Zoya was sitting alone in a dark room. The calm breeze coming from the open window would occassionally hit Zoya's face and bring a certain kind of peace. Her thoughts were wandering mostly around Sahir. It was crazy. She had never thought of falling in love again. Infact the very idea of 'love' itself would scare her deepest cores. After all she went through, she never thought that she and love would cross paths again but maybe that is the whole beauty of love. We never know how and when we will meet the one who will strike the very cord of our souls. Moreover, the idea of love is very subjective. Love holds various definitions for people. Love is a powerful emotion. Correction. Love is the only powerful emotion. Love is what makes a mother sacrifice her wishes for her children. Love is what makes a soldier die for his country. Love is what makes you strong enough to fight the world.
Zoya had been denying her feelings for Sahir since a long time. Maybe it was time to accept it. No, Zoya was not scared to love anymore. She was always scared of not getting loved back. Her scars were deep and dark that reminded of things love did to her. Yet her powerful self accepted her love for Sahir. This time love was liberating. This time Zoya didnt expect love in return of it. This time Zoya just wanted to love. Love this man with all his heart. If you contemplate , you cant really find reasons of her falling for Sahir. Maybe she couldnt find it too. Maybe you will label it as attraction but Zoya's heart knew that she had fallen deeply in love. That was the beauty of her love. She had no reason to love him yet she did. Maybe thats why her love was not bound to end. Maybe her love for him was here to stay forever.
There was a sound of doorbell. Zoya quickly turned the lights on and gave herself a quick look in the mirror. She opened the door expecting Sahir.
"Noor? Aap yaha kya kar rahi hai?" Zoya said trying to hide the dissapointment in her voice.
"Wow Appi! Aap kitni sundar lag rahi hai!" Noor was awestruck.
Zoya was all claded in black Saree with sleevless blouse. The diamond earrings paired with it just added onto the look. Her hair was untied and curled perfectly. The face as usual had the touch up of Kajal and eyeliner.
"Kaha jaa rahi hai Appi? Arshad se milne?" Noor asked in an excited voice.
"Hum Arshad se itna tayyar hokar kyu milenge?" Zoya was least interested in anyone right now.
"Toh kaun?" Noor gave Zoya a puzzled look.
"Sahir." Zoya replied vaguely. She didnt want Noor to doubt her. Not yet. She doesnt even know what Sahir feels.
Noor opened her mouth to speak something when the doorbell rang.
"Woh aa gaye!" Zoya had a wide smile on her face as she rushed to the door. The sudden expression change didnt go unnoticed by Noor.
Zoya welcomed Sahir with her brightest smile.
It was Sahir's turn to be awestruck. The woman in front of him looked no less than a Goddess.
"You look.." Sahir tried to form a sentence. 'HOT ' was what he wanted to say. 'Good' was what came out.
"You look good." He said.
Sahir's eyes met a young girl standing behind Zoya.
"Ohh..this is my younger sister Noor." She introduced.
"Hello." Sahir said with a smile. Noor replied with the same warmth.
There was absolute silence after that. Noor sensed the awkwardness.
"Accha Appi, abhi aap jaaiye. Hum aapse kal milte hai." Noor said breaking the silence.
"Theek hai. Aapko ghar drop kar de? I hope that wont be a problem?" Zoya looked at Sahir for confirmation. Sahir nodded.
"Nahi Appi. Hum chale jaayenge." Noor said and quickly left. Being the third wheel was the last thing she wanted to be.
She got out and reached the parking area.
"Ya Allah, Appi, aapko Sahir se pyaar hai aur waha bechare Arshad na jaane humari wajah se kya - kya khwaab dekh rahe hai." Noor knew Zoya way too well. Just the way Zoya behaved in that very moment with Sahir, Noor knew that Zoya was in love. However, now her concern was to stop Arshad's proposal. It would not only break his heart but also disturb Appi. After a very long time, Zoya was happy. Noor didnt want to let that happiness go.
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"So chale?" Sahir asked Zoya who was actually checking him out.
