Over again

Chapter XXXIV

Aaliya's heart broke. She couldn't believe the Zain she loved and trusted so much just took her son away from her. The tears burned her eyes. She couldn't let the people see her cry, but she couldn't keep the tears. She let them flow down her cheeks. Why to stop them? When she finally built her trust on Zain again, he did something to break it.

She looked at the piece of paper again. Those words and lines were viciously smiling at her. Reading them over and over again in her wake up strange feeling. Not hatred, not disappointment but anger.

She wasn't angry at Zain but herself. She was angry because she let her heart love and believe him again. She thought he's different, he would never hurt her, but he did. He wasn't different, he's like every other person in her life who wanted to do only one thing. Hurt her.

Aaliya moved slowly to the door but before she could open it, she fall down on the floor. No matter how strong she wanted to be, this was the last straw that broke the camel. She let all the pain to go outside. The woman who was near her came closer and took her to a separate room. Aaliya called Shabana and Ghulam to come there.

She briefly calmed down but when she saw her parents, she couldn't control anymore. Shabana ran up and hugged her.

"Mom you told me. You said that he isn't like his parents. You told me he would never take my Zaid away from me. But look what he did. He did take him away. He didn't take only my son but my life and heart away from me. He broke me again, mom. He broke me again. Mom, please give me back my son. Please. I will not survive without him. He is my everything. My life, my air. Please mom. Bring him back."

Ghulam couldn't watch his daughter in such a state. He left the room before she could see him crying. Without hesitation, he went to the phone and called the well known phone number. He wait a few moments while the connection isn't established. Then a few moments while the handset isn't lifted.

"Yes?"- a voice from the other side.
"Is Usmaan there?"-Ghulam asked straight away.
"Who's that?"
"Answer me. Is Usmaan there?"
"Yes. Sir is in his room."
"Tell him that Ghulam Haider wants to talk to him. Go."
"Yes Sir. Wait a moment please."
"I don't have time to wait! Run to his room! Now!"

Ghulam was nervous for a while before he heard the well known voice. His once good friend finally spoke.

"Hallo?"
"Usmaan? How are you?"-Ghulam asked slowly.
"I'm good. Who's that?"
"What, now you don't recognise the voice of your old friend?"
"I'm really sorry but I don't know who's it."
Ghulam laughed at this.
"It's Ghulam. Your old friend."
The silence from the other side.
"Ghulam?"
"Yes. It's me."
"What do you want?"
"Not much. Just to congratulate you."
"Congratulate? For what?"
"The very well-mannered son. You know, I thought he isn't like you. I thought you learned from your old mistakes. But I was wrong. He's the same as you. How couldn't he be. He carries your blood."
"What are talking about Ghulam? I don't understand."
"Let me tell you. But this is the last time. When I find him and take my grandson away from him, I'll kill him! He gave so much pain to my daughter. He took everything away from her. I'll give him the same!"-
He hung up and went back to his daughter. He took her in his arms and took her home. Ghulam had a clear vision of what will he do next.

"Ghulam?!!"- Usman was shouting into the phone a few minutes before he realized that the connection has been lost. He ran out into the hall and called Zain.
"What have you done Zain?"-was the question when Zain picked up the phone.
"Hi dad. I'm fine. How are you?"
"Stop your nonsense Zain! What have you done?!"
"Nothing dad. I'm on my way home. Wanted to surprise you all. I have someone to show you."
"Zain, Ghulam just called me."
Zain stopped the car.
"What did he say?"
"He said nothing. But I want to hear it from you. What have you done?"
"I took what belongs to me. With me."
"What does it means?"
"Dad I'm coming home. I can't talk now. You'll understand everything when I come home."

Ghulam was in his room for awhile. When he finally came out he told Shabana that he will be home soon. Shabana was sitting in her daughter's room when she heard the door open. She looked at Aaliya who was sleeping last five hours. Shabana kissed her daughter's forehead and left her room.

"Ghulam where have you been? Is everything okay?"
"Here take this"-he handed her tickets. "What's this?"
"We are going to India tomorrow."
"Dad?"
Shabana and Ghulam looked at Aaliya. "Come darling."-Ghulam called her.

She came closer to her father. He took her arm and brought her to couch.

"Sit. Aaliya, I can't watch you like this. I can't watch you losing your will to live. You're my daughter. My only daughter. Everything I have. I wasn't good father to you. I rejected you when you needed me most. I am here now. I do not care how much memory will come back in India. I'll take you to get your life back. I don't want you to suffer anymore. We're leaving to India tomorrow."

Aaliya looked at her father. He was the man who abandoned her but he still was her father. She hugged him and cried again.

"Shh. No more crying baby doll. No more. From now on, there won't be storms and rains in your life. Only the sun. I promise you."

Shabana came closer and hugged her daughter and husband.
"Even I promise you that. Happiness will be all you know from now on. Go, pack your bags. We're leaving tomorrow."

It was late in India when Zain finally reached his home. He took Zaid out of car. He was tired from the trip and crying that he finally fell asleep. Zain had carefully brought him out of the car. Before he managed to ring, the door opened. It was barkat.

"Bhaiii!!"-she screamed but Zain shush her down.
She looked at Zain's arms and then back to Zain.
"Come in. I'll tell you everything."

In living room was his family. Everyone was waiting for him to come home. Barkat walked in and sat down beside Suraiya. Usmaan rose from his chair when Zain entered. They all stopped for a moment when they saw Zaid.

Usmaan came closer to Zain. He looked at his son.

"Zain what's this? Who's this boy?"
"Dad, mom I want you to meet your grandson. His name is Zaid. He's my and... Aaliya's son."
"What?"-Suraiya whispered.
"Come"-he called them all. "Come to my room. I'll tell you everything."

His family members followed him to his room. He carefully put the Zaid on his bed to sleep. He kissed his forehead and put his favorite teddy bear next to him. Then he finally turned to his family.

"Come in, everyone. The story is long."
Each one of them came in the room and settled down on the couch and the bed. Zain told them everything. He told them about Aaliya, their first meet, his accident, how he met Zaid, how he found out the truth and how he brought him here. When he finally finished, he looked at his mother. Suraiya turned her head away from her son.

"Zain, even though I never wanted Aaliya to be part of this house, you didn't have any right to separate mother and son. You don't know how much it hurts when a mother lose her child. But I know Zain. I have lost my daughter."
"Mom you did the same thing. You separated Aayat from her parents. What's the difference? I did the same thing. I'm your son after all."
"Zain you're mother didn't want to hurt you. She said the right thing. You shouldn't do this. Ghulam said he will find you and will kill you. Don't you understand? Father is ready to do anything for his child only to see her happy."
"Dad, I understand you. But I want her back. Only like this I could make her think to come back to India."
"What if she doesn't come?"
"She will. I know you all hate her but I love her. I have a son with her. I've always loved her. Without her I can't live. She can't live without her son and to take him back home she has to come here. And she will."

When the conversation was over and Zain was all alone with his son, he settled down beside him. Finally the dream found him and he fell asleep with the thought and hope that tomorrow will be good day. Maybe she will come and stay with him. That's all he wants.