Possession by Laila Ali (young adult books to read .txt) 📗

CHAPTER 4

After passing through the lawn, their footsteps halted and they stood in front of a large brawny door that led into the house. Both of them were nervous. Amarra was nervous because if they are rejected from this place they'll probably have no place to live. She was utterly worried for her daughter. And Zahra was nervous because her subconscious kept signaling about something havoc. Moreover, she does not want to let anyone humiliate her mother. She knew her Dada won't accept her mother and let them live here easily. They've to pass through a great ordeal to live here.

Ammara's hands reached for the doorknob, she turned it and pushed it inside. The door opened and they both made their way into the house. They were left in awe. A very modernly designed lounge had their mouth hung open.

Zahra looked around and she found some boys and girls sitting on the cream-colored sofas, centered in the lounge. All of them chatting and laughing haughtily. And all of them looked from 18 to 25 years in age. They were too engaged and preoccupied in the conversation to notice their presence.

Zahra wondered where to go next, they can't be standing here all day. So she decided to approach them. As soon as she moved, a man in his early fifties came running down the stairs and proceeded towards them. Zahra stopped and looked towards her mother. Her mother knew who he was.

"Haider bhai, Assalam alaikum" Ammara greeted.

This caught everyone's attention in the room and all of those lads turned and looked at their Taya Abu and them, conjecturing, who these two ladies are.

"Wa alaikum salam. Kia haal hai beta? Umeed hai k sab khairiyat hai!" He warmly welcomed them.

(How are you dear? Hope everything is alright!)

"Allhamdullilah" Ammara told.

(By God's grace)

"Mujtaba kidher hai aur kesa hai? Kia wo saath nahi aaya?" He asked softly and looked expectantly towards the door, hoping his brother would become.

(Where is Mujtaba? And how is he? Didn't he come along?)

On hearing Mujtaba's name tears brimmed in Zahra's eyes. Her throat clogged and her vision blurred. Her heart wrenched for her Taya who was expecting his brother to come from the door. Little did he know, he is never going to come.

'Kaash Baba Kaash ap way uss darwazey sei Andar aajaye' she thought with dismay.

(I wish Father I wish, you could come out of that door)

Before Amarra could say anything Haider's attention diverted towards Zahra who was trying hard to control her tears.

"Zahra!" He exclaimed.

"Kesi ho beti? Kitni bari ho gyi ho MashAllah!"

(How are you daughter? MashAllah you have grown up!)

Zahra was overwhelmed at his warm gesture and when he called her "beti" it reminded her of his father and she could not control her emotions anymore. Her arms moved on her own accord and gave him a tight hug. She felt as if he is hugging her father which made fat tears roll down her eyes which were soon replaced by big sobs.

Haider only wondered why she was crying and rubbed his hands at her back to soothe her. He let her cry to her fullest and she cried her heart out on her Taya Abu's shoulder. The whole room was enveloped in silence. Only her painful big sobs could be heard. Zahra hugged him tightly like he used to hug her father whenever he came back home after a day or two. Her Taya resembled her father in all the ways and that was enough to make her emotions out of control. She could feel her father's scent around him. She didn't know but she found an unfathomable connection with him. He was very much like her father.

Her big sobs had grabbed everyone's attention and all the heads were turned towards their Taya Abu and the crying girl. Everyone pondered who was she. And why was she crying so wholeheartedly on his shoulder. The Ladies of the house who were working in the kitchen on hearing somebody's sobs immediately came out and the whole scene in front of them left them baffled and confused. They clearly knew about Ammara and Mujtaba but they had no idea that Ammara would be coming back to haveli with her daughter. And they too contemplated what Ammara is doing here again and that too with her daughter? And why her daughter is crying so painfully? And where is Mujtaba? And why they are carrying bags along with them? All of them kept looking towards them.

After crying heartily, Zahra felt her tears die down and she cleaned her wet face with her hands and get off of his Taya's shoulder. Her face was blotched and her eyes were swollen red. Haider didn't find it right to ask her why she was too disturbed and only comforted her more.

Zahra wiped her tears properly and after settling herself she looked around to find everyone's attention is on her and she cast her eyes down.

"I am fine,"

"Ok beta, Agha Jaan is waiting for you both in his study," he told empathically. He was about to ask regarding Mujtaba but something inside him stopped him from doing so and he kept quiet.

"Let's go," Ammara quietly said and grasped her daughter's hand, who tightened the hold, indicating she is nervous.

Haider ushered them both to his father's study, meanwhile, no words were exchanged and when they reached to the door he knocked and heard a harsh "come in,"

He opened the door and let them both in then followed behind and closed the door shut. Zahra was nervous and fidgeted with her fingers while looking down and didn't dare to raise her head. She always does that whenever she is trepidatious or apprehensive.

"Why are you here again, Ammara bibi? To destroy the peace of our house once again?" an old man's voice coldly and calmly said. Zahra figured it out, it was her dada, Shabbir Murtaza Syed, who hates her mother to no extent. She was furious for letting him disrespect her mother and her head shot up rebelliously to counter him. She found him sitting on his chair on the other side of the table, sipping his coffee.

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