“Riley, please forgive me!!! Please forgive me!!!” cried Eva hysterically, making Ezekiel wakes up from his sleep in a startle. It was almost dawn, soon Ezekiel realized as he took a glance towards the clock. Moving out from his bed, Ezekiel quicken his steps towards his mother’s room in alarm, for Eva begins to wept and scream in such a horrific manner. It seems, Eva was struggling in the midst if her blanket. Her eyes socket were so sunken and it looks like she was in a frantic moment. Ezekiel dashed towards his mum, and as he touches her forehead, she was burning hot. “Mum.” cried Ezekiel as he begins to panic, but he knew, he got to keep calm. And then without any hesitation, Ezekiel took his mum’s car keys and then carried his mum in his arms, staggering along the stairs. After opening the door, he headed towards the car, and place Eva at the back seat of the vehicle. It took him almost an hour, before he finally reaches the general hospital, to get the medical attention which his mum needed.
“What is your relationship with this patient?” asked the doctor.
“I’m her son.” utters Ezekiel earnestly.
“I’ve taken some blood sample from her and it seems, her fever is due to an infection. Further investigation, therefore is needed to be carried out, so that we can confirm, what is the exact cause of the infection.” explained the doctor again.
“Please do all what you can to ease my mother’s plight.” said Ezekiel feeling kind of anxious. The doctor nods his head and then he left, headed back towards the nurses station as he gives out further instruction to the nurses, regarding his mum’s further investigation.
The heavy anti-biotic drips and sedations must have put his mum into a deep slumber. Ezekiel gently caress his mother’s hair with tears of sorrow in his eyes. “Please forgive me mum, for being such a great disappointment to you.” whispered Ezekiel. Then he took the half damp wet flannel and place it onto her forehead, in order to bring her temperature down. Eva would occasionally moans in pain and wakes up in a alarm. Ezekiel religiously would help her mother turn to her sides or bring the vomit bag, for Eva keeps on puking due to her fever.
“Eze, I’m so sorry for putting you into this mess.” cried Eva remorsefully.
“Mum, please don’t say that. Let me do my duty as a son to you now.” replied Ezekiel which had simply taken Eva’s tormenting horrific pain of her past away from her heart. She felt new high spirited begins to form inside her soul, and from then onwards, she has made a vow, to throw her old charts of darkened colors, but to flip on towards the fresh chart for the new colors of new beginning with her son.
“Eze, I’m so proud of you. Do you know that? You have tapped my heart with your sincerity and love.” mutters Eva as she sat up on her bed, while Ezekiel adjusted the pillow behind her back to make her feel more comfortable.
“Glorify to Allah. With Allah’s grace mum. You are the only mother I had in this world and nothing could change the blood which flow inside me, with any other being.” utters Ezekiel with a smile.
“Good, now I can see that Eva is looking and feeling better now.” exclaimed the doctor as he enters the room, taking a case notes in his arms.
“So how is her condition?” asked Ezekiel.
“When can I go back?” asked Eva too.
“Going home, not so soon madam. And for her condition, well the test results shows that, she was having some indigestion problem, probably due to her drinking habit.” replied the doctor as he looks with full intensity towards his mum. “You are lucky madam because your liver is not infected, but if you continue living with this kind of style, I’m afraid you are self-destructing yourself.” continues the doctor again.
“Please do all that you think which is best for her.” said Ezekiel with his hand still holding on to her mother’s palm.
“I will administered few more anti-biotic and some medication for her tummy. As for her drinking habit, she need to seek help from any local rehab, therefore she could just kick this habit once and for all.” explained the doctor again.
“I’ve been having this drinking problem ever since I’ve been married to Riley.” utters Eva, as she sank her back on the living room couch, with Ezekiel listening attentively by her side. “I can’t blame him either, but this is all due to my fault. He was not born as a Muslim, but I should be the one that suppose to guide him with this beautiful religion of ours, that is Islam. But I’ve failed. Riley, he never stop me from partying too much or for been to socialize. Even though, once in awhile he would warned , not to go over board with the freedom which he had granted me with. But I took full advantage of it and soon, I knew my drinking has becomes beyond control.” mutters Eva as she fight back her tears from falling, from her eyes. “Blaming solely on Riley, for he can’t give me any children from his blood, I began to forsake him, as my duty as a wife towards him. That’s where, I was in desperation for wanting you here back with me.” stops Eva abruptly as she begins to wept. Ezekiel hang his head low as he too was struggling hard with his inner self. About his secret darkened past. “But, I’m just making used of you as my smoke screen, to show you to the world that, I am strong and capable enough to become a mother. However, yet in the end I’ve failed.” mutters Eva with so much regrets heaving inside her soul. “Anger and jealousy begins to be filling up the hollow cracks of my heart, when I realized, both you and Riley somehow or rather becomes so close. I should be thankful, but, I was too blind to see the significant bond which both of you had, in such a short period of time.” relates back Eva. “My worst straw came, due to my illicit affair with Phil. And pushing the blame upon you due to Riley‘s suicide, which actually it was all due to my stupidity” utters Eva remorsefully.
