GOODBYE MY BELOVED

Suraj arrived at the hospital and the first place he checked was her office. He didn't find her there so he checked a few wards and looked for her in the emergency ward.

When he didn't find her,his mind only thought about one place and that would be the only place Leylah could be in this hospital....'Ibraheem's room'.

Although he didn't want to confirm his guess,he still had to find Leylah and have a talk with her.

He reached Ibraheem's room and with shaky hands he opened the door slowly and behold! He found Leylah.

She was sleeping peacefully in Ibraheem's arm,she held onto one of his hand as if she was afraid someone was going to take him away any moment.

He came out of his daze,after staring at her for a long time. He gave Leylah one last look before he slowly whispered "Good bye my Beloved".

And with that he closed the door quietly and left the hospital.

Nabeela had told her mother that they would be spending the night with Zara at her house. because she didn't want to be home and listen to Suraj talking about his date with Leylah that night.

That was the excuse she gave her mum before she and Zara left. Only to go to Leylah and execute her and zara's plans.

"Why are you girls back so early?,I thought you were going to spend the night?" Mrs Najma asked when she saw Nabeela and Zara arrive home,drenched from the rain.

"Yes mum,but.....the rain started falling heavily and.....and..." Nabeela stuttered. She didn't know what story to tell to her mother.

"And we decided to comeback. My grandma said,we shouldn't drive in such heavy rain" Zara helped in completing the fake story.

"Yes mum,that's right" Nabeela added.

Mrs Najma wasn't quite convinced but she just nodded her head. "Go change your clothes so you don't catch a cold. I'll go make you both some tea" she said as she went into the kitchen.

Nabeela was very nervous and worried about her brother. She called him severally but he wasn't picking up.

Her mother noticed the girls were worried and constantly looking out,through the window.

"Is something wrong? Are you both expecting someone?" She asked

"No mum"

"No Aunt"

They answered together in a chorus.

"I don't believe you girls,you are acting strange".

"oh! I got it now.you girls want to know how Suraj and Leylah's date went that's why you came back early". she said smiling in realisation.

"Come on now girls,you don't need to pretend,am also curious to know..." She was still talking when they heard the door bell ring and Suraj came in.

"Oh wow! Here he comes" Mrs Najma said and immediately stood up to go meet Suraj.

"Dear,how did it go? What did you talk about? Your clothes are wet. Why did you stay out in the rain" Mrs Najma said worriedly.

Suraj didn't say a word,he just excused himself and went up to his room.

"Why is he like this? Did something go wrong again? Ya Allah!( oh God) please don't let it be what am thinking" Mrs Najma knitted her brows as she glanced at her son's back.

After a couple of minutes,she went into the kitchen and made a hot cup of tea. She gave it to Nabeela and urged "Come on,take it to your brother and then ask him about his date with Leylah".

"No mum,I don't want to,I can't" Nabeela replied.

"I don't even know why I waste my time with you. You should better stop this your grudge towards Leylah". Mrs Najma said and took the tea gingerly upstairs to Suraj.

She knocked a few times on the door before Suraj came to open it. When he saw that it was his mother,he left the door open and went back inside to sit on his bed .

"Son have this,it will warm you up".Mrs Najma said smiling .

"Thanks mum,but I don't want it". He replied not looking at his mother.

Mrs Najma knew something happened that's why her son was in this mood now. she dropped the cup of hot tea on the table and went to sit on the bed with Suraj.

"What's wrong Suraj, did you argue with Leylah again? Why are you so upset?"

"I don't want to hear it again mum! Leylah,Leylah, Leylah every time. Can't I be upset again? Why does my life have to revolve around Leylah?" He shouted angrily at his mother.

He calmed himself for a bit before he continued,

"I don't want to have anything to do with Leylah again,ever. If you will please excuse me mum,I need to sleep"

Mrs Najma was sad,she felt hurt. Her son has never spoken to her in such way and manner before. She didn't want to upset him further,so she said "May Allah ease all the pains in your heart. No matter what, don't forget your family is here for you and will always love you". She said in a loving voice and quietly went out of the room.

Nabeabeela and Zara were at the door eavesdropping, and when they saw Mrs Najma coming out,there quietly ran to Nabeela's room.

"Our plan did work my friend,its a success" Zara said hugging Nabeela excitedly.

"Yes but my brother is hurt,he looks really sad" Nabeela complained.

"Its better this way,but I promise he won't be sad for too long. I'll make him feel better". Zara assured and Nabeela just gave her a ridiculous look and went back to thinking in her bed.

Suraj didn't sleep throughout the night. He performed several nafilats(voluntary night prayers) which finally calmed his heart and soul.

