It was almost midnight. Everyone was at the hospital. Daddy was still in OT undergoing the surgery. He was in a serious condition.
Dadu was in prayer room praying for her son and grand-daughter's safety. Her face was covered with tears and eyes were puffed. She was crying in prostration for Allah's blessings.
Uncle, aunt and grandpa were outside the OT waiting on the cold bench for the surgery to end. Zainab and Safi were holding each other standing by the wall.
The corridors were dark although lights were on. They seem very deadly cold. Safi was afraid of hospitals. He didn't like it being in a hospital since childhood. It always gave him a creepy feeling.
"They are not out yet." Safi almost whispered to himself.
"They'll be, soon. In shaa Allah!" Appiah said patting his shoulder.
"I'm feeling weird. My head is pounding. I don't know what's gonna happen to uncle and Amy. She's still nowhere. I don't know how to find her. She said that day, whenever sh needs me I'm not there to be found. She's certainly hoping for me to reach her but I don't know what to do." He again started sobbing, trying to hide his teary face in Appiah's shoulder. She held him more protectively.
"Men don't cry." Aunt scolded him irritated by his sniffles.
"Why? We too are human beings. We've emotions." He bursted out, stepping away from his sister. Aunt gaped at him. It felt like a slap to her. She felt a stinging sensation in her eyes.
"Don't! Let him out his emotions. It's bad to hold them in." Grandpa stopped aunt from saying further anything.
He approached his mother and hid himself in her lap. He was still crying and saying, "Mama, why? Why this all happened? Where's she?" His voice was that much loud that it could be heard by only them. She started patting his hair.
"Did you informed Hisham?" Baba asked uncle in a low voice after some time.
"No, he'd be worried there. He went for some reasons, he was saying there were some issues with his partners. I didn't like to disturb him." Uncle said.
"They're his family, he has right to know that. Safi! Call Hisham and tell him the situation. He needs to know. And you check if there's any words from S.P. (police officer)." Grandpa told them, eyes fixed on the marbled floor. He was shivering due to cold.
Uncle nodded his heads. Safi got up from his mother's lap and went out to call Hisham wiping away his tears. Uncle moved to the corner to contact his friend who was S.P. in special branch.
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"Assalam-o-alaikum Safi! How are you little boy? Everyone at home alright?" He attended the call as phone rang. He was feeling unwell since morning. He was having headaches. His doctor said it was due to change of climate.
He went to the pharmacy to buy some medicine for cold. It was far away from his complex so he got there on his own car. His driver had to do some chores at home so he was on leave today. On his way back his phone rang. It was Safi. He was a bit surprised. It was late night at Pakistan. Was everything alright there?
Shaking his thoughts out of his head he listened to him carefully. It made him stunned hearing the other side. Safi was crying and sobbing, asking him to come back. He was not telling him anything clearly but he was sure something worst happened there.
"Are Maa, and baba ok? What about Amy? She alright? What happened? What kind of hell broke there Sufiyan khan tell me?" He growled. He was making him lose his patience.
"Amy...Amy got ... she got lost...or kidnap...we don't know.... we couldn't find her... and uncle had a heart attack. We're at hospital. He's still in surgery room." His words dropped a bomb on his nerves.
His mind went blank. He was not hearing the continuous noise of horns and cars. He forgot that he was driving his car. He forgot to move the steering. He looked at his windshield in a daze, blinded by the bright lights of incoming vehicle, he shut his eyes tightly.
He didn't even know what to do next. His car crashed into that approaching vehicle. A loud bang followed by screeching boomed in the road. He felt his body lifted up in air and then hit something hard. His body was becoming numb.
His vision was blurred, a scorching pain rose in his body but he didn't know the origin. He was not hearing anything. His surroundings were quiet. He was slowly being engulfed by the darkness. He was still in the car, struck in his driving seat. He saw, while losing his senses, someone standing by him, wearing white long gown, waving his hand as to say 'goodbye'.
Were those his last moments? Was he dying??
'No!!! He couldn't die that easily.....he had to find her. What if she is calling for his help? He had to go for her. She was waiting... everyone was waiting for him at home...'
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'Then, this life is too short.'
(Phir ye 'hayat',
'taahayat' thori hai!)
" Roman urdu"
(پھر یہ حیات تا حیات تھوڑی ہے)
"Urdu"