Chapter 10.
The sound of dried leaves and twigs being rustled and trees swaying to the tunes of wind filled the otherwise eerily silent narrow path. Upon walking further on the track, it opened up to a clearing with a small lake used by the villagers. Zoya softly pressed Rano's palm that was in her hold to stop for a moment to appreciate the sight before her. The water sparkled as sunshine reflected of its surface. The clear water showed various shades of brown and black rocks underneath. It gushed through its carved channel separating the village from the wild, dense outgrown plantation at the other side. As far as her sight went she found the land covered in long green grass with sporadic burst of blooms in yellow and orange; showing no sign of the withering season they had faced recently. It would have been a perfect camping site had it been more accessible. She knew this would have been undoubtedly a hit with the gang; all of them were nature lovers. Being away for the past week from home and everyone in general, ever since she returned, made her yearn for them and for things to go back to normal so that they could enjoy being around each other like before.
"Acha laga na Didi?" Zoya jolted out of her reverie hearing a soft voice from her left.
"Acha nahin, bohat acha laga Rano."
"Mujhe pata tha ap ko acha lagay ga. Mujhe bhi yeh jagah bohat pasand hai. Main yahan apni Maa ke saath aati thi. Wo pani bharte huey mujhe parion ki kahani sunati thi." Rano smiled remembering the few good moments of her life. She was a ten year old orphan living with her paternal aunt, her only living relative. Rano was a free spirited and bubbly girl who spread happiness all around her. Despite losing both her parents at a young age and then her eyesight due to an illness, she was a bundle of joy. Zoya knelt down to her level and admired Rano for her strength and positivity. Destiny's cruel tests couldn't put out the flicker of hope in her chest nor the desire to live. She had accepted this darkness around her as a phase and adjusted to live accordingly. Whoever said that if God closed one gate He opened others, was true. Rano might not be able to see but she compensated it with her hightened sense of touch, smell and taste. She marvelled at how expertly Rano described their surroundings and guided them back to the base. Seeing her made Zoya more positive and determined to gain Asad's affections once more. With Rano constantly chatting and her lost in her own dreams they missed the hissing sound approaching them until it was too late. Zoya winced as something pricked her foot and what she saw made her head spin before she dropped to her knees.
Asad angrily swept a hand through his hair that clung to his forehead as he dribbled the ball through the court aiming to shoot a basket but scored none, once again. He dropped to his knees as all his attempts proved fruitless for the past hour. His sweat drenched body and aching muscles were proof enough of the physical strain he had put his body throughout the morning. He had risen way before everyone even after having slept for a few hours and headed out thinking that would distract him. He didn't know what bothered him so much, could be the lack of sleep he tried to reason but the nagging feeling in his heart said otherwise. He had called all his friends and family to make sure they were fine; except one.
Asad groaned holding his head in his head as worry for Zoya's safety clawed at his heart. He kept repeating he was being unreasonable, to convince himself, she was fine or so she had texted last night. The sudden darkness alarmed Asad and he looked around taking in his surroundings for the first time. The sun hid behind patches of metallic grey, as they covered the dull blue sky, robbing the earth of its luminosity. The air was warm and thick with humidity, all indicating towards the brewing storm. The weather matched his mood totally. He walked out of the court deciding to make himself useful somewhere before he went mad trying to pin point what was amiss.
Rahul watched Asad climb down the ladder after tying up strings of pink and purple balloons on the walls. They were decorating the cafeteria for Roshni's farewell party. Roshni was a permanent patient in Shifa for the past one year; diagnosed with cancer. Her illness could be treated overseas but the lack of funds hindered her from travelling. Her family could hardly afford the expenses here so going abroad was out of the question. Few days back her case was discussed by one of her attending doctors over a meal which Asad had shared with them. He had listened very attentively and by the end of the day had arranged everything required for her travel and treatment single handedly. To say Rahul was impressed would be an understatement. Asad's gesture had touched his heart along with everybody else's. He was now more than sure that there had been a mistake on Zoya's part in hearing that night or circumstances forced him to say those words. A man who could go beyond his way to help a stranger would in no way harm the one person he adored, deliberately. Rahul showed a thumbs up as a colleague asked about the music from the other end of the cafeteria. This party was a surprise planned from all of them for Roshni, who was leaving tomorrow. His gaze went back to Asad who pinned a confetti filled balloon to the roof just above the centre table. Rahul was worried for him as he had been unusually quiet throughout the day, keeping to himself. The only times they spoke, Asad kept asking if Zoya had called or messaged again. He would have blamed it as his anxiousness to meet her after a long time were it not for the concern and fear reflecting in his eyes. Rahul had assured him Zoya was fine as best as he could and that she would be with them by end of the next day but it had done little to soothe him down. He joined the others in lining the tables against the walls before they headed to change for the party.
