Hidden bonds of love

28.

After their embrace, Mustabshira inquired about the situation and Maryam's unexpected presence. Maryam proceeded to recount the series of events, entrusting Mustabshira with the details, and earnestly requesting her silence regarding their encounter. Initially hesitant, Mustabshira eventually found herself compelled to assent to Maryam's plea.

In turn, Mustabshira shared the ordeal that ensued when Maryam mysteriously disappeared. The family was consumed by worry, launching an extensive search effort that extended to every corner. Ahmad, driven to extreme concern, even involved the authorities, though regrettably, all endeavors proved fruitless. Mustabshira recounted how Ahmad's emotional state suffered greatly; the distress caused by Maryam's absence had rendered him physically unwell, and he carried the weight of guilt for the situation.

Back then, On Mustabshira's birthday, anticipation for Maryam's presence filled the air. However, Maryam's absence raised suspicions; Mustabshira wondered if Mrs. Fatima might have intervened to prevent her from coming. Things took a sobering turn when Ahmad contacted Mrs. Fatima to inquire about Maryam's whereabouts. Mrs. Fatima revealed that Maryam had left the house the day prior, ostensibly to visit Mustabshira's home. This revelation marked the moment when the realization of Maryam's absence dawned upon everyone.

With a voice quivering with emotion, Mustabshira conveyed, "Ahmad bore the weight of your absence acutely. His quest to locate you was ceaseless."

Maryam remained silent, her body growing cold. The realization of her actions hit her; she regretted not informing them before leaving. Valeria and Najiba, attentive listeners, remained engrossed in the conversation, even skipping their second lecture.

"Alright, let's dry those tears now. Today's quota for crying has been met, and what truly matters is that you two have found each other, right?" Valeria's soothing words resonated with a calm cheer. Maryam and Mustabshira both responded with affirmative nods. "Now, let's dab away those tears and express gratitude to Allah, so curious onlookers won't make us a spectacle when they stroll into the cafe," Valeria advised, passing tissues to the girls.

The time came for Maryam and Mustabshira to depart. They exchanged contact details, sharing one last embrace before parting. Maryam was taken aback to see Yusuf arriving to pick her up. Anticipating the driver, she was surprised to see Yusuf instead. As she settled into the car, she greeted him with a simple "Good afternoon," to which he responded in kind.

Yusuf noticed a difference in her demeanor – her once radiant face now appeared pale, her wide eyes slightly reddened, and her eyelashes still glistening with tears. He discreetly studied her features, observing her closely. Lost in her thoughts, Maryam didn't realize Yusuf's intent gaze upon her.

"Are you alright?" Yusuf's concern prompted a small smile from Maryam as she replied, "Yes, I am." Sensing her reluctance to open up, he reassured her, "I can tell you're not okay. It looks like You've been crying. If you're not ready to talk about it, that's fine. We can discuss it whenever you're comfortable." Maryam's response was a nod; she remained silent, accepting his understanding without uttering a word.

Without uttering a word, he ignited the car and they made their way back home. As soon as she stepped out of the car, she rushed to her room. Locking the door behind her, she gazed at herself in the mirror and soon found herself overwhelmed by tears. Turning away from her reflection, she walked to her drawer, retrieving the SIM card from the day she had left home. Carefully, she placed it into her phone.

Within a minute, her screen was flooded with messages from her mother, Ahmad, and Mustabshira. Among them all, Ahmad's messages stood out the most. As she scrolled through, she noticed the timestamps, realizing that he had been sending these texts every month up until today.

Some messages she managed to read, but others blurred through her teary eyes. The pain within her seemed to intensify, and she found herself sobbing uncontrollably, without fully understanding why. The emotions she had been holding back for hours finally overflowed until she could cry no more.

Removing the SIM card, she replaced it with her current one. Overwhelmed, she felt a suffocating sensation, struggling to catch her breath. Despite her efforts, reaching for the water bottle beside her bed proved impossible. The air grew thinner, and before she knew it, she succumbed to unconsciousness.

Upon their return, the entire family was present, but Sajida noticed the absence of Maryam, who hadn't been seen since she returned from school and hadn't touched her lunch. Growing concerned, Sajida went to check on her, only to find her room door locked. Despite calling out Maryam's name, no response came, causing her worry to escalate. For nearly ten minutes, she knocked persistently, her concern deepening.

Returning to the living room, Sajida's face reflected anxiety and fear. "Everyone, I fear something might be wrong with Maryam. She won't open her door," she voiced her mounting worries.

With a sense of urgency, the family gathered and made their way to Maryam's room. They rapped on the door, but there was no reply. Yusuf was certain Maryam was inside. Alamin swiftly retrieved the spare key to Maryam's room. As they entered, a distressing sight awaited them—Maryam lay motionless on the bed. Her head hung over the edge, her outstretched hands barely reaching a bottle of water. Unresponsive, she wasn't breathing.

The family rushed to Maryam's side, but Sajida remained frozen, her shock rendering her speechless. With her hands covering her mouth, she watched helplessly as Maryam lay before them. Sajida's inclination to fear and tears was well known – she was easily overwhelmed by such situations.

Observing that Maryam was not breathing, Alamin acted swiftly, lifting her and carrying her to the car. He drove them to the hospital with a sense of urgency.

As Maryam was taken out of the house, Hanan questioned her mother about Maryam's condition. Sajida could only cry in response. Meanwhile, Tina stood in shock, witnessing Maryam being carried out lifelessly. Sajida yearned to accompany them, but Nameer convinced her to stay behind. Tina assumed the role of comforting Sajida, while Hanan stood at a corner, her innocent face reflecting her confusion and concern.

At the hospital, a nurse took charge of Maryam, and a doctor emerged to inform the family. After they were asked to wait outside, Alamin inquired about what had transpired. Yusuf admitted he didn't have all the details, but he had noticed something was amiss when he went to pick Maryam up from school.

As the family waited anxiously, the doctor emerged and reassured them that Maryam was in a better state, though currently asleep. The unexpected revelation that Maryam had suffered a heart attack left them stunned. The doctor explained that this wasn't the first occurrence and urged them to take extra care of Maryam, who would need to remain hospitalized until her full recovery.

Nameer called Sajida to update her, leaving her even more worried. She couldn't bear staying at home without seeing Maryam. After Tina prepared dinner, she brought some to the hospital for Maryam. Sajida couldn't wait any longer – she went in to see Maryam.

Alamin gazed at his daughter, his heart aching for her. The sight of Maryam in such a condition was unbearable. He recited verses from the Quran and blew them onto her face, seeking solace in this act.

Outside the room, Yusuf grappled with the mystery of what could have led to Maryam's pain. He couldn't bring himself to see her in that state. Memories surfaced – Alamin had experienced heart attacks before, particularly on the day Maryam's mother had passed away and Maryam had gone missing. Even Yusuf himself had experienced them.