrong' 'I know...look just give me two days, I have surgery booked in for tomorrow and as soon as I finish my morning clinic on Wednesday I will come straight to you'.

Asad disconnected the phone and took in a deep breath 'it happened again didn't it...her screaming' Asad looked at Humera and nodded 'every time I think about her ordeal I feel like my stomach is knotting...such a young innocent girl and look at her now...how evil are the men that walk this earth...I will never understand them' Asad gave Humera a tissue to wipe away her tears 'Allah is with her Humera, He will help her, He will bring her out of this that much stronger...and until the case is over and she is in a happier frame of mind she will continue to have our support as well as Aman's and his teams'.

'There is something about her...don't you think' Asad put his file down 'how do you mean?' 'I can't explain, like there is a connection...almost as if her pain and suffering becomes your own' Asad knew exactly what she meant but because of the doctor patient relationship he had to remain indifferent he couldn't step outside those parameters no matter how much he may have wanted to 'empathy is part of our job Humera, we may be just carrying out our duties but we are humans too...with this case or any other, to see another human suffer always leaves a mark behind but its something we have to overlook...if we start personalising we will never be good at what we do, our main aim is to treat and make sure that every person that walks through those doors get the best treatment possible and leaves in the best shape possible'.

Zoya woke up with a heavy head as she sat up she saw Sasha arranging flowers in a vase. Sasha heard movement and turned around to look at her 'good morning...how are you feeling?' 'Sick...my head hurts...what happened?' 'That would be the injection Dr. Aman gave you...to help you sleep...why don't you have a shower and freshen up I will let him know you are awake'.

By the time Zoya came out of the shower Aman was waiting for her 'Good morning Zoya...before we start our one to one session, I need you eat something...and then take these medicines' 'I...I am not hungry' 'maybe not but you can't take these on an empty stomach, you will continue to feel sick and heavy headed...so come let's try a little'. Zoya sat down and painfully swallowed the toast that laid before her she managed to finish one slice and drank some orange juice before she took her medication.

Aman took Zoya to one of the therapy rooms, he sat her down and ensured she was comfortable before he started. Aman started of talking about the aim of these sessions, he was going to use conventional CBT (Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy) to treat what she displayed as sever PSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Zoya took in a few deep breaths it took her a long time to focus on what Aman was saying and to try and answer the questions he was asking. Although he knew everything he needed to hear it again from her, and as she started going through her ordeal he would stop and question her further he needed to grip her thought processes and slowly challenge them to try and change her reactions to them.

There was only so much that he could over in his first session as he did not want to overwhelm her in anyway. He limited the session to an hour. Most of that hour was covered by a nervous silence, but he knew as the days progressed she would open up more and start responding better to his treatment.

Aman called Asad after their session to fill him in '...the most prominent thing she said was that she felt like she was straddling a timeline where the past is pulling her in one direction and the present another. She said she sees flashes of images and noises burst through her and that fear comes out of nowhere. She was able to describe her physiological reactions where she said her heart raced and her breathing becomes restricted as if her airwaves are narrowing...in the end she said that she doesn't know where she is and why she is here'.

'Aman the fact that she managed to express all that in the first session is remarkable...I know it's a long journey yet but one that she will overcome...where is she now?'

'She actually wanted to talk to you but I told her you were in surgery today and wouldn't be free...she wanted to go back to the farm so I have sent Sasha with her'

'Ok...well I will be coming to see you tomorrow, I will aim to get there around half three or 4'.

That evening Zoya sat in the recreational room. She sat close to Sasha and observed some of the other patients. Noticing a girl hugging a teddy bear in the far corner Zoya asked Sasha who she was and why she was here.

'Her name is Kyra, she is only 18. She lost her whole family in a tragic accident, she has no one now...she was made homeless by her land lord and with the state of mind she was in she tried to kill herself...she survived...but only her body survived...she stopped living the day she lost her family'

Zoya felt her insides churn she kept looking at her innocent child like face and couldn't help crying 'why is life so cruel...it's so unfair' she said. Sasha placed her hand over hers 'life doesn't always go to plan...and there will always be hurdles some that are easily tackled and others that can take up to a life time itself. Zoya only you have the power to fight and move on in life...you have to find that one thread in you that is still willing to move up and beyond and when you do you find it you hold on to it...when you have experienced the worst that life can throw at you time is no longer of the essence, you take all the time you need to step up and walk down the road to recovery...I have been here for a long time Zoya, and I have seen many young girls in here for reasons that would make your skin crawl and physically be sick, some make it through because they hold on to that will to survive and others just end up like Kyra'

Zoya went back to her room, she lay her head down wanting to sleep, her eyes felt like a burden but she knew that the minute she did close them all those nightmares would return. Not having it in her to fight anymore Zoya went to wash her face after which she picked up her phone and sent him a message.

Asad picked up his phone to read her message

Asad didn't reply back instead he called her

'Hello...Dr. Khan?'

'Hi Zoya, how are you?

Zoya bit her lip as she tried to stop her voice from breaking, she could feel tears sting her eyes and she didn't want to cry.

'I...I am ok...Dr. Khan will you be coming to see me...to take me back from here?'

