Kindred Ties

Chapter 42

"Goodnight," Muhammad said and pecked Maryam. They were standing by the door saying their goodnights. "Goodnight," she muttered with a soft smile.

He looked at her for the last time before walking away. Maryam watched until he disappeared out of the living room before she closed the door and sagged against it. "Oh God!" She whispered clutching her hand over her heart that has been beating uncontrollably. She breathed out a breath she didn't realize she was holding as she recalled everything.

That was intense' she thought, a smile completely enveloping her face.

~~**~~
Muhammad was standing by their door, his hand on the doorknob, only that he wasn't opening it, he was just standing trying to steady his breathing. His stomach was suddenly paining him that's why he had to leave Maryam's room urgently, he didn't want her to see him like that.

He swallowed compulsively and released the tight hold he had on the wall. He blew out a hot breath and plastered a small smile on his face and pushed the door open. He was met with the faces of lots of his friends and family lounging around talking and laughing and arguing about stuff as usual.

He wanted to quickly sneak into his room for some privacy but Mahmoud noticed him. He waved him over with a big smile on his face, "Ango! Come, we were just talking about you."

Muhammad gave him a tight-lipped smile, shook his head and walked to his room locking it as he closed the door. The people looked at one another puzzled by his behavior because Muhammad isn't one to ignore people like that.
"He's probably not feeling fine or something," Mubarak said shrugging the weird feeling off. Abdallah laughed and nodded, "or perhaps he needs to go to the toilet, urgently." They all laughed and nodded in agreement.

Abdallah then looked at the door praying to Allah that it's not his illness.

Once in, Muhammad leaned against the door feeling his stomach weigh hard on him contorting painfully. He shut his eyes and slid down to the floor breathing heavily, and let out a strangled cry. This was all too much, just too much for him to bear. In an attempt to calm himself, he dropped his head between his knees and employed a deep-breathing exercise."Ya Allah," he groaned, sweat forming on his forehead.

He stayed like that for a couple of minutes hoping the pain will reduce, but it only increases with each passing second. Oh, Allah please heal me from this illness.

He propped his hand on the wall and with so much effort, pushed himself off the floor. His body was shaking and his face has turned pale. He heaved himself onto the bed, opened his bedside drawer where all of his drugs were, and took the ones he needed, some painkillers and paracetamol. He popped them in his mouth and washed them down with water. 

With a small sigh which came out as a whimper, he turned and laid on his stomach, his face flat on the pillow praying to Allah to save him from this disease.

~~**~~
Maryam stood before a mirror, blushing at her reflection. She looked very pretty clad in a peach lafaya that matched her skin tone beautifully. She paired it with gold jewelry and a pair of blue Dolce and Gabbana rock stud slingback heels. "You look gorgeous wallah,"siddiqa gushed taking pictures of her. Maryam fluttered her lashes and gave a toothy grin.
"Now she's going to get big-headed and all that," ya amma said eyeing her playfully.

"She can do that, it's her day after all," Aisha said walking towards her. "You look beautiful sister-in-law." She added pulling her in a hug. Maryam smiled and hugged her too. "You look beautiful too sis." Everyone in the room smiled adoring their relationship. They have always been great friends, and now their bond is going to be even stronger.