Three
'Ok Miss Farooqui let's get you onto your bed and get things started' Zack said holding his hand out. Zoya took his hand and walked to the bed, as she sat up on it Zack called in for his nurse 'this is Suzy, she will be you assigned nurse, anything you need you can ask her...Suzy, can we get some bloods and vital stats checked' 'yes Doctor'.
'Miss Farroqui, would you like anything to eat or drink?' 'Please call me Zoya...and no I am ok for now, thank you?' 'Ok Zoya...once Suzy gets the test I need done, I am going to remove your bandages and take a look' 'ok'.
Zoya held her breath as Zack removed her bandages. Zack dealt with a lot of disfigurements but nothing that was deliberately caused such as this. As professional as he was he gave nothing away in his expression or tone of voice, but deep inside he felt a distinct sadness for her.
'Asad what did you have mind? I mean I can roughly make out her face...but you say she wants a new one, have you got a portrait or image...how do we just make up a face?' 'Its not like it hasn't been done before...I could have done it back home but you know that our technology isn't as advanced as here, you have the latest laser equipment' 'I know...but...' 'Let me put something together for you' 'ok...well now that she is settled in and is ok, I guess I can take you home with me' Asad smiled 'lead the way'
Amina couldn't stop hugging him 'Ya Allah, I really can't believe you are actually here...it is so good to see you' 'you too Amina...how were the surgeries?' 'You know how it is...all in a days work...come sit'.
Asad spent a good few hours catching up with his two best friends who were now husband and wife 'when are we ever going to see that seat next to yours filled...isn't time you found someone?' Asad rolled his eyes, every time he spoke to Amina she would lecture him about being single 'Amina...the minute I find someone I promise you will be the first to know'.
'Please...help me' she called out in desperation 'who are you...why are you crying...what happened?' 'Take me away...' 'To where? Why don't you show me your face...' The girl who alway stood by the tree across the field now stood a few feet away 'tell me your name' 'my name...I don't have one' 'no name...how can that be...what are you so afraid of?' 'Losing myself...the darkness that surrounds me...please take me to the light...I need light' Asad held his hand out 'come with me' the girl looked at him through her hair, she took a small step forward and slowly held her hand out to take his. As their hand touched a strong wind started blowing around them 'the darkness...it's coming...please hurry' Asad pulled at her hand as the wind grew stronger and stronger, as she came forward her hair flew back.
Asad let out a gasp as he shot up from his dream 'Zoya' he whispered to himself as he tried to control his erratic heart beat. In his sweaty and dizzy state he jumped out of bed and ran to the table where he pulled out a paper and pencil. Asad started sketching on page after page, the reams of paper that were scattered were filled with shapes of eyes, different nose, lips, eyebrows. He had drawn out every part of her face he could remember.
In the morning Zack went to Asad's room to wake him up. As he entered the room he stopped 'what the...' He found Asad sleeping on the floor in what looked like a paper storm 'Asad...Asad wake up' Asad opened his eyes 'hey...is it morning already?' 'Yes it is...Asad what is all this?' He asked as he picked up a few sheets 'Zack...I need help putting all these together to make her face?' Zack looked at him oddly 'whose face?' 'Zoya's' 'you stayed up half the night trying to put a face together?' 'No...yes...I mean look you won't understand...just point me in the right direction' 'of course, well the bathroom is that way, go and shower' he said pointing behind him 'and the breakfast table is that way' he said pointing his other hand towards the door. Asad raised his eyebrow at him 'was that supposed to be funny?' 'What...you asked me to point in the right direction...so I am pointing...hurry up we leave in half hour'.
Asad and Zack walked in to see Zoya who sat comfortably in her bed talking to Suzy 'good morning' Zack said 'good morning' they both said in unison 'how are you feeling?' 'Still a little tired...but other than that am ok' 'good...Suzy, can you please get me Zoya's test results' 'yes doctor' 'Zoya, I have booked you for surgery tomorrow morning, I will be leading on it with Asad, I am hoping we won't have to operate more than twice...after which we will work on the scarring' 'h...how long will it take?' 'How long each surgery will take, I don't know anything in the region of 2-4 hours, the healing process and dealing with the scarring will take a lot longer, anything up to a year' Zoya gulped, holding her hand up to her face she looked towards Asad 'a year...I will look like this?' Asad stepped closer 'no you won't...it will be a new you Zoya, but for it to heal it will take time...don't worry, you are in the best hands possible...Allah will make it all ok'.
Whilst Zack stayed with Zoya Asad went to meet with a professional artist who helped him work on the images he had made, after a long three hours he came back to Asad and showed him what he had. Asad took the piece of paper and looked at it, he felt his whole body break out in to a shiver 'it's her...this girl, it's her' he said. The picture before him was that of the girl who had been giving him sleepless nights for so many months, it was Zoya.
Before he returned home with Zack, Asad's went to see Zoya 'did you have something to eat, you know you can't eat anything after 10' 'yes, Suzy made me have a little food earlier' 'that's good...I know you are nervous, but you don't need to be' 'nervous...no, petrified, yes' Asad let out a little laugh as she did too.
'Zoya do you believe in destiny?' 'How do you mean?' 'I don't know...I mean like Allah brings people into our lives for a reason, like there is a bigger picture or plan...that He shows us signs of what is to come' 'I really don't know Dr Khan...why do you ask?' 'No reason...just something I was wondering...anyway, you get some rest I will see you tomorrow' 'no' Zoya almost shouted out 'I mean can you stay...for a little while...it would help me' Asad sat back down again 'sure'.
'After tomorrow, will you go back...to India?' 'Yes, I will have to...but don't worry Zack will be here to look after you, I will come back after your second surgery, in a couple of months' 'so long...I think I will go pagal being in here all that time' 'it's the best place for you...and you don't have to confine yourself to these walls, you can venture out' 'with this face...everyone will look at me like I am a freak' Zoya lowered her head, instinctively Asad placed his hand over hers 'you are not a freak Zoya, you are a brave girl who has suffered something so unfortunate, so horrific...the tunnel may be long but there is light at the end of it' 'you are a really nice person Dr Khan...it won't matter how many times I say thank you it will never be enough' 'we have already had this conversation and I distinctly remember telling you not to thank me' even though Asad couldn't see her lips he knew she was smiling as her eyes sparkled.
Asad and Zoya spent the next two hours talking, making each other laugh and really enjoying each other's company 'it really would have been great to have met you under different circumstances Zoya' 'yes it would have' keeping their eyes locked a strange silence took over, neither of them could bring themselves to look away or say anything.
'I think I should let you sleep' Asad said standing up 'I will see you in the morning' Zoya nodded 'sweet dreams Dr Khan' Asad gave her a faint smile as he turned around and walked out.
Edited by Saima-Syed - 10 years ago
CID
4