51: bringing him back

Happy 50.3k reads*kisses*

AALIYANA'S POV:

I flickered my eyes, as I felt sun rays tingling on my face. I tried to feel Zaviyaar on the bed, but I huffed as I didn't locate him. Where is he? I recall clearly that he slept with me last night. I opened my eyes and saw no one by my side, hurt flushed over me.

I moved my sight to the couch, but he wasn't there either. Maybe he went down. I glanced at the clock, which informed me it was 11 am. My cramps are much bearable now. I went into the washroom and got out after taking a refreshing shower. I felt good. A smile crept on my lips when I remembered how he massaged me last night.

I went down, everyone was there in the hall. Zaviyaar wasn't there either. Where is he? A worker came and called us for breakfast. We got settled on the table. Why isn't nobody asking for him?

"Aaliyana tabiyat kesi hai?" Mom asked.

(How are you, Aaliyana?)

"Ab theek hai," I informed her I was finer.

(Better.)

I was about to ask something about Zaviyaar when Zayyan's phone rang, and our attention switched to it. He answered the phone.

"Hmm... WHAT?... I thought you were in your room only... Yeah... in front of me... I'll try to... Okay bye," he cut the call. Was it Zaviyaar?

"Mom, Dad, and Bhabhi, bhai has to an urgent business trip; before you scold me, I didn't do anything," he told us.

"Is he dumb? Ye larka pagal hogya hai, har waqt kaam, kaam aur bas kaam. Abhi theek bhi nhi howa aur aisko dekho. Aaliyana tumhe pata tha?" Mom scolded him.

(This boy has gone mad; all he has to do is work, work, and work. He isn't well yet. Aaliyana did know about it?)

I shook my head, trying to control the river from streaming down my cheeks. I knew he didn't have any business trip, he went away to avoid me only. It was breaking me apart. I could hear their muffled voices, but my thoughts were occupied by him only. I guess he has stopped loving me.

He, too, once called me a cheater. We talked things out, and everything went fine. Zaviyaar don't do this to me. We need to sort things out or this will get bad for me, for you, for us, and for our marriage.

I no longer had a wish to eat. The day went by in a blink of an eye. I didn't have anything to do. I wanted to call him and talk to him, but I didn't call him, thinking maybe he didn't want me anymore. Maybe this is what I deserved. I slept while overthinking; I didn't have any other option; before dozing off, I concluded I would drive and meet Mama and Baba tomorrow. I missed them.

I woke up to the sound of the alarm, I was waiting for Zaviyaar to switch it off for me as he always does.

"Zaviyaar, turn off the alarm," I said, my eyes still closed. I opened my eyes, only to get a reality check that he wasn't here; he left me, leaving me alone.

I didn't want to cry, so I got up and remembered I needed to visit Mama's. It was already late, noon.

I lay my foot in the washroom and stripped out of clothes. I took a long relaxing shower, and it felt good. I wore a simple kurta and wide-legged trousers to match it. I kept my makeup as minimal as possible; mascara, some tint, and a gloss. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked presentable. I went down.

"Mom, I was planning on to go Mama's place," I told her.

"Ruko, Zayyan see kheti hu chor ata hai," she said. She called Zayyan and told him to drop me and he acquiesced. We settled in the car.

(Wait, I'll tell Zayyan to drop you off.)

"You guys fought, no?" he questioned. Fought? We don't even talk. I shook my head.

"Bhabhi ab bhai ki tarah ap bhi chupaye gi," he said.

(Sister-in-law, you too will hide things from me.)

"Zayyan, let it be. He needs space," I said. Only I know how hard it was for me to say this, how badly I want to undo that night from our lives.

"Bhai toh pagal hain, konsi space chahiye inko had hai," Zayyan sounded as if he would punch Zaviyaar.

(Brother has gone crazy, why does he need space? This is enough.)

I shook my head at his antics.

Zayyan went back home after dropping, I met Mama and Baba. Ahmed bhai was at the office--a workaholic. Mama and I talked a lot; by a lot, I mean a lot.

