The chronicles of Layla

In good and bad times!

Ahmad's parents visited a day after Aisha told me. They were kind and friendly. Aisha told me Ahmad's father was an Egyptian while his mother was an English woman. Mr. Murtaza, Ahmad's father looked like he was in his early 60’s. He had few strands of gray hair lining the surface of his beard. He had fine features and his son looked just like him. His mother, Mrs. leena, I couldn't give her an age. She looked extremely young. She had heavy make up worn with a few colors I considered to be ridiculous. Her big bold eyes matched her pouty lips with a shade of purple. Then it make me wonder, is she a complete English descent? I later got to know that her dad was from Morocco while her mum, from England. He had a sister Zaynab, who was also the same age as Aisha and I. She looked and acted like her dad. Reserved! The conversations were subtle.

The men talked about politics while the women talked about the latest kitchen devices and modern cooking. Aisha and Ahmad exchanged few glances before excusing themselves to the garden. Zaynab was also quiet like me. We stared at the crowd as the conversations took turns and bumps. We faded into the background and camouflaged with the tables and cushions.

By the end of the evening, The date was set and the wedding was decided to hold at a masjid near but down the street. Word spread quickly like wildfire. Invitation cards were sent to family and close friends. Aisha requested an intimate event which included a Nikkah and a small Walima.

It was the the end of the week again and I looked forward to meeting the kids at the orphanage. Adam was dropping me at grandma blue's house. Our relationship has turned into a beautiful friendship. I was supposed to attend his weekly taleem on Friday but I couldn't make it due to my postponed antenatal which held on that day instead of the regular days Monday. The baby was healthy and I've began talking to it more than usual. I felt its presence more than anything in the last weeks. The little bump showed through thin clothes. Adam teased me about naming the baby after him if it's a boy so he can inherit it's good looks and charisma as he says it. He can be so funny. We felt wanted and loved. My baby and I.

At grandma blue's house, we knocked on the door and rang the bell several times but there wasn't any response. It was beyond unusual. She eagerly opened the door anytime she expected a visitor. Maybe she was in the bathroom, we thought. We leaned against the door waiting. The few minutes waited were full of reasonings. Where is she? Is she inside? Hope nothing happened?!

"Hey there! How are you? You're a relative of Miss Catherine?" A tall young man in a brown two piece suit paired with coat and a dress shoe asked.

"Yes. We are close friends." Adam replied.

"I'm Ethan. Her neighbor. While coming back from work last night. I saw the paramedics at her door. She was taken St Thomas Hospital. I asked about what happened to her but that information was for family. I don't know of any of her relatives so I don't know who to inform. Thank God I met you. There was nobody listed on her emergency list. Poor woman." Ethan finished in a breath. I got alarmed. What could have happened to her? She seemed okay the last time we met.

"Thank you Ethan. We'll be on our way right now. See you around." Adam led me to the car as Ethan wished Her well and hoped nothing big happened with a promise of his family visiting soon. I appreciated his concern.

In the car, Adam called Uncle Ash and informed him about what happened and we were on our way to the hospital. I jolted out of my worried thoughts as the car swerved into the hospital's parting lot. We walked to the front desk and met a middle aged nurse with a bright smile.

"Good morning Miss Bridget." As was written on her name tag.

"Good morning young man. How may I help you?"

"Please I'm looking for a woman Catherine James." She scrolled through her tablet before studying it for a while.

"Family?!" She asked again.

"No, a close friend."

"I'm sorry only family can see her. This hospital has laid down strong protocols for patient visits." She added curtly

"Please is there a way we can see her? We are so worried about her. Her only relative known is her son and he is missing in action." I chipped in. She scrutinized us for a while before pulling out a paper and a pen.

"Write down your names and I'll ask her."

"You're kind ma'am. We're grateful." Her gave a curt nod before disappearing the crowd which led into a long hallway. Minutes later, she came back and led us to Grandma Blue's room. I couldn't wait to see her. The hallway was empty, bright and cold. It resonated the slaps of our shoes against the floor. The race to the room took a slow turn as we reached the end of the line. Nurse Bridget opened the door and there she was, weakly leaning against the board with so many tubes and needles connected to her. Her eyes lit up as she saw us. She stretched out her hand a bit and we approached the bed, holding it gave her a bit strength I assumed. She inhaled deeply and a tear slid down her right eye. The white part was crystal clear and the blue one, I couldn't define it. I've never seen this Type of blue. The most beautiful blue I've ever seen. Wasn't a normal sky blue or deep blue. It looked more like a color I came across one time. Azure, Yes!. Her frail old hands shook against ours. The oxygen mask on her face didn't allow any word to be uttered. Bridget cleared her throat and spoke.

"Can I see you young man?"

"Yes. I'm Adam."

"Okay Mr. Adam. Outside please." They went out to talk about some serious matter I had no idea of. Grandma blue looked so sick. She has aged a decade from the last time I saw her. We looked at each other and I offered her a reassuring smile before holding her hands tightly in mine and dropping a kiss.

