Tabah hi sahi!

Sky shattering thunder-lightening,

growling clouds,

howling winds.

Sitting by the loudly rattling window of her room Abeer is staring in a distance, wondering which storm is more strong - the one going inside her or the one going outside? The heartbroken look on Omer's face continuously flashing in front of her eyes, the accusing look and the disgust in his eyes for Rayan. Her heart feels heavy like a rock is hanging by it and her stomach churning. She never thought even in her wildest dream that she will ever witness something like abhorrence and distaste in Omer's eyes for them; for two of the people he loved most as he claims, then why? Then why didn't he give them a chance to explain? Why didn't he wait for hear them out?

Abeer wiped the stubborn tears roughly which haven't stopped since Omer left from here. She was sure she don't love Omer then why it pains her so much that Omer misunderstood them? Why her heart twisted painfully seeing him heartbroken?

T-H-U-D-!

Abeer was startled by the sudden loud noise from her garden and she averted her eyes from the distance to look down her window to witness the chair was slammed to the tree by the force of the wind and she shuddered remembering Rayan went for Omer looking for him.Did he find him on time?Or they are still outside in this dangerous storm? A new fear started surfacing from the depth of her heart. Its already been an hour approx, Rayan must have found her and they must be sitting somewhere safe.

Abeer fetched her phone before cleaning her face roughly and started dialing Rayan number with her shaky hands and heavy breath and putted it on her ears waiting for it to connect.

'The number you are trying, to reach currently out of coverage area.'

'The number you are trying to reach currently out of coverage area.'

''Damn!''

Abeer cursed under her breath before dialing again. Her heartbeat rising and falling anxiously with every beep and her continuous failed attempt. She is feeling a headache coming due to fear and panic. Her body has turned cold and shivering yet the beads of sweats breaking on her forehead.

''Oh Allah please! Let them be fine, please!'' She prayed mumbling while trying Omer's number hoping may be she will receive but it was even worse. After two rings it was sent to voicemail.

Abeer shrieked with gritted teeth in frustration. She rubbed her forehead witnessing the intensity of the storm and threw her phone on the couch before disappearing into the washroom. She came out with a scarf properly wrapped around her head covering her properly and grabbed the prayer mat from the top of the wardrobe before laying it down on the floor.

Abeer with tear stricken face raised her hand in with an intention in her heart for two people's well being- Omer and Rayan. There are less chances that God will answer her prayers because she isn't a proper muslim but she is sure about one thing that she is a good human, she never hurt anyone on purpose, she isn't a sinner. Perhaps, she doesn't dress as accordingly but she prays five times a day and the one she is expectantly begging to is the Greatest and above all- Her Allah! Who always answers innocents prayers and the one who prays with a pure heart.

Abeer was sobbing in sujood when her phone started blaring loudly. Her heart started beating again loudly hoping deeply it from Omer or Rayan. She quickly started finishing her prayer and then after folding the prayer mat she grabbed her phone and checked the last call. Shw gulped with her eyes wide in panic again seeing a landline number as last incoming. She called back the number dreading, her dupatta clutched in her hand tightly and soon it was answered by a lady. She has encountered this many times in movies and television show and she really hoping for her life to not turn into the one but unfortunately no one can fight the destiny.

''Hello!''

''He..hello!'' Abeer answered meekly. ''I..I..go..got a call...fr..from this number a while back.''

''Oh yes! Are you Abeer?'' The woman on the other side sharply breathed in recognition before asking. Abeer nodded timidly before realising she can't see her.

''Y..Yes it..its me.'' She answered dreadfully before swallowing audibly, clutching her dupatta more tightly as if her life depend on it.

''Two patients from an accident have been admitted to the Hills lifeline hospital a moment ago. And you were the last on one patient's call.'' Phone almost dropped from Abeer's hand. She don't know how she managed to still stay stand on her wobbling knees. Her heavy heart dropped to her stomach and all the nerves in her hear and brain feels like swelling.

