PAYMENT

Shamim hands over the polytene bag containing some drugs and injections to the lady who had given him the list earlier on. "I hope I am not too late."

"Not at all, you even came earlier than I expected." The nurse says with smiles.

"Ma'am, do you know that old woman over there?" He asks pointing to the old woman he met about two hours ago who is standing some feets away from them.

"I don't think there is any staff in this hospital that doesn't know that woman. She has been here for about six nonths now. We are now even charging her bed fee per day."

"I will like to pay for her daughter's surgery fee." Shamim whispers cutting the nurse's story short.

"Are you for real?" The nurse asks with a bit of excitement and surprise.

"Yes." He nods. "I want her daughter to get the surgery as soon as possible, how do I go about it?"

"Just go to that counter down the hall." The nurse describes pointing to a particular desk and chair.

"Thank you." He appreciates and approaches the counter.

"He must be a rich man with a good heart!" The nurse exclaims almost quietly as she watch him leave until he almost becomes invisible. "Let me check the things he got." she opens the polythene bag and looks through the content.

"Hello." Malik says to the nurse looking around the surrounding in search of something.

"Hi sir, is there anything you need?"

"Please, have you seem my son?"

"Yes." The nurse nods with smiles. "He just left now after handing the drugs to me."

"Really?" Malik asks dragging his last word. "By chance, do you happen to know where he went?"

"He should be at the counter now, he suddenly volunteered to pay the surgery fee of a young lady, so he went to make payments."

"Pay for a lady's surgery fee?" Malik asks again.

"Yes, there is this old woman, her daughter is fighting brain tumor, she hasn't been able to pay for the surgery, painkillers is all she can afford."

"So, my son, willingly volunteered to pay for the surgery fees?" He asks again.

"Yes sir."

"What is going on?" Lola asks as she walks in, now with a pair of slippers. "Have you seen him?"

Malik nods and smiles. "Yes, I have."

"Let's go and sit with the other children, the surgery is starting soon."

When Shamim finally arrive at his sister's ward, he sees his parents and friends sitting and standing outside looking very anxious.The ward appears to be for VIP because it isn't crowded like the regular Ward downstairs. He finds it very difficult to say something but he summons courage to do so. "Has the surgery started?" He asks no one in particular but staring at the door.

Malik replies with a nod. "But she is not in here at the moment, she is at the theatre."

"What happened? You took forever to return from the pharmaceutical shop." Lola whispers.

"We were about one hundred people there." He replies bluntly and stands opposite everyone resting his back on the wall. "What about Kim and Kylie?"

"I called the school already, that I would come and pick them myself before 6pm in the evening." replies Lola.

Malik looks at his wrist watch. "You still have one hour, you have to leave on or before 5pm."

"If you are all tired, you can go home, I will stay with her." Shamim whispers with his eyes still fixed on the door.

"We would at least wait a bit after she comes out of the theatre." Darifa says. "I just hope it goes well."

"It would." Abdullah whispers still with a lot of positive energy.

"God, please keep my daughter safe for me. You have taken to two of my children earlier, don't punish me by taken the third one." Lola whispers in her mind.

"Instead of taking Ella's life, please take mine." Malik whispers in his mind too.

After two hours of waiting, Ella is out of the theatre and is transferred back to her ward. Lola and Darifa had left the hospital because of the children. It won't be advisable to let Lola be all by herself, so Darifa had to follow her.