The shady vermin

9

I slowly opened my eyes, it was a bit blurry at first, but as my vision cleared, I could see someone standing over me. I was lying down, so I tried to get up, but I felt my head lightly hurt, so I laid back. "It's okay, your okay". said a low manly voice. Then I closed my eyes and then opened it so I could see better, and when I did open my eyes, I saw that the person over me was a doctor. I had a drip attached to my right hand. I was at the hospital, I figured, so I was calm. The doctor then put two fingers on my wrist, looked at me with a smile, "your blood pressure was high, probably due to how you have been handling stress, so we'll have you rest here till it stabilizes. We'll take tests later, so rest up". and left. I was alone in the room, trying to gather up my memory, but at the end slipped into unconsciousness again.

The next time I was awake, much of the pain had faded, I looked around, to the right and noticed the drip gone. To the left, I saw Nabila, looking at me. Her eyes read relief, as I was fine probably, but her face was plain and expressionless. In the same second our eyes met, I quickly turned away. I don't know why, but I felt somehow, and deep down in her, she I thought she was mad or at least disappointed at me. I remained still with my face turned away, then I heard her sigh. "Saleem", she called on me, but I didn't flinch nor answer. The shame I felt grew at that very moment.

"Why are you doing this? You think I'm mad at you ne, Saleem?", as she spoke her voice started to shake, it made me feel a lot worse, and I still didn't turn or move. "If you think I'm mad at you, Saleem, then you're mad. And I-", she paused. "Look at me Saleem", she said softly, but I couldn't, for the shame was too much. "I know...you can hear me, LOOK AT ME", then I heard light sobbing coming from her, and it got to me, so bad I turned my face to look at her, as she took slow semi-heavy breaths as she sobbed. I watched her tried to calm herself, but failed and failed, didn't stop, till I called her , "Nabee..", and she slowly raised her head. As she looked at me, and our eyes met (Oh! Her beautiful eyes), every word in my head dispersed. I became speechless for a moment and gathered myself back together.
"I-I uhmm...Nabee, I just...I'm sorry Nabee. I swear, I really am", I said with struggle, and pain in my throat, the more I tried talking, the more the pain. "Saleem, wallahi, I'm swearing ba, I'm neither mad or upset with you nor any of your actions....in fact, if there's anything I'm upset about is this-this thing you're doing here", she lamented, before stretching her hand to my face, she used her thumb to gently wipe tears, that had slid to the sides of my face without me knowing. Then continued, "Saleem, see, please let's put all that behind...okay", and smiled at me (you won't understand if I say it's the most beautiful thing you'd ever see). "Just promise me Saleem, promise me, that no matter what, no matter the circumstances, or plight we're in...we'll stick together. Have each other's backs...okay? Promise?", with her eyebrows raised with expectation of affirmation, as her eyes widened. For a second I was lost in why all of a sudden, I was noticing too much details about her...was I..? Falling even deeper?

"I promise Nabee..." I said as I snapped out of my thoughts, remembering the doctor told me to stress less. Nabila's mood changed significantly after the conversation, and so did mine too. "Oh! By the way, Saleem, Ubayd got your community service stuff sorted. In fact Hamdiyy even said that th-". And we heard indistinguishable chattering and movement, as it was Ubayd and Hamdiyya that came to visit.

"Speak of two devils..." Nabila said, addressing the couple.

"No, not only devils" Hamdiyy replied, as she eyes her with a playful expression. And they all laughed.

"And how's the big man doing", Ubayd inquired as he came to me. "How are you my friend? Mhmm?" with a smile. And I nodded my reply.

"We brought you fruits too", Hamdiyya said from the side, pointing to some packages of fruits.

"Where's my baby Ayah? Don't tell me you guys left her", Nabila queried.

"Nooo haba mana", Ubayd countered.
"She's with Medo and Mansoor outside", he said in unison with Hamdiyya.
As they settled, and we all conversed, till Medo and Mansoor came in with Ayah with them. And the conversations continued, though as we went on, I told myself that I must keep to my promise to Nabila. Stick together, and have each other's backs.