The lift doors opened and closed, she was closed in, lots of people and metallic walls. Should she call Samar’s mobile and see if it was working? The lift doors opened, people cleared, her footsteps slowed even more. More security. The entire space was cordoned. All bubbles for the CM. Altaf’s eyes met hers. She passed through everybody.
“What happened?” She asked him.
“Sir is inside,” he pointed to the ICU door.
“Where is Samar?” She glanced around.
No response.
Amaal looked back, and Altaf was staring at her.
“Huh?” She asked. “I need to get money from him.”
“Madam, please come and sit down…”
“No!” She pushed his hand away. “Is he inside?!”
She strode to the ICU door and pushed it open, throwing her footwear aside and slapping her feet on the freezing floor. Everything went silent and cold, and then too loud. Samar. Explosion. May not make it. Tears started flowing. She couldn’t walk two more steps. If he was going, she couldn’t walk two more steps. If he had gone, she wouldn’t walk two more steps. She turned the corner and heard those words.
“…say goodbye and let him go if…”
“No, no, no no, no no no nooo!!” She broke into a sprint howling, running towards the room closed to her with men standing in front of it. “No no nono noooo!”
“Amaal.” Atharva’s arms closed around her.
“No no no no! No no nonooooo!Noooo yaar no noon onononononoo” she jumped, trying to get through him to the others. He lifted her bodily and turned her to the wall, locking her tight. “Atharva no please nononononono please no do something please no,” she pleaded, crying to him. “You can do anything please please please no no nononono please pass a no confidence motion nnoo no no yaar…”
“Shhh.” He pulled her head into his chest.
“Janab?”
“It’s ok.”
“We will be back to give you an update.”
Amaal smelled blood on him. Slimy blood and dust on her hands. “This is Samar’s?” She pulled back, staring at her hands. Red and black. Ash.
“No, please no, please tell me no!” She slapped his chest again and again. “Atharva please tell me no!”
“He is alive,” Atharva gathered her close again. “And he will remain that way.”
“You don’t believe it!” She howled.
“I do.” He thundered. Amaal stopped. She looked at him, his grey eyes. If he said, Samar had to.
“He is breathing?”
“Yes?”
“Did you tell him?” She asked.
“He knows.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Atharva held her down on a seat. He pressed a bottle of water into her hand. She let it fall into her lap. He crouched down in front of her, opened it and held it to her lips. She took it from him and tipped it. Her eyes began to close. Blind spots appeared.
“Amaal!” He held her up as her body began to tip over. She blinked her eyes wide open. And looked around. This wasn’t a nightmare. It was real. She had to face it.
