THE UNEXPECTED CALL

The bright morning sunlight entered through the large glass window of the apartment.

For the first time in weeks, Rafia didn't have to rush anywhere.

No lectures. No assignments. No presentations.

It was finally a holiday.

Stretching lazily on her bed, she picked up her phone and checked the time.

11:07 AM.

A smile appeared on her face.

"Finally a day for myself."

She sat up and started scrolling through different places she could visit.

Maybe a café.

Maybe shopping.

Maybe just a peaceful walk.

After spending months buried under studies, she desperately needed some time to relax.

"Hmmm..." she muttered while looking at her phone.

"Where should I go? Why is choosing a place harder than studying?"

She sighed dramatically and threw herself back onto the bed.

Just then...

Her phone started ringing.

"Mumma Calling..."

A smile instantly appeared on her face.

She quickly picked up.

"Assalamualaikum Mumma!"

"Waalaikum Assalam beta."

"How are you all? How's Daddy? How's Arqam?"

There was a brief silence.

A silence that immediately made Rafia sit straight.

"Mumma?"

"Beta... tum wapas aa jao."

The smile disappeared from her face.

"What?"

"Tumhare Daddy ki tabiyat theek nahi hai."

Her heartbeat immediately dropped.

"Daddy ki tabiyat kharab hai?"

"Haan beta."

The color drained from her face.

"What happened? Why didn't anyone tell me earlier?"

"Bas beta... tum aa jao."

Her hands started shaking.

"Mumma, what happened exactly? Is Daddy okay?"

"Abhi baat karna mushkil hai beta."

"Mumma!"

"Flight kal raat ki hai."

"What?!"

Rafia stood up from the bed.

"Kal raat? Mumma, tickets itni jaldi kaise mil gayi? Aur college? Semester? Attendance?"

"Sab manage ho gaya."

"What do you mean manage ho gaya?"

"We have already talked to your director."

For a moment she was completely speechless.

"Mumma... you informed my director before informing me?"

"Haan."

"Mummaaaa!"

Despite her panic, she couldn't stop herself from saying it.

Under normal circumstances she would've argued for hours.

But right now she was too worried.

The only thing running through her mind was her father.

Finally she nodded.

"Thik hai."

"Packing kar lo beta."

The call disconnected.

The room suddenly felt empty.

Very empty.

Rafia sat down on her bed.

Her eyes fixed on the floor.

Questions.

Hundreds of questions.

What happened?

How serious was it?

Why was everyone hiding things?

She wanted someone to talk to.

Someone who would tell her everything would be okay.

Without thinking, she opened her contacts.

Midhat.

Call.

No response.

She frowned.

"Busy hogi."

Then she called Anam.

No response.

"Weird."

Another call.

Still nothing.

She put her phone aside.

Maybe they were busy.

Maybe she was overthinking.

But somehow she couldn't calm herself.

That entire day passed in packing, worrying and making silent prayers.

The next evening she stood at the airport.

People were rushing everywhere.

Announcements echoed through the terminal.

But she barely noticed anything.

Her fingers tightened around her boarding pass.

"Ya Allah..."

She whispered softly.

"Bas sab theek ho."

A few hours later...

She was sitting beside the airplane window.

Watching the city lights disappear beneath the clouds.

Completely unaware that this journey was about to change her life forever.

And not in the way she expected.

TO BE CONTINUED...

😭💖🌷

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