27. TENSION CONTINUES….

RIDA’S POV

Who would have thought that…. These boys who were laughing and enjoying there life a couple of days back with us, today would cry like this, I just couldn’t look at Hussain, he looked as if all the blood was pumped up from his body, face all raged and his torso all covered up in bandages. He was in the CCU, we were allowed to just look at him from outside the glass door. So many tubes and canolas, IVs going throught his hands and forearm…..

Hussain’s parents were sitting outside the CCU, aunty looked all lost, her eyes swollen and lips mumering, reciting something under her breath.  Few of their friends came in the morning when Uncle aunty arrived and they took Maha along with them to the apartment… poor kid! Looked all confused and afraid with all this.

Waqas, Shehry and I was sitting outside Mannat’s room, she was shifted to the room in the morning… she was out of danger, but for her mental peace the doc gave her relaxants and she was sleeping. Her neck was wrapped up with a faty bandage and her right arm was also had a bandage. Thanks God she was fine and out of danger. I have never seen Mannat in pain…. Looking at her like this was just too much.

“I think you people should take some rest now” I put a hand on Waqas’s shoulder and he looked at me, his eyes swollen and face dull.

“no… am fine, but yeah! I think Shehry, you should go home and take Aunty with you. Wo yahan bethe bethe or pareshan hon gi” Waqas said then addressed Shehry, who looked all lost looking at the front wall…. For so long.

“Shehryyy” Waqas touched his shoulder and he looked at us atonce, looking lost in thoughts

“ghar chala ja yar…. You need rest” Waqas said and shehry shook his head.

“No, am fine” he said and Waqas looked down… knowing he wont be able to convince him.

I stood up and looked at Mannat from the glass patch on the door, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside, she looked disturbed, her expressions full of pain and anxiety. Mental breakdown is a big thing…. I wonder how long we would be able to hide it from Salaar uncle and Nafeesa aunty. I stepped towards her bed and touched her hand, having the IV… it was cold. The nurse suddenly came in along with the doctor and I looked at him, thankfully he didn’t ask me to leave.

Suddenly my hand felt some movement and I looked at her face, there was movement in her body, her eyes slowly trying to open and her lips trembling…. She was saying something, but I couldn’t get that.

“Mannat!.... Mannat…  aankhen kholo Mannat!” I bent down on her a bit and touched her face… she was danm cold.

Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at my face, I smiled at her trying to hold back my tear.

“you okay?..... dara diya tum ne yar” I said still holding her hand, her grip on my hand got tighter.

“R…Ri…

“han bolo Mannat, am here…. You want something?” she couldn’t utter my name and I asked suddenly.

She said kept on looking at my face, unable to say anything… slowly tears started rolling down from the corners of her eyes and I rubbed them softly, she closed her eyes I felt her pain…. I knew why she was weaping, I could feel her pain.

“Mannat! Please, you are alright… even Hussain is okay” I said and she suddenly opened her eyes.

“pro…mise me…. Promise me that… that he is okay” she said with teary eyes and I heard the doctor instructing something to the nurse. She came forward before I could say anything.

“how are you now?” she asked touching her forehead and I took a step back.

“Ms Mannat! You are fine now….. I must say you are brave girl! Got out of it very quickly. But now you have to take care of yourself, hmm?” the doctor came forward and holding her wrist said… Mannat didn’t say a word.

“Nurse! Make her sit straight” he instructed the nurse and she helped Mannat is get up, I took hold of her other arm and she sat straight on the bed and closing her eyes she put her head back.

“you feeling okay?” the nurse asked once again and Mannat nodded, without opening her eyes.

“she is fine, the tests are all clear… hopefully you can take her home in the evening, once we have her MRI report” the doctor addressed me and I nodded, he left and the nurse started tying up mannat’s hair at the back.

“you have beautiful hair…” she said and Mannat smiled at her weakly.

The nurse left and I sat with her on the bed.

“you didn’t promise” she said looking into my eyes and I looked down

“I want to… see him” She said, her breath becoming heavy. Oh God! Not again.

“Mannat you are not able to walk on your own yet…. Take some rest then  I will take you to him room, okay?” I touched her cheek and she looked away, clenching her lower lip between her teeth…. One of her old habits ….she do this whenever she is nervous or in depression.

“he was so different that night……” she said still looking away, a small smile appear on her lips…. “ happy, not angry at all… he looked like the Hussain, I saw so many years back… cute, carefree…. Happy” she added and I put my hand on her.

“kuch kehna chahta tha wo…. per… per” she couldn’t complete her sentence and broke into a sob, I heard the door open and Waqas and Shehry entered in the room. I stood up and hugged her side ways trying hard to avoid touching the IV.

“oyeee khair ho jae….. you look perfectly fine han” Waqas came closer to her bed and putting his hand on her head he smiled warmly.

