Chapter 24

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24| Nawal

Ahad, as expected, got very busy with work but he still called at least once in the day to talk about how are day had been going so far and he'd just vent out his work frustrations and I gladly listened. Just the small acts started mattering so much to me that I felt my heart swell with joy every time I read Ahad's name as my caller ID. About ten days ago, we had sat over the weekend and set up my classes and I had online classes in the afternoon every other day so today as I wrapped up my studies, I thought of doing something productive. Our room space looked a little empty so I thought of adding a few pictures of us together on the walls and I was planning to make a separate album for all the pictures we took on our honeymoon too so I thought to get them all printed out and purchased a new album too. I had done all the outside stuff earlier today before my classes so I stood up on the bed right now and selected three of the best pictures and hung them up with frames. I sat back down and took out the photos from the envelope and placed them in the album in order of date and wrote small little headings for each day. I took a picture of the wall art and sent it to Ahad with a red heart and switched off the phone when he didn't reply for the next few minutes. I called him but he didn't pick up so I just brushed it off, thinking he might be immersed in work. My mother called and I instantly picked up. We greeted each other and she moved onto the main topic of the conversation.

"Nawal, we're planning to visit your in laws in a few days to finalize the date for Rumaisa and Rauf's nikkah. Are you okay with it?" I loved how she still needed my input in everything before she could decide.

"Yes, mama, I'm okay with it though I will have to decide whether I want to be there as Rauf bhai's sister or Rumi's bhabhi." I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. Seriously jumping between both relations was hard work.

"You can do whatever you like but I will also need to come with me to get the dresses for the nikkah ceremony."

She sounded tense as if worried that everything might not be done time. This was a bad habit that she had, overthinking everything but she was my mother after all.

"Yes, yes, I will come along but let's get the date first before thinking about the shopping?" I tried to calm her down as well as I could on call and cut the call when she seemed relieved.

There were still a few hours until Ahad got back home so I just watched a series on TV but the bell rang and I quickly ran to the door to get it. I looked through the eyehole to check that it was Ahad and I excitedly opened the door but all that washed away by concern when I looked at him.

He was in a very bad condition. His hair was a crazy mess, spread out messily over his forehead and his shirt was completely untucked. The three top buttons on his shirt were open, revealing half his chest and his sleeves seemed to be rolled up in a hurry and one of them was rolled higher up on his arm than the other. His jacket was loosely hanging in one arm and his other hand gripped the door frame to keep himself from falling down. There was a sheen of sweat on his face and his eyes were downcast as he breathed heavily as if all oxygen had been sucked out of his lungs.

"Ahad! What happened?" I quickly walked outside to him and he leaned against me as I wrapped my arm around his waist and he lazily put his around my shoulders as I guided him inside the house. He slumped on the couch, his head instantly falling back on the head rest as he closed his eyes and his breathing pattern only seemed to get worse. I had no idea what was happening so I just panicked, not knowing how to help him and improve his state.

"Jaan, get me some juice please." He barely managed out between labored breaths and I scurried off into the kitchen and got him some mango juice. Ahad had a habit of drinking some kind of cold beverage every day when he got back from work so I kept the fridge stocked. I poured the juice in the tallest glass I found because he looked like he needed a lot of it and took it outside to him, making sure I didn't drop any.

I sat down next to him and gave him the glass and he took it between both his hands but his hands were shaking so badly that I had to hold the glass with him so he wouldn't spill it over himself. I watched as he emptied out the glass and I set it away on the table in front of us. His head fell on my shoulders and I actually thought he passed out.

"Ahad?!" I called out worriedly as I shook his head but just mumbled something about wanting to rest so I took his head away from his shoulder and brought it down into my lap as he laid down on the couch. One of his arms was hanging down from he couch and the other was perched on his eyes, covering them. His leg was down flat on the couch and the other was propped up and bent at the knee.

His breathing seemed to slightly get better as he wasn't breathing as heavily as before but it still wasn't back to normal. I ran my hand through his hair then down his face and neck and over his chest, massaging the area slightly. When my hand stopped over his heart, I could faintly feel it beating underneath, a little slower for an average human being. I looked down at him as he lay still, looking drained and lifeless. This was so unlike him to be so quiet and exhausted and a tear slipped out of my eye as I saw the condition my husband was in. I guessed that what happened was that his blood pressure fell but it seemed to have fallen a lot from the state he was in.

I did all I could to improve his condition as my heart hurt to see the man I loved in pain. Nothing other than love could describe what I felt for him and I hoped he felt the same but that didn't matter right now.

His body temperature was cooler than usual and I missed the warmth he radiated. I brushed aside his hair from his forehead and pressed a kiss there.

"Jaan... Don't worry, okay? This has happened before. I'll be better in the morning. Sorry for worrying you." He whispered but it wasn't intentional, he just couldn't talk any louder right now.

"I'll always worry, Ahad." I told him with a small smile as he sat on the sofa and nearly collapsed again so I supported him and led him to our room upstairs where I gently tucked him under the covers and watched over him because I couldn't get myself to sleep.

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