StarCrossed

Chapter 26

Unedited

The air felt stagnant against his nostrils he had to open his mouth as well to breath and feel like he's really breathing. But still he felt suffocated and the air was like fire phlegm.

"Areef, listen to me. Don't zone out on me. "

He turned to Kabeer. After receiving Deedee's Text, the only person that came to his mind was Kabeer. He thought he had relapsed or something since he knew Kabeer has been missing his check ups and what not. But then he saw him and his fear amplified. His mother was not in sight and the children too. Seeing his mother relieved him a little but seeing tears in her eyes threw him into another intensified turmoil. And he was knocked out of breath when he saw the occupant of the bed.

"Earth to Areef!" Kabeer snapped his fingers in his line of vision.

"Kabeer, what about the car? Nothing on it?  You said it was in front of the mall. There must be security cameras. "

"Can you calm down for now. Let's just pray and wait she recovers and we can go into that. I think we should go and see her mother now. " Kabeer was already on his feet and heading for the masjid exit.

Areef got up and followed suit. Kabeer's led them into the hospital and to the room Ummee was. They knocked and salamed.
They were answered by anty Safiyyah.

They entered with their gazes lowered. They greeted her as he sat by the side of the bed where Ummee lay with her eyes closed and her breathing deep and even.

"She has finally fallen asleep." Kabeer uttered with a little smile. "She had to be sedated but Alhamdulillah she has."

Areef closed his eyes shut. Subhanallah. He couldn't bring himself to think of what she was going through. Months after almost losing her husband, now her daughter is also struggling for her life. Kabeer's nudge brought Areef back.

"May Allah grant both of them shifaa. May He bring ease to her heart. Ameen. "

Both Kabeer and Anty Safiyyah answered with an Ameen.

They got up and told her they will be going up to check up on her. She prayed for her niece's health and told Areef to pray and hang in there.

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As soon as they arrived the 9th floor. They saw them all as they left them. Abba was seating in a wheelchair while the rest sat on the hospital's Stainless Steel chairs.

Kabeer went to his wife as Areef stayed back not knowing what to do or say. After cotemplating for sometime. He found a chair away from them all and sat. He replayed what has happened over and over again trying to piece one or two things together.

One hour ago.

"Kabeer, what is Airah doing on that bed, what happened to her? I swear to God we just finished talking a few hours ago and she was very okay, she was very healthy and fine. "

Abba walked in just then with his crutch. His face looked so crestfallen. He scanned all of them before speaking. "Kabeer take Areef and go to the masjid. You just missed maghrib prayer. "

Kabeer amswered as he began dragging Areef towards the elevator. As they waited for the car, they had Abba scolding Deedee about crying.

As they were descending Areef found his mouth again. "Everything is just so bizarre Kabeer. Is this perhaps a dream? "

"Do you dream about your fiancé dying? Don't even answer that. It's not a dream Areef but I wish it was. "

The door opened and they made a beeline for the masjid at the hospital premises.