Over again

Chapter XXXVIII

Aayat blankly looked at Zain then Aaliya, then back to Zain.

'What do you mean, my sister?'
' Yes Aayat this is your sister. This is Aaliya.'

She stood up and slowly moved away from them. She shook her head in disbelief.
'No. She can't be my sister. Why would you do this to me? I thought you want to protect me. What have you done?'

'Aayat, please listen to hi..'
'You stay quite! I don't want to hear your voice. Stay quite.'

Aaliya slowly stood up from the bed and moved to the door. Zain walked to her to help her but she didn't let him.
'Stay with her.'-she said and walked out of the room.

Zain turned back to look at Aayat.
'Why you did this?'

'Aayat, you're wrong. This what you did now and what you said to Aaliya was wrong. It's not her fault. She didn't even know that your alive. I've told her last night. She came here three years ago to find a man who killed you. She didn't know that I'm his son, and when she found out she left India and me even though we loved each other. But for you she was ready to do anything. When I found her again, she had a new reason to live. It's our son. I thought it will be good for her and us if she knows the truth. And I thought you'll accept her. But now you're making a mistake. Don't do this. Let her explain herself. Don't turn your back on her before you hear her side of the story.'

Aayat was listening to him in silence and finally nodded.

Aaliya was standing outside house and looked at the shores. The day was still young and the day didn't start that well. She turned a little when she heard the door open. Aayat came closer and stood next to her. They didn't talk. Just gazed before them.

'Listen,'-Aayat began 'I'm sorry for being rude inside. It's just so hard for me to accept this all. It's too much for me. Zain told me everything. How you came here to search for Usmaan maamu and how you left him even though you loved him. He told me that I have a nephew. That my real parents are here and they don't know that I'm alive... wow. Isn't this too much? I just don't know what to do or say. I'm numb, confused. I'm even happy. So happy to know that I have you as my sister.'

Aaliya took a deep breath when she heard that word. Sister. She has just called her a sister. After so many years. She turned to look at Aayat who was expectantly looking at her.
'Please say it again.'-Aaliya whispered.

Aayat came closer to her and whispered back
'Appi'

Aaliya came closer to her and pulled her in a hug. The tears ran down their cheeks. Holding onto each other so thighly. Sisters finally met after so many years.

Zain run to them and hugged them both but they pushed him away.
'Arey, badtameez. Why don't you let me hug you?'
'It's sister moment. You shouldn't come in between.'-Aaliya laughed.
'Okay okay, at least thank me for that.'
Aaliya looked at him and said:
'I will thank you when we're alone.'

Aayat whistle to this and three of them laughed.

'Oh, I want to meet my nephew. Can you please bring him here?'-Aayat asked Aaliya.
'Sure. We will go home and come back with him.'-she said and smiled at her sister.
'Aaliya, I'll go home and bring Zaid here. Please stay here with her. Have some fun, talk. You have to say a lot to each other.'

Zain left the house and Aaliya went to the car with him.
'Zain.'-she called out and moved closer to him. 'Thank you so much.'
He just smiled at her and went to sit in the car when she pulled him back and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

He looked at her back while she was running back into the house, without looking back. He smiled.

A half an hour later he came back carrying his crying son. Zaid didn't want to stop and was looking for his mother. Aaliya ran to open the house door. Her son stretched out his hands to her and she took him in her arms. Zaid grabbed her hairs and put his head in it. She looked at Zain and smiled while she was trying to calm her son.

'He loves to smell my hair.'-she shortly explained. Zain nodded.

Aayat was sitting on the couch when small Abdullah family walked in. She looked up to see that adorable family. Slowly, she stood up and moved towards them. Aayat carried Zaid's back and hugged Aaliya. She looked at Zain.

'Zain, take care of them. They are the most precious two you will ever have. Don't ever let them down.'
'I won't. I did it once and I lost them. Not anymore. Everything they ask for will be given to them.'
'I won't hurt him anymore. I promise that. He was in pain for so long and I thought it's only me in pain. When I finally saw him I could see that pain in his eyes. Now we are family again.'

Aayat hugged them both and finally took Zaid away from Aaliya. She gave him a huge lollypop and Zaid right away kissed her cheek.
Aaliya laughed at this..

"Why he did this?'-Aayat asked surprised.
'I told him to always do this when someone gives him something he likes. He obviously loves lollypops.'
'Just like you do.'
'How do you know what I like?'
'Come on Aaliya. Of course you love lollypops. Just look at me. I'm biggest lollypop you could ever get and I know you love to lic..'

Before she could finish his sentence, Aaliya pushed him.
'Don't talk like that. Your son is here.'

That was the first time Zain saw Aaliya blushing. He was surprised to see her like that. But he couldn't understand why. When he wanted to ask her about it, she moved to Aayat.

'Aayat, can I talk to you? About the people that raised you up.'
'Sure.'-she agreed and handed Zaid to Zain.

Aayat and Aaliya went outside while Zain and Zaid were having some father-son time.

Two sisters sat down on the bench on the terrace.
Aaliya started first:
'Who were people that took care of you for so long?'
'Their names were Zubaida and Saleem. Two people who were the best parents on earth. They were always there for me. I know that Usmaan maamu brought he here when I was ten and they decided to take care of me no matter what. I was like their child. Their son, Zubair, is like my elder brother. Well he is. Always there for me no matter what. They didn't make me feel unwanted, ever. I wish you could meet them, appi. They died in a car accident last year. Zubair is now in Delhi, working as doctor and is really good. That's why I wanted to be a doctor, too.'

Aaliya smiled.
'So they were good people. At least, they've given you the best. Just as much as you deserve. Our parents maybe would never be able to give you this much. But I know how much they loved you that they abandoned me. They never choose me over you. It was always you for them. I wanted actually to meet them. I guess it's just bad luck.'

'Appi, I want to meet our parents.'

Aaliya looked at her.
'Are you sure? Why?'
'I just want to see them and ask them some questions. I have so many questions to ask them, actually. Not only a few. Can I see them?'
'Of course you can! Don't ask me that. They're your parents. When do you want to meet them?'
'Tomorrow.'
'Okay, tomorrow then. Now let's in. I need to feed Zaid and to see if Zain is fine. I hope he's alive as Zaid is such a devil when he finally finds his comfort zone.'

Laughing, they went in. There were Zain and Zaid sitting on the floor. Zaid was sitting on Zain's lap and they were watching some cartoon while Zain was feeding his son. Aaliya moved forward and sat down beside them. Zaid looked at her and gave her one of his adorable smiles. She layed her head on Zain's shoulder and he kissed her hair. They were sitting like that for some time when Zaid turned around and touch Aaliya's cheeks.

'Daaad'-he called out looking at Zain. 'Zaid sleeeeeep.'- he said.

Aaliya and Zain were looking at their son surprised. Zain felt the tears fall down his cheeks. His son called him dad for the first time. He pulled Zaid in hug and started to hum some sweet, but unknown song. A few minutes later, Zaid was sleeping in Zain's arms. Aaliya helped him pack their stuff and said goodbye to Aayat.

They left her house and went there where they belong. Zain didn't want to go back in Barkat Villa. He opened the new door to their new lives. The apartment where they always wanted to live in. They moved to their own world. Finally, together.