Aanya:

Critical!

Very less time!

Suicide!!

My mind was whirling with all these thoughts. I was going crazy. I wanted to move but I couldn't. It was as if my body was glued to this place. My eyes were filled with unshed tears.

A loud thunder made me jump out of my skin, bringing me back to the reality.

"Oh god! Oh god! Oh god!"

I kept mumbling to myself and ran down the stairs. My eyes were filled with tears making my vision blurry. My stole wrapped itself around my leg making my trip and fall down the staircase.

I groaned in pain as I tried to wake up. I touched my forehead and realised that I was hurt and bleeding. I hissed as a sharp pain shot through my head.

Everything was spinning. Everything was foggy. I laid there waiting for the world to stop spinning, waiting for the pain to subside. My tears were falling down freely and I couldn't even move my hand to wipe off my tears, which reminds me of how helpless I'm right now.

I laid there for several minutes forcing myself to stay conscious. I kept reminding myself that Hussein needs me right now and I have to go to the hospital as soon as possible. The thought of Hussein being critical made me weak but at the same time it was keeping me conscious.

After a little while, the world stopped spinning, my vision became clearer. I slowly got up, hissing occasionally because of the pain. I stood up and slowly took a step. I realised that my legs were shaking but I kept moving forward.

I made it to the main door and saw that it was pouring outside. I stepped out and directly went to Ruby's quarters. I was drenched by the time I reached their place. I kept banging the door.

"Ruby! Please open the door."

After a while, I heard a commotion from behind and then the door was opened.

"Ya Allah, What's wrong Aanya?" Ruby asked me looking at my disheveled state. She looked bewildered.

"Hussein, he...he is in the hospital."

"What?!"

"Yes, Ruby, he is in the hospital. I got a call from the hospital that he attempted suicide and is in critical condition," I replied.

"Suicide?!" Both Ruby and Kareem shouted in unison.

"Yes. He... he attempted suicide. I... I just don't know what to do," I said and wailed out.

Ruby came forward and hugged me as I cried my heart out.

"Let's take you to the hospital, Aanya. I'm sure there was mistake." Kareem said from behind.

I simply nodded. They took me to the car and helped me to sit in it. I was glad that Ruby was holding me all along. I sat in the car and asked Ruby to look after the babies'.

She nodded and then we left for the hospital. Kareem was driving very carefully as the heavy rain made it difficult to see where we were going. Kareem was silent. So was I. We did not exchange any words. The deadly silence was remaining me of Hussein's critical condition. And the thought which disturbed me the most was that he attempted suicide.

Why would he attempt suicide?!

Yes, he was disturbed from the past few days. But whatever the reason is, he would never take such an extreme measure. He is not a coward for God's sake!

A trail of silent tears soaked my t-shirt bearing witness for my misery.

The car slowed down and eventually came to a halt making it clear that we have reached the hospital. Kareem came to my side and opened the door for me. But I remained rooted to my place. I was too scared to move. I realised that I wasn't prepared to see Hussein.

But Kareem slowly took my cold hand in his and slowly pulled me out of the car. He waited for me to take a step forward but I never took one. I just couldn't bring myself to move. I looked up at Kareem with big fat tears rolling down my eyes. I shook my head at Kareem silently letting him know that I can't do this. He held me close and slightly pushed me forward forcing me to take a step forward.

My legs were shaking miserably. My knees were growing weak with each step I take towards the hospital.

We finally stepped inside the hospital. Kareem went to the reception to ask about Hussein while I just stood there. I looked around and noticed that the doctors and the nurses were running from here and there. I saw a couple laughing with tears of happiness rolling down their cheeks after listening to the doctor. They probably received a good news.

Then, on the other side, there were few people who were weeping. I heard the doctor saying that he was sorry for their loss.

I gulped and turned my head not wanting to witness their grief. I closed my eyes shut desperately wishing that I was just having a nightmare and that once I open my eyes, everything will be alright, Hussein will be alright, we will be at our home with our babies. We will be safe.

But much to my dismay, this was not a nightmare. This was my reality, a reality I was refusing to accept.

"Aanya, he is in the ICU. Let's go." Kareem said.

ICU!!

I came to the hospital twice. Once for my delivery and once when I met with that horrible accident which almost killed me. But both the times, I was the patient. But Hussein was fine. A shiver ran down my spine when I realised that this time I'm a visitor and Hussein is the patient. This time he is the one who is fighting for his life. I gulped back a sob when I realised how he must have felt when I was admitted in the hospital, fighting for life.

