Chapter 4: Flashbacks

Zara, How is your father doing? Is everything alright? Old Mrs. Maria Questioned continuously as she got worried.

"Cheri, have a break. how could she answer if you ask many questions at the same time?" Old Mr. Mathew patted his wife to ease her anxious.

" Grand pa, Grand ma please be at ease. My father is doing good and doctor said his health is improving and can be discharged when he is completely alright". Zara answered them.

"Zara, We're sorry for not able to see you father" sorrowfully apologized to zara.

"Grand ma, Please don't say that. I can understand". Zara comforted them.

"Did Leroy come to see his father-in-law?" Old Mr. Mathew Wills asked Zara in monotone voice.

No words came out of her. she lowered her head and shook no.

"Thomas, Tell Leroy to come home right now". Old Mr. Wills got infuriated by his grandson's behavior.

"Grand pa, He must be busy. that's why he couldn't come. Please don't blame him." Zara pleaded.

"Zara, you can't always support him, when he is treating you coldly!. you must be tired. go and take rest. I tell a maid to bring you a nourishing soup." Old Mrs. Wills firmly told and silently went to her room.

She closed the door and changed her dress into bunny printed pajamas and put on a bun and freed some strands of her hair. she looked innocently bewitching in that pajamas. that dress pinpointed her curves.

Her phone rang. a smile appeared on her lips when saw the caller id.

"Hey babes, How are you? How is uncle doing?. I'm really sorry babes. I planned to meet you and uncle. But my boss, He's such a pain in my ass. Torturing me day and night." a voice was coming from other side.

"Hahahaaa... Ash darl, (darling short form). Why is your head too hot? I think you need a cool drink right now, or else your head gonna explode. and you don't need to explain yourself. don't ever do that. and yes, Dad's health is improving. he can be discharged when he is completely alright. you know what ? this is the day I felt both worn out and Bonjoured at the same time. I'm really tired. but, still I'm doing good. Zara talked with her friend for almost an hour.

"Why?, Did something happened, are you okay? just tell me where you are, i'll come. ash told worriedly. after a pause "wait, you told uncle's health is improving, babe just tell me everything". ash hurried zara.

" I'm alright. and you are right. an incident did happened today. ash darl, I'm feeling relived right now. you do know, how devastated I was in those past days! and today OMG!" she took a long breath.

"Babe, tell me quickly before I pluck all of my hair" Ash rushed zara.

"By asking itself your curiosity risen, just feel how would I felt in that moment"

"ash, today when I visited my father's personal doctor, she told me that my father have only hours to live"

"whattttt, what did you say?" ash shocked

"yes, I felt like I was standing on the edge of hell." I didn't know what to do, whom to tell. Even Lee didn't come to visit my father. she told in depressed voice.

"babe, but just now you told uncle was fine?" ash questioned zara.

"let me complete, After I left her cabin, the doctor called me again to visit dean office, when I went there, the room was deadly silent.

(Flashback)

"Ms. Zara please take your seat" Hospital dean said to zara.

"Ms. Zara please forgive our grave mistake" Hospital dean and Dr.Jessica bowed their head to knee and apologized in unison.

zara instantly stood " Both of you, please stand up, why are apologizing? please tell me what happened? she made them stand up.

"Ms. Zara please sit, we apologized because, a mistake happened in the report. this is the real report of you father's." hospital dean handed over the original report of zara' fahter to her.

"what do you mean mistake happened ?" can you explain quickly". zara asked the dean as her heartbeat start to rise.

"Ms. Zara, it's like this. Dr. Jessica mistook other patient's report as you father's because of the name, she gave you the reports of Mr. Thimotheus instead of Mr. Thimothy.The dean explained apologetically. and your father Mr. Timothy is alright, he'll we discharged when he is completely recovered" Dr.Jessica informed zara and smiled awkwardly.

Zara was dumbfounded for a moment. she felt like she was in a dream. as her broken soul started to rebuilt and felt fear at the same time as if it's dream that will wiped off. she doesn't know whether to cry or laugh.

"Dr. Jessica, what you told right now, is it true?

"yes, zara. I'm really sorry for what happened in the past hours. please forgive me". Dr. Jessica once again bowed, but zara stopped her in middle, made her stand up and hugged her tightly and said "Dr. Jessi you really don't know how happy you made me right now! Thank you so much, you've done a great job. Warmth filled in Jessi's heart.

happy tears filled in zara's eyes when she left the dean's office.

(Flashback ends)

"OMG! thank goodness. I'm completely relived. Babe I wish giving you a tight hug right now" I'll visit uncle after my work is over, ok. ash told zara

"of course darl."

"you told Leroy didn't visit uncle in past months. So, how is going between you and leroy? any changes? Ash's voice shown concerned.

"He came. a week after my father got admitted. After that I never seen him visiting my father. Even before 3 months, I went to a coffee shop after seeing my father, I really felt down at that time. when I went there, coincidentally Lee (Leroy)and veronica were there....

Flashback..

Zara went to counter and self ordered " a mocha please" and waited for it. she often comes to this cafe whenever she felt down. She especially liked the seat that was beside the entrance. She loved to see outside view of the cafe.

Leroy and veronica were sitting special room that was 4 tables away from the entrance. zara got her mocha and was going to her seat. At the same time Leroy and veronica were ready to leave. they came from opposite side.

On the way to her seat she stumbled on her feet, as Leroy and Veronica came near to the entrance. but she managed to stand steadily. Thanks to her bad luck, Zara accidentally tripped the pepping hot mocha all between her and the lady infront of her.

"Ouchhh..." both the ladies squealed.

"Nic! are you alright? Leroy held both of her hands and checked her around.

" Leroy, I'm alright. It's her who got hurt." veronica calmed him down.

when leroy saw zara, he was shocked for a moment. Then he realized her dress was wet and her wrist was reddish brown in colour because of that hot mocha. the situation she was in, it made people in cafe feel bad for her. Before leroy could react, Veronica asked zara " Zara are you okay? I'm sorry!I didn't see you."

"no! no!. it's not your fault. I should be the one to apologize. sorry, I accidentally stumbled over" Zara apologized.

"Don't apologize. It's okay. no probs. you should take care of your wound. It's worsening" Veronica worriedly told her. She was right.

Her bruise was worsening. It turned into bluish purple. she felt like her skin was half burned. It was so painful for her. her face shrank due to the pain.

Leroy was about to ask her if she was ok, but it came out different

"why did you come here? Did you followed me?"

she was aghast for a moment. it was like a large sharp knife was stabbed on her chest and unable to take it. she felt agony and irritated at the same time. she was in so much pain and this is what he ask her. Zara was about to cry but stopped herself. and answered him in stern voice.

"Mr. Wills, I have many Important things to do than following you" with that she left the cafe. on her way to hospital 'Am I that awful in his eyes?' she thought.

(Flashback ends)

Zara's POV.

"I hoped he'd be there atleast to console me when I needed him the most and never thought he'd think about me like that." "ash, I'm tired. after a long time, I'm gonna take a peaceful rest." zara told in a silently.

"I know babe, take some rest. I'll call you later and convey uncle that I'm wishing him a speedy recovery. see you soon babe."

"I will. see you soon ash" with that they ended the call.

Zara threw her phone on the bed and vent to veranda that attached to their room. she sat on the couch that placed on the veranda. Seeing the dark grey clouds 'i think it's gonna rain." the rain slowly started to downfall.The rain starts to pour down slowly. Zara stood up and went two steps ahead, her hands were on the railings. some rain drops fell on her.