Chapter Ten – Refuge from the storm

Around 7:26 AM in the morning, Zayaan stood in front of the mirror, fastening the buttons on his dark green shirt bottom up while hearing the drizzling rain against the roof. His movements were relaxed that day, contrary to every single day over the past week where he was utterly busy at work with the projects he was in-charge of. The past week was so busy that the only thing he remembers doing for himself was grabbing rushed breakfast and lunch and hitting the bed as soon as he got home from work.

Nonetheless there was something different going on over the past week compared to all the other busy week he has had his whole life. Despite the business, he was constantly being reminded of her. Saba. He was reminded of her as people spoke of how his documentary took off after her interview was aired on television. He thought of her as he saw the photographs of the river and the lake nearby her house. He ended up laughing to himself a few times as he remembered how he’d fell into the lake and how she’d come to him to see if he was okay. He was reminded of her everyday on the way to work as he saw the bus stop he’d walked her to and the “Delightful Captures” store just a few blocks nearer to the MCN studio building. At times he wished he hadn’t deleted her picture but at the same time, his thoughts about her were so constant that he felt as though he kept seeing her in front of him all the time.

Zayaan sighed as he pressed his hands on the dressing table giving a good look at his reflection as though her were to confront his own self. Was he really going to get himself carried away with the emotions for that girl? Or has it already happened? His mother’s voice called out to him by his name from outside before he could think about that question. He responded and headed out the door taking his bag and camera with him. Because of the sudden call, he’d forgotten that he’d planned to return Saba’s father’s clothes that day. The bag of clothes sat on one of the side tables near the bed.

Zayaan made himself comfortable at the dining table for the first time in a week since he could report to work on time that day instead of going early. His parents found the opportunity to talk to him as a result. He dreaded that fact, knowing what they were going to talk about. He adored his parents for making sure he had every luxury possible. Nonetheless, his relationship with them was rather cold. In his childhood, it was only his father who was distant from him because of work. However even his mother grew further away from him when he was a teenager, as she got involved in setting up a café business downtown to make more money. His entire adolescence was quite lonely and didn’t have much company. It was mere luck that he didn’t end up with friends who would have taken him down a dark lane.

Years after both his parents began to work, his relationship with them was limited to saying good morning, telling them about the results he got at school or university, discussing his career path and now of course his marriage. Zayaan never felt love and care in their voices when they asked about these things and it appeared to him that they only cared if their son was doing well in life so that they could flaunt it to their friends. But Zayaan didn’t complain about it since he assumed that that is how parenting is ought to be because that’s the normal in his life. However he did plan to have a different kind of parenting for his own kids once he had them. He wanted to be more like Laaiq as a father. He looked up to how his best friend dealt with his 6 year old. Regardless he didn’t complain about his parents even to Laaiq to this day.

“Dear, we had something important to tell you…” his mother Zeenath began.

“What is it, mother?” Zayaan asked though he knew what was coming while sipping on his coffee. His father was the next one to speak.

“Your mom and I have selected a suitor for you. She is from a fine Pakistani family but has spent most of her life in Australia. She is cultural enough for us to accept her and we think she is modern enough for your liking too.” his father Farooq spoke in monotone.

“I don’t know father but I don’t think I’m ready for a marriage yet.”

“Zayaan!” Zeenath called out in a reprimanding voice.

“Aleesha is a nice girl. Her father is a resident here and has agreed to help with our café business if the marriage happens. Would be a shame to hurt the rapport with such an important person.” Farooq said, caring little to even look at his son.

“What if I don’t like her?” Zayaan directed his question to his father with his eyes narrowed as though he were testing his father’s love for him.

“There is nothing not to like this time. This is no ordinary proposal like I’m saying.” Farooq said.

“And I find no reason for you to say no either. Last time I asked you said that there was no one you liked.” said his mother. Just then, for some reason, Zayaan’s heart protested against those last words. A voice came from within saying that it wasn’t true. Thus he felt like saying that he was not sure about that but before he could, his mother spoke again.

