'Forgiving someone isn't just about doing good to another. It's also about healing a scar in your own heart! ' - Nouman Ali khan.

Sanam's POV

I couldn't get up for fajr as the medicines I gulped down last night had knocked me out totally.Mom didn't wake me either thinking I didn't had to pray (time of month).Missing fajr implies my whole day would go cursing myself that I had fallen under the clutches of saitan Astaghfirullah!

After my daily routine of showering and getting dressed I walked into the kitchen and witnessed mom preparing breakfast.She had entitled  herself to the task of  feeding home cooked fresh food daily.The kitchen counter was smeared with dough and smelled of butter. 

"Salaam mom !" I greeted casually,removing fresh cream from the refrigerator. She was making pancakes but her gaze was fixed on the window, she didn't even return my salam.

" Earth to mom! Are you alright? " I enquired waving my hands at her face.

"I need to tell you something important Sanam! Let's have breakfast first then I shall talk about it, " mom replied, tossing the pancakes on the plates.She looked a bit apprehensive.Nodding my head in approval, I helped her out in arranging the plates on the dining table.

Finishing our breakfast we sat in the living room waiting for mom.She arrived minutes later and sat herself on the couch facing me.Taking a deep breath she began.

"My dear kids, I have to tell you something but you need to be patient and listen to me completely before making any assumptions!" We nodded and steadied ouselves to hear her out.

"Today after Fajr, your cousin Mikael had called informing me that your uncle isn't doing well and apparently he's in the hospital; he wants to see us one last time",Mom said stressing the latter.

"Mikael also emphasised that he often talks about you in his dreams," mom stated, arching her brows and pointing at me.We looked at each other in confusion. How come he misses me now when he never came when I needed him the most.

"No mom,Don't even think about it! It must be one of his dirty plans ," I said through gritted teeth.Shaila nodded her head agreeing with me.

"I know it's difficult to trust him after his betrayal but I feel he is not bluffing," mom replied, rising up from her seat.

Why does he want to get back in our life when we have learned to live by ourselves?

Why this sudden display of affection?

Was there any reason why he came to our home the other day?

My mind was flooded with so many questions. Mom cleared her throat breaking me out of my trance.

"I have thought a lot about it and I came to a conclusion that we shall visit him once.After all he is a sick person and it is sunnah to visit the sick," Mom said biting her lips.

Quote from the Holy Qur'an: Al-Hujuraat (49:10)

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

Innama almuminoona ikhwatun faaslihoo bayna akhawaykum waittaqoo Allaha laAAallakum turhamoona

The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.

When she quoted quran it would leave us speachless.We had to abide by it.It was a day off for me,I had no option but to comply to her wish.Shaila and Urwa had school so they left after our brief discussion.

"Get ready Sanam! We will be leaving  in ten minutes," mom demanded, walking towards her room.

I was sitting on the couch trying to find a reason to escape this encounter with my evil uncle when mom's phone rang.As she was in her room I answered  it.

"Assalamualaikum who is this?"

"Walaikumsalam! It's Mikael here. Aunt Huma,dad's condition is getting worse. He says he wants to meet your family one last time; please do come," he pleaded.

"Mikael,this is Sanam.Can you tell me what happened to uncle? Why is he in a hospital?" I asked in a worried tone.

"He...he- is- suffering- from -brain cancer!" Mikael replied, his voice breaking due to the sobs he was gulping down.

"Don't worry Mikael, he will get well soon inshaAllah! We shall be there in an hour," I replied in a comforting tone.

I ended the call but his words had left me frozen! BRAIN CANCER....this was totally unexpected.It was a fight between life and death.

As I cut the call,mom stepped out of her room with a Quran in one of her hand and a handbag in the other.I didn't feel like telling her about the call.I knew she would learn about his condition eventually.Atleast it would save her some worry on our way to the hospital.

We took a taxi to the hospital.It was an hours distance from our home.Throughout the ride mom was reading Quran and my heart was dripping with sorrow, shock and many unknown emotions.Somewhere deep down a part of me was telling that uncle was being chastised for his bad deeds but a part of me couldn't believe that he had become the victim of such a deadly disease.

Though he had taken away my dad's property, mom had forgiven him.She never uttered anything bad against him.Mom would always tell us that however he may be he was my dad's brother and in Islam the status of your uncle is on par with your father.If only he knew the real meaning of this.

We got down in front of the Cancer Institute where my uncle was admitted.Mom stopped me at the entrance for a minute.

"Sanam, we are going to visit a sick person.You better don't speak in a harsh tone with him or his family," mom warned.I nodded my head and walked into the hospital lobby.

