INFINITY

Chapter 17 : A New Leaf🍂

4th August 2021

Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light... [2: 257 ~The Holy Quran]

Chapter 17
A New Leaf 🍂

"I guess this is it then..." Humaira said blowing into her kerchief, "so this is how I finally go down," she said dabbing at her eyes.

"Oh shush, you," Hamish said, "stop being so melodramatic. It's just a cold! It will pass in two days," he said packing his books into his bag as he got ready for school.

"Did my–" Humaira began but was instantly cut off by a series of sneezes and when she could finally speak coherently she continued, "Did my cold personally call and inform you that?"

"No, but that's what my old friend Mr. Common sense told me. If you remember, he used to be your friend too up until two days back," Hamish said fetching the thermometer from the shelf.

"Is he ibaginary, like all your other friends?" Humaira asked.

"Is he what?" Hamish asked with a smile playing on his lips.

"You know, ibaginary?" She tried again, attempting the best with her blocked nose.

"What? Can't hear you over all that snot," Hamish said again, his evil smile widening threatening to crack into laughter.

"IBAGINA–nevermind, I know you're being a little rat," Humaira said huffing and placed the thermometer under her tongue.

Hamish chuckled in response. Her temperature was normal so that was a good sign. He put the thermometer away after use and then brought a set of novels from his room along with the other medications Humaira needed.

"Here you go, Miss," he said, "There are some novels here to entertain you while I'm gone. But I suggest you go back to sleep. Here are the meds you gotta take now. And those in the blue cover are what you gotta take after lunch, Capiche?"

"Thanks, Mom," Humaira replied, "Off you go now. I got a beautiful day ahead of me," Humaira said eyeing the books as though she had won a lottery.

While Shazin was the type to throw a tantrum if she had to take a sick day, Humaira on the other hand relished her days inside where she could take a break and chill out with her favourite book in hand.

"Okay you ungrateful fish, I'mma go now," Hamish said on his way to fetch the bag he had placed on her tabletop, "Take care sis, alright? Get some rest," he said. He knew how irrationally scared she could get due to a common cold or flu. Despite what others may dismiss as an overreaction, Hamish wanted to be there for her to let her know that he respected and understood her no matter what.

"You are going to be up and running in a couple of days, okay?" He reminded, "Just chill out until then. I got you," he said dropping a kiss on her forehead.

"Really?" Humaira asked gulping away the uncalled for emotions that accompanied her sickness.

"Really really," he replied with a reassuring nod, making her smile. "And as soon as you get better, we are visiting Shiham first thing. Let's ask Hizana to tag along as well. Haven't checked up on her or aunty in a while," he added and quickly noted it down on a green sticky note while Humaira eagerly added it to her mental to-do list.

"Wait a second," Humaira stopped him before he could leave, "I know why I'm sleep deprived but why do your eyes look so tired?" She asked, "Late night?"

"Yeah, all your continuous wretching at night kept me awake. Thought I might as well take that time to figure out what to gift Shazin for our gift exchange day," Hamish replied shrugging.