Chapter-6 How to Confirm?

Ayaan's POV

It was almost 7 in the evening and my patience had totally died off so I called up Sagar...

"Hey Sagar it's me Ayaan"

"Yes Mr. Ayaan, is everything alright?"

"Oh yes! I hope I am not disturbing and please call me Ayaan"

"Ya sure and no you are not disturbing "

"Actually I just wanted to check about Miss Zuby, I hope her cut has been properly treated and she is fine now"

"Yes she is fine and thank god I took her to the doctor, she needed a tetanus injection and the Dr. assured that after the shot there was nothing to be worried about"

"Ok...that's good." I remained silent for a second then finally asked him...

"If you don't mind me asking but did someone purposely harm her? Because I was able to make out the spot where she had the cut and I am pretty sure she couldn't get a cut over there accidentally "

Sagar took a deep breath before answering me...

"I can only tell you that you are right" Hearing him say that I could not understand who on earth would hurt her that way...the need to know more about her life has gone to a whole new level now. I realized I was still on call so I spoke up...

"Take care Sagar I hope we will get to meet soon."

"Sure Ayaan let's meet up someday soon" I hung up the call and started thinking of the fastest way to acquire every knowledge about Zuby. I was deep in thought when someone knocked at my door; I got up and opened the door to see Arhan standing there. It's been quite a while since he came to my room so I was a bit surprised to see him there.

"Can I come in?" He asked me with a serious face and I just opened the door wide so that he can get in and I walked in and sat on my bed. Arhan closed the door and sat on my recliner. He was wearing a black pant with a blue striped shirt and held his Dr. coat on his right arm along with his stethoscope. I could make out he was ready to go for his shift. He is my handsome brother I thought, he is as tall as me and everyone says we resemble a lot. We were very close at one point of our lives but then somehow now we have a huge gap between us. Arhan cleared his throat then spoke...

"Ayaan I am sure you heard today in the morning that mom and dad are trying to get me married" he looked at me as if checking whether he should continue or not and so I nodded my head in agreement and let him continue...

"Mom has sent a proposal for a girl whose family has said yes but they have said that the final decision will be of the girl" Arhan took a deep breath and asked me

"Ayaan what is the name of the girl you have been looking for?" I was shocked to hear Arhan ask me that but I managed to question him instead of answering his question

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Well I am asking because as far as I remember that girl's name was Zuby and I am telling you this whole story about my marriage proposal because this girl's name is also Zuby" he spoke a little irritated and my eyes could not get any wider and I couldn't speak...but Arhan spoke again...

"I know we have grown quite distant from each other from the past few years...believe me when I say this Ayaan I have never liked mom and dad compare us. And today when I heard this girl's name I just wanted you to be sure if she is the one you have been looking for. Though it is not sure if she will accept my proposal as her uncle said they have a few proposals in line and Zuby will take the final decision. But I want to tell you if she accepts my proposal then I will marry her only if you are sure that she is not the one you have been looking for....here I have her picture you can see and do your own research" Arhan gave me an envelope which I took immediately and then he walked out of my room.

It took me a minute to absorb all that Arhan told and then I opened the envelope to check the picture. It was the same girl I met in the afternoon today. It seems all of a sudden all forces on earth are bringing her in front of me. I stared at the picture and especially at her eyes. They were definitely the same eyes and I am once again sure she is the same girl I have been looking for, she is my Zuby.

Then suddenly i realized that the file which she gave me by mistake was actually of her proposals. Because just now Arhan told me what her uncle said about few proposals to finalize from. On one hand I am relieved that she is not married till now but on the other hand I am worried because she is about to choose someone to be her husband. I better think and act fast and appropriately.

Just then I called up Abdul and asked him to convince his friend Sagar to meet up for dinner tonight. I know Sagar is Zuby's friend and I just hope he will give me answers to most of my questions if not all.

"Abdul…I want you to call Sagar and ask him to join us for dinner tonight. It's really important and I need to talk to him. I don't know how you will convince him but I want to meet him today."

"Ayaan…before you say something further I want to know what's going on? I mean I have not seen you behave like this before, if you think I did not notice the way you were looking at Zuby then you are wrong. And now all of a sudden you want to meet Sagar that too tonight" Abdul called me Sir when we were in office but outside office he was more like a friend and called me by my name. His questions made me realize that I have to give him all answers if I want him to help me. I just hope he will understand and help me out.

"It's a long story man, why don't you convince Sagar to meet up and then pick me. I will tell you everything, I promise."

Abdul called me back after around half an hour and told me that Sagar will meet him for dinner around 9, I was relieved. Abdul asked me to come out in the next five minutes as he was almost there to pick me. I quickly grabbed my mobile, wallet and Zuby's photographs and walked out of my room. My parents were about to have dinner and I told them that I am going out for dinner with some friend. Without waiting for their reply I just walked out of the main door and Abdul was already there. I settled in the passenger seat and we drove to a nearby restaurant. There was still time for Sagar to come and by that time I decided to tell Abdul everything.

