32~Eye sore
Everyone's eyes remained fixed on the operating theatre doors nervously.
The moment a nurse stepped out, Faruk's mother rushed toward her.
"Nurse!" She cried. "How is my son? Please... how is he?"
"Please try to remain calm, ma'am. The doctors are doing everything they can." the nurse replied before hurrying away.
"Oh, my God..."
She turned, her tear filled eyes landing on Hanan.
Without hesitation, she hurried over and grabbed both of Hanan's shoulders.
"Hanan..." She cried. "How did this happen? Tell me."
Hanan's lips trembled.
She couldn't even bring herself to look the woman in the eye.
Faruk was lying in that theatre room because of her.
How could she possibly explain that?
Guilt tightened around her chest until it became difficult to breathe.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Only tears.
"Please tell me!" Faruk's mother sobbed. "How did my son end up covered in blood? Speak to me, Hanan!"
"Aunt..."
Najib quickly stepped between them.
"We're deeply sorry, but none of this was Habiba's fault. It was an unfortunate incident."
"An unfortunate incident?" She repeated bitterly.
She moved around him and faced Hanan again.
"What incident?" She demanded.
"This morning my son left home happily because he wanted to support you in court."
She broke down.
"And now he's fighting for his life."
"I'm... sorry..." Hanan whispered, barely able to get the words out.
"Your apology won't bring him out of the condition he's in." She cried. "I only want to know how this happened."
"He was shot while protecting Habiba." Grandma's voice interrupted.
Everyone turned as she approached them with Abdul, Nanny Ann and Emma.
Najib frowned.
"Grandma? Abdul, I asked you to take her home."
"How could I stay at home after hearing this?" Grandma replied firmly.
She walked straight to Hanan.
Seeing the poor girl trembling in tears broke her heart.
She gently held Hanan's hand.
"She insisted I bring her here." Abdul explained. "I'm sorry."
Nanny Ann immediately wrapped an arm around Hanan.
"Stop crying, dear."
"Everything will be alright." Abdul added softly. "He'll survive. This isn't your fault."
Faruk's mother looked at them in disbelief.
"Not her fault?!"
Her voice rose.
"Then whose fault is it?!"
She looked from one face to another.
"My son took a bullet meant for her!"
Her eyes settled on Hanan.
"My son had better survive this..."
"Because if he doesn't..."
"I'll never forgive you."
"Haba." Grandma sighed. "Please don't say that."
"I'm sorry, Uma..."
She wiped her tears.
"But I'm a mother."
"I've protected my son from every little danger since the day he was born."
She pointed toward the operating theatre.
"And now look at him."
"My child is in there fighting for his life."
"I don't even know if he'll make it."
"Have faith." Grandma whispered.
"He will survive."
"I'm trying..."
She broke down again.
"But he's my only child."
"How do I go on if I lose him?"
"My son will survive!" The loud voice echoed through the corridor.
Everyone turned.
Faruk's father walked toward them with hurried steps, fury written all over his face.
"Uncle..."
Najib moved to greet him.
"Don't."
Faruk's father raised a hand, stopping him.
"I was told my son was shot because of Hajiya."
His voice hardened.
"What exactly happened?"
"I'm sorry, Uncle." Najib replied. "I promise Hajiya will answer for this."
"Hajiya?"
He let out a bitter laugh.
"Which Hajiya?"
"The living one... or the dead one?"
The corridor went silent.
Najib frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Faruk's father looked each of them in the eye before delivering the words that stunned everyone.
"Hajiya has been pronounced dead."
This scene flows well. I'd mainly polish the dialogue, grammar, and emotional beats while keeping every event you wrote.
"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun." Hanan whispered.
The words left her lips as everyone around her reacted in shock.
She suddenly remembered that after the shooting, Hajiya had also been rushed to the hospital alongside Faruk.
"She... she didn't survive." Hanan murmured.
The realization only deepened her fear for Faruk, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.
"She was bound to die after shooting herself in the head!" Faruk's father snapped. "But how does that make her pay for putting my son in such a dreadful condition?"
"I'm sorry, Uncle." Najib said quietly. "But I promise you the doctors are doing everything they can to save him."
"Najib, I don't want empty promises!" He frowned. "My son must survive. He will survive!"
His furious gaze shifted to Hanan.
She instinctively lowered her head as her trembling hands began to shake even more.
"That girl..." He said, pointing at Hanan before turning to Fatuk's mother.
"I never wanted him getting involved with her, but he insisted. And you, his mother, instead of stopping him, encouraged him. Now look where your support has landed our son!"
