Chapter 3 THE RUSH TO THE HOSPITAL

Hakimi's heart dropped as he heard the news over the phone. Without wasting a moment, Akashi rushed back to the dining room where his father was still holding the receiver. His son looked at him with wide eyes, sensing the urgency in his father's movements.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Akashi asked, concern evident in his voice.

Hakimi's mind raced with worry as he tried to compose himself. "We need to go to the hospital. Your mother has been admitted to the emergency unit," he explained quickly, his tone urgent.

Akashi's eyes widened further, shock and fear mingling on his face. "Emergency unit? Mummy? What happened? Is she okay?" he fired off questions in rapid succession.

"We don't know yet. But we need to get there as soon as possible," Hakimi replied, his voice trembling slightly despite his efforts to stay calm.

Grabbing his coat and car keys, Hakimi motioned for Akashi to follow him. They hurried out of the house, the night air cool against their skin as they made their way to the car. Hakimi's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and prayers as he drove towards the hospital, his knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel tightly.

The journey felt like an eternity, each passing second filled with worry and apprehension. Akashi sat beside him, silent but visibly anxious.

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The screeching sound of their car came to a sudden halt in front of the hospital. It seemed to echo the turmoil in Hakimi's mind. Without bothering to close the car door, both Hakimi and Akashi rushed towards the reception area, their hearts pounding with anxiety and fear.

A beautiful blonde nurse greeted them at the reception desk, .

"Welcome, she smiled at them. How may I help you?" her calm demeanor contrasting with the urgency in Hakimi's voice

"Where's my wife? Where's my wife?" Hakimi's words came out in rapid succession, his eyes a reflection the dread that gripped him.

The nurse, with a mix of sympathy and professionalism, tried to calm Hakimi down. "Sir, please calm down. What's your wife's name?"

"My wife?... ermm.." Hakimi's mind was a whirlwind of emotions, making it hard for him to recall anything at the moment.

The nurse looked at him. Understanding the gravity of the situation. "Is alright sir. What's your name?"

"I... I'm Hakimi Rajvier. Please, just tell me where she is."

"That's quite easier sir. Dr. Rashvia was in the ICU, the emergency unit." Without wasting another moment, Hakimi and Akashi hurried towards the ICU.

As they reached the door, doctors and nurses were already entering the room, indicating the urgency of the situation. His heart raced faster. He grabbed man by the wrist.

"My wife? Where's Dr. Ravisha?"

The man took a brief glance at him and relaxed the grip on him." Sir, I suggest you wait outside here." He said and left them.

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Minutes felt like hours as they stood outside the ICU, the sounds of medical equipment and hushed conversations adding to the tension in the air. Finally, a nurse emerged from the room, signaling that they could enter.

What Hakimi and Akashi saw struck them.

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inside the room was a sight that shook them to the core. Rashvia lay on the hospital bed, her once vibrant features now marred by injuries. Her face was swollen, masked with oxygen tubes and bruises. One of her legs was suspended, clearly broken and bandaged. It was a stark contrast to the image of health and vitality she usually exuded.

The shock and despair hit Akashi like a tidal wave, and he broke down in tears, his sobs echoing in the sterile hospital room. Hakimi, trying to stay composed for his son's sake, held him tightly.

"Come on son, don't be like this. Mummy is still alive. He swallowed a hard lump of saliva. His mouth suddenly went dry. She would not want to see you like this." He kept on whispering words of reassurance that their mother was still fighting.

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It was few hours to dawn, and the sky was still inky as dark clouds covered it. Akashi and Hakimi still sat fixed beside Rashvia bedside. Their eyes still wide opened though it had been sleep deprived.

The noise from the medical equipment was the only sound heard. As they were both heartbroken to say anything. Hakimi emerged from the private bathroom, he held a prayer bead on his hands that he was silently praying and meditating with.

"I've called Mrs Ramar, I told her to check up on your sisters when they wake up." He told Akashi, his face expressionless.

Akashi nodded lightly, at this point he was helpless and could only cry.

But as minutes passed, Rashvia's condition began to worsen. "Dad!...Dad!, what's happening to Mummy?"

Suddenly, her body began to vibrate and she began to convulse, blood trickling from her eyes.

Hakimi couldn't bear to see his wife suffer like this. Akashi rushed to his mother's side and burst out "Mummy, you can't go" he wailed another round while Hakimi rushed out,

"Doctors! Nurse! Could someone get in here immediately!" He demanded, agony written all over his face

They rushed in carrying equipment. "What is happening to my wife? He asked but got nothing reply. They were all busy setting up some equipment. Answer me!" He demanded sternly

"Sir, I'll need you to take your son and step outside." He said and began wearing a nose mask.

