Loving You

CHAPTER# 3

Nooreh opened her eyes to white ceilings and an unfamiliar place. It took her a moment to get accustomed to her surroundings. She looked around her to see a nurse standing beside her as she lay on the hospital bed. She looked in front of her to see eighteen-year-old Xavier sitting in front of her hospital bed on a chair. Having a headache made it hard for her to understand what was happening around her.

Xavier, when he saw Nooreh awake, came towards her and asked “Noor, are you okay?”

Nooreh, who started to remember everything, couldn’t say anything except to start crying. “Xavier? Where is Daddy? Momma? They told me they’d jump with me from the cry. Where are they?”

Xavier, not knowing what to do or what to say, kept silent. He did not know what to tell a small child. He was afraid to tell her that both of her parents were in the operation theatre. He did not have enough courage to break this news to a nine-year-old who was already extremely unstable due to a head injury and minor injuries to her body due to jumping from the car.

The Hospital had called Mustafa Ali Khan to inform him about Fawaz's accident as it was the only recently dialed number on Fawaz's phone. Mustafa, when he received the call, was extremely shocked but took Xavier and himself to the hospital immediately after informing his family about the news.

Upon reaching the hospital, he had gotten to know that Fawaz and Arminah were directly taken to the operation theatre and were in very critical condition, especially Arminah who was seven months pregnant. Mustafa was devastated to know that his beloved friend was going through such a tragedy. Nooreh, who had fainted due to head injury and shock, was shifted to a room after her treatment where she was still unconscious. He sent Xavier to take care of Nooreh. Meanwhile, he went towards the operation ward to look into the matter himself.

Mustafa decided to check on Nooreh after checking in on doctors who told him to not be too hopeful for Arminah and Fawaz as they both were heavily injured. The doctors had told him that Arminah and her baby were not too hopeful to be saved as Arminah already had many complications in her pregnancy. There were not many chances for her and the baby to be saved, whereas Fawaz had a major brain injury and both of his legs were fractured and he was supposed to have another surgery after he became conscious. Mustafa was saddened by the news.

When he entered Nooreh’s room, he saw her crying badly and asking Xavier about her parents. Mustafa felt pity and sympathy for the poor child who didn’t even know what was happening or was going to happen to her.

“Nooreh… Dear, how are you feeling now?” Mustafa asked her.

“Uncle, where are Momma and daddy?” Nooreh sniffed.

“Dear, they are being treated by doctors. You don’t have to worry they will be alright very soon.” Mustafa said while patting Nooreh’s head, lightly. Xavier, all this while, kept quiet and silently watched how his father gave Nooreh false hope.

Both of them knew how bad the situation was but decided to keep Nooreh unaware of it. Nooreh already had a lot on her plate. They couldn’t traumatize the kid anymore.

“Sir! Mr. Khan? The doctor is calling for you.” A nurse came to inform Mustafa.

"Yes, doctor?" Mustafa asked the doctor when he came out.

"Mr. Khan, we are very sorry but we couldn’t save Mrs. Arminah Khan and her baby. They were both severely injured in the accident and, due to the complications in the pregnancy, the baby couldn’t be saved either."

Mustafa, knowing already what was coming as hinted by the doctors, still felt the ground slipping from beneath his feet.

How would he break this news to his friends? What would he tell the poor child about her mother and her sibling who couldn’t come into the world?

Mustafa suddenly felt his shoulders heavy. He could feel the pain of his friend. He knew how much Fawaz adored his family.

“Sir Mr. Fawaz is conscious now and he is asking for you.” A nurse came rushing toward Mustafa to inform him.