Roshni blew out the candles on the cake and cut it amongst claps and cheers all the while holding Mittu, her dear teddy bear, close to her chest. A smile never left her lips as she interacted with everyone around her, accepting gifts and wishes. Rahul laughed at a joke as he received a call from an anonymous number. His brows furrowed and expressions changed to serious as he heard the person on line. He excused himself and rushed out not agreeing to believe what he heard but indeed it was the truth; one that shook him. He briefed the doctors on duty to be prepared to deal with the accident. He stayed out in the gardens, no longer in any mood to celebrate, talk or even fake a smile, trying to absorb the news and gather himself to face the situation. At one point he had almost gone in to inform Asad but held back thinking it would do no good to them. He was already at the verge of collapsing with the number of rounds he had taken around the court in tension and didn't have it in him to handle Asad who he was sure would panic, to put it lightly. Rahul stopped and pondered about Asad's strange behaviour the whole day and his eyes widened realizing that his instinct or the connection he shared with Zoya had warned him of a mishap beforehand.
Asad breathed deeply trying to erase the suffocation he felt inside the cafeteria but to no avail. He smiled for everyone to see and continued to mingle trying to seek comfort in the lively atmosphere around him. He took Rahul's absence as his excuse to flee from there when he could no longer fool himself or play a joker in the party. A thick coat of mist hung low in the air making it difficult to see things in the distance but he was sure dark charcoal clouds spanned over the horizon at the moment. He tried looking around for Rahul and located him at the court across the road but as soon as he took a step forward a van screeched to halt in front of him. Two doctors jumped out shouting for a stretcher as they tried to help the patient out. Asad felt the earth shift beneath his feet as he heard the patient's name. The sight of pale and unconscious Zoya took him back to the incident nine years back at his house where she had slipped down the stairs. He stood rooted to his spot as his heart stopped momentarily before thumping heavily in fear. Rahul's urgent pleas for help snapped him out of the daze. He bent down to pick Zoya in his arms being careful of her injury and carried her inside the hospital. Asad could hear Rahul briefing the on duty doctors about the situation but he couldn't make out a word. His gaze was fixed on Zoya's face which grew paler by second. He had been anxious for their meeting but never had he imagined it to be under such conditions. Rahul's grip on his elbow guided him to an opt where things were ready making him question about the situation for the first time but he couldn't voice his doubts as his throat was clogged with a lump of emotions. He lowered Zoya on the bed and straightened her swollen feet slowly examining the wound. His breath hitched seeing the two punctured marks of a snake bite on her ankle. Asad refused to budge when the doctors asked him to leave and could hear Rahul do the same thing.
"Come Asad, we're delaying her treatment. We'll wait outside." Rahul removed her palm from his hand and pulled him out reluctantly.
Asad felt emptiness embrace him as the distance between Zoya and him increased. He slipped down on the floor just beside the opt being unable to hold himself up any longer. Wariness and fear crept inside his heart making him restless but there was not a single thing he could do to change or amend the situation. An hour flew by with the nurses rushing in and out without giving them a word about Zoya's current state. The loud pitter patter on the roof indicated the arrival of the much anticipated storm. To Asad it felt as if the heaven itself was shedding tears and nature mirrored the condition of his heart which bled profusely and cried out for its beloved.
After two more hours the doctor finally stepped out of the ward. Rahul and Asad were on their feet in an instant and rushing towards him.
"We've given the required treatment but nothing can be said about her condition clearly unless she regains conciousness." The doctor informed them.
