At the stroke of 4 a.m., Inaya was jolted awake by a relentless wave of nausea. It marked the fifth time that night that she had succumbed to the violent heaves, leaving her utterly spent, with nothing but the bitter taste of emptiness lingering in her parched throat.
In the aftermath of her divorce, Inaya sought refuge in the temporary sanctuary of Aria's home. With her real estate properties all leased out, the decision to reside with Aria seemed both practical and comforting. Yet, as fate would have it, Aria's sudden departure in the early hours of the morning left Inaya grappling with her sense of solitude.
As the evening shadows descended, a creeping unease began to gnaw at Inaya's senses. Initially attributing her discomfort to the natural rhythms of pregnancy, she soon found herself ensnared in the relentless grip of illness. Each violent convulsion left her drained and disoriented, grappling with the realization that something was amiss.
Though she knew she could lean on the support of her friends, Inaya found herself paralyzed by a stubborn pride, and a reluctance to burden others with her suffering. Yet, as the night wore on and her condition worsened, her resolve crumbled beneath the weight of her despair.
Before Inaya could reach the bathroom, a surge of nausea overwhelmed her, forcing her to vomit uncontrollably. Bewildered and weak, she couldn't fathom how she ended up back in bed, reaching out to dial the first number she could find in her moment of distress.
"Sorry, I'm currently in a surgery. Please call me later"
Joon's voice note echoed with regret, apologizing as he explained he was unavailable. Inaya, feeling weary, then dialed Lucas's number. But as soon as he answered, she heard the slurred speech of a drunken companion beside him. Disheartened, she swiftly ended the call.
With no other recourse, Inaya finally reached out to William, though she hesitated to disturb him, knowing he had just returned from England that very night. As she prepared to end the call, William unexpectedly answered.
"Assalamualaikum. Are you okay, Solnishko? Is everything all right?" His voice, though weary, was laced with genuine concern, causing Inaya's emotions to surge uncontrollably. She found herself sobbing helplessly, the overwhelming tenderness of William's inquiry amplifying the tumult of her own turmoil.
In the quietude that followed, the sound of a car starting signaled William's imminent arrival. True to form, he bypassed the doorbell, softly calling Inaya's name over the phone. She greeted him at the door, her tear-streaked face betraying the storm of emotions that had ravaged her spirit. Despite her attempt to compose herself, the toll of her illness was evident in the pallor of her skin and the shadows beneath her eyes.
"Can you take me to the hospital, please?" Inaya's voice trembled with exhaustion, her frailty laid bare in the gentle plea for assistance.
Concern etched into his features, William questioned, "Can you walk? Should I call for someone to assist you?"
Summoning her remaining strength, Inaya assured him, "I can manage this much."
With a nod of understanding, William took her purse and led her towards his waiting car, his unwavering attentiveness a testament to his steadfast support.
The journey to the hospital passed in silence, the weight of concern hanging heavy in the air as William navigated the familiar route. Upon arrival, they swiftly made their way to the gynecologist's department, where William diligently attended to the necessary paperwork while Inaya underwent an examination.
As he waited, a nurse emerged from the ultrasound room, addressing William with a query, "Are you with patient 345?"
Responding affirmatively, William inquired anxiously, "Is she okay?"
Assuredly, the nurse reassured him, "Don't worry, your wife is okay. We are conducting an ultrasound. Feel free to join us if you wish to hear the baby's heartbeat."
In an inadvertent misunderstanding, the nurse mistook William for Inaya's husband.
Could William clear her doubt?
Yes
Did he want to?
No
William harbored a deep desire to listen to the rhythmic beats of the unborn child's heart. As he approached the entrance to the room, he observed with concern that there was no curtain or barrier, adhering to the Islamic principle of modesty and privacy. Recognizing the importance of maintaining Inaya's dignity and comfort, William made the conscientious decision to remain outside, respecting her privacy and upholding the values of their faith.
Inaya's checkup dragged on for an agonizing 40 minutes longer than expected. When it finally concluded, the doctor's face grew grave with concern. The news was dire: Inaya's fetus was malnourished, a casualty of the mental turmoil she'd endured during her tumultuous divorce. The stress had taken a toll, compounded by the inadequate diet she'd had since moving in with Aria. The doctor's stern gaze shifted to William as she detailed the critical steps Inaya needed to take—proper nutrition, ample rest, and daily supplements. William, by her side, listened intently, absorbing every word. The doctor, clearly assuming William was Inaya's husband, directed her admonishments at him. Inaya felt a flush of embarrassment at the implication, her cheeks burning with a mix of discomfort and unspoken truths.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally emerged from the hospital. The first light of dawn was breaking, painting the sky in shades of orange. The breeze was fresh and cool, a gentle reminder of new beginnings. Sensing Inaya's desire to linger and soak in the beauty of the morning, William decided to drive them to the riverside. The scene was serene, almost empty except for a few early joggers. It was a moment of quiet hope and tranquility, a perfect escape from the worries that had weighed them down.
As Inaya indulged in the beauty of nature, William quietly arranged her breakfast—a simple meal of chicken soup and beetroot juice. When Inaya saw the food, she almost laughed, recalling the doctor's exact recommendations. But her hunger overpowered her amusement, and she accepted the meal gratefully. As she ate, a sense of gratitude welled up within her.
"William, thanks for today. I needed your help."
William's blue eyes lingered on Inaya before he nodded. Though a hint of displeasure shadowed his face, he remained silent in response to her thanks.
"You can't live with Aria. She can't take care of you."
"But I can. It's okay."
"No, it's not okay. Judging by today's incident, you can't trust Aria, and you can't depend on yourself alone either."
William's tone was chilly, the way it always was when he was angry. Inaya didn't say anything; she couldn't find the words to respond. Because William was right, The William Walton was always right.
Inaya finished her breakfast and stared blankly ahead. She had a steady job and some properties to support her financially, but as a pregnant woman, she needed close support—ideally, family. Unfortunately, she lacked that. She hadn't thought much about it in the past few days, but today's events made her feel profoundly lonely. Her mother was not in this world to take care of her; her father, however, was in jail for good reasons. She just divorced her husband a few days ago. Her only other blood relative was Aunt Sabina, who lived in Bangladesh. A fleeting thought crossed Inaya's mind—it wouldn't be so bad to move to Bangladesh. Of course, she had some dearest friends here but honestly other than that, She had no strong ties keeping her here.
"Are you wondering about your next residence?" William asked, his voice curious. His expression was conflicted as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Inaya smiled, feeling a spark of happiness at the idea of returning to her motherland and being with her remaining family.
"I've decided. I want to live with my aunt," she said cheerfully.
"Where does she live? Does she live nearby?" William asked, his concern evident. He had never heard of Inaya having an aunt in this city.
"No, she doesn't live nearby. I've decided to move back to Bangladesh. Though I've to—"
"WHAT?"
William interrupted, standing up abruptly. His voice was cold, almost angry, but there was a note of panic that Inaya couldn't quite understand. His ocean-blue eyes turned into deep blue, almost like black.
" You cannot leave me again, Solnishko"