The blaring sound of the pager snapped Selena back to reality, pulling her from a moment of stillness she rarely experienced in the Emergency Department. Her gaze flicked to the screen. "Suspected bowel perforation. X-ray confirms pneumoperitoneum." She sighed, already aware of the gravity of the case. Picking up the phone, she dialed General Surgery.

A familiar voice answered, brisk but warm. “General Surgery, Dr. Yelin speaking.”

“Yelin, it’s me,” Selena began, her tone clipped but tinged with relief. “I need you down here for an emergency exploratory laparotomy. We’ve got pneumoperitoneum on the X-ray, and the patient needs immediate attention.”

“Be right there,” Yelin replied without hesitation.

---

Minutes later, Yelin descended from the first-floor surgical department, her white coat flaring slightly behind her as she strode into the ED. She was efficient and composed, her presence commanding respect even amidst the chaos. Spotting Selena, Yelin gave a small nod before turning her attention to the patient.

The patient was pale, clutching their abdomen as beads of sweat rolled down their face. Their breathing was shallow, the tell-tale signs of acute abdominal distress unmistakable. Yelin approached the bedside, her tone calm and professional.

“Alright, let’s take a look,” she said, donning gloves. She conducted a focused assessment, palpating the abdomen and noting the board-like rigidity. Turning to Selena, she gave a brief but telling glance. “This needs surgery. We’ll take them upstairs as soon as we stabilize their vitals.”

Selena nodded, already moving to prepare the necessary paperwork and arrange for the transfer to the General Surgery ward. The unspoken understanding between the two friends was evident; this wasn’t the first time they had worked in tandem under pressure.

---

As Yelin prepared to leave with the patient, she paused for a moment. Despite the urgency of the case, she turned back to Selena, offering a brief but sincere smile. “Thanks for calling me.”

Selena returned the smile, though hers was tinged with exhaustion. “We should catch up when we’re not drowning in patients.”

Yelin chuckled softly, her eyes warm despite the fatigue etched into her features. “We’ve been saying that for months now.”

“Maybe one day,” Selena replied, her voice carrying a mix of humor and resignation.

With that, Yelin was gone, guiding the gurney out of the ED and toward the surgical ward. Selena watched her disappear down the hallway, a moment of quiet admiration for her friend surfacing amidst the relentless demands of their shifts.

Adjusting her stethoscope, Selena turned back to the controlled chaos of the Emergency Department, her mind already shifting to the next patient. Another day, another life to save.

---

Nasr adjusted his chair in the quiet library, the hum of air conditioning and the soft rustle of pages the only sounds around him. His eyes skimmed through the text on his laptop screen, trying to commit key concepts to memory. The soft ping of a notification broke his focus. Blinking, he glanced at the corner of the screen.

An email.

From Libaas.

His heart skipped a beat as he clicked it open.

---

Subject: Job Offer at Libaas
Dear Nasr,

We are pleased to inform you that after careful consideration, you have been selected for the Secretary position at Libaas. We are impressed with your qualifications and enthusiasm, and we believe you will be a valuable addition to our team.

Your start date is next Monday. We look forward to welcoming you to our office. The offered salary and benefits are outlined below:

Monthly Salary: AED XXXX

Benefits: Health insurance, transportation allowance, and annual leave days

Please reply to this email to confirm your acceptance of this offer by Thursday.

Warm regards,
HR Department
Libaas

---

Nasr froze, staring at the screen. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, his brain still processing the words. A slow, disbelieving smile spread across his face as joy bubbled up inside him.

His hands trembled slightly as he typed out his reply, careful not to miss a single detail.

---

Subject: Acceptance of Job Offer at Libaas
Dear HR Team,

Thank you for offering me this incredible opportunity. I am thrilled to accept the position of Secretary at Libaas at the salary and benefits mentioned. I am excited to start this new journey and will report on Monday as per the instructions.

Kind regards,
Nasr

---

As he hit “Send,” Nasr leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. He let the moment sink in, the reality of finally securing a job that could change everything. Unable to contain himself, he closed his laptop, gathered his things, and stood. He needed to move, to let this joy out somewhere beyond the quiet confines of the library.

Walking out into the sunlight, he pulled out his phone and dialed his mother. The phone barely rang twice before she picked up.

“Ammi!” he squealed, his voice cracking with excitement. “Meri job lag gayi! Aur achi lag gayi!”

A laugh of pure relief and happiness escaped him as he did a small dance in the middle of the walkway, his feet bouncing in rhythm with his emotions. A couple of passersby glanced at him curiously, but Nasr didn’t care.

“Allah ka shukar!” his mother exclaimed on the other end, her voice filled with joy. “Allah tumhay aur kamiyabi dey.”

