Qurban

•29• Deal / سودا

The monitor beeped as it counted Irtiza's heartbeats. Numerous wires were attached to his body. His cheeks hallowed, the bones in them prominent so visibly. His face has lost all its colour. He had grown thinner, his hands had gotten frail. If not for the big device beeping next to him, one couldn't be sure if he was even breathing.

Zainab stared at her father from where she stood beside the balcony. She had opened the blinds to let some fresh air in. However, she got lost in her own thoughts. Thoughts that were eating her out alive. As she saw the weakened state of her father, she couldn't help but recall how awful their last words were. As always, she was fighting with him. Hating him for what he was doing to Altamash not knowing she would next meet him in a hospital where he would be fighting for his life.

Life could be so cruel and unfair some times.

Oh how much she wished to make the clock reverse. To stop herself from lashing out on her father. How much she craved his voice right now. Even if he was angry with her, she would happily sit for hours and listen to him.

But fate only allowed her to quietly glance at him as he very softly breathed.

A subtle knock at the door had Zainab averting her eyes from her father toward the figure who had knocked. Jaweria stood at the threshold of the door staring at her.

"Come. Let's eat."

Wordlessly, Zainab followed her to the dining room. Noticing the absence of Ghazala, she asked

"Where is Dado?"

"She's already eaten. I've given her medicines."

Irtiza's condition took a huge toll on Ghazala. It wasn't easy for a mother to see her own son almost dying. Since that day, her health had deteriorated.

Zainab sighed wearily and sat on the chair before digging in. The dinner went by in absolute silence, ignoring the noises that the dishes made. After they were both done, Zainab wordlessly collected the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Done with them, she was about to head to her room when Jaweria's voice stopped her

"Zainab"?

Turning to her, she found the woman hesitant a bit.

"Yes?"

She asked and then saw a sigh escape Jaweria's lips.

"Come sit with me for a bit."

Zainab nodded her head, noticing the little break Jaweria's voice held. Sitting down on the sofa, Jaweria held Zainab's hand. Zainab kept quiet. Knowing that Jaweria needed it. After a short moment of silence, she finally spoke.

"I'm scared. For your father, for you. I'm scared for my family."

Jaweria's words startled Zainab. She didn't know she was feeling that way. She must be concealing it well or maybe Zainab was too engrossed in her own grief to look at others. Squeezing her hand in her's, she reassured her

"Everything's going to be fine. We'll get through this."

The words of assurance had to effect on Jaweria. She shook her head and said

"You don't understand. Your father...he was fighting a very dangerous battle with a very dangerous man. I just don't want you hurt or anybody hurt."

Zainab's brows fused together and she asked

"What kind of a dangerous man? What had Idris Nawaz done to Baba?"

Jaweria's eyes widened for a nanosecond like she just realized that she shared some thing she shouldn't have.