Only You

sixteen

The three of us paced down the stairs to see my mother sitting on the couch with her phone on her ear.

She was smiling, so it comforted me to know she wasn't against it or anything.

Her eyes diverted to us, as we looked at her anticipating news. I didn't know what I felt, I couldn't believe that any of this was real, my heart raced, and I was slightly trembling.

"So..?" Bhabi said with her hands clasped together.

"Okay, Inshallah. Allah Hafiz." Ammi said ending the phone call.

Ammi looked at me tilting her head.

"Is there something you need to tell me?" She said.

"Ammi..." I said lowly, taking a seat next to her.

"He's the lead pediatrician at the hospital I work at, and I don't know why or how...but I ended up.......liking him." I continued.

I had planned to tell Ammi, I hoped she wasn't upset at finding out from my brother instead of from me.

"Well, is that a yes?" She smiled at me.

I looked at Bhai and Bhabi, as they wiggled their eyebrows at me waiting for me to answer.

"Is it a yes from you?" I asked Ammi.

"I want what my daughter wants." She said coming forward to caress my cheek.

Tears rushed into my eyes, and I went in for a tight embrace.

"Yes," I said into her neck.

Bhai and Bhabi erupted into loud cheers Bhai jumping on to Ammi and I. Bhabi gently hugging all of us on top.

I repeated multiple Alhumdulilah's- I felt so grateful for such a loving family.

"Ma, what about Abba?" I mumbled.

"Oh, he loves that Humza boy." She said emphasizing the 'love'.

I hugged a little tighter smiling radiantly.
—
I was in my office yet again, waiting for my shift to begin. I don't know if Dr. Khan found out yet or not- which made me even more apprehensive.

Ammi had informed me that Dr. Khan's family would visit- though for a different purpose this time. I spent all night thinking of how I would see him, and how our interaction would go. I'm crazy, I know, but this was the first time I had been so mad about a man- and this was headed somewhere.

I took the last sip of my coffee and got up. I headed to the room where I had asked the nurse to register Adeel Sheikh- the new patient with a rare kidney tumor.

I knocked on the door, walking in with a bright smile. I have to be as least frightening as possible, I have never met a patient that was excited at our first encounter- I'm sure this kid wasn't any different.

"Asalam Walikum, Adeel."

Adeel didn't reply to me and instead just looked at me with very worried tearful eyes.

I walked towards him taking a seat on the chair next to the bed.

"Oh sweetheart, you don't need to be worried, I'm here to make you feel better. I won't hurt you okay?' I said offering him the sweetest smile I could give.

I turned to his mother and another young lady that was beside her- the lady was pretty, with her lengthy brown hair and pale skin.

"Are you related to him?" I asked politely.

"Ah yes, I'm his elder sister- Mariam." She replied.

"Oh okay great, so Adeel's MRI and CT scans do prove to be kidney tumor, as well as his ultrasound. I'm going to schedule the surgery today because tumors grow very aggressively, so the earlier it's removed the better."

I waited for Mariam to translate to her mother, and it was a relief that she was here because it made me so nervous to frantically find the right Urdu words to describe to her.

They both looked back at me waiting for me to continue.

"So the timings I can do, and the dates that are the most immediate I have picked out- I will be performing the surgery, alongside many other skilled physicians so you don't have to worry, I will walk you through all medications and treatments."

"Do you want me to tell you how the operation will be performed?" I asked,

"What do you mean?" Mariam asked,

"Uh, the steps," I said.

"Oh No, it'll worry us."

I smiled at her.

"Okay, that's fine, do you have any questions?" I asked.

"Um, not right now. But what if we want to contact you for questions later?"

"Oh, my contact, as well as the pediatric department's contact, will be stated in the folder the reception will give you finalizing the surgery dates."

They nodded at me.

"Oh, and did you figure out everything with the insurance?" I asked.

"Oh yes, we got an appointment with the office," Mariam said.

"Okay, that's good, that's all I will see you on the day of the operation." I smiled getting up.

I looked at Adeel, who fell fast asleep on the bed and smiled. I left the room signing my clipboard and checking some boxes until I heard a call for me.

"Dr. Siddiqui!" I turned around to see Mariam coming towards me.

"Yes?"

"I had a question for you,"

"Of course, what is it?" I said smiling.

"Who's Dr. Humza Khan?" She asked.

My heart jumped at his name, and I looked at her with confusion for a quick second before replying.

"Ah, he is the lead pediatrician here. He's basically in charge of our team." I replied, his perfect face popping up in my mind.

"Lead?" She whispered.

"Alright, thank you." She said turning back around and leaving.

I didn't pay much attention to it and walked away to my next appointments.

It was now afternoon, and it was time to go. My eyes were droopy, and I was worn out. I had performed 3 surgeries today, and I didn't sleep tonight because of someone. I was ready to go home and pass out.

I locked my office and walked towards the elevator. Until I heard a girl's voice.

"She is my daughter, I was the one who gave birth to her. I have the right to see her. You don't know what I've been through to deny me, my child."

My eyes widened, and I quickly went inside the elevator to not listen anymore. It was a pretty grave matter and I didn't want to eavesdrop much more.