Meanwhile In the Corridor -
Zoya was taking slow hesitant steps around the hospital corridors to go meet Dilshad secretly without bumping into Asad at any corner. She rounded one corner from where she spotted him sitting in a waiting room and heard his voice and she immediately retracted her steps, her face paling. As she retracted her steps someone nearly walked right into her and made her lose her balance but before she could fall backwards their hand shot out to grab her.
Ayaan - (chuckled) Woah Pari, watch it! Aise choron ki tarha kya chupti phir rahee ho? (He frowned seeing her pale and slightly frazzled expression and his grip on her tightened) Hey...pari? You okay? (Zoya finally looked up at him and she still looked lost, scared and shaken up and he became genuinely worried and so he hugged her to his chest kissing the top of her head) Hey, come on..theres nothing to worry about anymore..its all okay now. Dilshad Aunty is perfectly okay...ab ghabrane ki koi baat nahin hai...(he moved her back and Zoya tried to force a smile but it came off as a gimmick) hey tell you what. I'm going out to grab some food why don't you come with me..the fresh air will help.
Zoya - (with a heavy heart...Asads furious eyes still fresh before her eyes) actually Ayaan...will you take me home? (Ayaan's eyes naturally narrowed suspiciously, Dilshad Aunty was in the hospital and Zoya wanted to go home?) I..I don't feel well. You know...hospitals and...(closed her eyes as Asads face flashed before her eyes again) gunshots they bring back painful memories...of..(and actually her voice cracked because of Asad but Ayaan mistook it for the excuse she gave him) Faizan Bhai. (Ayaan nodded his face at once becoming sympathetic for her) I'll message Aisha Aapi. She'll understand. (Ayaan nodded, pulling her into a tight hug once again)
On the other end of the hospital - Aisha turned around from the water cooler after setting her glass down when she finally came face to face with the one person she was trying to avoid and as she did she immediately took two steps back just as he took one desperate one towards her and her eye's that had finally dried filled with tears again..
Aahil - Aisha please..please don't walk away please listen to me Aisha..ek baat meri baat sun lo ple-
Aisha - Mujhe KUCH nahin sunna hai Aahil..jo kuch mujhe sunna tha aur samajhna tha main sunn chuki hoon
Aahil - (took another step towards her and she again took two back) Wohee toh main tumhe bolna chahta hoon Aisha tumne jo sunna woh..sach nahin tha Aisha tumhe kuch ghalat fehmi hui hai please ek baar meri baat sun lo a- (Aisha stared at him incredulously)
Aisha - GHALAT FEHMI? (shook her head) Nahin I'm sure mujhe jo koi bhi ghalat fehmi thi woh door ho chuki hai...
Aahil - Aisha-
Aisha - (held up a fierce hand, shaking her head) BAS! Bas Aahil..bauhat hogaya. Tum already mera bauhat mazaaq bana chuke ho, bauhat insult kar chuke ho...please ab aur sehne ki himmat nahin hai mujhmein
Aahil - (shook his head desperately, desperate for her to just hear him out once, just trust him this ONCE) Nahin Aisha-
Aisha - Aahil, Kya tum yeh keh sakte ho ke yeh jaante aur samajhte hue ke tumhara kissi aur ladki saath rishta pakka ho chukka tha, tumhari engagement teh ho chukki thi..shaadi hone waali thi tum iss sabke hote hue bhi mere saath flirt nahin kar rahe the? Kaho. Ek baar keh do ke tumne aisa nahin kiya and I swear main sab kuch bhool jaane ko tayaar hoon...(she watched with a broken heart as Aahil opened his mouth to say something and immediately shut it, lowering his gaze ashamedly and guiltily having nothing more to say and Aisha blinked her eyes trying to remove her tears)
Aisha - That's what I thought. (Shook her head) Main yeh kabhi nahin bhool sakti Aahil that you tried to use me as (shook her head, brokenly and disgustedly) time pass or..a fling whilst getting engaged to a different girl. (Scoffed) I bet you had a nice laugh and ego boost each time you saw me fall for you harder (Aahil opened his mouth to try and say something, tell her it wasn't like that but again she wouldn't let him speak, she held up a defiant hand before turning away from him) Please leave me alone. My mother is recovering from a gun shot wound, my brother is around here somewhere please unke saamne koi tamasha mat karo. I don't have the strength to go through any of this...not today...(She sighed heavily, the day and its unfortunate happenings taking a heavy toll on her and Aahil sighed just as heavily and dejectedly too, not wanting to..but having no choice and really wanting to respect her request he silently walked away from her leaving Aisha to her tears and taking his own with him)
