Once Upon A Time, A Thousand Tears Ago #Wattys2017

Chapter 50: Love you now, Love you forever

Chapter 50: Love you now, Love you forever

Dedicating this chapter to a magnificent reader @love4dils who has been a great support to my work. You are awesomeeeee. Also, let me celebrate the half century of my book with you guys. Here's to the first 50 chapters of my book. Never in my dreams,  had I thought that I could come this far. Thanks to Allah Almighty and thanks to every single person who has given this book a glance. Love

Zara's POV

Societal barriers, the reputation of the family, the honour of our parents and the ability to depress all wishes in the spur of a moment; everything contributed in forcing me to wear the traditional attire of a bride to get engaged to a person who is not desired by my heart but is the choice of my family. Who cares what I wished? No one. My family asked me once if I like Zaroon. I mean yeah right, it is really nice to ask me if I like him or not exactly one hour before the engagement. Did they really think that I would express my feelings at this time when I know that saying a 'no' would mean demoralising them? I can never do that and everyone knew it.

"Smile Zar. You are getting engaged in an hour." Kashaf is trying to uplift my spirit. Which spirit exactly? Is it the one that I am managing to bury under the engagement ring that will be placed on my finger? Sitting on the sofa in the green room of the hotel in which I am going to get engaged, I can barely think about the possibilities of getting back to Zayn again in my life. I won't go back now. What's the point of living a dream when you are not even capable of living a life the way you want? I hear a knock at the door and then the door opens. I see him; he is here, for me.

"Zayn Malik, no, this can't be, Zayn Malik." Kashaf screams and I try to silence her.

"Zayn, you are here." I try reaching him but the heavy bridal attire, the gold jewellery and the burden of the family reputation stop me immediately.

"Zara, what is this? Are you really getting married? You promised me." Zayn looks baffled at my betrayal. All suited in a black loose t-shirt and his black jeans; he looked spectacular and good enough to mesmerise me.

"Zayn, I was stupid to think that I had a fair share to decide about my life. I am sorry I led you on without knowing my limits. I saw dreams of you...of us, but everything is shattered now." I shed the tears that were struggling in my eyes from so long.

"I will never forgive you, Zara, if you do this to me. Here, take this." Zayn hands over a ticket to me; an air ticket to London. "In 2 hours, a flight is taking off from here to London, meet me at the airport. I am waiting for you there."

"Zayn, no, I can't do this. My family is here. They want me to do this. They want me to...."

"What do you want Zara?" Zayn approaches me and with full force embraces me. "I know you want me, I know you want this." Wiping off a tear from my eyes, Zayn leaves the room.

"Zara, he loves you," Kashaf speaks and for the first time in the given time space, I realise that she was here all the time. I look at her to see if she can lend me a shoulder to absorb off the pain that I feel at the moment. She gives me the warmest hug and I break down in her embrace.

"He thinks I am betraying him. He doesn't know that no one asked me anything. I love him Kashaf. He is my first love. I can't see him broken and I can't survive with this pain. Kashaf it would be better if I die. Kashaf I am....."

"Go with him, Zara." Kashaf shocks me with what she says.

"W-W-What?" I look at her in surprise.