Chapter 5 - Being There For You
He is rudely woken up by the loud banging on his door and the calls from his mother. "Zain beta, open up!" He checks his phone. It reads 4:17am. It's not even time for Fajr. He wonders what the matter is. His movements are slow as he pushes the covers off him and walks to the door, opening it. Surraiya looks worried.
"Kya hua mom?" he asks, his voice groggy.
"Zain, Nafisa ka phone aaya tha."
He can sense the urgency in her voice. His first thought is, "Is Aaliya okay?" Things have been back to normal for the past five weeks. She has helped him move back home. They have been talking, a lot, not that he minds. "Kya hua?" he asks.
"Nafisa aur Aaliya ke ammi aur abbu ka accident ho gaya hai. We should go to the hospital. They need us."
He doesn't listen to what his mom is saying. All he hears is that her parents have been in an accident. He grabs his jacket and car keys. "Mom main aage nikalta hoon. Aap log aao."
"Zain saath mein chalte hai-"
"No mom, me and bhai should rush. She needs me." He is out of sight and Surraiya is left smiling. He cares so much for her. She wonders how he doesn't realise anything. Shaking her head, she heads downstairs to cook some food for the Haider family. They'll need their support.
oOo
"Fahad!" Nafisa runs into his arms and cries. "Fahad, ammi aur abbu ko-"
"Nafisa, shh! Everything will be okay. Calm down." He gently strokes her hair. His eyes fall on Zain who impatiently seems to be searching for someone. "Where is Aaliya?" he asks Nafisa, and she cries even harder.
"Fahad I don't know. Pata nahi kahan chali gayi hai wo! I have tried calling her but she isn't picking up her phone. Bola tha ki wo aa rahi hai, but abhi tak-"
"Bhabhi, Aaliya ek bhi baar yahan nahi aayi hai?" Zain asks.
"Nahi! Zain please use dhoond ke lao. I am so worried for her. Pata nahi kaha hai, aur wo bhi iss waqt."
"Give me some time. Main use yahan leke aunga. I promise." He turns to Fahad. "Look after bhabhi, I'll be back soon."
He rushes off again to the one place where he knows she'll be - the beach.
oOo
She is sitting in that very spot. The sun is on the rise. She looks shattered. He walks up to her, but doesn't sit down. "Chalo!" he says. She tries to get up, but slips and almost falls down. He catches her and helps her up. "Tumne kuch khaya nahi hai na?" She shakes her head in a simple no. He holds her by the waist, supporting her and walks her to the nearest wada-pav stand. He hands her the paper plate but she refuses. He sighs. 10 minutes later, they are in the car with the wada-pav packed in a plastic bag.
oOo
He heats up the food in the microwave while she sits on the couch in the apartment. Even though he has moved back, Zain has decided on keeping the apartment as a hangout place for the group. The coffee simmers on the stove. She doesn't talk.
"Aaliya, kha lo. We have to go to the hospital then." She refuses the food. He sighs again. Picking up the pav, he puts it in front of her mouth. She reluctantly takes a bite. "Tumhare naa khane se uncle aur aunty zyada jaldi theek nahi honge. You'll get sick for no reason!" She nods. He is right. She finishes her food and coffee. She is ready to go. He doesn't let her leave.
"Kya hua?" Those are the first words she has spoken since he has seen her at the beach.
"Get some sleep."
"Nahi Zain, appi needs me. Mujhe jaana chahiye."
"Aaliya, will you listen to me please? Look at yourself. Go sleep. Main tumhe do ghante mein utha doonga. Phir hospital chalenge."
She doesn't have the energy to argue with him. He tucks her into bed and retires on the couch himself, setting the alarm for 8AM.
oOo
"Aaliya! Allah ka lakh lakh shukra hai ki tum theek ho." Nafisa takes her sister into a bone-crushing hug.
"Sorry appi. I don't know main kya soch rahi thi." She feels guilty for having left her sister behind in this situation alone. "Ammi aur abbu kaise hai?"
"They are in a stable condition. Doctors ne kaha hai that there is nothing to worry about." She nods. "Aaliya?"
"Hmm?"
"Please don't disappear like this on me again. Main darr gayi thi."
"Arre bhabhi, iss kit-kit ko to main kabhi ghumne hi nahi doonga, bhale ye kitni hi koshish kyun na karle." Zain winks at her and she smiles weakly. She realises... he will always be there for her.
oOo
Edited by Jyo. - 10 years ago
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