Chapter 18

Yushraf POV

I was now in front of the house after trekking for more than a hour from station since I was not having any money with me to climbed bike.

I said my taslim gesture but got no respond I repeated it twice again but got no response. So I open the front door which was not lock to my surprised.

I enter inside and search the whole house looking for Reedah but could not find her anywhere. I was roaming my eyes in every corner of the living room to see if anything has change, but what caught my eyes first was the dust everywhere.

I became scared seeing dust everywhere just mean Reedah has not been at home too.

Where will she be, after all she don't use to even interact much with people again.

"Oh ya Allah! What should I do,where will I start searching for her." I thought quietly.

I enter inside kitchen again this time and realized the charcoal she use to cooked earlier today was still wet from the water she use to quench it.

That was when I calm my nerve and thought she might be in some where around or maybe to visit a friend

I open the food flat that was on top of the cabinet and saw spaghetti inside. My stomach grumble at the aroma and it hit me that I haven't eat anything since after that breakfast.

I took a plate and serve myself some, before keeping the rest for Reedah.

As soon as I finish eaten, I took the plate to the sink and wash it. I quickly went to the bathroom and had a long shower since it been days I had one.

I came out after performing ablution then change into a pair of faded jeans with T-shirt, and left for mosques. I said my magrib prayer and left only after I finish Isha'i prayer.

Immediately I left the mosque, I hurriedly walk back home. Reedah was not yet back home and I couldn't wait any longer because I was so tired, I lay my mat on the floor and sat down to hear any creak of the door open until I slept off unwillingly.

* * *

I wake up the next day feeling body pain all over, I check my golden wristwatch for time and discover it was already past 9am, through the window i could see sun dazzling into the living room.

I stood up quickly and perform ablution and said my missing prayer subh and open the holy book that was beside me and recited Suratul Yusuf, my favorite. Immediately I was done reciting I fold the praying mat and lay the holy book. That was when it dawned on me that I haven't seen Reedah since I came back yesterday.

I stood up to her room and say a taslim but did not get any respond, again I creak the door open a little to see if she's still asleep but saw the room just the way I met it earlier yesterday with her trolley open. I open her closet and found it empty that was when it dawned on me that we are suppose to be leaving for school today according to our plan, since school has resume last week, but we are still struggling for more money that will last all for the whole final semester that why we haven't go back. I knock on the bathroom door but got no respond again, so open it wide and check every were but she was not inside

Sweat started forming on my face. I did not know what to do next I just sauntered out of the house and began entering neighbors house one after the other asking if they have seen my sister around there, but they all keep nodding there head, telling me they haven't seen her, some even said they don't know her.

When I enter Alhaji Sanusi house, the house we were very familiar with, I asked about my sister and they told me it been four days since they last saw her too.

I became more confused when they told me that, because she even cook yesterday but what baffles me now is the dust. "Does that means she just came back too? But from where? Oh ya Allah! protect my sister for me wherever she's is now." I whisper silently

I went back home and pick my wallet together with my iPhone and saw Reedah own too beside my, I try to on it but it was off. So I quickly rush out of the house not even bothering to lock it and went to the nearest station to report my missing sister case.

Unfortunately after narrating the whole story to the detective I was directed to from the common room, I told him how have not seen her, and they told me to come back at the exact time I went home yesterday because they can't do anything yet until after 24 hours.

That was when the tears have been holding back stroll down my cheeks as I came out of the station and sat down on the long chair outside.

My phone start to buzz in my hand, I check the caller ID only to discover it was an unknown number, so I pick the cacomment,ssalam'alaikum" Came the voice from the background.

"Walai'kum salam" I responded, still not sure of who it was, though the voice sound familiar but couldn't figure were I know it from. So I asked.

"May I know who I'm speaking with please?" I asked calmly.

"I'm sorry this is not the time for any formal introduction. I saw a lady in the middle of street after hit by a car, which could not be found again, checking through her bag I was able to found her identity card.

I was praying silently it should not be Reedah, but what he said next shattered my heart into million pieces.

"After going through it, I found this number as her next of kin that why I call you immediately to know if you're related to the lady because behind the number was the name twin brother written." He explain.

That was when it hit me that Reedah was the lady he was talking about, but my mind was still doubting.

"May I know the name on the identity card please " I asked, praying silently i not Reedah .

"Sure the name is "SUFYAAN FARIDA IMAM" Did you know her?" He asked, but my loud cried was the only thing he heard "Nooooo!!! I found my self shouting, as I felt a hot tears ready to sting down at any second.

"Which hospital is she right now" I know I sounded harsh but I couldn't help it as tears stream down my face.

"Right now we are in the city hospital room 023 abou.. " He was still saying, when I abruptly ended the call and did not even let him finish what he was saying.

I stop a bike and hurriedly climbed, telling him where I was heading to which he nodded and drove me off.

He alight his bike in front of the hospital and I came down and paid his money then enter inside the hospital and rush to room the 023 after been directed by the receptionist.

I open the door widely, and briskly walked toward Reedah who was lying down with tube all over.

I felt another tears stinging but I willed myself to hold them back. I have to be strong, this is not the time to cry when she's suffering already.

I felt a hand on my shoulder only to raise my head, and behold it was Khalid Hamza Shettima. " He gave me a brotherly hug and kept calming me down reassuring me she will be fine.

"Yushraf let go to the doctor office, your attention is needed urgently" Khalid uttered.

"Okay no problem" I said and trailed behind him quietly.

He knocked and creaked the door open, while the doctor smile and welcome us in and gesture for us to have a seat. He look very young probably twenty six or so.

"Am Dr. Adnan, the one in charge of the patient in room 023" He introduce.

"Can I know your name, and your relationship with the patient admitted please?" Dr. Adnan ask calmly.

"Sure yes!" I said

"I'm yushraf Sufyaan Imam, and the patient admitted is my twin sister Fareedah Sufyaan Imam" I explain.

"OK yushraf, can you inform your parent about her condition because it critical" Dr Adnan said.

"Am sorry but we lost our parent some years ago. Am the only one who remain as her relative. Can you tell me what ever it is Dr. Adnan" I ask with teary face.

"I'm so sorry for the lost, may their soul continue to rest in peace" Dr Adnan pray heartily.

"Ameen thank you" I respond with a smile.

"Has I said earlier, your sister is in a critical condition and need to undergo some surgery" He said.

"What?" I asked bewildered.

"Reedah have to undergo surgery for what, I mean why? does the accident really affect her internally?" I ask with tears gushing down my cheeks.

"She's undergoing the surgery due to the fact that her womb as been damage and need to be clean up as fast as possible, because she hit her stomach badly on the floor which affected her womb and if we didn't clean it up fast, else" He said searching into my eyes like the answer is written over.

"Else what? doctor" I asked, hoping is not what am thinking.