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

"Zahra, I want to tell you something" he told seriously grabbing her attention.

"Yes?" she frowned

"It was my mafia"

"I dont understand"

"It was my mafia, which loaned your father. Those were my people who asked you to empty the house if you aren't able to pay back the loan" he revealed.

"Wh..at?" she suddenly ran out of words. The reality dawning on her.

"Yes, Zahra"

"So that means they were your men who forced us to leave our home?" Zahra asked.

"Yes , but they did not have slightest idea about Mujtaba uncle" said Irtaza, "I never knew that they are harassing my uncle too. My second and third in command usually ensured the paying back of loan."

"I-" she was confused. Utterly confused.

"And Zahra, you are pregnant. I received your medical reports"

Zahra's reflexes as if paralysed. It was thunderclap over a thunderclap. She couldn't come up with anything.

"But ..but the pills?" she whispered.

"Were expired" replied Irtaza.

"I don't know what to say...I need time." she couldn't complete her sentences as she didn't know how. She was super stunned.

Irtaza demanded to be discharged by evening to which the staff quitely complied , it was obvious that hospital was funded by Syed group.

A weight had been lifted off Zahra's chest but a new worry loaded on her shoulders. She was confused about how to approach him now. In a way he was also responsible for her father's death.

She couldn't bring herself to terms with the fact that a little one is inside her. Back in the car to haveli from hospital Irtaza told her that he would give her as much space and time she required and was ready to divorce her if she wanted freedom. The only problem was she didn't know what she wanted.

She didn't want to jump to conclusions either as she was already infamous in her eyes for people's apprehension a little too quickly. 

Three days has passed already. Everyone got back to their normal routine. There grandparents have asked them to stay in haveli until they both were all fit and fine. But Irtaza got to work on the very next day. More precisely, the work which had been lingering on his mind since long. To finish, Khurram and Amman, which he happily did. He was at peace after killing those both shitheads.

At the haveli, Zahra didn't announce her pregnancy yet to anyone. Irtaza gave her the pace which she needed and she happily accepted it. 

There were alot of things going in her mind. Day and night her thoughts kept stirring her. Her mind, her heart, they were going through a confused mixture of emotions. She needed clarity, she needed answers to her unsaid questions. His option of giving her divorce played in her mind on and on.

She sat in the dining room all by herself.

Haseeb entered the dining room to get his charger but instead found Zahra deep in her thoughts.

"Come back to earth Zahra" he whispered near her ears making her jolt in surprise.

They both have met after so long. That day, when she came back from hospital she came to know about the whole story that how Amman played a game with Haseeb. She totally understood him, it was not like that, it was his fault. He was clueless, he didn't know about anything.

"What do you want?" she asked him irritatedly

"What happened to you? Aren't you happy Bhai is safe and sound or your immense Love doesn't know how to show itself?" he asked her teasingly.

"Do you ever stop?! I'm so worried about future?! I don't know how to proceed now?!" uttered Zahra at high speed.

"Woah, slow down even dogs can't hear you at this pace" said Haseeb.

"And now tell me what has happened. What am I for then, if I don't help you out"

Then Zahra narrated all her confused thoughts to him and everything Irtaza told her in the hospital that morning. She really needed someone to tell this bubble of stress to otherwise her overthinking might make her insane.

"I don't think Irtaza bhai is at fault Zahra" said Haseeb after listening to Zahra's complete tale.

"What do you mean?" she asked

"Yeah, as I was clueless about Amman's motive of asking about Irtaza bhai's plan so was he about your father or your family's condition. If he had any idea then he would have put a stop to your suffering right there I guarantee" he told and went back.

This is what she thought as well but didn't know what was preventing her from listening to this intuition.

After two or more days, she went to his office in the haveli. The dark night was peeking from the large windows. Her steps were small but steady. Her heart was beating wide.

After contemplating alot, she had reached a conclusion. And she was going to announce this result to him.

She slowly reached for the door, taking a deep breath to calm herself and entered inside. He was sitting on his black swivel chair behind the mahogany table, concentrated deep in his work. The room was dark, only the moonlight lightened it along with the light which came from his laptop reaching his face.

"Irtaza?" she said, tentatively.

His head snapped up on registering the voice which he missed dearly.

"I don't want divorce" she revealed to him. He stood up, moving towards her.

"Are you sure?" 

"Yes. I want to stay married and work out things with you, for us, for our child" 

She felt strong today. Strong enough to conversate and put forward her concerns. Her brokenness made her solid. Every torment, every pain which she went through and still made out alive made her stronger.

She thought she was weak but instead she came out more stronger.

Irtaza was speechless, this was the first time in his life, he ran out of words.

"But I have a condition" she mentioned.

"I agree to every condition" he replied without giving a second thought.