Salaam All
Thank you so much for you amazing feedback, am truly overwhelmed.
Please see below for part (b). I hope you will like it
Lots of love to you all
Saima
Chapter 14 (b)
With every passing minute their anguish doubled 'Abu, have you spoken to Ammi yet?' 'No, I haven't...I didn't know what to say to her, she will be besides herself' 'I know but she has a right to know...please call her'. Rashid left the room to talk to Dilshad, he had asked Haider to return to the conference and continue with the work, which he did.
Zoya lifted his hand gently and rested it against the side of her face 'Asad, just once...please open your eyes and see that everything is ok' Zoya placed a soft kiss on the back of his hand and then placed it against her chest 'can you feel that Asad, this heart and with it every heart beat only beats for you now, your name is embedded within me...don't give up, not now...I love you Asad, look I am telling you I love you...please open your eyes and tell me the same, tell me that you love me too, tell me that all is forgotten and you are ready to stand up and hold my hand and walk for the rest of your life with me'.
Zoya's eyes brimmed with fresh tears, as she placed his hand down her tears drops fell upon it and as soon as they did she felt Asad tighten his hold on her hand. Zoya looked up her pupils dilated with anticipation 'Asad...Asad, can you hear me...Asad' she called out. Zoya reached for the buzzer and pressed it frantically to call the doctor 'Asad...it's me Zoya, Asad can you hear me...open your eyes...please Asad' As the doctors came in they asked Zoya to leave 'please doctor, let me stay' she pleaded 'I am sorry Miss, I can't...please wait outside'
Zoya stepped outside and waited as patiently as she could, at the same time Rashid came back inside 'what is going on' 'Abu...Asad...he held my hand, I mean I felt him apply pressure, as if he responded to what I was saying...the doctors are with him they won't let me in...' 'Ya Allah, please let him wake up...let him be ok...Zoya, I just spoke to Dilshad, she is taking the next flight out with Najma. I am going to ask Haider to make sure he picks them up...and...' Zoya placed her hand over his shaking ones 'Abu...don't worry Haider will take care of everything...let me get you a glass of water'.
Rashid took the water from her hands and took a few sips 'thank you beta'. The medical staff were constantly coming in and out of his room, but none stopping to talk to them, Zoya tried to look through the gaps in the curtain but she couldn't see anything 'I wish they would tell us what is going on...I don't know how much more of this I can take'.
After another excruciating fifteen minutes the doctor finally came out, Zoya and Rashid jumped to their feet and walked towards him 'Is he ok...what happened?' the doctor smiled 'it's nothing to be worried about, your son is perfectly fine, he is awake, but still a little disorientated, it will take time for him to fully recover. If he doesn't talk much or keeps closing his eyes its because of the heavy medication he has been given...I can assure you by tomorrow morning he will be fully alert and aware' Zoya cried out in relief 'Ya Allah...thank you so much...' Rashid put his arm around her and held her close to him 'doctor can we see him?' 'Yes, of course, let my team just finish up...I would advise you to go in one at a time...and try not to talk to him too much' 'sure...thank you doctor'.
Zoya pulled back and wiped her tears, her face had never been so red and swollen 'Abu, you go first...I will call Haider and Ammi and let them know' 'you sure beta...I mean' 'Abu please...he is your son, you go to him...where we have waited so long I am sure we can wait a little while longer'.
Asad saw his father walk towards him, his face broke out into a small smile, he tried to talk but couldn't manage to say anything coherent 'Asad...beta don't try and talk...Ya Allah...thank you so much...am so glad you are ok, you had us scared to death beta...what we have gone through in these last 24 hours only Allah knows' Asad held his hand and squeezed it gently. Rashid noticed how his eyes kept travelling towards the door as if he was waiting, anticipating, silently asking where she was 'she is outside Asad, she hasn't left your side for a second, the doctor would only allow us in one at a time, she asked me to come in first. She is talking to your Ammi' Asad felt his heart pick up pace, he took in a breath and looked at his Abu with tear filled eye 'no more Asad...no more. Allah tests us in many ways, some we understand and others we don't. you and Zoya are meant to be as one and you will be...let me call her'.
Asad closed his eyes, his tears rolled down the side of his face, he felt numb, as if all sensation from his body vanished in an instant. Asad blinked his eyes several times to clear his vision, it was like he couldn't wait a second longer to see Zoya, his Zoya.
Zoya closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, she opened the door slowly to see him lying there with his eyes fixated on the door. She looked at him, his eyes looked sore as did hers, she tried to smile but couldn't as her heart continued to shatter seeing him like this, thinking of what had happened and how this could have been so much worse.
As she reached him she lowered her gaze, she couldn't take the way he looked at her, the way it made her feel. Asad slowly stretched out his hand as much as he could, with the tips of his fingers he managed to touch her hand. Zoya looked up at him and then his hand that was struggling to reach hers. Zoya grabbed his hand and held in in between hers, she dropped down next to him bringing his hand to her face, she could hold back any longer as she broke out into a painful cry 'I am so sorry...I am so sorry...' Asad took his other hand and reached out for her, he managed to place it on her head, when Zoya looked back up at him he smiled at her and shook his head 'no Zoya...please don't cry' he managed to say.