“And even if you do, son…..you better forget her. We may be living here but you know very well that we won’t accept a girl who does not belong to our culture. Marriage can only be successful between two people of similar language, color, race and ethnicity. I don’t think we would find a Pakistani girl better than Aleesha. And we would definitely not accept a girl of low status in to our family.” Zeenath said and Zayaan shot up from his chair with a fire of rage ignited in his chest. He wanted to roar saying that he had the right to marry whoever he liked from whichever race. But it was never in his nature to shout out loud to his parents so he followed his usual habit he followed when he got angry. Without saying a single word he took his bag and camera from the chair and table and headed for the door.

“Meet Aleesha at the café today. She will be waiting for you at 10:30 this morning.” his mother said, knowing fully well that her son won’t back away from an appointment that has already been made as he always kept his word. Thus there was no panic on either of his parents’ faces though he’d stormed out without even looking back at them.

**

“What?! He fainted?” Saba stopped in her tracks while walking to her next class with her friends because of what she heard about Hamadh on the phone. Her two best friends stopped alongside her with looks concern on their faces.

“Ok…ok I’ll be there as soon as I can…” Saba said and hung up the phone.

“What happened?” asked Radhika.

“Hamadh fainted while he was in class. They said he’d regained consciousness a while ago but he was feeling breathless. They are doing what they can but I have to go. He has asthma and may even need to be admitted!”

“But you can’t its almost 9:45. You are going to miss the whole class if you go. Cant you ask your Dad to go?”

“Dad can’t travel that far. I have to go. Take notes for me okay? Bye!” Saba said before making a dash in the opposite direction that she was originally going to.

**

When Saba reached Boulevard Street at around 10:25 AM in a bus, it was raining cats and dogs in that area. The wipers on the bus were swishing the heavy rain vigorously even as it taxied towards the bus stop Saba usually gets down to when he attends Hamadh’s school for parents and guardians meetings. She had to take the bus since she could not afford to get a cab to go both ways that far. But she had enough to take Hamadh back home in a cab. She had called the school thrice out of panic even while on the way. They’d said Hamadh’s breathing was steady after nebulization but he was feeling weak and was asking to go home.

Saba got off the bus and quickly took refuge in the sheltered area around the bench at the bus stop but got quite drenched in the process with the heavy rain drops. She looked to her left which was the way to Hamadh’s school. She knew she would be soaked way before she reached the school even if she ran. So she was stuck for a moment but then raised her right hand in an attempt to hail a cab. But the cabs were running busy both ways in that stormy weather.

After a few minutes, Saba moved out of the shelter in desperation of getting noticed by any driver. It wasn’t long before her extended hand and part of her head got wet until a dark blue car slowed down and parked in front of her. She spoke as soon as the window began to pull down.

“Excuse me, sir! I need to go to the school just a few blocks down this street. There is a little boy there who is sick and he needs me. Could you perhaps drop me there?” Saba said covering her head with her hands as she leaned her head towards the car.

“I’m sorry but I ain’t got no time to be driving around some cheap girls who look like burnt victims.” the man in the car said before aiming his piercing gray eyes at Saba. She felt her heart coming to her throat as she heard that voice and saw that oval face turning towards her. It was him. Her ex-fiancé. The only man he let her heart lean towards. The one she almost got married to. The one she’d waited for in her wedding dress. The one who broke her heart and humiliated her in ways that had shattered her confidence to this day. Saba felt her eyes burn with tears as she looked at him with a hint of rage in her heart. She wanted to answer back to him out loud but felt her throat getting clogged. So she stood there in the rain for the most part, helpless on her own.

“Look at you. Still single and lonely after I left you. Found no one to love you to this day have you? Haha! I’m sure you are going to come back to me and beg me any day I’d like you to. You are that weak!” he said and Saba immediately knew that those were words of abuse, thanks to the counseling she got. She would have gotten carried away and cried if she were herself from 6 months ago. But she held back her tears with her fist clenched at the sides wanting to speak for herself so badly as he laughed at her in a degrading way. Just as she felt her helplessness and a tear fell from her right eye, she felt herself being sheltered by an umbrella. As she heard the rain drops hitting an umbrella from the top, she noticed her ex’s expression fade along with his laugh as he looked to her left. When she looked in that same direction, there was a man standing next to her with the umbrella. It was none other than him. Zayaan.