Today is Thursday. I am sitting in the living room watching TV while I wait for Fatima to come over so we can go shopping. Udar and Ismail are having dinner to mark the end of the successful business trip, and to thank everyone for their contributions to making it a success. Fatima and I finished our meetings early, so we have time to go shopping. I’m becoming impatient as she is running late when she finally comes down the stairs.
“What took you so long?” I pick up my handbag and start walking to the garage. We are taking one of Aunt Maria’s cars. We are taking her Lexus LC to the mall.
“Sorry, I was talking to my mom,” Fatima says walking up beside me.
“Oh, did you say hi to her for me,” I say entering the car.
“I did. She asked how you were doing, and I told her you are fine,” Fatima says getting in too.
“Alright let’s go,” I say driving out of the garage.
 
Last night the men took us out for that dinner we extorted. Udar and Ismail did manage to get us a booking at the restaurant. We all had a great time until it was time to pay. Fatima and I were only joking about making them pay, but they took it seriously. In the end, Fatima and I graciously allowed them to pay, not wanting the evening to end on a sour note.Fatima and I plan to go to the spa for a good massage after our two weeks of work in Iceland. Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), we are through with advertising our app to all the hotels and tour guide companies in various countries. Some did not sign with us, but overall, it was a success. And I am sure once others see its success, we will get more interest.While I am getting my massage, my phone starts buzzing with text messages. I put my phone on silent so no one would disturb me, but it seems this person found another way to get my attention. I pick up my phone to find out who is disturbing me when my phone s
The following week—which is vacation week—is spent in the best way possible. Aunt Maria kept true to her word and showed us a few wonders of Iceland. We visited the Iceland ice caves. The caves are unique and memorable to visit, the amazing forms and shapes of the ice have a magnificent beauty to it. We visited the Golden circle with places like Gullfoss falls. It is one of the most massive waterfalls I have ever seen, tumbling between two rugged rock faces, releasing a magnificent mass of water. The Silfra, which is an underwater crack in the continental divide, that separates Eurasia and American continental plates. The water is also one of the clearest waters in the world. There are still a lot of places to visit, like viewing the northern lights and many others. But today we are going hiking in the mountains. We are climbing Mt. Esja, it is really a sight to see. It is dominating the Reykjavík City skyline and providing a stunning backdrop to the capital city.
A few hours has gone by since we got the devastating news about Abeela’s disappearance. Ismail was able to get the pilot to get the plane ready in record time. We are currently flying back to America. Fatima has been crying so much I feared she might make herself sick. She is sleeping now, finally agreeing to rest. I can’t imagine what Fatima is going through at the moment. The uncertainty of what is happening to your loved one makes the imagination go wild. You don’t know if the person is well or is being treated well. You don’t know if the person is fed or not. You don’t know if they are torturing your loved one or not. The horrors the person might be facing might be unbearable. The uncertainties are so many, you might lose your mind. I can’t imagine anyone from my family getting kidnapped, like maybe Waheeda’s children or even Ismail. No! I should not let my imagination even go there. My life would feel like it’s been shattered from
Three days have gone by and we know nothing more about Abeela’s whereabouts so far. We are still praying and looking. In Shaa Allah we will find her soon. I am driving home after visiting Fatima and her family. I have not gone back to work. I plan to go back next week.The only thing we know for sure is that the video sent to Aisha was sent from Abeela's phone. The phone’s location did not give us anything beneficial, except where to find Abeela's car. The phone was dumped with the car, and other than that we have not found anything else.I drive through our gates but see moving trucks parked at our front porch. What is going on? Is someone moving in or out? I quickly park my car in the garage and walk inside to find out what is going. I see Waheeda walking outside with a box in her hands. I walk towards her to find out what is happening.“Good! You are back, could you help me with this box while I go and get the rest from inside?” Waheed
“Where is Fatima?” I ask the maid who opens the door for me. I got to Fatima’s in half the time it normally takes, that is how fast I was driving. Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) I arrived in one piece.“She is upstairs, Miss Umit,” the maid replies.“Thank you,” I say, rushing in and taking the stairs two at a time.Everything makes sense to me. Why she sent the video and did not want me to come over to her house. She sent it to me so if anything happens to her, I will know.I arrive at Fatima’s room; I quickly open the door praying dearly I am not too late. I look inside, but Fatima is nowhere to be seen. Am I too late? Did my best friend already risk her life for her sister’s? I have to be sure, so I check the bathroom. I knock on the bathroom a few times but no answer. I open it, but there is no one inside. I check her closet and she is not there either. Ya Allah, I can’t believe I came to
The ambulance arrives a minute later. They rush Udar to the hospital, with Fatima beside him praying for his life.After they leave, I quickly walk to the driver’s seat and start my car. All the way to the hospital I am praying for Udar’s life.We arrive at the hospital at the same time as the ambulance. They quickly rush Udar into an operating room, saying his condition is very critical. Fatima falls on the floor, crying deeply once they take Udar away from her. Abeela and I rush to her side.“Fatima, please stand up from the floor.” Abeela says, lifting her sister from the ground.“Abeela, Udar is dying and there is nothing I can do to stop it.” Fatima sobs.“In Shaa Allah, he will come out alive.” I tell her, crying myself while helping Abeela to lift Fatima of the floor.“Umit, you need to call Ismail. He needs to know what is happening.” Fatima says, sitting down.Ismail
“My name is Doctor Marcus. I am the surgeon in charge of Mr. Adam. He was brought into the hospital in a critical condition, but we were able to stabilize his condition.” Dr Marcus tells us.“So, you are saying he is alive?” Fatima asks sounding very hopeful.“Yes, he is alive, and he is recovering well,” Dr Marcus says, finally smiling.“Allah Akbar, can I see him?” Fatima asks, while crying tears of joy.Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) he is alive, I have never been so grateful to see Fatima smile as I am right now.“Yes, doctor can we see him?” Ismail says, sounding very eager to see Udar.“Yes, you can, but not all of you at once. Please follow me.” Dr Marcus replies.“Alright doctor,” Fatima says. We follow the doctor to the last door on the floor.“This is his room. I will leave you guys to it, but please take it easy.
The following week I resume work. Work has not been the same with Emma gone, and Fatima always at the hospital during lunch time. Udar has still not woken up, but Fatima is handling it better than I would have given her credit for. She is more hopeful than ever that Udar will wake up soon, which is good.Things between Ismail and me are not good. Now that we don’t live together, we hardly see each other or even speak to each other. We might work in the same company, but we hardly see each other. I have also gotten a little used to him not being in the house anymore.I am driving to the hospital to see Udar before going home for the day. I arrive at the hospital, park my car and step inside. I also started driving my Lamborghini again, and now when I drive it I don’t always sadly think of Ismail. If I even think of him, I just smile and drive my car because that’s life. I won’t allow myself to drown in sadness. It’s not healthy for anyone.