Forever In My Heart

Chapter 21: First day in ICU

We reached the hospital compound in no less than 15 mins. But these 15 mins seemed like forever to me. Dad asked for the floor no at the reception. The ICU was on the 3rd floor.

We took the lift and upon reaching we saw Rabia's parents and her brother sitting. They were all silent but we broke the ice when we saw them.

"Assalamualaikum" Nuzhah and I said to aunty and uncle

"Assalamualaikum Shazia. Hope you are fine. How is she? What did the doctor say?" Mum asked

Aunty burst into tears and uttered those words which I didn't want to hear.

"They said that her condition is critical. She didn't regain consciousness since she was brought here. They said that she is surviving on machines."

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon."

I heard my parents utter this sentence.

While for me, I didn't know what to do. I felt my heart was being broken into pieces.
Without warning, I burst into tears. The tears ran down my face behind my hands.
I felt someone took hold of both my hands and lifted them away from my face. I heard her say:

'Hans, Hans, please don't cry.'

'Let me cry,' I said.

It was Nuzhah, wiping my tears with dad's handkerchief.

I tightened my lips and swallowed hard my tears.

The place was deep, silent, motionless, with no single sound or movement anywhere. Everything seemed dark. My face was turned towards the ICU room. Waiting for the door to open so that I could finally go see a glimpse of Rabia.

It was finally my turn. I entered the ICU chamber where a doctor and two nurses were looking after one patient. I looked around and found Rabia lying on a bed with her eyes closed. I saw a lot of machines surrounding her bed. Among those machines I could see a small monitor which was kept beside her in which a point was jumping with light trails on a horizontal line.

The doctor came near me, 'Are you a relative of Rabia?'

'Yes, how is she now?'

'Sorry to tell you but her condition is not stable. She has not yet regained consciousness since her admission in the morning.'

I moved near Rabia's bed, looked at her unconscious body and sat there holding her palm. To my surprise, she opened her eyes slowly and showed a fainted sign of happiness seeing me there. She was trying to speak something but I indicated her to remain quiet.

'Don't worry Rabia, you will be fine soon, In Sha Allah.'

I ran to the doctor and informed him that Rabia regained consciouness. He showed a sigh of relief and requested me to go outside.

I informed the same to my family who were waiting desperately outside for good news. Aunty Shazia's pale face showed a ray of hope. Everyone whispered 'Alhamdoulillah' and sat down waiting for the doctor's update.

I regained my seat next to Rabia's bro, Anas. He was two years younger than Rabia but he always acted like her elder bro. He is such a caring brother which any sister would want to have. Anas was like my own brother. I told him to keep hope and that the decree of Allah is the best.

Anas put his hand on my shoulders.
'I hope Allah hear our prayers Haniyyah. I can't bear losing my sister.'

'She'll be fine Anas.' I put forward my hand on his.'

We remained at the hospital until visiting time was over. Rabia's parents asked for permission to stay longer near their daughter as they are aware that at home they would be restless. The doctor accepted their request and asked them to stay in the waiting room as long as they wanted and that they could see Rabia upon request.