Love Means Sacrifice

Ch. 16: Strangers

Zahid's P.O.V.

My arms went limp and fell to my sides.

My brother was in love with Mehwish? My Mehwish?

I took a step back as I tried to process everything. Javed opened his mouth, but before he could get anything out, the door to Mehwish's room opened. She was finally awake, but it looked like she was having difficulty remaining conscious.

Javed rushed to Mehwish's bed and held her face with his right hand. Ayaara went and hugged a crying Noureen Aunty. I stood at the doorway, unable to fathom everything that's happened and what I'd just heard.

"Doctor, is she alright?!" Javed asked with worry.

"She has retrograde amnesia. She does not remember the last one year or so."

Why isn't she staying awak- She has what?! This couldn't be true. No, s-

"After she regained consciousness and questioning her, we gave her a heavy dosage of medicine. We've already explained everything to Mrs. Inayat. Please try to console her. She needs to be strong for her daughter. With time, she will hopefully remember everything. She can't handle too much pressure, otherwise her condition may worsen. She needs rest."

Abba appeared by my side. My ears blocked out everything as the doctors began to go over Mehwish's various brain scans and fractured bone x-ray for Javed. How did this even happen? My mind felt so foggy. Suddenly, everyone began standing up and leaving the room so she could rest. Before Ayaara exited, she told me to go to Mehwish, who had fallen asleep.

I slowly walked over to the side of Mehwish's bed. I reached out to caress her face, but my fingers curled into a fist. I walked out of the room and sat down on the bench alongside everyone.

"Javed, your Alif Mama and Sarooha Mami are on the way to our house. I'm going to take you home after I drop off Noureen Baji. They will be with you while I'm gone. Ayaara beta, help Noureen Baji pack. She's going to stay here with Mehwish for a day or two as the doctors monitor her."

"Abba, I can stay here with Mehw-" Javed tried to reason.

"No, you need rest, Javed. Zahid is going to stay here." Abba asserted.

I nodded my head, still unsure of everything going on. Was I sleeping? Was I stuck in a nightmare?

Abba advised me to sit inside her room, so I was sat on the chair next to her bed after everyone left.

I thanked God that Mehwish was alive. My heart broke seeing her like this. I wish it had been me instead of her. I couldn't stand the thought of her in pain.

Things were supposed to be so different. We were supposed to be celebrating our engagement. Never did I think that I would be at the hospital tonight, let alone because of Mehwish and Javed.

I wanted to hold her hand, but Javed's confession rang in my e-

Mehwish began quietly moaning in pain, causing me to stand up immediately. Blood was seeping through the bandage on her neck. I ran out of the room and yelled for a nurse. I sat back down, helplessly watching Mehwish squirm in pain as the nurse redid her dressing. Her left hand was slowly reaching around for something to grab onto until she found my hand that was resting on her bed. She squeezed my fingers. She relaxed after the nurse finished and continued to sleep with her fingers intertwined with mine.

Soon after, Noureen Aunty entered the room with Ayaara following behind her. As I got up to let Aunty sit, Mehwish's hand stayed in mine. I took a deep breath and detached her fingers from mine before moving away from the seat. Aunty returned the weak smile I gave her before I went out to sit in the hallway with Ayaara.