21~Past VS present #3
Grandma stood before Hajiya, her trembling hand still raised at her.
Hajiya slowly turned back, clutching her burning cheek in disbelief.
"Uma...?"
The entire waiting area fell silent.
At that exact moment, Najib, Amina, Amir, and Amira came rushing toward them.
"Mummy!" Amina gasped as she hurried to support Hajiya.
Najib immediately rushed to Grandma.
"Grandma..."
He gently held her arm.
"The doctor warned you not to stand for too long."
"Please sit down."
He tried guiding her back toward her wheelchair, but she shook him off.
"Leave me!"
She glared at everyone.
"Grandma..." Amina frowned.
"Why did you slap Mom?"
Her eyes shifted toward Hanan.
So did Amira's.
She stared at Hanan with hurt and annoyance, wondering what new drama her former best friend had brought into their lives again.
Hanan noticed.
But she wasn't surprised.
She knew Amira still hasn't forgiven her.
Amina tightened her grip on Hajiya.
"Was it because of this tramp?" She asked bitterly, glaring at Hanan.
Grandma's face darkened.
"Shut up!"
Her voice thundered through the hallway.
Amina flinched.
"If you cannot keep quiet, then leave!"
"My son is fighting for his life, yet all you people care about is your pride."
"Not another word."
The corridor fell silent.
Grandma slowly turned toward Hanan.
"Habiba..."
Her trembling face softened into a tearful smile.
"My child..."
She reached for Hanan's hand and gently pulled her into an embrace.
The warmth...
It was the same warmth Hanan remembered from years ago.
The warmth she had secretly missed.
For one brief moment, she wanted to return the hug.
Instead...
She slowly pulled away.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice came out distant.
"Please don't worry."
"Alhaji will be alright."
Her cold response shattered Grandma's heart.
Fresh tears rolled down the old woman's cheeks.
"Najib..." She cried.
"Habiba is treating me like a stranger."
"She's still angry with us."
"Please... Make her understand."
She gently pushed Najib toward Hanan.
Hanan instinctively tried to avoid looking at him.
But this time...
There was nowhere to look.
Their eyes met.
For the first time that day.
The entire morning they had avoided each other's gaze.
Now, standing face to face, Hanan noticed something different about him.
He didn't look like the arrogant, untouchable Najib she remembered.
He looked... broken.
Her gaze slowly wandered over him.
The first thing she noticed was his eyes.
They were dull.
Empty.
The arrogance that had always lingered in them was gone, replaced by nothing but pain and sorrow.
She had never seen him like this before.
For the first time since their paths crossed again, Najib neither called her name nor tried to come close.
Instead, he quietly turned away and focused on Grandma.
"Let's get you home, Grandma. You need to rest."
His voice was calm but exhausted.
"Driver."
He gestured toward the wheelchair.
"Please take Grandma home."
Ignoring her protests, he gently settled her back into the wheelchair and began pushing her toward the waiting driver.
"Najib..." Grandma sobbed.
"But Habiba still isn't talking to me."
She stretched her trembling hand toward Hanan.
"Please... Make her speak to me before I leave."
The desperation in Grandma's voice pierced Hanan's heart.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Without thinking, she hurried after them.
She stopped the wheelchair before dropping to her knees in front of Grandma.
"I'm sorry..."
She reached into her purse, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the old woman's tears.
Grandma smiled through her tears.
"I'm sorry too."
With trembling fingers, she wiped away the tears gathering in Hanan's eyes.
"Forgive us."
Grandma suddenly folded her palms in apology.
Hanan's eyes widened.
"No..."
She immediately lowered Grandma's hands.
"Please don't do that."
Guilt flooded her heart.
Grandma had grown older and frail.
So fragile.
How could she allow someone old enough to be her grandmother to beg her?
"Please don't, Grandma."
Hanan squeezed her hands gently.
"I'm not angry with you."
A faint smile appeared on Grandma's face.
"Then promise me... Promise you'll come back home."
The words caught Hanan off guard.
Her smile faded.
She searched for an answer but found none.
She couldn't make a promise she wasn't sure she could keep.
She wanted to let go of the past.
She truly did.
But forgiving Najib...
That was something her heart will never do.
She lowered her eyes before forcing another small smile.
"You should go home and rest, Grandma."
She gently squeezed the old woman's hands one last time before standing up.
As soon as she lifted her head.
Her breath caught.
Across the hallway...
Faruk was standing there.
Watching her.
Silently.
His unreadable eyes remained fixed on her.
For a brief second, the noisy hospital corridor disappeared.
It felt as though only the two of them existed.
And for reasons she couldn't explain why...
Her heart skipped a beat.
.
.
.
***