xxx
Haveli: Everyone was still waiting around the living room with baited breath since Rashid and Azlan had left waiting for their return to hear anything about Dilshad's condition. They were all praying for Dilshad's well being, health and long life, some in their hearts and some were actually praying to their Almighty (Salma, Maya, Naina). Razia and Shireen were sitting alone in a corner, with Razia eating peanuts and still watching T.V on mute whilst occasionally rolling her eyes at the entire family and Shireen too seemed to be praying just as ferociously albeit for completely different reasons. Lucky for all of them, very shaken and very broken both father and son Rashid and Azlan walked in soon enough, before any of them could have a panic attack of their own from all that anxiety and suffering. Zayn who was consoling them all was the first to spot them and seeing their shattered faces he rushed to his feet fearing the worst.
Zayn - Maamu..(turned to Azlan) Azlaaan (the words practically dying on his mouth) (Hearing him and then seeing them, they all turned towards them others like Maya, Naina, Kajol Humeira all rushing to their feet as well fearing the worst)
Salman - (speaking hesitantly) Rashid...Azlan kya huwa? Dilshad..Dilshad theek toh haina? Usse kuch huwa toh nahin (but they didn't say anything and their fear only multiplied)
Javed - Rashid! Azlan..tum log kuch bolte kyun nahin ho..bolo na Dilshad- (and that was all it took. Rashid fell into his mothers feet where he was standing and broke down completely lying his head in his mothers lap whilst Azlan's eyes too filled with tears the heaviness of the day taking it's toll on him too)
Salma - Rashid-
Rashid - Maa Dilshad...Woh..(saying broken words through his sobs which were breaking his family's hearts) Aisha...Asad (and in that moment they all believed the worst, they all looked towards Azlan with baited breaths, wide eyes and pale faces)
Maya - Azlan...(unable to even say it) Dilshad?
Azlan - (nodded and for a second their hearts stop beating before they all breathed in relief) she's fine (the minute he said those words, Naina whose eyes hadn't left his face the entire time came running forth and crashed into his arms and he too gathered her into his arms just as tightly lifting her off her feet and none of them cared who was sat there or was staring especially Ghaffur who was glaring a whole into Naina's head because God knows after all that happened at the hospital and with Asad Azlan needed a hug and today he realized how much he needed that hug to be Naina's and nobody elses. But in all that relief and happiness, praise and thanks to the almighty no-one noticed one quite distinct and different reaction to the news Azlan broke. Shireen too was waiting with a baited breath to answer the question that would change all of their lives forever with whatever answer Azlan gave and in this case her face paled with the answer he gave and her heart sank. The only devastated words that managed to escape her were "Yeh maine kya kar diya")
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Meanwhile - Sunshine Orphanage -
A heartbroken and dejected Zoya was sat outside on the steps of the orphanage watching all the kids dance in the rain before bed, dancing, singing, laughing their innocent hearts away. Normally Zoya too would be right there dancing and singing her own innocent heart away but today someone had stomped over that heart and she couldn't find it in her heart to go and enjoy with them no matter how much they beckoned or requested her. That was of course until she looked into the pure, innocent and beautiful eyes of Pari Khan. Farida Bi walked out of the orphanage along with a sleep ridden Pari wearing her pyjamas and holding a teddy bear tightly to her chest. Azlan's driver was following them holding Farida Bi's files and Paris backpack and Farida Bi was saying something to Pari when she spotted Zoya sitting there alone and immediately Farida Bi's heart sank with fear of the worst.
