SS - Desert Rose #3: COMPLETED Pg 25 - Page 4

Chapter 29

Ali slumped himself on the sofa 'can I get you a coffee?' 'I wouldn't mind a lemon tea' 'sure, make yourself comfortable'.

As Zoya disappeared into the kitchen Ali started walking around her apartment admiring the little things she as set out. She looked at the pictures and then the page three picture of the two of them from Farhaan's wedding 'I can't believe you framed this' he called out' 'framed what?' 'Our picture' 'are you serious...come-on the only time I make it in a newspaper, you think I am not going to frame it' Ali laughed to himself as he continued to look around. As he walked past her coffee table he knocked over a number of newspapers and unopened letters 'crap'.

Ali picked them all up 'what happened?' 'Nothing...I mean I knocked your letters over' 'that's ok...they probably need to be binned' 'but you haven't opened any of them' 'Ali, most of them are probably junk mail...leave them' Ali was about to put the letter down when he caught sight of one 'St Luca Hospital, Costa Rica, is this junk mail too?'

Zoya took the letter from his hand 'oh...I must have missed this one' 'you were in hospital?' 'No...I mean yes, I had a fall and twisted my ankle...it's probably just a courtesy letter' 'Zoya open it' 'Ya Allah...if you are so bothered you open it'.

Ali opened the letter and read through it, looking up he made Zoya stop what she was doing 'you had a blood test whilst you were there?' 'Did I...oh yeah I did...why?' 'Because these are the results of your test' 'oh...all ok?' Zoya was about to turn around when she saw Ali's pupils dilate 'what wrong?'

Ali took a step closer to her and then took her hand into his 'Zoya...it says you need another blood test' Zoya started laughing 'Ya Allah...Ali...is that all, I can get one next week' 'No...Zoya I think you should get one soon, the hospital would not have advised one if they didn't think there was an urgent need for one...Zoya this was months ago and you...I can't believe you don't open your post'

With a lot of persuasion and borderline arguing Ali managed to drag Zoya to get a blood test. Coming out she looked at him with narrowed eyes 'are you happy now' 'Yes, thank you' 'this is the last time you play doctor doctor with me you hear' 'I hear...when can we get the results?' 'How am I supposed to know' 'Ya Allah...seriously Zoya...wait here let me go and speak to the doctor' As Ali went in Zoya text Karan and Ammar to let them know.

Ali went inside and introduced himself, as they got talking Zoya waited patiently outside 'come on, what is taking you so long' 'Zoya...can you wait for another half hour the test result will be here' 'I wish I had gone out with Karan instead...you are impossible' she said sitting back on the seat. Taking in a deep breath Ali sat down next to her 'Karan...you two seem quite close' Zoya sat up and turned around to face him 'yes...we are...Ali me and Karan...we...' just then the doctor came back out 'Zoya...Ali, we managed to prioritise your results, they have just come through'

Ali and Zoya sat down opposite the doctor and waited as he read through the reports 'can I have a look?' Ali asked, the doctor looked up at him and passed him the reports. As Ali read through them his whole body started to tremble he turned towards Zoya with moist eyes 'wh...what' she asked as she felt her heart stop beating. Ali looked back at the doctor 'Zoya...what Ali has there is a report...a report that confirms what your original blood test results showed' 'a...and what was that' Ali took Zoya's hand in his. Zoya looked down at his hand and then pulled it away Ali you are scarring me what is it'

As Zoya stood up and stepped away Ali closed his eyes and in one breath told Zoya what was wrong. Zoya spun around with her eyes wide open 'what did you say?' 'Zoya, we need to do an MRI' 'no...you are not doing anything' she said 'Zoya please...please' 'He is right Zoya, you need to have this done, I have checked your records...you have a private medical policy, which means we can get the scan done as soon as tomorrow' Zoya looked towards Ali and then hugged him, Ali tried to calm her down 'its ok Zoya...please don't cry...it will be ok'. Zoya pulled back and wiped her tears 'no one finds out about his...Ali promise me not Ammar, not Bhaijaan...and definitely not Karan' Ali looked at her 'Karan...Ali...Karan is not only my friend...' Zoya went on to tell Ali everything about her and Karan, as much as it pained him he was still happy for her, in all the time he had spent with Zoya he had developed strong feelings for her 'I promise you Zoya no one will find out...but you promise me one thing...you let me stay with you, take care of you...I know what I need to do to help you...and after the MRI...Zoya at some point you will need to tell your family...tell Karan he has a right to know'

By the time Zoya had cleaned her face and walked out she saw Ammar and Karan run towards her 'shit...I forgot I told them' 'its ok Zoya...let me handle it' As soon as Karan approached her enveloped her in his arms 'Zoya what's wrong...what happened Ali?' 'Its nothing Karan, Zoya forgot to open one of her letters...she told me she had a bblood test in Costa Rica...it was just to get the results of that' 'and...is it all ok?' 'she needs a little extra iron...nothing a few extra tablets wont fix'.

Karan sighed in relief, he took Zoya's face in his 'what are you like...Zoya please look after yourself...I can't be there all the time' 'I know...I promise to' Karan kissed her forehead and then put his arm around her, Zoya looked up towards Ali and gave him a faint smile.

The next day Zoya pretended she needed to do something to get out of going out with the rest of them. Ali met her downstairs and then accompanied her to the hospital.

As Zoya lay on the bed Ali held her hand 'don't worry, you won't feel a thing, just lie very still' 'I will' Ali cupped the side of her face and wiped away the stray tear that just escaped her eye 'Allah is with you Zoya, just keep remembering Him'.

After a long half hour Zoya finally came out 'hoe soon can we get the results, you can have them by this evening' Zoya swallowed hard 'as soon as that' 'yes, we have you on a priority list' 'ok...I guess we will come back soon'

To avoid any suspicions Zoya acted as normal as she could, she laughed, joked and danced with all of them. Hugging Karan again she looked up and kissed his chin 'you ok?' 'yes, am just tired...can you go out with these lot, I want an early night' 'you sure, I can hang with you' 'I would love that...but no...you go' 'ok' giving her a quick peck on the lips Karan let her walk off towards Anwar.

Ali had managed to get out of going citing he had a friend who wanted to catch up with him before he left, he hated lying but under the circumstances had little choice.

Zoya sat as still as she could waiting for Ali to return with the doctor. As she saw him come in she stood up and smiled at him, she really didn't need him to say anything to her. Zoya walked up to him and took his hand in hers 'how long?' Ali's eyes started to become teary 'the truth Ali' 'it's not as simple as that Zoya' 'answer my question...I know you can't cure it, you can't operate you can only control it...all I am asking is how long?' 'S...six months...but we will get a second opinion...I am so sorry' 'why Ali...is it not how it is supposed to be...you are born, you live and then you return' 'Zoya...don't' Zoya wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, as much as he cried for his friend Zoya couldn't bring herself to cry for herself.

Zoya had a deep embedded tumour in her brain, something that could never have been easily detected as there were no symptoms; it was only because of her blood test that the abnormality showed up.

Ali reluctantly let Zoya go back to her apartment, he gave her the medication the hospital had prescribed her 'Zoya please make sure you keep taking these...you don't miss a single on you understand' 'I won't...Ali, thank you so much'