We went towards the elevator. I was just walking like a puppet. My mind was blank. My body was numb. I just followed Kareem like a lost puppy.

We finally made it to the floor where Hussein's room was. We stepped out of the elevator. Kareem pointed towards his room. It was right ahead of us. Just a few more steps and I'll be able to see him. Touch him. But I couldn't bring myself to move forward.

Kareem was looking at me expectantly but I just couldn't move. I shook my head again. I silently begged him to not to take me in there. I wasn't prepared for what was yet to come. I can't even imagine Hussein in this condition and now seeing him like this for real is so painful for me. Call me selfish, but all I want to do right is to run from here.

"Aanya, we have to go and see him. I know it is difficult for you. But, dear, you need to stay strong and face this problem with courage. And most importantly, he needs you." Kareem encouraged me.

I nodded and wiped off my tears and took shaky steps towards his room. With each step I took towards that room, towards him, my heart beat escalated a level more. With each step my hands grew cold and sweaty. My head was spinning. It was as if I was thrown in an endless pit of darkness.

Kareem opened the door for me. I stepped in and noticed that the doctors were checking his vitals. I couldn't see Hussein because the doctor was in between us. After a while, he moved away giving me clear view of Hussein.

"Ya Allah!!!" I cried out.

My legs gave up and I was about to fall down but someone behind me caught me. Tears welled up in my eyes as soon as I saw Hussein. No, not by seeing him but the state he was in.

Hussein laid there with the bandages wrapped around his body. Different types of tubes and wires were attached to him. He laid there looking like a corpse.

"Hussein!!" My voice came out as a mere whisper.

I was thankful for the person who was holding me. I had no strength left in me to stand on my own legs.

I know I was supposed to move forward. I was supposed to go near Hussein. I was supposed to be there for my husband. But, I just couldn't bring myself to move forward.

My body was frozen. My mind was blank. It was as if my body and mind forgot to function on their own. Constantly, someone or the other has to remind them to function. I don't what this is because I haven't felt like this before.

"Go, Aanya." The person who is holding me spoke from my behind.

I turned my face towards him and saw that it was actually Sameer, my brother's ex-boss holding me.

"Sameer?!"

"Yeah, I was the one who brought him to the hospital." He answered my unasked question.

"Oh! Okay..."

"Come on, go inside." He urged me.

"I... I can't...." I said as a lone tear escaped from my eyes.

"I know its hard for you Annu, but you need to understand that he needs you the most now. If you want him to get well soon, you need to stay right beside him. You're a strong woman. You're his strength, Annu. He needs you. I know you can do this. In fact, we all know you can do this. Come on, Annu, take a step forward. Take a step forward towards your love." Sameer encouraged me.

His words filled me with courage. They made me realise that it is my duty to be there for Hussein at the time of need. Its my duty to take care of my Hussein.

Nodding, I wiped off my tears and stepped inside the room.

With slow yet shaky steps, I reached my Hussein's side. His face was swollen, his head was wrapped in the bandage, so was his body. He was on life support which clearly indicates that he is not well at all. I

I ran my cold hands over his face and realised that he was burning. He has a temperature which is of course a cause of concern. I held his hand and looked at his face. He was known for his sharp and handsome features but now, now his face is almost unrecognisable. If it were for some one else, then they wouldn't even have recognised him in the first place.

"Hussein." I whispered his name but closed shut my eyes as my voice broke.

I kept gulping the sobs that were trying to escape from my mouth. I remained silent for a while. I just sat there and tried to get hold of my emotions.

My mind was so blank that I couldn't find any words. I wanted to speak. I wanted to say so many words but I just couldn't. It was as if I suddenly forgot to speak.

"Mrs. Hussein?" Someone called me from behind.

I turned back and saw that it was Hussein's doctor. I noticed that Rehan, Sameer and Kareem were standing behind him. My heart fell into my stomach as soon as saw them all. But it was not their presence that worried me, it was the expression that their faces held bothered me.

"Y...yes." I spoke out timidly.

"Can we speak for a few minutes about Mr. Hussein's condition in my cabin?"

I turned back and looked at my Hussein. Wiping off my silent tears, I kissed his hand and slowly let it go. I got up from the chair and stepped out of the room. My eyes were casted down for I did not want to meet anyone's gaze. I simply followed the doctor. I could feel Rehan and Kareem following me.