Farida Bi - Zoya? (Although it was Zoya's back towards her, Farida Bi didn't have to see her face to know it was her. Zoya gasped in surprise not expecting to see her here at this late hour, but I guess seeing the kids still out of bed she should've expected it. She made a move to wipe her tears away and smile somewhat but there was no point, her smile was a gimmick, her eyes were bloodshot her cheeks tear stained, she looked like the storm had personally destroyed her instead of attempting to demolish the entire city which it was so clearly desiring to do so)
Zoya - (laughed turning around and standing up but trying to avoid eye contact with Farida Bi) Arre Farida Bi..aap ab tak yahin hain? Ghar nahin gayeen aap...
Farida Bi - Main toh bas inhe sula ke jaane hi waali thi tum yahan kya kar rahee ho itni raat gaye...itna tufaan hai bahar beta tumhe ghar pe hona chahiye tum yahan bahar kya kar rahee ho?
Zoya - Oh ho Farida Bi, halki si baarish hi toh hai (sighed, whispering brokenly) isse tufaan kaun kehta hai (the real storm was inside her heart)
Farida Bi - Acha ji, itni si baarish ho ya bauhat saari baarish ho yeh chamatkaar kaise ho gaya ke baaki sab baarish mein naha rahe hain aur tum yahan baithe sirf dekh rahee ho? Normally toh tum inn ut patang cheezon mein sabse aage hoti ho.
Zoya - Well..I guess I was just waiting for my Angel friend to join me..us Pari's need to stick together, right Pari? (Bent down to her level) what say Pari...Baarish mein Bheegne chalein?
Pari - (smiled sadly) I..I can't. (Zoya frowned) Chachoo said..I..I can get sick and if I get sick then he'll be sad and worried and I don't want him to be sad.
Zoya - Ch, kuch bhi nahin hoga itni si baarish mein naha ke koi sick nahin ho sakta Pari don't worry I-
Pari - (shook her head) The doctor said that..until I have the surgery (Zoya's eyes snapped towards Farida Bi in surprise and shock both) I can't get sick..and Chachoo..Chachoo will get really sad if I get more sick than I am and I don't want chachoo to get sad. He's already so sad all the time...sad like (she poked the spot Zoya's dimples were usually beaming blindingly bright) sad like you are today. (Zoya's eyes filled with tears at once. Because for some reason the minute Pari mentioned her Chachoo'a sadness a pair of damagingly beautiful but equally damagingly haunted and broken, sad eyes flashed before her eyes before his cruelness, ruthlessness did, Before Asad's entire handsome face flashed before her eyes and as it did she didn't know why but she immediately gathered Pari close and enveloped her into a tight hug letting Farida Bi's worry mount) I'm sorry..Pari, I..I just don't want to make Chachoo sad because if chachoo will be sad then I'll be sad too
Zoya - (shook her head still hugging Pari, her heart breaking and praying for the little angel, hoping god blessed her with a long and healthy life for her sake and apparently her chachoos too who seemed to love her to death from all that Pari had told Zoya about him each time they met) No one should have to be sad Pari..No one (and even as she said this her own sad eyes betrayed her as one tear drop fell from them after another)
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Early Some Time Next Morning - Kasauli Hospital:
Asad scrunched his eyes tightly and tiredly not wanting to let go of the blessing that he finally received after so long he couldn't remember the last time he had been blessed with such a long and peaceful sleep but once he felt those loving fingers in his hair he couldn't help but jerk awake at once knowing those fingers couldn't belong to anyone else but-
Asad - (staring wide eyed and disbelievingly at his Ammi's now open eyes just like he believed and hoped) (shocked) You're..You're-
Dilshad - (chuckled softly) Alive?
