INFINITY

Chapter 11: Home?

24th January, 2021

The Prophet ﷺ advised to:

"Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death"

Chapter 11: Home?

Shazin had barely any time to register the news before they were up and about preparing to leave for the hospital. By the time Shazin had stepped outside, she saw Humaira waiting at their porch, pale and puffy-eyed. It was clear she wasn't the only one who hadn't gotten an ounce of sleep the previous night.

Throughout the ride, Shazin could make out the muffled sniffs and traitor tears betraying Humaira's eyes, leaving a trail behind.

"Hey, it's okay... He's okay now," Shazin whispered pulling her close and Humaira nodded through her tears.

"I just... I couldn't sleep a wink yesterday knowing it could turn either way... I couldn't get the thought out of my mind, what if he..." Humaira said letting out a shaky breath

"It's okay...he's fine and that's all that matters," Shazin consoled her friend drawing circles on her back with her palm.

However, what Shazin kept from her friend was the message she had received from Yazdan after Hamish had called to convey that Sam had woken up.

By the time the car had come to a halt, the sun was slowly beginning to rise, spreading its rays of warmth within the cold, gloomy hospital walls. Both of them dashed to the recovery ward, the morning air covering them in chills.

Soon, Shazin found a very restless Yazdan pacing up and down, along with a relatively calmer Zac who had settled down on a bench nearby.

"You guys are here!" Yazdan sighed in relief. "They transferred him from the PACU about an hour ago. He's still resting. We saw him for about five minutes. Still very weak but recovering," he added nodding reassuringly at the mess that Humaira was.

"Can I go see him now?" Humaira asked with hopeful tears brimming her eyes.

"Yeah...go ahead. Just be careful you don't put him under any strain," Yazdan said hesitantly.

"You didn't tell her?" He asked Shazin as soon as Humaira left.

"I didn't have the heart to," Shazin replied looking down, "How bad is it?"

Yazdan shook his head, "I don't know...the doctors say this is normal. It might be temporary. But they aren't too sure either, in some cases..." he trailed.

"Yeah, I get it," she said averting her gaze from him, "I'mma go in now," she informed before wiping her sweating palms on her track pants and put on a smile.

Shazin walked towards the room with wobbly legs and slowly opened the door.

"Hey, Sam..." she whispered, her smile faltering as she saw the various plasters and tubes on him. Umi sat by his side, holding his hand, already in a pool of tears, not sure whom she was trying to console through her teary mess.

So much for not straining him.

"If you weren't in so much pain, I would have definitely put up a photo on Facebook with the caption best mummy of the year," Shazin attempted a joke to lighten the mood as she neared them.

But the tension only seemed to increase when not only did Samah not laugh but looked back at Shazin with confusion written all over his face.

"I'm sorry...Who-who are you?" He asked unsurely.