"Good afternoon, how can I help you?" A beautiful lady who was apparently the receptionist asked us.

"Ermm...we have come here to meet Mr.Atif Akram!" I said biting my cheeks.

"You must be his neice right? Your cousin informed me that you would be coming.He's in the critical care room no. 301 on the third floor," she replied with a warm smile.

It wasn't the first time I was coming to a hospital but today seemed different. I was in an emotional turmoil.My heart constricted,mind was twisting and turning trying to process the happenings.My thinking capacity had reached saturation point.I didn't know how I would face him.

We took the elevator to the third floor.Every floor, the elevator would open and distressed people would get in talking about their sick relatives.

On reaching the room where my uncle was staying we witnessed a heart breaking scene.There was a young boy who was wailing.He was sitting beside uncle's bed, holding his hand.He had bloodshot eyes with bags underneath, his face was pale and his hair were dishevelled. On seeing us he got up from his seat.

"Salam Aunt Huma,Thank you so much for coming," Mikael said wiping his tear laden face.My uncle was lying in a terrible state.An oxygen mask attached to his expressionless face, cannula on his strong arms and ECG leads on his bare chest.I walked towards him shivering at every step, my heart wasn't accepting what I saw - my uncle was on his deathbed!

On seeing me,uncle raised his hands to meet mine.Mikael helped him remove his mask as he wanted to talk.

"How are you Sanam? " he asked in a muffled voice.Does this question matter now? I wanted to reply that I have suffered all these years because of him but something stopped  me."Iam good!" I replied with a blank expression.

"I know you hate me too much and you would never come if your mom hadn't insisted.But I don't have much time left."

I looked away.I was way too heartbroken because of this man.

"I should apologize to you and your mom for being so selfish.I was too blinded by money.I made by brothers widow and my neice homeless."

A stray tear left his eyes.

"You see, Allah is punishing me for my bad deeds. I have realised how wrong I was all the time.The other day I had come to your house with my son's proposal was the day I got to know that Iam in the final stage of brain cancer.I was afraid that if I'd die Mikael would be alone, there would be no one to love him."

His eyes wandered to my mom.
"I beg forgiveness from you sister Huma! For God sake, Forgive me.I have transferred all the properties in your name sister, you shall get back what was yours! Please don't leave my son by himself.He had never experienced a mother's love in his life."

"It's my last wish,take him as your son,please!" He uttered the last part whispering.

Suddenly he dropped his hands out of mine and the ECG machine was beeping loudly with a flat line.I was frozen, my uncle collapsed in front of my own eyes!

"Call the doctors, Mikael! " Mom called out to Mikael who was waiting outside.Seconds later the doctor arrived.He was followed by a worried and anxious Mikael but I didn't move an inch.He tried resuscitating uncle for half an hour.But no avail!

"Iam sorry sir,he is no more!" Declaired the doctor.Mikael let out a huge cry on hearing the devastating news.His sob roared like a thunder unaccompanied by lightening.

"Innalillahi wainna ialaihi wa rajioon(To Allah we belong and to him is our return)" mom recited closing his eyes.

Quote from the Holy Qur'an: An-Nahl (16:70)

وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ ۚ وَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ لِكَيْ لَا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ

WaAllahu khalaqakum thumma yatawaffakum waminkum man yuraddu ila arthali alAAumuri likay la yaAAlama baAAda AAilmin shayan inna Allaha AAaleemun qadeerun

It is Allah who creates you and takes your souls at death; and of you there are some who are sent back to a feeble age, so that they know nothing after having known (much): for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.

Mikael was on uncle's bed hugging and nudging him constantly.

"Wake up daddy! I know you are playing a bad joke, you can't fool me.Wake up daaad!" He yelled,facing the ceiling.He surely loved his father to bits and pieces.

"Come here son, be patient! Every soul shall taste death." Mom consoled.

"This world is temporary.Each one of us shall return to our creator. InshaAllah you will meet him in jannah.For Allah expiates human sins at every inch of pain our body suffers.Your father has suffered so much that he must be a pure soul now." He was too broken to be put back.

"Remember you are not alone, Allah is always there for you and I promise to give you the love of a mother, all the love you have missed out till now. Come here," she said caressing his hands and wiping his tears away.He held her tight and grieved his father's death.

My condition was truly  indescribable.Those eyes of mine were seeing,those ears were hearing but my body had become paralysed.

"Sanam! Sanam!" Mom started shaking me violently.Her touch brought me out of the trauma.That moment all my bottled emotions came pouring down.I started sobbing uncontrollably.Through glassy  eyes,I could visualise my dad's face plastered on my uncle's lifeless body.He was my dad's twin and they were undeniably similar.