Asad - (spoke at once to not hear what she was saying) Awake. (Dilshad smiled whilst Asad's head fell unto the bed next to her as one after another a tear of relief, a tear of happiness escaped his tired and weary eyes as he grabbed her hand and kissed it repeatedly and Dilshad too cried with happiness and relief, relief for her children's sake that her almighty didn't take her from them because she knew just like her he too knew how much they needed her still, a loud shriek of joy ripped them from their moment of both unimaginable and unmatchable pain and joy)
Aisha - Ammi! Omg Ammi..you're awake. I..I'm going to go call the doctor. DOCTOR (and with that she was out the door as fast as she came in leaving Asad and Dilshad chuckling through their tears after her and Dilshad's heart melted hearing her son's chuckle, actual GENUINE laughter after so long even if it was a mere chuckle it came right from his heart and it was horrible to think like that but in that moment she thought and believed that if all it took to hear his laughter and see him this happy was a near death experience then it was totally worth it and she'd gladly do it again)
An Hour Later:
Doctor - (smiled at Asad and Aisha as he came out of the I.C.U after checking up on Dilshad, seeing their pale face and desperateness the doctor held up his hands and smiled) she's fine..she's just fine. In fact she's doing tremendously well and you can take her home today afternoon with a registered nurse to help administer her medication and diet, take care of her rehab and change her bandages other than that if she takes complete bed rest and takes all her medicine on time she should be good as new in no time (Asad smiled and nearly cried in relief and happiness to hear that but Aisha actually did cry and burst into tears as she immediately crashed against his chest and hugged him. Asad kissed her head repeatedly out of his own happiness whilst shaking the doctors hands out of gratitude)
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That Afternoon - Khan Mansion: Zoya's heavily sleep ridden and cried out, swollen eyes struggled to open as her mind registered faint noises coming from somewhere around the house. She woke up confused and disoriented because she had somehow fallen asleep amidst crying herself senseless near the footing of her bed, she was also confused because last she remembered she was all alone in Asad's huge dark mansion whilst Asad and Aisha were at the hospital with Phupi because she had been- and just like that she jerked up at once as all of it came rushing back to her. Phupi! and momentarily forgetting all that had happened between her and Asad she jumped out of bed, still in her pyjamas without bothering to fix herself up as she ran straight towards Dilshad's room without thinking about anything else. Halfway there she nearly collided into what appeared to be a nurse carrying a tray towards Dilshad's room.
Zoya - (out of breath, still disoriented and frazzled) Aap...Aap yeh (seeing a tray laid with food and medicine) yeh Phupi ke liye le jaa rahee ho?
Nurse - Uhm, Mrs. Khan (Zoya nodded grabbing the tray too)
Zoya - Main, Main le jaati hoon yeh phupi ke liye
Nurse - Uhm..
Zoya - Please? (The nurse just nodded letting go of the tray, not thinking too much of it and Zoya smiled excitedly before rushing towards Dilshad's room excited and hopeful to finally meet her, to be able to see her without Asad preventing it again. Unfortunately for her the minute she rounded the corner and near Dilshad's room there he was, standing and practically guarding her bedroom door and the minute Zoya spotted him her face paled and her heart nearly stopped beating out of fear and anxiety at facing him again. His behaviour towards her, his ruthlessness and fury at her coming crashing back to her and she saw that same fury return to his eyes the minute his eyes meshed with hers. Fury like he had never known before coursed through his veins as his jaw clenched tensely, as he looked back inside the room to find his mother sleeping peacefully and Aisha passed out from exhaustion next to her. He then turned back towards Zoya, the fury in his eyes even more intensified, so much so that it caused someone as fierce and unwavering as Zoya to quiver with fear and pale as a ghost. Her hands shook as she gripped the tray with a deathly grip especially as Asad began taking slow and measured steps towards her, his fury increasing with each step he took towards her as he shut the door of the room behind him. He stopped right before her and Zoya gulped with fear sensing the fury coming off of him in waves as he gripped unto the other side of the tray and in one swift movement snatched it out of her hands despite the steely grip she was holding it with. Without saying another word he turned his back towards her about to walk back into the room when Zoya couldn't take it anymore, the confusion, the WHY's were KILLING her from within and the words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them.
Zoya - Mr. Khan..aap aise..aakhir aap yeh kyun kar rahe hain?
Asad - (placed the tray on a nearby table and spun around furiously at once) aap pooch rahee hain KYUN? Maine aapse kya kaha tha..ke Maryam ko iss ghar me mat layeega usse yahan se door bhej diye lekin aapne aisa nahin kiya!
