" Dr Emaan I need you to come with me "

"Doctor I promise I just came here  to keep the file  ..you can ask Hala she ..." Emaan was saying when Khaled interrupted her ,

" Dr Emaan I know you won't do such a thing and it's not about that....I want you to assist me in a surgery...it's emergency and we don't have enough doctors ...so please follow me"

Emaan gulped hard as she heard Khaled .She had never performed a surgery not just because she had only worked in a clinic but mainly cause of the fear that reigned her heart since her parents death. With a hammering heart she followed Khaled when Dr George met them in the hallway and walking along with them said ,

"Dr Khaled Dr Duraid had begun the surgery and preparation for surgery you will perform is done and by the way Doctor Khaled you didn't changed your clothes ?".

At the words of George, Emaan's eyes widened as she finally noticed that Khaled's clothes were smeared with blood while Khaled winced & rubbing his forehead said,

" Yeah sorry....I just forgot ..I had gone to my office for that only....no worries you and Dr Emaan move to OT ,I will just join you in a minute .."

Saying it Khaled jogged towards his office while George and Emaan brisk walked towards Operation theatre when Emaan asked ,

" Why were Dr Khaled's clothes smeared in blood ? What has happened ? Whose surgery is to be done  ?"

" Dr Khaled was returning from the medical camp early because of some important work when he found two boys on the side of the road in a severe condition with each brutally assaulted and bullets shot at them ....since he was alone he gave them whatever first aid he could provide at that moment and drove them here .....seeing their condition and blood loss it's a miracle they have survived till now and not to forget Dr Khaled's quick help and thinking ...while one boy is being operated by Dr Duraid and other assisting doctors and other one is to be by Dr Khaled & us...."

Emaan was bewilder with so much information & happening .Finally reaching  the OT room,Emaan kept her bag outside the bench of OT ,& entered into the scrub up and gowning area. Scrubbing her hands thoroughly & then donning sterile surgical gown ,mask and pair of sterile gloves ,Emaan entered the single theatre suite .Emaan felt a chill down her spine not sure whether it was due to the cold temperature of OT or the fear that entourage her mind and body as knowing what nightmare the upcoming sight would unleash. Fisting her hands tightly she followed George inside the room to come across two nurses and one anesthetist preparing to give anesthesia to the boy who had started gaining consciousness . Emaan clutched the equipment table as she saw the pool of blood surrounding the boy.  Emaan didn't realised when Khaled entered the operation theatre or what he instructed as she felt herself transported back to the time and instead of the boy she was seeing her parents lying there in pool of blood .Her breaths had shortened , the hammering heart inside her rib cage was only sound she could hear ,even with the cold temperature her face ,hands and feets were clamped up in sweats ,with a shivering glove worn hand she touched the blood wishing it was mirage ...wishing that it will vanish with a touch just like she had wished when she had seen her parents surrounded in blood. But as she looked at the red colour on her glove , her eyes automatically started raining down tears as she realised it was real ,it was again real...she was experiencing again ,the ripping up of her heart ,shattering of her life ,evaporation of every colour in her life ,with red tainting her life totally black with no light to pierce through and end it....she felt herself drowning again in the dark pit when she heard a hushed voice ...and then the voice echoed making her come out of her stupor as she found Khaled glaring at her ,& before she could speak ,Khaled voice boomed,

" Dr Emaan leave right now ".

Emaan looked around at people present in OT looking back at her with curiosity and sympathy,  she again looked at Khaled & tried to apologise when Khaled again said ,

" Dr Emaan please leave ...we have already wasted enough time on you ...".

Emaan nodded and lowering her head walked out of the operation theatre room. Taking out her mask and gloves ,Emaan sat on the bench outside of the OT room and face palmed herself with tears unceasingly flowed from her eyes ...tears which were telling the tale of her sorrow ,pain ,guilt and regret of both past and present .

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Emaan's tears had ceased but her blood rimmed eyes invocated the tale of their past business. She had been waiting outside the OT room for two hours praying incessantly for the boy . As she was whispering duas ,the door of the OT room opened and Khaled came out .Emaan instantly stood up and backed out as she saw him coming towards her in anger  . She looked down as he seethed,

" What was that stunt Dr Emaan you pulled out at OT ...if you are so freaked up about blood then you could have told me ....you know..that boy could have lost his life there while you ...."
Khaled rubbed his forehead trying to control his anger,when George also came out of the OT.

Emaan had been constantly looking down trying to hide the tears ,and shame she felt because of her vulnerability .

" Doctor Khaled ...it's alright what matters is surgery was successful...it happens people do get cold feet in their first surgery...maybe Dr Emaan is afraid of blood " George said appeasingly.

Khaled glanced at Emaan ,then glaring back at George he said ,

" If that's the case then she better choose another job ...because doctors are not meant to be cowards " .

I am fully sure my Emmi will become an amazing doctor in sha Allah.

