Please see below for chapter 3.
Three
Zoya spent every minute every second she could with Asad and Najma knowing that they were soon going to be gone. And then that day came, Zoya stood by the door watching two loving people take Najma and Asad into their arms, they hugged and kissed them as if they really were their own. Zoya smiled as she cried, she was happy that they had found a family, parents they could call their own and then she was sad, the pain of losing the only two people she had learned to love were being taken away from her, it didn't matter how much she consoled herself or what anyone said to her the hurt never subsided.
Asad took Dilshad by her hand and walked towards Zoya 'this is Zoya...our friend...Zoya this is Am...' Asad couldn't bring himself to calling Dilshad Ammi, this was definitely something that was going to take him time 'Assalam O Alaikum Aunty' Zoya said as she held out her hand, Dilshad cupped her face and placed a soft kiss on her forehead 'Wa Alaikum Assalam Zoya, its lovely to meet you...Asad, we have to go, you can say bye to your friends' Asad and Zoya looked at each other they didn't need to say anything as their eyes communicated everything they were feeling at this very moment.
Najma jumped off of Rashid's lap and ran towards Zoya 'Api will you come and play with me at my new house...please...I will let you call me Tamatar' Zoya started laughing 'of course Tamatar...I will miss you...you be good and look after your Bhaijaan for me' Najma ran back to Rashid who picked her up so lovingly 'I guess I will see you soon' Asad said looking deep into her eyes 'soon' Zoya said as she started to retreat her steps. Asad looked at her not understanding why she was walking away from him, he wanted to meet her, hug her you take care Asad...thank you for everything' as soon as Zoya said that she turned around and ran off leaving Asad totally stumped.
Zoya waited and waited, days turned into weeks and weeks into months and still there was no news from Asad. She often sat and wondered if it was all a dream but it couldn't have been as the tattoo on her shoulder was a reminder that everything was real. There were days she cried to no end and days were she was full of anger and hate towards the boy who said he would never leave her, who would come back for her, but never came.
As the years passed by everything became a blur the only thing that remained in her memory was Asad and Najma. Today Zoya woke up as a young vivacious, full of life woman who was on her way to Mumbai to join the renowned and most prestigious Institute of Music, Dance & Drama (IMDD). Zoya was amongst four students from across India who had won full scholarships to study at IMDD. Zoya was finally going to live her dream, to work and study at IMDD and become a world famous dance choreographer. In all her time at the orphanage the only thing that Zoya enjoyed was music. After Asad and Najma left it was music and dance that took her away from the harsh realities of life, she never felt lonely or sad. It was the one thing that kept her going and gave her the very much needed zest to live life.
5th August 2012, the day Zoya stepped foot in Mumbai, Zoya jumped of the bus and looked around her, there was no describing how she felt, for the last six years of her life all she did was work hard, study and give everything she had to be standing where she was right now. She felt sad to leave her friends and teachers back at the single women's hostel in Delhi but she knew that one day she would return to see them.
Zoya completed her registration at the halls of residence, which was a ten minutes' walk away from the main college building. Zoya was given her keys and shown to her apartment. As she walked in she saw the door with her name on it, the other names read Humera and Priya. Zoya called out to see if any of the other two girls had come but they hadn't. it didn't take Zoya long to unpack and settle in. She stood by her window which over looked the beautiful gardens of her halls, she took in a deep breath and closed her eyes 'Ya Allah, thank you for giving this to me, please continue to guide me, protect me and help me succeed...' Zoya opened her eyes and instantly felt a dull pain in her heart, it was the very same pain she had experienced on a daily basis for the last 10 years, the one that reminded her of Asad.
After Asad and Najma left with Dilshad and Rashid, they had moved to Mumbai. Zoya fought with Mrs Kaur every day until she finally gave in and took Zoya to the last known address of Dilshad and Rashid Ahmed Khan only to find out that they had permanently moved to Mumbai two days after they officially adopted Asad and Najma. Zoya had been affected emotionally and psychologically, she had totally withdrawn herself from everything and everyone. Seeing her state of mind the orphanage placed Zoya in an all-girls hostel where she started to recover slowly.
Zoya, who was now known as Zoe engrossed herself in the world of dance and music and now stood where she had longed to be so much. In all this there was also a little hope, a little wish, a little prayer that one day she would finally come to meet Asad.
Zoya was brought out of her reverie by loud chattering outside; she opened the door to see two girls standing in the doorway. They both looked at Zoya and started smiling. 'Hi my name is Humera' 'and mine Priya' Zoya stepped outside she extended her hand to shake with them hi my name is Zoe'. 'Hi Zoe, nice to meet you' Humera said 'do you guys need any help?' Zoya asked 'no we are good, do you know which rooms are ours?' Zoya looked back and then pointed 'Priya that one on the far side is yours and Humera your one is next to mine, I think that is the bathroom and the door there leads to the kitchen...I haven't had a chance to look around yet' 'thank you...how about we settle in and then meet in the kitchen for a chat' Priya suggested.
Zoya met with them for a coffee and general get to know one another chit chat, she realised that they both knew each other from before. 'What are you majoring in? Priya asked 'Dance and music, how about you? 'Both me and Humera are doing drama'. The girls sat there for hours on end finding out about one another and talking in general about their passion for the subjects they had chosen. When it came to personal information, Zoya didn't divulge any information about her past all she felt safe in saying was that she was from Delhi.
'Well I guess it's good night, we finally start as IMDD students as of tomorrow...isn't it exciting' Priya said with sparkling eyes, Zoya smiled at her enthusiasm 'I will see you in the morning, good night'.
Health and Fitness
Cricket
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