CHAPTER 26 - TO ZENITH AND BEYOND

You would be wondering if Aliza struggled after leaving home with her child. And if she did, how much? But life favours the brave, doesn't it? She was on the verge of a breakdown when she left home. She was all alone despite having a big family. She cursed her fate and resented her life. But she had to live on for herself and her child. 

She struggled during the initial days of her hostel life. She had never been to a hostel before, even in school. But she had been in a married life, so she was accustomed to living with strangers. She skipped work for a few days because she did not find it suitable to leave Iqra with the warden while she was away at work. She couldn't take her along too. But once she saw her savings becoming thin and thin, she decided she had to get back. She alternately carried Iqra to work on a few days and left her with her roommate on a few other days. On those days, she would be very apprehensive and hop back home as soon as work finished. But she had learned to live her life that way. Soon, Iqra would grow up and be in school, and Aliza could take up multiple jobs and move out to a good rental house, she thought.

One day, after returning from her pharmacy, she found Iqra missing and her roommate taking a nap peacefully. She called out for her baby, who could not be found in her vicinity. She woke her roommate up and inquired, only to discover that a lady had come looking for them, calling herself Aliza's relative. She had insisted to the warden that she takes Iqra for some time but wasn't successful in convincing her. Instead, the warden allowed the lady to play with Iqra in her room on the ground floor until Aliza arrived. Though Aliza felt relieved on hearing this, she felt extremely enraged. Iqra was all that was left for her in her life. She ran down to the warden's room and flung the door open. She was so enraged that she would have ripped apart whoever it was, be it her mother or Rabiya, for causing this panic. But to her complete surprise, it was Cyra's mother who held Iqra in her arms, playfully stroking her hair. She noticed that Iqra was laughing and playing as well, and it didn't seem like their first meeting at all. Cyra's mother had visited Aliza twice in the past after Iqra's birth, but Iqra wouldn't remember their encounter. She scooped her child from her arms and enclosed her in her own in a protective instinct. She did not want to trust anyone anymore. Cyra's mother stood up instantly and flashed an uneasy smile. 

'Assalamu Alaikum Aliza, I visited Cyra after a long time and wanted to check on you. When I went home, they told me you left. I got this address from your father and reached here. Aliza, I really hope you are fine though you don't look like it.' 

Aliza chuckled at the irony. 'Walaikum salam. I did not expect you here, and sorry if I behaved so harshly. I did not leave on my own but was forced to. It seems like nobody wants us anymore.'

'Don't say that. You have so many people around who could help you, provided you agree to take it.'

'I am afraid there is anyone left in my life to do that. But Iqra and I are doing very well and aren't seeking help.'

'See, this is exactly what I meant. You wouldn't let anyone help you by not looking for it. I was shocked to know you left home after all that had happened. It must have been difficult. I see myself and Cyra in you and Iqra. So, please don't lie to me that you are doing fine and don't need help. I had longed for years for it when I was at your place.'

Aliza did not reply. She dared not accept that her life was a mess that she was trying to juggle. 

'So, don't stop looking for help or deny it. I have come for you, Aliza. As soon as I learned what had happened, I decided to take you both home. And it would be my pleasure to do that. I am not surprised that you did not consider asking me. But I would want to take you with me anyway.'

At first, Aliza rejected it straight away. But Cyra's mother had to convince her that she wasn't compensating for anything that had happened in the past and she would never be a burden to her. She said she was too lonely living in a house without Cyra, and their arrival would only make her life better. Aliza burst out in tears and hugged her for a long time. She felt relieved that she had someone to share her burden. After all explanations and convincing conversations, Aliza and Iqra left with Cyra's mother for Bangalore. 

Aliza looked after the home bakery and Cyra's mother's health. She applied for college and soon got her CA admission letter. She dedicated her time to her studies and worked while Cyra's mother cared for Iqra. At night, she would sleep in another room with Iqra after going through the day's expenditure and income. After many years, she slept without any care about the world. Cyra's mother would look at her calm face and imagine Cyra being happy miles apart. 

Cyra, too, would return to her mother years later when she turned 32 and exhausted because of the constant abuse by her in-laws. Over the years, she was taunted for not being able to conceive. Rabiya wanted to avenge Aliza by making Cyra's son their heir. But even after too many appointments and treatments, Cyra couldn't achieve pregnancy. But Ahmed stayed indifferent towards her. He would remain silent even when Rabiya hurled curses at her. Cyra was too heartbroken and tired and forgot that she could fight back. She simply gave up until one day, Rabiya suggested she would have to look for a bride for Ahmed if Cyra couldn't conceive in the next 6 months. She looked at Ahmed in shock, who was silently munching on his food. She knew what she had just heard, and her ears were not still out of shock. The words reverberated inside her head, and she expected Ahmed to deny Rabiya's statement as fast as it was spoken. But, no. He did not show any sign of denial or remorse. After finishing his food, he washed his hand into the plate and walked across her into his room. Rabiya went away, staring at her. She did not have to go behind Ahmed asking what he felt about Rabiya's warning because his silence had already answered. As usual, he would say, 'Ammi can do anything for my good. I wouldn't question her, and you shouldn't too.'  

Cyra realised her place in Ahmed's life and how? She felt like someone had crushed her chest with their boot sole. Reality slapped her hard in the face and kicked the life out of her. She couldn't have known how long she had been standing that way, alone and lost. 

After waking up early that day, Aliza completed all her work as usual and helped Iqra board her school bus. After all the years of studying and working, Aliza bought the adjoining house, which used to be their stockroom. She paid for it in instalments because Cyra's mother did not want to take all her savings at once. She stayed with Cyra's mother in the mornings, and at nights, she stayed at her own house. After sending Iqra to school, she returned to prepare for her work when she noticed someone weary and hollowed out near her home. The woman looked ghastly with messy hair and swollen eyes as if she hadn't slept for days and not eaten. In fact, she hadn't. Cyra had run away from her in-law's house with some money and her belongings packed. She did not tell anyone about it and cried her way back home. She could have simply called her mother and asked her to pick her up, but Cyra did not even want to stay a minute more in that house.

 After staring for more than the average duration, Aliza realised who it was. She went running inside, panting. She called out for Cyra's mother and dragged her out. Cyra's mother stood frozen at what she saw. She realised what must have happened even without Cyra speaking a word. After discovering her state, the mother and daughter embraced each other. 

Aliza stood behind reluctantly, watching the mother and daughter bond after a long time. Her eyes became watery, remembering her own mother. She decided she would forgive them all because there was no way she would have reached here today without all that had happened. She let it all go in her heart and sighed. She decided to visit them during Iqra's vacation because she missed them dearly. She finally felt relieved of the heavy feeling that had been haunting her.  

The three women walked back home, leaving behind all that was pulling them down with newfound purpose and will. You ask me how could Cyra and Aliza live together without stirring a storm. You think if that's even possible? Yes, it is. They will live together for years to come. They would be neighbours. They would be sisters. They would be business partners. They would be women uplifting one another. They would be the very reason this story ever existed.

#penbooksandscalpel

This is my last post for the #BlogchatterA2Z2023 challenge and thanks for staying here and reading my story. Thank you for all the inputs and suggestion and most importantly for your immense support. Thanks and regards. Until we meet again.