Chapter Two

After seeing his last patient off, Yusuf leaned on the executive chair of his office, smiling to himself for God knows what. His last patient have always been one of his favourite. Yusuf have been treating the boy since he was a few month old and now he is five. The progress and energy he sees through Affan is always worth coming to work the next day. That too can be a reason for his enchanting smile, or maybe it was because he is passionately into his career, being a cardiologist was a dream true can true for him.

His life have always been hard, but he was stronger than his trials. Being in medical school had been one of his tough challenges. He try giving up so several times but the oath he took seeing his dead mother's body never let him do so. And his strong believe that Allah will always guide him to the right path. He receives patient after patient each with less severe or critical condition. In whatever condition a person come in with, he try to help with the best of his ability. Most of his time now revolves around the hospital, it was like a home for him because he has none, at least he got a house, a fine one for that matter. There at the hospital, he is treated if not with love then with so much respect and appreciation, which he have always yearn for, from his family.

Yusuf sees each patient as his mother who he couldn't help when she was in the same condition as them. Unlike his patients, Yusuf's mother wasn't that fortunate to be taken care of until she breath her last breath without any proper help. His mother was treated as bad as he is being treated now at his father's house. But even with that painful memory and the current ones, Yusuf's smile never faded from his face. He looks like a model that are always at the front cover of a top fashion magazine with his caramel skin, tall figure and naturally waved black hair and short beard with a rectangular face.

"Assalamualaikum Yusuf i am still waiting for you out here are you coming out or not?" His friend Saifullah asked in one breath, Saif as they called him have always been like that, he is more jovial than Yusuf has ever been and talk non stop like a chatterbox. Also being with the half deaf people wasn't helping his situation either. Him and Yusuf have been best friends since forever.

"Saif, please use less force while making phone calls, i promise i can hear you just fine." Yusuf complaint as soon as he reached where Saif was standing waiting for him at the car park. Saif is an otolaryngologist, so he is bound to shout.

"Well, for as long as i call you out for lunch, it will be the same. Since you never know when to come out of that office of yours. All those lady patients that come to your office, i am sure they're there for doctor not his just his treatment. " Saif smirks as he open the driver's seat of his fancy car, while Yusuf sat on the passengers seat. In a matter of seconds the car engine come to life and they hit the road existing the big hospital gate.

"I am not going to argue, have it your way. You know we can always eat at the hospital cafeteria, the food there is as good." Yusuf made a suggestion while his friend shrugs completely dismissing his claim about his patients.

"You know i hate hospitals, how do you expect me to eat there."

"Yeah, that's why i see you working at the bank, my friend." Yusuf added sarcastically with a smug smile.

"Thank you for understanding, bro. Beside even if we eat at the cafeteria you will still go back for that snack of yours. So is better we just come here." He said patting Yusuf's shoulder as he has already held the car at the parking lot of their favorite restaurant which was only ten minutes drive away from the hospital.

"Yeah, i know you have a thing for this restaurant, don't worry your secret is safe with me."

"Obviously not more than you. Have you manage to meet with your father?" He asked casually as they await for their lunch to be served, the restaurant have been half occupied by other costumers, some talking in hush voice while some loud enough for others to listen without being disturbed, some have tired faces and others carry a small smile. The aroma of the dishes served there fill their nostrils.

"Uhmm, i met him but he does the usual, which was sending me out, but his wife was so elated to see me there, that she even try to shut the door at my face. She was also kind enough to laugh at my face when he asked me to leave his house." Yusuf replied in his usual sarcastic tone. He is always full of sarcasm mostly to soften a tension, or just out of humor. His smile is always so welcoming along with his amiable nature, his warm bright eyes can tell more about him. People like Saif can guess what he is feeling through his eyes, and sometimes even that too can be hard to do, when he is too buckled up. But right now it was neutral, Saif can only see a hungry friend not a hurt one. The situation with his father is only getting worst, there is nothing either of them can do about that, more than to pray for the better.

