NO GUARANTEE

Lola runs into the hospital with no slippers. Her son and the rest of Ella's friends run after her but they aren't as fast as she is. she looks around in haste searching for her daughter but finally sees her husband sitting on the floor and looking lifeless. "Where is my daughter?" She asks in low tone and stands in front of her husband. "And why are you sitting on the floor?"

"Lola." Malik calls and slowly raises his head to look at his wife. "The doctor said, he can't guarantee anything."

Lola sighs and tears drop off her eyes. "My daughter must walk out of this place alive, you must make sure that happens."

"Please, tell me she won't die." Malik whispers sobbing loudly.

"Where is Ella?" Shamim cuts in.

Malik directs his gaze at him. "Do you know who the spy was?" He asks.

"Who was it?" Darifa asks in her lowest voice ever and looks at Asma. "Isn't she the one?"

"No." Malik shakes his head. "It was Cassandra."

"Who?" Abdullah asks loudly.

Lola is taken aback that she moves few steps from her husband. "Who did you just mention?"

"Father, are you sure of what you are saying?" Shamim asks with his eyes filled with tears.

Malik stands and faces the young lads. "Cassandra used you to get your sister for an enemy, and now her life is on the line."

"Cassandra? Where is she?" Shamim asks saying his words one after the other.

"She is at the station, probably being interrogated by now." Malik pauses. "All of this happened because of you."

"Please do not say that." Lola tries to caution her husband. "You shouldn't talk to him in that manner. He wasn't aware Cassandra was only using him."

"Allow me speak Lola!" Malik says sternly raising his voice a little bit. "Ella had always warned you concerning this Cassandra girl, but you wouldn't listen. The last time she tried talking you out of making things up with her, you flared up and kept malice with almost everyone at home." He pauses and continues. "She is lying right there, fighting for her own life, I can't believe you put your sister's life on the line because of your lust over a lady. What will you do if something happens to her? Will you take the full responsibility?"

"Why are you talking like this?" asks Lola. "Nothing will happen to her, so please, let's hope for the better for now."

He stares at his wife for a while then moves his lips to talk. "You surely can talk like this because you didn't see her close her eyes. Your daughter was bleeding profusely, I was there but still couldn't do anything. Right in front of me, Jessica hit her head with that metal rod."

"I am sure Ella will not leave us." Abdullah cuts in being very optimistic. "She is a strong lady, let's all hope for the better."

"Who is Ella Smith's guardian?" The doctor ask as he looks at all of them consecutively.

"We are her parents." Lola replies stepping forward and pointing to herself and her husband.

"I will like to see you both in my office, please come with me." The doctor leads the way to his office and Ella's parents follows.

"So after all, I wasn't the spy." Asma whispers to no one in particular.

Darifa gently turns her head to look Asma then whispers too. "Shut that gutter you call mouth, whether you were the spy or not, the fact that you had for once compromised your loyalty as a friend will never change." she holds Shamim's hand tightly and smiles at him. "Let's go see you sister."

"Do you think I am even worthy enough to look at her?" Shamim asks and hit tears flows down his eyes.

"You are more than worth it." Abdullah adds and holds his other hand. "It's not your fault that you were used, it was just a mere circumstance. I am sure your sister will recover immediately you walk in the ward."

Once again, Asma feels left out. She walks away from her friends dejectedly.

"Let's go see her Shamim, don't blame yourself for something you aren't even guilty of." Darifa whispers.

Shmaim pulls his hands out from theirs and whispers. "There is someone else I wish to see."

"Don't think of going to see Cassandra, it's a very bad idea. If she can forcefully be with a man and use him at the end of the day, then she is more than dangerous." Darifa tries to talk him off.

"But why did it have to be more of all people?" He asks really sobbing loudly. "Why must I be the one used as a bait to cath my own sister? Why should it be me of all people?" He asks again.

"Just accept it as fate." Abdullah whispers and quickly wipes off the tears in his eyes with the back if his palm. "Just accept it."

"Fate?!" Shamim asks loudly. "My fate is to lead my sister to her own death?"

"Stop this." Darifa says sternly. "Why are you doing this? Why are you crying?" she asks with a bit of confidence and then starts crying too. "Will our tears change anything?"

"Maybe God can consider our tears and just keep her safe for us." Malik cuts in and gives some papers to Shamim. "Sign them."

"What is that?" Abdullah asks.

"The doctor said some of her vital organs were damaged, she needs to undergo surgery."

"Why are you giving me this to sign father?" He asks looking at his father with extreme fear. "Why should it be me?"

"You are going to be responsible for Ella from now on."

"Father!" Shamim calls loudly, attracting people's attention to them.