25| Dad

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ZEESHAN’S POV:

I looked to my right, and my lips lifted. Waniya had grabbed my hand, her head on my shoulder, she felt at peace. She was with her home —a home which was made for her, solely for her only.

My life, filled with storms, was maybe now getting back to how it was before. But perhaps something felt off, as if something devastating awaited, something that no one was aware of.

“Waniya, we have landed. Wake up,” after the announcements. I had planned to wake her up. Throughout the flight, she was worried about Ezzah. My heart couldn’t bear it when I saw her cry talking to Ezzah.

I just had a desire to remove all the pain that had caused her pain. I wanted her all to myself. Not only that, but I wanted to unlive that bastard, Shayan.

Likewise, I had no solid proof; if I had the paternity of Ezzah, and even if I am not her father. It just doesn’t matter to me. I will always love her the same.

It can’t undo my connection with her. “Zeeshan, I will directly be going to the fair,” Waniya’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. Mirha had messaged her that she would be taking Ezzah to the fair happening in the city.

“I will be joining—,” my words were cut off when her phone rang, it was Shayan. She hesitated, and without looking at me, she picked up the call.

“Just landed…. Yeah, I will be there…. Are you with them?....... Hmm…. No, no, it’s nothing like that….. Yeah, I know…… Okay. Bye,” not for once she smiled. Not even a tiny lifting of her lips.

He was her fiance—and her child’s Dad according to her—she should…. I don’t know.

“Zeeshan.” She called me. “Huh… oh, yes let's go,” I said. We just had a conversation; not a conversation but me requesting her to come with me, as her driver was stuck in the traffic.

My driver was already outside waiting. He took the luggage from us and placed it into the car’s trunk.

Waniya had decided to be with me in the same car. My lucky day, I guess. The drive was as quiet as the cinema hall just before a jump scare in the horror movie. None of us spoke, the reason; was unknown. Maybe we were just tired after an 18-hour-long flight.

“Sir, we are here,” the words that left the driver’s mouth broke my thoughts and made me realize we were at the fare. We both left the car and made our way towards the ticket counter. “Ruko, main leke ata hu,” I stopped Waniya’s walk holding her wrist.

I got us the tickets, but something felt off, I couldn’t pinpoint what. But it sensed as if something awaited us. I could feel uneasy in my heart. We entered, and we were lucky enough to find Mirha there.

I looked around her—no Ezzah, no Shayan—possibly Ezzah was with Shayan. “Waniya,” she smiled.  “Hum tumhara hi wait karhe the, Ezzah Shayan ke sath ao,” Mirha said and we moved.

She took us to Shayan. “Waniya, finally. You are here. We were waiting for you,” Shayan appeared, but he didn’t have Ezzah with him either. Where was she?

“Shayan, Ezzah, kahan hai?” Waniya turned pale. “Mirha?” she looked at her. “Shayan, Ezzah tumhare sath thi,” Mirha’s hands trembled.

My heart pounded in my chest. Where was my daughter? “Waniya, tum pareshan mat ho. She was here a minute ago, she must be here somewhere,” I couldn’t maintain my composure.

“What do you mean “somewhere”?” I held his neckbands.

“Where’s Ezzah?” I shook him.

“Leave me, man. I don’t know,” he freed himself from my grip.

“Mirha?” Waniya turned pale.

“Waniya, we need to look for her,” I said. Shayan didn’t move. How ill of a person is he?

“Ezzah,” I moved through the crowd, it was getting. Several bad-very bad-thoughts crossed my mind, but I kept on dusting them off. She will be okay.

Kids do get lost and parents do find them.

But not always. No, Ezzah is the smartest kid I have known, she will be okay. She has to be OK.

“Zeeshan,” Waniya’s trembling voice stopped me mid-way. I turned on my heels to look at her.

Pale skin. Red eyes. Tears.

“Waniya, chup, we will find Ezzah,” I wiped her tears. “What if we don’t,” she sobbed, fresh tears streaming down her face.

“We will,” I pecked her crown.

“Just don’t cry. Where’s Mirha?” I asked. “She’s looking for Ezzah,” she wiped her tears. “Come,” I said.

~

I gave a call to the search team, and they were here in no time, but luck wasn’t on our side. There was no crowd, it was evacuated by the team.

The search dogs, the officers, everyone was trying their foremost to locate Ezzah but nothing was lending a hand.

We have been looking for her for the past hour without a trace. We contacted the management, but they didn’t respond.