"How about Marwa?" Saif inquired again, changing the subject.

"She is fine, we talked last night. She is busy becoming a surgeon." Whenever Yusuf talk about Marwa he became a different person, his eyes sparkle with joy and he speaks with such tenderness. When he look at his friend, Saif was wearing that smug smile, which can mean anything.

"Why? You still don't like her, right? I know you don't. She is a nice person, Saif. I am going to make her my wife when the right time comes, get used to the idea."

"Did i say anything? That's something i have no say in, man. She is your girl after all, i am cool with that. I just feel like she is stealing my spot in your heart, oh my." Saif patted his chest dramatically and Yusuf furrowed his dark brows almost touching each other. He knows his friend better than that.

"Ewh, that is creepy. Start looking for a wife and get over that woman." And their order was brought by a fine young lady, she arrange the platters on the table and left with a smile.

"Stop reminding me of other people's wife, you're awakening my pain." He said rubbing his nape. And Yusuf knew his friend was just faking it. He knew it doesn't hurt him anymore, maybe a little sensitive.

"I thought you will never get over her, Saif. I am thankful you're." Yusuf added with a teasing smile. It almost messed him up when his ex-girlfriend ditched and got married. It was a long story.

"Whatever, why you're being evil today. Eat that thing of yours and stay quiet, why do you eat that thing anyways?" Saif remarked at the chicken stuffed buns that Yusuf eat everyday as the last course of his meal.

"It's a necessity, bro." Using his forefinger to make a point, he ogle at the buns amorously. "I will love to meet the maker of this, because he or she is doing a good here."

"You are drooling, Yusuf. I hope your future wife knows how to cook that. Because the way to get through Yusuf's heart is definitely through his stomach." They both smirks and Saif shook his head.

"Marwa is a good cook, if that is what you're insinuating." Yusuf winks with a smile taking a spoonful of his vegetable rice.

"I know love bug has bitten you a long time ago. So let just eat." What Saif doesn't understand upto now is whether his best friend is truly in love with Marwa, or it's only pure appreciation he have toward her, which he mistaken as love. She had helped him alot in the past. But even if that maybe the case, Saif has nothing against her, he only wishes the best for his friend. The man deserve some love.

Ikram throw herself on the sofa immediately after entering her aunt's living room. That place has always been like a second home to her. She was also greeted by her aunt's jovial face after her salam.

"Wa'alaikumu salam my dear, you seem to be tired, what happened?" Aisha asked lovingly, her attention which was earlier on the telly, now centered on her niece. If Aisha didn't know her well enough, she would think the poor girl will past out anytime soon.

"Wallahi, aunty the sun is too harsh out there, my whole body is itching. I need a shower before i start thinking of exporting myself in a box to Antarctica." She half yelled and her aunt only smile, she ran into the direction of her females cousin's rooms which are adjacent to each other. Ikram rushed into Yasmin's room, threw her long hijab along with her bag on the bed. Yasmin who was meditating on her yoga mat didn't say a thing, she only heard the bathroom door bang after Ikram.

After few minutes, Ikram came out with only a towel wrapped around her chest which reached below her knees. She open the wardrobe and carry a light chiffon gown from where her cloths are kept in Yasmin's wardrobe. She is always on way her to that house. Her favorite foods are also listed on the house food manu.

"Hey weirdo, didn't you see me by now?" Ikram said laying on the bed, she closed her eyes in satisfaction, the air conditioner grease her once heated body waiting for her almost mute cousin to grace her with her melodious voice, which she rarely use.

"I am not blind." Yasmin replied in her usual small voice.

"Well, that's a relief," Ikram gasped. "I was afraid that you lost your sight too, Yasi."

"Why are you here?"

"You just hurt my feelings." Ikram grimaced faking to be hurt, while Yasmin gives her a smug look wingling her hands and head. She stretches her legs and rest her back to the chest of drawers behind her, waiting for her cousin's banter. Ikram is one of the few people that Yasmin have a long chat with, and sometimes share her troubles with her, which she rarely does.