"What could I have done?" She cried out. "You know how stubborn and persistent he is."
"We're his parents!" He snapped. "He should listen to us, and you should have made him understand."
Their argument pierced Hanan's heart.
She wished she could undo everything.
If only I didn't confronted Hajiya...
If only I didn't invited Faruk to the court today...
Maybe...
Just maybe...
None of this would've happened.
"I should be the one in there... not him." She whispered.
Nanny Ann immediately wrapped an arm around her.
"Don't say that, dear. Have faith. Everything will be alright."
Hours passed by.
Every passing minute felt like an eternity as everyone waited anxiously outside the operating theatre.
Grandma later left with Najib to claim Hajiya's body from the hospital so that her burial rites could be arranged immediately.
Before leaving, Najib asked Abdul to keep him updated on Faruk's condition.
At last, the operating theatre doors swung open.
Everyone rushed toward the doctor.
"Doctor!"
"How is he?"
"How is my son?"
"Please, everyone, remain calm." The doctor said with a reassuring smile.
"He's stable."
"He's out of danger."
"Alhamdulillah!"
"Thank God!"
"Thank you, Doctor!"
"You're welcome." The doctor replied.
"He's being transferred to a ward for observation. Fortunately, the bullet missed all his vital organs. He's still unconscious because of the anaesthesia, but he should regain consciousness very soon."
Relief washed over everyone's faces.
Tears that had been shed from fear slowly became tears of gratitude.
"Thank you so much, Doctor." Hanan said softly. "Can... can we see him?"
"Yes. One of the nurses will take you there."
"Excuse me."
The doctor walked away.
"Hanan."
She turned toward Faruk's father.
"Yes, sir?"
He looked at her for a long moment before speaking.
"I want you to leave."
"And please... stay away from Faruk."
"At least until he fully recovers."
His words stung Hanan deeply, but she simply nodded.
Knowing Faruk was alive was enough.
"Okay, sir." She replied with a faint smile. "I understand."
Abdul sighed. "We wish him a quick recovery."
Together, they headed outside.
Abdul opened the car door for Hanan.
Instead of getting in, she quietly stepped back and looked toward the hospital building.
"You two should go home." She said. "You've both been here all day. You must be exhausted."
"What about you?" Nanny Ann asked gently. "Come home with us."
Hanan shook her head.
"I'll come later."
She gave them a reassuring smile before waving them goodbye.
Once their car disappeared from sight, she turned back toward the hospital.
"I just need to see him awake." She whispered to herself.
"I'll be careful. I must not get caught wandering around."
Quietly, she went back inside.
After asking a few nurses for directions, she finally found Faruk's ward.
The door was slightly ajar.
Standing outside, she carefully peered through the narrow opening.
Faruk was awake.
His parents sat beside him, and their voices drifted clearly into the quiet corridor.
"Mom... Dad... I'm okay."
Faruk forced out a weak smile despite the bandage wrapped tightly around his abdomen.
His mother's eyes filled with tears.
"Okay?" She repeated. "How are you okay after losing so much blood? You were shot, Faruk. Does it still hurt?"
"It did." He let out a light chuckle. "But I'm fine now. Your son is a fighter."
Before either of them could say another word, he looked around the room.
"How's Hanan? Is she alright?"
His father scoffed. "I can't believe you're asking about her in your condition. Worry about yourself first."
"Dad..." Faruk sighed. "Mom... please. Is she okay?"
"Yes." His mother nodded reluctantly. "She's fine."
A smile spread across his face.
"Thank God."
His mother stared at him for a moment before asking quietly,
"Do you really love her that much?"
Faruk met her gaze without hesitation.
"Yes, Mom. More than anything."
She lowered her eyes, fighting back fresh tears. "Oh God... why did it have to be that girl? Ever since she came into your life, nothing has gone smoothly. She feels like a bad omen."
Faruk immediately shook his head.
"No, Mom. She's not a bad omen."
He glanced at his father before continuing.
"She's just surrounded by cruel people. None of what has happened is her fault."
His father folded his arms.
"And yet you're the one lying on this hospital bed."
Faruk sighed. "I chose to protect her, Dad. Nobody forced me."
He turned back to his mother. "Mom... please help me convince Dad."
His voice softened.
"I can't lose her. I honestly don't think I can survive without Hanan, I'll die..."
"Enough!" His mother snapped, wiping her tears.
"Stop saying you'll die! Have you thought about us? About what we've gone through today? Is that girl the only person that matters to you?"
Faruk quickly shook his head.
"No."
He reached for her hand.
"You and Dad will always be my top."
He smiled faintly.