Saying it ,Khaled sauntered away while George and other nurses tried to console her with their empathy filled words. But damage was done , Emaan smiled slightly at them for their concern and taking her backpack purse sauntered out.

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Mr Rahman had been waiting for Emaan outside the hospital for more than two hours and intiallly had been tensed when she didn't showed up ,but after Hala told him Emaan was assisting in a surgery he had felt relaxed. But his relaxed mood whiffed away as soon as he saw her blood rimmed eyes and pale face. For Mr Rahman Emaan was like a daughter to him not just in words but from his heart and seeing her in pain his heart felt agitated .He tried to dig out the cause of her distressed condition but Emaan meticulously dodged every question Mr Rahman asked her.

Closing the door ,Emaan slumped down with her back at the door ,she felt exhausted with all answers and fake smiles she enacted trying to make Mr Rahman believe that everything was perfect. She knew he had hardly believed her but she also knew she had no strength to camouflage her pain as all her strength was alloted to stop the wreck that her internal battle was causing.  But now within the vicinity of her home , with her every strand of strength devoured ,her pain from past and present attacked her from all side , the words of her father's belief in her thumped down by the echoes of words of Khaled's disappointment ,Emaan burst out crying with only one invocation on her lips:

Ya Allah help me ,Ya Allah help me !

And to her every cry Allah had answered a hundred times ,I AM HERE...and even before  her tear could touch the ground ,the sky had resonated with kun to her dua and HIS help was already on his way for HIS abdi.

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Soft knock on the door caused Emaan to shuffle and blinking back her eyes she looked around her surrounding,realising she had slept at the door . She craned her neck to relieve it's stiffness when she again heard the knock. Sighing she stood up and opened the door to come across Khadeja aljida and Hassan standing with a tray of food. Although she had no appetite to eat but not wanting to act rude ,she invited them in . Despite her refusal Khadeja aljida had made her eat baked kibbeh . After dinner Hassan had gone to sleep as he had school while Emaan was washing dishes to give them back to Khadeja aljida but amidst her washing utensils Khadeja aljida turned off the tap water and holding Emaan 's hand brought her in the drawing room. Making Emaan sit beside her ,Khadeja aljida patted her lap gesturing Emaan to lie down . Emaan tentatively looked at aljida .Seeing her hesitancy ,Khadeja aljida benevolently smiled at her and caressing her cheeks made Emaan lie on her lap. Emaan intiallly felt awkward but as soon as Aljida started to stroke her hairs lovingly ,Emaan felt a surge of motherly love surrounding her and her heart cracked up with happiness finding again that refuge of warmth and love that she had lost way back but her heart still craved for .And  before she could realise, the tears had found her way from her eyes to aljida 's lap and every now and then sobs and whimpers escaped her lips . Hearing her sobs ,Aljida knowing that her words won't be able to console her ,tighten her embrace around Emaan and stroking her hairs and showering her with kisses from time and time ,Aljida let her love and warmth be her way of consoling & comforting Emaan.
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Emaan had woken up by the chirping of  birds ,squinting her eyes to familiarise with the dark room, Emaan sat up and rubbed her face with hands thrice following the sunnah and recited the morning supplication .

[Alhamdu lillahil lathee ahyana baaàda ma amatana wa - ilayhin nushoor  (All praise is to Allah who gave us life after death (sleep)
to HIM is the resurrection)

When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) woke up and he will sit up & rub away the effects of sleep from his face by his hands thrice ( Al Bukhari)]

She looked around for Khadeja aljida only to find her offering salah ,horrified that she will miss her salah Emaan immediately stood up , when the cramp in her lower abdomen reminded her of her periods and she again laid back on the sofa. Seeing Khadeja aljida pray ,Emaan couldn't deny that she was a mercy Allah had sent down her way to provide ease to her shattering heart ,her love was balsam to her cankerous wound.... reminiscening the warmth,love and care aljida had showered on her , & let her heart once more experience the motherly love, Emaan realised that to express love and kindness language was not required....but a heart and soul that knew how to love ....but amidst all this rumination ,there was one more thought that had found a refuge in her mind,

Thought of resigning from her job......

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Bismillah

Okay the story is going to get a bit intense so I hope you will all still stay by to read the story ....and please don't lose your patience as you can't see any progress with Emaan and Khaled's love story ....it will enwrap with time so don't think of killing me in your mind .....( Giving my puppy eye look🥺).

And also does any one knows some recipe or wajifah to make silent readers vote and comment🤭....okay kidding but please dear silent readers make your presence known....so I get to know what what your silence means.......(I think I rant a lot here🙈being introvert that's even more embarassing ).

Dedicating this chapter to two cuties : windsofspring & Fayiza_Marium

Please do recite Surah Al- Maa'oon before you end the chapter. And do pray that we do not become like those who are harsh to orphans and heedless in our prayers as mentioned in this surah.

Do remember me and entire ummah in your duas.

Faqat e abd e AR RAHMAN
Sadaf

Assalamuaalaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu✨