And after praying the morning obligatory prayers, he went to his mother's room to apologise for his behavior last night.

"Am sorry mum,I was rude to you last night. Please forgive me". Suraj said lowering his head down as he felt ashamed of his actions.

His mother looked at him,shook her head and continued to fold her mat she had used to pray some minutes ago.

"Mum please,I was just very upset yesterday,you know I haven't ever behaved in such manner before".

Mrs Najma looked at her son this time and said,

"look son,you know I get upset when you're upset. And as your mother I only wanted to know what or who made my son upset. but what did you do? You sent me out like som...." She was interrupted by Suraj before she completed her sentence.

"Mum...you know that I would never upset you intentionally" he moved closer to his mother,holding her face in his hand he continued,

"you the best mother in the whole world and I love you so much and would never hurt you".

"Am sorry for raising my voice,I spent the whole night begging Allah(God)to forgive me for that".

"So please mum,forgive your sweet son,the coolness of your eyes,your only son..." Suraj wanted to go on and on about all the names his mum used to call him but his mum stopped him and gave him a hug,

"I forgive you my handsome son"

"Thank you my beautiful mother".

Later, Mrs Najma asked her son about what happened between him and Leylah but he didn't say. He just told her that he and Leylah belonged in different worlds then he left for work early.

When Leylah woke up,it was still early in the morning. But the lights from the windows woke her. She said good morning to Ibraheem,checked his vitals and said "I need to get home,pray and change,then I'll come back okay" she said and quickly left.

when she got home,She saw her mother pacing up and down the place, a worried look on her face. She hadn't thought her mother will already be back from her uncle's place.

"Welcome mum,you came back so early" She said.

"Yes Leylah,and you? why are you just coming back home? Where were you all night? I called but you never picked" She fired at Leylah folding her arms on her chest in a domineering manner.

"Sorry mum for making you worry. I was with Ibraheem at the hospital" Leylah explained,and started walking up to her room. Her mood became got ruined when her mum reminded her of last night.

"Why? Did something happen? Hope Ibraheem is okay?".Mrs Karina asked worriedly as she followed her daughter to her room.

"Yes mum,he is fine". she said as she went into the bathroom in her room,leaving her mum alone in her room.

After some minutes,Leylah got ready and looked at her mum who seemed to have a lot of questions on her mind. "I must be on my way now,I'll see you when I get back" she said as she hugged her mum.

"Wait my darling,won't you have break fast?"

"No mumcant. I have to go now".

"You didn't tell me how your date went with Su..."

"Mum don't even say that despicable person's name again"

"Goodness! Leylah? What happened?"Mrs Karina exclaimed as she was shocked.

"I have to go to work now and please do me a favour and never mention his name to me ever again". Leylah said sternly and left hurriedly.

Mrs Karina was flabbergasted, 'how did things between them get this worse?I thought they were starting to get along' she wondered inwardly.

She picked up her phone and called Suraj but it rang severally without any response. She tried a few times but still no answer. So she thought to go to the Al-kaseem's house to find out what really happened.

"Good morning Najma"

"Karina! Good morning. come in". Mrs Najma said closing the door and walking Mrs Karina to the sofa. "what brings you here this early in the morning?hope everything is fine" She asked.

"Yes everything is fine but I can't say the same for Suraj and Leylah"

"Hmmm! I was about to come talk about this too".

"Suraj came home really upset last night. It's been a while since he was that upset. And when I asked him what happened he refused to say a word. until this morning when he just told me that he and Leylah belonged in different world's."

"Like what does that even mean?. I thought they were starting to get along?" Mrs Najma asked confused when she finished explaining everything.

"I thought so my self, Leylah was so excited about going out to dinner with him yesterday. So I don't understand why they are behaving like this now" Mrs Karina said as she furrowed her brows.

"Really?"

"Yes"

"But you know what? We can't just sit back and watch them destroy they lives like this. Because we know they both love each other

"But I heard Leylah is thinking about getting married to some other guy" Mrs Najma said eyeing Mrs karina suspiciously.

"No,she broke up with him already. Because after returning home,she realised that she was still in love with Suraj and so she broke off the relationship"

"What a relieve,i got worried when i heard it. What do we do now? Both of them are not saying anything"

"Don't worry Najma,i'll go to the hospital and try to talk to the both of them. They need to stop this childish game of theirs"

"Oh! I pray they listen to you because am tired of this their games too"

Both women talked for a while before Mrs Karina finally left. Nabeela who was making breakfast in the kitchen heard everything the women finished saying.

'Is what Aunt Karina saying true? Is Leylah still in love with my brother? Did she break up with her fiancé?, I'll have to ask Zara". She mumbled to herself.