Heeba's POV,
"You are my strong girl, right?? You are an angel sent by God to keep them together. Don't get hurt because of her bullshit." Nani Ammi said while she rubbed my head as I laid my head on her lap.
"Nani Ammi did I ruin their lives?? I am very bad. Because of me, they have to tolerate each other. I am the reason they have to spend their lives with each other. I shouldn't have been born. If I wouldn't be born they would be happy in their lives after leaving each other. I'm right??" I said and tears started rolling down my cheeks. She pulled my head away from her lap. Taking my face in her hands caressing my cheeks.
"You are not right!! You are totally wrong. You are the sole reason your family is together till now. You are the reason your siblings have both of their parents with them. Who told you this nonsense?? You brought happiness into their lives. Yes, they tolerate each other because of you. But it happens. It happens between every couple. And you keep together. You will have to keep them together your entire life. And I know you can do it. You are their daughter. Please never give up on them. And don't ever think you shouldn't have been born. Your birth is the happiest thing that happened in their as well as in my life. Understood!! I love you. I love you more than anything in this world. And I would love you till the last breath of my life. Your existence is way more important in many people's lives than you know. You are my brave girl. Never ever think like that again. OKK??" She said while wiping my tears away.
"You won't leave me ever, right?? You will always be there for me." I asked between my sobs.
"I would never leave you."
"Promise??" "I promise. I will always be there." She said and took me in a hug.
"Please never leave me," I said while hugging her back. More tears started forming in my eyes.
"You are my brave angel. Always remember that." She said breaking a hug and wiping more tears.
All of a sudden everything became blurry. The world began to spin. I couldn't understand anything. And suddenly I opened my eyes with a jerk. And that's when reality hit me hard. It was just a dream. My brain was playing games with me. I wiped the sweat buds from my forehead. Many things were going on inside my mind. Whenever I even thought about giving up Nani Ammi or dammi never let me do that. Even after going from our lives, they didn't stop caring for us or caring for me.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Few tears escape from my eyes no matter how much I tried to hold them. I opened my eyes and took a picture of Nani Ammi from my side table drawer. It was a picture of her sitting with my head in her lap and caressing my cheeks lovingly. I caressed her face with my fingers. More tears started to flow from my eyes. I kissed the picture and brought it close to my chest. I again closed my eyes to get a hold of my emotions. But it was getting more and more difficult to do it. I removed it from my chest and looked at her with teary eyes and said,
"You promised me that you would never leave me. Then why did you break it?? I miss you so so much. I miss you every single day of my life. You should have been here, with me. I wish I could know who was that bastard that you away from me?? I would eradicate his entire family. How can someone be so cruel to do that?? You knew how much I needed you and dammi. I am tired. I am tired of taking care of everyone. I just can't do it anymore. I want you here with me. I love you. I love you so so much. I wish you were here with me. I need you, Nani ammi."
And again pulled it to my chest. I cried for a good amount of time with her picture before getting back to my normal state. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand.
"You were right, nani ammi. I am the daughter of this family. It's my responsibility to keep this family together. And would do that till my last breath. I will never let anything change it. I promise you that. And never break my promise." With determination in my eyes, I said it to her.
I hugged it one last time and put it back in its place. I looked at the clock. It's 8pm. Kashish might be coming back. So, I thought of ready the hot water for her bath. I went to the bathroom and 'ON' the gizer. As soon as I came out of the bathroom I heard the doorbell. And by knowing the time, I didn't have to check to know who had come! I went back to my study table to organize it properly as I hadn't done it when I got up from there. As I finished doing it, I went to the bedroom door and turned the knob to open it. Kashish came in front of me.
"Ohhh!! Aapi you are awake. Hamdan told me that you were sleeping. That's why I opened the door slowly. Not to make noise."
"Yep!! I woke up a while ago. And I have on the gizer for you. You can go and take a bath." I said.
"Thank you aapi. You are so good. My whole body was aching badly. I really needed it." She said and hugged me tightly. I pushed her away from me.
"Why do you have to be so touchy?? You could have thanked me with a proper distance as well." I said and she rolled her eyes at me. "Go before it gets cold." I continued.
