Risking it all.
Chapter 43
Another 6months gone…the required training was completed during the first six months and then a series of specialization for the next…we flew over to the war zone I was now fully equipped with gun training, self-defense, and all the round being an invisible killing machine, the plan was to serve only for a year then return to back to society.
The first week was used to strategize the next implementing...
~Zafar~
I arrived at the war zone last year and began serving as a doctor immediately, it was a lot more intense than my previous doctors without boarders journey. Khadija by my side made things easier although the process was meant to last for a minimum of 6months or less but I planned to stay for as long as Nura was stuck in the military risking her life. We had more pressure with limited resources, limited employees, and sadly limited facilities.
We were unsure of when the next bombing was going to occur or how it was going to happen. I was willing to risk my life and personal well being for her even if it meant being beside her without her knowing.
I set out for a risky journey…the new soldiers already set foot into the desert, a few injuries but no deaths yet. I was finally transferred to the base. Khadija stayed in the local area she would only join me after the new doctors arrived.
***
“ you sure you're okay,” I say walking towards the clinic leaving Mutaq at the door. I had a rash all over my back after sleeping on the ground in one of the tents besides that the days went on and so far the new squad I was in did pretty well.
“How may I assist you today?” the nurse asks calling the doctor in to check my back.
He prescribed something for the allergy...A new team doctor… a mute, must have been a language barrier situation. I set out on the field and after a few days spent on the battlefield half asleep, we were sent to rest for a day…so far only two deaths occurred and minor injuries. I was lucky enough to not end up in a bad state, I got a little hit here and there but nothing was fatal.
“ how’s the rash?” he asked as he wrapped a fresh badge around the wound on my hand.
“I’m okay…”
His voice sounded familiar, and he knew English. I turned towards him after he completed the job gently pulling his mask down from his face. His face was highlighted with regret and pain. I rush out immediately, hiding the tears In my eyes. How, how was he even here.
I hardly slept that night…
“ you set for today, we'll be sent to guard the city soon hope you ready.”
I nod watching him grab my hand, “looks like the doctor knows what he's doing…go ahead.”
“Huh?”
‘” I said join the rest before they leave you behind.”
“oh,” I say rushing to the rest of the group.
With me trying to focus, it was a bad idea walking into the battlefield In the mental state I was in…I tripped over a rock as I dived into the sand dodging a bullet nearby, as another one went straight into my leg. I tried staring up with the pulsing pain of the bullet forced into my skin it was almost impossible to move. I took cover until Mutaq found me and carried me to safety.
After the face-off, everyone was sent back to base...i arrived earlier, as I was immediately operated on and placed under the recovery package…which meant I couldn't continue my service.
“ How are you feeling?” Mutaq asks wiping the sweat on his forehead
Today’s battles were intense, many of us left injured.
“ she’s fine thanks to me..” Zafar says walking in
“ you’re the reason behind the entire accident…”
“both of you shut up, I have a pain in my leg I dont need one in my head, ”I say leaving.
Mutaq following me outside, I could see Zafar's face swell watching me walk out upset.
“Another scar to make me look less of a human.”
“ more like another live souvenir to tell epic stories.”
I laughed watching him joke around about the scars he got in Japan. I wish I were laughing beside Zafar instead.
At midnight I was on my way to my cabin when suddenly the entire area was filled with dust… “ need a ride?” he said stopping his dirt bike
“No thank you…” I say closing the door of my cabin.
I don’t even know why I’m avoiding him.
~Zafar~
“ he's here for a bandage renewal it’s not a serious case, ” the nurse said leading the way.
Mutaq was seated in the checkup bed with the sleeves of his shirt rolled up.
“ it’s a simple task you can do it yourself…” I say tossing a badge to him
“can you at least be professional and you’re right I can do it myself…”
“ great..”
“wait, can we have a chat.”
I set my file down removing the mask on my face as well as the coat I wore.
“ you have five minutes.”
“ I need to clear something up, Nura and I are just friends.”
“I already knew that.”
“What you did not know is that even if I’ve spent half of my life besides her, accompanying her through her hardships and happiness, she always placed you above me.”
“ I don’t understand.”
“ it doesn’t matter besides no one can love Nura the way you do, I’ll leave her to you then…just know that if you do anything stupid to her I'll make sure thats you don’t ever walk,” he said running out.
I smiled turning away as I attended to another patient. One-sided love does suck…
A few weeks later she came in to check in on her injury, after observing her silently and walking through the procedures I gave her the go-ahead for her to continue her journey, she gave me a thumbs up attempting to leave but I gently grabbed her pinning her to the wall.
“Don’t do this, ”she said turning her face away.
“Do what?” I ask smiling, “ you can’t even tell me what I did wrong.”
She pushed me away trying to leave, I quickly dropped my file running towards her embracing her from behind…
“Why do you always make things so difficult for us?”
“ it’s never my intention to do so, I just…I want you to be happy.”
“ I can’t even breath properly if you aren’t in the same room as I am, yet you want me to be happy without you?”
She turned towards me stealing a kiss from me before being called for her training.
I stood there with my hands in my pocket watching her head out. It’s going to be an interesting year.
***
“ you back?”
" Of course I am, I told you I won’t take too long,” I say turning towards Mutaq
“ awesome, onto the field then...”
Even if he did not mention it, I could see that he was slowly drowning in a train of thought that he couldn’t easily get out of, He was bothered,
if only I could read minds. Distant, confused, and upset…Mutaq was not himself.
“ you made up with Zafar?”
“you could say so, ” I say passing him his hat
“ that’s great, I hope you guys stop fighting with each other now, so I can see you smile often.”
“ and when will I see you smile?”I ask looking away
“ you noticed…I was hoping you wouldn’t since you can already see it, don’t stress about it. I’ll be fine,” he said leaving.
I wonder what that means….
“ you used your weekly call to contact me?”
“shut up you know, you miss me, besides I wanted to give you the juicy deeds about Mutaq.”
“im Blessed to have such an amazing cousin.”
“save the fake compliments for later, anyways….you should give him a call he hasn’t been himself lately and clearly he doesn’t want my comfort either…nows your chance, we'll be having a break soon so you should fly over.”
“what!”
“you heard me stupid, I have to go now, ” I say cutting the call as Mutaq walked towards the call booth. I waved at him awkwardly before running into the field nearby.
“Zafar!” I call out to him
He rushed over to where I was still dressed in his uniform, “ you look beyond dead…have you been sleeping lately.”
“ you…”
“ your hyper insomnia. It’s bothering you again…”
He looked down before smiling in my direction, “ Im okay, now that I got to see you.”
“ im being serious,” I grab him wrapping myself in his arms, “ why don’t you take your health seriously…im sorry for leaving you on your own for so long.”
“I should be the one apologizing…but let’s not talk about it. Can I get a recharge nap on your lap, ” he says holding me even tighter.
I rush over to the bench nearby calling him towards me. He gently sat his head onto my lap as I shaded him from the sun with my jacket…while we sat there I heard yelling from inside of the base someone had opened fire. After waking Zafar up to take cover I rushed over gearing up to join the rest of my comrades in battle. They had blown up their mobile clinic nearby, killing millions of innocent lives as well as the doctors and soldiers who tried guarding the area.