Resurrected

by Natasha Nozer Mehenty

  “Okay Sam, we will surely. But right now be stress free and enjoy the cold juice in this hot climate,” saying this, both began to sip the juice.

  After drinking the juice, Sam looked into Zaib’s eyes and in an uncomfortable voice said, “Zaib, why did you not tell me that Afrin was the same girl about whom you had spoken to me before?”

  Zaib smiled and hiding his emotions, said, “Sam, why are you asking me such silly questions? Your life is settled now with an angelic girl. Just think about it and be happy.”

  “How can I find happiness by giving you pain? I have proved to be your enemy by snatching away the only person you loved the most!” Sam was sinking into feeling of guilt.

  “Oh no, Sam! That is not true at all. You are a blessing in my life; you can never be my enemy.”

  “What kind of blessing, Zaib? In fact I am a curse in your life,” Sam said with a tearful voice.

  Zaib kept his hand on Sam’s shoulder and said, “Sam, never ever say that. You came in my life like a blessing. When I was going through a bad phase, you were sent by God from Switzerland to India so that I could share my pain with you. You helped me to recover from my pain. Now you have come in Afrin’s life to love and protect her. I am very happy for you both.”

  “But Zaib, why did you force me to accept Afrin’s proposal when you love her yourself?”

  “Because, she loves you and not me! You are the reason behind her happiness and it would’ve been unfair to reveal you the truth in order to find my happiness by whispering anything into your ears against her.”

  Sam went to the balcony, and then kept looking at the sea. After sometime, he said to Zaib in a firm voice, “Zaib, I have made a firm decision. I need to break up with her right away. She was yours and will be yours.”

  Hearing this Zaib got angry and said, “Why are you being a fool? She doesn’t love me, she loves you! Your life is going very smooth, then why do you want to shake it up? Why do you want to throw unnecessary stones in still water?”

  “Zaib, now do not give me any lectures…”

  “Shut up, Sam. You must not take any wrong step in your balanced life. One wrong decision will cause pain and sadness to you, Afrin and me. You love Afrin and Afrin loves you, too. Then where do I come in between?

  I was nobody there to come in between Afrin’s happiness and your stable life. After Alina, you have also got somebody better in your life. Now, no more discussion on this topic,” saying this Zaib switched on the television and both started watching it quietly.

  A few days after this incident, Zaib was packing to leave the town and go somewhere else so that he would be able to keep his pain away from him. Staying in that town reminded him every second of Afrin and he knew that only Sam was made for her.

  When Zaib was about to leave for his flight, he saw Afrin’s call. He picked it up. Afrin was crying on the phone.

  She said in a startled voice, “Zaib my life is going through hell.”

  Zaib kept his bag aside and said softly, “Afrin please stop crying and tell me what is troubling you?”

  Afrin drank few sips of water from the glass and then said, “Sam is not ready to talk with me. He is not ready to meet me. He has been disconnecting my phone calls since yesterday. The last message I got from him was that he loved me no more and also told me to be away from him.”

  “Oh my God…But why did he do that?” Zaib got worried

  “Zaib, even I do not know the reason behind it. Please do something…I do not want to lose him…I truly love him a lot.”

  “Don’t worry Afrin. I shall speak to him personally.”

  Zaib went to Sam’s house. He sat down in his hall. Sam also sat beside him.

  Zaib looked at Sam in anger and asked, “Why are you playing with both of your lives. Why are you keeping her away from you all of a sudden?”

  Sam switched on the T.V. and said, “I have made a cemented decision not to betray you because I feel guilty…I am moving out of Afrin’s life. Now it is you and Afrin.

  Zaib took the remote of the T.V. and switched it off. He looked at Sam and said, “If you leave Afrin, then, there is no guarantee that she will accept me. In fact, she never had any feelings for me. Do not play with her life. If she is happy, then, I too am happy.”

  “Sorry, Zaib, you are too late. I have already left her. She means nothing to me now.”