"What do you mean by that? You are the doctor whose treating her, you surely would know about her condition precisely." Asad said narrowing his eyes at the young doctor.
"All I can tell you now is that she's critical. Several hours have passed since the time she was bit. It should have been treated right away but the delay can cause complications for her. What really astonishes me is why Dr. Farooqui ventured out? She should have been aware of stray, wild animals beforehand and stayed away from such spots. Anyway we'll have to wait and see if she makes through it or not?" The doctor shrugged nonchalantly as if he had no care for his patient.
"How dare you say that?" Asad fisted the doctor's coat and jerked him harshly.
"I only said the truth Mr. Khan." The doctor replied with fake confidence though he trembled with fear internally being the target of Asad's death glare. He was thankful when Rahul pulled a raging mad Asad back.
"Is that how you treat your patients Dr. Akram?" The three of them looked back to find Dr. Masood, dean of Shifa, standing there with displeasure written clearly over his face.
"No.." Akram started to say something but Asad cut him with a peircing glare.
"Dr. Masood, if this is how all the doctors here are, I'm going to fly Zoya out to Delhi or Mumbai or anywhere where she can be treated properly. I won't tolerate such behaviour at any cost." Asad said marching towards the old doctor angrily.
"Us ki koi zaroorat nahin paray gi Asad, I assure you. Dr. Shah is arriving now, he'll take the charge. Rahul, although we don't allow doctors to treat their relatives, I'll let this be an exception. You can assist Dr. Shah. As for you Dr. Akram, I want you in my office right now." Dr. Masood said firmly.
"Remember this well, I don't want you stepping anywhere near this department till Zoya is here." Asad said gripping Akram's shoulder in a death grip.
"I'm sorry Sir. Asad is never like this but Dr. Akram's words just provoked him to react like that. He's really protective of Zoya." Rahul said turning to his senior as Asad walked to the window.
"It's ok. Tell me one thing, how are Zoya and Asad related?"
"Sir, he's my sister, Inaaya's brother in law and a close friend of Zoya."
"Oh so she is Angel. Now I know why Dilshaad and Rashid are so fond of her, she is a sweetheart. I didn't know you two worked for him. I wasn't informed but again then Asad has been away for quiet a long time so I still am waiting to be updated about the progress there."
"Sir, do you know Asad personally?" Rahul asked confused.
"Oh yes. He's my sister Dilshaad's son. We would have met at the wedding if I hadn't given it a miss due to bad health." Dr. Masood stayed with Zoya till Dr. Shah arrived.
"Asad we should inform at home now. What do you say?" Rahul said drawing Asad's attention to him for the first time since they visited Zoya. He felt remorse over not thinking about him. He was going through the same thing, his sister was fighting for life and here he was lost in his own internal turmoil not giving anyone else a thought.
"I.. I'm sor..ry." Asad rasped in a thick, broken voice.
"I understand." He truly did. Rahul had experienced first hand what it was like to see a loved one suffer through an ailment at a young age. No matter what the relationship; the pain remained intense. Rahul had seen Asad fighting desperately to not break down seeing Zoya attached to the tubes and machines. He had seen him folding hands in prayer while an errant tear rolled out of his eyes. His heart went out to him, he wanted to reach out and assure him all would be fine but it wasn't in his hands.
"I think we should only tell Hassan and Eesa for now because worrying Inaaya in this condition would not be good." Rahul nodded in agreement before pulling out his cell to make the calls.
"Rahul.. I wanted to.. Ask.." Asad hesitated to complete his sentence not knowing how he would react.
"You can stay Asad." Rahul said while putting the chart on the stand.
"Did you just say what I think you did?" He asked bewildered.
"Mhmm."
"I don't think two visitors are allowed at night at the same time." He frowned.
"How about you stay as her family and I as her doctor, it'll work, won't it?" Rahul wiggled his eyebrows making a small smile touch Asad's lips.
"Thank you for everything." Asad said earnestly moving to take his seat besides Zoya. He carefully lifted her hand and entwined with his, silently pleading her to wake up. Rahul knew the gratitude wasn't meant only for tonight. He understood their silent communication too. He raised his eyes towards the skies pleading God to have mercy on his little sister and to reunite the two innocent lovers separated by a twist of fate.
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