"We are going to have a long week, dear. We received huge orders, we might need help as well." She smacks the bed in excitement, it could have land on Yasmin's body. Only that she wasn't sitting to her. Now dressed in her fresh cloths, Ikram sat on the middle of the bed messing up its once fine laid bedsheet.

"How huge is it?" Knowing her cousin really well, Yasmin believes she might be just exaggerating over it.

"Like two thousand pieces of both samosa and spring rolls, then a thousand pieces of red velvet cupcake, that's order number one from the Wali's family. Due in three weeks time, then this fellow here Rauda our friend, more like my friend only, she ordered for two hundred pieces of samosas for her baby's naming ceremony next tuesday. How about that, isn't it huge?" Ikram asked rising her brows, the excitement obvious on her face.

"It's masha Allah, Ikram. But we have a lot of work." Yasmin said with a beautiful smile, seeing the smile on her face, Ikram genuinely smile. She and Ikram both graduate from one of the best culinary school in the country two years and half ago. And they're both good at what they does especially Yasmin, who is passionately into cooking, through that amazing skill she expressed her unspoken emotion.

They started there baking business earlier before they graduate, the business had progressed a lot through the years. Ikram have always been the face of the business. While Yasmin prepared to be the unknown, she has been in self isolation since along time ago.

Yasmin is a beautiful young lady of 24yrs, an average height and gorgeous slim figure, pink plump lips and big green-hazel eyes which she inherited from her Yemeni maternal grandmother, that along with her fair skin that never let her go unnoticed wherever she goes. Her eye has always been a subject of discussion to people ever since she can remember. She dislike the unwanted attention she always gets though. Yasmin used to be like an everyday girl very jovial and naughty girl, as well as talkative. But not anymore, now she hardly even talk. Its all start twelve years ago, it was tragic.

"Yasi!" She zone out.

"Uhmm!"

"What's the matter with you today. You're awfully quiet, you know you can share it with me." Ikram asked softly, even though Yasmin has been like that since forever. Ikram knew that something is worrying her cousin today, as she is so quiet. Her aunt told on the phone that she has been in her room since morning and she haven't eat lunch.

"Nothing." She replied quietly and Ikram can see the unshed tears in her eyes, the unspoken emotions and fear. Yasmin is an emotionally disturbed person.

"You stopped taking your medication, right?"

"Yes, i have quit."

"Why, Yasi?" A concerned Ikram inquired.

"I am not sick, okay. You people should stop treating me like a sick person." Yasmin murmured and blinked away the tears that were threatening to fell, whilst Ikram sat in front of her on the yoga mat.

"Yasi, no one is treating you like a sick person, we are just worried about you, besty. Aunty may always appeared very happy and carefree all the time, but she got worried too, Yasi. She is also affected by all this. Please, my dear cousin if you have any problem, you can share it us, okay." Ikram pleaded softly, she has always been the unserious type but very soft in nature, sweet and mischievous, she is also a beauty with breathtaking smile and deep dimples.

Ikram is also engaged to be wedded in five months.

"I just want to close my eyes and have a peaceful sleep, Ikra. But even that don't happened anymore in my life, what shall i do?" And she start weeping silently.

"Let go of the past, in doing so you're not letting go of her, Yasi."

"But i can't, Ikra. I try, Allah knows i am still trying," she cries even harder. "But it still came back, all the time, like it never went away. Everything is so vivid like it was yesterday." Ikram pulls her into a hug patting her back gently while she wipes her own tears with the back of her other hand. Moment like this were better than how Yasmin's life used be. She really suffered, she is still suffering.

"It's okay, Allah is still with you, He will surely see you through this. It's a big test from Him that you have to pass, we will be with you all the way, in sha Allah." Ikram reassured her. She is a year younger that Yasmin, and have been with her through all her hardship, and supported her like a true sister.

They used to be the prankster of their families. But now one of them is being hunted by the monsters of her past for the twelve years.