Broken Hearts, Hidden Secrets

Chapter Thirty-One

Home But Will It Ever Be Home For Zianna?

Home, is a place where parents live, right? But what if you have yourself?

Zianna, Dalia, and Azhar were in the car on their way to Tayyal's house.

All Zianna could think about was what happened to her relationship with her father. He used to be caring, and loving and would go out of his way to make her smile whenever she felt sad.

But people do change, Zia. No one will stay the same as they were before. Even a leopard will change its spots just to fit in and catch its prey.

"Zia, when we reach the house, I will make you some food and then I will go back home. And yeah, don't hesitate to call me whatever time you might need me," Dalia said.

Zianna nod.

What about the nightmares? How will she be able to handle them? I can't stay with her as I am not her non-mahram. Maybe I could ask Iman or Hanan...

"Azhar, we are here. Could you park the car while I get my sister inside and you can get her bag?" Dalia asked bringing Azhar out of his thoughts.

"Yes, sure."

Azhar waited for them to get out of the car, so he could park it near the garage. It is a two-storey house with four bedrooms just the way Zoya wanted their future house to be.

He parked the car and took Zianna's bag out. And walks towards the house. Thankfully, Dalia left the door open for him when she and Zianna walked inside.

"Zia, you need to sit down and I will take care of everything. I will be right back, I am going to the kitchen to get dinner ready for you. And then I will come by tomorrow morning to get breakfast..."

"Dalia, calm down, sister and breath. I can cook breakfast and I will call you if I ever need anything. I promise," Zianna says interrupting her sister. "I know you and Tay are worried about me but also remember to always take care of yourself especially now that he is married and you are on your way to start your new job," she added, smiling.

Zianna knew what happened scared her sister more than her brother. Dalia was the youngest and she was the first one to accept her as a sister.

Tayyal had his reservations until he saw how his mother would abuse Zianna.

"I know that but please let me make you dinner, okay? And we could all eat together..."

"I don't know about Azhar. He might be needed at home."

Dalia hid her smile while looking at her sister and Azhar staring at Zianna.

"I can stay and have dinner. And if you want I can also drop off Dalia at home?"

"Sure. Let me go and get dinner started. Excuse me."

Dalia walked out of the living room leaving Zianna and Azhar.

"I want to thank you and your family for what you have done for me while I was in the hospital. I dont know how or when I will be able to repay the kindness you and your family have shown to me," Zianna said.

"You dont need to always thank me, Zia. If you ever need helpyou can call me. Or better yet, call Mamma. She will help you," Azhar said.

Zianna knew why he said that and she respected him for that.

Respecting their religion was better than having something that might not even last. Even for a month.

"I understand. I will be coming back to work, next week. In shaa Allah," Zianna informed Azhar.

Azhar knew that this was what she wanted to do as a way to cope with her trauma. He knew that his mother would help but Zianna would need to get better first before trying to talk to her father.

"In shaa Allah. I know that your job is important to you. And dont worry I have forgotten about the contract you wanted to sign due to needing to pay me back for medical bills," Azhar said making Zianna smile.

After a few minutes, Dalia called them to the dining room to have dinner.

"Take a seat, Zia and I will serve you..."

"Dalia, no, you sit down while I serve you. You cooked the food, let me serve you and me, okay?"

Dalia had no choice but to accept what her sister told her. She took a seat beside, Zianna while Azhar sat opposite them.

After they all finished their dinner, Zianna said goodbye to her sister and her boss and then walked them outside.

"Zia, remember to lock the doors and windows. And dont forget to..."

"To call you in I needed something. Yes, I got it, little sister," Zianna completed what Dalia told her.

This made Azhar laugh.

"Okay, okay. Take care of yourself, Zia."

Zianna hugged her sister Dalia. She then looked at Azhar.

"Okay, now. Take care Dalia. And thank you again, Azhar for driving my sister back to the house," Zianna said.

She didnt want to call that house a home because it was never her home from the start.

Zianna didnt know where she belonged.

Not with her father who disowned her when he divorced her mother.

Not with her brother because Tayyal was starting a new life with his wife Zoya. Zianna didn't want to cause problems between them.

Zianna watched as her sister got into Azhar's car and kept watching until it drove away.

She walked back inside the house and locked the door. She sat down in one of the chairs and thought about how her life would have been if her mother was still alive and the accident didn't happen.

The police weren't much help as they blamed the icy road even though that day was sunny and cloudy.

Mamma would never drive on a snowy day. She hated driving because of the accidents she would see on the news. Plus, I remembered that day was one of her days off from work and she said she wanted to spend time with me when I got off school.

I guess we plan things that don't go our way but what if the accident wasn't an accident? What if someone had intentionally hurt Mamma?

Zianna had more questions than answers to her mother's accident turned into a mystery. As she was about to go to bed, a picture captured her attention.

Zianna walked towards it and picked it up.

It was a picture of her, Tayyal, Zoya and Dalia. It was on Eid day, He insisted on having their picture taken and it was also the day that a Nikkah date was planned for him and Zoya.

Zianna took a deep breath and put the picture down. Tears fell from her face knowing that she might never find a home or even have a future.

But there's always that one saying that Hayat told her while visiting her at the hospital.

"Zianna, Allah will never forsake us. We make plans for our future, while Allah makes better plans for the same future. And remember Allah's plans will always surpass ours because His plans are better. Sometimes you will think that you aren't where you want to be but it is what is written for you. Your timing and Allah's are different yet so alike. Because you want to move forward and so does Allah. But we as humans are always in a competition with each other instead of just praying and having faith until our turn," Hayat explained. "When in doubt make Dua, pray and do istigfar. Allah will answer your questions," she added.

"Azhar and his siblings are lucky to have a mother like Mrs Hayat. I pray that their bond might never be broken by anyone."

In shaa ALLAH.

Zianna looked at the time and knew that she might not fall asleep. The only thing to do was to listen to the Quran until she fell asleep.

It helped her sleep better.

A house without love and family isn't called a home. You can have a house but when it isn't filled with the warmth of a family, it is just a place to sleep and maybe sometimes eat. And occasionally invite your friends.