Broken

Stranger

Zoya tried hard but obviously she was not strong enough to carry this man. Zoya could'nt let someone die infront of her. She placed her hand in front of his nose to check his breathing. She panicked more when she realised his breath was weak. The only option she had was to call the ambulance. Though she knew it would mean that she will have to return to the city where she could easily be recognized but for now the priority was somebody's life. The kindness Zoya possessed would always place everyone else before her. So, she did what she felt was right. Within few minutes, she was in an ambulance with a stranger,whose life she desperately wanted to save.
She looked at the man and couldnt help but notice the striking features of his face. He was definitely a handsome man. His nose was typically sharp and the beard gave his face an intense look. However, what caught her attention was his attire. He was perfectly dressed in a tuxedo with a tie. He seemed rich and perhaps from a very well to do family.
"What would have driven him to take such a step?" Zoya wondered. Though she herself was living in something no less than hell, but she had never given up. She still believed that life would be better someday.
They soon reached the hospital and the man was rushed to ICU. Zoya's tears had not taken a hault since evening and she was tired. She silently waited outside the ICU. She soon heard someone ask her "Mam, how are you related to the person who is in the ICU?". She looked up and answered, "I dont know him. I found him in such condition so brought him here." The attendant nodded and was about to leave when Zoya called her out. "Excuse me, can you please check his belongings. In case he is carrying some card so that we can inform his family." "Ok mam, we will check." The attendant left.
It has been an hour but the doctors havent said a word.
The heavy attire was making it all more difficult for Zoya. She decided to ask for some spare clothes from the hospital authority. Thankfully, they were kind enough to provide her that.
She soon changed and was marching towards ICU when she saw a pregnant woman who had come for a check up and a man, probably ,her husband, was holding her hands and calming her down.
Flashback
"Yash, hume hospital bilkul bhi pasand nahi hai. yaha ki smell aur yeh khoon dekh kar hume chakkar aa jata hai. Hum nahi jaa rahe kahi. " Zoya said with a child like innocence. Yash smiled, held her hand and said, "Zoya, abhi toh bas 15 din huye hai, abhi aur 8 mahine hume aise hi hospital aana hoga.Aur waise bhi apna khayal rakho bas ek hafte mein humari shaadi hai, fir hum apne gharwaalon ko bhi yeh khush khabri de sakte hai."
Flashback ends.
Zoya placed her hand on her stomach and a tear drop trickled down her eyes.
She was brought back to reality when she heard the same attendant call her.
The attendant gave her a photograph and said,  "Mam, hume unke paas se kuch bhi nahi mila. Sirf yeh photo graph mili hai. Kya aap inhe jaanti hai?" Zoya looked at the photograph. It was of a young girl who was pretty and was smiling widely. Zoya smiled at the innocent face she saw. She realised that the attendant was still waiting for her response and she slightly nodded her head in dissapproval. "Ok mam, but we would need somebody to fill the documents. Also, hospital cannot afford treatment of someone for free."
"I will pay for him." Zoya was not sure why exactly she was helping this man. She did'nt even know his name. However, it felt right at the moment to do so and Zoya has always followed her heart.
As soon as attendant left, Zoya was yet again drawn towards the photo. She noticed there was something scribbled on the back of the photograph. After much of efforts, she read aloud 'Aarzoo'.

Zoya's phone started vibrating again. It was the tenth call from the same number. She read the name that flashed 'Abbu'.
Flashback
"Zoya, aap humari baat kyu nahi samajh rahi hai. Yash aapse sirf paiso ke liye shaadi karna chahte hai." Waseem said.
"Abbu, hum Yash se pyaar karte hai aur Yash humse. Humara nikaah unhi se hoga. Ab aapko yeh faisla lena hai ki aap humare saath honge ya nahi" Zoya was firm on her decision.
Flashback ends.
Zoya looked at the name till it stopped flashing.
"Kaash Abbu, Uss din humne aapki baat maan li hoti. Lekin na hum uss din aapki acchi beti bann paaye , na aaj".
The doctors came out of the ICU and Zoya rushed towards them with an anxious look. "How is he now?"
"He is stable. We are hoping he will be conscious in another 24 hours. He was brought here on time. It would have been difficult for us to save him if it was late" 
"Can I see him?" Zoya asked.
"Yes sure".
Zoya entered the room and quietly sat beside him. She looked at him and her heart gave a sudden ache. Why? She was full of compassion for others but it was yet different this time. Maybe, she felt his pain more than anybody else. She carefully caressed his hair. Just then she was summoned by a nurse to fill the forms. She followed her. She started filling the form.
Name - (after few minutes of thought, Zoya wrote.) Ayesha Malik.
Zoya knew that she was famous enough in the city to be recognized by her name. She did'nt want any trouble so she wrote a false one. After she had filled the form, she returned to his room only to see him conscious and heavily breathing. He was surrounded by few nurses and the doctor who was checking him up. Doctor came out and said "I think he wants to talk to you". Zoya entered the room and went close to him.
God! That was one of the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. It was so expressive and Zoya could read the pain it held.
"WHY THE HELL DID YOU SAVE ME? WANTED TO BE SOME SUPERHERO?" the man said in low but angry tone. Though at first Zoya was dissappointed but calmly answered, "isliye kyunki yeh Allah ki marzi thi. Allah chahte the ki aap jeeye. Tabhi toh uss banjar jagah jaha koi nahi aata , waha uss waqt hum maujood the jab aapne yeh gustakhi ki."
"THAT'S RIDICULOUS" the man said and tried to move but was unable to.
"Abhi aapko aaram ki zaroorat hai, hum yahi hai. Agar aapko kuch chahiye toh hume bata dijeyega". The man was shocked at her polite behaviour. In his life he has always been treated shit by everyone he ever loved but here was this stranger who had saved his life and was willing to take care of him even without knowing his name. Her behaviour calmed him down and he asked, " Are you paying my bills here?" Zoya smiled and said "for now, yes. You can return it to me later if you want."
"Naam kya hai tumhara?" The man asked still surprised at her kindness. Zoya hesitated for a moment and said, "Ayesha".
"Aur aapka?"
"Asif" the man said bluntly and turned his gaze from her towards the ceiling. He couldnt afford anybody to know his real identity.
After a few moments, when he turned towards her again to ask something, he saw her dozing off on the couch. Unknowingly, a smile grazed his lips and there he was,Sahir Azeem Chaudhary had smiled after a long time that too because of a stranger.
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I hope I am not spoiling this. Also, we have always seen men saving women so thought of breaking the stereotypes. Thoughts about the chapter? do comment, it will really help. :)