Once Upon A Time, A Thousand Tears Ago #Wattys2017

Chapter 52: Exposed Truth

Biggest surprise ahead

Chapter 52: Exposed Truth

"Zara! I want to tell you something." Zayn speaks for the first time since he entered the room.

"Go ahead Mr Husband. You have all the right to say everything. Tell me that we will stay together for the next 100 years." I smile at myself for speaking so irrelevantly.

"Zara. Please sit." He motions me to sit on the bed. "There's something that I didn't tell you." He gazes my expressions.

"I know everything about you, Zayn. I have been a stalker fan of you before I became a part of One Direction. I know about the school you went to, I know about your relatives and friends. I don't think there's anything left." I smile again assuring him that he doesn't have to worry about anything.

"Listen. Don't interrupt while I am talking and don't move from your place." He instructs me solemnly which makes me suspicious.

"Okay."

"Zara, you do know that my mum is an Irish Christian and my father is a Pakistani Muslim. Right?" He questions

"Yeah, I know that."

"When my Dad married my mum, my grandfather, my father's father, he didn't approve the relationship. Since then, my paternal and maternal relatives have never been on good terms. My grandfather always accused my mum and her relatives for every bad thing that happened in our family." He moves towards the window to take in some air. I think he has been keeping all this in his heart for way too long. Then, he continues without making any eye contact. "Before the time I became famous, my grandfather tried to boycott my maternal relatives. I always felt bad for them, being bashed, being abused but I couldn't do anything. I wanted to give them respect but I wasn't ever able to." He makes an eye contact and I nod signalling that he can continue. "I became famous, we became rich but the bad blood that was in the family never really changed. In this chaos, Waliyha...." He coughs a little. Why is he so nervous about this matter?

" I am listening Zayn. Please continue." I support him.

"Waliyha fell in love with Shahveer."

"Who's Shahveer again?" I inquire.

"He's my cousin from my paternal side; My uncle's son."

"So, what's the problem?" I ask again.

"They both are madly in love with each other."

"Is that even a problem?"

"NO" He shouts "DO NOT INTERRUPT UNTIL I FINISH WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY" His strange reaction makes me question if it was really him. I had never seen him like this; so vulnerable, angry, repulsed by the atmosphere around. He begins the conversation once again, totally ignoring that his rude attitude was affecting me. "They both love each other and want to get married. But my grandfather has one condition. He says that they both can get married, only and only if I get married to a Muslim girl, unlike my mum."

So what's the problem, I am a Muslim girl and we got married. I want to say this out loud but his words telling me to not interrupt make me shut my mouth. This time, he looks straight into my calm eyes and speaks again. "Zara, I got married to you for this reason only. I... I love Victoria"

The words leave his mouth bringing me to a near shocked state, or may be a state of denial. I want him to deny whatever he said. But he continues, "I always had feelings for her. I proposed her but our marriage meant bringing destruction to my sister's life. My grandfather repeated his condition. My sister tried committing suicide twice. She could never imagine living without Shahveer and that was impossible if I would marry Victoria. So.... I.... I kinda..... I kind of used you. Now soon in a month or two, Waliyha will get married to Shahveer and then.... I ..... I will divorce you to get married to Victoria."

I don't remember when I stood up during this conversation but I fall on my knees as soon as the harsh words leave his mouth. Maybe there was a storm outside or inside that was bringing the chilled air; the air that made me freeze on my knees and made all the feelings of a living being disappear; numb. But this cold breeze should freeze my tears too. Why are they falling off my eyes and making my face wet? He didn't say all this. I'm sure he didn't say what I heard.

"Zayn, you still love me, right?" with quivering lips, a question leaves my mouth and my eyes long for the answer that I need. They are pleading for him to say something that could bring me back to my senses.

"You heard me. I love Victoria. I never loved you, Zara. You....You were just a part of my plan."

"Then why did you get married to me if you never loved me." I get up and shout at him with full anger and disgust.

"I had to.... For my sister's life and I said I will divorce you as soon as all the things are set right." He shouts back.

"DIVORCE. DIVORCE. I DIDN'T GET MARRIED TO YOU SO THAT YOU COULD DIVORCE ME. I MARRIED TO YOU BECAUSE I LOVED YOU ZAYN MALIK. I LEFT MY FAMILY FOR YOU. I LEFT WHATEVER I HAD....FOR YOU. I DID ALL THIS......." I am screaming and then everything goes blank.

Author's Note: That's the reason why the book is named, "Once upon a time, a thousand tears ago" Vote, Comment and give me your feedback how you feel about the whole situation.