''Hello! Miss Abeer you there?'' The woman asked skeptically from other side.

''Yeah..yeah I am listening. I will be there soon.'' She fumbled and hung up phone before falling on her knees on the ground, crying vigorously clutching her knees to her chest. She is crying like a baby, not expecting this night to turn this disastrous. She is clueless about who to blame exactly for causing this night. She has know one to blame, no one to accuse as easy as it was for Omer. Heck! She can't even blame Omer because she never gave him any kind of assurance whenever he use o confess his feelings for her.

She knew he is impulsive and impatient since he was a kid. He is a bad boy with a pure heart. He is like an open book, he doesn't know how to keep things to himself.,Perhaps, he was right! Only, she is the one to be blamed! If she only have gathered enough courage instead of cowering in fear to tell him, to yell at him that this all was a misunderstanding! She is a coward!

Abeer sat there numb, staring out the window with her knees clutched to her chest waiting until the storm slowed down. She stood up and left inside the washroom to clean her face and looked at the clock striking 1 O'clock at midnight. She decided to not bother anyone at this time and sneaked out from the mansion before anyone can realize her absence.

*******

''Ex..excuse me!'' Abeer was panting uneven when she reached the hospital as if she came here running on the foot from home. The mid age reception lady who was busy typing something on her laptop shot her head in her direction and narrowed her eyes in inspection and shook her head violently. Creepily, staring at Abeer in her flat black slip on smudged in mud, her hairs out of the messy bun, looking untamed, face has dried up tears. Abeer knew she isn't looking her best but right now she don't give a damn. She just wants to know what she is here for.

''I am Abeer, the one you called to tell about the two patients from an accident?'' Abeer enquired and the lady's face morphed into recognition and she nodded in understanding before typing something on her laptop and shot a look at her again.

''May I know how are you related to the patients? '' She asked professionally stiff. All the creepy look from her eyes now gone.

''Omer Ibrahim is my cousin and Rayan Achakzai is my friend. May I know where is he and how they are?'' She asked impatiently and the reception lady passed her a sympathetic look before answering.

''I'm sorry dear I don't generally know about patients health but you can ask the doctor. The patients are on 6th floor in room 103 and 108, so is the doctors.''

'' Thank you!'' Abeer nodded running towards the elevator and pushed the button to the 6th floor.

Thankfully, the ;local hospital isn't crowding with visitors and regular patients due to the storm so she easily reached the door and found the room which belongs to Omer. She halted on her steps reading the room number and fisted her hands to her chest. She gulped feeling the same fear again before taking slow step. Its so confusing how she rushed out from her home to here driving past the speed limit and here her feet feels heavy like someone has clutched it with heavy iron chains. The blood in her system running cold.

She skeptically peeked inside the room from the small circular glass of the door. There was already a doctor and two nurses blocking the view of the bed. Abeer's started sweating profusely and dried her face with her dupatta before hesitantly knocking. She doesn't have strength to barge inside. She has no faith left about this inauspicious night anymore, don't know what more it could throw her way. So she patiently waited for doctor to walk out to fill in her so that she can decide to go inside.

Abeer stood beside the door leaning on the wall waiting for doctor to come out. She has her eyes closed and her heart ripping apart. In this moment she can do nothing but pray. The loud howling cry of a mother from across the hall chilled her bones in horror on the loss of her son.

'Mera beta mujhe chor k chala gaya!'

(Our son left us all alone!)

While on other side she could hear a group of doctors and nurses rushing out and disappearing inside an operation theater, barking orders hysterically. Another family cries echoing in her ears begging to the doctor to save their father.

Abeer is breathing heavily, gasping to inhale enough oxygen. She wants to open her eyes and shoot all the painful cries away but she couldn't. Its like her eyelids are glued to each other.This place and all those cries isn't bringing her peace, if anything its turning her into a deep vessel of pain and miseries. She is going into hysteria by the pace of her wildly beating heart and short breath. Her throat is clogged and eyes glued. She has no control whatsoever until she heard the sound of opening door and the prim voice of doctor.