"I need to know what is wrong with my wife. Hakimi felt a surge of helplessness and desperation. Please, He pleaded with the doctor. do whatever it takes to save my wife?"

"Sir, do as you're told please." He repeated. Hakimi was hesitant and began moving towards the bedside. Suddenly a hand grabbed him forcefully and pulled him outside the ward. Akashi followed him behind.

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Inside the ward the doctors battled to save Rashvia's life.

The doctor explained the gravity of Rashvia's injuries, the internal trauma that was causing her organs to fail.

"She's bleeding internally. Her lungs has been punctured as well, so she can not breath properly. Charge that reviver".

"It's fully charged doctor."

"Hand it over. Raise her gown then move back a bit. Boom, he shocked her and checked her reaction for few seconds. Charge! He shocked her body again and observed her for seconds. Place this back." He handed the equipment to the nurse

"There's no visible improvement. What are we going to do?"

"Let's hope. Anymore revitalizing shock would dry up her organs."

In a last-ditch effort, the doctor administered injections, hoping they would stabilize Rashvia's failing organs.

But despite their efforts, the beeping of the heart monitor turned into a continuous flat line, signaling Rashvia's passing.

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Outside the ward, everwhere fell into a heavy silence suddenly heightening Hakimi's fear.

"I don't like this. What are they doing?" He banged on the door, demanding answers, but deep down, he knew the truth. When the doctor finally emerged and her read their facial expressions, Hakimi's world shattered.

He grabbed the doctor, his voice choked with grief. "What happened to my wife? Tell me! Is Ravisha dead?" But there were no words that could ease the pain of loss.

"We tried our best sir" The nurse, overcome with emotion, could only offer tears and a sympathetic embrace.

Akashi stepped into the ward and saw his mother. His throat suddenly became dry. The hero of their home. Their best friend is gone. He knelt down and tried to break into a sob. But there was no more tears to cry. His face became red from agony.

Hakimi walked inside the room and saw Rashvia lay still, her battle over, leaving behind a void that no words could fill. Hakimi's heart felt like it had stopped along with hers, the weight of sorrow crushing him.

He began silently sobbing, walking to her bed he grabbed her bruised palm and placed soft kisses.

As he looked at Rashvia's lifeless form, memories of their time together flooded his mind. He remembered her laughter, her warmth, her love.

Hakimi and Akashi stood there, grappling with the enormity of their loss. It was a night they would never forget, a night that changed their lives forever.

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~•~•~•~•~•~•~ Three months later~•~•~•~•~•

Months had passed since the tragic night at the hospital. The memory was still fresh, a haunting specter that loomed over their lives. Hakimi had to navigate the difficult path of being both a father and a mother to his children, Amira and Khadijat, as they tried to move forward despite the void left by Rashvia's absence.

One bright morning, the routine of their new life unfolded.

Akashi's voice echoed from upstairs, "Daddy, where's my school bag?"

"What? Amira laughed, it's his first day in university and you're still behaving like a baby."

"It's on your bed, Akashi."

"Whatever!. He answered his sister. Thanks Dad."

As Akashi rushed to grab his bag, Amira and Khadijat were already seated at the dining table, enjoying their breakfast of warm oatmeal and freshly squeezed orange juice.

"Hurry up with your breakfast ladies, So i can drop you off on time." Hakimi urged them gently.

After ensuring the children were ready for school, Hakimi dropped them off one by one. First, Akashi at his University. Hakimi felt a mix of pride and sorrow as he watched his son step into the world of higher education, knowing that Rashvia would have been overjoyed to witness this moment.

He was still staring after him when Khadijat tapped him lightly. "Daddy? Let's go."

"Oh, yes I'm sorry. " He turned the keys and the engine roared.

Next, Hakimi drove Amira and Khadija to their school. Their chatter in the backseat provided a brief distraction from the weight on his mind.

As he navigated through the familiar streets, Hakimi couldn't help but think about the life they had before Rashvia's passing. But he was determined to keep moving forward, for the sake of his children and the memories of the life they had shared.

Arriving at their school, Hakimi parked his car and took a deep breath.

"Alright ladies, off to class I'll see you during break time." He placed light kisses on their forehead and waved them off. Letting out a deep sigh, he took his bag out of the trunk and headed towards his staff room silently hoping for better days ahead, where the pain would lessen, and they could remember Rashvia with smiles instead of tears.