“Waqas bhai… Hussain kesa hea?” Mannat asked looking au at him and his smile faded.

“Buhat acha hea…… alaa banda hea, tumhen to pata he hea” Waqas tried to joke but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“I want to see him… bus ek bar, please” She pleaded and Waqas and Shehry exchanged glances.

“dekh lo! Meri goad mein chalo gi? Coz you are not allowed to walk yet” Shehry asked plastering a smile on his face.

“han chaliye” Mannat nodded her head and raised her arms towards Shehry… They seriously chuckled at her this time.

“han majnoo ne bazoo turwa diya… laila qamar turwaen gi” Shehry said and Mannat made a sad face.

“look at me….” Shehry touched her chin and she jerked his hand weakly….. “Dekho to …..he is okay… trust me Mannat! And you know what, he needs our prayers not tears” he said looking into her eyes and Mannat nodded slowly.

“Now get well soon so that mil ker us Angad ki wat lagaen hum” Waqas said.

I was about to say something when the door opened and Hussain’s parents came inside…..

“Mannat! Beta kesi ho?” Aunty came near her and patted her head….

“am.. am fine Aunty… Hussain kesa hea?” She asked and I felt Aunty shivered at her question.

“he is gonna be okay……”she said politely and Mannat suddenly wrapped her arms around her waist… Aunty hugged her back, kissing her head softly. Mannat started crying… tears came down from aunty’s eyes as well. Jawan bête to is halat mein dekhna asaan nai hota. Suddenly her breath hitched up and Mannat pulled back…. She rubbed her face wiping the tears away, while Shehry placed his free hand on his mother’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry Aunty…. Dekhiye ga Hussain kitni jaldi theek ho jae ga, Inn Shaa Allah. Phir ap use India nai jane dejiye ga, wo achi jaga nai hea…. Ache log nai rehte wahan” Mannat wiped her tears and then said like a small kid complaining about something. Aunty smiled at her and kissed her forehead…..

“Get well soon beta…. and take care” uncle patted her head and they left the room.

********************

THE NEXT DAY!!!

SHEHRY’S POV

Mannat was now okay…but the moment she saw Hussain in CCU behind that glass door she got all carried away… buhat mushkil se sambhala usey. But thank God she was better….. today Hussain’s report was about to come and finnaly the doctors will decide what they gonna do with him…..

“See!…. The spleen is not the issue, actually it’s the liver. I was right, his internal bleeding is due to the liver damage, he got bruised in his stomach and his liver has almost stopped working. In medical terms I would say that It’s the artificial life he is having right now…” the doctor explained showing us the report, I, Waqas and Dad were sitting there, while Rida took Mom and Mannat with herself…. Though she was reluctant in leaving but Rida forced her to take some rest.

“so, what is the solution? Are you going to operate?” Dad asked and the doctor nodded.

“but you said… operation could be dangerous” Waqas said.

“its not an ordinary operation Mr Riaz, Hussian needs a transplant… a liver transplant” the doctor explained and we glanced at each other, it sounded freaking serious.

“is.. is it safe?” I asked and the doctor nodded.

“One hundered percent safe and sound… its just that, you need to arrange the donor as soon as possible. So that we can start the surgry” the doctor said and I nodded.

The question was now where to find the donor….. we informed all of the reletives, friends neighbours about this but we couldn’t find any donors….. the doctors have said that Hussain needs a quick transplant he doesn’t have much time to waste… I waqas and Atif, we went for the cross match, but somehow…. Everytime, something went colliding and the doctors refused to to recive it from us. I called Mannat and informed her, she was a medical student maybe she has someone in her know how who can donate or who can arrange a donor.

Sir jan laga ker donor dhoond rahe thy mager pata nai Khuda ko kia manzoor tha………

**************

WAQAS’S POV

The day passed and we couldn’t find the donor yet… next morning mannat came to hospital, she looked fine, she had the follow up so she went to see the doctor and he removed her bandage from her neck, the bruise was still there… but not that bad it was, the nurse did her dressing and she came to the CCU lobby.

“Waqas bhai! I got the donor” she said sitting next to me and I felt as if somebody gave me a new life.

“Seriously Mannat?... Oh ya Allah tera shuker” I couldn’t even believe we got one.

“is he here?... we need it quickly Mannat” I asked getting up from the sofa.

“yeah! in the doctor’s room” she pointed at her back.

We started heading towards the room…. The doctor was inside I knocked and he called us to come in, I stepped in and found him a lone, I looked back at Mannat and she stood there crossing her arms.

“where is the donor?” I asked.

“Mr Riaz… Mannat wants to donate her liver to Hussain” the doctor said and I literally jumped up.

“whaat? Are you… are you crazy?” I stepped towards her and she looked up at my face.

“Waqas bhai… you people are searching for he donor for past two days almost, but you couldn’t find one….