''Check, if anyone from the patients family reached yet.''

'Abeer eyes shot open and all the voice slowly started disappearing from around her.Her lungs are filling with oxygen again. So, breathing to calm her still wrecking nerve she turned around to face the doctor.

''Om..Omer and Rayan, how they are?'' She immediately ask the question without any delay. Doctor looked taken a back for a moment before replying.

"Are you his family?''He asked looking her from head to toe.

''Actually, I..I am Omer's cousin and Rayan's friend.''Abeer answered, tried to look calm.

''What about there real family?''

Shoot! In that moment she realized that she needed to inform his real family too in all those nerve wrecking episodes , it never crossed her mind.

''I..I will inform them soon but please first fill me about patients condition.'' She pleaded , tears brimming her eyes. The doctor nodded before starting.

''There is nothing to be worried about. Thankfully, the patients are fine. However it was a mericle for them to survive that accident in such weather with only few injuries. Someone really must be praying for them in that moment. They are conscious now and will be discharged soon after few tests and observations."

Abeer sighed in relief and for the first time tonight she felt herself breathing and thanked her Allah a thousand times in her heart before giving the doctor a broken but thankful smile.

"Can I meet the patient?" Abeer asked and doctor nodded approvingly.

"By the way one more thing...."

"The patient Omer Ibrahim, he survived the accident but his mental health doesn't seem really good right now. I am not sure weather it has something to do before the accident or the fear he suffered during the accident but the patient is going through a trauma right now. Now you can meet him, just don't stress him" Doctor smiled before walking away from there.

Abeer froze once again for the umpteenth time during that night. She have an idea what doctor was talking about. She is the reason of him going into trauma. God!. What she has caused him?

That's it!

She is going to clear everything to him before the end of this night rather have things turn uglier for her Rayan. She can't trust this night anymore. She wiped her tears and pushed open the door with a new found determination. She can't let three lives suffers just because one has caught up on a misunderstanding.

There he was! lying on the bed in blue hospital gown staring at the ceiling aimlessly. Bandaged wrapped on his forehead and hand casted with few scratches and bruises on his arms and face. Abeer hicupped, witnessing him in such vulnerable condition, She felt her heart being stabbed with a burning knife right there.

"Om..Omer!" She sobbed in broken whisper.

But unlike other times he didn't turn around on her voice. He always used to turn around whenever he heard someone calling her name or if she was speaking to someone. Even when she was just around somewhere in the campus, he used to feel her presence everytime.

It always annoyed Abeer that how Omer knows whenever Abeer is around. She was amused and curious, it was a mystery to her and Omer is the only one with answer to that mystery. But tonight, he didn't feel her or even heard her when she called him. Is he pretending to be oblivious or he just couldn't feel her anymore?

"O..Omer..lo..look..I'am here!" She stuttered smiling brokenly.

She took tiny steps towards him and stared at his limp hand on the side for a long moment before extending hers warily and held his big and calloused one in hers soft and tiny hand.

She waited for him to tighten his grip on her hand, holding it, to acknowledge her presence. Unfortunately, his hand stay still in hers, neither freeing nor moving. Abeer heart sunk.

"Re.. remember?" She started in her meek voice, pushing the feeling of abandonment. "Yo..you..alw.. always wanted me..me..to come.after yo..you..and...look..fi.. finally here I am!" Abeer chuckled to herself at the irony. If only she knew!

"Om..Omerr!" She whimpered desperately clutching her hand gently. "Please at least let me know that you are hearing me." She begged for him to acknowledge her. But his eyes stayed empty, like stone, glued to the ceiling. "I wan..want to tell you many things. I have many things to confess just please let me know you are hearing him."

