HER CRUSH

Chapter41

Zarah....
ABDUL!" I screamed again, my hands trembling as I shook him. His eyes were shut tight, his breathing shallow. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst.

"Ya Allah, please, not now... please protect him," I whispered over and over, dragging his arm onto my shoulder with all my strength. Somehow, I managed to half-carry, half-drag him to the car. My hands shook so badly I dropped the keys twice before finally starting the engine.

"Bismillah," I muttered, speeding towards the nearest hospital, my veil slipping off my head, tears clouding my vision.

When we got to the emergency ward, nurses rushed to help. One of them gave me a look, probably thinking this girl is too young for this wahala. But I didn't care.

"Please, save him," I cried, holding onto Abdul's hand until they wheeled him away.

Minutes stretched like hours. I paced up and down, biting my nails. Every beep of a machine behind the curtain made my heart jump.

"Excuse me, madam," a nurse finally said. "He's stable now. You can see him, but please keep him calm."

I rushed in. There he was, lying pale but breathing, his strong chest rising and falling. I sat beside him, clutching his hand.

"You scared me half to death," I whispered. "Don't ever do that again. Wallahi, if you collapse one more time, I'll collapse on you, and then who will carry who?"

His lips twitched, the faintest smile. "Sorry," he whispered, voice hoarse.

I bent closer. "Sorry doesn't cut it, mister. You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Where... where's my phone?" he croaked.

"No phones!" I snapped. "Doctor's orders. And also wife's orders. Choose who you want to disobey."

"Zarah..." he said weakly. "It's Sufyan. Tell me."

I froze. My stomach clenched. Ummi's words rang in my head: Don't tell Abdul.

I forced a smile. "Relax. Focus on getting better. Everything else can wait."

He squeezed my hand weakly, eyes narrowing. "You're hiding something."

"Me? Hide? Never," I said dramatically, placing my hand on my chest. "Do I look like MI6? Or FBI? I'm just your sweet, innocent wife."

He gave me a look....the one that says I don't believe you for a second.

Before I could cook up another distraction, my phone buzzed again. Ummi. My throat tightened. I quickly silenced it.

"Who was that?" he asked.

"Nobody," I lied with a grin. "Probably MTN telling me I've won 10GB."

"Zarah..." he warned, but his voice was too weak to push.

I leaned down, brushing his hair back. "Shhh. Rest, Abdul. You'll need your strength, because when you get home, I'm making you scrub the kitchen as punishment."

That earned me another faint chuckle, and I sighed in relief.

****

The next morning, Abdul was sitting up in his hospital bed, already scowling like a man who hated being told to rest.

"Zarah, I swear these doctors are trying to keep me here for decoration. I feel fine now. Tell them to discharge me."

I crossed my arms. "You collapsed, Abdul. COLLAPSED. You're not going anywhere until they confirm you're okay. I'm not dragging your six-foot self through the streets again."