Zoya - (shook her head desperately, now that she found out what the reason behind his behaviour was she wanted nothing more than to clear this misunderstanding) Nahin Mr. Khan maine Maryam ko bhej diya tha! (Zoya jumped back startled as he screamed angrily)
Asad - JHOOT. Jhoot bol rahee hain aap! Aaj bhi aur uss din bhi. Aggar aapne Maryam ko bhej diya hota toh woh iss ghar mein nahin hoti aur woh log usse dhoondne yahan nahin aate aur Ammi ke saath yeh sab naa hota (Zoya shook her head)
Zoya - Mr. Khan main sach keh rahee hoon- (but the very next second she gasped startled as Asad gripped her arms in a deathly grip yanking her up, in the air off her feet whilst glaring at her)
Asad - Ammi ke saath jo kuch hua usski zimedaar sirf aap hain aur agar ammi ko kuch ho jaata-
Zoya - (tears were streaming down her face, mostly because of the pain his fingers and grip were causing to her arms) Mr. Khan mera yakeen kijiye main sach-
Asad - (shook her, HARD..pinning her back against the pillar in the process not caring for once how hard her hand hit the pillar or how badly his fingers were digging into her skin, sure to leave marks) Ms. farooqui! Agar aaj ke baad aap mujhe Ammi ke aas paas DEKHAYEE bhi din..toh I swear, main aapki jaan le loonga. (And the look in his eyes. The darkness, the emptiness and the fire scared her and chilled her to her bone because she knew in her heart it wasn't an empty threat) I'll KILL YOU. I MEAN THAT.
Zoya - (unable to bear the pain anymore) Mr. Khan aap mujhe hurt kar rahe hain...(she almost wanted to sigh in relief as he let go of her letting her fall back against the pillar and she kept her head lowered ashamedly actually coming to believe that it was her fault, all that happened to Dilshad)
Asad - Ammi aur Aisha meri ZINDAGI HAIN. Sab kuch hain woh mere liye aur main unhe safe dekhna chahta hoon. Aap jaisi ladki ki wajah (and despite his fury, Asad's heart broke into pieces, he would never be able to forget that sight, those innocent, heartbroken brown orbs, currently bloodshot red from all the tears and pain, peering at him through her luscious brown locks as she raised her head towards his accusing face) se unki zindagi khatre mein nahin daal sakta main. Shayad aapko apni maan ki ehmiat ka ehsaas nahin hai tabhi yun kissi aur ke ghar pe itni door reh sakti hain aur shayad iss liye doosron ki maan ki unke liye kya ehmiat ho sakti hai yeh bhi samajhna mushkil hoga aapke liye par main apni Ammi ko AAP ki wajah se nahin kho sakta. KABHI nahin..(and saying so he turned his back on her, unable to see those heartbroken eyes that were fast breaking his own heart and he stormed off into his mothers room shutting the door on Zoya's face whilst Zoya just completely broke down into tears against the pillar where she was standing)
xxx
Zoya's Room: A mess of tears and sobs Zoya came crashing into her room and immediately fell back unto her bed crying harder than she could ever remember crying. Crying helpless and pain filled tears. She didn't even understand WHY Asad's estranged behaviour was affecting her and hurting her so much, it wasn't like she wasn't used to it by now, but why did it feel like it was eating her from within! If it was anyone else she'd be pushing them aside and going to see her phupi all the same but why were his words piercing her heart like drops of acid?