“Mum, please. Now it is about time, that we should move on to something which is so much worth taking.” mutters Ezekiel, as he glides his fingers in between his mum palms. The same way, where during his childhood days, which he could remember.
It has been almost four months now that Eva has finally managed to over come her alcoholisms problems, thanks to Ezekiel’s full pledge love and support. Not only that, Ezekiel brings his mum along with him to some spiritual classes and other’s splendid Islamic gatherings, much to Eva’s joy. She had never felt so much light hearted with transcending bliss, in such a manner before…and she felt thankful for Allah’s Almighty grace and mercy, in giving her another chance to set her lines straight again.
One late afternoon, while they were both having their tea with some light crackers by the verandah, Eva place a piece of paper with a written mobile number onto Ezekiel’s lap. Ezekiel took it and frown hard in wonder, as he begins to stare at that piece of paper.
“Oasis, misses you.” utters Eva with a sheepish grin.
“Mum…” trails Ezekiel.
“Eze, Iman has been taking care of that turtle of yours ever since you have been missing away from her life. So I think maybe you should show her some gratitude, by just giving her a call.” continues his mum again.
“I shall see about that. InsyaAllah.” replied Ezekiel with a grinned. “By the way, how come both of you have become best friend?” asked Ezekiel cheekily.
“Thanks to you.” noun Eva, twitching her lips in annoyance. Ezekiel, giggles due to his mum’s cute and funny reaction, but still with his sight fix towards the little written numbers on the paper.
Flip Chart : Chapter Twenty- Nine
“Hie sweetheart. How have you been doing lately?” cried Eva as she welcomes Iman into her Cherry’s Vine café.
“Alhamdullilah, I’m doing good.” replied Iman with an angelic smile.
“It has been quite a while you have not been here?” state Eva, as she place the fresh cherry pie and a cup of latte onto the serving tray, bringing them over towards where, Iman had took her seat by the corner of the bay window.
“Thanks aunty. I was out station for the past few weeks. And I kind of missing my best cherry pie here.” remarks Iman gleefully. Eva giggled as she shakes her head.
“Has he called you?” suddenly asked Eva.
“He’s back?” cried Iman.
“Yeah, I’ve given him your latest number about a month ago. You meant, he still have not called you?” asked Eva again with a sighed.
Iman shakes her head, but from her eyes, Eva could tell, Iman was feeling kind of dejected. “It’s okay. Maybe he might be busy or something.” utters Iman glumly. “Or maybe he still missing Yasmeen, who knows. She used to be with him anyway.” continues Iman, with unspoken words narrating in her thoughts.
“I shall asked him again.” cried Eva nodded her head.
“Aunty, please don’t. Just let him be. But if he wants his Oasis back, I can bring it back here.” said Iman again. Eva nods her head and continue to have few conversation with Iman, before Iman left again for work.
“Mum, are you about this?” asked Ezekiel, as he begins to read through the deeds again.
“One hundred percent. I belief you are capable enough in handling both Cherry Vine and Edge Book Loft accounts, since you have mention to me about your previous experience in working as an accountant in a café before.” state Eva profoundly. Ezekiel, remains silent as he begins to feel quite anxious about this whole deal. “Eze, we can work this out together as a team. I’m getting old now, and I really need someone to work along with me. I can’t figure out any one else but you. So please…could you do this for me?” cried Eva.
For a week Ezekiel has been made as an accountant at both Cherry Vine and Edge Book Loft. Though Ezekiel has managed to straightened back the unbalance account, he knew he needs lots of time to really adjust to this new but compelling task. Thankfully, he was not alone. His mum and the rest of his co-workers were very supportive in a way, how he had been carrying out his duties.
“Can I have one cherry pie and a cup of latte take away please?” noun a voice.
Ezekiel, place back his file onto the back of the counter as he turns to serve his incoming customer. “Iman.” cried Ezekiel with a smile.
“Ezekiel.” exclaimed Iman excitedly, trying her best to hide her silliness after seeing her secret love again. Iman realized, Ezekiel has change so much. “Wow.” beams her heart, for she was amazed with this new Ezekiel.
“How have you been?” asked Ezekiel as he took the pie and place it into the tiny brown paper bag, next he went to the coffee machine and fill it up with the fresh brewing latte.
“I’m doing good and so is Oasis.” replied Iman, feeling more like an idiot now. “Oasis, what the heck am I talking man.” jumps her inner voice again.
