Asya FF ~ Now That I've Found You

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Where did the days go by

Brute! This man was such a brute!

But she didn't have time to think about that nor play the angry bird. She was going to finish what she came for. With that, she stalked the door, quietly shutting it behind her.

Asad held his back towards it, eyes on the ceiling, body a stone.

Zoya knew he was aggravated, upset. She also knew, he could tell, she stood in the room. Whisper soft, she walked towards the green settee, placing the present down and explained before marching out, "I didn't buy anything for people that I consider merely hosted me, I bought it for people I believe family. You should know, you were the one listening to me and phuphi talk that day."

Twelve minutes and twenty seconds later of standing still, he moved towards the sofa. The unsteady hands opened the wrapping paper.

An earnest smile tumbled out.

It was a memory of just the four of them. His sad eyes reflected in mirror of the photo frame. Dilshad and Najma smiled alongside the shy couple. Noshini had pushed them around to stand within an inch of each other, forcibly putting his arm around her shoulder.

Asad observed the twinkle in his eyes. Happy, he'd never realised how blissfully happy she made him.

A note slipped out and fell at his feet. Trembling with nerves and anticipation, he opened it.

Dear Mr. Khan,

The reason I write this letter is because I didn't want to leave without properly saying goodbye. I figured it wouldn't be fair.

The last five months have been adventurous to say the least. It is surreal to me that I was able to fulfill the biggest purpose of my life, though incomplete. The word thank you won't be enough for your support these past weeks. But I would still say it.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

I know we don't always see eye to eye but something always told me you understood exactly what I felt. Somewhere, we are cut from the same traumatic cloth.

I could never say this to your face but I drew strength from the fact that you never let adversity keep you down and always kept going, incorporated phuphi's values in your life and didn't let past hinder your future.

I hope to do that in life someday.

Anyway, sorry for dumping all this heavy emotional stuff out of nowhere but I would have regretted, if I didn't say it. Thank you again, and, wish you all the best for everything that comes your way in the future.

Zoya.

***

The door, her letter, everything that surrounded him blurred. Tears came quick and splattered on the ink of her name. A film of sweat clinging to his skin, the words intruded his insides, twisted and taunted. The wave of desperation flooded back.

Incorporated phuphi's values in your life... Did he? God, she thought highly of him more than he deserved.

I hope to do that in life someday... He understood. Comprehended each and every word of her letter.

Didn't let past hinder your future...Their past and parents. Their future and them.

...Thank you, from the bottom of my heart...

He gave in to the tears.

When legs gave away, he sat on the settee and wept. The years of frustration and ache had blocked his heart too. He'd closed some book too. Opening it felt good, felt freeing.

Some tears fell in ache that the letter existed, some in happiness ... that the letter existed. The anxious ball of mixed emotions Asad was in the past week had pushed his core to the edge.

You gotta say it, whatever it is that you have to say... I would have regretted, if I didn't say it...

Mind numbing replays didn't end.

...Past hinder your future...Incorporated phuphi's values...

"Ammi" he whispered suddenly sane.

Nothing pulled him out of darkness like his mother did. She always had the answer. In his worst times of confusion and despair, to world's every question.

He wiped his tears, washed his face, folded the letter safe in his pocket and marched towards his Ammi.

***

Dilshad noticed him at the door and gestured him to come in.

"Bolo beta" she said as soon as she disconnected the phone.

"Who was that?" he asked croakily, tears still lingering somewhere in throat.

"Oh, Anwar's relative, they were asking about Zoya. I think Zeenat is actively talking to them about Zoya's Nikaah."

She started folding the strewn clothes on her bed and continued "Khuda jaane Zoya manegi ya nahi. Vaise maine toh Zeenat ko kehdiya, uski marzi ke bina kuch na ho. And I know she understands, also loves her Zoey so very much so it'll be okay I guess. It'll be such a good thing for her, to find a friend in someone and start thinking about this next phase of life"

She looked at Asad pausing her chores, when she didn't hear anything.

His Ammi's questioning gaze brought him out of his self-induced coma. "What if, marriage is not the next phase for her" his voice was shaky, lucky lost in thought Dilshad didn't notice.

"Well, sure that could be, but it's not like she has to do it right away. It takes time to fall in love, become a friend, a partner"

The nerve in his head ticked and danced, stomach dropped on the floor.

"Which is why, I think you should also start looking Asad" She handed him the pile of folded clothes and opened the cupboards setting them one by one "Ab shuru honge ton agle saal takk nikaah hoga, mera bhi khwaab hai ki nahi, daadi ban ne ka.

Ab aise statue kyun bangaye, haath niche karo" she jerked his extended empty hands down.

"Ammi, you know that I..."

"Yes I do but why do you forget that you are my son" Dilshad turned serious in an instant. Any chance to suck this insecurity out of him, she grabbed with both hands.

"You are not your parents, neither you, nor my Najma" She argued passionately with a strong voice "I mean just look at Zoya, Asad, poor girl had to go through so much, don't you think someone like her is afraid. Don't you think she's told me a million times she is" His eyes grew.

Zoya was afraid too?

"But you know what she says? She says she'll change the course her father set. She aspires to be the exact opposite. And you know what, she already is. Just like you are. You have no reason to be afraid. Not one." Dilshad finished lovingly with a soft hand on his cheek.

"Saara din ladte ho tum dono, kuch acha seekh bhi lo ik dusre se"

***