Four Months Later

The six months trip was finally at its end, a lot of happenings, a lot of meetings, a lot of lessons and a lot of memories. My luggage was all packed up and stacked inside my car and I was sitting in the conference room after a long three hour meeting with the entire ZIST group of companies, Dad was on call with us from Williamsburg, Yahya was online from New York office, Salman chachu was with us from Karachi and Sabih went to Lahore for the grand meeting. In past six months all the branches have achieved some goals, our construction company have gotten a major project in Islamabad by a very famous construction company from Middle East, last month Yahya and Ifra (Murtaza's younger sister ) together launched a very important software which Masha Allah had attracted a lot of companies, on the other hand in Karachi and Islamabad we have finally got associated with couple of engineering institutes and we'll be training some of their fresh graduates which are not only important for them but for us as well and if we look at the textile department which Javeria, Abeer and Umaima along with Irfan chachu look after have made remarkable success. It seems like my entire family made some achievements in past six months, Alhamdulillah. Dad was so happy on hearing all the briefing that he had called everyone back to US for a celebration and spending our grandfather's 85th birthday together and I don't know but my old man wants to announce something big too, something about which everyone except me was ecstatic about, I wasn't because I don't know the matter.

With a satisfied smile I got up from my seat and walked out of the conference room, no doubt I am going to miss this place; well I will be returning back soon. Walking past the cabins which were full of energy even at these late hours of the day, I got inside my room and dialed Sabih, the phone rang and then went to voice mail, not even once this guy can be on time. Putting my phone aside I checked on the last of my work as in an hour I'll be leaving for home, my flight is scheduled for half past one in the morning, if not get delayed, Sabih was also joining me on the journey back home if I say he is ecstatic it won't be a lie. He is going back to states after five years, since he graduated from California Institute chachu didn't let him step back in states because we all knew Sabih was the most crazy out of his four kids but now this guy is not what he was, he is serious about his work more than any guy I have seen, he is dedicated and he loves what he does, it's an amazing sight, to see him get all involved.

The ringing and vibration of my phone got my attention and I picked it up, dad's number was illuminating on the screen; "Asalam O Alikum dad."

"Walkium As Salam, you are still in office? It's past ten, isn't it?"

"Jee dad, when I have made all the employees to stay past the working hours I am bound to stay with them too and anyways in an hour I'll be joining Sabih at airport, he must be on his flight from Lahore now."

"Oh haan! Haan! So the packing and everything is done?"

"Yeah Alhamdulillah, feels like going to miss this place." I said and he chuckled. "By the way dad what's the big thing?"

"Aao phir baat kertay hain." (Come, then we'll talk.) He said and I was sure he would be smiling at my curiosity. Finally bidding our farewell we ended the call.

Gathering all the scattered documents, arranging the files and then saving the latest files and reports in a separate USB, I finally wrapped up my belongings which were placed around the room. In past six months I have made this room my second home, staying late at night, laying on the comfortable couch no matter how much I protested on this extravagant designing of this room I did enjoyed the comfort. Stuffing the last box with the materials I am taking back home, I sealed the top and wrote the address and called the driver to take it and place it in the car with mine and Sabih's rest of the belongings. Though neither Sabih nor I would be here but Mr. Razi, The director and the new general manager would be taking care of the branch behind our back and once Sabih returns it would be his complete responsibility.

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"I can't believe it! Four hours! Freaking four hours delay!" Sabih groaned and stomped his foot like a kid, currently we were in lounge of Jinnah Airport, we got to know that our flight was delayed almost two hours ago and from past two hours my impatient cousin is whining like a kid, his whining is now becoming an hourly alarm.

"Is there anyone special waiting?" I asked with a smirk and his expression changed, the color was drained out of his face and I regretted my words instantly, "I am sorry, I-"

"That joke is getting pretty old, Wali." He replied coldly and standing up walked away and I just sat there looking at his retreating defeated figure.

Some people do leave great impressions on our life; they stay for short time but play great roles.

Now it was me getting impatient, it had been an hour that Sabih walked out of the waiting area and haven't returned back, it's almost two in the morning and now the dizziness was taking over me, mainly because of the high doze medicines. I stood up to find him, taking out my cell phone I dialed his number but his cell phone was powered off, great! I made my way to the cafeteria on the other side, entering inside it was easy to spot him sitting in a far corner and lost in his deep thoughts. I made my way to the counter and after getting a cup coffee which just had a label of coffee but nothing else I made my way to the table.

"Can I sit?" I asked with an apologetic smile and he passed me a weak one. Few minutes in complete silence where he was staring at his coke can and I just sip on my coffee from time to time.

"It's hard to forget her you know," he whispered in a very quiet voice. "We were supposed to start a life together, it hurts man!" He sighed rubbing his red eyes.