"Yes. Stay here. I will bring my purse." Zoya left for her room.
Sahir was looking around the house when he spotted a calendar on the wall. The weird part was that various dates on it were marked by various symbols. They were handmade perhaps describing the significance of the day. He was closely observing it when he found a 'heart' symbol marking the date 11th October. Something hit Sahir straight. That was the day 3 years back when Sahir and Zoya were supposed to get married. That was the first day, Zoya met Sahir. Was'nt that suppose to be a bad day considering the events that took place. Why was it marked with love?
"You are thinking way too much Sahir. You dont even know her. She could have various reasons for that. Her life doesnt revolve around you. Heck, you are not even her friend that she would think of you." Sahir tried to reason with himself. Only if he knew that Sahir was himself Zoya's world.
"Yeah lets go." Zoya came out of her room.
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Zoya and Sahir were sitting in the most fancy restaurant of the city.
They were waiting for their orders to arrive.
"So Zoya? Why did you go to London for higher studies? I have heard that India has some good law colleges as well." Sahir asked.
"The reasons were personal." Zoya said in a soft tone.
"Sahir.. I mean Sir.." Zoya began to speak after a moment of silence.
"Zoya.. I have already told you, you can call me Sahir unless you want to touch my feet again out of respect." Sahir said smiling.
"No.. this man would leave no chance to embarrass me ever." Zoya thought to herself.
Sahir looked at Zoya and could see her face getting red.
"Honestly Zoya, you really think I am that old? God I really need to do something now to hide my age." Sahir was in no mood to stop the teasing.
"Nahi.. aisa nahi hai Sahir." Zoya said almost instantly.
"Toh kaisa hai Zoya? I mean come on we were supposed to get married 3 years back." It was not intentional but it had slipped Sahir's mouth and now there was nothing he could do. Zoya instantly shifted her gaze to Sahir. Finally, it was something she was dying to talk about.
"Sahir, ek baat pooche?" Zoya asked hesitantly.
"Hmm." Sahir knew what was coming but there was no escape now.
"Why did you run from engagement that day?" Zoya asked.
"The same reason you did. Zoya, we both know that it was kind of forced. I really didnt want to ruin the life of any innocent girl who was stepping into my house with hopes. I didnt want her to suffer because of me. So I escaped." Sahir replied with honesty.
"Hmm.. that just makes me respect you so much more." Zoya said with a sense of admiration.
"For God's sake Zoya, one more time you talk about your 'respect' for me, I am going to escape this dinner as well." Sahir said pretending to be annoyed.
"Accha Accha Sorry." Zoya smiled.
"Aur Sahir.. aapne uss din woh gustakhi kyu thi?" Zoya wasnt sure how Sahir would react to this but she couldnt help herself from asking.
Sahir was silent. Zoya thought perhaps she shouldnt have asked it.
"I am sorry, Hume nahi puchna chaiye tha." Zoya said in an apologetic tone.
"Nahi its ok.. It was because of my wife Aarzoo." Sahir took a deep breath. Never has he ever talked about Aarzoo to anyone since she went missing but there was something so honest and innocent about Zoya that he wanted to bare his heart out in front of her. Zoya was that one light in his fading life that gave him strength to live.
"Aarzoo and I were happily married.. however things took a sudden turn. For some unknown reason, Aarzoo wasnt the same anymore. She behaved differently. No matter how hard I tried, she was always complaining and demanding. There was this one day when I had planned a big surprise party for her. That day I went home early. Aarzoo loved surprises. I thought maybe this would rejuvenate our love. As soon as I entered the room, I saw something that I couldnt imagine even in my nightmares. Aarzoo was in bed with someone semi clad. He was all over her. They were kissing each other and running hands all over each other. " Sahir was about to choke so he went silent. Zoya was shocked. She was out of words. She knew no words could ease his pain right now. So she slowly placed her hand over his and gently pressed it. Sahir looked at her and continued,"That very day Zoya, life ended for me. You know what was the worst part, she was in bed with my very own brother, Zaki. I lost everything that day Zoya. Everything. What you saw was one attempt. I have tried to kill myself numerous times. Everytime I tried, Universe saves me as if it wants to punish me." Sahir had never told about this to anyone, not even his mother. Honestly, it felt good . It felt as if a burden was off his chest. Zoya could feel the tears in her eyes. Sahir looked into her eyes. For some reasons unknown to him, Sahir hated those tears in her eyes.
