BEYOND THE REALMS #wattys2018

Chapter 19

After dinner, Alisa didn't need to be asked to do something. She herself got up and started clearing up the table with Nazifa and Zainab, while Zayn and his father went to the tv.lounge. When they were out of ear shot, his father turned towards him and asked,

"Have you known this girl before, Zayn?"

Zayn got surprised and then he told him that he had met her that day only. Zayn's father looked at his son and then as if he couldn't believe that, after seeing the scene at the table and how Zayn had brought Alisa out of her misery, it felt as if they were age old friends...they all felt something there...some connection between both of them...and it did not feel like they were mere acquaintances. But then, instead of commenting on that, he asked Zayn,

"What has happened with her? She looks like she's in some kind of pain..." and then he winced, and said,

"I felt that something is choking her...Like I used to feel when I was first diagnosed with cancer!"

Zayn just shook his head, recalling the painful days that his father had to go through and the torment of his family...it was still fresh in his mind. Then he cleared his throat and reached out to touch his father's hand, and said,

"Baba I really don't know much about her other than that she is a widow and apparently she still has not been able to come out of that trauma." Then he confided in him about the near-fatal and almost accident on their way to Azamgarh and his father's blood drained from his face. But then he composed himself and patted his son's hand and said,

"I can't thank God enough for saving you both. My first glance at her had made me realize that she was not like regular, normal girls, and that was why I was trying to engage her and treat her as normally as I would treat anyone...to make her feel comfortable...and she did get a little comfortable there...but something pulled her back. Some bad memory... And then when you spoke to her, she looked as if she had been rescued from some internal demon!" Then running his fingertips on his forehead, he said in a more serious tone,

"Zayn, do not tell your mother about this incident. She will get unnecessarily worried. And about Alisa, just try to take care of this girl. She is far from her family, and is our guest. We must not make her feel uncomfortable by treating her differently.... Instead we should just try to keep her occupied. Maybe when she will be comfortable enough, she will open up about her life."

Zayn nodded in agreement and then he recalled something that he needed to discuss with his dad. So he said,

"Ohh baba, Mishra ji's case about his land is still pending in the court; his family is suffering because of that....."

When Alisa came to the lounge with Nazfia and Zainab, she found Zayn and his father occupied in some deep conversation. She had not spoken much in the kitchen but the wall of indifference had cracked and she found herself taking interest in what those harmless and simple people were doing and talking about. They all were treating her very nicely and there was no reason for her to not return the same courtesy. She couldn't be as jovial as they were all but still she could manage to try to be nice.

She was thinking all that when her phone started ringing. She checked and found out that it was her mother in law calling on Skype. With a small smile on her lips, she politely excused herself from the Azmis and walked a little farther from where they all were sitting, and then she received the video call,

"Hello Mummy, how are you?"

Razia Ahmed sighed with relief on the other end. Since Alisa had left, she was worried for her, but seeing her now indicated that she was fine, so she replied,

"I am good honey, but your Daddy and I am missing you a lot. How are you? How is everything there?"

Alisa heard the relief in her voice, gave her head a little shake and said kindly,

"Mummy, you just worry for me so much. I am perfectly alright and everything's fine here."

"Alisa, your daddy spoke to Vishwanath Tripathy. He told us that you are staying with some other people. Who are they? Is it safe to stay at some random people's place?" she had lowered her voice to a hush, but her voice was laced with her worry for Alisa and she could hear that.

"Mummy these are the neighbors and close friends of Tripathys and they are very nice people. They are taking care of me and I honestly don't have any problem here. In fact it was their son who picked me up from Babatpur and brought me here safely. I even met Vishwanath Tripathy a little while ago too; he seemed to be a nice person too. Mummy I know you must be worried but trust me, everything's alright here." She finished, her voice lowered too, in an effort to calm her down.

Mrs.Ahmed sighed and then she said,

"I am just worried that the culture difference and everything is so foreign for you. Its lucky that at least you don't have any language barrier with them...I don't know but I think you should have stayed at a hotel. That would have been safer I guess.''

Alisa recalled Zayn's teasing remark and a smile crept up her lips and she found herself repeating it,

"There is no hotel or motel nearby. Even if there was, they would never have let me stayed there alone. This is not America, Mummy!"

Mrs.Ahmed saw her smile, heard her mildly teasing tone and her breath caught in her chest. She looked at her dubiously for a few seconds; then realized it was really Alisa on the other end. And a smile beamed on her face.

"Alisa..." and then Alisa heard her soft chuckle and her own smile deepened.

"I am not worried for you anymore. If you say that it's all safe and nice, then I will accept it. But I need to see these people with my own eyes. If they are awake, take your phone to them."

Alisa sighed resignedly but she complied with her wishes and went back to the sitting room; Mr. and Mrs. Azmi welcomed her with a smile, and Nazifa asked,

"Who was it, Alisa?"

"My mother is on call. She would like to say hello to you all." Alisa explained

Mr. and Mrs. Azmi nodded and Alisa brought her phone near Mrs. Azmi and said,

"Mummy, this is Mrs. Zainab Azmi. And sitting next to her is her husband..." Both of them smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Razia.

Razia also apologized to them for disturbing them at night, to which Mr. Azmi good naturedly told her that it was not a problem and they were used to sleeping a bit late too. His wife also added that Razia could call Alisa anytime she wished. Then Alisa took the phone towards Zayn and introduced him too. Nazifa couldn't sit back quietly; she jumped in from her place and got into the video frame and introduced herself to Mrs.Ahmed. After talking with them for a few more minutes, much of the tension from her face had eradicated and now she was completely satisfied that Alisa was with good people and that she was truly fine. She then promised Alisa to call whenever she felt like and also that she would call in Mr.Ahmed's presence again, and then they hung up.

Alisa smiled sheepishly at the occupants of the room and said,

"She worries a lot for me..."

Mr. Azmi then got up, laid his hand on her head and announced that he was ready to call it a night. Mrs. Azmi also advised Alisa to rest now as she must be really tired. Then Nazifa took Alisa to her room and gave her blankets and switched on the Mosquito Repellent Light. She also advised Alisa to cover the window niche with the tapestries properly as the wind outside had caught a chill.

After giving her a jug of water and glass, Nazifa bid her goodbye and went to her own room which was upstairs. The room next to Alisa's was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Azmi.