SS - The Face of Love: Ch 11 Pg 69 COMPLETED - Page 7

One of the nurses was checking through her file when she noticed Zoya's fingers move, putting down her folder she walked up to her 'Zoya, can you hear me?' She called out, Zoya moaned almost trying to scream as her head banged with excruciating pain. The nurse ran to the phone and called for Asad to come down immediately.

Within minutes Asad walked through the doors and straight to her 'Zoya' he called out in a gentle voice, recognising the voice she had just heard Zoya lifted her hand and tried to reach for him, Asad took her hand into his instantly. He could see that she was beginning to hyperventilate 'Zoya...it's ok, please calm down...' he said as he tightened his hold, at the same time he started shouting out instruction to the nurse asking her to prepare various injections and IV fluids for her.

Zoya felt disorientated, she couldn't see anything, her whole body started to go numb as she felt suffocated. As the morphine kicked in her body started to relax 'it's ok Zoya, you are going to be ok...' He said as convincingly as he could. Zoya slowly lifted her left hand and touched her face 'my...face' she weeped 'you were take in for surgery, Zoya, you...your face, it was left badly disfigured...we will have to operate on you a number of time to try and put it back together...you will have to be strong Zoya and patient...this isn't going to be easy for you but hang in there...we will do everything we can to help you'

In his life time as a doctor, from the day he started training to now he had heard and seen many people cry, scream out and wail but it never affected him. For some unknown reason the way she cried made his insides constrict painfully, every tear that escaped her eye made him feel as if his own heart was being sliced apart'

'Allah...He...He is punishing me' she said, Asad started shaking his head profusely 'no...no Zoya...don't think like that. It is true that Allah tests his people in ways that will never make any sense to us but he is not punishing you, what happened is unfortunate, it is inhumane...the people responsible will not get away with this but you have to be strong...you believe in Allah, you have Imaan, hold on to that He will make it all ok'.

Asad felt the grip of her hand loosen and he knew that she had started to fall asleep with the help of the medication. Every time Asad was called back to her he found her in a similar state and every time he used strong medication to relieve her of her pain and torment.

In all the time she had been here no one had come to visit her, her friend seemed to have disappeared and there was no sign of the police either.

It had almost been three days, Asad had come down to see her again 'Dr...sorry I forgot your name' 'Dr Khan, Asad Ahmed Khan...you seem a little calmer today, it's good to see' 'but when will I see Dr Khan?' 'I will be changing your bandages, I will make sure that your eyes are not covered...Dr Sharma will also be with me to review you...we have booked in for your second surgery in 8 weeks' time...that should be long enough for you to recover' 'recover...so that I can go through all this again' she said in a saddened voice 'as painful and hard as it is Zoya it's a step in the right direction, a step towards regaining what you have lost' 'how will I ever regain that Dr Khan?' Asad knew what she was saying and feeling was right but as her doctor he needed to keep her positive.

Zoya held her breath as Asad took of her bandages 'ok Zoya, I need to open your eyes slowly, the light will hurt but your eyes will become accustomed to it' Zoya slowly opened her eyes only to close them shut again 'it's ok Zoya, in your own time' Asad said reassuring her. After a couple of attempt Zoya managed to open them, the light stung her eyes but she endured it until it started to ease off. In front of her stood two men and a nurse. She looked closely at both the men 'Asa...Dr Khan' she called out. Asad stepped forwards and gave her a smile 'that's me' Zoya looked at him, a wave of cold air washed over her making her body breakout into a shiver, she carried on looking at the man who stood before her and all she could see was an Angel, her heart felt heavy and as much as she tried to smile back she couldn't.

'Zoya, this is Dr Sharma...we are just going to examine you...is that ok?' Not being able to vocalise anything Zoya nodded. Asad and Dr Sharma looked at her face, the operation had managed to salvage a lot of it. 'Is...is it really bad?' She asked hesitantly, Asad stepped back and sucked in a breath 'nothing we won't be able to fix Zoya, what we need is a picture of you...something that will help us' 'there might be one at the hostel...but it will be old...I don't have any...unless my friend, she may have some on her phone...the boys who attacked me stole mine' Asad was about to speak to Dr Sharma when Zoya called out to him 'I don't want it back...it will never be the same Dr Khan...I also know that I can't live with these scars, this disfigurement either' Asad looked up at Dr Sharma and then back towards her 'would you like a new face...I mean it wouldn't be totally different but different enough' 'is that possible?' 'With modern science and technology Zoya anything is possible, the only thing is that we don't have all the resources here in this country, we would need to transfer you for at least two of your surgeries' 'where too?' 'To the States'. Zoya felt her heart sink 'I don't have money to pay for what you are doing now...how will I pay for anything like that?'