"Sabih, I don't know how it feels and I can't give you the comfort, I am sorry! But take it this way, she is in far better place, what if you both would have gotten together and things wouldn't have worked out? Or man it would be more painful to lose her just after getting her and Allah just eased her pain by taking her away!" I quietly mumbled looking at any sign of expressions on his face.

"You know I want to find those bastards and kill them! I want to freaking kill every single one of them! It had been three years and still her scared face is fresh in my mind, those four days when she was in coma and the day she woke up and just screamed her lungs out, her voice I still hear it Wali! I waited for her to wake up and when she did it was just to say us a final goodbye! It petrifies me now whenever Umaima and Zeen leave home. I was her fiancé and I wasn't there to protect her what if I am not there to protect my own little sisters!" He said in a voice which was full of rage. The memory of Sabih's complete breakdown is still fresh in my mind.

"Just believe on one thing Abi, He'll provide the best justice to Noor and you! Believe in Allah, Abi!" I said in a polite face.

"He is the one I have left my case with." He said with a weak smile and then we both stayed there in a comfortable silence, in our own thoughts.

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"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to JFK Airport. Local time is 11:00 AM and the temperature is 55° F."

For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about. Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight.

If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you.

On behalf of Emirate Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day."

As the announcement was done I adjusted back on my seat and woke up a drooling Sabih from my left, I wanted to take his photo but I decided otherwise.

"Finally we are back!" he said with a silly grin and I nodded with a smile.

The next forty-five minutes went by in a blur from departing the plane to gathering the stuff but my clown of a cousin did ended up making a scene, we were at baggage claim area and earlier he told me to keep an eye on his stuff too as he have a tendency of missing his luggage and I did just that but that guy started panicking when he didn't find his one of the thousand suitcases which was just in front of us and started running around and after a lot of talking with him I finally punched him telling that I have taken care of his stuff and the response I got was, "Man! You need to cheer up the sleepy passengers sometime." I just can't believe this kid trapped up in a grown up body of a 29 years old.

Finally now we were out of the airport trying to find our relatives, it was quite chilly in New York than it was in Islamabad, in past six months I became used to of Pakistan warm weather that now dressed up in a button up shirt and pants, I badly need a jacket.

"There they are!" Sabih pointed to our right and my eyes landed on my beautiful mother who was having little Khadija in her arms and smiling at the sight both of us moved towards our family, soon they spotted us at the crowded airport too and had a vibrant smiles across their face.

"Asalam O Alikum, beautiful!" I smiled and wrapped my arms around my mother, "missed you, mom!"

"Missed you too, amma ki jaan." She said rubbing her hand on my back, kissing her forehead I got away and then turned to dad. As I got away from him I spotted Abdullah bhai standing behind dad grinning at us, for one minute I thought I am mistaken but then I blinked and he moved forward still smiling and I smiled widely approaching him,

"Asalam O Alikum, what a surprise? Is anyone coming today?" I asked while shaking his hand but he took me in a hug which I warmly returned.

"Walikm As Salam and yeah, you." He replied patting my back and others chuckled.

"Wow! But how did you know?" I asked because I haven't talked to him in past couple of days and I got my tickets just a day before coming here.

"Well Zulfiqar bhai told me," he said looking at dad and my eyes got wide, they both knew each other?

"Yes, now we do!" Abdullah bhai replied with a wide smile.

"Huh?"

"You said your thoughts out loud, brother!" Murtaza patted my back and I turned to him with a chuckle, I hugged him and said my salam to the rest of people as well.

"Wow! I mean how that happened?" I asked amused looking from Abdullah bhai to dad.

"You don't seem happy about it!" Abdullah bhai looked at me slightly frowning and I quickly shook my head.

"No it came out wrong! I mean, I am obviously happy but surprised, that's all!" I said quickly clearing the mess, while others laughed and I shook my head with a sheepish smile.

"Well we'll tell you everything tomorrow at lunch, right now I have to excuse myself because I am getting calls from hospital!" he said and after saying his salam to all of us he went toward his car.

"Someone should really explain me what's going on?" I looked at my family from my parents to Murtaza and Rumaisa then to Yahya and Rafia and finally Sabih who just shrugged with a smirk.

HE KNOWS SOMETHING!

"Guys?" I looked at them and Yahya and Murtaza pretended out that their lips are sealed.

"Okay Wali! Get in the car, it's time to get back home, we'll talk at home!" my dad got my attention and he had a different smile which meant something big .

I nodded and turned to Sabih expecting him to follow us but he shrugged and said, "change of plans going to stay with little Deeja!" and ran off.

What is seriously going on?

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A.O.A

Well I tried to give an early update, hope you guys like it :)

So? Can anyone guess about that 'something'?

Comment below to tell :P
And don't forget to vote!

Zehra :)