.

-Maria Montessori

*****

"We have emergency, sun". The nurse yelled

Surraya removes her coat from the chair immediately walking outside while tying her hair in a pony. She enters the emergency room.

"Who is the patient?". She asked

"The patient is an 11 years old girl who suddenly lost consciousness and falls down the stairs". The nurse told her

"Take her to the OR". She instructed

"No, I need someone professional to look at my daughter". She heard a man voice booming through

"Sir, she is one of our best surgeons and she is known for her work. Please, trust us". She heard her senior explain

She shakes her head walking away to get ready for her surgery.

******

The surgery was a success.

Her senior asked her to leave the explaining to him because her father is not an easy man. She allowed him and walks back to her cabin placing her head on the table.

"Long night?". She heard her colleague- Nadir say

She raises her head looking at him, "Yes".

She never likes talking to male without reasons. It either about work or nothing.

"You should rest more". Nadir suggested

"I didn't become a doctor to rest". She said standing to walk away

But he holds her hand turning her around.

"How about we go out to eat?". He asked

She pushes his hand away, "Don't touch me without my permission and I will not have any food with you".

******

"Afifa seems depressed". Her senior- Ahmad said to her

"She is just 11 years old child". She replied smiling tightly

"No, Sun, she was abandoned by her mother when she was born". Her senior said

Her heart stopped.

The smile on her lips was now forced, "A-Abandoned?".

"Yes, she was born and her mother left her saying she was too much of a hassle for her to handle. She was brought up by many day cares and nannies". He explained further

She looks down at her hands not wanting to think about the memories that were too clear until now.

"Can I request something?". She said controlling her emotions

Her senior nodded.

"Give me full rights over her case". She said determinedly

"Sun, she is not that simple. She is the daughter of-". He started

"Please". She said softly, "I don't want to know about anyone else. I promise I will save the child. Just please, this once, trust me".

He sighs nodding.

"You better do the best". He said stern

She grins nodding.

*****

Surraya enters inside Afifa room which is the most luxurious room in the hospital. She found Afifa sleeping and checked her charts for her vitals.

She should be awake by now.

She walks closer to Afifa bending down on her knees beside her brushing her hair away from her face.

"Wake up now. This time things will be all ok. You will be ok". She said softly, "No more scary monster".

Surraya stays with her for hours before she decided to go her in the emergency room. As she turns to leave when Afifa held her hand stopping her steps.

Her eyes widen as she turns around to find her eyes open and looking at her.

"You are awake". Surraya said smiling in relief

She checks her vital informing the nurse to inform her family about her.

"You did so well, beta (daughter)". Surraya said before she has to leave her

But Afifa holds Surraya's hand again. Surraya turns around to find her looking at her with sadness in her innocent eyes.

"What's wrong?". She asked

"Why did you save me?". Afifa asked

"Because that is my duty". She replied, "And because you were worth saving".

"There is no use of being alive". Afifa said

She smiles at her, "How about this". She pauses taking her hand in her own, "Give me a month to prove otherwise, ok?".

Afifa looks at her determined eyes and after a long moment, she nodded.

She smiles walking away towards the desk to write down the reports before she heads to the emergency. She turns to find a man entering inside followed by a woman into Afifa room.

She sighs.

She did take on the challenge just in case Afifa has suicidal thoughts to extend her life but she isn't sure exactly what to do.

She really should mind her own business.

*****

"Rise and shine, beautiful". Surraya said opening the curtain the next day allowing the light to come in this spacious room

She heard Afifa groaning, "Why are you waking me so early?".

Surraya walks back to her bed lifting her bed, "For starters, you have to eat. For the past three days, you didn't eat solid food and that can cause problems".

"I hate hospital food". Afifa said looking at the food

"I know right". Surraya said sighing, "I don't like how this food is so tasteless. Like what's the use of eating something like this right?".

Afifa looks at her, "Aren't you a doctor?. Shouldn't you be talking to me the benefits of eating this?".

"I know you are a clever girl who probably already know that so why should I repeat it?". Surraya said taking out something from her pocket, "But, I did manage to sneak something in here that I was thinking of giving you if only you eat this".

"What is it?". Afifa said curiously

"Chocolates". Surraya whispers to her, "If you finish this I will give you".

"I am not a kid who eat chocolates". Afifa said crossing her hand over her chest

"You are a kid, Afifa and you can eat chocolates". Surraya said

Afifa looks in her eyes with a hard look at first but then slowly her eyes softened.

"I am a kid?". She asked

Surraya stands beside her patting her head, "Yes, you are. Now be a good one at it and eat your food".

Surraya watches as she quickly starts to eat her food, "Slowly, baby".

Afifa nodded eating slower this time finishing her food in no time forwarding her hands.

"Woah! Look at that. You are such a good kid". Surraya praised

"I am good?". Afifa asked nervously

"You are the best". Surraya said handing her the chocolate, "Enjoy them. I brought you some books to read. I have to be in an emergency for a while so I-".

"You are leaving?". Afifa asked

She smiles at her, "Only for a moment. Just a moment I will be back before you know it".

Afifa nodded.

She turns to walks out of her room but stops at the door turning to look at the same sadness on Afifa face again.

"If you want to find me just ask around for sun you will reach me". She said as Afifa looks at her confused making her chuckle, "I will tell you that one someday. But I will let you in on a secret". She pauses watching her giving her full attention to her, "Whenever you want a hug you can come and hug me without my consent".

