Dr Ismail sat upright in his seat after both their gaze met.
"I also didn't expect that to be the test result." He said at once.
Haider, dazed from what he had just seen tried to fathom what to say.
"Leukemia? How?" Haider finally uttered.
"Well, most patients I see that have this form of leukemia also known as cancer of the body's blood forming tissues are children,"He explained. "it's not that common in adults, so I was a bit shocked too."
Haider listened attentively as his eyes travelled to the test paper occasionally.
"This explains the cause of her persistent fatigue, weight loss and fever." Dr Ismail told Haider.
Haider looked up from the paper and at the doctor that sat in his front.
"Can it be cured?" Concern filled his eyes.
Ismail shook his head.
"There's currently no cure for this disease. But the good news is that it can be controlled,"he paused contemplating whether or not to break the next news to Haider.
"And the bad news?" Haider sighed.
Dr Ismail hesitated before speaking.
"Unfortunately she's at the critical stage where the leukemia is aggressive and the cells are rapidly multiplying. When I asked you yesterday if she showed any early symptoms, you said no, I believe that back then, the cells weren't aggressive and rapidly multiplying and that explains why no symptom was shown."
Haider's heart instantly shattered as his ears pricked hearing what the doctor had just said.
As if knowing that his mother had cancer of the blood was not enough.
His tears filled eyes couldn't hold back any more tear, so they just slowly released the droplets of liquid from their hold.
"The treatment for this stage of her leukemia is chemotherapy,"Dr Ismail interlocked his fingers."And it is most likely to be followed up with radiation and stem cell transplant."he added.
Haider's throat became dry making it hard for him to swallow saliva.
"But we'll try our very best to make her better InshaAllah." Ismail added.
Haider nodded his head slowly as he cleared his teary eyes.
"InshaAllah." Haider shook Dr Ismail's hand before exiting the office.
He arrived in front of Azeeza's hospital door and looked at his wife and mother through the small circular glass on the door.
Another tear trickled down his cheek.
He fished out his phone and texted Basma.
Assalamualaikum,
I got the test result.
Can you come out for a second?
Immediately Basma read her husband's message, she told Azeeza she was going to get something before leaving the room.
Haider was sitted on the the bench opposite Azeeza's room, close to a potted plant.
"Haider?" Basma's voice came once she noticed his sore eyes. "What happened?"
Haider remained silent and handed her the paper that was in his hand.
She ran her eyes through the test paper but nothing registered into her brain.
"What does it mean? I don't understand a thing." She looked at her husband.
"Blood cancer. Mama has blood cancer." he turned to look at his wife's eyes that held different emotions.
Basma's eyes enlarged to the size of a saucer with her hand over her open mouth.
"SubhanAllah!" She exclaimed.
"Dr Ismail said the cells are multiplying rapidly," He sniffed." Mama's not staying with us for long."
"Don't say that,"Basma placed both her hands on Haider's cheeks and turned his face to her. "We have to trust Allah, don't say that." She stared deep into his eyes while caressing the skin of his cheeks in a loving manner.
Haider let out a small mhm and brought his phone out hastily.
"Do you want to call someone?"Basma noticed the pace at which he grabbed his phone.
"Na'am, Umaymah." He replied unlocking his phone.
"No," Basma stopped his finger from clicking on the call button. "Don't inform her, she'd get really worried,"Basma added.
"She just got married and shouldn't be stressed,"Basma pointed out. "I'll take up all the responsibilities that comes with this."
"But..."
"Trust me, okay?"Basma looked at Haider's face with upmost assurance.
"Are you sure about this?" He made his hand find its way to her face grazing her smooth skin.
"Yes. I'm sure." She nodded in a reassuring way.
Haider immediately pulled her into a surprise hug.
He sniffed while wrapping his arms around her.
"Shukran." He whispered in her ear.
"Glad to be of any assistance." She hugged him back and rubbed his back with her hand in a to and fro motion.
°°°
As soon as the last lecturer exited the class, Umaymah began packing her books into her bag.
Khair turned to her and smiled sheepishly.
Umaymah noticed her intense stares from the corner of her eyes.
"Did something perhaps happen?" Umaymah arched her brows without looking at Khair.
She continued packing her bag.
"That guy." Khair's voice came.
A frown formed on Umaymah's face.
"Which guy?" She asked back.