  Zaib caught Sam by his collar and said, “If you leave Afrin like this, then you have even left me. Accept her back or I will break up my friendship with you forever. That’s my firm decision.”

  Sam gave up and Zaib was successful in rekindling the relationship. The love birds got engaged soon. They both were happy with each other. Zaib organized a surprise party on their engagement and did his best to make both of them very happy.

  That night before going to sleep, Zaib hid his face in a blanket and cried. He had to accept the fact that Afrin, his only love was now lost forever. His heart was broken. But he never showed his emotions to anybody. He tried to keep Afrin’s thoughts away but his mind always kept thinking about her. He kept himself away from people. But his pain never subsided. In fact it grew more and more.

  Finally one day, Zaib’s depressed mind affected his body. He was down with fever. The doctor gave him medicines and told him to take rest but Zaib kept working hard to keep himself busy and away from Afrin’s memories. His health kept on deteriorating and he was finally hospitalized. After recovery, he made plans to leave the town and go away somewhere else where there would be no Afrin and no pain. Zaib asked his father if he could shift to Chennai and start a new business over there. His father was very happy with the idea of expanding the business. He made all the necessary arrangements for Zaib to stay in Chennai and start a new enterprise. When everything was properly arranged, he went to meet Sam.

  He told Sam about his shifting to Chennai. Sam got very upset and said, “Zaib, you will stay here with us. We need you and we really like you. Please do not leave me alone.”

  “Sam, you are not alone. Very soon Afrin will become your wife. Then you will be able to share all your happiness and sorrows with her. Your life is settled and set. Now even I need to start an independent life. I want to prove to my father that I also am a good entrepreneur like him.”

  “That is fine but why don’t you start a new business in this town, Mumbai?”

  Zaib didn’t have any reply to this question of Sam. He could not explain the pain he was undergoing.

  He gave an excuse, “In Chennai, the scope of trade which I will be doing is much higher than in Mumbai.”

  Sam did not like this reason. He made a face and said, “I never knew that you were greedy.”

  Hearing this Zaib said to himself, “If I was greedy than I would have never given you the love of my life nor brought you and Afrin together again.”

  To Sam he said, “Buddy, I am not greedy. It’s just a way of going ahead in life by fulfilling my dreams. You do not worry I will always be in touch with you.” He wanted to end the discussion now.

  Sam pretended to not listen. He said, “Zaib, you will leave the town only after my marriage. I will not get married without my best friend and well wisher.”

  Zaib did not like this idea. He wanted to leave the town as soon as possible and lead a new life. In fact, the fear of losing Afrin forever to someone was taking away his breath. But he kept telling himself, “If Afrin was in my destiny I would have been her husband instead of Sam. But Afrin’s destiny is linked with Sam. I cannot let Sam be sad nor can I snatch away Afrin’s jubilation.”

  When Zaib was lost in his thoughts, the door bell rang and Afrin entered. Sam told her about Zaib leaving his hometown.

  Afrin caught Zaib’s hand and said, “Please my dear… do not leave us like this…please ..stay here.”

  Zaib looked at her and said, “Okay Afrin, I shall wait till you both get mar
ried but after that I shall leave.” He again got lost in his thoughts. His heart asked him to stay there listening to Afrin whereas his mind fought back that he must do whatever is best for him. Why should he always listen to Afrin just because he loved her? He should in fact give importance to his own life because his love for Afrin was a one-sided affair.

  Looking at Zaib lost in thoughts, Sam caught his shoulder and said, “Zaib do not worry, your new venture will create good business. You have never done anything wrong to others, therefore, God shall never do anything wrong with you. All the best from me!” Saying this, Sam got emotional and he hugged Zaib tightly.

  Zaib asked himself, “Why is God hurting me when I have always brought together many broken hearts? I have always been kind and helpful but still God has kept my story incomplete without Afrin.”

  Afrin came to Zaib and said, “In six months, Sam and I will get married. You are the most important person behind the success of our relationship.”

