Chapter 13: EMOTIONS ON PEAK
Everyone at the mansion had already found out. Arzam Shah, Zoraiz Shah, and Arqam Shah had arrived at the hospital. Hearing about his own daughter’s condition, Arqam Shah’s heart was sinking. Zoraiz Shah consoled Arqam Shah, "Keep your courage, the girl will be fine." "Bhai, how can I keep courage? Maida has been shot, and if Shah hadn’t reached in time, God knows what that filthy man would have done to my daughter," Arqam Shah said, struggling to speak.
Three hours had passed. Maida Shah’s operation was ongoing inside. A little while later, the emergency department door opened and both doctors came out. Zain Shah quickly went to the doctor and asked, "How is my Maida?"
"Look, I won’t give you false reassurance. The bullet had torn through her stomach. We’ve removed the bullet, but its effect has already spread inside. Her condition is very critical. Nothing can be said yet. On top of that, her respiratory system has been badly affected. Mr. Shayan Shah, I told you to keep Maida Shah away from closed places, but it seems she was in a closed room for too long, which is why her breathing isn’t stabilizing. We’ve put her on oxygen, but nothing can be said. The next 24 hours are very critical for her," the doctor said in a professional tone and left from there.
And behind them, it felt like the roof of the hospital had collapsed on everyone’s heads. Zain Shah’s legs gave out. He staggered. Zain Shah’s steps faltered. Was this true?
Shayan Shah held Zain Shah up. Hearing the condition of his beloved sister, he was also in pain, but he had to hold everyone together. "Zain, control yourself." Zain Shah’s body was trembling. Shayan hugged him, and that’s when Zain Shah’s composure broke. Tears fell from his eyes like a broken string of prayer beads, the way beads scatter when a tasbih breaks. Exactly like that, Zain was sobbing.
Was Zain Shah really crying? Was Maida Shah that dear to Zain Shah?
"Shayan, if anything happens to Maida Shah, Syed Zain Shah won’t be able to live either. If Maida Shah’s breath rebels, Syed Zain Shah’s breath won’t stabilize either. If Maida Shah’s soul takes flight, Zain Shah’s soul will fly before hers. If Maida Shah’s heartbeat stops, Syed Zain Shah’s heartbeat will stop too."
Hearing Zain Shah’s broken voice, tears started flowing from everyone’s eyes.
