Asif: Ayesha, please!

Ayesha: Why are you here? What do you want after all these years?

Asif: I want to see her.

Ayesha: No! I'm not letting you be anywhere around her.

Asif: Please, I beg you!

Ayesha: No!

Warm tears start trailing down her face. Daksh is listening to their banter attentively.

Asif: Please!

Ayesha: No!

There's a frown on his face.

Asif: Let me know if you need any help!

Ayesha: Mr. Khan, you already have helped us enough!

Ayesha joins her palms and points towards the door with her palms. He nods his head with a dejected look. He starts towards the door.

Daksh: Ayesha, listen to him before jumping to a conclusion!

Ayesha: Daksh, do you not remember what happened three years ago? You may be able to get past it, but I can't.

Daksh: I'm not telling you to forget it or forgive him, but listen to his side of the story as well.

Asif: Give me a chance. I can explain! You have listened to her side now listen to mine, please.

Ayesha: I haven't listened to either side.

Daksh: What?

Ayesha: After that night, she never said a word about it!

Asif's face holds a hangdog look. He tells her the whole story. She holds a neutral look at the end of it.

Asif: Please, let me see her once!

Ayesha reluctantly nods her head. He gives her a faint smile and rushes towards the door. He grips the handle but stops. He turns to look at the two.

Asif: Please, don't ever tell her what I told you two!

They nod their head. Asif meets up with the doctor ignoring the three. The doctor takes him to his cabin and helps him slip into the PPE kit after wearing his.

Doctor: You will have to stay in the glass room upfront. You can't go past that because it increases the chances of spreading viruses and infection to her.

Asif nods his head. The doctor fishes out a key and lets him in the room. They go into the small glass room to their left. The doctor quickly closes the door behind them. Asif's heart drops to the pit of his stomach seeing Jaimi in this condition. He tries to get a glimpse of her face that is now facing the right.

Asif: I-Is she sleeping?

Doctor: She is in a coma.

Asif: What happened?

His voice was barely audible as it came out like a whisper due to the lump that formed in his throat.

Doctor: We don't know how it happened, but she has suffered traumatic injuries. She has second-degree burns on her back and arms. She went into a coma due to a lack of oxygen reaching her brain.

Asif: W-when will s-she w-wake up?

Doctor: We can't say anything. We can only hope and pray that she wakes up before three weeks or it will cause some serious damage. I will leave you at that. Excuse me!

The doctor steps out of the room and slides the door shut. He goes to the reception to pick up a few files.

Doctor: Remind me after fifteen minutes to get Mr. Khan out of Ms. Patel's room!

Pakeeza walks to the room and peeps in from the small round window.

Pakeeza: What is he doing here in such clothes?

Asif's body numbs and he holds the wall for support. He stands against the wall opposite the window. His body gives up and he lets his back slide against the wall until he is sitting on his bottom. The emotions that he buried years ago come out in the form of tears. After a few minutes of letting the tears run down his face, he stands up on his feet. He puts his hand on the glass window.

Asif: I'm sorry Jay!

His mask is soaked with unstoppable tears.

Asif: I know you hate me, but please get up and talk to me once. Slap me or do anything you want, but wake up. I know I hurt you, but I love you. I can never love anyone else other than you. Please, just wake up for me. Talk to me once! I will do whatever you ask of me. Just once, Jay!

Pakeeza angles her head to see the patient not sure if it's the same person whose name she read in the register. She couldn't see the face clearly, but she could see the mole on the left side just above her lip. She swallows hard as the memories come running back. Ayesha walks out of Daksh's room once he's asleep. She sees Pakeeza peeping inside the room. The doctor goes into the room and walks out with Asif a minute later.

Ayesha: Asif, are you ok?

He takes off his mask and goggles. The other two come running from where they're sitting. He steps out of his PPE kit. His eyes are blood red and his clothes are glued to his body due to the excessive sweating. A nurse brings a water bottle for him. Ayesha has him drink the water once he sits down. He catches his breath and goes to the bathroom. He washes his face a few times. Ayesha leaves for the office after receiving an important call. Asif comes out after some time and goes straight to the elevator followed by the other three. He drives home in silence. Neither of them dares to question him about his state.

They reach home. He freshens up and changes into a t-shirt and jeans. He walks to a nearby mosque. He performs salah. He is sitting on his knees now with his hand raised to his ears.

Asif: Ya Ali, I know I have hurt her, but she is my lifeline. I cannot live without her. Give her life! She has always fought for what is right and protected your pure souls from evil. Shower her with your blessings. I thank you for all I have, but please bless me with her life. I know this is my first time praying in the last three years. Bless that child of yours!

Asif gets up after completing his prayer. He gets a multicolored dhaga(thread) and ties it on a marble mesh. He walks out of the mosque and sees his father, Ali, who is shocked to see him here. He nods his head and waits till his father finishes his prayers. They sit in a small park and chat for some time before going back to their new home. They take off their Kufri cap and place it securely on a rack.

Pakeeza: Where were you?

Asif walks past her. She grabs his hand.

Ali: At the mosque!

Pakeeza: Not you, him!

Ali: We were at the mosque!

Pakeeza is clearly shocked.

