Zoya hears her mother call her name from downstairs, so she gets up and heads down.
As she gets to the top of the stairs, her mother pulls her back and whispers, "Don't go there, I heard it too."
Zoya Zinadine, an executive interior designer of Gate...
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*Zoya's POV*:
The curtains added an orange glow to the morning light. Slowly and reluctantly, I uncovered my face. I closed my eyes immediately and blinked again. I sat up and stretched my arms above my head, and yawned.
"We had a great time." I said, rubbing my eyes.
As I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, there were many notifications on the screen.
"I've been sleeping for ten hours," I groaned, heaving a sigh.
A tap on my door made me throw my phone on the bed, and I hurried to answer it.
"Zo, are you up?" My mother asked, handing over a cup of coffee to me.
"I haven't freshened up yet," I said, tying my hair.
"Haha, I didn't want to wake you up cause you seemed to be exhausted," she said, taking a seat on my bed.
"I was," I said, leaning my head on the headboard.
"Leaving all those aside, Zoya, I couldn't sleep last night," my mother said, looking exhausted.
"Why?" I asked, astounded.
"Well, what did Inshia mean last night? Lia can be one in Dan's family. I'm clueless," my mother said, rubbing her temple.
"Chill, mama. I'm clueless too. I was speechless when she told it," I said, breathing in and out.
"Mama, wait!" I think I can smell something," I said, sniffing.
"Oh god! The tandoori chicken is getting burnt. See you in the kitchen," she said, running downstairs.
"See you soon, mommy," I screamed, heading towards the washroom.
*****
"Zoya!" Lia yelled, entering the kitchen.
"Lia?" I asked, sautéing the onions.
"Who's this @viyaanmalek? You're following him on Instagram as well," she asked, bringing her screen to my face.
"Ahhh, this is Viyaan," I said, adding soy sauce to the sautéed onions.
"Viyaan? Oh, you mean Viyaan!" She said, grabbing a grape from the refrigerator.
"Viyaan!" my mother and I chorused.
Ohmy god! Viyaan!
Ding! Dong!
"Let me answer," my mother said, walking towards the main door.
"What a chorus!" Lia said, exiting the kitchen.
Lia... Hehe.
"What a surprise, Zin." My mother said, welcoming dad.
Dad is here?
"Just thought of coming home," he said, taking a seat on the couch.
"Assalamu Alaikum," I greeted him.
"Walaikum Salam," he replied, planting a kiss on my forehead.
"Great," my mother said, handing over a glass of watermelon juice to him.
"Any plans for today? Zo, what's up with the wedding shopping? All done?" He asked, taking a sip of the chilled juice.
"All done, daddy," I said, taking a seat next to him.
"Okay baby. Alia, what about yours and the kids? Have you completed the shopping? Did you buy clothes for the wedding?" He asked, putting a hand around the couch.
"Yes, hub," my mother said, grabbing her phone from the coffee table.
*****
"Thank you Haya." I said, hanging up.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
"Zo, I'm out. Haya cooked something for you, and here I am to deliver it," Dan spoke as soon as I picked up the phone.
"Please come in. And oh, wait, I guess Viyaan is with you. Please bring him as well," I said, heading downstairs.
"Zo, but—"
"Daaniyal and Viyaan! What a surprise! Come, come," my father screamed, walking towards Dan's sedan.
He must have watched them from the CCTV.
"Dan, Viyaan! Please come." I said, smiling.
"No, umm actually—"
"Please," I mouthed with puppy eyes.
"Well," he said, smiling.
"Assalamu Alaikum!" my mother greeted the two of them.
"Bro!" Lia waved at Dan and smiled at Viyaan.
"Zo, I'll arrange the sweets and the savories there," Lia whispered, and I smiled at her.
"Lia, where's Adiva?" Dan asked, looking for my little sister all over the place.
"She must be upstairs. She's unaware of your arrival. I'll bring her now," she said, heading upstairs.
"Mama, Dad!" Lia screamed her lungs out.
Lia?
My brain shuttered for a moment. Every part of me paused while I tried to observe what was actually going on. I placed my hand on Lia's shoulder and asked, "What's happening?"
Lia was speechless.
"She's having a seizure," Lia staggered.
"Adiva, Adiva?" My mother cried, trying to wake her up.
My father carried Adiva down the stairs.
"Don't worry. Everything will be alright," Dan said, grabbing his phone from his pocket.
"Making a call to Umar?" Viyaan asked, walking down the stairs with the rest of us.
"Umar?" my mother asked, furrowing her brows.
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