The Longest Autumn

As salatu khairum minnan naum…

As salatu khairum minnan naum…

(Neend se behtar hai namaz. 

Namaz is better than sleep)

The call was echoing in the air but everyone was ignoring it and sleeping other than only one person. 

She rubbed her eyes with her hand and dangled her legs down from the bed. Eyes still half sleepy due to the medicine she took before sleeping. 

The warm feet felt the coldness of the hard marble floor. She hissed when her left knee had a loud cracking sound followed by a sharp pain. 

“Haye Allah, budhapa bhi badi buri cheez hai." Mumbling that she walked towards the bathroom with her tiny steps. 

(Oh my God, old age is a really terrible thing.)

Giving her weight to the wall she reached the bathroom. Did ablution and turned to go back to the room, her wet hand grabbed the corner of door, right foot crossed the threshold but before the other foot could cross it her wet fingers slipped against the polished wood. She instinctively reached for the wall.

But there was nothing to hold on to and..

<><><>

"Dadi Jaan, breakfa…” Eyes fixed on the plate she was holding in her hand, Fayra stepped into the room while making a small space between the mug of milk and toast, but her heart skipped a beat when found Momina lying on the floor. 

"Dadi Jaan.” almost dropping the plate on the bed Fayra ran towards the lady who was unconscious now. "Dadi Jaan.” kneeling on the floor she touched the face of the old lady. Hands and legs shivering she placed her hand on nose, the breath was working but she wasn't opening her eyes and not even responding. 

"Dadi jaan.” Patting her wrinkled cheeks, a panicked Fayra sprinkled some water on her face but still no response. Tears started gathering in her eyes, heart was sinking down and hands were turning lifeless. She looked here and there. Scared. 

“Papa… pa—” she yelled but was stopped by a sudden realisation. There was no one at home other than Fayra, Danish and Momina. 

"Danish.” Still patting Momina’s cheek, Fayra yelled but he didn't hear her call or maybe he intentionally ignored because this voice kept echoing in his head, so differentiating between the real one and his imagination was almost impossible. 

"Daaanish.” Yelling loudly she ran towards the stairs. 

Danish was surprised, this call didn't feel like his imagination. Standing up from the bed he put the laptop aside and stepped ahead towards the door but before he could step outside a crying Fayra entered while wiping her tears away. 

“Danish…”

“What happened?" Forgetting everything he asked, worried about her condition. 

“Da…dadi Jaan.” Fayra was unable to utter anything but Danish understood the matter and ran downstairs followed by the crying Fayra. 

“Stop crying and call the ambulance." Danish yelled while stepping inside Momina's room. Picking the head of his grandmother he rested it in his lap and Momina struggled to open her eyes but couldn't. 

<><><>

“Doctor." Danish stepped towards the doctor who was coming out from the emergency room. “How is my Dadi?" 

“There is a fracture in her leg. She is still unconscious, maybe it's due to severe pain, or maybe some kind of injury in head. We need some time to examine, some scans need to be done." The doctor discussed with Danish, Fayra was standing a step away from him hearing him clearly but unable to utter a single word. She was still scared. A few months ago Sara’s health scared this girl and now this incident. 

“Do anything, just save her." Danish nodded and the doctor left. Fayra looked here and there, she was empty handed, in urgency to get into the ambulance she forgot to bring her mobile phone and bag.

“Danish." She didn't know what her call did to his heart one more time. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and let it go slowly before turning towards her. 

“Hmm?" Just a glance at her face and he intentionally fixed his eyes to the wall behind her instead of her face. 

"Mobile.” She muttered. Without thinking even once he pulled his mobile out from the pocket and put it on her palm. 

Fayra took no time to unlock it, she already knew the password.

"Wait, what are you doing?” Asked Danish when noticed her about to dial a number. She slowly lifted her lashes to see him. Danish's heart skipped a beat. She never wanted this girl to cry. Her tears burn her heart. 

"I… I'm calling papa.” she muttered, no voice came out from her lips. 

"Don't call them, they will all be stressed out. I'm not even informing Mumma and Dad.” Danish shrugged and Fayra silently returned his mobile. 

Only three days ago Adnaan took Sara to Kashmir to make her feel a bit better, he wanted to take Fayra along but this girl refused as she wanted to be at home and look after business, however seeing Adnaan and Sara going, Zinia and Zunera demanded to join them, resulting Afnaan also join them with his wife and daughters. Moreover, Zinia deserved a post exam break to relax her mind after a breakless studying routine. 

Adnaan and Sara didn't even think once to leave Fayra alone because they knew, Fayra wasn't practically alone at home. Anzala and Maizah were there. No matter how many disputes or differences they had but they would never ignore Fayra in need. That was the beauty of Rizwis, they were a family even after having clashes between them. But last night Anzala and Maizah had to go to Aligarh urgently because Bisma was hospitalized due to complications in her pregnancy. 

And now, Danish and Fayra were alone to handle the situation. 

Danish looked at Fayra, she was silently taking her seat on the bench, still crying. He wanted to ignore her but when did he learn to ignore her pain? Never. 

Sensing his eyes on herself Fayra looked up, their eyes met. A question rose in her eyes. Will Sadi Jaan become fine? 

Danish read the question, but he had no answer so he walked away from the corridor. Fayra closed her eyes, resting her elbows on her thighs and hid her face in palms. Heart continuously praying, lips trembling due to fear.