Asad sat down next to her 'not everything is about money Zoya, I have some very good friends in America, who owe me a lot of favours...you don't need to worry about the coat implication, all you need to do is agree' 'you...you would do that for me...why?' 'Because I am a doctor and it's what I do, to help people...but before that I am a human' 'I wish Allah put more humans like you on earth Dr Khan' Asad started smiling 'I take that as a yes then...what we will do is instead if carrying out any further procedures here we will let my colleagues over there take over' as Asad stood up Zoya placed her hand over his 'will you come with me?' 'Yes, I will...once you have settled I will come back' 'I don't know how to thank you Dr Khan' 'no need Zoya...now if you can sit up a little I will reapply the bandages'.

Over the next few days Asad made all the necessary arrangement for Zoya to be taken over as a medical case. Asad came into her room to see her dressed and ready sitting in a wheelchair 'you all set?' Ziya took in a deep breath 'I guess...I...I'm scared' 'that's good...it's a normal human reaction...but seriously you don't need to be...you have made it this far Zoya...just a few more months'.

Zoya sat next to him on the plane, with special permission they had their section cornered off, as the plane started on the runway Zoya quickly grabbed on to his hand. Asad held it gently 'close your eyes...it's ok' he whispered. Zoya tried to calm down her nerves and erratic heartbeat, it was the first time she was on anything other than rikshaw.

The flight was extremely long and tiresome, Asad tried to keep her talking, by the time they had landed they both had managed to find out so much about one another, Asad admired her courage as she had been through a lot in life, having lost her parents at a young age she struggled to survive but made it through. And Zoya was impressed by his humble and kind nature, being as wealthy and successful as he was he maintained a persona that shone, his faith in Allah, his passion for his work and to help others was really second to none.

Clearing through immigration Asad pushed Zoya through arrivals where outside an ambulance was waiting for them. The ambulance took them straight to a private hospital called The Sanctuary, that was situated in the heart of New York City.

The ambulance staff wheeled Zoya into the main hospital foyer 'wait here, I will be back in a second' Asad said 'Dr Khan' Zoya quickly said grabbing onto his forearm, Asad knelt down next to her 'I will only be gone for a few minutes Zoya, don't panic'. Asad walked up to reception to book Zoya in and also ask to see the doctor that was going to take over the case.

As Asad waited he heard his name being called out. Asad smiled showing of his perfect white teeth as he turned around 'I can't believe it...you really are here' Asad stepped forward and took his best friend into his arms and hugged him 'Zack, man it is so good to see you...how have you been?' 'Very well, now that you are here even better...Amina has been going crazy since I told her you were coming' 'I can't wait to see her...is she not working today?' 'She is, she has gone to the City Hospital to help out with a couple of surgeries' 'come I want you to meet Zoya'.

Asad walked up to Zoya with Zack 'Zack this is Zoya, and Zoya this is Zack. My best friend and one of the best surgeons...after me of course' Zoya let out a little laugh as Zack hit him over the head. Zack held his hand out 'nice meeting you Zoya, I can assure you that as immature and silly we may come across we do take our work seriously...come let's show you to your room'.

Zoya could hardly believe her eyes, the room was huge. In crystal white everything sparkled, there was a huge bed, a big comfy chair, and ensuite bathroom and a beautiful arrangement of flowers in a cabinet near her beds 'wow...compare this to our hospital rooms' she said. Asad raised an eyebrow 'I have you know our hospital bed and wards are nice too' 'yes they are nice Dr Khan I agree...but not out of this world like this' Asad chuckled 'no, I guess not'.

Hey Sis,

Just read the second part and cant agree more with Zoe. Asad really is an Angel in disguise of a human being. What he has done and is doing for Zoe deserves so much appreciation. I wish too that more people like him were present on earth. It would have been a lot better place to live.

What Zoe has gone through is terrible and inhumane. It should never happen to anyone. I really hope the beasts behind this attack on her are punished severely. The impact all this has caused Zoe is deep. Her saying that she wouldn't regain everything that she has lost even after all the procedures done to save her and her not wanting the same face again says a lot. I hope she is able to come out of the trauma.

I really appreciate how Asad tried to instill hope and faith in her when she was in low spirits. He truly is a wonderful human being. If it was someone else in his place, they might have not felt it neccessary to talk to her or comfort her but he did. Plus all the arrangements that he did single handedly for her again emphasises on his good nature.

Zoe found him resembling an Angel, no yummylicious here? ;) She has started to depend on him, hasnt she? She does trust him at least. Hmm. Its da beginning only, lets see what paths unfold themselves for them.

Okayyy.. heres comes my Zack. Seriously u've made me fall in love with him with your work. I always look forward to see him in Asad's life playing a different role each time but an integral one. Lets see what he has to do here besides being the second best surgeon, lol. He seems friendly and approachable here just on his first meet. Hope Zoe settles in easily with his help.

Sis, am waiting super eagerly for the next part. Plz post it soonish.

Love ya.. infinitely.