Yasmeen's POV

The building of my fashion house has been progressing fast but there was no progress between Yazeed and I.

I honestly didn't know what I was expecting to happen. For all I know,the feeling was one-sided or that maybe he has a girl friend. The thought alone made my heart hurt a little.

It's so strange you know. How someone can affect your life and change it in just a little while. Their presence alone brings you comfort. You yearn for their affection. Every single thing reminds you of them and the most painful part is that they don't even know you're pining over them.

I can't say when I started feeling this way towards him but I did. It's a beautiful as well as a painful feeling.

No matter how hard I tried to make him notice me, he acts like I'm invincible or just gives me short replies. He acts so professional that it was beginning to annoy me.

So I made a decision. There was only one way to get his attention...

***

"Let's go for lunch." I said my hands resting on my hips.

He looked clueless..how cute.

"What?" He asked

"I said let's go for lunch."

He scratched the back of his neck. I noticed he did that when he was embarrassed or nervous about something.

"Ehrm..I'm not really hungry." He said and just then his stomach grumbled. I smiled slyly.

"But your body is saying a totally different thing."

He smiled. He actually smiled. I was literally screaming inside.

"Ah well then,if you insist ma'am. Lead the way."

I did a little victory dance in my head.

I watched as he removed the safety gloves from his hands and walked over to the tap to wash them. He then proceeded to wash his legs also.

When he came, I made a once over on his outfit. He saw me watching and he looked over at his outfit which was the same old overall.

"Anything wrong?" He asked.

"Ehrm don't you think you should change from your work cloth?" I asked trying not to sound offensive.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"You see...we're going to a restaurant and well.."

"Oh..I see. You aren't taking me to some fancy restaurant are you?"

"Is that a bad thing?"

"I won't feel comfortable there. Come on,I know this great place. Their food tastes so good."

I was contemplating. Why was he being so extra nice today. Well in my favour,it's my lucky day. I don't care where we eat anyway as far as he's with me.

We went outside the building and I was headed to my car when he stopped me.

"You don't have to take the car. It's a walking distance from here." He said.

"Alright." I put the car key back in my bag and turned to him. "Lead the way."

We walked in a comfortable silence each one of us lost in our thoughts.

Just as I was about to complain that my legs were tired, he stopped.

"We're here."

I looked at the small building taken aback. The building was obviously old because the walls had some cracks on them. The signboard was broken so I couldn't get the name.

Maybe this wasn't a good idea. I shouldn't have allowed him talk me into this.

I looked at him. "Here?"

"Yes,here. Come on let's go inside."

He went in first and I followed suit behind him.

The saying 'Never judge a book by it's cover' had never been more truer as I walked inside the little haven.

The place had a homely feel to it with brown and white plastic chairs arranged neatly around the room. The painting was a cream colour with a touch of brown going horizontally.

There were few people in there.

He was at the place I think was the reception to place the order.

A plump woman in her late 40s was seated there with a girl around my age.

The girl blushed as Yazid approached but when she saw me, her face turned sour. She was shooting glares at me. He probably has an admirer.

"Ahn ahn..is it Yazeed I'm seeing here?" The plump woman said.

Yazid scratched the back of his neck,a habit I knew quite well. "Eh maman Aisha ( Yes, Aisha's mother) It's been long."

"Yes,how's your mother's health? Hope she's getting better. Aisha said she saw you some weeks back at your place."

"She's getting better Alhamdullilah. Yes I saw Aisha."

The girl called Aisha blushed at the mention of her name.

"Ah,sorry. You haven't introduced your friend and what do you want to eat? The usual?"

"She's actually my boss at work. Her name is Yasmin. And yes the usual."

I greeted the woman who showered me with blessings and prayers. I could still feel the Aisha girl shooting daggers at me.

We left the place and found table near the window and sat down.

"It seems like you have an admirer." I said taking a drink of my water.

"Who? You mean Aisha? No she's just my neighbor. Her mum and mine are friends."

"Oh I see."

"Yes."

Our food was brought and it was a yummy delicacy of jollof rice and plantain with fried fish.

I devoured my food without any care. This food tastes better than any expensive restaurant.

"This tastes really good." I said in between.

"I know right. Maman Aisha is the best cook."

"I won't argue with that. It's like you come here often."

"Yes I do."

I nodded my head. Progress.

"And erm I overheard your mum's ill. May Allah grant her shifa."

He dropped the spoon he was holding,hesitated before answering. "Ameen,Thank you."

"So..."

My phone interrupted and started ringing. I checked the caller and saw Louis.

I groaned then rejected the call.

The phone rang again and this time I let it ring.

"Shouldn't you get that?" He asked.

"I'll call the person back later."

He nodded and continued eating the food. We didn't talk much because I was at a loss for words and he wasn't really making any effort to converse instead he kept looking around as if waiting for someone to pop up.