Khair face palmed herself before her british accent filled the atmosphere. "The handsome dude, the one I noticed while we were sitting outside on the bench, remember?"
That's when it clicked to Umaymah.
The intensity of her frown increased.
"I already told you to lower your gaze, he might be someone else's husband." She zipped up her bag.
A loud hiss was let out by Khair.
"Why are you still on about that? It's not like he's even your..."Umaymah cut her off.
"He is my husband." She got up from her seat and approached the door with her seatmate trailing behind her.
The atmosphere was silent and Umaymah almost thanked Allah that Khair had stopped her ranting when a mocking laugh escaped from Khair.
"Oh really?" Tears had gathered in her eyes due to the laughter. "He's also my husband. I'm his second wife." She added between giggles mockingly at Umaymah.
Umaymah shot Khair dangerous glares which she just ignored.
She made her way to her usual spot; the bench outside the school premises.
Umaymah's mind drifted to what Khair had said minutes back.
A frown sat on her face in an unpleasant manner just at the thought of it, but after a few inhales, exhales and mutter of Ya Salam a few times, the frown slowly disappeared.
She waited patiently for Salman to come and get her.
To while away time, she pulled out a novel and continued reading it from where her bookmark was situated.
As she read her book, Khair sat beside her on the bench and she didn't even noticed.
Khair was busy scrolling on her phone when a voice drew both their attention.
"Ummi." The usually husky deep voice came.
The two ladies snapped their heads up.
Khair's eyes instantly filled themselves with glamour.
Her eyes peered at Salman.
She was hypnotized by lust already.
A smirk was plastered on Umaymah's face as she rose up from her position and grabbed her bag.
Without saying anything to Khair, Umaymah casually walked to where Salman stood.
A smile uplifted on Salman's face, and Umaymah returned it.
Surprise was instantly written all over Salman's face.
"How was work?" She smiled as she proceeded to hugging him.
Salman's eyes grew wider as he hesitantly returned the hug.
"Urmm... Work was great, Alhamdullilah."
Is she fine?
Umaymah took few glances back at Khair who sat on the bench with her hands over her open mouth.
"I really missed you." She cooed as she softly pulled his right cheek.
"Huh?" Salman blinked as he raised his hand to feel her forehead, but Umaymah caught hold of his hand midway and entwined their fingers.
Salman raised her hand and placed a soft kiss behind her hand.
Why is she acting super weird? Ya Salam, am in trouble?
"Yallah, let's go." Umaymah began walking hand in hand with her husband while turning her head backwards a couple of times.
"In your face Khair!" satisfaction filled Umaymah's face.
Salman noticed her frequent action of glancing back and traced where she was staring at before he finally understood what she was doing.
He held her hand a bit tighter making her turn her gaze to him.
"You smart lady." Salman smiled.
"What?" She rolled her eyes.
"That..." He was about turning his head backwards.
"Don't dare look back." She said through gritted teeth.
"But, you..."
"Don't!" It was now her turn to tighten her grip on his hand.
"Alright, I won't." He whisper-yelled from the pain of her sudden tight grip.
Once they were in the car, Salman looked at his wife with total admiration.
"I see you want me all to yourself." He had his signature smirk on.
"Oh please Salman, that was all just acting,"she folded her arms over her chest. "Don't become so full of yourself."
"Why act? Huh?"
"Because I felt like."her answer came.
"Or maybe you were just jealous of the way she checked me out,"he winked. "I noticed her."
"You noticed her?"her eyes twitched as she spoke with a slightly high pitched voice directly at her husband's face.
"No...I didn't..."Umaymah cut him off.
"So she really doesn't want to back off." She mumbled.
"Hmm, I smell jealousy, I wonder where it's coming from." Salman started the car.
Umaymah scoffed.
"Why would I be jealous, you're already my husband."she immediately blurted out what she didn't want to say.
Giggles evaporated from Salman's lips.
"I really have to get that sentence you just uttered, written, designed, printed, frame it then put it by your bedside so it's the first thing you see when you wake up everyday." Salman had one hand on the steering wheel then extended his other hand to the back of his wife's head, bringing her closer to him for his routine forehead kiss.
"How was school?" He asked like nothing had just happened.
"Food was good... I mean school." She tried suppressing the sound of her grumbling stomach.
"Nice, Mrs grumbling tummy."he teased as he drove for a restaurant.