But he didn't reply instead he broke her heart into million pieces when he turned his back and closed his eyes pretending to sleep. The feeling of rejection pierced her heart. She melted down like a burning candle in guilt and shame. It is what he was dealing with since their school time, After her every rejection? This is how a rejection feels like? Then no doubt she is really a sinner for breaking a heart who did nothing but loved her.

"Om..Omer!" She hiccuped childishly, wiping her running nose. She desperately wanted him to look at her with same warmth and love the way he used to, talk to her with same patience and love whenever she used to give him attitude.

"Ma'am!" A squeaky voice called her, cringing her eardrums. "I think you should let the patient rest. He isn't completely stable and needs to relax." Nurse informed her and Abeer got up nodding with a heavy heart and decided to leave him for now and visit Rayan.

She already have informed Hana about Omer's condition before leaving to Rayan's room who was still sleeping under the effect of medicine. Physically, he was more injured than Omer. Bandaged head, casted hand and knees, ankle plastered. After seeing him sleeping she left again to Omer's room and found him sleeping too. So, she quietly took the seat on near by couch before falling into sleep.

"Ma'am!" It was 4 am when a nurse came to her and called her in a little voice to wake her up.

"Haan?" Abeer asked getting up cluelessly "Is Omer Alright?" She asked worriedly frantically looking around.

"Yes Ma'am he is already and still sleeping. Its the other patient..."Nurse told her and on Rayan mention Abeer's back stiffen in alert.

"Why what's wrong with him?"

"He is awake now and wondering is someone there for him from his family."

Abeer felt guilt and sympathy squeezing her gut. She wanted to inform Rayan's parents but she doesn't have anyone's number and hospital haven't returned their things yet. The guy is here all alone.

She instantly got up leaving for his room after fixing her hairs and dupatta; atleast she tried not to give him a cardiac arrest.

******

"Rayan?" She meekly called while entering inside.

Rayan gasped in horror.

"You look like shit!" Abeer glared before shaking her head nonchalantly.

"Tell me about it."

She is looking as white as ghost, her eyes swollen red and deep dark circles around it due to all the stress and crying. And her brown glossy hairs look like birds attempted to build nest on her head but failed. And his eyes soften realising what she must've been through all night on her own.

"I didn't mean to be rude. It ju..." He tried to excuse but Abeer interfered.

"I understand and its ok. Atleast you both are fine." She smiled sighing in relief while sitting on the stool in front of his bed.

"So how did this happen?" She finally asked the question that has been bugging her entire night.

Rayan eyes flashed memorising something before he started speaking.

"I don't really remember much. It was my car following Omer's until it started raining heavily and there was a storm. Omer was driving recklessly, not caring what he is doing and where was he going until I noticed a big tree ahead was about to fall and my car started running way past Omer's and slipping stopped right Infront of him before that tree can fell anyone of us. But it was too late Omer's car was out of control. It didn't stopped as planned and it fronts collided right into my car side." Rayan finished the story and his eyes widen with recognition meanwhile Abeer stare at him completely horror stuck.

"How is Omer?Is he okay?" Rayan asked frantically.

"Yes he is fine!", Abeer snapped with gritted teeth before continuing.

"Rayan are you out of your mind?It wasn't a task from fear factor! It could have turned into worse. What the hell were you thinking?" Abeer freaked out yelling at Rayan. Why she has two deal with two craziest person alive on this planet?

One is obsessed with her and other is obsessed with his best friend!

"By the way I have to inform your family because they need to know. I don't have their number so please tell me so that I can inform." Abeer switched the topic.

"They don't need to know now I guess. I am alright! Just ask the doctors to discharge me soon." He said impatiently, looking around the hospital room distastefully.

Abeer chuckled. "Okay then I drop you both home. They will discharge Omer when his drip will be over. "

"Good!"

"So do he know now?" He asked warily. Abeer sighed in disappointment shaking her head negatively. She wanted to tell him about Omer's mental condition but she decided not right now.