The Sweet Child of Mine

'Anybody home?', I shouted as I entered the front door. I got no answer. My husband and daughter had gone to a parent-teacher meeting at school and weren't back as yet. Well, it is likely that they got held back for something, I mused and afterall, Kiran's school is at quite a distance from our home.

Since I am a working woman, I usually come back home by 5:00 p.m. though it gets later than that, depending on the workload. With today being one of those days, Ahsan had to attend the meeting in my place.

I ascended the stairs and went to my room. Today's meeting had left me feeling jaded. My boss had assigned me an important project and after weeks of hard work on it, I had finally completed and submitted the report today. And since the day I first began work on it, I hadn't been able to spent time with Kiran. Although she had not complained, but I felt that she needed my attention.

Today, after getting up in the morning, I had promised myself to take my family out for dinner. It was long due and I had even asked my boss that I needed some time off so that I could relax with my family.

Tired after the long weeks of hard work and with some free time to myself, I decided to take a nap. Taking off my shoes, I tucked myself in bed, shut my eyes and dozed off. And ofcourse, as always, I was woken by the annoying phone bell. For a second, I couldn't place myself, but then I realized that the phone was still ringing. Getting out of the bed, I went in the lounge but by the time I reached the phone, it had stopped ringing. My eyes went up to the grandfather's clock. It was past six. 'They've taken far too long', I thought to myself, 'but they may come home any minute now', I thought, and dialed Ahsan on his cellular phone.

"Hello", he answered.

"Ahsan it's me. Where are you? What's taken you so long? Is everything okay? Where is Kiran, is she alright?"



"Whoa, hold it. Ayesha, I'm fine and so is Kiran. It's just that we were caught up in a mighty bad traffic jam. But things are moving now, we'll be home in less than fifteen minutes."

"I see, but try to come as quickly as possible and please, the phone to Kiran, I want to speak to her."

Kiran's soft voice could be hears from the other end. "Hello Ammi, we are on our way. Don't worry,"she concluded.

"Kiran beta, I have a surprise for you."

"Oh what is it?"

"You will find out when you get home. Now give the phone to your father. Ahsan, which suit shall I iron for you, will the blue one do?" I asked.

"Yes that will be just fine. Ayesha, the battery is getting weak, but we'll be home in another ten minutes. Khuda…" the phone was cut off.

Thinking that they will be home soon I got busy taking out Ahsan and Kiran's clothes. But before that, I decided to make some sandwiches as Kiran is used to grabbing a snack in the evening.

In the kitchen, I thought about the lovely life that Allah had gifted me. I had a devoted husband and a lovely, beautiful daughter. 'Thank you God!' I said a silent prayer. My daughter, Kiran would be turning thirteen in just a few days. My child is growing up, I sighed. I was aware of the fact that someday she'll leave us to have a home of her own. I shook my head, and my eyes went up to the grandfather's clock yet again. Twenty minutes had already passed since I spoke to them. Now, I really began to fret and just then the phone rang. I picked up the receiver with shaky hands.

'Hello. Is this Mrs. Ahsan?'

"Yes". I replied with a trembling voice.

"This is Inspector Kamal from the Mideast Hospital. I am afraid I have some bad news for you. Your husband and daughter have been involved in an accident."

"No, no…", I cried aloud, my entire body quivering with the shattering news. 'This can't be happening'. I thought to myself and after putting down the receiver, barely gathered enough strength to grab my purse and car keys.

I really don't know how and in which condition I got to the hospital, but Ahsan was the first person I saw after reaching the emergency ward. He had a few bruises on his forehead and I felt relieved, but then I could not see Kiran beside him. Upon asking, I was told that due to her fatal injuries, she had been taken to the operation theatre for surgery. The tears that had been harboring in my eyes now came rushing down. Ahsan put his arm around me and murmured, "Don't worry Ayesha. Trust God, everything will be all right".

We both sat down and prayed. While waiting for Kiran to be wheeled out of the theatre, Ahsan told me that they were only a few minutes away from home when, while turning towards the bend, a car came speeding out of nowhere and hit them. A man who had witnessed the accident rushed them to the hospital.

A few minutes passed and the theatre door was pushed open. A doctor came running to us and said, " Your daughter is asking for you, please hurry. There is little time. We did all we could, but there were severe internal injuries." Not being able to gather my nerves to fathom the doctor's words, I rushed to Kiran's side and saw how frail and pale she looked. I sat beside her and held her in my arms. She looked at me as if trying to say something and then smiled… it was her last smile.

I don't blame life for being cruel… for taking my precious child away from me. Infact, I thank God that he found me worthy enough to gift such a beautiful child. The love and affection she spread will last forever. Eventhough Kiran is no more, but she will remain in our hearts and we will cherish her memories-for always.