Chapter 15: Madam Wifey's Room. 

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"You are stronger than you know."

-Lori Newman-

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Zamaairah woke up with a start, feeling for her limbs. Trapped. Why are my arms and legs trapped? What's- 

"Zama?" she heard a whisper. Oh god no. Not again. Please go away. 

"Zama, its me. Amyrah?" she recognized the voice but she didn't trust herself to open her eyes. Is this sleep paralysis? 

"Zama, wake up." she mustered her courage and somehow brought her eyes to open. Immediately she was greeted by the sight of Amyrah, peering over her. When she opened her eyes completely, Amyrah heaved a sigh and turned to someone else in the room. 

"Zama, bacha, are you okay? Are you in any pain?" she heard rustling before she saw Qaidah peering over her too. Zamaairah shook her head and tried to sit up, wincing in pain as the pressure increased on her injured arm. Her hands immediately felt around for her clothes and she sighed in relief when she realized she was still wearing the same clothes.

Amyrah helped her sit up and Aanabia rushed over too. 

"Its fine. I am fine." Zamaairah reassured them. 

"Alhamdulillah it wasn't anything serious. Just a graze wound."

"You were in and out of conscious, I thought we lost you." Qaidah spoke softly, sitting on the bed beside her legs. She took her hand in hers and squeezed it tightly. 

"Are you sure you are doing okay, bacha?" when Qaidah lovingly called her bacha (meaning a child in Hindi), Zamaairah felt tears prick her eyes. 

"Yes. Yes I am fine. Now." she mustered the courage and spoke but a few tears escaped, falling freely on her cheeks. Qaidah saw this and wiped them away. Truth was, Zamaairah was trying her hardest to stay strong and at this moment, it was proving to be very hard.

"Don't cry." at this, Zamaairah broke into a hysterical sob. Qaidah leaned forward and pulled her in a hug. I am the cause of everything. I'll end up hurting everyone. I put everyone's life in jeopardy and here they are, taking care of me still. What did I do to deserve them, Ya Rabb? 

Amyrah and Aanabia stood by the bed, holding onto Zamaairah's shoulders as they shook violently. Qaidah looked up to them and nodded for them to leave. The women in question understood and with a soft smile, left the room to join everyone else outside. 

Once Zamaairah stopped crying, Qaidah let her go and held her to an arms length. 

"Talk to me?" Zamaairah hiccupped at the question. Qaidah chuckled lightly and handed her a glass of water from the night stand. Zamaairah drank it eagerly only realizing then she was parched. 

"What's bothering you?" the tone of the spoken question was soft and soothing. It reminded her of her own mother but Qaidah was no less. 

"I- I put every- I put everyone in danger." she managed to speak out. Qaidah raised her eyebrows with a soft smile. 

"And who said you did?" Zamaairah looked at her as if she had grown two heads. There were shots fired in this house because of me-

"See my love. Our family has always been in the limelight and with that comes consequences. What happened was meant to happen, it was Qadr and Allah subhan wa'a ta'ala protected you and all of us. Everything happens by The Almighty's will and nothing more."

I know ma, I know. I trust Allah and that is why I leap off so easily in my life. 

"Now, dry those tears and tell me what you want to eat. You didn't have dinner." Zamaairah smiled slightly as Qaidah ran her hands over Zamaairah's hair soothingly. 

"Sleepy." she muttered and Qaidah shook her head. I need to get my thoughts together. 

"You're not sleepy. I know." As if on cue, her stomach let out a rumble and Zamaairah let out a soft chuckle. 

"How?" 

"Your eyes get droopy when you get sleepy. You are wide awake and with the sound of your stomach, in much need of food."

"Right." she admitted defeat. 

"Amyrah!" Qaidah called for her daughter-in-law who entered the room immediately. Zamaairah smiled at her who grinned back. 

"I am sorry to make you-"

"I am glad you are fine, Zama. Nothing more. Now, what do you want to eat?" 

"Anything is fine, really."

"Sure?" Amyrah asked, smiling suspiciously. Zamaairah nodded. 

"Great. Prawns it is." How did she- Zamaairah looked at Qaidah who chuckled, holding her hand up in surrender. 

"It wasn't me. Ammi guided them in making prawns since they are your favorite."

"How is she?" Zamaairah questioned in distress. The event must have startled her alot. 

"For now, she is doing well."  And Safwah? How is he? But the questions never left her lips as she prayed silently that he is fine. 

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Because Zamaairah was without hijab and resting, the boys were asked to remain outside the room. Safwah was pacing outside the room until Kayan told him to stop. The man was finally relieved from his anxiety when Amyrah told them Zamaairah had woken up and was doing fine. 

The boys were asked to leave as Zamaairah needed sleep. Safwah was dragged out by Yazdan and Kayan. Sahl was still out, investigating with Vardah and the team. 

Safwah entered his room and shut the door behind him, staring at the wall ahead. Alhamdulillah, she is fine. She is fine. He repeated it to himself. Alot was on his mind and he needed to clear it. Hence, he set outside at the balcony, staring at the stars. He tried to comprehend what all happened lately but his mind was reeling on the same thought again and again. Do I deserve to be alive? - His mind immediately counteracted the statement with- Yes. Yes you do, Safwah. You have to live. 

Safwah stood up and stretched out his body, needing to warm up and get rid of his intrusive thoughts. Since the incident of him waking up from a coma, he hasn't been able to get the intrusive thoughts out. They were simple things like Am I supposed to be alive? Why did I make it out alive? How did I make it out alive? Everything was linked to his past, something he tried to break out of repeatedly. 

Safwah remembered the nights when he couldn't sleep, afraid that the nightmares would repeat. He was too afraid to close his eyes, but then Sahl came through and stayed by him. 

"I survived. I survived." he repeated another of his mantra's as asked by his therapist as he paced the balcony, biting onto his nail beds. It's okay, Safwah. It's okay. What happened today wasn't your fault. It wasn't- 

"Yes you did." Unfortunately he didn't hear his brother and Vardah enter his room. Sahl and Vardah stood behind him and exchanged glances. It was Sahl who said whispered it in the dead silence of the room. Vardah could see how this was tearing apart Sahl but she stood her ground. 

"YO PRINCESS!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, effectively snapping out Safwah from his reverie. 

Safwah turned to see Vardah and Sahl in his space, his demeanor completely changed from anxious to neutral. He frowned at them. 

"When did you two get here?" 

"Right now. I was knocking but you didn't answer so I barged in. Now, lets go!" Vardah told him as she turned around and began walking out of the door. 

"Where are we going?" Safwah questioned as he followed behind his brother. 

"To Madam Wifey's room." 

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hI. 

| R - C - V |

Love,

Me.