We entered the doctor's room. The doctor asked me to sit but I politely refused him.

The doctor looked back and forth between me and Rehan. It was as if he was asking Rehan for permission. I looked back at Rehan and noticed that he was sweating profusely. He looked pale as if he has seen a ghost. He noticed my gaze on him and looked everywhere but me. I looked at Kareem whose face was filled with concern but more than his face held sympathy.

Sympathy for me.

I turned my gaze back to the doctor as both Rehan and Kareem refused to meet my gaze.

"What is it, Doctor?" I asked him with whatever strength I could muster up.

"Mrs. Hussein, I know these are very tough times for you and your family. I know its pretty difficult for you to keep yourself together in this situation. And trust me so far you're doing a pretty good job. But, I need you to be your strongest self. I will be completely honest with you about Mr. Hussein's condition only if you promise me to be strong and calm." The doc said.

I kept staring at him with a blank face.

"Whenever you're ready." He said as he got no response from me.

I simply nodded saying that I was ready but in reality I was anything but ready.

I heard then doctor take deep breath in.

He took out some x-rays and showed them to me.

"Mr. Hussein, when he was brought here he was unconscious. The injuries were severe and there was a lot of internal bleeding which was very hard to control. And due which he lost lots of blood. He had multiple injuries. His ribs were fractured, his skull was broken exposing his brain and we noticed that one part of his brain was swollen resulting in hemorrhage. It seems like he hit his head pretty hard when he flew out of the car and landed on the road. Here are the x-rays if his broken skull and ribs."

As he showed me the x-rays, my vision became blurry and I felt dizzy. I immediately grabbed on to the desk that was in front of me.

"Do you want me to stop, Mrs. Hussein?" The doc asked.

I simply shook my head and urged him to finish whatever he has to say.

Clearing his throat, he continued, "During the operation, Mr. Hussein's heart, um, his heart stopped several times. He had cardiac arrest and we had to resuscitate him several time. And each time it became harder to bring him back."

My eyes widened when I heard those words. My legs began to shake. I sat down on the chair with a thud. My tears wouldn't stop falling from my eyes. I lowered my head to hide my tears.

"We somehow stopped his internal bleeding. But, unfortunately-"

I immediately snapped my head towards him as soon as he said unfortunately because I thought that the worst part was over. But I was so wrong. Little did I know the worst part was yet to come.

"Unfortunately, because of the severity of the accident and extensive injuries, his body is tired, specially his vital organs. Its like they're shutting down one after the other. He is not even able to breath on his own because of the lung injuries. He is still on life support. And he slipped into coma and is refusing to respond to the treatment. We are giving him the best treatment we have Mrs. Hussein. But if he keeps refusing it, then, I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do to bring him back. Its as if he has already given up on his life. And given the conditions, it makes it clear that he is intentionally refusing the treatment. His condition is still critical. As of now he is under strict observation. We are hoping that he would respond to the treatment sooner than later. And if keeps rejecting the treatment, then, I'm afraid you would have to make some tough decisions in future."

****

Hey guys!!

How are y'all?

I know I promised you guys that I would be updating regularly but I couldn't. I'm pretty sure many of you are pissed at me. I completely understand it.

But guys its not that I'm intentionally doing this. I have a lot of personal problems in my life right now.

I recently had a miscarriage and it has broken me completely. I found out about my pregnancy early in the morning and then by night I started to show signs of miscarriage. After a day, it was confirmed that I lost the baby.

It was our first baby and was not planned or anything. But we were so happy when we found out. Unfortunately, the Almighty had different plans.

I was exhausted both physically and mentally. I thought of writing to get away from the pain but as soon as I opened it, I saw that the story was also at a suffering track. My lovelies were also suffering. So, in order to stop myself from slipping in to further depression, I stopped writing. Completely.

In this process, I lost the touch from the novel. I couldn't connect myself to this novel and the characters. And it is vert important for me that I feel connected to them.

But, I some how finished writing this chapter. I wanted to make it a little longer but I couldn't. I hope you understand now and please give me time to get back on track. Please have some patience. I know you are all waiting very patiently and I'm thankful to you guys for it.

I hope you guys will support me in this tough time.

Love you all!!

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Keep Loving!!!

And please be safe from Coronavirus. Protect yourself and your loved ones from this virus.