*******************An hour later**********************
I was sitting in the living room on the sofa in between with my parents on each side. After a hardship of half an hour, I convince them to let me go to the office if the doctor said I am fine to go before a week as well. Now, we three were sitting in front of my laptop waiting for a video call to connect to our family doctor. They were still not happy with me about it and gave me a glare once in a few minutes. Soon the call got connected.
"Asalam walaikum, Salim doctor." Abbu was the first to greet him.
"Walaikum as salam, Rashid. What happened?? All good??" Salim doctor asked abbu with a bit of worry in his tone.
"As you know about heeba's allergy and her recent incident with her. We wanted to ask you if it's fine if she joins the office now?? Because you told her to rest at least for two weeks. And she says she is fine. So, if just wanted to know if there's any problem with doing that???" Ammi explained to him the whole reason for our call. He hummed in reply and lean back at his chair with his forefinger and thumb on his cheeks.
"Are you sure you want to go so soon, Heeba?? I mean your insides might need some more rest as you know how severe your allergy is!!" He asked me with a questioning tone.
"Yep!! I know that. But, I am fine now. One week is more than enough for me to rest. And besides, I get bored resting all day." I answered him and he slightly laughed at my reply.
"Oh, my busy girl!! Fine, you can go. But you have to take extra care of yourself. Don't eat anything heavy for one more week. Avoid eating junk food as well. Have a proper breakfast. If you can follow my instructions then you can go." He said.
"Yes, sure!! I can do that." I replied without wasting a second.
"Is there anything else you want to tell her?? I would take a note of it." Ammi said still not happy with it.
"Nope!! I think this much will do. And yes please take your medicines on time." He said to them.
"Sure!!"
"So, that's it. I have to attend to some patients now. Talk to you later guys. Bye!!" He said seeing we finished.
"OK!! Bye." We said and ended the call.
I took a sigh of relief and looked at my parents. They were giving each other looks. I was confused thinking what they wanted to say now?? Salim uncle himself agreed to it, now what's the problem?? I rolled my eyes thinking whatever it is I wish they didn't spoil my mood again.
"What is it Ammi Abbu?? Care to speak." I said seeing both of them are not going to say it on their own.
"We.... were....thinking it's been we all went somewhere together. I mean as a family trip. As you were also free so..." Abbu got cut off in between as Ammi stopped him and said,
"No, it's nothing. Leave it. You should go now."
"Are you sure, ammi?? You didn't want to say something." I asked her suspiciously narrowing my eyes at her. She shook her head vigorously.
"Nope!! Nothing. I am sure." She said with a big smile. I looked at abbu.
He was looking at Ammi with a confused expression. I again looked at ammi. She still had that smile on her face. I sigh heavily thinking they are definitely hiding something from me. And it's no use asking them. I am damn sure they won't tell me. So why waste energy on asking?? I will find myself. With that, I headed to my room upstairs. As soon as I entered my room I closed my door and smirked at myself. It was really very hard to assure them. I don't think they would agree if I didn't do it.
(Flashback)
"Salim uncle, I am really very fine now. I don't need any more rest." I said to the doctor being frustrated to explain it to him.
"Heeba, but your insides still need it. And I know you won't rest and take your medicines on time once you join back. No, I won't agree to it." He said not ready to listen.
"But I promise I will do everything as you say. I will take my medicines. And everything else as well. Just say that I am good to go to my parents. It will be damn hard to convince them if you don't help. I beg you, please. And besides, I have so much pending work to do at the office. If I rest some more. It will increase and then I have to exhaust myself to complete it. And it will again affect my health. So please understand." I begged him. I heard him sighing in defeat.
"OKK!! I'll do it. But you have to promise me that you will follow everything as I say. UNDERSTOOD!!"
"Yep!! I'll do it for sure. Don't worry. I won't let you regret it. And yeah please don't tell my parents about our little chat. They won't agree then." I said and at the end with worry if he will inform them about this.
"You silly girl!! What all do you make me do?? Fine, I won't tell. Happy now." I said in a defeating tone.
"Very much," I said smiling ear to ear, and hung up the call.
(Flashback ends)