Tamanna E Khaam ✨

9 🐚

A few months had passed, life has never been better for Aliya. She only had one trouble in her life, her constant hostilities with Shams but now even that has been resolved and she couldn't be happier. It was freeing in a sense.

But its as they say, all good things come to an end, and that's what happend one eventful night. Ali was on abroad for a business deal. Ali has insisted taking Dua with him for a change of scenery and recreational purposes but she denied due to her being seven months pregnant. Dua and Aliya were home alone due Aliya's parents being gone to visit her distant aunt who had been diagnosed with a terminal disease in their hometown.

Ali had already boarded on a plane back home, the flight had taken off couple hours ago and he was scheduled to be home in almost four hours. That is if things had gone their way. Unfortunately, they didnt. It was past midnight when the house phone rang, twice. When nobody answered Aliya's personal phone rang which caused to wake up from her slumber. She was half asleep when she answered the phone and nothing could've brought her to wakefulness than the news she'd heard on the phone.

She sat up straight on her bed as tears clouded her vision. She couldn't go to Dua. She couldn't tell her. She tried calling her father's phone but he didn't answer. With shaky hands she dialled a number she never thought she would, let alone at one in the morning.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up." She continued to chant as she waited for the recipient to answer the phone, all while preventing herself from having a panic attack. A few more seconds later the call was answered.

"Aliya?" Shams questioned. It didn't seem like he was sleeping and she wondered what took him so long to answer.

"Shams." She sobbed. "You need to come home right now." She cried.

"Wait what happened? Is Dua okay?" He panicked when he heard her cry.

"She's fine. But..." she hiccuped.

"But kya Aliya?" He questioned grabbing his keys and rushing out of the door.

"Bhai." She whimpered. "His flight crashed. They said they had survivors..." her voice cracked as she contained her sobs. "We're called in for identification. I didn't know who to call."

"Hey.. calm down. I'm on my way." He assured her getting in his car. "Did you call uncle?"

"I tried but he isn't answering, he's probably sleeping." He nodded even though she couldn't see him.

"Hey, he'll be fine. Allah py bharosa rkho." He continued to assure her all way until he reached her house.

She opened the door for him, but the creaking of the main gate and the rattling of the front door woke Dua from her slumber. She made her way down the stairs and looked at the scene in confusion.

"Shams?" She turned to her sister in law. "Aliya what's wrong? Why're you crying? Why is he here?" She interrogated the duo because it did look suspicious.

"Dua..you need to sit down okay?" Shams said taking a step towards his sister, leading her towards the couch and making her sit.

"What's wrong? you're scaring me?" Dua looked back and forth between Aliya and Shams.

"Ali bhai..." Shams started but he paused not knowing how to continue.

"What about Ali?"

"Ali bhai's flight crashed." Shams mumbled but it was loud enough for Dua to catch it. It didn't take a minute before she was hysterical. "Calm down, they said there were survivors." Shams tried to hold his sister who was now full on wailing. Aliya put her hand to her mouth to control her sobs. She cried harder watching Dua loose it.

"What do you mean, crashed. It's not... how could it...Shams.." dua didn't know what to say.

"Listen to me." Shams said calmly although he was shaking inside. "DUA." He raised his voice. "Look at me." He made his sister face him. "I'll drop you two at our place. Then abba and I will head to Delhi for the identification. They said they have survivors. They're hospitalized. So calm the hell down and pray. You can't loose control, its not only you now." He said sternly and Dua continued to sob uncontrollably.

Aliya had gone to retrive water for Dua. She needed to be strong for her. Dua is in a condition where she can bare this alone. As much as she Aliya wants to crawl in her mother's lap and cry her wits out, she can't. She has to be strong for her Sister-in-law who is carrying her brother's child. That brother who could possibly be dead. She shook her head as the last thought struck her. She came back to living room with a glass of water and made Dua drink it.

"Aliya, I'm taking you two to our house, keep trying to contact uncle. And let me know as soon as you reach him." Shams instructed. The girl nodded, she went to grab shawls for Dua and herself as she didn't have the time to change from her night suit. They arrived Siddiqui house soon enough, and Shams and his father left immediately.

Dua's mother held back her tears she tried to comfort the girls to the best of her abilities. Aliya continued calling her father, after her fourteenth call he answered. She didn't want to tell him, she knew he wouldn't be able to handle it but she didn't have any other choice. She filled him in on the situation and her heartbroke at his reaction.

She never time before but in this moment she thanked Allah that her father didn't have any diseases or he probably might've had a heart attack. But he was strong enough to bear the news.

He informed her that they'd be back soon as possible. And that he would get in touch with Shams as soon as he get off the call with her.

Aliya relayed the information to Dua's mother and Dua who was barely comprehending her words. It was now all a waiting game.

A/n: phew, I can't believe i wrote this in one seating. Might have some mistakes. Happy reading. ❤️