One
Zoya sat like a lifeless statue midst a group of ladies she had never met before; they cried and wailed around her tearing apart her already shattered soul.
They screamed out in pain looking at the body covered in a shroud that lay before them, the body of a young man who had everything to live for, a man whose life was mercilessly cut short at the hands of a drunken driver.
The man who lay before Zoya was none other than that of Raheem Khan, Zoya's husband.
Zoya looked down at her hands that had been beautifully decorated with henna, fisting her hands she closed her eyes that could bare to see no more. How ill could anyone's fate be, how damned could anyone's life be more than the girl who lost her husband the very same day she married him.
Zoya's marriage was arranged to Raheem by her Khala, the only blood relation she had left. Having lost her parents at a young age Aisha, her mother's only sister adopted her and took her back to America with her. Raheem was one of three children and the eldest of Sameena and Feroze Khan.
'Can you believe it...the girl must be cursed, a bad omen...the minute she stepped foot into this house...look what happens' Zoya tried to blank out the crude comments that some of the elderly ladies were making. Having heard their inappropriate remarks Sameena stood up 'life and death is in the hands of Allah...if you have come here to make idle chit chat then please leave...don't make a mockery of my sons...death' Sameena broke down as she spoke. Ayla, her youngest daughter quickly ran up to her 'Ammi, please...come and sit down'.
It wasn't long before the men came in to take Raheem to the mosque for his funeral and then to his final resting place. The cries intensified as Raheem's body was lifted, Zoya felt her insides painfully explode over and over again. One of Raheem's aunts helped her stand up as she struggled to move, Zoya looked up one last time at him as he was taken away, she wanted to call out, scream out but nothing escaped her lips. Her eyes burnt as they tried to cry but she couldn't, Zoya felt her heart constrict and with it her airways started to narrow. She held onto her chest as she tried to breath, at the same time Aisha managed to see her fight with herself 'Zoya' she called out panic ridden but before she could reach her Zoya collapsed.
The whole house started to crumble, Sameena and Ayla who stood in the door way shedding painful tears turned around to see Zoya on the floor with Aisha repeatedly hitting her face. 'Zoya' Sameena whispered, Sameena and Ayla ran up to her 'Zoya...Zoya beta utho...Zoya' Sameena cried out 'Ya Allah...why are you testing us like this...Ayla...doctor...call someone...hurry' Ayla nodded and quickly went to call a doctor.
'Is she ok?' Aisha asked the doctor as he stood up 'with what has happened, her body went into shock, it will take time for her to recover...she should be awake soon, I will prescribe some medication, if you can ensure she takes it on time'.
Ayla followed the doctor out leaving Sameena and Aisha with Zoya 'I still don't get it...why Aisha...my son...the day that should have been the happiest day of his life, her life...their life... it's all gone...' Sameena sobbed uncontrollably as Aisha tried to comfort her 'when life is given we rejoice and as soon as it is taken we lose ourselves...I don't think there is anything I can say that would be able to help anyone make sense of what has happened, nothing will take away the pain, the suffering, the void that we have all been left with...look at this room Sameena, this was where she was going to start her life with Raheem, the flowers the decorations...they...they mean nothing now...you managed to stop those women from talking once...but how many more times will you stop them...my Zoya...Sameena she is not a bad omen, she is not a curse' Aisha let out a soul crushing scream as she cried for her Zoya, who in every respect was her daughter.
Sameena quickly hugged her 'my Imaan is greater than them...Zoya stepped foot into this house as my daughter Aisha, and she will forever remain...I promise you...please believe me' Aisha nodded as words failed her 'if you want her to return...come back...' 'No...never, she is my daughter; our daughter...Zoya is a part of this house, this family...' Sameena's words were cut short as Ayla came back into the room 'Ammi, they are back'.
Sameena took in a deep breath, she walked outside to see Feroze being held by a few people, he looked up at his wife with tears that pierced right through her, she ran into his arms and cried out for her son, who was never going to come back.
Zoya woke up feeling disorientated, she looked around unable to recognise her room, a room she only stepped foot into yesterday. The room that was decorated with fresh flowers and sparkling tinsel stood bare, Zoya felt as if the four walls around her started to close in, she felt suffocated, fisting her hands she opened her mouth to call out for Aisha. Her voice came out as a muffled cry 'Kha...Khal...' Zoya stood up as she continued to try, the room had started to spin around her, with one last push she managed to scream out 'Kahla'.
Her high pitched fear filled scream made everyone jump, they all ran in and as soon as they did they saw Zoya fall to the floor. Before Zoya hit the marble floor her limp body was caught and pulled up, Sameena sighed out in relief 'Ya Khuda...Ayla...please get Iram to get some water' Zoya sat down resting her head against the chest of the person who held her so securely 'Ammi, water' Ayla said holding the glass out. Zoya felt wetness against her dried lips, with her eyes still closed she managed to take a few sips, as the water moistened her insides she slowly opened her eyes.
Zoya looked around her to see concerned faces that were glued to her, realising the position she was in she slowly looked up to see a pair of hazel eyes look back at her. Zoya jerked her body back and pushed herself away from this stranger who sat there holding her so close. She looked back at Aisha and Sameena almost gasping 'Zoya...no need to be scared beta this is Raheem's younger brother...he just got here a short while ago...then we heard you scream...Zoya this is Asad'.
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