"Its ok Zoya. Dont sympathise. Dont feel bad for me. Sahir Azeem Chaudhary doesnt need sympathy." Sahir said looking away.
"But Sahir Azeem Chaudhary does need have a heart that needs love." Zoya said looking straight into his eyes. In that very moment, he could feel the intensity in her eyes. Their moment was interrupted by the waiter who came with food. Neither of them spoke for the rest of the dinner.
It was time to leave.
"Umm Sahir, if you dont mind, can I drive?" Zoya spoke after a long duration of silence.
"Yes sure." Sahir handed her the keys.
Sahir was lost in his thoughts on the way back home when he realised Zoya was taking the other route.
"Zoya?? Where are we going?" Sahir asked.
"Some peaceful place." Zoya took a right turn and they reached on the banks on river Gomti. The same place Zoya saw Sahir for the first time. It was quiet as usual. Zoya gestured Sahir to follow her. They reached a spot from where the entire city was visible. There were dim lights that were casting its reflection on the river surface. Zoya gestured Sahir to sit beside her.
Sahir looked at Zoya who was silently admiring the beauty of nature around. He couldnt help but notice, the razor mark he saw the other day. It was partially visible from her blouse.
"Zoya." Sahir said softly.
Zoya turned to look at him. He extented his hand and touched that mark. Perhaps Sahir had no idea what his touch did to Zoya at that very moment. Her heart fluttered. First she was confused but later realised, where his hand was and she knew it was her turn now.
"Do you harm yourself?" Sahir asked.
"No. That wound is an old one." Zoya said.
"I was married too Sahir, with someone I thought was perfect. Yash Arora was his name"
"Yash Arora??? The one who had got a deal for me?" Sahir asked.
"Yes. He was really sweet to me before the wedding. I went against my family's wishes to get married to him. However, there was a total transition in him after marriage. All he wanted was money so that he can establish his business and I was the sole source of it." Zoya said.
"And he did this to you?" Sahir could feel his temper.
"You have no idea about the things he did to me." Zoya let out a small sad laugh. Her eyes could no longer hold the tears . Sahir shifted closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. That was it. That was the breaking point for Zoya. She burried her face in his chest and tightly clutched his shirt with tears flowing down her eyes. Sahir tightened the hold bringing her closer and gently rubbing her back.
She sobbed. She cried her heart out. Between her sobs, she managed to speak,
"Sahir yaad hai.. uss din jab aapne humare paer par bandage kiye tha and I held you and cried. It was because after so long somebody, that too a stranger, genuinely cared for me. You were a sharp contrast to the man I have been with. He brutally injured my feet once and that day you were just so nice to me that I couldnt help it. You know he would torture me with iron, with razor blades, he would beat me everyday. The worst part was that I was raped every single day. Sahir he broke me to the very core. " Zoya finally poured her heart out.
"Shh!! Its ok Zoya.. I am here. Right? Nothing will harm you now." Sahir tried to calm her down. At this moment, if Yash Arora would come in front of him, he would literally tear him into thousand pieces but right now he needed to be with Zoya. He needed to protect her.
They silently sat in that very position. There they were, two broken souls embracing each other, under the sky, probably on the path of healing each other.
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Ok you people better start loving me now for such quick updates. 😅
Well, daily updates ,not my cup of tea but its when I havent thougth about the story. Good news is I have now the entire plot with me including the end. Also, this is the 17th chapter,the story will have 30 chapters . So gear up for the story pacing up from now.

So how was the chapter? A much needed chapter it was I guess. They have finally opened up about their past. What do you think will happen next. Do comment n vote. Please.
Love
Shivja 😊