Chapter 25

Assalamu alaikum.

Dedicated to honey9845

I stood staring at the lifeless body, frozen, unable to move.

I felt nothing.

A policeman appeared, followed by Mr Hamilton, Superintendent, a few other men in overalls. They were surrounded by a crowd, consisting of hospital staff and guests.

All seemed to be staring at the horribly mangled body lying across the floor of the crushed elevator.

I wanted to throw up as nausea stirred in the pit of my stomach. I closed my eyes for an instant and held a piece of nearby furniture for support.

Poor women.

The policeman turned to, Karthik Oberoi, the owner of the hospital, "Her name?"

The owner glared at one of the doctors and urged him to answer the enquiries, "Her name was Priyanka Shetty."

"Has the family been informed?"

The doctor turned towards the receptionist and repeated the question which was directed at him.

The receptionist shrugged, "She has not submitted her residential address or phone number. So it's impossible to convey the unfortunate incident to her family."

"Did she not submit her curriculum vitae as per the hospital rules?"

"Actually she did, but after her husband disappeared, she was very heartbroken and decided to change her residence. She could no longer stay in her husband's apartment without his presence and had promised to pass her whereabouts as soon as she shifted to her new permanent address. She was staying with one of her friends for the time being."

"Disappeared?" The police superintendent raised his eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

"Yes. He disappeared into thin air. I heard a few people say that he had an extramarital affair and therefore he eloped with her."

"Where was her husband working?"

"He was working in A1 International. I guess he was some kind of scientist."

Scientist?

"His name?"

The receptionist shook her head, "Sorry."

Just then a nurse in hospital uniform came forward parting the crowd, "His name was Hari Prasad Shetty."

Mr hamilton turned to the nurse in whose uniform there was name tag, Elvera rose, "Did you know where she lived?"

She made a helpless gesture, "I guess It's in Sylvia street, fourth block, house number twenty."

"Thank you for the information Miss rose."

The police superintendent turned to one of the uniformed policemen, "Have the elevator buttons and doors tested for fingerprints."

He then turned towards Mr Hamilton, "Go to the given address. Talk to the neighbours. Find out all you can about Priyanka and her husband and then go to A1 International and do some query. Get all the information you can."

He then turned to another policeman, "Check police records if Priyanka or her husband have any history. If you think of anything that might be helpful ------ "

One of the guests said slowly, "Poor nurse. What a terrible accident."

No sooner had the words left the guest's mouth, That a man in overalls held up two jagged ends of heavy cable. "It is not an accident. Someone cut the lift's safety brakes."

Shivering slightly, I went forward and said tentatively, "I don't know whether this is helpful, but I and the nurse were about to enter the lift together. When we were standing there, in the corridor, waiting for the lift to appear, I saw a shabby-looking man staring at us and as soon as we entered the elevator, he spoke something in his earpiece and left hurriedly. But I realised, that I had left my purse in the prayer room and as I went to fetch it, she hades to take the lift by herself."

The superintendent said, "It will be looked into."

I was about to turn when Mr hamilton stopped me in my tracks, "Mrs Hussain, Your every action will be watched. One wrong move and I'll make sure that you land behind the bars."

I turned on my heel not bothering to reply when I heard a policeman ask, "What about the body?"

Mr Hamilton replied, "The medical examiner is on his way."

______________

When I returned to my hospital room, I was still unnerved. The experience of coming so close to being killed had been terrifying.

I sank down onto the sofa and tried to calm myself, but to no avail.

I was too shaken.

There was deep empty, lonely feeling inside me.

Aahil.

I closed my eyes trying to meditate and concentrate on a few of the verses of the Quran...

Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will remain forever.

What if I had died? Was I ready to face my creator?

The death from which you flee will truly overtake you: then you will be sent back to the Knower of things secret and open: and He will tell you (the truth of) the things that you did!"

I sat there wondering what makes a human feel over-confident that the time of his death isn't near. Why do all of us waste our precious time in irrelevant things? Why don't we spread a smile and happiness before we leave this world? Why do we interfere in matters of others, which aren't of any importance to our lives?

Why don't we live our lives and let others live peacefully?

Why do we seize to thank our creator for all the blessings we have in our lives and rather concentrate on the things we don't have and waste our life searching for happiness.

I realised that instant that happiness cannot be travelled to. Happiness lies within each one of us and we can be happy only if we choose to be, but most of the time we are busy complaining or comparing to even give a second glance at the happiness we own at the moment.

I promised myself to become a better person and thank Allah for all the blessings in my life, and to never ever miss my prayers InshaAllah.

______________

They hadn't still shifted Aahil from the ICU to the recovery room and visitors were allowed only during specified hours.

There was still one hour left before visitors would be allowed and we sat in the hospital room hoping that Aahil would be shifted soon to the recovery room.

I hadn't slept from past few days and my eyes were shutting down on their own accord. I tried hard to keep them from closing, "Aleena you need to take rest. You have been up from days and if you keep this pace then you are going to make yourself sick."

"I'll sleep once I hear the doctor's say that Aahil is going to be fine."

Just then Dilshad got up from his chair, shuffling a large yawn. He had dozed off in the sitting position and tried to smoothen his crumpled shirt.

