Once Upon A Lifetime

Chapter Thirty-one ~ You're back!!

AN: Salaam, everyone! So, the chapter where it was Misha and Saqib's wedding, I changed Taalia's dress because I thought the one before was too simple. Even though Misha's wedding is done, I still had the feeling that I needed to change it. I don't know, it's just me, I'm weird like that. So if you want to see her new dress, you can go check it out in chapter twenty. If not, then carry on reading this chapter. Not an important note but just thought I would put it out there.

Taalia's POV~

I woke up with a huge migraine. I groaned when I found myself in a hospital bed and laid back down on my pillow. I took in my surroundings and noticed that it was dark outside. I looked to my right and saw Raza sleeping in what looked like an uncomfortable position on the chair. I wondered how long I had been in here. I stared at Raza in sadness. He had to stay overnight at the hospital for so many nights because of me. I looked at the time on Raza's phone and saw that it was almost Fajr time. I needed to find out how many prayers I missed. Ugh, this tumor was driving me crazy!

I decided to do wudhu then wake up my little brother. Sometimes, I forgot that he was almost three years younger than me. His mind worked in a different way, not like how a nineteen year old would think, and it had done him wonders, MashaAllah. I was so proud of that little monkey.

After doing wudhu ever so slowly, I managed to get back to the bed before getting too dizzy. This tumor was tiring me out. I leaned against the bed as I shook Raza's shoulder gently and woke him up.

"Huh?" He said, groggy, and looked around in confusion. When his eyes landed on me, he rubbed them and yawned. "Hey, Taali, what's- OH MY GOSH TAALI!" He took me in his arms and I laughed as I tried to hug him back but he had my arms trapped. "When did you wake up?" He asked after he pulled back.

"A little while ago. It's time for Fajr." I explained. "Raza, how long was I asleep for?"

"Like a day. The party was the day before yesterday so you were out for a quite a while. But this is normal for brain tumor patients." He said, getting out of his seat.

I missed so many prayers!

I sighed sadly and looked around for something I could use as a prayer mat then finally settled on using one of the blankets. I set one aside for Raza as well and started praying all of my Qadha. Halfway through, my head started hurting again so Raza suggested that I sit down and pray. I didn't like doing that but I had no choice. When I finally finished, Raza had already settled back into the chair.

I laid down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. I had been sleeping for so long so I wasn't tired. I tried to think back to the engagement. What had happened that caused me to come to the hospital again? Would they be moving the date of the surgery closer? I hoped so. I wanted to get rid of this tumor as soon as possible. Why did I even ask for an appointment a MONTH later?!

The next morning, I watched the argument between Raza and my parents and Dr. Isaac. Apparently they wouldn't let me leave before the surgery since I 'didn't take care of my body properly'. What was that supposed to mean?

...

Okay, guilty.

But that still didn't mean they could keep my in here for another two weeks!

"Please let her go home early, it's not fair for her! And she has children to teach at our local Mosque, they are waiting for her." Raza protested.

"I understand but her conditions are becoming vital, if she is not looked after properly then-"

"I'll watch after her all day, I'll make sure she takes her medicine and eats on time!" My mom said.

"I'll be there after work for her and besides her sisters are there as well." Baba said.

"I'll stay at home too and look after her. Look, doc, you got nothing to worry about!" Raza said. The doctor looked between the three of them and finally sighed, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

"Fine, I'll let her go home. But I'll have a nurse go over to your house to check up on her every few days." My parents thanked him and Raza came over to me and gave me a hug.

"Looks like you're going home, Taali!" He smiled.

"Yes I am, thank you, Raza!" I grinned.

Just then, my sisters all came in and my parents told them the news. They were all very happy but they still scolded me about not being healthy and whatnot. After a few more scans, prescriptions for medicine, and scheduled appointments for therapy, I finally got to go home.

I woke up from a nap later that evening and found Misha staring down at me.

"Misha? What are you doing here?" I asked, sitting up.

"I got a text!" She cried.

"Yay?"

"No, listen! Actually look," She handed me her phone and my eyes widened as I read the text.

"Whoa, what?!" I cried.

"I know right?!" Misha cried. I sat there in shock, reading the text over and over. Finally I said,

"Okay, call and confirm." Misha took the phone back and scrolled through her contacts. She wanted to make the call quickly and luckily the 'A' contacts are the ones at the top of the list. I listened to the conversation, biting my nails in nervousness. I started pacing the room and waited anxiously for the answer. I started to feel a little dizzy so I went downstairs to drink some water. When I came back, Misha had finished the call and was fiddling around with her phone in her hands. "Well?" I asked, impatient. She looked up at me and a smile slowly took over her face as she nodded.

Misha left a little after then and I prayed Isha, ate and took my medicine, then got ready for bed.

I stared up at the ceiling and couldn't stop myself from smiling. My childhood best friend was finally coming back!

• ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ •

A few days later, Misha and Saqib's families all came over for dinner at my house.

"Okay, which dress do you think is better?" Misha asked, holding up two pictures of wedding dresses. I scrunched my nose while looking at them.

"Any other options?" I asked.

"You don't like them?! Girl, you're impossible." She said in shock, shaking her head. I grinned and searched up wedding dresses online on my laptop. We were in the living room with all of our siblings and we were planning out my wedding which was set to be in a month, InshaAllah. Daiyan couldn't come because he had a meeting to be at.

"Oh my Allah, this is beautiful!" I gushed as I stared at the picture on the screen. It was a picture of a red and silver tiara. Somehow, I went from a wedding dress site to a tiara one (don't ask).

"OH MY ALLAH, TAALI, YOU HAVE TO GET THAT!" Misha cried when I showed her. I giggled and shook my head.

"Misha, look at the price, that's a ridiculous amount." I said.

"Oh my Allah, that's so expensive! Sorry, habibti. Hey, why don't you look at some other ones?" She suggested. "Cheaper ones." She added with a grin.

I clicked through some more tiaras but none of them appealed to me.

Oh well, I can check another site later, InshaAllah.

I heard a knock at the door and Misha quickly got up and went to go answer it. When I heard her open it, she gasped.

"Aleena!"

• ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ •

AN: DON'T KILL ME I'M SORRY IT'S NOT AASIM! But ya'll gotta understand that Aasim is dead and he won't be coming back :(. Sowwy. You don't know how much your comments mean to me when you guys say how much you want Aasim back, gosh you guys are so sweet! Anyway, this is a very short chapter that sucks butt and I'm sorry about that, I've been quite busy these past few days. I promise the next ones will be better. So until next time, InshaAllah! Asalamu Alaikum! ♡♡♡