Our canvas

Chapter 32

~Zafar~

“ bring over another light and call in the intern somethings not right with the patient!”

“ yes, doctor.”

“ let’s stitch him up, if we continue with the procedure we might lose him.”

It had been almost 10 hours, trying to fix the damage the patient had incurred over the years. With me almost losing him more than once I felt my confidence lower every time I couldn’t get it right, as soon as the intern arrived I handed over the incision to the most experienced doctor in the room a few more hours go by, and with me closing the patient up, the surgery was a success.

“ you did well today, ” my senior said, patting me on my back

I nod in relief before breaking the news to the patient's family.

After freshening up, and having a large cup of coffee I head home...every night Nura would be knocked out on the couch with a few of her sketches at hand…dinner always laid out for two. She refused to eat without me. With my hand still quivering from today’s surgery, I gently pick her up taking her to bed…the first time I had done something like that, she worked just as hard as I did…

After going through some scans my next surgery is next week, even if I managed to pass through many trials and failures during the operating process it felt good knowing that a few of my patients recovered fully. I hadn’t studied for almost 8 years of my life to go and allow someone to die in my hands even if I knew that it wasn’t in my control.

After placing Nura in bed and having dinner. I tidied up the living space before running through the documents set out on the coffee table…its as if her talent grew while we were apart for three years. I still had her first sketches framed in my wallet.

The next day I rushed out to Secretly meet Mutaq.

“ why’d you call me out?” I say looking him straight in the eye.

“ just because I tolerate your tone doesn’t mean I condone it.” Mutaq said offering me a seat, “ how is she?”

“ that’s none of your business, ” I say folding my arms

“fine then, I just wanted to invite you for dinner…there’s someone that wants to see you.”

He said before leaving the restaurant, what did he mean by that. That boy knew how to get on my nerves…

“ Nura I’m home.”

“ where’d you head off to?”

“just a small errand. by the way, your mother wants to see us for the upcoming long weekend so make sure you off on that day.”

“sure, Hey Zafar do you want to paint with me perhaps?”

“paint, as in doing the painting not being the painting.”

“ jee(yes), you looked really stressed out lately. It’ll help calm you down, plus I want to try out my new private booth that was recently built in the studio.”

“ Okay, then I’ll drive us, with a car of course.”

She laughed before rushing over to change.

“ let’s just take out bikes…we both know that car rides are boring.”

“ not as boring as that wired look you give me every time you need me to do something.”

“I 'll pretend like I didn’t hear that.”

We arrived at the half-built studio, after walking through the rubble we entered a really white room filled with bright lights. She set out the canvas while I looked around, it reminded me of the time we were both locked in the school's studio...

“All set, come over”

She wraps me with an apron before taking her seat as she explained how to use a paintbrush and the mixing of colors…After a while, the room fell into silence and she zoned out into her little artsy world far away from everyone and everything, she was done with her painting a fee moments after and began assisting me with mine…I mistakenly spilled some paint onto her painting and so she did the same. Which lead to a war zone, we began messing paint onto each other as we chased each other around the room, I caught her before she fell into a bucket of paint, everything froze around me…as I looked into her eyes, “ Zafar let me go, ” she said laughing.

After letting her fall onto the ground I placed my hands in my apron’s pocket we were stuck in a messy area with two messed up paintings...

“ now that’s the smile I’m looking for, ” she said handing me a tissue

“ All thanks to you. I’m sorry about the mess.”

“ There’s a reason why I asked them to leave the room plain white silly so that we can add our little creativity to it.”

“so we basically created two masterpieces without me even realizing.”

“ yes. Plus whenever I paint in here I’ll be reminded of today and how much fun we had.”

She said smiling, “ have you spoken to your mother since you left?”

“ no…I prefer keeping her out of my business.”

“ That’s petty. She is after all still your mother.”

“ I understand, I just…I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to her.”

“ you'll find a way, you always do.”

Find a way, I’m not sure if that’s what you would call trying not to think about it.

***

I sat across her in one of Mutaqs café, she continued sipping on her latte before attempting to speak.

“ why’d you call me here?” she asked looking into her mug.

“ I wanted to talk to you..”

“about Zafar? Please don’t try and play peacemaker…we don’t need a mediator.”

“ it’s nothing like that. I wanted to actually invite you for dinner, I understand that you’ve missed a lot but it’s never too late to catch up. Please call me if you do plan on coming over.”

“ I’ll think about it, ” she said leaving

I sat there with two potions of food, afraid of what I unleashed.

“you must be really hungry today, ” he said sitting beside me

“I wish that was the case. Besides, there’s no room for unhealthy binging.”

“Your right, did Zafar tell you about tonight's dinner?”

“ tonight? Dinner?”

“ oh, I knew he wouldn’t… Anyway someone flew over and wanted to meet up with him, I’m not sure if you know her.”

“ her?”

“jee, he's senior from Cuba. I have to leave now…please make sure that he comes over or I’d end up looking like a fool.”

“no problem. See you tonight then.”

I rushed home and after a while went out to the restaurant with Zafar. Mutaq ordered food for everyone as we waited for the special guest to arrive, she sat down near Mutaq placing her bag on his lap, strange how he has friends invading his personal space…

“ I’m Kadija, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, ” confused I shake her hand as I watched the men stay silent

“ Zafar you still remember me right.”

“Of course I do, you were the one who sat on my back.” She laughed handing him a booklet, “ I wanted to let you know about my new practice, give me a call if you are interested.”

“ will do.”

The food arrived and with me cut out of their strange world, I excused myself be for taking a walk outside to get some fresh air.

“ so you’re the girl that he was crazy about, ” she said walking towards me

“Excuse me?”

“ I just don’t understand what do they see in you, you look very average to me.”

“ maybe it’s because my insides aren’t polluted and my outside appearance isn’t fake. Mind your own business.”

“ we'll see how long you'll have the both of them wrapped around your finger.”

“no need, I’m sure they’ll run to you, ” I say leaving the restaurant after settling the bill…speak about a jealous freak and who was the other guy she was talking about. I spent the night at my art studio doodling, I don’t understand why was it was so difficult for people to stick their nose out of my business.