Pakeeza: Ya Allah, you finally heard my prayers and brought my son back on the right track.

Ali: Where is Aahna?

Adaa: She went to the park with Saqib(Asif's brother) and Anabia(Asif's sister).

He nods his head and locks the door. She cups his cheeks.

Pakeeza: You finally left the past behind and are starting new. I'm so happy!

Asif steps back away from her like her touch is a curse. Adaa is looking down at the floor as she twiddles with her dupatta(scarf).

Asif: I went to the mosque to pray for her well-being.

Pakeeza: When will you forget her and start new?

Asif: Never!

Pakeeza: You can't hold on to the past. You have a daughter!

Asif: Don't drag Aahna in this! I love Aahna with all my heart, but this marriage has no meaning for me other than a relation that I have to honor for the sake of my daughter and society.

Pakeeza: That girl is not right for you!

Asif: Ammi(mom), I'm not a five-year-old. I know what is right and wrong. And, if we are talking about right and wrong then, why don't we talk about what you did. Was that right?

Pakeeza: For how long are you going to lecture me about it?

Asif stares at her for a minute before turning on his feet.

Asif: I want to be alone so don't bother me!

His voice is stern and commanding. He walks into his room without looking back even once.

Pakeeza: Why don't you talk to him? I'm his mother! I only wanted him to be happy.

Ali: Your actions made his life miserable. Adaa, don't get me wrong. You are like my daughter, but Pakeeza your rash decision and promise spoiled three lives. The one who you wanted to be happy is suffering.

Pakeeza: But I...

Ali: He never prayed since he was separated from her, but today he went to the mosque with his own will and he prayed for her, not for himself or anyone else. He prayed for that girl! He loves her till heaven and back. Your motherly instinct has blinded you, but I'm not blind. I can see him suffer without her. He is moving away from himself and everyone else around him because she is not with him. He isn't happy in this forced marriage or neither will be able to keep Adaa happy. That girl who you are speaking down about, don't forget that she gave your daughter a new life!

He sighs and takes a deep breath.

Ali: I don't know when you will understand this, but your son loves her more than his life! He is torturing himself for hurting her.

Saying this, Ali leaves to go to his room.

Asif is sitting against the bed on the floor in his bedroom. He takes out his wallet from his pocket. He opens it up and sees the picture. Warm tears start to flow out of his eyes once again. They eventually give up and close due to exhaustion. His wallet falls in his lap as he dozes off.

A little child walks into the room. She settles herself in his lap. She takes hold of his wallet and stares at the picture. She sees Asif holding a girl by her forearm as she slides down the railing of a staircase. Her hair is flying in the air smoothly and is wearing her beats. She is wearing a white denim short jumpsuit with a white top underneath. Asif looks like he's out of breath as he's running to catch up with her. They are smiling widely. She flips that section to see another picture. She sees the same girl sitting in a shopping cart wearing a denim jacket and shorts with a white tank top. She is winking and her mouth has formed a pout while her hands form a peace sign. Asif is pushing the cart with his tongue sticking out to the side as he poses for a picture.

Adaa: Aahna!

Aahna quickly hides the wallet in her lap. Asif wakes up hearing the commotion around him. Adaa freezes in her spot seeing Asif fully awake.

Adaa: I-I'm sorry! I was looking for Aahna. I didn't know she came in here.

Asif: It's fine! I'll drop her off outside in some time.

Adaa: Everyone is waiting for you for dinner.

Asif: I'm not hungry!

She leaves the room knowing there's no point in arguing with him. Aahna holds out the pictures and his wallet.

Aahna: Papa, who is this?

Asif looks down to see Aahna holding the two pictures.

Asif: She... she's an angel.

Aahna: An angel?

Asif hums in response at her innocent face.

Aahna: Can she fly and do magic?

Asif: No sweetheart!

Aahna crosses her arms and puffs her cheeks.

Aahna: She's not an angel!

Asif: She is an angel baby!

Aahna: She doesn't fly or do magic.

Asif: Not every angel flies or does magic, sweetheart! She fights the bad people to protect the good ones like you and that's what an angel does with or without magic.

Aahna: I want to meet angel!

Asif: She is sleeping!

Aahna: Like the sleeping princess who waits for her prince?

Asif nods his head not knowing what to say.

Aahna: Papa be her prince and wake her up. I want to meet her!

Asif: I wish I could, but your angel is mad at me!

Aahna: Why?

Asif: Because I was being a bad boy!

Aahna: I will tell her not to be angry at you when she wakes up.

Asif forces a smile on his lips. He plays with Aahna for a few minutes before going to the living room. He sees Saqib talking with the others.

Asif: Where is Anabia?

Saqib: She's studying in her room. How is she?

Asif shakes his head and looks down.

Asif: Don't tell Anabia about her. You know she's very sensitive towards her!

Saqib nods his head.

Pakeeza: Eat something! You haven't eaten since the morning.

Asif: I'm not hungry!

Saying this, he grabs a water bottle and locks himself in his room. He takes out an album and lets his fingers caress the pictures as he walks down memory lane where there was nothing but smile and happiness. 

**********

Adaa Khan as Adaa Khan

Aahna