CHAPTER 3 *unedited.

'She needs you’

I had set the deadline. They had three weeks. 21 days. 

“Aliyah get yourself and Zaisha dressed.” Laila hushed me towards the bed as she thumped a embroided baby pink body length dress in my hand. My eyes glared down at the heavily embroided dress. Since Malika’s passing, no one had dressed up or opted for bright colors out of respect and grief. It was to soon to be dressing up.

I shook my head harshly in disagreement as I threw the dress on the bed.

“Uncle Shah has informed us of a marriage proposal and he wants you to bring along Zaisha with him so the girl can take a look.” Laila explained as she once again wrestled the dress in my hand.

“It’s to early to be wearing these bold clothes Laila,” I sighed.

“You need to make a good first impression.” Laila whispered as she wrapped her short arms around me in reassurance, “remember this is for Zayn and Zaisha.”

“Does Zayn know?” 

“Uncle Shah has forbidden anyone to mention the wedding plans.” 

I understood why. Zayn was nowhere near stable and he would blow at the mention of marriage. The time I had spent here really opened up my eyes to what true love really meant. Zayn was so deeply in love it hurt. It hurt to watch him burn away.

I picked up the dress and stared at it for a few minutes as I heard the door lightly click close behind me. I dressed up and glanced at myself in the mirror. I was so different from my sister, Malika. My sister shared my mom’s jet black pin straight hair and hazel almost green eyes. Whereas I was a spitting image of my father, I was fairly tall and had dark brown naturally wavey hair and plain brown eyes.

I heard a slight whimper and walked towards Zaisha. She was growing so quick. She gurgled as she saw me. I picked up her small body in my arm and cooed at her. I had dressed her in a creamy white jumpsuit and placed a small bow headband on her baldhead. She looked adorable.

She nestled into my arms as I took the bag containing her change and feeding items and slowly walked down the stairs where Uncle Shah sat on the dining chair.

I was always curious as to why uncle Shah chose to sit on a chair. He never sat on a sofa, it seemed as if he disliked the idea of comfort.

He rose from his chair with the same grim expression plastered on his face but his eyes shone as he looked down at Zaisha. He silently took the bag from my hands and motioned me towards the door.

I waved at my mom and dad in goodbye who were silently sat in the kitchen. They looked tired and much older. It was as if the death of Malika had forced them to grow another 5 years.

I sat in the back of the car as I buckled Zaisha into the car seat. Malika had brought everything in advance for the baby. Tears shone in my eyes as I sniffled wiping away her memories. She was so excited, so happy. 

“The girl is my old friend’s daughter.” Uncle Shah said coldly as he drove softly avoiding in harsh bends or speed bumps. 

I just nodded as I played with Zaisha’s chubby fingers often hearing her giggle. 

“She 24 so she’s only two years younger than Zayn, and she’s done a degree in economics. She’s very cultural and beautiful.” He praised as I filtered out his voice and focused on Zaisha’s wiggling form. She was getting restless from being cooped up in the car seat. 

Half an hour later and we drove into a decent sized villa. They were well of money wise.

We were greeted by a cubby woman who adorned a bright blue shalwar kameez and her face was a few shades lighter as a result to the foundation she had painted onto her grim face.

“Oh dear you look beautiful.” She said to me as she forcefully hugged me and cooed at Zaisha.

I settled into the dark brown sofa and watched uncle Shah sit on the chair, which was positioned to the left of the sofa. 

“Oh Tasleem is just getting ready, I’ll call her down. Why don’t you try some sweets.” She said as she hustled out of the room. The room was over crowded with vintage furniture and pieces of glass decorations.

My train of thought was broken when the silence etched in the room vanished as the click of heels filled the room. 

She was beautiful, as my gaze fixated on her moving form. Tasleem was a brunette, had a slim figure and sharply defined features. She shot me a sad smile and sat right next to me. 

“Salam,” She traditionally greeted uncle Shah and nodded towards me.