'Zoya I am coming to see you tomorrow, and when I get there we can sit down and talk...Dr. Aman told me your session went well today'

'I...I don't know...I find it weird here...I just want to go home'

'And that is a good thing Zoya, and you will go home very soon, now try and get some sleep. I will see you tomorrow afternoon'

Zoya disconnected the phone and lay back down again. She held on to the phone and slowly closed her eyes letting sleep consume her

On the other side Asad lowered his head and raked his fingers through his hair, he wasn't sure what he was feeling all he knew that it was wrong and it needed to stop.

'Dr Aman, she has been sitting there since lunch time' Sasha said. Aman looked outside to see Zoya sat on a bench in the front courtyard, she was waiting for Asad to arrive. Aman went outside and sat next to her 'he won't be here for another two hours Zoya, why don't you come inside, we are going to have an art therapy session with the whole group, I am sure you will enjoy it' Zoya looked up at him 'what if I miss him...' 'you won't, I promise the minute he gets here I will call you'

Zoya joined the rest of the group, she put on some overalls that Aarti gave her and stood in front of a blank canvas. To her right she had a big tray of 12 colours and on the left a bowl of water and some paint brushes.

She looked around to see some girls painting with their hands and others just painting in straight lines. Zoya had never painted before, she picked up the first brush and as the teacher instructed she closed her eyes and tapped into an emotion that stood out the most. Zoya opened her eyes and when she did it felt like she had zoned out into another dimension. She started painting, indiscriminately and unknowingly she carried on and on.

Zoya felt a hand on her shoulder that kept on tapping her but she couldn't bring herself to respond until it gripped her and shook her a little Zoya gasped as she turned around 'Zoya...' Sasha said looking at her and what she had painted in disbelief. Zoya followed Sasha's eyes back to her canvas and when she saw it she dropped her paintrush, she covered her moth trying to muffle her scream, he heart hit hard against her ribcage, she felt as if her whole body had started to go numb.

Zoya screamed out and then ran as fast as her feet could take her out of the art room and towards the front court yard. As she continued running she came crashing against a tall lean figure who grabbed her as she was about to fall. Zoya looked up with more than just fear in her eyes 'As...Asad...' she said before she passed out in his hold. Asad looked up at Aman and Sasha who had just caught up with her a few feet behind 'Asad...bring her in now' Aman shouted. In one swift movement Asad picked her up into his arms, as he did Zoya's head rested against his chest, he looked sown at her tear stained face and felt that dip again. A weird sensation made its way down his body as he continued to look at her.

Asad lay her down and immediately attended to her 'Aman, when was the last time she ate properly in two days she looks like she has lost a lot of weight' Aman looked at Sasha 'Dr. I have been bringing her food to her...and she always gives me back an empty tray' Asad looked up to her as she stood there nervously, he walked over to the dustbin and opened it this is why she has been giving you an empty tray, she has been piling her food in her bin' he said with a distinct annoyance in his voice.

'Aman, I need to put her back on IV fluids I need to her hydrated and her salt and glucose levels up now' Aman nodded and started getting everything he needed prepared.

Once Asad had finished attending to her he turned towards Aman 'you want to tell me what happened?' 'Follow me'. Aman took him to the art room where a single canvas stood covered up in the middle of the room. 'We had art therapy this afternoon, Zoya had been sitting outside waiting for you for hours, she wouldn't move and then I convinced her to come and join in the therapy with the rest of the group. The art therapist told me that at first she just stood still...looked around to observe what others did and then when she started painting it was like she was going crazy...when Sasha stopped her she saw what she had done and then freaked out...that's when she came running into you'

'What's in the picture?' he asked cautiously

Aman slowly pulled back the cover to reveal what Zoya had done.

Asad was left with his eyes wide open and his mouth sucking in a breath that felt like it was layered with thorns. His heart felt like it was having the life sucked out of 'sh...she did this?' 'Yes, she did''

What Asad saw in front of him was nothing less than what would be part of the world's scariest horror movie. Zoya had managed to bring to life what she had gone through and was going through. There were images of eyes that looked like the devil, evil laughs, needles, a belt that had blood dripping from it, an image of a girl's half naked body. Asad was left shell shocked 'this is an image of what she has experienced...she was able to depict all this in just one session...how...how is that even possible?'

Aman put his hand on his shoulder 'the mind may be a non-existing entity but it is as complex as it is amazing...there is no knowing what it can compel you to do, consciously, unconsciously or even subconsciously'

Asad looked down at her sleeping 'I am going to wait here until she wakes up...I think it might be a good idea to bring your session with her forwards to later this evening...address this while it is all still fresh in her head.

Asad sat on a chair next to her bed every so often he would take her hand and gently hold it into his checking her pulse. On more than one occasion he found himself keeping hold of her hand caressing it softly 'you are a fighter Zoya...I know you have it in you to fight...you will be ok' he whispered.

Zoya started to regain consciousness and at the same time she tightened her grip on Asad's hand. When she managed to open her eyes and bring everything into focus she looked at him 'y...you came...' Asad placed his hand over her forehead 'of course I came Zoya, I told you I would...you ok to sit up?' Zoya nodded and let him help her sit up.