Amin dressed for work as usual. While drinking his first cup of tea of the day, Alya glanced at him. A strange feeling made her think that he was sick. ‘What’s wrong, darling? You look tired,’ she said, worried.
‘Yes, I’m feeling a little unwell. It’s probably just a headache.’ Luke rubbed his hand on his head.
‘Why don’t you take leave if you are not feeling well?’ Alya suggested.
‘No, Alya, I am fine.’ He tried to laugh to comfort her. Amin sat talking to her for half an hour. Then he kissed Alya and went to work like any other day.
***
The phone was ringing non-stop when Luke came home for his lunch. ‘Luke, get the phone!’ shouted Alya from the kitchen.
‘Yes, Mum,’ he said, picking up the phone.
‘Hello. Is this Amin’s house?’
‘Yes, it is,’ said Luke.
‘May I know who is speaking?’ asked the caller.
‘I’m Luke Al Amin, his son.’
‘Luke, it’s from the company. There’s bad news, I’m afraid. Your father had an accident and has been admitted to Salmaniya Hospital. Try to get there as soon as possible; it’s serious.’
‘What?’ Luke was shocked.
Noticing his stunned expression, Alya came to Luke and asked, ‘What’s wrong? Who was on the phone?’ Luke didn’t know what to say. He was trembling. He cleared his throat nervously but found it hard to tell his mother the details of the call.
‘Mum, I will be back soon,’ he said and rushed towards the front door.
‘Where are you going?’ asked Alya with a puzzled expression.
‘To Uncle Noor's house,’ Luke replied, without looking back.
‘But why? Is everything all right?’ she asked, worried. She didn’t receive an answer as Luke was running to Uncle Noor’s house.
Alya knew that something was wrong, but she couldn’t guess what it could be. So she waited anxiously for Luke’s return.
In less than ten minutes Noor and Zara were with Alya. Her heart pounded on seeing them rush in.
‘What’s wrong? What’s the matter? Is everything all right?’ she asked, looking from Noor to Zara, her face flushed.
Zara held her hand and said, ‘Alya, go and change your clothes; we have to go somewhere.’
‘But why? Where to?’ Alya stared at them with her mouth agape.
‘Amin had an accident,’ said Zara. She was going to continue but Alya screamed before she had chance to explain further and then fell down with a loud thud. Darkness filled her eyes.
Alya heard Zara cry like a groan at a distance but then she was totally lost to her surroundings.
Luke was sitting on a chair near the window. His elbows were perched on his parted knees, and his head was in his hands.
Zara sprayed water on Alya's face. She opened her eyes and stared at everyone around her as if she had just woken up from a terrible nightmare. As reality dawned she covered her face with her hands and cried miserably. It was a tense situation, and chilling.
Luke got up and put his hand on his mother’s shoulder as way of comfort. ‘Mama!’ he cried out of helplessness. Alya became alert to the situation.
‘I must rush to the hospital,’ she whimpered.
A flurry of action followed. They rushed to the hospital in a taxi to find that Amin and his helper Nawaz had been sent to the Intensive Care Unit. On arrival themselves, Alya quickly realised that Amin’s condition was critical.
Alya prayed, ‘O God, please don’t let Amin die. Please don’t leave my child without a father, and don’t make me a widow. O God, please … O God, I love him so much. I can’t live without him. God, please give him back to me. O God, please.’
Alya looked up with a shudder when she heard Nawaz screaming for help. He was yelling, ‘Please! Someone please take me out of this room. It’s full of big spiders and snakes. Please help.’
Doctors and nurses rushed to him. They tried to pacify him with medicines and comforting words but nothing helped. After a few more minutes of struggle, he closed his eyes for the last time.
Luke felt more nervous. He knew he had to face the situation courageously, but no matter how hard he tried to control himself, his body just trembled uncontrollably. He wiped off the tears the moment they gathered in his eyes and pretended to be brave in front of his mother. ‘Don’t worry, Mama, Papa will be fine, just fine,’ he said, in a choked voice.
***
Aunt Zara and Uncle Noor were always there to give them support and courage.
Ahmed had been going to attend an important meeting when the phone call had come. He had been shocked to hear about the accident. He cried out to his son, ‘Adeeb, rush to the hospital and stay there. I’ll hand over these documents and get to the hospital as soon as I can.’ Adeeb was about to leave when Muneera yelled, ‘Adeeb wait for me, I’m coming.’
Adeeb rushed to the hospital with his mother. They saw Luke waiting on a bench outside the emergency ward, holding his mother tightly with one hand and holding his head with the other.
***
When he saw Muneera, Luke vacated his seat for her. Alya sat between Zara and Muneera, who looked at each other helplessly, while she sat staring at the clock slowly ticking away on the wall at the farthest end of the corridor.
Ahmed rushed in a little later. ‘How is he?’ he asked Adeeb.
‘It’s serious, Father,’ Adeeb said nervously. Ahmed moved one hand through his hair and with the other held the bench for support.
‘Don’t worry,’ Ahmed said not too convincingly, ‘everything is going to be fine.’ He stroked Luke’s back affectionately. ‘Pray and hope for the best, son,’ he said before walking towards the wards. Many tense moments passed as they waited in fear and uncertainty.
‘Adeeb!’ Luke called painfully. ‘My heart is ripped, my friend.’ Adeeb stroked his back but said nothing. His eyes were filled with tears. An hour later, Amin regained consciousness. Tears ran down his face. It was difficult for Alya to watch him crying.
‘Amin!’ Alya cried aloud, tears now streaming out of her eyes, too.
Amin stared at her, and then asked in a soft voice, ‘Have you forgotten the promise?’ He was trying to tease Alya, but his voice betrayed his pain.
‘Papa!’ called Luke with an aching heart. ‘Don’t worry, Papa, you will be fine.’
Amin shook his head from side to side. ‘I’m not fine,’ he said. ‘But I have no regrets. I know I’m blessed with a great son. Take care of your mother, Luke. I know you will.’ He smiled at Luke and added, ‘I’m proud of you, my son – I always was.’ Luke tightly held his father’s hand and repeatedly kissed it. He couldn’t control his tears or his trembling body.
Amin turned to Alya and smiled at her with sad eyes. ‘Alya, darling, did you see that?’ Amin whispered.
‘What?’ Alya asked amid sobs.
‘Look there, honey, it’s Fida, our daughter. She looks so beautiful. She has come to greet me.’ Alya wept inconsolably. She rubbed his hair in despair. ‘Alya, everyone has to leave this world one day. Our life is a test, and death is the results day. Get good marks and come to me, darling. I will wait for you.’
‘Oh Amin!’ Alya kissed his hands and face again and again. Zara held her tightly, her eyes filled with tears.
Amin looked at Alya and Luke. His face was pale. He was trying to say something but words wouldn’t come. After a long try, he could only manage to stammer one word: ‘Tree.’
Alya understood. She said, ‘Oh Amin! I promise … I promise you, darling.’ She kissed him intensely, in despair, over and over. She decided to face the situation courageously, but she was not sure how she could.
Amin smiled at them one last time, and then he closed his eyes.