ll Ghuroor Ke Badal غرور کے بادل ll

7. **Chapter Seven**

The next morning brought a flicker of hope for the Maqsud family. Meherbano, her mother Meherunnisa, and her sisters Malaika and Mehnaz had been at the hospital since dawn, waiting anxiously for news about Ahmed Sahab's condition. When the nurse finally came to tell them that he had woken up, there was a collective sigh of relief, though the weight of uncertainty still hung in the air.

They rushed to his room, their steps quick and their hearts pounding. As they entered the room, they saw Ahmed Sahab propped up against the pillows, looking pale but conscious. His eyes, still slightly clouded from pain and medication, softened as he saw his family enter.

"Baba!" Meherbano exclaimed softly, rushing to his bedside, followed closely by Malaika and Mehnaz.

Ahmed Sahab's lips curled into a weak smile. "My girls... I'm sorry I worried you all," he said, his voice raspy and tired.

Meherunnisa, her eyes glistening with tears, stood beside him, gently touching his hand. "Don't say that. We were so scared, Ahmed."

"I'm fine... or I will be," he said, trying to sound reassuring, though he winced slightly as he shifted in bed. "The doctors... they've been taking good care of me."

Malaika sat down on the edge of the bed, her eyes filled with concern. "Baba, you had us all terrified. How do you feel now?"

Ahmed Sahab gave a weak chuckle. "Like I've been hit by a truck," he joked, then his face fell slightly as he added, "Well, I suppose I have."

Meherbano forced a smile, though her heart ached seeing her father so vulnerable. "You'll be okay, Baba. You're strong, and we'll get through this together."

There was a pause as the family exchanged looks, the unspoken truth lingering in the air. The doctor had told them earlier that Ahmed Sahab's injuries were severe, and while he had survived the accident, his legs had taken the brunt of the damage. They were hesitant to tell him, unsure of how to break the news.

Ahmed Sahab, sensing the heaviness in the room, narrowed his eyes slightly. "What is it? What aren't you telling me?"

Meherunnisa looked at her daughters, silently pleading for one of them to speak. It was Meherbano, being the eldest, who finally gathered the courage.

"Baba..." she started softly, her voice trembling slightly. "The doctors said... there's been a lot of damage to your legs. They did everything they could, but... you might not be able to walk again."

The words hung in the air like a heavy cloud. Ahmed Sahab's face fell, his eyes widening in shock and disbelief. He looked down at his legs, as if trying to will them to move, but there was nothing.

"No," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "That can't be..."

Meherunnisa's tears spilled over as she grasped his hand tighter. "They said they'll try therapy, but it's going to be a long and difficult road, Ahmed."

There was a long silence, and the air in the room felt suffocating. Ahmed Sahab's expression was a mixture of pain, disbelief, and sorrow. His eyes filled with tears, something his daughters had rarely seen. The reality of his condition was beginning to sink in, and it was breaking him.

"How... how am I supposed to provide for all of you now?" he whispered, his voice cracking. "How will I take care of my family if I can't even walk?"

Meherbano's heart clenched at the sight of her father, a man who had always been their pillar of strength, now looking so defeated. She swallowed the lump in her throat and leaned forward, taking his hand in hers.