RAYS OF HOPE✔

Chapter 23

Adeelah cautiously patted Humaira's cheek to wake her up as they'd already arrived at the house. Humaira squinted her eyes to get them opened but they felt so heavy. She stirred and tried getting up as Adeelah assisted her in doing so. Her head felt like huge bricks were being loaded to it so she held it in between her palms to get some kind of relief before mustering her eyes open.

"Adeelah? Ya Adeel? How did you both end up together with me? Where is my car?" She asked befuddledly and that was when it all hit. The submission of her assignment. The restaurant. The long corridor and then that man who tried....

She couldn't remember everything clearly but the bits and pieces of it felt so agonizing she had to hold her breath.

Humaira met with Adeelah's tearful eyes and deliberately avoided Adeel's empathetic and broken look. She didn't want to know what the latter thought of her. He'd probably be so disgusted with her after witnessing what he did so she quickly averted her bloodshot eyes away. Everything felt too much for her to bear, yet she willed herself not to break down in front of them and with all the little strength she had left, she found her voice.

"I guess I should go inside now. Ammi must be worried. Or would you both like to come in?" Adeel noticed how she shut them off by desperately trying to hide away her emotions. Right then, he knew that reviving back the old Humaira was going to be a herculean task yet he was ready to do all it takes for that to happen and give her all the time she needs.

Not wanting to make things more painfully akward, they nodded their heads at her question as they all got out of the car and made their way inside. Ammi was in the living room folding the prayer mat which she just prayed on. They exchanged pleasantries and she was suprised to see all three of them together.

"Adeel and Adeelah is that you? What a great suprise. It's like you three all came in together or is it just a coincidence?" Ammi smiled as they all sat down.

"And you Humaira, I thought you said you'd be back early but it's magrib now." She added with a stern gaze.

Adeel cleared his throat and decided to save them all the trouble. He knew that what he was about to do was wrong but breaking Humaira's trust was the last thing he'd ever think of doing. He didn't know what was going through her mind at the moment or whether she would like her mother to know anything about what happened or she would prefer to tell her herself, so he settled for a white lie instead. "Umh...Ammi I actually went to pick up Adeelah at school but then we met Humaira who complained of a serious migraine and I knew she wouldn't be able to drive like that, so we decided to drop her off. I'll send the car back by tomorrow In Sha Allah."

"Subhanallah. How're you feeling now habibty? Your eyes look bloodshot." Ammi questioned in alarm as she gently held her shoulders.

"It's just a migraine like Ya Adeel said. I...I'll be fine In Sha Allah." She replied avoiding Ammi's eyes and Ammi knew there was more to it but she didn't want to push her so she left it at that.

"Okay. May Allah grant you shifa. I think you should take Adeelah to your room to pray before the time for magrib passes by." Humaira muttered a barely audible Ameen as they all did as she suggested making their way to her room while Adeel made his way to the masjid after affirming he'd be back to pick up Adeelah after Isha prayer.

*~*~*~

"You go in first. I will wait here." Adeelah spoke silently for the first time since they made their way to the room.

Humaira simply nodded at that as she trudged her way into the bathroom. On the other hand, Adeelah slumped on a couch near the bed and held her head in her palms. She didn't realize the tears streaming down her face till the salty taste graced her mouth. Her heart went out to Humaira and she could only imagine what she was feeling. One look at her face though and one could tell how she was determinedly trying to hold up. It may take a while for her to heal but Adeelah knew her resilient self would. She was a lady made of steel after all.