Furthermore, I sat in my room, it was the same. Nothing has changed except for the fact that I am married and I don't stay here anymore. A tear escaped my eye when I thought about how life had been lately. Mama entered the room and she sat next to me.

"Zaviyaar theek hai? Tumhri larai howi hai?" she was worried about us.

(Is Zaviyaar okay? Did you fight?)

"G woh theek hai, aur hamri larai kyu hogi," I said as if everything was okay between us, but in fact, nothing was okay between us.

(Yes, he's okay and we didn't fight.)

"Ankhain joot nhi bolti Aaliyana, apni ankhain dekho tum," she said.

(Eyes don't lie Aaliyana.)

"Arrey ap tension na lein aisa kuch nhi hai," she nodded. I know she doesn't agree with me. After all, she is my Mom.

(Don't worry, everything is okay!)

Soon, Zayyan came to pick me up, and we returned home. I could sense the feeling vaguely in me. Our room was eating me up. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. A worker entered; he was holding a huge rectangle thing wrapped with a ribbon; what was it? Curiosity was killing me.

"A delivery boy handed me this. This came two days back, but I forgot to give it to you," he handed me the thing. I nodded and he left.

I was excited to open it; what could it be? I carefully removed the paper it was wrapped in. Tears uncontrollably fell from my eyes as I got to know what it was. It was our picture from reception. It had a note on it: "Happy 4-month anniversary, sweetheart. I hope it reaches you on time."

The only thing I could comprehend was that Zaviyaar planned to give this on our 4-month anniversary. I sobbed looking at the picture. I am not good; I am bad, really bad.

How deeply he is—was—in love with me, and here I am accusing him of cheating me. "Zaviyaar please come back," a mere whisper left my mouth. How badly I want to hug him and never let him go ever again. I know I have made a mistake, and I am ready to mend it.

____________________

Days went by and he didn't come back. Days turned into a week. I felt empty. It's been a week since he left and I haven't heard from his side. Zayyan told me he was going well and he asked Zayyan about me too. I called Noor and told her everything. She said she would come over and we would come up with something. I was sitting in the waiting hall for her when she entered the hall. After greetings, I took her to the room.

"Aaliyana, I swear to god I will break Zaviyaar's face," Noor was fueled with anger.

"I agree," Zayyan entered the room.

"I know right," Zayyan nodded.

"Do you guys have a plan?" I asked. They looked at each other.

"I have an idea, but for that, we need a new sim," Noor said.

"I will get it," Zayyan said.

"So, the plan is I will message him, being a random person, that his wife is missing and all. He will get worried, and he will come back," Noor told us her lame plan, and I rolled my eyes.

"And you think that bhai won't message me or anyone else," Zayyan raised a point.

"Exactly," I said.

"That I don't know," she gave up.

"What if we plan a movie day today and I will switch their phones off," Zayyan's plan was a bit solid.

"Let's get to work then," I said and they nodded. We left the room.

Noor went to Mom to convince her about the movie. Soon, she messaged me that Mom agreed, and Zayyan went to Dad to make him agree. It was a task, but it worked.

"Here's the sim," Zayyan gave me the sim.

We put it in our spare phones at home and saved Zaviyaar's number in it.

"Guys I'm scared," I said. I was scared.

"Arrey chill Kuch nhi hota," Noor said.

(Chill, Aaliyana.)

We messaged Zaviyaar.

"Your wife is missing, it would be better if you would find her instead of tracing my location. You shouldn't be leaving her like that, alone."

We laughed while writing the message. Zaviyaar saw the message, and we went down, took Mom's and Dad's phones, and switched them off. We informed the workers not to attend to any calls from Zaviyaar, and I switched off my phone. We took off the wire of our home landline. Now we have to wait.

We joined Mom and Dad and watched the movie. I wasn't able to develop my interest in it. The movie ended within two hours but there was no sign of Zaviyaar. We moved to the hall. Azlaan entered the hall. He looked at us dumbfounded.

I knew Zaviyaar had sent him. Azlaan was about to do something on his phone when I signaled Zayyan and he snatched his phone.

"Azlaan, you got a new phone?" Zayyan asked.

"Arrey Azlaan tum kab aye?" Mom asked.

