Incandescence

Chapter 43

"Alisha!" Someone hugged me from behind as I stood at the window, watching the roses that grew in the garden outside. Anis nuzzled my neck and nipped my earlobe playfully. I smiled and turned around to face him.

"Anis!" I mimicked him which earned me a grin from him. He stepped back and looked at me. I had taken a day off from work today so that I could take mom and Sadaf shopping for the wedding. Tonight, Anis's parents were invited for dinner wherever the wedding date will be officially decided. My heart raced whenever I thought of the impending wedding. I loved Anis with whole heart but I was becoming jittery whenever his name came. Perhaps, it was because I hadn't told my parents about my decision to get surgery before the wedding.

"Why so sad?" he asked, as he pulled my cheeks to make me smile.

"I'm not sad." I replied, giving him a slight smile. "I was just reflecting upon life."

"And what have you come up with?" he asked as we moved towards the settee beside the window.

"I've come up with the fact that I love you very much." I said with a smile. His smile deepened and he kissed the bridge of my nose.

"I love you more!" he said. I smiled back at him.

"So, what are you doing here? Don't you have to prepare for the dinner in the evening?" I asked, looking at the clock behind me. It was five p.m. already.

"Yeah! I had to but then Asad called and he wanted to talk to both of us urgently. Therefore, I came here to fetch you."

"Oh! Where are we meeting him?" I asked, looking at my dress. I had chosen a peach and white straight pants and shirt in the morning. I looked presentable enough for a meeting like this.

"At his clinic." Anis supplied.

"Let me get a shawl, Anis and then we can go." I said and started to turn towards the staircase when he took hold of my hand from behind. I turned around to look at him. He blew a flying kiss at me. I sent a flying kiss back at him and then ran upstairs to get a shawl from my room.

Grabbing my shawl and clutch, I quickly wrapped it around my neck and brushed my hair. I exited my room and descended the staircase. Anis had taken over my place at the window, looking outside but he seemed deep in thoughts.

"I'm here." I called out to him. He turned around and smiled at me.

"Let's go. We have to make this quick." He said as we exited the room and came towards his car in the garage.

"Yeah, we have to." I replied. The drive to Asad's clinic was short as it was near my place and it took us no time to meet him. He was waiting for us outside, standing with both of his hands in his back pockets and tapping his foot impatiently on one of the stairs. We both stepped out as Anis parked the car and Asad turned around.

After exchanging greetings, we stepped into his office and took seats in the chairs in front of his desk.

"Anis! Alisha!" he addressed both of us. "I've taken my time to review Alisha's case file and examine the depth of her burns. No doubt they are third degree burns but there is a huge chance we can succeed in skin grafting and plastic surgery to recover the skin."

"Is it painful, Asad? I don't want her going through the trauma and pain she went through before." Anis said. I could hear fear and panic in his voice.

"It won't be painful, Anis, but you both need to stay strong throughout the process. It can take from weeks to months for her to heal properly." Asad said.

"But we are getting married." Anis said, looking at me with confusion.

"If Alisha goes through the surgery, she won't be able to get married for weeks, Anis. Her burns are different than I've treated before and that's why I've discussed her case with my team in Toronto, they will be flying here for the surgery."