Broken

GUILT

Dedicated to ZairaKhan because she's been extremely encouraging and I love her for that!

CHAPTER SIX

Cold thudded into Shillan's heart, her head began to throb from inordinate crying. Her stomach growled, without warning, she felt darkness consummate her being. Her will was breaking and she welcomed the threatening darkness, her struggles seemingly fading away as her vision obscured. With a final fluttering of her eyelids, she fell with a 'thud' to the impassive floor and lay, twitching not in the slightest; but, with perfect serenity.
It was then, that Amro, thrust the door open only to see a sight that clenched his heart and bade him to stand stone cold. His feet were rooted to the spot as dread seeped into his mind, until, an urgent cry from Raina, shook him out of his daze and prodded him to pick his daughter. His hands shook with the strain of the limp body, his breathing laboured.

Agonisingly, he brought his fingers to her throat and for a second, his heart missed a beat as he felt no pulse underneath the skin that he so anxiously caressed. His resolve had just begun to crumble when he felt a faint beating and just then, Raina's shrill scream sliced through the air and he carried the little bundle that was his daughter; cradled his wife in his other arm and with great fortitude supported them outside the house. Once there, he signalled for a Rickshaw and let the driver help his wife in as cold sweat began to break out. He felt dizzy, the heroin had left him weak. He couldn't keep carrying Shillan. Raina's pained moans made no difference, for then he wanted to curl up and let the void that was fast approaching to envelope him; suddenly, though Shillan's hand twitched, faint but nonetheless. This shook him out of his drugged stupor. He had to do this. Zaira. Yes, he had to do it for her.

The Rickshaw was not the best transport for Raina's condition, he knew she was in the worst physical affliction and his heart broke when he laid his eyes on her. He couldn't afford anything better, though. He hoped the Hakeem's charges would not cost him an arm and a leg for now, he had only a drop of shining hope swiftly smouldering in the abyss. The flame that had lighted his world had been extinguished. His world had tumbled down with her collapse. Zaira. What would he not give to have her back. The patience that emanated from her was incomparable, the strength that she radiated was surpassing, her simple attire did little to disguise her beauty, most of all though, her love for him was transcendent. Time and time again, she proved it to him. When he finally had no reason to doubt it, she'd left. Left him torn. Left him to take the helm of the ugliest of affairs that he had found himself in. Just like a wisp of smoke, she'd disappeared into the land of the dead, never once looking back.

'We're here', the driver announced. Amro was shaken out of his retrospection, his gaze wandered over to his wife and what he saw drowned all else. She had gone starch white. Her cries had ceased and she looked on the verge of death.
'No', he whispered. 'Please, Raina. Not you too. I can't loose everyone.'
'You need to make haste, then. I'll help her out', the driver encouraged.
'Please. I'm begging you. Madad karo meri.
Oh Khuda. Madad*!',cried Amro.
Translation:
(Help me. Oh lord. Help.)

As much as I hate cliffhangers, they're important. So please bear with me and continue forth because you're going to be surprised at what comes next.
I hope you enjoyed it!
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