Chapter-49

24.9K 637 19
                                    

Two years later

Author's pov

It was 9 a.m. 18-year-old Yamir was getting ready for college. He was wearing a normal white t-shirt along with tailored pants. His slightly curly hair was brushed to a side complementing his glowing tanned skin tone.

Satisfied by his look he started taking mirror selfies with his new Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond. After all, he has to upload them on Instagram where he has millions of followers.

He was busy taking selfies when 6-year-old Mehzabin entered the room holding a hairbrush and two rubber bands.

She was wearing her school uniform but her hair was messy. She was looking adorable with her messy hair and red fluffy cheeks of her.

" I can't tie my hair," she whined sitting on the bed.

Yamir laughed seeing her adorable pissed-off face. Taking the brush from her hand he sat behind her. He started brushing her hair gently.

" Why don't you just let Amna(Mehzabin's caretaker) tie your hair?" Yamir asked.

Mehzabin replied pouting her lips," I don't like her. She only knows how to pull hair."

" Ok, angry bird. Why didn't you go to Omi? All the time you roam behind her then what happened now?" Yamir asked tieing one of her ponytails.

Mehzabin replied, " She shooed me away saying that she is busy."

" She was talking to a boy. Her boyfriend," she said further lowering her voice.

Yamir asked with the same tone," Do you know him? Who was he?"

" I don't know him but he doesn't look good like you. I have seen his pictures," Mehzabin answered innocently.

Yamir knows whom she was talking about. It must be one of Omaira's classmates but he has to be sure. He doesn't want his sister to get into a relationship at such a young age. Yamir laughed a little realising that  Mehzabin was spying on Omaira.

" Now go to the breakfast table and start eating. I will be joining you with Mamma," Yamir said finishing making her ponytail. Mehzabin obeyed her brother silently.

Yamir stepped toward Maryam's home office. It used to be Yardan's home office but now Maryam spent most of her time there. She would be busy with official work all the time. It's not like she neglects her children but there is something off about her. She hardly laughs and she has become quiet than before. Reaching the office room he heard Maryam's miserable voice.

" I don't have much time left. Yamir is still a boy. In my absence, I don't know how he will handle everything," Yamir heard Maryam talking to someone over the phone.

Maryam said further," Raisa bhabhi, how can I leave such huge responsibilities on my son? I want him to enjoy his life like any other normal youngster. I don't want him to bury himself under responsibilities."

Saying all these Maryam started crying silently. She closed her eyes clutching the phone tightly.

" Mamma, what happened?" Yamir asked from behind.

Maryam was startled by Yamir's sudden voice. Cutting the call she wiped away her tears silently and turned to him forcing a smile on her face.

" Nothing, baby. Just work stress," Maryam answered but Yamir wasn't convinced.

Taking some slow steps he stood in front of his mother and scanned her face. A pair of sad and tired eyes, the prominent wrinkles on her forehead, under her eyes and cheeks, the pale skin and quite an amount of her white hair had made his mother look older than her actual age.

Her full rosy cheeks are gone now. She had lost weight making her look like a living skeleton. It's not like she doesn't eat or want to eat. It's because she can't digest after eating.

She will always be beautiful in his eyes but in reality, she isn't that beautiful anymore. The seriousness on her face always indicates how dedicated she is to her responsibilities and her children.

" Mamma, you are not looking ok. What happened? Should I call a doctor?" Yamir asked cupping her face in between his palms.

Maryam assured him," I am completely fine, baby. Don't worry."

" Let's have breakfast together. Yesterday you skipped dinner. You must be hungry," Yamir said dragging Maryam to the dining room.

Everyone was sitting at the breakfast table. As usual, the kids were busy with their silly talking and Maryam was zoned out. She was looking at the plate intensely. Her pupils were not moving at all. 

" Mamma, Omi api talks to a boy every day," Mehzabin informed Maryam who was still zoned out.

Omaira protested instantly," Who told you to be my CCTV cameras? Mamma, she is lying."

"Nowadays what's wrong with the boys? I wonder when they started taking interest in goats!!" Yamir mocked earning a heated glare from Omaira.

The kids started arguing with each other but still, their loud voices couldn't make Maryam move her eyes. She was completely blank. No sound was reaching her ear at all.

A sudden gasp left Yamir's mouth looking at Maryam. She was sitting emotionlessly while her nose was bleeding profusely. He rushed towards her. Omaira and Mehzabin panicked in anxiety.

" Mamma......Mamma.......are....you...ok?" Yamir called shaking Maryam a few times but no response.

Yamir almost yelled," Mamma!!"

" Huh!!" Maryam managed to say finally and pressed a napkin on her nose instantly.

Yamir told her panicking," Mamma, you are bleeding from your nose. Let's go to the doctor."

" Oh! It's nothing. I will go to see a doctor," She said so casually like nothing happened.

Yamir said," I will come with you ."

" No," Maryam denied.

Her voice was heavy and it was notable that she did not like his idea. Looking at Yamir anxious eyes she forced a smile on her face to make everything normal.

" Don't worry. I will be fine," she assured them though she knew it was just a lie.

***************************************

" How many days I will live, doctor?" Maryam asked.

Her voice was heavy, eyes were full of unknown discomfort. She came to see a doctor. It's not the first time she is here. It's been years since she has been consulting this doctor about her disease.

The doctor answered by writing down some medicines," Highest a year or less."

" You should spend more time with your children than in the office. The infection has spread enough. You don't have much time left," the doctor suggested to her.

It's been years since she was diagnosed with a rare brain disease which has no cure. On top of that, she has a viral infection in her meningitis. She was clueless about it until the day she started bleeding from her nose and ears. She ignored all the symptoms until her situation got worse. The doctors have confirmed already that her death is near.

( A/N- Again I didn't go with details here about the medical things. I don't want to repeat the same note again I put on medical issues earlier)

" Thank you, doctor," thanking the doctor she left.

Sitting in the car she was trying to remember the past incidents but she felt her memory blank. It is a symptom of her illness. She can not keep anything in her memory for a long time. She might go to the office regularly but her trusted employees do all the work. She can't take stress at all.

The past memories that used to hurt her, the memories that used to make her feel guilty and the sweet memories that she shared with Mikaeel were lost somewhere in her mind. She can only remember the people whom she meets on daily basis. 

" I should spend more time with the kids," Maryam mumbled after deciding to take the kids on a tour.

Vote, comment & follow.

Substitute WifeWhere stories live. Discover now