Life Under the Hijab

Dear Princess

Zakir Khan

Those words hit me like a stab to my chest. She couldn't be dead. No, this couldn't be happening. She's not dead. She's not dead. My vision started to blur. Right then I heard a scream.

I turned around to see Zaynub's mother on the floor sobbing really loud. My mother was right besides her, trying to calm her down. The surgeon coughed to grab our attention.

"We are going to stop the surgery before she is gone for good. We will put her on life support right now and see if she improves. But the chances are very slim that she will survive," he said.

"W-What are the chances that she will survive?" asked Amir shakily as if he were afraid of the answer.

"Very slim. The accident damaged her more than we could have expected. We will continue the surgery when her heart is stable. It would take a miracle for her heart to be stable again," he replied.

We were all shocked out of our minds. The guy who crashed into Zaynub ran away after the accident. If I ever found out who he we I would make him regret ever hurting Zaynub. She didn't deserve to be almost dead. She didn't deserve to suffer like this.

Amir had his head in his hands. Noorah was trying to calm him down. My parents and sisters were trying to help Zaynub's mom. Hajar started sobbing silently while hugging her mother. Zaynub's mother was sobbing so much. It hurt to see such an amazing woman become so... broken.

"C-Can we see h-her?" asked Noorah.

"Of course, she is in room 405. Follow me," he offered a small smile.

We all nodded and followed the surgeon to her room. To say I was scared was an understatement. What if she doesn't survive? What if... no. I couldn't be thinking like this. I had to have faith in Allah.

We followed the surgeon into Zaynub's room. The air around us was tense. Everyone was worried about what they would see. As soon as we reached her room the surgeon stopped us.

"Only four at a time please," he said.

It was pretty obvious which four got to go first. I stepped aside to let Amir, Noorah, Hajar, and Zaynub's mother go in first. As soon as they walked in I heard a few gasps. Oh no. Her condition must be really bad.

"My poor baby," Zaynub's mother cried.

Yeah, her condition was really bad.

My heart was racing. Oh Allah, please let her be alright. I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall. I kept hearing sobs. After what seemed like hours Amir and Noorah stepped out. As soon as I heard footsteps my eyes bolted wide. Amir nodded at me to go in along with my mother.

I walked into her room. What I saw made my heart stop. My chest had this heavy feeling to it. There was Zaynub. Her arms and face were filled with cuts. Her lips were busted and bleeding. Her face was pale. There was an oxygen mask on her face. The heart monitor thing gave little beeps. Her breathing was shallower. She looked almost dead. Key word: almost.

I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I was frozen. My hands were trembling. How could this happen? All I could hear were sobs, heart-wrenching cries from everyone who cared about her. I walked up to her bed. I looked down on her face. So beautiful, I thought.

"Please wake up," I whispered.

She just stayed still.

"Zaynub, I am begging you to wake up. Please. People need you. I need you. Please don't die on me, please," I said, my voice breaking.

I needed her to live. I needed to tell her how sorry I am for making her feel useless. I wanted to tell her about how I cared a lot for her, and I wanted to protect her. I had this feeling deep in my heart that I needed to protect her.

She stayed still.

"Open your eyes, princess. The world is waiting for you to open them," I murmured.

Nothing.

I sighed. Oh Allah, let her open her eyes. I walked out of the room to let my father and sisters come in. I needed some sleep. I told Amir I would come back in the morning and headed to my car. As soon as I got home, I flopped down on the bed. My last thoughts were on Zaynub.

* * * *

These past few days were just painful. Zaynub still hadn't woken up and her heart was barely beating. Her life is hanging on a thread. Plus, Alexis is being more annoying than ever.

That girl probably had a hundred boyfriends in this year. Meanwhile, I was still going to be stuck at work for another hour filling paperwork. Alexis barged in for the millionth time today.

"So I was wondering... if you... want... to grab something to drink?" she nervously asked.

"Sorry but I'm not interested," I replied without looking up.

"Oh come on. You need a break. Please, do it for me," she pleaded and gave me the puppy dog eyes.

Honestly, how did she even land a job here? She was always flirting around. Her puppy dog face is just weird. I inwardly cringed at her attempt to be cute.

"Could you please leave? I have work to do," I said annoyed.

"Fine. I see how it is," she huffed and then walked out.

Oh thank you, Allah. That girl annoyed me to death. I continued my paperwork for the next hour. Finally, it was time to leave. I walked out of my office and ran to my car. I was going to check up on Zaynub. I have been pleading for her to wake up for the last three days. She always stayed still. Her lack of movement was killing me.

I have been praying for her to open her eyes and smile again, her beautiful warm chocolate brown eyes staring up at me, her plump pink lips smiling at me, the way her cheeks got a tint of pink on them when she's angry. It made her look like an angry kitten. I always loved seeing her blush. Even when we were kids. I regretted all the pain I caused her back then. I missed her so much.

* * * *

I finally arrived at the hospital and headed up to Zaynub's room. My parents were there. Laila, Deeliyah, Khadijah, Noorah, and Hajar were at school. Amir was doing a late shift at work. Amir is a company owner. He has way more paperwork than me to fill out each day. Zaynub's mother was visiting Zaynub's father on the floor below.

I walked over to Zaynub's bed and took a seat next to her. Her body was dangerously still. Baba cleared his throat.

"Zakir, your mother and I decided that you will get to chose your bride. We shouldn't pressure you into marrying Zaynub. Zaynub's mother agreed with us. You both will get to chose your spouse," he said calmly.

I was shocked and somewhat disappointed. All I could do is nod my head. Then I turned my attention back to Zaynub. I leaned in close to her ear.

"Princess, open your eyes for me. I'm waiting for you," I whispered.

Nothing. I tried again.

"We all need you. Heck, I need you so much. I want to be able to protect you. Please, just open your eyes," I pleaded.

Nothing happened.

I sighed. Oh Allah, please let her know how much I care for her. Please let her wake up or at least move, I prayed. Right then a miracle happened.

Her eyes started to flutter. It was as if she was struggling to open them. After a few seconds her chest stopped rising and falling. I couldn't hear her breath anymore. It was like she just gave up on her life. Then the heart monitor started beeping like crazy. Nurses and surgeons ran in, and started pulling her bed into the operating room.

"Ma, Baba, call Amir and everyone!" I yelled.

They did as they were told. I was running after the surgeons.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Her heart is going crazy. If we don't continue the surgery now then she will be dead. But she might not survive the surgery. We are going to try our best. Don't worry," he rushed.

Oh no. Ya Allah please let her wake up for me. I needed her to live.