A Blossom in the desert

Gone with the wind

"Is Khaled involved in some surgery ?". Omar asked Sidra as she lead him and his men towards Khaled's office .

"No I don't think so .He is most probably on his early round this time of day .Dr Hamza has gone to get him !". Sidra assured .

"Well I was just asking cause if he was busy then it's alright !I could visit Basit first !". Omar suggested .

Sidra turn around thinking what to reply when she smiled slightly before informing,

"No need !They are here !".

Hearing her words ,Omar and his men turn back to find Khaled and Hamza coming across the hall. Done with greetings ,Khaled asked immediately ,

"I hope I didn't make you guys wait for long ! If I did then I apologise !".

"No you didn't Khaled !We just got here !". Omar smiled .

"You visited Basit ?". Khaled asked as he gestured them towards the office with Hamza and Sidra tailing behind.

"No ! I didnt ! I wanted to know exactly how he is doing from you ?". Omar replied ,his tone stern yet even his rigid sentence ended up creating a heaviness in the air .

Khaled gazed at Omar ,the man looked formidable with his stance yet his exhaustion and restlessness ,Khaled could easily pick them out as masquerading his own emotions had made him experts in knowledge of every masks and shadows one tend to hide behind to eclipse the burns and bruises.

Khaled nodded as he gestured them to settle on the sofa before offering Omar the reports of Basit while pushing his hand inside his pocket ,he informed ,

"This is the most recent report of Basit's blood test .We are going for everyday test to estimate the changing level of lead and mercury in his blood !".

"What does it says ?".Omar asked.

Khaled pinched his nose before moving onto explain ,

"Good news is his condition is not critical, with proper treatment in sha Allah he would be back to health but his every organ has taken a toil ,the treatment would be prolong especially knowing the addiction Basit has for those pills ,we have to work on his addiction along with treatment .So he has to stay here until he is treated and is rehabilitated .Cause treatment will have no effect if he keeps falling back to his addiction habit again and if he does, the damage would be surely life threatening!".

Omar nodded ,there was a sense of daze in his answer yet overwhelming relief oozed out his existence .His tense body somehow felt a bit relax and less burdened as he went on saying,

"Keep him here for as much time you want Khaled.Just make sure he gets back to his health ! Please I will be highly obliged !". Omar asserted ,a hint of plead evident in his tone .

"You don't have to say such words Omar .That's my job and I will make sure In sha Allah to do my best and not disappoint you this time !". Khaled assured making Omar nod before he went on adding ,

"But I want you to do one thing .We tried to ask Basit where he got the pills and he said that he had some left over share with him .Well it could be the case but still I want you to talk to him maybe he could tell you something that he didn't share to us !Maybe that something could lead us to RM!".

"Okay I will do that!" ,Omar nodded adding ,"I have been looking out for prisoner gang members but it seemed like they have vanished and so their activities also has simmer down .And then when I suddenly heard about Dr Duraid's death.."

Khaled paused ,it was still difficult for him to accept the reality .Those words always seem to come as shock everytime he heard them .It always had a way to slash through his heart deepening the resonance of loss he was feeling and trying to hide .