Soon a movement on the bench grabbed her attention, sliding the hand from her face she looked at the man taking his seat at a one hand distance, then glanced at the paper cup filled with hot coffee, present between them. Their eyes met, Danish was the first to lower his gaze, he slowly shifted the cup of coffee towards her and walked towards the white door which was showing a small glimpse of his grandmother through a glasshole. 

His eyes turned wet, but the strong man didn't let the wetness turn into tears.

What was the reason behind these tears?

Either he knew or his God. 

Composing himself he turned to go back to the bench when the gate opened. “Are you with the patient?” A nurse came out from the room. "Yes." Danish immediately stepped forward.

"The doctor needs a few details. Does the patient have diabetes? High blood pressure? Is she taking any regular medication?"

Danish answered whatever he knew.

"We'll be shifting her for a CT scan. The fall has caused a fracture, but until the scan comes back, we can't rule out a head injury.” and Danish nodded. 

<><><>

After some formalities Danish came back to the same spot where Fayra was still sitting with untouched coffee.

Just like every other thing about her, he noticed this too.

"It's getting cold." Just a gesture towards the cup and he sat down at a distance. 

Fayra silently picks the cup. Took one sip. But couldn't swallow because of the lump in her throat. 

She looked at her right side, he was sitting silently. They both were empty but who cares about food when a loved one is sick. 

Before she could ask him to go and have something, his phone rang.

Dad 

Fayra noticed a name flashing on it but soon Danish rejected it.

A minute later another call.

Mumma Calling.

Again rejected. Fayra noticed and finally asked, "Why aren't you answering?"

Danish was surprised, was she talking to him? But who was there with whom she could talk? 

"If they hear my voice, they'll know something is wrong." He replied without looking at her, because only one glance could beat his heart again for this girl whom he had loved from all his heart and soul. 

“Your ignorance will make sure that something is definitely wrong.” He couldn't help but look towards her. Their eyes met, not for a moment but a little longer. The mobile present in Danish's hand again rang. 

“Pick it up. Tell bade papa." She suggested but Danish wasn't sure about this decision. He didn't want to stress out his parents when they were already worried for Bisma and the unborn child. 

"Don't let them know the intense situation, just tell them that Dadi Jaan is not well." He nodded and picked the call, doing exactly what Fayra suggested. 

<><><><>

Everything was black. Dull. Lifeless. 

Until some kind of beeping sound started rising in the background. Fingers feel some energy to move, slowly the palm feels the softness of the sheet and a pinching pain on the other hand. 

Eyelids feel as heavy as a rock, still she dared to open her eyes to have a glance of an unfamiliar place. White walls, plain ceiling, a few medical machinery and equipment, while she was all alone in the room. Her leg felt a sharp pain and something heavy was tightly wrapped around it. She tried her best to remember the last thing that happened to her but couldn't recall anything other than the fajr azaan and a wet bathroom floor. 

A forceful recall gave nothing besides a sharp headache. 

……

Danish and Fayra were sitting in front of an old aged man who was looking at some papers. 

“Is everything fine, doctor?” Fayra dared to ask and the old man looked up. He took a few seconds to nod his head before reading the reports again. 

"Overall, it's good news. No brain hemorrhage. No internal bleeding. Only a fracture. Nothing serious. But she has a small subdural hematoma." Danish and Fayra looked at each other. Both of them wanted to ask what is a hematoma? But the old man understood the reason behind this confused look. “It's a small bleed in the brain, which is more common in older adults after a fall. No surgery is needed. Just some right medication. But she needs to stay in the hospital for several days under observation.” 

"She is safe, nothing dangerous. Right?” Danish wanted another reassurance and the doctor nodded. 

"Yes, she is absolutely fine. Just need to stay in observation.”  

Fayra smiled and felt as if she could breathe again. 

"Thank you doctor." They both stood up and walked towards the room where Momina was shifted just a few minutes ago. Danish looked at Fayra, he wanted to say something but what? He didn't know. 

She wanted to say something but what, she also didn't know. 

With silence they stepped into the room and a huge smile crawled to their lips. A nurse was changing Momina's drip and the old lady was already asking about her family. 

"Dadi jaaaaaan. Jaan nikaal di thi aapne.” Fayra didn't bother to pay attention to the nurse and the junior doctor checking the medicine, she just scott to the old lady lying on the bed and placed her head on her chest while giving a light squeeze to her shoulder.  

(You scare me.)

Danish also came near the bed and placed his hand on Momina’s forehead, brushing away her white hairs. 

"Give her some space. Please maintain a distance.” Fayra lifted her head from Momina's chest and looked at the doctor who left the room after instructing the nurse about the medicines. 

“Take care Aunty ji, call me if you need something." With a professional smile the nurse also left the room. Fayra was sitting in the bed, holding Momina's hand and Danish was standing just a few inches away from Momina, still caressing her wrinkled cheeks and forehead. 

“Dadi Jaan, say something na." Danish demanded in a small voice and Momina lifted her gaze towards Danish then to Fayra. 

"Tum dono sath?” Momina was confused but this small sentence increased the stress of the environment. Fayra and Danish looked at each other then looked away like strangers one more time. 

(You two, together?)

"Araam kriye, theek hone ke liye araam karna zaruri hai."  Danish smiled. 

(Take rest, you need rest to get well soon.)

"Tumhe sath dekh ke main theek ho gyi hu. Just take me home.” the old lady had a smile on her lips as if a dying person get oxygen to stay alive.

I'm already fine after seeing both of you together.)