The doctor came out and everyone pacing in the hall became alert. Dua was the only was still lost in shock just staring at a wall, while sitting on the floor criss-cross.

The doctor looked around and say that talking to Dua would be of no use. The girl was totally out of this world right now but she had to be made to talk otherwise there was always a chance of her going into catatonic shock. 

So instead of talking to Dua first, he talked to Zaroon instead. 

"He is stable now. He has lost a lot of blood, I was able to stop the bleeding but with the amount of blood, he has lost he will be weak for some time. I have a prescription ready here," he handed the prescription to Zaroon, "I will came and check up on him again tomorrow but I would request that someone be on watch with him all the time through the night," He informed Zaroon. 

"Also," he said in a whisper, "Try and get Dua to talk, the girl needs to let out her emotions least she go into a state of catatonic shock. I would suggest talking about what happened, it will be better for her to get whatever happened out. I would also suggest calling his family the chances of survival are not very good. the bleeding might have stopped but the internal damage to organs if something which I have tried to fix, but going to the hospital is not possible tonight," and soon the doctor was leaving.

Rehana helped Dua up and took her into her father's room where Dua sat beside his bedside and again she stared at him. She kept replaying the vision she had seen that night. She wanted to just cry and be with her mother now, she would know what to do.

Zaroon looked at Dua and was aware just how much she was shaken up. He knew she was not in a state to talk but the doctor's instruction was clear. He wanted to just keep her at home and never let her out again, the vision of her is covered in blood standing at his door would never leave his mind. 

But first, she needed to be cleaned up.

He looked for Rehana and Rehana just knew what he was going to say. She went to Dua and gently took her hands into her own, "Dua, let's get you cleaned up. You can sit with uncle after that." Dua did not seem to mind but just at Rehana like a child would look at his elders. 

"Come on Jaan," Rehana again helped Dua up and took her out of the room possibly to their room as Zaroon watched. Once the ladies were out of the room his father asked him, "What do you think happened?" And for once Zaroon had no idea what to tell his father.

"I don't know, she didn't say anything except her Mir Uncle was hurt," Zaroon replied. 

"Talk to her, we need to know what happened, " His father told him. 

"She should inform her family," Zaroon thought of Aisha and Dua's younger brothers. They must have no idea where these two are.

"They are not here, I think they had a train for tonight leaving to Aisha ji's home town for some time, Mir Sahab was supposed to go with Dua in some time. It is why he asked for the driver today. He wasn't sure that they would be safe travelling in a tanga," his father informed him.

That whatever must have happened Dua must have been alone. Allah Khair, he needed to know what exactly must have happened.

He nodded and was about to call for the driver when Rehana came out of their room. 

"She is cleaned up, but she isn't saying anything, only nodding to everything. I tried to ask her what happened but she didn't say anything just shook her head. Whatever it was, it has scared her. I am going to brew some Kehwa for her. Please go and stay with her, maybe she will tell you something," Rehana was concerned for Dua. The girl was as bright as the sun and right now it was as if an eclipsed had covered her brightness. 

Zaroon went into the room and saw Dua sitting on the floor again he wanted to get her up to take her to bed where she would be more comfortable but something told him this was her way of coping with whatever she was going through in her mind. So he did the next best thing he could do, He went and sat down in front of her, on the floor. 

She looked up from where her eyes were trailed on the floor pattern and saw him. 

He smiled at her and she just looked. His heart clenched once again that night. "What happened tonight Dua, can tell me? I need to report whatever happened," Zaroon spoke softly, in a manner as to not frighten her. 

He did not expect her to say anything to him, she did not talk to Rehana, did not say anything to the doctor, why would she say anything to him, but then she spoke softly but surely. 

"We were at the station to see off the boys and Amma, the train had left the station, and we were going back to the car. Abba saw the trainmaster and started discussing something or the other. I am not sure, but I went ahead. And then the driver uncle the doors just in case and went to Abba." Dua was voice was detached and she talking with a faraway look in her eyes. Zaroon got the impression she was not here at that moment. 

"Then a train came in, it was on fire," Dua suddenly looked at Zaroon and Allah only knew why but Zaroon held her hand. He knew in his heart that she needed that support even if it was improper.

