Fasaana | फसाना | فسانا
:a tale; a romance; a fiction
Zoya had spent her entire life adhering to societal and parental rules, feeling trapped like a bird in a cage. But what happens when she decides to shatter those restrictions and soar freely?
Al...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Can I go where you go? Can we always be this close forever and ever?
***************
"Zoya, you won't believe what happened today?" Aarti shouted in excitement as soon as Zoya came back from the college. Sehrish was in her arms.
"What?" Zoya curiously asked while taking out a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Our Sehru said her first word today." Aarti chirped.
Zoya choked on the water she was drinking. Malti rushed to her to rub her back as she coughed vigorously. "Are you okay?"
Zoya nodded while calming herself down. "She spoke?"
"Yes! Sehru, show your mama." Aarti encouraged Sehrish.
The child looked between Aarti and Zoya, both looking at her with expectant eyes. She opened her lips, let out a giggle and turned her attention towards the doll in her hand.
"Sehru," Aarti held her chin to make her look up, "Call your mama like you did in the morning."
Sehrish ignored Aarti and continued playing, making Aarti exhale. "She said mama so perfectly."
"It's okay." Zoya forced a smile on her face and walked to her room as soon as possible.
Aarti frowned at her behavior, and turned towards Malti, who looked concerned as well. Lately, Zoya had been upset over the fact that she was not able to spend much time with Sehrish, and her frustration was becoming more visible everyday. Rohit and Aarti had talked about it. Maybe she was not liking how close Sehrish had gotten to Aarti.
Zoya had still not come out an hour later, so Aarti went to check on her. She knocked on her door, but when no answer came, she turned the doorknob to open it. Thankfully it was open. The room was dark, and the curtains were drawn.
"Zoya?" She called out while switching on the room lights.
As soon as the light came on, Aarti found Zoya sitting on the floor with her back supported by the bed. Her cheeks were covered with tears.
Aarti hurriedly went to her and saw beside her. "Why are you crying?" She asked while wiping her tears.
Zoya just sobbed louder.
"You're worrying me." Aarti said.
Zoya pushed her hair back from her face and took a few deep breaths to control her emotions.
"I just feel like.." Zoya hiccuped, "like..I am not a good moth-mother to her."
"What?" Aarti asked in disbelief. "What are you even saying?"
"It's true. I am never there for her. Her birthday, her first word, I am missing everything. I've gotten so busy with my college life that I am neglecting my own child. I mean, is an MBA even worth it?" Zoya cried a little harder.