“han to dhoond len ge na… mager tum nai” I cut her in the middle pointing my finger at her.

“But why Waqas bhai… please! Try to understand, Hussain needs a transplant and he doesn’t have much time. Q bekaar mein der Karen when we have a donor” Mannat said holding my arm and I sighed deeply.

“Look Mannat! We are trying to find one…. And Inn sha Allah we will find soon. I wont let this happen, you are already too weak and have faced that accident. You want to go through the donation now? no” I sternly said looking at her face and she rolled her eyes.

“but I am fine now…. Waqas bhai! am a medical student, I know there is no complication in donating liver…. Please ap ek bar yahan bethiye or sakoon se bat suniye meri” Mannat said and I looked at her face, then at the back… the doctor was listening to us silently. I took a seat reluctantly and Mannat hurriedly sat near me, in front of the doctor.

“It is going to be a living donor transplant you see!... In living-donor liver transplant, surgeons remove a portion of the donor's liver” Mannat started saying and pointed towards the doctor who was listening to her with an amused expression on his face. … “they even wont take out the whole of my liver Waqas bhai! its just a small portion” ….she added and I shook my head….

“ Another surgical team then will remove Hussain’s entire diseased liver and will replace it with a portion of my liver,  my liver and the portion of my liver, given to Hussain will grow back to their full size within a few weeks...its not that complicated Waqas bhai…. but yeah! its time taking that’s  why I want you to sign this performa, so that the process starts as soon as possible” Mannat explained as if she wasn’t a student but an experienced surgon, I looked at the doctor he was smiling at Mannat.

“Mannat ye sai nai hea….. no!” I tried to get up but she took hold of my arm, I wish Shehry hota is waqt…. Mujhe phasa diya hea.

“Mr Riaz I guess she is right….. but lets just go through the examination procedure, coz its long… You'll have blood tests to determine if your blood and tissue types are compatible with the organ recipient. Transplant staff will interview you, and you'll need to provide your medical history. You'll also have a thorough physical examination and psychological evaluation. Several other tests, including detailed imaging of your liver, will be performed to ensure that you're in good health and that your liver can safely be divided”the doctor said to me, then addressed Mannat who listened every word very carefully.

“I already know all this doc… that’s why am saying it’s a time taking procedure. Please Waqas bhai sign ker dijiye” Mannat said and I looked down at a paper in front of me.

I held the paper in my hand and started reading… a long terms and conditions list there was, I looked back at Mannat, she was crazy…. Definitely crazy that she wants all this willingly.

“here is a clause that… you wont leak my name in front of anyone” Mannat said and I looked at her face at once, almost throwing the paper back on the table.

“what? And why? Are you mad? It means you are not going to discuss it with your parents even?” I asked, I was seriously pissed off now.

“thy won’t refuse Waqas bhai…..” She said looking down and I rolled my eyes.

“and you wish to keep it a secret even from Hussain?” I asked raising my eyebrows and she remained silent.

“I think it doesn’t mater… ferk nai perta Waqas bhai, bus wo thee ho jae kisi terha” Mannat said, I could feel pain in her eyes for Hussain….. she really loved him  man! I sighed and look at the doctor, who seemed all too positive about all this nonsense.

“Atleast lemme talk to Shehry” I said and she rolled her eyes.

“Waqas bhai…. ap bare hen ya Shehry? Ap na… so decide. and Shehry also want Hussain to be alright, bus to wo theek ho raha hea na, ap q nai man rae”she was making me crazy, litrally.

On one hand, It was about Hussain… jis k theek hone ki duaen mang mang nai thak raha tha mein… or ek taraf ye pagal lerki…. Karoon to kia karoon? Finally she convinced me and I reluctantly signed the paper. I could feel the satisfaction, the shine that jumped back in her eyes…. she was seriously too much.

She signed as well, and handed it to the doctor…. “I will make the arrangements for your tests” the doctor said holding the paper and we stood up to leave.

My feet were literally shaking, what have I done? did I do something wrong? Agar Mannat ko kuch ho gaya to???? How could I be that selfish? I looked at her face, she was walking with me… all calm and happy as if Hussain was already fine.

“Waqas bhai… remember! You wont disclose is to anyone” she looked at me and said.

“I don’t promise”I said and she stopped in her tracks, I looked back at her.

“please Waqas bhai…. am not doing it for any favors or appreciation or anything, am doing it only for him… for Hussain. wo theek ho jae ga to mujhe lage ga kuch hua he nai tha. And frankly speaking… I didn’t want anyone else to donate him…. Mein hoon na!”Mannat said casually and I wonder how deeply she fell in love with him.

I slowly smacked the back of her head and she chuckled lightly… we headed towards the lobby, I had to call Shehry and everyone else to give them the good news… well, I dunno it was a good news or not but jo nai jante thy sach… un k liye to thi……