ESHMA

Chapter 40

Allah is the Most Great, Mightier than all His creation. He is Mightier than what I fear and dread. I seek refuge in Allah, Who there is none worthy of worship but Him. He is the One Who holds the Seven heavens from falling upon the earth except by His command. (I seek refuge in You Allah) from the evil of Your slaves, and his helpers, his followers and his supporters from among the jinn and mankind. O Allah, be my support against their evil.
Glorious are Your praises and mighty is Your patronage. Blessed is Your Name, there is no true God but You.

Suraj's POV

"Brother Suraj, you promised to take me for ice cream today!" my little brother Bilal exclaimed.

"Sorry, buddy, I have a session at the hospital right now," I replied, my mind wandering to the lovely Dr. Eshma and her warm, welcoming smile. Her voice echoed in my thoughts, making my heart skip a beat. I was smitten!

"Suraj, what's going on? You're going to the hospital without me scolding you? That's unusual." My Mom intervened

I forced a bright smile, trying to deflect her curiosity. "Mom, I'm just tired of your scolding, that's all."

Mom raised an eyebrow, settling beside Bilal on the couch. "I see. Well, I'm sure there's more to this story, and I'll find out eventually."

I mumbled under my breath, but Mom's sharp ears picked it up. "Dr. Twyla told me you requested a transfer from her to the intern doctor. Is that why you're so eager to go to the hospital?"

"No, Mom, I just feel comfortable with...her." I defended myself

"I see. Well, Bilal, who's taking you for ice cream now?" She smiled knowingly

Bilal pouted, "Who's going to take me?"

"Don't worry, bro, I'll take you tomorrow, I promise." I reassured him

Bilal's face lit up, and he returned to watching his cartoon. I grabbed my car keys, bid farewell to Mom and Bilal, and drove to the hospital with a goofy grin plastered on my face.

Upon arriving, I headed to Dr. Eshma's office, my heart racing with anticipation. I knocked on the door, and a soft "come in" invited me to enter. As I opened the door, our eyes met, and time stood still. I wished the world would pause, allowing me to gaze into those captivating doe eyes forever.

Dr. Eshma looked away, her smile faint, and gestured for me to sit. I did, and after exchanging pleasantries, the session began. She offered words of wisdom and motivation, and I nodded, entranced, as our conversation flowed effortlessly.

As the session concluded, Dr. Eshma said, "Remember, Suraj, it's time to let go of the past and embrace the future." Suddenly, memories of the traumatic event from years ago flashed before my eyes, and I closed them, trying to compose myself.

As I sat there, trying to process my emotions, Dr. Eshma's gentle voice brought me back to the present. "Suraj, are you okay? You seem a bit distracted."

I opened my eyes, meeting her concerned gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just...memories came flooding back."

Dr. Eshma nodded understandingly. "It's okay. We can work through this. Would you like to talk about what happened?"

I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to confront my past. But something about Dr. Eshma's kind eyes put me at ease. I took a deep breath and began to share my story...

As I spoke, Dr. Eshma listened attentively, her expression empathetic. I felt a weight lifting off my shoulders, like I was finally unburdening myself of secrets kept hidden for too long.