We got up and I went over to pay but he raced me to it.

"It's on me."

"No it's on me."

We bantered for a while before I finally accepted defeat.

We said goodbye to maman Aisha who had a smile on her face and Aisha with her signature glare.

"Anytime you're coming her,please let me know." I said.

"Told you you'd love it." He smiled.

I smiled back.

"I like you like this you know. You're smiling,you're carefree and not as closed off."

"Really? I smile a lot." He said as we started to make our way back.

I gave him a questioning look. "Are you for real?"

"Ofcourse."

"I've never seen you smile and laugh like the way you did today. You always have a stoic expression on your face. You always seem so professional."

He pretended to be in thought for a while. "Maybe you're rubbing off on me."

"Oh please. There's more to that."

"Maybe."

We arrived back at the building and stopped at the entrance.

"Thanks for today." I said.

"I should be thanking you. Well I better head back to work,see you around."

And with that he went back inside and I stood there confused with a smile on my face.

***

I went back home humming to perfect by ed sheeran. I was happy that progress was being made.

I had no expectations. Whatever that was meant to be would be so I wasn't rushing. I was taking my time.

The house was unusually quiet. I went up to my room and dropped my bag on the bed then proceeded to Afrah's room to check up on her.

"Helloo princess." I cooed.

No answer.

I opened the door nonetheless,maybe she was sleeping.

I walked in and she wasn't in there. Strange. Maybe she was with Amir or Amirah.

I went over to Amirah's room but Amirah wasn't there. I checked Amir's room and same thing.

I was beginning to panic. A sinking feeling making it's way in my mind.

I ran back to my room to get my phone. I saw 15 missed calls. 5 from anty hafsa,6 from Amirah and 4 from Amir.

My heart was beginning to pound. Did something happen to Afrah? Where were they?

Different questions and scenarios were playing in my mind.

My hand was shaking and I couldn't hold the phone properly to unlock my phone screen.

I immediately dialed Anty Hafsa but she wasn't picking. I called Amirah and she picked up on the second ring.

"Ya Allah, Ya yasmeen,where have you been? Where did you drop your phone. We've been trying to contact you for the past 2 hours." She sounded agitated and scared. Her voice was shaking and the fear in me grew.

"Wh-what happened? Where are you guys?"

"We even came to your work place to look for you but you weren't there."

"Amirah tell me what the hell is going on?" I was starting to lose my patience.

"It's Afrah." She whispered.

"What about Afrah?" My heart was beating at an irregular pace.

"She collapsed. We're at the hospital."

I didn't know when the phone fell from my hand.

I picked it up immediately and asked for which hospital.

I grabbed the car keys and drove there as fast as I could. I almost hit another car but thankfully I didn't.

I arrived at the hospital and got out without even removing the key from the ignition.

I ran inside the hospital looking like a maniac for sure but I didn't care. My baby sister was suffering and I wasn't there for her.

I asked the nurse at the reception and I was directed to the ICU. I felt like fainting out of shock.

I went to the ICU and found all of them seated. Amirah was sobbing on Amir's chest.

"What happened?" I said out of breath.

"Yasmeen come and sit down." Anty Hafsa said.

I went over to her side and she held my hand firmly.

"She's going to be fine in sha Allah. Just keep praying for her."

I nodded as tears rolled down.

I didn't have much time. I should've spent my every second with her. I knew her condition was deteriorating but I wasn't there to hold her hand. Oh how scared she must be. I hadn't got to know her and she was slowly slipping away from my grasp.

I covered my face with my hands and put my heads on my laps as I sobbed quietly with Anty Hafsa patting my back.

It was a few minutes before I remembered something.

"Where's baba?" I asked as I raised my head and wiped my tears. "Does he know?"

"You know your father. He didn't pick the call. Maybe he's busy but I sent the driver to tell him."

I shook my head disappointed and kinda angry. What kind of father was he?

I was about to stand up when the doctor came out.

We all stood up to ask him about her condition.

"She has been stabilized but I don't think she can go home just yet. We have to keep her here for monitoring. She's still very fragile and also still very young for surgery."

I covered my mouth as a sob escaped me. This was just too much. She was so young. She didn't deserve this.

"And I'm afraid that the hole is getting larger and her heart isn't able to pump blood normally. We've put her in the transplant list,we'll let you know if we find a suitable donor."

I gasped as I fell on my knees clutching my chest. Anty Hafsa held me as she was also crying.

The twins were crying also. This was just too much to handle.

This was a test from Allah and we've got to be strong and pray for her. This was what she needed most from us now.

***

[A/N]: Such a sweet and depressing chapter😭

Sorry for the long wait. I don't even have any legitimate excuse. Just been so stressed out lately.

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Love,
Siyyamah✨