"You're going to be okay. In shaa Allah." The only sentence I struggled to say. My throat was was clogged with tears ready to spill any moment. I didn't want to see this woman who was filled with so much live laying lifelessly like this. It hurts. For the first time in a long time, I know I've seen someone who was in much pain than I felt. When Adam came back, he summoned me outside because she has fell asleep and he didn't want to disturb her. He informed about his conversation with the nurse. Due to grandma Blues lack of relatives, the hospital would allow us to be listed as one. I was glad about this news but what came next crushed every inch of happiness in me. The willed my self control to keep calm but I couldn't. I collapsed on Adam's chest and cried my guts out. He couldn't console me too. We held each other for a while and looked at the poor woman through the glass window on the door.

"Verily from him we came and to him we shall return." Adam said after a long time.

"Isn't there a way of preventing it from going to stage 5?” I sobbed more into his chest.

"No layla. The last stage in cancer is stage 4. Layla she has colon cancer. Oh my God! He replied sadly. Repeating it as if to make him believe it more.

"What are we going to do Ya Adam?"

"Do our best and pray to God. For him to make it easy on her." Just then Uncle Ash reached the hospital with the twins on tail. Adam broke the bad news to him. He was also overwhelmed with so many emotions.

"Is she going to die?" Sadiya thought out loud. Uncle Ash pulled her into a hug said we don't know. But whatever it is it's for the best because God loves her more than we do. The only consolidation one could give to someone in grieve. Nadiya on the other side was numb. She sat on the bench and looked into space. Their bond truly, was strong.

"Can we see her now daddy? Nadiya asked at last

"Is she awake?"

"No." I replied

"Okay. You hear that Nadiya. She's resting. We'll just go home and come back later with some food and most importantly ponder on the way to tell your Ummi. I don't want her to worry much. I didn't tell her we were coming to the hospital instead we were going to the park. I know she would suggest seeing for herself . If she insist so much, I'll have to come with her later.

"It's okay Baba. We'll stay with her. She needs someone."

"May Allah SWT reward you kids." He patted Adams back before leaving and the twins followed behind with dropped shoulders and sad faces.

*********

I was sitting on the chair beside grandma Blues bed playing candy crush on the phone Uncle Ash Gave me last week. I didn't even want. I felt like they've done way too much for me and giving such an expensive phone! Was way too much. Their love and support was all I needed and I got it. He said a mobile phone is important. Emergencies happen. We collected it and thanked him. Now I could relax and play candy crush to while away time and take my mind off certain thoughts. Adam left a while ago to take care of some certain paper works at the front desk and to see the doctor on Her medications and progress.

"Dang it! This game is frustrating the hell out of me." I said out loud as I failed a "Nightmarishly" hard level repetitively,it's beginning to make me cry.

Grandma blue woke up coughing and stretching out hands for what I assumed as an indication for me to pass her a glass of water. I exited the game and poured it in a cup. I reached her bed and helped her sit up. Her hands were too weak to hold the cup so we held it together and I helped her gulp down few sips. Poor woman! She leaned back on the headboard and closed her eyes. Only God knows the pain she felt.

"How do you feel? Do you want anything? Should I call the nurse?" I asked. I shook her head before opening her big brightly colored eyes. She looked at me and whispered an incoherent word. I read her lips and made out the word. "Home."

"But you have to stay here. For your treatment." I tried to convince her." Now, she was too weak to reply. She did the only thing she could. Shake her head sideways which meant No!

"How is my beautiful Girlfriend doing?" Adam asked from behind. I didn't know he was back. This guy can be sneaky sometimes. She took the face mask down and replied.

"Fine. Now that I've heard my beloved Boyfriend's name." She gave him a small smile and patted the side of her bed for him to sit down.

"I'm glad I could be someone's medication."

"You'll always be mine. Thank you for always being there." Adam wiped a lone tear that slipped his eye. I know he has been trying to hold it together but talking to her again made him break. Into many tiny pieces.

"Don't cry dear. I'm going to be just fine." I was by the side watching their emotional scene. To be honest, it almost seemed like one of those TV shows that made me cry. Adam was truly a man of many characteristics. He felt emotions strongly and He had a sense of attachment. I could never peg him as that in my dreams.

"Why are we not talking about food?" I chipped in to clear the dense atmosphere. Adam laughed through the tears and G Blue offered a smile. She said laughing hurt her sides.

"Okay foodie. I'll call Baba and hear were they are."

"Don't taunt her. She is just a concerned mother who needs to take care of her baby."

"Yes! At least someone here is on my side." He looked at me with creased brows and grin before taking a few steps to the door. He said something that sounded so true but felt me in daze and then he was gone. I looked at Grandma blue and she had a smug smile on. What on earth is wrong with this couple?

"I'll always be on your side Layla."