32~Eye sore #2
"But Hanan... she's the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."
His father sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead.
"I don't understand you."
His mother looked at him helplessly.
"You see, Baban Faruk? This is exactly how stubborn he is."
She turned back to Faruk.
"That's why I eventually accepted your relationship."
Her expression darkened.
"But after today... I'm terrified of seeing that girl anywhere near you again."
Faruk smiled reassuringly. "Don't be afraid, Mom."
He squeezed her hand gently.
"I'm still here."
Then he added softly,
"Please... just bless our relationship."
"I love her."
"I don't think my heart can love anyone else."
His father gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
"When did my son become such a hopeless lover?"
He smirked.
"That girl must have cast some spell on you with her beauty."
Faruk laughed softly.
"No, Dad."
As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward the window.
He had the strange feeling that someone was watching him.
The moment he looked outside, his eyes met Hanan's.
She froze.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
Then, startled, Hanan immediately looked away.
Her heart pounded as guilt swallowed her whole.
Without waiting another second, she hurried away from the window.
She walked until she reached the reception hall before finally stopping.
Lowering herself onto one of the chairs, she buried her face in her trembling hands.
Every word Faruk had spoken echoed inside her head.
"I chose to protect her."
"I love her."
"I don't think my heart can love anyone else."
Tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
"Faruk..." She whispered.
"I don't deserve a love like yours."
She let out a shaky breath.
"I can't even face you anymore."
"I'm too ashamed."
"I've seen that you're safe... and that's enough."
She stood up slowly and made her way towards the hospital exit.
Lost in thought, she barely noticed where she was going until a familiar figure sitting on the cold floor caught her attention.
Amina.
Her eyes were swollen from crying, and tears continued to stream down her cheeks.
Hanan hesitated.
Part of her wanted to walk away.
After everything that had happened, she wasn't sure how Amina would react to seeing her.
But when Amina suddenly broke into louder sobs, Hanan's heart softened.
She slowly walked over.
"Amina?"
The moment Amina looked up and saw her, she immediately dropped to her knees.
"Habiba..."
She broke down completely.
"Please forgive me."
"I'm so sorry."
The sight left Hanan stunned.
Without another word, she quickly bent down and helped Amina to her feet before pulling her into a warm embrace.
"It's okay." Hanan whispered gently, stroking her back.
"It's alright."
"I don't hold anything against you."
"You don't have to apologize anymore."
Amina cried helplessly in her arms, her body trembling with every sob.
Despite everything that had happened, Hanan's heart ached for her.
Hajiya was Amina's mother after all and no matter the sins she committed, losing a parent was a pain no one deserved.
"It's okay..." Hanan murmured, gently rubbing her back.
"Dad just died."
The words barely registered in Hanan's brain.
Hanan slowly pulled away, blinking at her in confusion.
"You mean... Hajiya?" She asked softly. "I'm so sorry..."
Amina shook her head violently.
"No, Habiba." Her voice cracked. "Dad... Dad died a few minutes ago."
Hanan froze.
"Alhaji... is dead?" She whispered in disbelief.
Amina nodded before breaking down once more.
"He died in my arms."
The world around Hanan seemed to stop.
"I went to see him after everything that happened." Amina cried. "I was ashamed after mummy confessed... I didn't know where to go or who to face anymore. I only wanted to be with Dad."
She wiped her tears with trembling fingers.
"The doctors told me his condition had worsened, but I believed he would recover... I truly believed he would." Her voice broke. "Then... they pronounced him dead right before my eyes."
She covered her face and sobbed once again.
"Just like that Habiba, I've lost both my parents in one day..."
"I've become an orphan."
Tears welled in Hanan's eyes.
Without another word, she wrapped Amina tightly in her arms.
"I'm so sorry..." She whispered repeatedly.
As Amina cried, Hanan couldn't help remembering the day she lost her own parents.
She knew exactly what it felt like.
The emptiness...
The loneliness...
The feeling that the world had ended.
"May Allah grant him mercy." Hanan whispered after a long silence.
Amina nodded weakly.
"Have you informed Najib or Grandma?"
She shook her head.
"I couldn't... How do I even tell them?"
"Give me Najib's number."
Silently, Amina handed her phone over.
Hanan had barely copied the number into her own phone when hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.
She looked up.
Najib.
He rushed past them without noticing either of them.
"Najib!" Hanan and Amina called simultaneously.
He didn't stop.
Both women hurried after him.
Najib reached the hospital room and froze at the doorway.
His trembling hand rested on the doorknob for several seconds before he slowly pushed the door open.
The moment his eyes landed on Alhaji's body, covered with a white cloth...
His legs nearly gave way.
Hanan quickly caught him before he collapsed.
She had seen Najib angry.
She had seen him heartbroken.
She had seen him smile.
But never...
Never had she seen him this shattered.
His bloodshot eyes stared blankly at the bed.
His lips quivered.
His entire body trembled.
Slowly...
Almost fearfully...
He reached for the white cloth.
With shaking fingers, he pulled it back.
Alhaji's face appeared.
Cold.
Still.
Lifeless.
Cotton wool covered his nostrils and ears.
Najib's breathing hitched.
"D... Dad..."
The word escaped his lips like a whisper.
His fingers gently cupped Alhaji's face.
"Dad..."
His voice broke.
Then the tears came.
Uncontrollably.
Hanan and Amina exchanged stunned glances.
For years...
Alhaji had longed to hear Najib call him "Dad" again.
He waited.
He hoped.
But the word never came.
Now it finally did...
Only after death.
Silence filled the room except for the sound of their grief.
Several moments later, the doctors entered.
Seeing them, Najib abruptly stood up.
"Doctor!" He demanded.
"How did he die? Why couldn't you save him?"
The doctor lowered his head respectfully.
"We're deeply sorry for your loss."
"We did everything medically possible, but his heart was extremely weak and stopped responding to treatment."
"He was scheduled for surgery today, but sadly, he passed away before we could proceed."
A painful silence followed.
"We need to prepare his body for burial. Kindly excuse us."
Those last words shattered whatever strength Najib had left.
Amina rushed back to the bed.