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Behind A Smile 038
Hafsa stumbled through the doorway in tears. She had tried all she could to look for Adnan, but her efforts were all in vain. She didn't know where he was or in what condition he was in. Every passing moment felt like an eternity. "Please calm down, mum. We will find Adnan in sha Allah," Ramlah reassured, fighting back her own tears. She was trying her best not to break down in front of her mother, but inwardly, she was also losing hope. "Why Ramlah? I shouldn't have left him alone with you!" Hafsa pointed a finger at her accusingly. "Why did you let him out of your sight?" Ramlah's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, mum. It wasn't intentional," She allowed the tears that brimmed up in her eyes to finally fall. "I didn't want this to happen either." "Poor Adnan!" Hafsa sobbed. "How are we ever going to find him now? He's still so little." "Should I tell Zynah about thi—" "Don't," Hafsa yelled, cutting her off. "She's not related to him, so why should she be disturbed? Ju
Behind A Smile 039
"People are just so uncivilised these days," Bilal voiced, shaking his head in disappointment..He was just about to get into his car, when his phone started vibrating in his pocket. Without caring to take a look at the caller ID, he fished the phone out and placed his index finger on the fingerprint sensor. "Hello." "Please where are you baby?" Came Zaahida's high-pitched voice that Bilal found extremely annoying. "I'm stranded. I don't even know where I am!" Bilal puffed out air from his mouth. "And?" "I don't know how I'm supposed to come home. I'm scared, baby," She cried. "Please come back." "Alright," Bilal finally obliged. "Stay right where you are. I will be there in few minutes.""Thank you so much, baby. I knew you'd come back for me. I love y-" he didn't wait for her to finish her statement before ending the call. Getting into his car, he sped off. •"My baby," Hafsa knelt in front of Adnan and engulfed him in a bone crushing hug. Tears streamed down her face uncontro
Behind A Smile 040
Zaahida held her lower lip in between her teeth and snorted; "Doesn't seem so. Who is present in your life? In your house right now?" Bilal's nostrils flared, disgust laced in his voice. "Just because my father forced me to allow you live here, doesn't mean you have a place in my heart. That would never happen, so I'd advise you not to get your hopes up. Zynah-" "Zynah! Zynah!" She yelled, throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation. "I hate her! I hope she's dead already! I'm tired of hearing you speak about her!" Anger boiled in Bilal's veins, his brows tightly furrowed and his fists clenched. Albeit knowing how childish and annoying Zaahida could get, her words surged right into his heart, like a dagger. Without hesitation, he lunged at her and wrapped his hands around her neck, wringing it mercilessly. Zaahida gasped and choked on air. She attempted to peel his hands off her neck, by hitting and clawing them with hers, but her attempt was futile. Her eyes had alre
Behind A Smile 041
Hafsa couldn't bring herself to at least take a seat. She was pacing to and fro in the hospital, anticipating the emergence of the doctor with anxiety. Her demeanor was detorted in extreme worry. Ramlah, who had been watching her mother with concern all the while, approached her in a subtle manner and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Please have a seat, mum," she beseeched. "You're making me feel dizzy with the way you're pacing about. Please stop it already. In shaa Allah, Adnan will be fine. I'm sure it's just a fever. Nothing serious." "I hope so," Hafsa muttered. Inexplicably, she was having a bad feeling. Ever since he was birthed, this was the first time he was rushed to the hospital. She felt uneasy. "I—" just as she was about to say something else, the door to the emergency room swung open and a young man of about thirty three years of age emerged. Both Hafsa and Ramlah rushed towards him. "How's he doing, doctor?" Ramlah inquired, apprehensively.
Behind A Smile 042
"No," Hafsa shook her head vigorously. "We can't do that! Those two don't need to know. We will find a way somehow." Ramlah furrowed her brows in disbelief. "We don't have a choice, mom. We have to do this for the sake of Adnan and besides, they are his parents. Zynah is still his moth-" "The moment she decided to abandon him, she lost all rights to be called his mother," Hafsa cut her off, irritatedly. "Adnan doesn't have a mother." "This isn't about her," Ramlah reasoned, gazing into her eyes in an attempt to draw compassion from them. "This is about Adnan. Let's do this for him please." Defeated, Hafsa crouched down and cried. She never knew a time would arrive when she would ask for favors from Zynah for Adnan. She swore not to even speak about him to her anymore, but we don't always get what we want in life, right? After how Zynah abandoned her son, she didn't deserve to be in his life anymore. Hafsa had given her a chance to change her mind, but she didn't take
Behind A Smile 043
"How's he doing?" Mr. Aliyu asked, his gaze flickering between his wife and daughter. Since the moment Ramlah called and informed him about Adnan's condition, he had been worried. He even abandoned all he was doing and rushed to the hospital immediately. He might have not shown him any form of love within the three years he had known the kid, because, like Zynah, he also reminded him so much of Bilal and his brutality towards his daughter. Yet deep down, he knew he wouldn't be able to hate Zynah's flesh and blood. He best he could do was pretend not to care. Which he had been doing quite perfectly. Without a doubt, he knew he also contributed to the decision that led to Zynah abandoning her newborn. one word from him to her would have been all it'd take for her to reconsider her decision. Mr. Aliyu hoped it wasn't too late for him to show the little boy that he actually cared. Hafsa, who had not stopped crying, pretended to be oblivious of Mr. Aliyu's arrival. Avoiding his g
Behind A Smile 044
"Hey, Billy," Zaahida squealed, plopping on the couch beside him. Bilal heaved an irritated sigh. Billy? Really? He hated how awful the nickname sounded coming from her. Whenever she called him by that, he felt really angry for some reasons. It felt like she was indirectly insulting and reducing him to a bleating farmyard goat. The thought made his clench his jaw. "Guess what?" She continued, her voice laced with excitement. Bilal couldn't comprehend why she was excited, not that he particularly cared to find out. He remained unmoved by her words and kept on strolling through his phone. "Your father just called and conveyed the good news to me." She squealed, clapping her hands together in a furry of childish delight. Zaahida 's last sentence caught Bilal's attention - his father called? What was it about - he couldn't help but wonder. "Why? What did he say?" Zaahida heaved a deep sigh to calm her overexcited nerves. "He just called to tell me our wedding date has a
Behind A Smile 045
Ramlah pulled into the hospital's driveway. "We're here.," She announced, unbuckling her seatbelt. Zynah felt her heartbeat increase rapidly. Her palms had become sweaty. All of the previous confidence she had managed to gather had all flew and dissipated in the air. She felt apprehensive and very ashamed to face her mother after all these years. She hadn't been a mother to her child and for that, she knew she deserved to be hated. Ramlah placed a hand on hers reassuringly. "Let's to in." She muttered. Ramlah had succeeded in reinstating a little confidence back in her. She gave a closed lip smile before alighting the car. • Hafsa and Mr. Aliyu had just arrived at the hospital, but were still yet to see Adnan or get the chance to speak to Dr. Muslim. They were both seated on a bench, in the reception when Ramlah walked in, followed closely by Zynah. Hafsa's breath hitched as her gaze landed on Zynah, a moisture of surprise and resentment brewing within her. She had
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