“Ameen,” Nasr whispered, his voice softening with emotion. He ran a hand through his jet-black hair, his smile wide enough to hurt his cheeks. “Aap ke liye sab kuch. Bas dua karti rahiye.”

“Woh toh hamesha,” his mother said, pride and love coloring her words.

After a few more minutes of heartfelt conversation, Nasr hung up, his feet feeling lighter than ever. For a brief moment, he let himself dream of the future—a stable income, his mother’s treatment, and perhaps even more than he had ever dared to hope for.

But for now, the afternoon called. Pocketing his phone, Nasr returned to his usual routine, the restaurant where tables awaited cleaning and orders demanded attention. Yet today, even the mundane tasks couldn’t dim the bright spark of hope that burned in his chest.

---

The November sky painted itself in hues of amber and crimson as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the hospital parking lot. Selena and Yelin sat in Selena’s car, the soft hum of the engine barely audible over their chatter. The aroma of coffee filled the air as both women sipped their respective drinks—Yelin’s cold Spanish latte and Selena’s matcha with coconut milk, their third cup of the day.

“Finally, a moment to breathe,” Selena said, leaning back in her seat, her fingers curling around the warm coffee cup.

“Tell me about it,” Yelin replied, exhaling a laugh. She stared at the dashboard for a moment before speaking again. “I’ve been meaning to tell you something, though. I’ve decided to take the UKMLE.”

Selena’s eyebrows shot up. “UK Medical Licensing Exam? That’s amazing! Planning to move to the UK?”

Yelin nodded. “Yeah. I’m hoping to do a fellowship there eventually. The plan is to take leave next month and travel for the exam. It’s... a big step.”

“You’re going to kill it,” Selena said with conviction. “Amelia and Nooran are already in the UK, you know. You could stay with my sister; she’d be thrilled to have you. And Nooran... well,” she added with a smirk, “you wouldn’t exactly be alone.”

Yelin froze mid-sip, narrowing her eyes at Selena. “What do you mean by that?”

Selena grinned, leaning forward mischievously. “Oh, don’t act like you don’t know. My cousin has been head over heels for you since forever.”

Yelin scoffed, trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. “He barely knows me,” she said, feigning nonchalance as she looked out the window, sipping her latte.

“Please,” Selena said, nudging Yelin with her elbow. “He was a total simp the moment he met you back when he came to Dubai for vacations. You’re the only one pretending not to notice.”

“Maybe he has a girlfriend,” Yelin countered, though her voice lacked confidence.

Selena threw her head back in laughter. “Nooran? A girlfriend? Trust me, the only person he’s ever shown interest in is you. He’s practically written a thesis on Yelinology.”

Yelin laughed despite herself, but Selena wasn’t done. She smirked, taking another sip of her matcha before adding, “You know, his love language is annoying the hell out of people and roasting them for fun.”

Yelin raised an eyebrow. “That explains why we started on such a bad foot the first time we met. He wouldn’t stop making fun of me.”

“Exactly!” Selena said, her grin widening. “The more he roasts you, the more he likes you. It’s his messed-up way of flirting.”

Yelin rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “So, what? I’m supposed to fall for his lame jokes and constant teasing?”

“Absolutely,” Selena said with mock seriousness. “It’s a family tradition. Amelia and I have been putting up with his nonsense for years. Consider yourself special.”

Yelin shook her head, pretending to look annoyed, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her. She looked away, sipping her drink while Selena’s smirk deepened.

“You deserve to seize your chance,” Selena said gently, nudging her shoulder again. “He’s been waiting for you to notice him since day one.”

They shared a laugh, the playful teasing easing into comfortable silence. The warm camaraderie filled the car, their laughter fading as they watched the sun finally disappear, leaving the sky in shades of navy and violet.

After a moment, Yelin broke the silence. “How’s Aariz?” she asked carefully, her voice soft.

Selena shrugged, her fingers fidgeting with the cup in her hands. “Honestly? I don’t know.” Her voice wavered as she met Yelin’s gaze. “We haven’t talked in a while.”

Yelin pressed her lips together, a flash of anger crossing her face. “That little bitch,” she muttered. “How long are you going to tolerate his attitude?”

Selena sighed, leaning back in her seat and staring out the windshield. “He’s not on my priority list anymore,” she said quietly. “If he wants to keep it this way, let it stay this way.”

The weight of her words settled in the air. Yelin reached out and squeezed Selena’s arm, offering silent support.

“You deserve so much better,” Yelin said firmly.

Selena gave her a small smile, her eyes glinting with unspoken gratitude. “Thanks, Yelin. Really.”

The two women sat together for a while longer, sipping their drinks and letting the cool November evening wrap around them, the city lights beginning to flicker alive in the distance.