I will definitely teach them a lesson when we find Ezzah. Waniya has been crying since. It’s almost dark.

“Zeeshan, she’s scared of the dark,” Waniya said. My heart sank. Nothing’s helping. Nothing.

No hope. What if we don’t get to see her? Stop, stop.

“Waniya, sab theek hojaye ga,” Mirha said, her eyes red. She did consider it as her fault, but it wasn’t her fault.

It’s that bastard’s—Shayan’s—fault. I stood up, “Kahan jarhe ho?” Waniya held my wrist. “Ata hu,” I moved away from her sight.

What if we lose her forever? No, no.

I need to find her. My heart pounded against my ribcage, just as if it would cause an explosion. Please, just be okay.

“Sir, you can’t go there,” a worker stopped me from venturing into the area which was under construction. “Try to interfere again and I will show who I am,” my eyes darkened. It was easy to scare off the worker.

“EZZAHHH,” I yelled. “EZZAHH,” I yelled, again and didn’t stop moving. Tears collected in my eyes. Where are you? It was dark in here, no light.

The saltiness on my lips made me realize I was crying. I moved, took out my phone turned on the light. I was in a room, filled with dust and trash items. A faint sob caught my ears.

It was Ezzah.

“Ezzzahhh,” I followed the sobs. The further, I moved, the more clear the sobs. It was Ezzah, I knew it. I knew it. Just be okay. I am almost there.

The sobs stopped. My heart stopped breathing.

“Ezzah? Little cute heart?” I stopped when I heard a rustling sound. A little figure appeared before me in the dark. “Dad,” she hugged my legs and sobbed. “Ezzah,” I picked her up. Tears streamed down my cheeks.

She called me Dad.

I didn’t fail. I didn’t fail the way I did in the past. Likewise, I had found her. She was with me in my arms, safe.

“Don’t cry, Ezzah. I am right here,” I moved. “Dad, I thought I would never see you again,” she sobbed.

I didn’t stop moving.

I moved out of the area and made my way towards Waniya. My heart was overwhelmed.

“Ezzah,” Waniya breathed the moment she saw Ezzah with me. “My baby, where were you?” she took Ezzah. “Mama,” Ezzah hugged her. “It’s okay, Ezzah,” Waniys broke their hug and wiped her tears.

Her clothes were covered with dust, she was stuck. “Dad,” she called me. She called me Dad, again.

“Yes, little tresor,” I bent on my knees. “Don’t cry,” I wiped her tears. I looked over my shoulder, Obaid was there. “Bring some water and send the team back,” he moved. Within no time, he was back with water bottles.

“Here, drink this,” I opened the bottle for her. “Waniya,” I gave her a bottle and one to Mirha. I looked at Ezzah, who was now sitting peacefully, with Waniya.

“Zeeshan, Pani,” she gave me her bottle. I took it and drank some.

~

I had to leave, I had to. Waniya was already worried, and I knew she wanted alone with her—our—daughter. How bad I wanted to go with Ezzah but I had made her understand that; I would visit her soon.

WANIYA’S POV:

I almost lost Ezzah. If Zeeshan hadn’t been there, I would never be able to find our daughter. My heart nearly burst when I saw her crying. How much I regret leaving her, alone? And I would never blame Mirha for this but,

Shayan.

I never expected this from him. His behavior at the fair was not near to how he was. He was radiating negativity. I was engaged to him, but he had vanished into thin air when Ezzah was lost. He wasn’t there but,

Zeeshan was.

Zeeshan he found Ezzah. He didn’t lose hope when I did. He calmed me. Not only that, but he fought my demons. Furthermore, he saved Ezzah. Likewise, he did what he couldn’t do years ago.

He saved himself from failing this time. Not only that, but he proved he was-in fact-Ezzah’s Dad. And no one could ever replace him.

“Ezzah, we will eat lots of ice cream once we reach home,” Mirha's voice entered my ears, which brought me out of my spell. I smiled looking at the duo. My heart filled with warmth.

We entered the house. I prayed not to find Shayan in the house. I don’t want him in my house. In my life.

And I am glad, I didn’t. I was in no mood to listen to his good-for-nothing explanations. But despite the appearance, I knew I needed to have a brief talk with him.

I would never tolerate anyone who thinks or treats Ezzah as if she's no-one. She could never be no-one. She’s calm to my chaos. Furthermore, she’s my prosperity after the apocalypse.

~

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Zaar.