She smiles one last time at her walking away.

******

"Can't you ask her father to speak to me once, it's important?". Surraya begged the desk nurse

"Sun, her father is a very busy man". The nurse informed

He (Abdullah) stands a few feet away watching the doctor who operated on his daughter (Afifa) asking for him.

"Please, just once. For a few minutes". The doctor begged

"No". The nurse replied stern

He watches her scowling at the rejection stomping her feet like a child walking away mumbling something. He shakes his head thinking how everyone was at praises for this childish woman who seems more like a child to him than his own 11-year-old daughter.

Which reminds him that his daughter was hurt and he wasn't able to do a thing.

Yes, he was informed how much her mental health is at risk and how that can create problems for her future if she has one. Because the doctor clearly said that she might do into harming herself.

His heart clenched.

He had done nothing but to provide her with the best and he failed miserably.

He enters the room looking at his daughter immense in eating her chocolate and looking at some kids books.

"Afifa". He said softly

He watches as she becomes alert at once hiding everything away not looking at him.

"Yes?". She said in a low voice

"How are you?". He asked sitting beside her to find many chocolate rappers and books

"I am good". She replied shortly, "Is there something you want?".

He frowns, "Why would I need something from you?".

"You came here so you must need something". She replied, "You don't come otherwise".

She said those last words in a whisper that if he wasn't paying his utmost attention he wouldn't have heard them.

His heart clenched.

"I didn't come here for anything. You are sick so I just came to-". He started but was cut off when she throws a book on the floor

"I am not sick". She said angrily

"I-". He started

"I said I am not sick. Leave my room". She yelled angrily

He panics and dials the nurse to come and calm her down. The more he stays the more she shouts the same thing over and over. He watches as the nurse followed by the same doctor enters inside with concern written all over her face.

"Back away. All of you". The doctor said

"But-". The nurse started

"No, I need you all to stay far away from us". She ordered

He watches as everyone steps back asking him to do the same. He didn't move at first but then his curiosity made him do it. He steps back watching the doctor walking to a out of control Afifa.

"Beta (daughter), it's me". The doctor said softly, "Do you hear me?".

He frowns at her words watching his daughter shaking her head covering her ears," Their voice won't stop. Make them stop".

"Afifa". The doctor yelled loudly this time making his daughter's head snap at her, "It's me".

"Sun?". His daughter whispers, "Can I take the deal?".

The doctor nodded.

He watches as his daughter leap forward wrapping her arms around the doctor tightly. He sees as the doctor didn't even hesitate to wrap her arms around her too.

For minutes, he just stayed still watching them hugging until his daughter finally calmed down pulling away from her but the doctor wraps her arms around her this time.

"The deal is for me too". She said softly hugging her tightly

The doctor turns her head asking everyone to leave and they leave at once.

She didn't even acknowledge his presence.

But he leaves as well because he didn't want his daughter to be like that again.

He walks to his car and then back at his villa which is just empty. The memories he used to cherish are now just black and white images.

"Abdullah, is that you?". He heard Zoya voice

He looks at Zoya in her glory walking towards him.

"Where have you been?. Is she ok?". She asked

"Zoya you shouldn't be here when there is no one else. You know we are not married and people might take this wrong way". He said stern pushing her hands away from him

"So what?. We live in the 21st century it's no big deal". She replied flirtatiously

"Well, century changes nothing". He replied, "And Afifa is fine if you were worried you should have visited her. You were the one who was with us all these years".

"Oh, I would have if I didn't have a busy schedule". She replied

"Please, leave me alone". He replied sitting on the couch

Zoya huffed.

She walks away and he heard the door closing loudly.

He sighs.

He looks around the house which was all wall and no emotions.

Afifa images still haunt him not allowing him to sleep peacefully.

What has he done.

*******

Surraya tries to reach her father but no one is allowing her. She tries to find his number but no one let her.

She groans.

She enters inside Afifa room looking at the flowers with a grin and Afifa groans.

"Flowers". Surraya said happily

"Take them". Afifa said angrily

She turns to look at her and the more she sees the more she finds herself.

"You want to go out with me?". Surraya asked

Afifa nodded.

They sit outside on the bench watching people of various ages walking around.

He walks inside the hospital taking steps but stops when he finds his daughter on the bench outside. He walks closer to them. Since their back was towards him they cannot exactly see him.

"You want to know a secret?". Surraya said softly

Afifa nodded.

"There was a little girl about 8 whose father died in a car accident a while ago. Her mother wasn't able to take care of her and often curse her. One day her mother decided she had enough and she had two options in her hand either she kills the girl or throws her away. First, she asked the little girl for the first time in a while bringing her favourite dish to eat. The girl not knowing ate all the food and then s-she-". She pauses taking a deep breath," She almost died because the food was poisoned. She was given the deadliest poison but she lived. Later, her mother decided she cannot do this anymore and she wasn't good enough so she threw her to someone house without any information. She abandoned her own child to stranger's hands".

By the end of it, both of them were crying and Surraya hugs Afifa to herself.

"Shh, don't cry". She said softly

"Who was that girl?. What happened next?. Did she live?. Is she happy?". Afifa asked worriedly

"I am that girl". She replied heartbroken

******