Searching

Chapter 3

Searching
Katibah Elle
Chapter 3

Zuhair Adam could not have been more frustrated as he was now.
He certainly had not wanted to be in bed, but that doctor bloody sedated him!

He had work to do.
He always had work to do.
The thing about accounts, is that they don’t do themselves.
He worked hard, and not once did he allow himself to take a break, even if it meant for his health.

Yes, he will admit it, he was a workaholic.
He loved every second of it, he didn’t have anything else that allowed him to enjoy numbers, so working was all he had.
Fair enough, he dislocated his arm, but it was not like this was the first time it happened.
Zuhair knew how to deal with physical pain.

Dr. Miller was supposed to shove the shoulder back into place, giving him some pain killers, so he can be on his way.
Instead he got stuck with a young, most probably inexperienced doctor, Dr. Hassim.

Zuhair rolled his eyes in irritation.
A Doctor! What a joke.
She looked so young he was ninety-nine percent sure she just walked out of high school dressed up as a character from Grey’s Anatomy.

She seemed familiar somehow, her features were very distinct.He knew for a fact that he did not know her, it was impossible to forget a beautiful face like that, but he definitely found a sense of familiarity within her.

Zuhair hated to admit it, but she was very thorough with her work. She worked fast and efficiently and he couldn’t help but grudgingly admire the girl.
Perhaps he was harsh with his judgment, of undermining her to be an intern, and she proved him so wrong.

He intimidated her, he knew that.

When she looked up at him and realized their close proximity, those cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink while her lips parted in breathless nerves.
Still, she stood her ground and did what she had to do, in the most professional manner.

Zuhair couldn’t help but assess her personality.
She was not uptight exactly, but she definitely acted as if she had an audience she needed to please.
The way she spoke, was like the words were articulately rehearsed in her head, even before she allowed them to leave her mouth.

Dr. Hassim was a carefully crafted persona, and Zuhair felt it did not sit well with her.
She used it like an armour against whatever was happening inside.
She was caging herself with something that was setting her back.
She seemed like she did not know how to enjoy life, merely going through the necessary motions.
She was lacking a certain something.

With a growl, Zuhair remembered that was all he managed to figure out with the few minutes he had with his eyes open.
After that he was nicely sedated and completely unaware.

A mischievous thought came to Zuhair’s mind, perhaps this Missy Doctor Hassim needed to have her feathers ruffled.
He grinned, oh he was just the perfect person to get under her skin.
Zuhair justified his intentions as a pay back, for wasting his precious time.
Time, with his line of work, was money. Lots of money.

Two raps on the door and Zuhair rearranged his face as sulky as can be.
It was show time for Dr. Hassim!

Dr Hassim walked in. “Asalam Mr. Adam.” She greeted politely while looking at Zuhair with sharp eyes.

She ignored his lack of response and his sour demeanour.
Dr. Hassim came closer and very carefully shifted his shirt so she could take a look at his shoulder.
She touched his tender skin and he stifled a groan.

“The area is still very tender, you need to rest and not exert any more activity to this arm. Without taking care of this injury correctly, you will inflict more damage to the tissue.” Dr. Hassim instructed.

When she moved away, Zuhair suddenly felt like he could breathe again.
The air around him still lingered with her scent, something fresh and homely. Like vanilla and lily’s.

OK, now that was completely unnecessary.
Seems like the fever may have an effect on his brain.

Zuhair shook his head to clear his thoughts, then turned to watch while she took down notes.
Her eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly and she seemed a little worn out.
A pang of sympathy sparked in Zuhair’s chest, the poor girl.

The sudden emotion shocked him.

What was that?!

Not knowing how to act, he blurted out, the first most idiotic words possible, “So Dr. H… It seems to me that this whole doctor thing may be a little to rough for the likes of you, you should consider being an intern, or in the kitchen.”

The second those words left his mouth, Zuhair immediately regretted. Watching Dr. Hassim’s eyes dim made him feel like the worst wretched person alive.

He opened his mouth, in an effort to explain, but Dr Hassim placed his file on the bed and moved to the end of the room.
Without turning to look at him, she spoke, “I have left your file with the prescription for painkillers as well as a recommendation for a physiotherapist, should you feel you need it. The rest has all been cleared and you are good to go. Your discharge has been given. Dr. Miller will see you in a weeks time, just as a formality. Sister Linda will come by in a few minutes to help you. Right, well… Asalam.”

Not wanting for her to leave so soon, Zuhair called out, a little desperately, “Hey Dr. H, I don’t suppose I can get a recommendation for an intern physiotherapist?”

For the first time during their entire exchange Dr. Hassim’s eyes narrowed with anger.
The brown irises expanded and sparked with a golden heat.
She pursed her lips and with an almost inaudible huff walked away.

Zuhair flopped back down against the pillows.
Wow, he just received the award for biggest jerk globally.

What was that?
He was never a rude person, ever.
Using someone’s weaknesses against them, was something he would use only when he felt threatened by the person. So why on earth would he feel threatened by the lovely young Dr. Hassim?

He definitely ruffled her feathers, and not in a good way at all. It was likely Dr. Hassim was plotting a way to painfully remove his tongue, not that he could blame her.
He reached a real low, wanting to get the gorgeous doctor to embrace herself and completely ruining her self-esteem instead.

It was not his fault he felt that tiny moment of tenderness towards her.
Never in his life did he experience this, on the level of pure selflessness.

Zuhair grimaced, oh he was in so much trouble!