7th Oct, 2019

That feeling, as if your world is falling apart, crumbling into pieces and where you find yourself helpless, is what Shumail was feeling in that moment.

As the time ticked, Shumail's heartbeat increased. Having the lifeless body of his wife in his arms, as he impatiently sat in the car to reach the hospital, he was feeling like his entire world was breaking apart slowly. His forehead was covered in sweatbeads and his breath was harsh, but keeping aside his fear of accident and blood which he developed after the accident of his parents, he focused on Eram who lied in his lap covered in blood.

It was now that he was holding her in his arms that he realised that she was burning with fever, as he kept trying to keep her conscious by tapping on her cheeks continuously and letting her know that he was with her.

"Eram please open your eyes." He begged as he tapped on her cheeks again. "Look I'm back. I'm not going to leave again." He whispered in a soothing manner but every word went unheard. "Please open your eyes." His voice was filled with guilt and apology, most of all it was worry of losing her. His hands were trembling and he didn't know what he should do to bring her to conscious.

Having her lifeless body in his arms, covered in blood, was when he realised that he couldn't let go of her.

However she had entered his life, whatever circumstances made them meet each other, even after everything that they went through, she held a place in his heart. It beats for her.

"Shumail." A faint whisper sounded and he was immediately attentive to her. She was badly injured and heavily bleeding which Shumail was trying his best to stop but nothing was helping.

"I'm here." He assured as he moved her hairs back and caressed her head. Her hijab was badly messed up and all soaked with her blood. "I'm right here. Keep talking to me. Don't close your eyes."

"Shumail." He hadn't ever thought that in a situation and condition like her, she would call out his name. Her faint whisper of his name was tugging at his heart and he felt himself all broken and lost.

"Yes say. Don't close your eyes." He whispered soothingly. "We'll reach hospital in just a moment. Keep talking to me."

She let out a groan of pain, her tears rolling down the side of her eyes, vanishing in her hairs. "It hurts." She managed to whisper.

"I know but just hang in there for a few more moments. We're almost there."

"Here." The way she tried to move her hand, he felt how painfull it was for her but when she pointed at her heart, he felt as if he was hit with lightning. Her painful whisper of words tugged at his heart and hit him hard. She was trying to say something more but he silenced her, not wanting for her to bear more pain.

"Stay calm. It's alright. Don't stress yourself more." He spoke caressing her hairs, and pressing his scarf at the wound on her head to stop the bleeding.

"Please.." It took great efforts to bring herself to say the words. She was feeling excruciating pain in her whole body but that pain felt much less than what her heart was going through. "..please don't leave ...me." Her eyes began to drop again and she could barely keep them open.

"I'm not going to leave you. I promise." Shumail said with all honesty. "Don't speak. Don't stress yourself. Just keep looking at me. Don't close your eyes." He was losing his sane. "Please drive quickly." He requested to the person driving the car.

"If this is what my fate is, if this is how I bid farewell to you, then please.." She broke into sobs which turned into groans of pain. "..Please forgive me for whatever I did, whatever I made you go through. Please!" She tried to bring her hand up to his face but her strength gave away as it dropped down. "Please.." Her faint whisper of plea went unheard by him as her eyes closed and she fell back into unconsciousness. The car stopped in front of the hospital the exact moment with a screeching sound of the tyres and Shumail quickly opened the door, and holding her in his arms, he moved out and made a run for the entrance of the hospital.

A stretcher was brought immediately and he made her lie on it, as the nurse began to stretch it to the emergency unit hurriedly. Holding her hand in his, he was running along with the stretcher, calling out for the doctor but he was stopped when she was taken in the intensive care unit for immediate treatment. The red light was switched on indicating that the patient was being operated and Shumail stood still outside the door, staring at a distance, not knowing how to react and what to do.

With trembling hands, he fetched out his cellphone and dialed Aahil's number. Aahil picked up at the second ring itself as he bombarded Shumail with questions for hanging up on him abruptly, earlier.

"You alright Shumail? Why did you cut the call? Where are you? Is everything alright?" Aahil asked in a go.

"I'm...in hospital." Shumail answered slowly.

"What? What happened? Are you hurt?"

"Eram..." He trailed off, wiping his hand over his face as he tried to speak normally, without letting his voice shake.

"You guys met? What happened to her? Why are you silent! Speak, you idiot! You're making me worried!"

"She got in an accident. I brought her to the hospital. They're operating on her right now." How much ever Shumail tried not to let his voice waver, but his words gave away how terrible of a condition he was in. "I don't know what to do Aahil. She was lying lifeless in my arms. She lost so much blood..."

"Shh! Calm down! Calm down yourself. I'm coming right over. I'll be there real soon. Don't panic. Just keep praying. She'll be fine In Sha Allah." Aahil assured as he cut the call. Shumail's legs gave away as he sat himself on the chair that was placed outside the operating theatre, holding his head in his hands.

