In the Depth of the Heart - Chapter 51: Chapter 51
You are reading In the Depth of the Heart, Chapter 51: Chapter 51. Read more chapters of In the Depth of the Heart.
Hospital – 7:00 PM
The patient’s room was thick with silence. An elderly man with a chronic heart condition lay on the bed, struggling to breathe. Beside him stood an IV line, an oxygen nasal tube, and a tray with GTN tablets — administered every 30 minutes to prevent oxygen deficiency from reaching the heart.
Dr. Lukman glanced at his wristwatch. He said to Zuhra:
> “Zuhra, he needs a GTN tablet every thirty minutes. I’ve just given him one now, so the next should be exactly at 7:30. He has unstable angina — if you’re even one minute late, he could die.”
Zuhra looked up. The words struck her chest like lead.
> “Okay, Doctor,” she replied.
Just then, an emergency call echoed from the main ward. Dr. Lukman turned toward it urgently.
> “You’re the only one left with him now. Make sure you’re on time.”
He rushed out.
Zuhra remained beside the old man’s bed. She closed her eyes, the pressure building in her chest.
7:14 PM – Staff Lounge
She stepped out to get some air. In the lounge, she sat by the window. Her heart was pounding.
Suddenly — ting!
Her phone lit up.
A message from Kamal.
> “Zuhra…
I’m not asking for anything — except tonight.
Come.
Even if we part ways, please give me just this chance.
Just tonight.
Come to Gera Coursine – 9:00 PM.”
Zuhra stared at the message like it froze her in place. Her heartbeat skipped and shifted.
> “Just tonight…”
A part of her heart whispered: Go, Zuhra. This moment may never come again…
She stood.
She picked up her hijab.
She opened the lounge door and peeked both ways — left, right. No one noticed.
Then she slipped out quietly.
She didn’t check the time.
8:03 PM – Gera Coursine
Munir stood at the entrance tallying the list of guests. Kamal sat, turning his phone in his hand, waiting.
Munir said,
> “You’re quiet. When she needed you, you were silent. And now, you say you’re waiting? Are you sure she’ll come?”
Kamal didn’t reply.
Hospital – The Old Man’s Room – 8:05 PM
The elderly patient began trembling. His body shook. His heartbeat spiked into a dangerous rhythm.
A nurse entered.
> “Oh my God! Where’s the registrar on duty for this patient?”
She called out. No response.
She flipped the patient’s chart.
> Next GTN: 7:30 PM – Missed.
> “Zuhra was on duty! Where is she?”
8:12 PM – Gera Coursine – Entrance
Zuhra arrived. Her eyes took in the golden lights of the restaurant. Her heart felt both heavy and light at once.
She lifted her hand toward the door…
The patient’s room was thick with silence. An elderly man with a chronic heart condition lay on the bed, struggling to breathe. Beside him stood an IV line, an oxygen nasal tube, and a tray with GTN tablets — administered every 30 minutes to prevent oxygen deficiency from reaching the heart.
Dr. Lukman glanced at his wristwatch. He said to Zuhra:
> “Zuhra, he needs a GTN tablet every thirty minutes. I’ve just given him one now, so the next should be exactly at 7:30. He has unstable angina — if you’re even one minute late, he could die.”
Zuhra looked up. The words struck her chest like lead.
> “Okay, Doctor,” she replied.
Just then, an emergency call echoed from the main ward. Dr. Lukman turned toward it urgently.
> “You’re the only one left with him now. Make sure you’re on time.”
He rushed out.
Zuhra remained beside the old man’s bed. She closed her eyes, the pressure building in her chest.
7:14 PM – Staff Lounge
She stepped out to get some air. In the lounge, she sat by the window. Her heart was pounding.
Suddenly — ting!
Her phone lit up.
A message from Kamal.
> “Zuhra…
I’m not asking for anything — except tonight.
Come.
Even if we part ways, please give me just this chance.
Just tonight.
Come to Gera Coursine – 9:00 PM.”
Zuhra stared at the message like it froze her in place. Her heartbeat skipped and shifted.
> “Just tonight…”
A part of her heart whispered: Go, Zuhra. This moment may never come again…
She stood.
She picked up her hijab.
She opened the lounge door and peeked both ways — left, right. No one noticed.
Then she slipped out quietly.
She didn’t check the time.
8:03 PM – Gera Coursine
Munir stood at the entrance tallying the list of guests. Kamal sat, turning his phone in his hand, waiting.
Munir said,
> “You’re quiet. When she needed you, you were silent. And now, you say you’re waiting? Are you sure she’ll come?”
Kamal didn’t reply.
Hospital – The Old Man’s Room – 8:05 PM
The elderly patient began trembling. His body shook. His heartbeat spiked into a dangerous rhythm.
A nurse entered.
> “Oh my God! Where’s the registrar on duty for this patient?”
She called out. No response.
She flipped the patient’s chart.
> Next GTN: 7:30 PM – Missed.
> “Zuhra was on duty! Where is she?”
8:12 PM – Gera Coursine – Entrance
Zuhra arrived. Her eyes took in the golden lights of the restaurant. Her heart felt both heavy and light at once.
She lifted her hand toward the door…
End of In the Depth of the Heart Chapter 51. Continue reading Chapter 52 or return to In the Depth of the Heart book page.