Posted:
Thirteen
It had almost been seven weeks into the new term, since the holidays no one had seen Maddy, Aleena had tried to contact her many times but she wouldn't respond.
Life on campus continued as normal, Asad and Zoya were not only dedicated to their studies but also to one another.
'Zoya will you stop stressing out' Asad said pulling down her hands 'Asad, I can't remember a thing, I am so going to flunk this' 'Zoya you couldn't fail anything even if you tried...come on we need a a break we have been going on non-stop for almost three hours'
After a much needed break Asad and Zoya resumed with their revision, all Zoya was looking forward to was the week off uni after the mid term papers.
Zoya was about to walk into her exam when her phone vibrated, as she was about to open the message she had just received Asad grabbed her phone off of her 'we have an exam to sit...this can wait' Zoya rolled her eyes at him 'fine...let's go...and Asad, good luck' Zoya quickly tiptoed to kiss him on the cheek before she went in.
Considering the amount of panicking she had done the exam went pretty well, everything she had revised for came up in the paper.
Asad passed Zoya her phone back, but it wasn't until the evening she remembered that she had a message. Aleena and Zack sat opposite her waiting for their pizza to come 'where is Asad?' 'He is on his way, he had some stuff to do...he will be here in a minute' Zoya pulled out her phone and opened the message. As she read the message her eyes started to widen and pupils dilate, her face drained of colour in an instant 'Zoya...are you ok?' Aleena asked Zoya looked up at her and shook her head 'I...I have to go' was all she said before she picked up her bag and ran out the restaurant. Aleena ran and called out after her but it was no use 'what the hell was that about...I think we should call Asad' Zack said. Cancelling their order Aleena and Zack ran back to their halls, by the time they got there Asad had also arrived.
'Where is she...what happened?' 'We don't know, she read something on her phone and then looked like she was crying, before we could say anything she ran out'. Running up to their room Aleena opened the door to find Zoya packing her bags, Asad ran forwards and pulled her by her arm 'Zoya, what's going on, where are you going?' Zoya turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist crying, Asad ran his hand up and down the length of her back trying to console her 'baby please...tell me what happened?' Zoya wiped her tears with the back of her hand, she picked up her phone and gave it to Asad 'this happened' she said. Asad read the message and looked up at her with concern 'you...you're going back to India?' Aleena let out a gasp hearing what he had just said 'India...Zoya why are you going back?' When Zoya didn't reply she looked at Asad 'what is going on Asad?'
'Zoya's father has been diagnosed with cancer, last stage, he is in hospital...doctors haven't given him long left and he wants to see Zoya one last time' as Asad told Aleena and Zack Zoya sat on her bed 'Zoya' Aleena called out to her, she went and sat down next to her 'I'm so sorry...have you booked your ticket?' Zoya shook her head 'I was going to at the airport' 'I'm coming with you?' Asad said. Zoya looked up at him 'Asad, no...' 'Object all you want Zoya, I am coming with you, I won't let you go alone' 'Asad is right Zoya, you should let him come' Asad looked up at Zack 'can you book two tickets, I'm just going to pack a few things' 'sure'.
Asad and Zoya had just under two hours to get to the airport, as they jumped into the cab they hugged Aleena and Zack 'please keep us posted...I hope everything is ok' Zoya gave her a bleak smile. In the car Asad called his mum to let her know what was going on 'a sad please take care...and look after Zoya this is going to be extremely hard for her' 'I know mum, it's why I am going with her...'
Asad and Zoya checked in and made their way to the departure lounge, as they waited to board the plane Zoya's body started shaking, instinctively Asad put his arm around her waist and held her closer to him 'everything will be ok Zoya...Insha'Allah' Zoya had not seen her parents or family for over three years, the last time she spoke to her mum was before she moved to Australia, she couldn't help the whirlwind of emotions that conjured up deep within her 'I'm so scared Asad...I'm so scared' she whispered against his hold, Asad kissed the top of her head 'I know...I'm right here with you...I won't let anything happen to you...trust me'
The journey was long and painful, as much as Asad held on to her and reassured her she couldn't get rid of what she was feeling. Touching down at Delhi airport Asad stepped foot into his home country for the first time. He looked around trying to absorb what was around him, if anything he felt overwhelmed. Zoya called for a taxi 'Rosemary hospital please' she instructed the driver. The drive to the hospital was around twenty minutes 'your first time here...and look under what circumstances' Asad tightened his hold on her hand 'I can always come back Zoya, please don't think or worry about me'
Zoya stood in front of the hospital 'you ready?' He asked placing his hand on her shoulder 'no...but I dint have much of a choice, do I?' 'I guess not...come on let's go'.
