Azure

Chapter Nine: To him we return.

Its been two months since kaya wedding. It was the first week of October.

I started to love going to work even more if possible, and it was mostly because of Vernice. I had never been so attached to my patients like I am with Vernice right now. She was simply another story, which I tremendously love.

Then there's mama, she has been pestering me non stop, asking me to get married.

I was seated in the library when I heard the house bell screeching continuously.

Who ever this person was, has no manners at all.

I pulled the door open looking pissed to come face to face with Hana.

"Arza! Kayas dhadi passed away." she whispered, her lips quivering.

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon! how?! when?!" I yelled.

"I don't know! I called kaya as soon as I found out and it was Leah who answered the phone, she said kaya wouldn't talk to anyone and Asif has gone out of town for business purpose. I hope she's okay though" Hana replied.

"Alright give me a second, you head to my room, I'll inform mama and be right with you" I said speed walking towards the stairs.

If Hana had replied, I heard none of it.

I couldn't believe dhadi has passed away. Dhadi lived with Zuhair uncle, kayas dad. Hana and myself were extremely close to kayas dhadi, in fact, she was like a dhadi to us too, when the three of us were small, we used to have play dates at each others place and whenever we went to kayas place, her dhadi would come to our playhouse which was situated in kayas garden, it was a huge tent made out of old blankets, mats and pillows, and in between kayas dhadi would come give us snacks and drinks, then she would then sit down with the three of us around her and she would narrate stories of her life.

I tapped mamas room door twice before entering.

Mama was seated on her sofa reciting the Quran

"Mama, kayas dhadi has passed away." I said.

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon. ya Allah, how?" mama asked keeping the Quran aside and getting off the sofa hurriedly.

"I don't know mama." I replied softly "Hana is the one who informed me, and she's waiting for me. Are you coming?" I asked

"Yes I am." mama replied

~~~~~~~~~

To say kaya didn't look like a mess would be a lie. Her face was swollen and her eyes were red from all the crying, and to make things worse, Asif was not here too, but he's cut his trip short and is on his way back.

I found out that dhadi had passed away in her sleep. Since Asif was away, kaya said she would sleep with dhadi since she missed her a lot.

Kaya had tried waking her up for Fajr and dhadi wouldn't budge, and then she noticed dhadi wasnt breathing.

The fact that dhadi was right next to kaya when she passed is what petrified her the most.

Right now all the gents were at the burial ground, they left right after the maghrib prayers.

"Zahra aapi. Assalamu alaikum." I said smiling when I noticed her standing close.

"Wa alaikum assalam! Here you are! I thought you had not come." she said smiling

"Dhadi is like my own grandmother, and that'd be crazy of me to not come, and that too when kaya is a state like this? there's no way I wouldn't come" I replied to her.

"Huh. I never knew you were close to dhadi!" she said looking surprised.

"I've been coming over to kayas place since I was 10, and so meeting dhadi basically all the time, she became another dhadi to me." I replied smiling.

"You guys are so cute mashaallah. I am so glad we moved here. Our old place was boring, but now I've got you guys to keep me company." she replied happily.

"Alhamdulillah." I said laughing.

From across the room I saw mama signaling for me, so I said my salams to Zahra aapi and left.

"Habibti, I've ordered dinner, there's a lot of people here and of course Zareena aunty can not be thinking of such silly things like feeding people" mama said

"Oh jazakallah mama." I replied smiling

"Go talk to kaya please, its shattering to see her like that." mama said looking at Kaya seated at the far end of the room by herself.

"I'm scared mama. I don't know what exactly to say to her. I think she needs some time to take everything in." I replied

"She has had more than 12 hours to her self now. You should talk to her." mama said sternly

I nodded my head and walked to kaya.

I sat down next to her and took her hands in mine.

"Jaani. Please stop. Yes you can cry, but don't hurt yourself in the process. You do know we all have to leave one day yes? We have to go when we are called. That's life." I said softly while hugging her from the side.

She sobbed into my shoulders.

"But Arza. why would she leave us?"

"She has no choice. She has to leave when she is called. All of us do. You seated her crying wont do anything love, but if you want to cry it all out its fine, but I would suggest for you to go pray and recite for her instead. The azaan for maghrib was said sometime back, I'm going to pray, do you want to join me?" I said wiping away her tears which kept flowing continuously.

She nodded her head and slowly got up with me.

Hana who was previously helping mama with the food joined us on our way to take ablution

It was around 10pm when Asif returned, a millisecond into hugging him was all it took for her to break down all over again.

Only after I saw her tucked into bed by force, did I leave for home.

I stood out, wearing my flats when I saw Aisha aunty come out with Lana.

"Hello aunty. Assalamu alaikum." I said to Aisha aunty and waved at Lana.

"Wa alaikum assalam! how are you darling? long time!" then upon noticing mama standing close she continued "Is this your mama?"

"Yes aunty!" I replied and introduced them to each other.

Lana and I got into conversation while we waited for both our mothers to be done with theirs.

In the middle of our conversation I saw some one walk in our direction which made me look away from lana.

It was Arhaan.

He came and stood by us maintaining a distance.

"Aren't we leaving yet?" he asked Lana

"Not yet, mama is talking." she replied

"Okay..." he replied lazily.

He then looked at me and gave out a cute smile.

I looked back at Lana trying to act like I hadn't see him smile, because for some reason, I felt like things were getting awkward between us.

~~~~~~~~

I lay on my bed thinking of all that happened today. I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that dhadi was gone. it was an eye opener. I couldn't imagine stepping into kayas place and not see dhadi around. It would be insane, but time heals.

After all, This world was not eternal.