Veer Zaara (Two Names Which Can Never Be Called Together)

Chapter 3 - A Tour Around India

Later in Pakistan . . .

"Get out of here! I don't want to see your face!" Maryam yelled at Shabbo for being so childish.

"Who asked you to give the money to Zaara?" She continued asking a tearful Shabbo.

"You know I can't say no to Zaara. Even if I could, she would've taken the money forcibly anyway." Shabbo managed to say between her soundless sobs.

"And she's not off to the market to buy bangles, but to India. Wasn't this important enough to tell me?!" Maryam asked in distress.

"She made me pledge our friendship."

"Pledge of friendship? There's a limit to childishness!" Maryam scolded her for being so irresponsible and suddenly the phone rang and Shabbo walked toward the phone to pick it up.

"Hello?" Shabbo said into the phone and the next second she screamed out Zaara's name delightfully.

"Zaara, are you alright?" Maryam had walked over and snatched the phone from Shabbo's hand.

"I'm perfectly fine. You don't need to worry about me." Maryam heard her daughter say and she felt as if a big burden had lifted off of her. She was relieved to find out that her Zaara was safe and sound.

"What is this nonsense, Zaara? Do you know what I'm going through right now? Only when I was going to the police that this idiot Shabbo told me that you were off to India. You just come back. Come back home immediately."

"But Mom, the border closes at four thirty and I haven't even reached Kiritpur yet."

"Oh Allah! What sin am I being punished for? Now it's about to be evening- Why did you go alone? Had I not promised you that I would send the ashes to India?!" Maryam started scolding Zaara.

"But I had also promised Bebe that I would take her ashes there myself."

"Zaara, is this a little trip from Lahore to Pindi that you just took off like that? Have you gone mad?"

"I'm really sorry, Mom. But after all my explaining you were still unable to understand me. Until now, I've done nothing really important in my life nor will I be able to do anything great in the future. My life, like yours, will be spent being a good wife and a good mother but after doing this, I will always be proud of myself that I helped someone attain salvation. Mom, now that I've come so far I will only return after completing my work. But if you stay angry with me then my journey will get bad luck."

"Stop your nonsense! Can a mother ever wish bad luck for her daughter? I've been crying nonstop for eight hours, you want me to cry some more?"

"Relax, Mom. I'm cool."

"Yeah, you're the only one who's cool and we are the fools. If your father returns home before you do then-"

"Don't worry, Mom. Dad will only be back till next week, and I'm coming back tomorrow. Mother I have to hang up now, there's a long queue."

"Wait, listen! Take care of yourself and don't eat any junk food and don't talk to any strangers and keep calling me, alright? And don't be scared, my blessings are always with you, my dear. Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Zaara said and Maryam hung up the phone and wiped a tear from her cheek. She had not realized when her baby Zaara had grown up, when she had become so mature, so sensible and so brave.

"Why are you worrying? Our Zaara is no less than a boy. She can get her way anywhere." Shabbo said.

"Thank God that she's safe. This girl had scared the life out of me- Why are you  talking to me?! I told you to get out of my sight!"