The lady at the information desk told Zoya that her father was in room 16 in the green zone of the west wing. As she got closer and closer her heart started to thump hard inside her 'it's here' she said 'I will wait out side' Zoya looked at him with fear in her eyes 'Zoya, I am right here...you need to go in on your own first...' Zoya nodded, she inhaled in as much oxygen as she could before she opened the door .
Zoya walked in to see her father lying on the bed, she couldn't recognise him, he looked so frail. With tears soaking her face she carried on taking one small step at a time towards him.
'Abu' she whispered, her father opened his eyes slowly and when had sad her he smiled for a second before he started crying painfully. Zoya held his hand and sat down next to him 'please don't cry, I am here now' Zoya tried to calm him down as he continued to sob 'please forgive me Zoya, please beta for all I have done...forgive your old man...I could not return to Him with the burden I was carrying, I know what we done is unforgivable...but please forgive me...' Zoya closed her eyes, she clenched her fists as he continued to beg her for forgiveness 'why Abu...why? What did I do so wrong? What was I punished for?' Hakeem Farroqui once a proud, arrogant business tycoon lowered his gaze in pure shame, he had no answers to his daughters legitimate questions 'what did Asma and Haider have that I didn't, what did they do to prove that they were worthy that I didn't, just once Abu tell me what I did wrong?' Hakeem started shaking his head as he cried 'please Zoya, please beta...' 'I came here because you wanted me to, not one of you felt the need to tell me anything about your illness, am I such an outsider...Abu I have not come her to make amends I have come here because I too have to return to Allah one day, at least on my part I can say that I did what ever I could as a daughter...even if it was to fulfil a dying mans wish'
Hakeem cried out, his breaking voice pierced through her, as much as she was angry and hurt, as much as she stood there showing her anger she knew that deep inside that she still loved the man who was once her Abu, the man who once loved her as much as she did him. Zoya ran to his side 'Abu please calm down' 'no...no Zoya, I have wronged you on so many levels, I am here in this position as punishment from Him, I deserve this...I will never be able to forgive myself Zoya...' Not being able to take anymore Zoya out her arms around him and hugged him 'it's ok Abu...I am here everything will be ok, please just relax' Hakeem held on to her hands 'just once Zoya, just once tell me you forgive me' Zoya took in a deep breath 'I forgive you Abu...now please just lie down'.
As Hakeem settled in Zoya went to call Asad. Seeing the state of her worried him, he ran up to her 'Zoya...' 'I am ok...promise, come inside I want to introduce you'.
Hakeem looked at the young man that stood next to his daughter 'Abu, this is Asad, my fianc' Hakeem slowly sat up 'you...you got engaged?' 'Yes, I did' with sadness evident in his eyes Hakeem held his hand out to Asad. Asad walked up to him and sat down next to him 'my own stupidity and arrogance, my lack of understanding made me do some terrible deeds, I lost out on my daughter, I am responsible for what she has gone through...I am sorry...I hope you can forgive me too...please look after her' Asad looked up at Zoya who was trying to control her emotions 'I love Zoya very much, I promise you I will look after her, I will love her, give her every happiness I can until I breathe my last breath' Hakeem smiled at him and placed his hand over his 'thank you son'.
Zoya looked at Hakeem as it just dawned on her that her mother and siblings were not here. 'Asma got married Zoya' Zoya let out a chuckle 'of course she did...why would I know about that...what about Haider?' 'Haider moved to the states last year' 'and Ammi?' She comes and goes' Zoya looked at him in disbelief 'she is the one who sent me the message, so where is she...and why is Haider not back...and where the hell is Asma?' Zoya's voice became louder and louder as she filled with rage.
Hakeem had nothing to say, his children who he had given everything to had left him and his wife who he followed like a religion had tired of looking after him. All he had was Zoya, the daughter he pushed away, she was the only one who came to him despite everything.
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