"It's ok dear! Calm down, come to mama," mom comforted,putting her hands forward.I hugged her so tightly that I was on the verge of suffocating her but it was only to steady my shaking body.Much of my life had been devoted to trying not to cry in front of anyone other than Allah.Yet I failed.She wiped my tears away and took us to the lobby.For the first time in years I realized that I was the luckiest person in the room.I had my mother while Mikael had lost his only parent.That day I understood that suffering is universal;you can only overcome it with compassion,by freeing yourself of discontent and dispair.

I stood there leaning on mom while Mikael was being comforted by a guy. I could only see his back. When he tried to make Mikael sit on the chair I noticed the person I disliked the most.

"Calm down bro!" He was squeezing Mikael's hands to comfort him.As if he sensed my eyes on him he turned to meet my watery eyes.

"Sanam?" I could hear him mumble.

"Mom I need to use the washroom," I said looking at my mom who was lost in her thoughts.

I spent my time what seemed like hours rinsing my face and my bloodshot eyes.When I returned, mom was signing some papers and Mikael and Shiraz were not to be seen.

"You took a lot of time Sanam, I sent Mikael along with his friend Shiraz to make arrangements for the funeral," mom said going through the hospital formalities.

***

His funeral was arranged in the very house where I had spent my childhood.The place which was very dear to my dad.Few people from his close friends attended.We turned out to be his only immediate relatives.Mom requested everyone to recite a juz so that the whole Quran could be completed.Mikaels arabic teacher made a special dua for uncle's soul.Everyone prayed that he rested in peace.My legs had become numb as I sat on the white sheets in the hall reciting as many ayahs and duas as possible.

"Sanam,please call Mikael, some relatives want to meet him," mom asked.I dialled him but he didnt reply.When I went out to search for Mikael I happen to witness Shiraz offering condolences to Mikael. Shiraz was standing with Mikael and few other guys one of whom looked like Shehriyaar.I was not sure though.I was going back to the big hall when I heard my name.

"Sanam, wait! Iam sorry for your loss.Mikael is like a brother to me, your uncle was my dad's friend.I never knew you were his cousin," he said looking towards the place where Mikael was standing a moment ago.I was not in the state to walk properly let alone reply to him so I just nodded and headed towards the hall.I didn't knew what the nod meant but that was the only thing I could do that moment.

Namaz e janaaza (the funeral prayer) was lead by Mikael's arabic teacher.We learnt that Mikael was hafiz e qur'aan.From what I heard,his mother was very good woman and she had wished her son to be a hafiz.She had passed away during childbirth and little Mikael was left to the care of my uncle.

*********

A week had passed since uncle's death. We decided to let Mikael stay with us but he was adamant on us going back to his house which now rightfully belonged to my mom.Her nonchalance and aplomb did make some sense to me now.Allah had given had given back what was hers at it's destined time.

It took us a whole week to shift our belongings to OUR big mansion.It was a foreign word to me but I had to get used to it.

We occupied the three bedrooms downstairs and Mikael stayed upstairs.There was a big garden surrounding the mansion where there were flowers of all colours.They were on the verge of drying.It felt like there was no one who was taking care of those lovely plants.This was the most enticing place for me in the entire house.The rest of the house looked dark and gloomy like it never existed.

It often happens that when Allah gives us money we become dependant on the money not him.When he gives us status or power we tend to become distracted by them.So its better we dont give much importance to it in our life.Except the big mansion everything in our life remained the same.Mom wanted us to live our life the simple way.She wouldn't stop working and won't change our lifestyle too. I was happy with her decision .

Just because we got back our dad's house and his properties doesn't mean we waste his hard earned money on the luxuries in life when we could use it for a noble cause.We need to be wealthy in good deeds not money, for when we die the money won't help us but the deeds will.

In the beginning it felt very odd to live under the same roof with a guy but we got acquainted eventually.Mikael was a first year engineering student . He started going to university a week later after mom persuaded him to. Though a year younger to me he was a mature kid. No one knew that he was a very simple guy.He would come home early, eat with us, talk to my mom about the university and would start early the next morning.He would even help mom with any of her work.He had become a part of our small family. I couldn't believe he was my same uncle's son who had spoilt him with all the luxuries in life.The solidarity provided by my family helped him to cope with his father's harrowing death.

Perhaps life was getting better for us!

***********

A/N

This chapter was very difficult for me to write as at every line I wrote I was feeling all the emotions.

Anyways ..if you guys like it plz vote and comment!