"The train's compartments were on fire, and people were screaming. Some of them just jumped out of the train while it was still moving. and there was panic suddenly everyone at the train station was screaming and running. I got worried, the driver wasn't there and Abba was still inside the station, there were people with swords jumping off the burning train," Dua and continued and Zaroon was left with an urge to hold her in his arms. Tears were streaming down her face and she was still looking directly at him. 

"Then I saw him Abba was coming with the driver. He was a few feet away from the front steps, he would have made it, but then a person with a big knife in his hand came from behind," her hold over his hand tightened and her voice started wavering a bit as if speaking the words out loud was hurting her physically. 

"He hurt Abba, I couldn't see his face just the dagger, and then he left Abba. The driver had seen everything I think so he went and picked up and brought him to the car but our house students from the communist groups outside scouting and walking on the street. I knew taking Abba back to the house would not be safe so I asked the driver to bring him here. I didn't know who else to go," she nearly sobbed out the last part.

"I should have waited with Abba or should have asked him to come along with me. I never should have left him alone. Amma told me to be strong, and I left him alone. I shouldn't have done that. I really shouldn't have done that." Dua was going on on and Zaroon was shaking his head trying to tell her it wasn't her fault but then she withdrew her hand and grabbed her head repeating over and over that she should not have left her father alone. 

Zaroon after failing to get her attention with words grabbed her face and made her look at him, propriety be damned, "It was not your fault. You hear me, It was not your fault. Even if you were with him, you could not have stopped something which was already in motion. And Allah forbid what would have had you both been caught in the crossfire. You being in the care is what has probably saved your fathers life right now. It was not your fault Dua." Zaroon's words had rendered Dua speechless again, but she nodded and Zaroon let go of Dua's face. 

Rehana was standing at the door watching and she all but ran to Dua when she was crying but Zaroon had taken control of the situation and stopped Dua from losing herself. It was a sight to see for her. Her husband the girl she wanted her husband to marry together on the floor. Rehana felt odd jealousy at the sight. 

But it was what she wanted so now she had to bear it. Atleast for as long as she was alive. This was not the time though to be having such thoughts. 

She entered the room with Kehwa and sat down on the floor as well. Zaroon did not protest which he would have under normal circumstances. She smiled at Dua and passed her the drink. 

It was a soothing tea from her home town in Kashmir. 

Dua took it and drank it slowly while all three of them just sat there quietly. The night was dark, not a star in sight. The clouds were rolling in and thunder was booming all around them.

Dua finished the tea and asked to be taken back to her father's bedside. Rehana took her and left her with Mir Sahab who was unconscious. As she was leaving she saw the look Zaroon gave towards Mir uncle. 

She looked at her husband in question. He sneaked a look at Dua and took her aside. "Doctor uncle could not take Mir Sahab to the hospitable and the odds are not good. He said he will be back tomorrow and hopefully, it will all be better," Zaroon's words made Rehana pause and think. What would happen to Mir Sahab, and what about Dua. 

Rehana wanted to ask this question to her husband but she knew he would have no answers. 

Allah was testing them all right now, and only Allah would know what will happen but she prayed with Allah, to let Mir Sahab be fine. It will not do anyone any good if he died. Three days and so much had happened. 

She took a deep breath put on a smile and walked back to where Dua was seated and sat beside her. Dua looked at her gratefully. 

All through the night, they held vigil, so many time Zaroon came and checked Mir Sahabs pulse. They had difficulty in giving him his meds but they did it somehow. The night was long and the morning came in without a shining sun. 

The clouds covered the sun and though the thunder passed and the clouds did not rain they remained looming over the earth.

The doctor came back next day with a nurse. He checked Mir Sahab as the nurse again asked Rehana and Dua to leave. 

So they waited again, and after two gruesome hours the nurse came out calling for Zaroon. 

"The condition is not good," Is all Rehana heard and so did Dua before Zaroon closed the door and Dua almost lost her footing steading herself the on the railing behind her. 

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Hello Loves, So I am back again with another chapter and as the situation grows dire in our world it grows dire in Dua's world as well. 
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Afaf xoxo