Hadh...Out of Limit

Chapter 26: Abducted

A week passed since Zahid had been buried, Shiza was still trying hard to cope up with the loss. She wanted to visit Ashar, but it seemed as if he wanted to be left alone. Meanwhile, in amidst of all this, Zuhaan gets a call from Raghvan about things going out of hands, however Zuhaan did not leave. Raghvan called him every now and then but Zuhaan was adamant and did not leave. Finally, one day, Shiza told him took the charge.

"Zuhaan?", called Shiza. Zuhaan stood on the terrace, looking at the city market, at people walking and doing their daily course without any issues. Wondering, how each one is going through something or the other in life and still putting on a happy face. He answered casually without turning back, "Huh?"

"You go", said Shiza with all the courage she had in her. To this Zuhaan turned around in, more of a shock, "Excuse me?"

"Indore", she said and then added, "Pithampur. Paper mill?", she said

"Shiza. It alright. It can wait", said Zuhaan in his normal expression-less tone.

Shiza paused, gulped in some more courage and then added, "Mr, Raghvan had been calling you non-stop. He has never done that before has he? May be it is an emergency?". Zuhaan glanced at Shiza in amazement, then said, "Shiza but, you---", but Shiza Interrupted him, "Zuhaan please. I have seen the situation there, it may need you, people are terrified there. I will be fine, Trust me."

"Are you sure?", confirmed him

"Yes I am sure", replied Shiza.

Soon enough Zuhaan was packing and was getting ready to leave, still skeptical about leaving Shiza in this situation alone. He wanted to take her along, but she wanted to stay.

It was now the time for Zuhaan to leave. All his stuff was kept in the car and he greeted everyone in the house. He glanced at Shiza and walked towards the door. However, no organ of his body wanted him to leave. Every muscle in his body, every inch of his heart and mind shouted him to stay and not leave. He paused, right before stepping out of the door, he turned around and looked at her. She stood on the stairs, 4th stair-case and was glancing back at him. Zuhaan sighed and walked towards the staircase, he was amazed at himself for doing what he was doing. It felt to him as if, his feet were not listening to him and were walking towards her. He stood there in front of her, since she was now completely on the ground floor. He looked her in the eye, he kept his right hand on her delicate shoulders softly and said, "Shiza", this time, her name sounded new to her. It was soothing to her ears, her name had ever sounded so melodious before. It sounded so different then what it sounded usually. This time, his voice had something else in it, something that Shiza was not able to figure out. All she knew was, she wanted to listen to this more.

 Meanwhile the audience was in a state of alien-view.

"Please take care of yourself", he said, and he sounded like honey. Shiza couldn't speak but nod. She was speechless. Zuhaan however continued, "Also, promise me you will call me, daily", he paused, looked around at the audience and added, "I have to know whatever is going on here and how Ashar is coping up", he looked at lost Shiza and shook her a little, "Okay", and Shiza Nodded softly. And just when he was about to leave, "Zuhaan", she stopped him by grabbing his right hand, it surely sent shivers down her spine and Zuhaan's too, which was again, new to both, "You be okay?", she said to which Zuhaan nodded and left.

Later that day, Parvez sat in his study and was smiling to himself when Zaid entered, "Looking cheerful today are we now?".

"Oh [chuckles], well yes. Very much", replied the cheerful man. 

"Any specific reason?", questioned Zaid sitting down on the carpet in front of Parvez.

"See Son, these are dark times for all of us here. Whatever is happening around us, is a tragedy", said Parvez when Zaid dropped his face, Parvez then continued, "Son, these are the times when people look for light. Just a tiny, little ball of light that tells us that everything will be fine. Just for a little motivation, we look places and skies. But, lesser do we, that we are looking at all the wrong places. Then we give up", he said when Zaid look up at him, in confusion, still remembering clearly that Parvez was smiling when he came inside. Then Parvez, however, continued, "But just then, a tiny ball of light appears. Not from the places we looked at, but the place we thought was the darkest. The tiny ball of light motivating us, telling us, that 'not everything is going wrong'. "