AsYa SS - To Live Again: Ch 17 & 18 Pg 73 COMPLETED - Page 7

Originally posted by: suearmaniac

haan di mai bohat happy hu
ek kaam aur karo ayesha aur mayur ko b dedicate kr dena
ye dono ko b dedication chaiye aapse

Two

Zoya had lost all sense of time; the only thing that was apparent was day or night due to the rising and falling of the sun. Aisha came in to see her 'Zoya...Zoya' she called out looking around her room, putting down the tray she was holding Aisha went to look for her in the bathroom but she was not there either 'Ya Allah, where has she gone' she said to herself in a panic. Aisha called out for her as she ran back outside, Asad and Ayla stood up seeing her 'Aunty what happened?' Ayla said 'Zoya...she is not in her room...where is she?' Ayla looked back at Asad 'we will find her, she must be around here somewhere...Ayla come with me' Asad said trying to reassure her.

Ayla looked around with Aisha 'Aunty let me check downstairs...Bhaijaan is out in the garden'. Asad walked around looking for her 'come on where are you?' he whispered to himself, just as he turned around to go back he saw her curled up against the back fence in the corner.

Seeing her sitting there like that pained him, he didn't know, had never met her but the pain he felt was for his brother and even if it was for a few hours she was his wife. As such a young age she had suffered the worst fate, he slowly approached, kneeling down a few feet away he extended his hand but then stopped. Fisting his hand he retracted it 'Zoya' he whispered, Zoya slowly lifted her head to see him sitting before her, her eyes were bright red and face swollen 'please come back inside everyone is worried for you'.

At the same time Ayla and Aisha came out to see her 'Zoya' Aisha called out then ran to sit next to her. Asad stood up and took a few steps back 'Ayla, help Aunty bring Zoya back inside, I will get Ammi'

It had been almost a week, where the rest of the family started to come to terms with their loss and support one another, Zoya kept herself locked up in her room, in total silence. Her deteriorating physical and mental health was becoming an increasing concern for everyone.

'Aisha, maybe you should take Zoya back home with you...just for a few days' Sameena said 'I can take her home now as I am still here, but when I go back to the US next week, then what. Sameena, I would like to take Zoya back to America with me...if that is ok with you?' Sameena started to cry 'this is not how it was supposed to be, all my dreams and hopes have been shattered...Aisha, as much as I want Zoya to stay here with me and my family I can understand...if you would like her to return to America with you, then you can. We will not stop you...but please remember she is still our daughter'. Aisha wiped her tears and gave her a heart-warming smile 'thank you, I will talk to Zoya'.

Later that evening Ayla went to call Zoya 'Bhabhi, will you not come out and join us for dinner...please' her voice was pleading. Zoya looked up to meet her moist eyes, Ayla was only a few years younger than her but looked so childlike 'I...I really am not hungry' 'I promise I won't force you to eat...just for a little while' Zoya couldn't continue to say no to her, she slowly stood up which made Ayla smile 'come, let's go'.

Sameena held her face gently and kissed her forehead 'would you like something to eat' Zoya shook her head 'a glass of milk at least, you haven't eaten all day Zoya, just a little' Sameena insisted, Zoya reluctantly nodded 'just a little' she whispered. Zoya sat down at the table, one by one everyone joined her 'Ayla can you please call Asad out' 'yes Ammi'. Asad came out of his room and stopped pleasantly surprised to see her sitting there, he hadn't seen her since he found her in the garden.

Asad walked around the table and sat in the empty chair next to her 'Zoya...there is something me and your Khala wanted to talk to you about' Zoya who had just taken a small sip from her glass put it down and looked directly at Sameena 'Zoya, we thought it would be a good idea that you go back with Aisha...for as little or long a period you want to' Zoya hitched breath, she looked at her Khala who was smiling at her 'Zoya I am going back next week, I will book your ticket tomorrow morning' Zoya felt heavy hearted she couldn't voice what she was thinking or feeling. Asad noticed her lips quiver as if she was on the verge of crying but before he could say anything Zoya pushed her chair back and walked off towards her room.

Aisha followed her 'Zoya...what happened, why did you walk off beta? Do you not want to go back home' Zoya turned around, trying not to break out into sobs she looked at Aisha 'they don't...they don't want me...they blame me...I stepped foot into his life and he...he died...this is all my fault, those ladies were right I am a curse...they don't want the girl who is responsible for their sons' death to live with them' Zoya covered her face with her hands and started crying.

Her words and her cries didn't just shatter Aisha but also the people who stood by the door. Sameena stepped forwards leaving Asad and Ayla by the doorway 'Zoya...beta is that what you really think...no...no Zoya. What happened was not your fault, you are not a curse...don't you ever think or say that again...what happened was what Allah had willed for us, Raheem left never to come back because it was his time to go, just like one day it will be our time to go...Zoya you are my daughter, a part of this family and always will be...we were just concerned about your health...we thought that maybe by going back home you would be able to start returning to a little normalcy' Zoya looked up at Sameena and quickly wrapped her arms around her crying out even more pain filled tears.

'I am so sorry Aunty...I didn't mean to...I just...' Sameena held her face and shook her head 'I am your Ammi Zoya, not Aunty...beta if you don't want to go we will never force you to...this is your home...' Zoya placed her hand over Sameena's and leaned further into her touch 'Ammi...I want to stay here...I want to stay with you'.

Sameena hugged her once more, stroking the back of her head she told her that there was nothing that would make her happier. The smile that Sameena adorned was also one that Ayla and Asad had, they were also happy that Zoya had decided to stay back to be a part of them