"Dreams are free, so free your dreams."

-Astrid Alauda

•
C H A P T E R T E N

Monday, 6th November 2021.
1:55 pm.
"Morning, Doctor."Hammad greeted shaking hands with the doctor. Doctor Feer replied with the same enthusiasm before offering Hammad a seat. "I'm here about the reports you sent to me earlier, I was more worried so I came here myself, is his condition getting better?"He questioned worriedly.

"I was about to call you but since you're here that's good. His condition isn't getting any better Mr. Hammad, we've tried our best but nothing is working. I'm sorry but I don't think we can handle him anymore."

Hammad was already tensed. "What do you mean Doctor? This is your job, then why aren't you able to do it? I trusted you that's why I brought him to you, then why all—-?"

"I know that this is my job there's no need for you to remind me of that, we've tried our very best Mr. Hammad we're going to keep him here for the next 6 months and if he doesn't get better, I'm afraid we can't be of any help."Dr. Feer explained and Hammad heaved a long exasperated sigh.

"Are you sure about the 6 months?"Hammad raised an eyebrow.

"Not very sure."

Hammad shook his head and relaxed in his chair to process everything. He can't even count the times he sighed while he was in that position. Everything seemed almost impossible at that time, he felt as if there was nothing left for him in this world.

If the treatment doesn't work again this time then he's done for, he'll just be like a dead man walking with zero emotions. This isn't the first hospital he has been to, it's the 14th hospital in Paris and many other countries but all in vain.

Hammad left the hospital with a heavy heart and hope in his mind, all he wants right now is peace of mind and he knows exactly where to go, so he went straight to see his mother. As usual, he met her seated perfectly on her praying mat with the Holy Qur'an gripped between her palms.

He stood by the door quietly, and listened to his mother's soothing recitation, bringing back the old good days when his father was alive when they were in Nigeria, living the life of a not-so-perfect family before everything came crashing right before his eyes and he couldn't do anything to stop it.

With just his father's death; they lost everything, the love, the happiness, the togetherness, and the joy of living as one big family.

And had his father been with him today, he won't find himself in this miserable situation. He doesn't blame anyone for the misfortune in his life but himself. He believes he is the one at fault and responsible for the separation of his family.

And he wants to mend that, but will he be able to do it? With the way things are going, he doubts if he can do that, but he won't lose hope. That's among the things his father taught him before he passed away, Subhanallah.

The death of his father has taught him a lot of things; the ones who are closer to you, are mostly your enemies and it's true. The person his father trusted with his life, betrayed him and backstabbed him. Because of what? Money and fame!

People need to understand that there's something worth more than money, wealth, and fame, and that is practicing more of your Ibadah and growing closer to Allah before you return to Him.

Why do we tend to play a blind eye to the fact that we are all going to die?

Why do we do things without giving a thought to what the outcome might be on the day of resurrection?

We need to fix up! Because having a book filled with good deeds is so much better than having all the worldly things in this temporary Dunya.

Maama closed the Quran and kept it aside, she picked up the Tasbeeh and was about to start when Hammad said his Taslim out loud to get her attention.

"Hammad..." she dragged utterly surprised, normally whenever he is going to visit her he'll call her first just to inform her, and today he came uninformed which means something is up.

He removed his shoes and made his way into the room and sat down beside his mother. "Maama..." he also dragged her name the way she did.

"Come..." she gestured for him to lay down on her lap and he did. She went on massaging his hair. "How are you doing?"

"As always Maami, I'm not fine."He gave an honest reply.

"You're the one stopping yourself Hammad, you can be fine and happy if you want t-"

"It's just not possible Maami, maybe for someone else but not me."

Maami furrowed her brows at him, with a confused expression spread over her face. "Why?"

"I went to the hospital," Hammad admitted with a sigh.

She stopped massaging his hair and froze.

"He isn't getting any better Maami...and it's all my fault."He was close to tears.

"Inna lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji'un. We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return." she found herself chanting continuously. "Is that what the doctor told you?"She asked her hands shaking.

She can't lose him, she can't. She won't be able to handle it this time around.

"Yes Maami and it's all my fault."He cried shaking his head.

"Don't say that Hammad. If we're looking for whose fault is it then it should be me, I was careless, I should hav-"

Hammad cut in getting up from her lap. "Don't say that ever again Maami, ever! You're not at fault-"

It was now her turn to cut him off. "Then it's not your fault either! Don't argue with me."

Hammad sighed, looking at his hands. "No matter what you say Maami it won't make me feel any better, everyone knows that I'm the guilty one here, uncle has been saying that repeatedly and-"

"Are you only at fault because your uncle said you were?"She questioned and Hammad was quiet. He had nothing to answer her with.

"You know better than anyone how your uncle is and never take his words seriously again Hammad, for once view this as qadr it was meant to happen and it did no one could stop it."She explained but he shook his head.

"I know how my uncle is and I also know what's right and what's wrong. In this case, I'm the one at fault Maami...it was my responsibility to take care of him but I didn't...."

"When will you ever start listening to what I say, Hammad? Stop being stubborn!"

"I always listen to you Maami, you're my mother, I love you more than anything in this world, and that's the truth."He admitted with a small smile. "Uncle may call me mummy's boy but I don't give a damn about it."

"Do you know what?"Maami questioned, holding Hammad's hands. "I'm proud of you, so proud of you Hammad, despite everything you're still as strong as ever, Allah ya maka Albarka."

"Ameen ya Allah Maami, I'm not that strong, deep down I'm breaking down. I'm afraid it won't last long."He shook his head, and she tightened the grip on his hand.

"Don't say that, In Shaa Allah it'll, and all these will become history some day."

"I'll get going Maami, it's getting late."Hammad stated avoiding what she said. Why will he have hope on what he isn't sure is going to happen?

"Okay then, eat something when you get home, don't starve yourself I know you."

Hammad chuckled lightly and gave a slight nod. He wore his shoes and left quickly before he bumps into his uncle. He has been avoiding him since that marriage talk thank goodness that he didn't talk to him about it again, because he'll never ever agree to it.

Just because he seems depressed and out of emotions doesn't mean he will marry out of love, or have an arranged marriage. Even if he's going to get married, it's going to be a love marriage.

Henry isn't around today as well, so he had to drive by himself. Henry should know that he shouldn't come back to work for him, he's already fired and that's it.

Reaching the apartment he drove down to the underground parking lot to park his car when he almost hit a lady. The lady was lucky he was quick to step on the brakes.

The lady turned furiously, and walked aggressively towards his side and knocked on his window. "Excuse me? Are you blind?"

Ria❤️