He and Lissa had been staying in the hospital from the past few days, for which I was extremely thankful. Aahil's stepmother wanted to fly over but his dad's health was not in the best condition either. It would have been impossible for me to have managed everything without Dilshad's help.

But right now he did not seem to be in his usual fit shape. His huge frame looked tired and unslept and he had developed large eyebags.

"Do you both need coffee or snacks? I'm going to the cafeteria," Dilshad asked running a hand through his dishevelled hair, trying to make it appear presentable.

I shook my head, "I don't think I can eat anything. I still feel like throwing up."

Dilshad sat down again, in his chair. "Ok, I'll go later."

"You can hardly expect anything else with your empty stomach. It's the bile that is threatening to come up," Lissa exclaimed sternly and added, "You aren't going to make up any more reasons to skip food."

She now turned towards Dilshad, a hand on her hip, "You are going to the cafeteria this instance and bring food for yourself too. I have had enough of you both sulking like small children."

Dilshad raised his eyebrows and shook his head, rising from his seat with an amused smile on his lips.

Lissa herself looked worried sick but she was trying to act strong and by the look on her face it was clearly visible that she was worried for Dilshad too.

He walked to the door and then turned towards Lissa, "Do you need anything?"

She remained silent.

"I hope not to hear nothing, after throwing insight a moment ago."

"Coffee is fine," Lissa drawled.

He left the room with a small smile and warning to stay together.

A few minutes later, there was a slight knock on the door and a nurse appeared.

"Is Mrs Hussain present?"

"Yes."

"Mr Aahil's breathing is getting worse. Therefore, Chest x-rays, computed tomography, and breathing tests were performed to determine how much lung damage has occurred.

Oxygen and drugs to open the airways and decrease inflammation were also given.

The lead physician wants to have a word with you. Try to be there within a few minutes in Docter Jay Watson's office."

I nodded my head, trying not to freak out. I needed to stay strong. Aahil needed me as much as I needed him.

Lissa squeezed my arm and picked her phone from the side table and placed a call to Dilshad asking him to meet us at the doctor's office.

We exited the room and made our way towards the fifth floor, where doctor Watson's consultation room was located.

He was already seated at his table and asked us to take a seat opposite to him, "Mrs Hussain, you need to promise not to go hysterics, only then can I discuss the matter with you."

Yaa Allah grants me strength.

"I'll try," I said meekly, holding my hands tightly in my lap.

He gave me a reassuring smile, "Mrs Hussain, we are afraid that there isn't a normal oxygen exchange between the patient's lungs and the bloodstream and most of the times, the diffusing capacity is characteristically abnormal only in people with pulmonary fibrosis, or in those who have disorders affecting the blood vessels of the lungs, and in some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."

"We might need to perform minor surgery to rectify the disorder and in case it isn't successful then we might think of another major surgery involving lung transplantation."

I tried keeping a straight face, not letting my horror show, but I was on the verge of fainting.

For the next few minutes, I sat there like a statue, as the doctor went on explaining about the life long complications Aahil might face if he isn't rightfully treated on time.

Thankfully Lissa answered all his queries and I signed the papers, giving my approval to perform the needed surgery.

Dilshad was sitting in one of the empty waiting chairs in the corridor. When he spotted us, he immediately got up and made his way towards us, "What did the doctor say?"

"He says Aahil's lungs are damaged and needs a minor surgery immediately."

Dilshad looked flushed, he tried breathing in and out to calm himself. He put his clenched fist in his trouser pocket and started staring out of the window.

After few seconds, he spoke up, 'If they are performing a surgery then I need to inform his personal medical physician," He swallowed hard, ran a hand through his beard and seemed deep in thought, "Could you both wait until I speak to the doctor and finalise things."

Lissa nodded her head and pulled my sleeve asking me to take a seat next to her.

Yaa Allah has mercy on my husband.

I sat there staring at the floor, silent uncontrollable tears rolling down my cheeks. I did not make an effort to wipe them but numbly stared at the black and white-coloured marbled floor.

Dilshad appeared a few moments later and we made our way towards the hospital room, "I'll be sleeping in the visitor's room which is across the floor. Please don't hesitate to call me if there is an emergency," Dilshad said to Lissa, storming off in the opposite direction.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and turned, "Lissa."

"Yes."

"Don't forget to lock the doors and do not come outside during the night. Please inform me, if you or Mrs Hussain need anything."

Lissa gave an understanding nod.

"I have asked room service to send dinner, which most probably must have been sent already. Do have your dinner and make sure that Mrs Hussain has it too."

"Ummm....Ok...But you can sleep without worrying over us. I'm capable enough to handle deadly situations if it arises. I'm not a chicken."

Dilshad rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smile on his tired face as he turned and resumed walking.

We entered our room and I was about to escape to the bathroom, to cry my heart out, when a bouquet on the side table caught my attention.

It was a huge bouquet with large red roses. There was a card tucked between the roses.

Dear Aleena,

I'm sure you still love the colour red. The colour of blood.

That is why I had planned such a wonderful farewell for you and your darling husband.

But both of you were lucky enough to escape death.

Wasn't I lucky that two preys entered the elevator at the same time? One got killed and other became the culprit. How very convenient.

If you want your beloved husband to stay alive, search the file before I fill your life with RED

with loads of love,

**keep guessing**