“Oasis? Oh yeah! Missing that old thing.” said Ezekiel as he laughed. “Missing that old thing, what a thing to say….it was not only that old thing that you are missing Ezekiel, it’s more than that.” state his notion in his mind.
“Glad to see you back here again.” said Iman as she managed to compose herself.
“Thanks.” replied Ezekiel as he place all the food inside the bigger paper bag and place it on the counter. But deep down in his heart, he was not wanting for her to go too soon. “How’s Yasmeen?” gasped Ezekiel. “Stupid question” retort his mind.
“Oh, she doing fine. Expecting her first child now.” answered Iman. “Stupid answered. Darn!!!” cried her inner voice.
“That’s great.” replied Ezekiel with a smile of contentment for he felt so happy for the new life which Yasmeen had happily form with her husband Bashir.
“You still at Burbur’s? asked Ezekiel.
“Yeah.” mutters Iman with a faint smile. They both stood still in silent for the last few seconds until, “Eze, can I have my pie now?” noun Iman.
“Oh! Yeah! Yeah sure.” utters Ezekiel as he pass the paper bag to Iman. “This my treat.” continues Ezekiel again, but this time he had his eyes solely onto hers, making Iman feeling kind of nervous but sure it is such a wonderful kind of intuition.
“I’ve got to go.” mutters Iman.
“Yup of course.” state Ezekiel as he look away from her with a faint smile. “Could she be the one? My true love?” thought Ezekiel to himself as he watch Iman slowly walks out from the café and headed back towards the street.
“Ezekiel, you did not invite her over to our home for dinner?” asked Eva in shocked.
“Dinner? What dinner?” replied Ezekiel as he begins tapping his head with the pencil. “Ohhhhh….why accounting?” grumble Ezekiel.
“Now, now boy, please don’t try to change the subject here.” cried Eva, folding her arms across her chest.
“No mum, me not changing any subject here. Please take a look at this figure, where did this extra cash comes from?” noun Ezekiel, as rubbed head with his palms.
“Ya Allah. Ezekiel, that extra cash is for Edge Book Loft, float my dear son.” cried Eva shaking her head.
“Oh yeah. Heeheehee…silly me.” said Ezekiel with his sheepish grinned.
“Okay, now back on the subject on Iman?” continue his mum again.
“Mum, please can we just try not to talk about this matter now. I need to focus on this.” pleads Ezekiel.
“What do you think of her?” brushed his mother’s off as she grinned.
“Okay, she’s nice, smart, funny, cute, so are you satisfied with my answered?” cried Ezekiel. “Actually there’s more mum….but I just can’t figure out what?” thought Ezekiel to himself.
Ever since the last time which he had met her at his café, she never came again, much to Ezekiel’s dismay. “Was it something which I say, or something which I did? Was it because of that stupid question which I had asked her about. About Yasmeen?” thought Ezekiel to himself while he busy himself by arranging the empty cups onto the rack.
“Salam Eze.” cried a voice.
“Wa’alaikumsalam.” replied Ezekiel with a beaming smile upon his heart. “I know, you need your favorite, cherry pie and latte.” continues Ezekiel. It seems some kind of remarkable feeling of glad and joy igniting his soul.
“Ten scores for that.” answered Iman with a smile. “I’ve not only come for the pie, there’s something else.” said Iman and then she place Oasis bowl with Oasis in it onto the counter top. “I’ve come to return him, to where he supposed to belong.” mutters Iman looking solemnly. Ezekiel looks at her with questions of uncertainty playing inside his head. “I won’t be able to be caring for him any longer and…” stops Iman abruptly, while Ezekiel awaits with a heavy heart, for the next statement of her. “And I won’t be having this nice cherry pie any more either.” state Iman choking back her tears.
“But why? I can always take back Oasis, but why won’t you be having this pie any more?” asked Ezekiel remorsefully, as he walks out from the counter and stood closer by Iman’s side.
“I’ve got an offer, as an Executive sales manager at Reagan.” utters Iman. “And I’m taking that offer. I’m migrating over there too.”
Ezekiel looks distraught as he struggle hard to fight back his tears. “Good luck.” state Ezekiel nodding his head, but he can’t had his eyes on her any more, for this might just kills his spirit away.
“Thank you.” mutters Iman grimly as she took her food and left. Ezekiel watch her until she was out from his sight, as she walk among the crowd along the busy street.
On the other side, where Ezekiel was awaiting for Iman too, was not surprised after seeing Iman’s line was off. Clicking his mouse towards his draft note, soon Ezekiel begins to immerge himself with his latest poetry name. ‘Flip Chart’. With a smile, Ezekiel tagged the note for Iman, before he logged off and went to bed, taking Oasis with him as he place it back inside it’s bowl.
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