Every second that passed by felt like a lifetime. Everytime he looked up in the hope of seeing the door open and the doctor walk out, he saw the door still closed and the red light still switched on. His heartbeat was running erratically, and all the worst possible thoughts were revolving in his mind. Not a second went by that he didn't pray to his Rabb for her to be safe, for her to be fine.

An year. A whole year they were separated, because of his one decision. He didn't knew if it was a correct decision or a silly one on his part. They were away from each other for one whole year and that was how they met after it, where she met with an accident, where she will even make it out alive was a big question.

He was angry with her, no doubt, but he never wished for her to die. He can't ever wish anything bad for her.

Shumail looked to his side and saw his friends running towards him as he immediately stood up and wrapped his arms around the one to reach him first. The way he held onto Zaid tightly showed how shocked and afraid he was. He was clinging onto Zaid for comfort and support.

"I never wished for her to die. I didn't wish anything bad to happen to her. I wouldn't ever wish that! I was just angry with her." Shumail said, still in Zaid's embrace. The three just looked at each other and then back at a miserable looking Shumail. Zaid kept caressing his back, trying to calm him down, and let Shumail say whatever he had in his heart. "I never wished for her to be in this condition. Really!"

"She'll be fine, Shumail. Calm down." Zaid finally spoke up and even before he could say something more, the red light went off and the door opened as the doctor walked out after what felt like an eternity to Shumail. Shumail immediately broke the hug as he walked to the doctor.

"Who's the family?" The doctor asked. Shumail was silent for a second but then he broke his silence and answered the doctor.

"I'm..her husband."

"Well, she had lost a lot of blood. She have a few ribs broken as well because of the hit. Her right arm is fractured. Her case was complicated but we were successful in saving her."

Shumail took in a deep breath of relief when he heard the doctor say that she was saved. His heart said 'Alhamdulillah' a billion times, thanking his Rabb for his immense blessings.

"But.."

"But what?" Shahmeer asked.

"She can't walk...temporarily."

"What! How? What happened to her?" Shumail bombarded the doctor with questions. "Why can't she walk?"

"The impact of the hit on her legs was severe. If she wasn't brought in time, she would've lost her walking ability forever. The injury on her legs will take time to heal and if she exerts even a little pressure on her legs, it would not be good for her."

"Can we see her?" Aahil asked the doctor in place of Shumail who was too stunned to even utter a word.

"She's still unconscious. We'll be keeping her in intensive care for the night, as nothing can be said. Let's hope for the best." The doctor informed and walked away. Shumail kept blinking his eyes looking at the door, not having energy to move. Processing the information that the doctor gave felt really difficult for Shumail.

She can't walk?

"You should go in." Zaid suggested as Shumail looked at him, unsure. He slowly took steps towards the operating room and walked in. His gaze was fixed on the floor, he didn't dare look up. He wanted to take steps back and run out but something in him made him move forward and walk towards where she was lying on the bed. When he was beside the bed, he moved his gaze up and looked at her unconscious form. She lay there on the bed with wires attached to her body, her right hand casted in a fracture, a bandage wrapped around her head, over her hairs which were sprawled over the pillow on which her head lay. Her neck and her arm had a few scratches. At the very sight of her, his heart constricted.

Shumail silently sat himself on the chair placed beside her bed, his eyes never moving away from her. He contemplated before he moved his hand forward and held her hand in his firmly, caressing the back of it with his thumb.

"Why do you always have to be so careless!" He spoke to her unconscious form. He bent down and placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand, holding it in between both his hands as he rested his cheek against it. He didn't say anything further, he had nothing to say. All his words died down when he saw her.

There sounded a knock on the door and it opened a second later as Shahmeer stood at the threshold. Shumail turned to look at him. "You okay?" Shahmeer asked and Shumail gave him a nod. "Let her rest. You come with me. Let's head home and get you a change of clothes. Yours are soaked in her blood." Shumail nodded again as he placed her hand back on the bed and covered her with the sheets, before he stood up from his seat and began to walk towards the door where Shahmeer stood.

"Zain might be worried for her. Send someone to her parent's address to fetch him." Shumail asked a favor from him when he reached to where he was standing, as Shahmeer gave an assuring nod. "Where is Aahil and Zaid?"

"They went to pray fajr. They'll watch over her until we come back."

Looking at her sleeping form one last time, he closed the door behind him and walked away with Shahmeer.

Assalamualaikum!

A late update I know but have been a bit busy these days.. -_-'

How was the chapter? Is Shumail's heart melting soft?
Trust me guys you'll absolutely love the upckming chapters! ;)

Stay tuned for upcomung chapter

Until next time...Vaarwel!