Caged Crown

◇25

As your feelings for someone grow stronger, so does your fear of losing them.

2-6-2020

My head reeled as I slowly tried to open my eyes. I didn't open my eyes fully but I was sure that my body lied in the hospital bed as the hospital smell hit my nostrils which I loathe the most.

"You're up?" I heard Junaid's voice.

Man, he didn't even let me open my eyes fully. I slowly opened my eyes to see four smiling faces that carried sadness, sympathy, guilt and something that I couldn't read.

"How are you feeling now my dear?" asked Dad. I gave him a small smile indicating that I'm fine because how can I tell them that I couldn't open my mouth as I feel like someone is holding it. I saw Naeef's sympathic look on his face and I winked at him. Although I'm not in the state to flirt, but I shall pretend before they kill me with their grief. The nurse walked in gesturing them to wait outside. They all turned to leave, while Naeef ambled near my bed and whispered, "I shouldn't have let you eat icecream." I chuckled at him. He ensured that nobody had heard him say and then he left the room. I couldn't help but laugh at his childishness. He must be worried that it happened because of him and he would put all the blame on himselves before realizing the truth. I expected this because I had been suffering from a severe chest pain and head ache for past a week.

I woke up after a hour sensing all pair of eyes on me. Everyone is here except Lunah and Juvi mom. Suddenly, the door opened and a bald guy walked in. It took me freaking 10-15 seconds to realize it was Ayman. I chuckled seeing him in this state but at the same time I wondered what was he doing here? I glanced at my brothers and dad hoping they would shooe him away but thankfully, their face didn't show any reaction and I sighed out in relief.

"Laiha, how are you now? Did you eat something?" Ayman scurried near me as Jabir bro pulled his shirt and made him stand near him.

"Maintain distance." Jabir said with a smirk on his face, whilst Ayman rolled his eyes. We all chuckled seeing their drama.

"It was I who informed Ayman about her current state." Junaid said. I smiled realizing they didn't hold any grudges on him.

"Does...does that mean..." Jabir bro cut me off saying,"You can marry him." My eyes widened in shock or a mixture of happiness and all the pain inside my head just faded away. Something inside my stomach thriumphed and celebrated, whilst I remained silent giving a neutral face.

"But under one condition." He added and the smile in my face faltered, celebrations inside my stomach came to a halt.

"What..what is it?" I asked and he glanced at dad for the answer and dad walked near me.
"Dear...Don't panick." Dad said and Ayman rolled his eyes and replied "Please don't exaggerate, uncle. She already knows."

"Please tell me something. What are you talking about and what is it that I know?" I asked in a bewilderement and dad embraced me.

"I'm really sorry for hiding this from you these days but..but we never imagined that things could get this worse. You really need a heart surgery as soon as possible. We were scared that what if you won't agree, therefore we had to hide this from you these days. We'd been waiting for you to heal with medications, but that didn't happen." He paused and rubbed his temple. ''We need you Laiha, please don't lose hope. Please agree to this surgery." Dad said and waited for my response. I glanced at Ayman who had a similar expression of my dad's.

"So...You're saying that you've agreed to marry Ayman in order to agree for this surgery? You know that I wouldn't agree to do this surgery and you're just threatening me by his name?" I said in a mixture of sorrow and anger in my voice.