"Look Abdul I know what I will tell you may sound weird but I just hope you won't judge me"

"It's ok Ayaan, you can trust me and share whatever is there in your heart" I took a deep breath in and started….

"In the beginning years of my life my family lived in Dubai, I was actually born there and started with my kindergarten over there itself. I exactly don't know the reason even today after so many years as to why we moved back to India, but all I remember is that I couldn't attend grade 1 in Dubai as we had shifted already." Abdul was all ears and I was thankful that he was a good and patient listener, I continued…

"One of my classmates from the very first day of school was a little girl with beautiful big dark brown eyes, I still remember the way she tried to calm me down on my first day of school when I was crying for my mom." I smiled thinking of that moment which was still very clear in my mind.

"She became my first friend, though I was not her only friend as she had many friends. But for me she was the only one, I always had a special feeling for her. Being a 5 year old with special feelings for one person sounds funny but I always knew she was special for me. One day I clearly remember asking her out of know where 'Who will you marry after you grow up?' she said she has not yet decided so I asked another question 'Will you marry me?' this time she cutely replied 'I am not sure Ayaan, I have so many friends I just can't choose so easily' that was my last memory with my first love and should I say only love." Abdul had a frown on his face and he asked me…

"What does all this have to do with Sagar? Or Zuby for that matter?" I smiled at his confusion and answered him…

"That girl's name was Zuby" Abdul's eyes were wide in shock but I continued…

"And the day I asked her about marriage or should I say proposed her was the last time I saw her. As I was not aware that was my last day in school, my parents thought I was too young to understand anything and so did not tell me beforehand that we are leaving Dubai forever. I cried when I came to know that I can't meet my Zuby again. No one understood my feelings and as I grew up I became a rebel and the bad son of my family. I even told my parents about my feelings but they always took it as a joke and never did anything to help me. I have been trying to find her since a long time, I didn't remember her surname even then I tried to look for her on social media. The only other thing I knew about her was that we are from the same city here in India and that was the only hope I always had." I showed him my class photograph from Kindergarten which had Zuby in it.

"Look at these eyes Abdul, I have been looking for them since years and when I saw Zuby in my office today I could see the same eyes. I am sure she is the same girl I have been looking for and just want someone to confirm it. That's why I asked you to call Sagar, I could make out they are good friends and I just hope he will answer my queries." Abdul was quiet for a while, he seemed to be debating with himself whether to speak up his mind or not. I kept looking at him and finally he spoke…

"Look Ayaan please don't take me wrong, but being a friend I need to say a few things. I respect the feelings of the little Ayaan; I must say your love for Zuby at that age must have been so pure that you still love her. But my friend did you ever think about the fact that even if you find her then does she remember you? Did she ever have the same feelings as you did? And most importantly has she turned out to be the kind of person you want to spend your life with? Is she the kind of girl you want by your side?" I kept quiet and listened to him as he spoke out the fears which I always buried deep in my mind… yes all these things did cross my mind once in a while but still I don't know why I always had this feeling that she is the only one for me. Seeing that I am absolutely mute Abdul continued…

"I am not trying to hurt you Ayaan but you should understand that you are acting on the feelings of the five year old Ayaan. You have been searching for her since years and today if for once we say she is the same girl you met in the afternoon how are you so sure she wants to be with you. I am saying all this just so that you are ready to face the reality, I don't want you to get even more hurt. Are you getting what I am trying to say? Say something man…." I gave Abdul a halfhearted smile and replied…

"I totally understand what you are trying to say buddy, and trust me all these thoughts do cross my mind once in a while but I just get rid of them and try to be positive. I don't know the reason why but I have always had this feeling that I will not regret my search for her, I have this hope that I will find her one day and make her mine and also make her fall in love with me. I don't care if she does not remember me; my love will be enough for both of us till she loves me back. And to be honest I trust Allah enough to be sure that I am not running behind the wrong dream. I am sure she will be the kind of girl I would be honored to have by my side." Abdul smiled at me and shook his head saying….

"I just pray that this one better be your Zuby" I chucked lightly and then looked at the time. It was almost nine o clock and I guess Sagar would be here anytime soon. In between I thought of telling Abdul even about Arhan's proposal.

"By the way there is one more thing I want to tell you, Zuby is about to get married any time soon. And look at the coincidence my own brother's marriage proposal has been sent for her. Arhan told me today and showed me her picture; this is also one reason why I want to confirm ASAP if she is my Zuby." Abdul nodded his head in understanding. Just then Abdul got a call from Sagar telling him that he has arrived, Abdul stood up and waved his hand so that Sagar can see us. I saw him narrow his eyes at me, I am sure he would be wondering why am I here? Anyway I just hope he understands my situation and answers my questions.