HER NEMESIS
Inside the hospital now.
Mike, a fellow doctor and Jalal's bossom friend was the in theater when the news of the fall reached him.
The moment his surgery ended, he sprinted out in search of his friend. He found him sitting upright on a bed meant for patients, with a cast wrapped around his neck.
Relief and anger flashed across his face as he rushed toward him.
Jalal spotted him from afar and smiled faintly. He knew that look —he should get ready for an ear-off.
Mike slapped his shoulder hard.
"—Ouch!" Jalal yelped holding his neck
"Oouch!?" Mike repeated, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "... serves you right. I get that you're kind, but what type of a doctor sacrifices themselves to save a patient?"
He paused, his voice solemn now, "—for a moment there, I thought I'd lost you."
"Oh!," Jalal tilted his head towards mike. "Is that tears? Are you crying right now?" He teased, stifling a laugh.
"Are you seriously joking right now!?"
Jalal was about to talk when he sighted someone familiar coming from afar. Instantly, he slid under the sheets.
Mike frowned, confused as to why his friend was acting this way. He turned to look at the direction his friend faced before sliding under the blanket.
He saw no other person than, Dr. Ardney, a plump biracial woman. She was both of American and Nigerian descent.
He saw the fury on her face and he knew exactly why his friend had acted that way, even he —needed to stay aside.
Dr. Ardney was mentor and also like a mother to them.
She is a smart, ethical woman that seems to effortlessly carry authority.
Mike smirked. He knew his friend is in for a punishment this week again.
She had reached them now.
"Good evening Dr. ardney, you really didn't have to come.... he—" before Mike could complete his sentence she cut him off.
"Jalal! ... stand up. Now!"
Jalal pretended to be asleep under the sheet, he hoped she would really believe his facade and leave. But he was surprised when he heard her asking for cold water.
"Cold water?"
He heard Mike echoed after her, in an inquisitive tone.
"Yes, cold water. Or would you prefer I pour hot water on him!?" She snapped at him sharply.
Wait, ...what?.
Knowing Dr. ardney, she wouldn't hesitate to drench him right there. It won't be a good choice to continue with his facade.
Slowly he pulled the sheet off his face and said softly, as if unaware of her presence before.
"Dr. Ardney, you are here ... you don't need to, I am really fine"
"But that —tells me otherwise." she replied pointing to the cast on his neck."—just what the hell were you thinking? Jumping down a twenty-seven storey building to save someone. What do you think you are, Spider man?"
Mike and Jalal burst into laughter.
"You think this is funny? —you are grounded for the week and you are to submit a note of apology and remorse..." she paused.
"...and make it forty thousands words." She finished with a tone of finality.
Jalal immediately stopped laughing and was about to protest —when a commotion erupted nearby.
They all turned.
Jalal saw patients gathering at the entrance of a ward, obviously watching the drama unfolding inside.
His expression changed.
That ward was fatimah's.
He moved to get up, but Dr. Ardney's cold stare stopped him.
He sat still and said to her, "I think you should go check that, ma."
"I am very serious. You are grounded and not allowed to move an inch from this bed."
"You—" she turned towards mike, "report to me if he dares to disobey my order."
She said firmly and then strode towards the disturbance.
Minutes later, a man was dragged out of the ward by hospital security. It took five men to restrain him.
Jalal's chest tightened.
Ignoring the warning, he stood up and headed toward the ward.
***
After Fatimah was wheeled into her ward. Her injuries were fully assessed. Casts were placed around her neck and leg.
She hadn't felt the pain at the time of the fall but now the pain grows intense with every passing second.
Her mother had rushed in, waited patiently at the side, sobbing. She watched has the doctors attended to her.
Fatimah turned her head.
She saw her mother trembling, even though she didn't seem to realize it.
She felt guilt in her heart. Her mother had pleaded with her not to die but she had chose it anyway. She had thought it was the only way out.
Now… it felt like the worst mistake she had ever made.
Tears slid down her face.
She had siblings—Minah and Roy—but she was the first child.
No parent should ever have to bury their child.
Her choice now felt foolish. Cruel.
She looked at her mother once again and said with a remorseful, trembling voice.
"Mum... I'm so sorry."
The doctors finished and advised complete bed rest.
They turned to her mother.
"Please avoid triggering her emotionally. Let her rest and only aid her when necessary."
She nodded and went to sat beside her daughter.
"Mommy... I'm so sorry"
""It's okay, darling," she whispered, sniffling. "Rest now. We'll talk tomorrow. I'm just glad you're alive."
She adjusted the sheets and gently helped her lie down.
She was still stroking her hair when—
The door burst open.
A man stormed in, rage evident on his face.
Both mother and daughter startled by the sudden noise, looked towards the direction.
They were faced by the man they knew too well.
Fatimah stiffened on the bed, gripping her mother's hand.
The man approached them in heavy steps blind with rage.
Fatimah mother hurriedly stood up to intercept him. She would never allow her hit her daughter, not here, not ever.
But before she could even reach him, He grabbed her and gave her a heavy slap.
The impact blurred her vision. She staggered, hitting the bedside shelf before collapsing to the floor.
"I'm coming for you next," he said coldly.
Fear gripped Fatimah.
Her body curled instinctively.
He kicked aside a bag and lunged forward.
She dread what would soon happen to her —and the man didn't disappoint her.
"You idiotic ungrateful thing—", he grabbed a handful of her hair and struck her across the face —hard, merciless, unforgiving.
"—how dare you try to die on me, who gave you the permission to die, you have no right to do anything to yourself ....I own you, you bastard" he continued to struck her across the face.
He still wasn't satisfied and made to hit her with a steel bottle he picked up from the floor.
Fatimah's mother rushed in to block the attack —the bottle hitting her head squarely.
She wrapped herself around her daughter, shielding her, taking every hit.
Nurses rushed in now. They tried to stop this man from attacking the mother, daughter duo but was stopped by the man overbearing posture. He looked like he could kill with just a single hand and with what he had displayed, they maintained a distance and think it's better the security come handle this.
Just as they were still at loss on what to do, waiting for the security to arrive.
Dr. ardney entered.
To the nurses, she was the perfect person for the moment. She is a strict, blunt and a well respected senior doctor. She is also the director of the hospital.
Her eyes took in the scene. And hardened. She knew the types of this man.
She stepped forward and caught his hand mid strike.
The man, surprised that someone —anyone could have the audacity to stop him, turned.
His face met a plumb fair woman standing behind him, looking at him with a stern look.
He scoffed and forcefully eject his hand from the woman's grip.
"Who the hell are you... I am only disciplining my insolent family." He glared at her.
"Respect yourself—" she said coldly. "And leave this premises. Now."
She was baffled at this man audacity. Animals like him doesn't deserve to be in the society, they belong behind the gate. Just like those in the zoo.
The security team entered now.
He fought them—pushing, striking—but more men arrived.
Eventually, he was overpowered and dragged out.
Dr. Ardney turned to one of them.
"Make sure he is handed over to the police."
Fatimah watched as they dragged the man out the ward.
Her body trembled.
Her heart pounded.
That man —was her father.
Her —nemesis.