  “Amen! May everything be the best in your lives. May you always be happy and smiling.”

  For six months Zaib forced himself to live his painful life. He started working more and kept himself busy. Zaib’s business started suffering huge losses. Though he worked hard physically, his mind was not attentive on the business. He now began to believe that you can never focus on any work if your heart and mind resides somewhere else.

  On the day of the wedding, Zaib stood beside Sam and helped him with all the possible work. He played the role of his family member. He greeted the invitees, booked the dinner, and looked after the gifts which the groom received. Every minute task was taken care of by him.

  After the wedding got over, Zaib took his flight to Chennai and after the tiresome time wherein he was involved with all arrangements for marriage, he fell asleep in the plane till it was about to land.

  He said to himself, “Afrin will start a new life and I would start a life without Afrin in a new town with new people.”

  In the afternoon Zaib got a call from Sam, “Hey buddy, where did you disappear after the marriage got over? I was planning to go on a long drive with you and Afrin.”

  “Sam I had my flight, so had to leave…”

  “Oh God, you have left Mumbai!” Sam replied with grief in his voice but there was silence on the other end of the line. “Anyway, thanks a million for helping me so much for my wedding. I would have been helpless without you…”

  “You are my closest friend. It is my duty to help you. Anyway, how was your wedding?”

  “It was good but I miss you a lot.”

  Zaib couldn’t control his frame of mind and asked, “How is Afrin?”

  “She is fine. Wait speak to her…,” Afrin came on the phone and said, “Good afternoon, Zaib. Thank you so much for helping us in every possible way. I really love you.” Saying this she started kissing her phone.

  Sam teased her, “Don’t do all this otherwise he will fall in love with you again,” Hearing this Afrin started laughing. She took the phone back and said, “Zaib I will pray to God to fulfill all your wishes. May all your wishes come true.”

  “Thank you, Afrin. Always be happy,” saying this, he disconnected the phone.

  Zaib muttered to himself, “I wish you knew that my only wish from God was you and only your love.”

  If you love a person then it’s difficult to act merely as a friend! Zaib’s case proved it.

  CHAPTER 12

  LOVE EVERYONE, BUT LOVE YOURSELF FIRST

  As days passed by, everybody got busy in their own lives. Afrin and Sam were busy living their own while Zaib started living his new life. He soon made new friends because of his sociable nature. He threw himself to work and with full force. His business expanded. Zaib loved to paint, so he joined painting classes. Drawing portraits was his favourite stress-buster.

  Zaib’s life slowly went back on track. He started loving his life. His life was no longer a burden. Days passed and soon, the year ended. When it was the first day of the New Year, Zaib called all his friends and wished them. He called Sam but instead of him, Afrin answered the call.

  “Hi, Zaib! How are you?” Afrin spoke with excitement.

  “I am fine, Afrin. How are you?”

  “I am also fine.”

  “How is Sam?”

  “He is also fine. He has gone out for his morning walk but forgot his cell.”

  “You should have also gone for morning walk. It will help you to maintain your zero size figure,” saying this Zaib started laughing heartily. But there was no laughter from Afrin.

  In fact, she said in a serious voice “I hope I do not become very fat after…” she stopped in between.

  “After what, Afrin?” Zaib asked curiously. He continued, “Thin or fat, Sam will never stop loving you.”

  “Zaib, I am pregnant. But we have decided not to reveal it now. Only our families know it. We’ll tell it to everybody else soon.”

  “Oh, my God! That is such good news. Congratulations to you both! I am extremely happy for both of you!” Zaib imagined Afrin and Sam standing with a child.

  “Thank you so much. Now tell me one thing.”

  “What?”

  “When will you get married, Zaib?”

  Hearing these words Zaib went quiet. He had after all loved only one girl and she herself was asking him to get married to someone else. He stayed silent, unable to form words.

  Afrin understood that Zaib did not like that question. So she said, “Zaib everybody would wish for a family for themselves. You can get love, care, and the strength to struggle in life from your family.”