Her eyes shot down to Zaisha and she smiled as her fingers lightly pinched her cheeks causing her to cry out. Tasleem’s eyes widened as she panicked.

“It’s ok, she’s a little fussy.” I reassured her as I rocked Zaisha to silence. 

“She’s gorgeous.” Tasleem admitted as she once again shot me a breathtaking smile. She was perfect at first glance. Tasleem would make a great mother. I had already taken a liking towards her unlike her mother who seemed like a straight forward bitch.

“So dear, I’m sure your mother explained the conditions of the marriage.” Uncle Shah broke our moment. 

“Yes.” She whispered, as her eyes once again turned down to her heavily made up clothes.

“I’m sure your time and love will help Zayn back on his feet.” Uncle Shah spoke as he looked directly at her cowering form.

“Off course she will. My daughters one in a million.” Her mother boasted as I shot down the curse, which was at the tip of my tongue.

The hour was spent discussing the terms of the marriage and uncle Shah had questioned Tasleem about her likes, dislikes and hobbies. 

I hugged her goodbye and left with a new bloom of hope within me. Tasleem was perfect. She could possibly fix Zayn although it would take time but she had the kindness and good will within her to stich him backup.

….

I had woken up in the early hours of the morning to hear Zaisha’s outburst. She was a little warm and seemed to stress over any type of movement. 

I rocked her gently as my eyes lightly shut. My body and mind felt tired and drained. I lacked the energy to do anything. I just wanted my old life back when I would watch films and eat junk food till the late hours of the night and then wake up in the evenings. 

A knock on the door broke me from my slight slumber and I looked down at Zaisha. Her eyes were wide-awake and she was silently staring up at me.

It could either be Laila or my mother, who often came to check on Zaisha.

I gently placed Zaisha on the bed and rested two pillows beside her to prevent her from moving as the knocks became louder and abrupt causing her little form to wrestle and whimper.

“Calm down I’m coming.” I shouted as I jogged up to the door and swung it open ready to rant. 

I froze as my eyes stilled on him.

He looked dead. His skin was sickly pale and lacked any warmth or color. His eyes were emotionless and supported prominent purple bags. His clothes were wrinkly and his once lush hair was over grown and sat in a tangled heap. 

“Zayn,” I whispered in shock.

After so many weeks of not facing anyone, he was here at my doorstep looking like the walking dead.

He ignored my shocked form and looked into the room. His gaze seemed to sweep the room and landed on the bed as I heard the slight gurgling from behind me.

“I want to see her,” his voice was scratchy and deep. 

I moved aside and welcomed him in.

Zayn walked straight to the bed and looked down at Zaisha in awe. His eyes flickered through so many emotions. He looked back up at me.

“Can I hold her?” He whispered.

“Uhm, sure…” I walked up towards him and wrapped my arm around Zaisha and motioned him towards me. He slowly approached me watching Zaisha’s every movement like a hawk.

He slowly held his arms out and I carefully placed Zaisha in his arms, as she started whimpering. His eyes lit up with emotion as he gazed down at Zaisha’s squirming form. She looked so little and vulnerable is his muscular arms.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at Zaisha in his arms.

“We named her Zaisha.” I said softly as I lowered myself on the edge of the bed and watched Zayn’s face mold in to concentration as he slowly rocked her back and forth at a steady pace.

“She looks like her mom,” he blurted out and stilled his movements. He quickly scoped the baby up and handed her back to me as she burst into tears and her high pitched wails bounced in the silent bedroom.

“I know,” I whispered as I started swaying her around lightly.

Suddenly Zayn turned around from me and walked towards the door. I looked at his retreating form and then the whimpering Zaisha in my arms. It wasn’t fair. Zaisha’s already lost a mother; she can’t afford to loose a father.

“Zayn.” I called out, causing his hand to freeze on the silver doorknob.

“She needs a father.”

“She needs you,” I whispered out in the room as he swung the door open harshly and walked out avoiding every word.

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