Asad started to cough as he spoke 'Asad' Zoya stood up in a panic 'please don't talk...once minute' she ran to the other side of his bed and poured him some water. Zoya placed the glass against his lips and let him take a few sips, she rubbed the side of his shoulder 'are you ok...does that feel better?' Asad nodded, he was just about to speak again when she placed her finger on his lips 'no...Asad not now, you need to rest, I am here, I am not going anywhere, please close your eyes and try to sleep'. Zoya sat down next to him as he closed his eyes, she took his hand back into her and let him entwine his fingers with hers, something that made them both smile.
Asad had been sleeping for a long time 'Zoya' Zoya looked up to see Haider standing in the door 'can I come in?' 'yeah sure' as he came in Zoya stood up and hugged him 'your Ammi will be reaching later tonight, I will be picking her up and bringing her straight her...you haven't eaten since yesterday why don't you get something to eat...' 'I am ok for now' 'no you are not...go, I will sit with him, there is a small canteen at the end of the corridor...go, Uncle is there getting himself a coffee too' Zoys smiled at him 'what would I ever have done without you in my life...I love you so much' 'I know...I love you too...now go'.
After an emotional reunion with Rashid and Zoya, Dilshad went to sit with Asad. Even though it broke her to see him in the condition he was in she was grateful that he was ok and was going to recover fully, all she waited for was for him to open his eyes so she could speak to him, hear his voice.
'Dilshad, Haider has booked us a penthouse, not too far from here, why don't you and Najma go and rest and come back in the morning, Zoya is here with Asad...me and Haider need to go back to the hotel' Dilshad reluctantly agree, before she left, she placed her hand over his head and kissed his cheek.
Back at the hotel Rashid and Haider worked that much harder to make up for lost time, there was only two more days left until the conference came to an end 'once we have finished I will need you to go back and take charge, I will come as soon as Asad has been discharged, although I don't know how long that will be' Haider looked at Rashid 'no need to worry Uncle I will make sure everything is in hand...judging by his injuries they may keep him in for a while, and then he will need to fully recover physically before he can come home' 'hmm, well if I have to I will come back in between, with Dilshad here with him and Zoya I am sure they will be able to look after him for a short period of time'.
Asad opened his eyes, he shifted in his position a little trying to raise his head. He looked outside to see it was still dark, he had no idea what time it was or even day for that matter. As he turned the other way he saw Zoya laying back on the chair sleeping, even in the strange postures she sat in she looked at peace, but more than that she looked beautiful. Asad's gaze was interrupted by the abruptness of the door opening. It was the nurse, as she came in Asad quickly raised his finger to his lips indicating for her to be quite. The nurse looked at Zoya then back at him and started smiling, she walked over to him 'good morning?' Asad looked at her strangely 'it's still dark outside' 'yes but not for long, the sun will be coming up in about half hour, you know you are one lucky man to have someone like her in your life?' Asad looked at Zoya and then back at the nurse 'she hasn't moved since you came in...I told her that love was powerful enough to move the world and it was all she needed to move you...you came back for her...she was the reason you didn't give up, she was your reason to live' Asad smiled 'my only reason, the only reason I will ever need...I lost her once, I did things that hurt her but not now, I don't ever want to lose her' 'you won't, this time she will hold on to you more than you will ever be able to hold on to her...I have seen it...' The nurse finished administrating his medication and checking his vital statistics 'the doctor will be coming around 8.30...see you then'.
The nurse left and as she did the clicking of the door behind her woke Zoya up, she shot up and looked straight at Asad to see him awake 'Asad...are you ok...is there anything you need?' she said. Asad placed his hand over hers 'no, I have everything I need right here with me'. Zoya cupped the side of his face, she leaned down solely and placed a kiss on his forehead 'I will forever be here Asad' 'I know'.
Sitting hand in hand Asad and Zoya saw the sun rise, and as it brought a new light a new dawn into their lives. After the doctor had been to see Asad Dilshad, Najma and Rashid came to the hospital. Whilst Dilshad and Najma sat with Asad Rashid and Zoya spoke to the doctor 'we will need to do a few more test, but on the whole he is doing well, we will take him off IV and get him to start eating, we would like to keep him in for a few more days before we discharge him' Rashid shook hands with the doctor and thanked him.
With Najma and Dilshad making the most of being around Asad Zoya never got much of a chance to say anything to him, but that didn't stop them from stealing glances and smiling at one another. As Dilshad force fed her son Zoya excused herself 'where are you going beta?' Rashid asked 'Abu, there is something I need to do...I won't be long' 'let me come with you' 'ok, I need to go back to the hotel first' Asad looked at Zoya and she understood what he was asking 'promise I won't take too long' she answered.
Zoya went into her room, she showered and changed. When Rashid saw her come out in a shalwaar kameez he looked at her 'Where are you going?' 'To the mosque, Allah has given us back Asad, he is ok. Allah has given me a second chance and I want to thank him' Rashid took Zoya into his hold 'do you know that you are the best daughter any father could have asked for' 'yes...totally...now come on lets go' Rashid started laughing and then led the way.
Zoya finished her prayer and raised her hands thanking Allah for everything she had today 'Ya Allah when Asad walks out of that hospital, I want him to hold my hand and embrace me as his wife, as we should have been all these years, Ya Allah please continue to protect us, guide us and bless us with your mercy and kindness'.
Edited by Saima-Syed - 10 years ago
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