BY ZEE ASLAM
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Hajiya was devastated and hurt when she heard what just happened. She lost balance and wanted to fall but Khaleel caught the fall.
Rayhanah, Sadeeq and Farida were already shedding tears, Khaleel too was only trying to hold back his tears.
With the help of the hospital staff, the body was taken to the car and they all went home.
The news of his death got to the royal home like a bomb, surely death is inevitable.
The women went in while the men remained in the zaure where the body was bathed, shrouded and made ready for internment.
The wails and cries of the women made people trooped into the royal home as the news of his death spread like wildfire.
Hajiya stood by the window staring as people gathered around the bier standing behind the body, saying the last prayer meant for the dead.
She wished she could cry again but her eyes remained dry, something had blocked her tear ducts.
She heard as the gate opened and cars drove out taking her man to his new home. The men came back but her beloveth was nowhere to be found.
Her world has just been lowered into a shallow pit. His last words kept ringing a bell in her head “take care of yourself and our children”.
If only she knew those were going to be his last words, she wouldn’t have allowed him to be wheeled into the theatre.
Illusion or not! It just dawned on her that a great pillar has just fallen. She prayed Allah be pleased with his soul and make him her pracelet in the afterlife.
Khaleel came into the room alongside his kid brother and said a prayer for the dead as the women chorused, “Ameen”.
Soon as the crowd had mourned enough in the abode of the deceased, they all went back to their various houses leaving his family to deal with the void in their hearts.
Mai Martaba addressed the family giving his words of taking care of his late brother’s family and pleaded with them to move into the royal home.
After the mourning and when everyone have resumed his/her daily activities, Didi invited Khaleel and his family to stay with them for awhile since Hajiya was always lamenting on her husband’s death.
They all thought if Khaleel was brought closer to her, it would ease the pain.
When Khaleel was informed, he gave a positive reply as his wife would even be traveling overseas for her mother’s surgery soon.
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The next week, as Farida was preparing for her flight, he was also arranging his things and that of Sufyan.
He had to drop them off at the hospital since they would be leaving for the airport from there after Umma has undergone series of tests and scans.
Meanwhile as he drove, he sneakily glanced at Farida every now and then.
Seeing the look on her face, he couldn’t tell if she was nervous or happy but soon a smile graced her chin and he felt his mood being uplifted, he likes it when she smile.
Perhaps Farida sensed the passion coming from his eyes because she lifted her head curiously.
However, he immediately looked away fixing his face on the road. He pretended like nothing happened and focused his attention on driving.
“Why the stare”? She asked in curiosity.
“And who was staring at you”? He also asked and contorted his face.
They arrived at the hospital and Umma was conveyed in an ambulance to the airport after the scans. while Dr Hassan, Farida and the nurse maid followed suit.
Khaleel left the hospital premises after they had gone. He went back home and put their luggage in the car then drove out with Sufyan. They don’t really get along but they don’t get on each other’s bad sides either.
Sufyan still had that mentality that his sister left Bello and even rejected their mother’s hospital bills because of Khaleel, little did he know, he was getting it all wrong.
There was silence in the car as he drove to the royal home. The only noise was coming from the video Sufyan was watching on his phone.
The ride home was a long one but to Khaleel, it seemed short. He was speeding all along.
Soon the gate widely opened and he swiftly drove in. They were welcomed warmly by everyone but still he felt like a stranger, like something in him was missing.
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Thoughts of Farida came running through his mind and it dawned on him she was the one missing.
He dashed out of the sitting room like a mad man to the parking lot and drove out like someone who was in a haste to catch a flight.
The family all stared at one another. No one could figure out what was wrong with him.
He got to the airport few hours later and looked round but she wasn’t in sight so he placed a call through.
He heaved a sigh of relief when she picked up because he knew she wouldn’t have done that if she had boarded the plane.
“Come outside” he said and hung up.
As soon as she got to the front door, he was standing at the door way. The moment he laid his eyes on her, he immediately stretched out his arms to receive her.
Without hesitation, Farida pounced into his arms and buried her head on his chest. The couple both gave a satisfied sigh.
“A woman is a piece of a man’s rib. When they hug, the rib finally returns home”.
They maintained that position for awhile before Farida finally pulled away. “Take care of yourself and Sufyan” she said and turned.
Without looking back, she walked into the airport. Khaleel felt like a part of him just left.
But why does he feel this way all of a sudden, why couldn’t he control himself, why did he have to follow her here, why did he even hug her???
These are the questions that kept ringing a bell in his head. He later dragged his feet sluggishly into his car and drove home feeling completely empty inside…………