  At this Zaib replied, “To make a complete family you need to marry someone. To marry someone you need to know her well, love her with true heart, understand her and accept her in the way she is…” Zaib paused for a while and then continued, “Afrin, I do not have someone like that. I am completely happy with my life.”

  At this Afrin said in a sad voice, “Okay, as you wish Zaib. Remember one thing that you are such a nice person that God will surely give you someone special. Good luck buddy!”

  After the conversation with Afrin, Zaib sat down with a heavy heart. He sat on a sofa and unknowingly kept biting his nails. Sadness started to surround his mind and he began missing her. After a while, he got up and firmly decided to push Afrin out of his mind. She was happy in her life. He must not keep thinking about Afrin as she is now married and will soon be a mother too.

  He said to himself, “My only aim in life is to achieve success in my business and fulfill my dreams to become one of the richest businessmen. I will love nobody but will like everyone and behave only with kindness. Even if God does not fulfill my dreams, I will surely help others to achieve their dreams. I will live for others till the end of my life.”

  CHAPTER 13

  LIFE KEEPS SPRINGING SURPRISES

  Three months had passed since Zaib had spoken to Afrin. He wanted to speak to her, often. His heart would still cry out for Afrin. But how could he call her? What would she think of him? Sam would also think that Zaib did not forget Afrin yet. He didn’t want to create any misunderstanding between the couple. Then Zaib remembered that Afrin was expecting a child and it would be an appropriate reason to call her and ask about her health.

  He dialled Afrin’s mobile number. She did not answer the call. So he called on Sam’s mobile but his cell was switched off. Zaib felt that they might be busy. He went to his office. After returning from work he called Afrin again but this time also there was no answer. He called her four times but to no avail. He called Sam again but his phone was still switched off. Zaib got worried. Somehow he felt that something was amiss; something was wrong.

  Zaib took out his diary and called one of their common friends. The friend picked up the phone.

  Zaib said, “Hey Ravi, how are you?”

  “Hey, Zaib! I am fine. How are you?
” Ravi replied joyfully after hearing Zaib’s voice after a year. He continued, “I am so happy to hear from you. Really miss your presence.”

  Zaib acted like he didn’t listen to this and asked, “Hey, do you know where Sam and Afrin are? I have called them in the morning but Sam’s cell is off and Afrin isn’t picking up my call. I hope everything is fine?”

  There was complete silence on the opposite side which worried Zaib. He asked again. “Is everything fine with them?”

  In a sad voice Ravi replied, “No, Zaib. Sam is in hospital struggling for life and Afrin is in coma.”

  “What? They both are this serious and nobody informed me!!”

  “How could they inform you in such a condition?” Ravi continued, “We also didn’t have your new contact number.”

  “I need to get back to town,” saying so he hung up the phone and booked a flight ticket to his hometown.

  Zaib reached Mumbai and went to Ravi’s place. He drove him to the hospital where Afrin and Sam were under observation.

  “What happened exactly, buddy?” Zaib asked Ravi.

  “Five days ago, an earthquake had hit the area. Many buildings collapsed, including Sam and Afrin’s. They had rushed out of the building safely. Sam took Afrin and made her sit under a banyan tree. Suddenly a lady from the neighbouring building came to Sam, asking him to help save their son who was trapped in the building. Hearing her predicament, Sam rushed to help the child.

  Ten minutes passed by but still Sam did not return. Suddenly, the lady came to Afrin and told her that she found her son who was rescued by her neighbours. Sam could not be found. Afrin rushed towards the building to look for Sam. She tried his mobile, but networks were jammed. Eye witnesses said that while Sam was coming down the stairs, the building started to collapse. He had reached the ground floor when the entire structure fell on him. Afrin fainted at this news and has been unconscious since then. Sam is struggling for life.”

  Zaib rushed to the hospital with Ravi. When they reached the emergency room, Sam’s doctor came out. Ravi asked him, “Doctor, how is Sam?”