Zoya - Kyun Allah Miyan? Kyun kiya aapne mere saath aisa? (Slowly sitting up and staring out her window towards the sky still crying uncontrollably! Kya ghalati hai iss mein meri ke meri Ammi mere saath nahin hain. Kya ghalati hai iss mein meri ke mujhe mujhe unka chehra bhi theek se yaad nahin hai. Kya ghalati hai iss mein meri ke mere Abbu mujhe chorke chale gaye aur phir kabhi mujhe dhoondne nahin aye. Kya ghalati hai iss mein meri ke mere Abbu kaun hain. Woh kahan hain. Woh kyun mujhe aaj tak nahin mille main iss mein se kuch nahin jaanti. Kya ghalati hai iss mein meri ke mere jeeju, the only family I've ever had..woh bhi mujhe chorke chale gaye aur unke baad unki family ne mujhe apnane se inkaar kar diya aur ab main Kaise majboori mein kissi aur ke ghar pe pari hui hoon apne Abbu ko dhoondne ke liye, kabse koshish kar rahee hoon unhe dhoondne ke liye aur unse poochne ke liye woh kyun mujhe chorke chale gaye, kaise chorke chale gaye, kaise nahin mujhe dhoodne aye...(she tried but failed to wipe her tears carelessly with the back of her hand) Jaante hain Allah Miyan, iss sab mein meri koi ghalati nahin hai..saari ghalati aapki hai. Saari ghalati aapki hai kyunki aap hi ne mujhe iss situation mein daala hai, jiss mein main itni helpless hoon..aur aap chahe jitna bhi chupa leejeye Allah Miyan..apne Abbu ko toh main dhoondke hi rahoongi aur mere Ammi Abbu ke beech kya huwa yeh main zaroor jaanke rahoongi. Main apne Abbu ko dhoondne hi rahoongi Allah Miyan! (and with that she pressed the knife she was holding in her hand, her long loyal friend, deeper into her forearm and let both her blood and tears flow heavily all the same, and once again let the darkness consume her)
An Hour later: Asad was sitting alone with Dilshad in her room. He had fallen asleep sitting next to her and watching her to make sure her health didn't take any unexpected turns. He woke up startled as his head lolled off his fist which he was resting on his knee. He looked around started for a second seeing the sky outside gradually darken before turning towards his mother who was still sleeping just as peacefully as he had last seen her. Just like that fear and paranoia gripped his heart like never before and his heart nearly stopped beating, imagining the worst. Very hesitantly, his heart beating heavily with every second he raised his shaky hand towards her face and placed two fingers beneath her nose. Only when he felt her breaths against his skin did colour return to his face and did he sigh in relief and as if sensing his troubled heart and fear Dilshad's eyes opened at about the same time.
Dilshad - Kya dekh rahe ho? Ke main zinda hoon ke nahin? (Asad just looked away embarrassed and Dilshad smiled holding his hand) Don't worry tumhari Ammi bauhat sakht hain. Jab tak main tumhare dher saare bache nahin dekh leti main kahin nahin jaane wali. (Asad just scoffed shaking his head and Dilshad smiled letting him delude himself into believing that she was actually giving him a choice in the matter)
Asad - Ammi main aapke liye kuch le aaon?
Dilshad - (nodded) Hmm...ek Dulhan le aao? (and this time he blushed looking away) Aisha kahan hain?
Asad - Usse uske room mein bheja hai, aaram karne ke liye..bauhat mushkil se.
Dilshad - Aur...(she couldn't help the knowing smile that formed on her face) Zoya? (and as usual the reaction she was expecting was the one she got)
Asad - (his whole body became taught with tension and anger at once and he looked away beyond annoyed) Patah nahin Ammi..aur main jaana bhi nahin chahta.
Dilshad - (rolled her eyes) tumhe takleef kya hai uss ladki se? Jaante ho aggar Zoya nahin hoti toh aaj main zinda bhi nahin hoti..(recalling the way she faintly registered and remembered Zoya trying to chase and fight the shooter before she lost consciousness)
Asad - (snapped, getting to his feet) Ammi aggar woh nahin hoti toh yeh sab bhi nahin hota. Na woh Maryam ko iss ghar mein laati na woh usse dhoondne yahan aate aur na-
Dilshad - Maryam ko is ghar mein woh nahin main leke ayee thee. Maryam mujhe raaste mein milli thi Asad toh main aur kya karti (going on she failed to realize the look of horror that crossed Asad's face as Zoya's hurt and heartbroken eyes that crossed before his eyes again) main usse yoon raaste main chorke nahin aa sakti. Iss mein Zoya ka koi dosh nahin hai. (and as she spoke the words his heart was fighting to accept Asad just closed his eyes as Zoya's accusing eyes haunted his heart and mind again)
xxx
Continued in next post...
Bhabhi Ji Ghar Pe Hain?
Tujhse Hai Raabta
Real Estate
Cryptocurrency
Seher Hone Ko Hai
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