(Azlaan, when did you come?)

"Bas abhi," Azlaan was continuously looking at Zayyan.

(Just now.)

"Zaviyaar se baat howi tumhri wo kab aye ga?" Dad asked.

(Did Zaviyaar tell you when he will return?)

"G, bas ausi ke-," Zayyan cut him off.

(Yes, he was—)

"Come on, let's eat food," Zayyan said.

"Hn Chalo," Noor intervened.

(Yes, let's go.)

"Arrey ye mera phone kahan hai?" Mom said.

(Where's my phone?)

"Mom idhr hi Hoga ap Khana kha lein," Zayyan said. All I wanted was to succeed in our plan.

(Mom first let's have some food.)

"AALIYANA," I heard Zaviyaar's voice. He's back. My gaze met his, he ran towards me and hugged me tightly as if I was about to leave him.

"I thought I had lost you forever and it made me realize how deeply I'm still in love with you," he didn't break the hug. He still loves me. My heartbeat ceased for an instant.

I love you too Zaviyaar. The hug provided the comfort I was longing for. He didn't want to let go of me. He was worried about me.

"Ahem ahem," Zayyan made us break our hug.

"Zaviyaar," Dad said and we all looked at him. He was sweating as if he was running for god knows how long. I smiled looking at Noor and Zayyan. We had a victorious smile on our faces. Our plan worked.

"Ap log kahn the?" he was worried. His arm didn't have any plaster but it had an arm-sling-pouch. I felt happy he was back. I know he won't talk to me but seeing he was still worried for me made me loved.

(Where were you guys?)

"Hum yehi the," Mom answered.

(We were here only.)

"Phones kahn hai ap logo ke?" he questioned.

(Where were your phones?)

"Bhai aj humne movie day plan kiya tha toh sabke switch off the. Ap ka konsa business trip tha," Zayyan said.

(We planned a movie day so we switched off our phones. And what business trip did you have?)

"Hn Tum phele Khana Khao phr batao mujhe ye konsa kaam tha," Mom said and we moved towards the dining table.

(First, eat food, and then I'll ask you about your so-called work.)

Dinner was served and we dived into it. After a week, I felt like I had an appetite or else I would never eat. I was happy. I glanced at him from time to time. He was here, right beside me with me.

"Zaviyaar, tum nhi the Aaliyana khana bhi theek se nhi khati thi, shukar hai aye ho wapis. Halt Dekho apni kitne kamroz hogaye ho," Mom scolded him.

(Zaviyaar, in your absence, Aaliyana didn't even have an appetite; thank God you came back. Look at yourself, you look weak.)

He glanced at me and I compressed my laugh. He glared at me. His phone pinged. I glanced at it, it was the same number from which we messaged him.

"Sorry, sir, wrong number." Zaviyaar rolled his eyes.

I glanced at Noor who winked at me. Our plan was successful. After having dinner she left as Asad came to pick her up. She told me that Malaika is coming tomorrow and we need to meet again and make another plan. I nodded.

"Zaviyaar Bhai ap itni jaldi kese agaye," Zayyan teased him. He growled. He was irritated.

(Brother, how did you come back this early.)

We moved towards our room. His reaction was priceless when he saw our reception picture hung on the wall before our bed. I got it hung three days back with the help of a worker.

I could see him smile, but it soon faded. I'll focus on the brighter side that at least he smiled. He went to the washroom and came after changing.

I went into the washroom and did my skincare. I did it after a long time and it felt like ages. I sensed that I was smiling a lot. He was the reason behind it. I moved and out he was already in bed. I lay down on my back facing his front.

Oh, I wish I could cuddle him. The next instant, I felt his warm hands around my waist, and he pulled me towards him, and my back collided with his hard-toned chest. He nuzzled his face in my neck inhaling my scents. I wiggled under this touch.

"Please, stay like this," he requested and tears escaped my eyes on his request. My Zaviyaar is back. Soon sleep took over us.

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I'll try to upload the next chapter right after finishing editing. *Kisses*

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Ignore if you find any mistake as English isn't my first language.

Lots of love,

Zaar <3