Chapter 7

Guilt And Betrayal

It all happened in an instant, Syed looked down at his shirt which had been white, but it was rapidly turning into a shade of deep red. He stumbled backwards, he was already feeling faint from the amount of blood loss. Amira's face had turned pale as she realised just what she had done.

"My God, I'm so sorry." She felt as though she was going to be sick - Amira put the knife down on the kitchen unit and helped her stricken husband on to a chair. She grabbed the phone her hands were shaking as she pressed 999. Syed was looking worse by the minute, as he fought to remiain concious. Amira quickly told the operator she needed an abulance and fast.

"I've stabbed my husband in the chest, and I can't stop the bleeding!" Her voice didn't sound like her own, it was so high pitched and trembling.

"The first thing I need you to do is stay calm OK?" The female voice sounded comforting and kind. "Now you need to use something to stop the bleeding, a towel would be good. Is your husband concious?"Amira can see that Syed is still breathing, but fears he won't be for much longer.

She yells the address down the phone and begs them to come as soon as possible.

"The ambulance is on it's way now, OK?"

"Y-yes, please hurry." She ends the call and runs upstairs into the bathroom and grabs all the towels hanging on the rails and runs back to Syed. His eyes are now closed, but his chest is moving up and down, Amira unbuttons the blood covered shirt and flinched at the deep knife wound she had inflicted on him in a moment of pure insanity. Amira put the towel over Syed's ribcage and applied as much downward pressure as she could. It was all she could do while she waited for the ambulance to arrive. After her confession she knew the police would be asking questions too.

The shrieking sound of urgent sirens are enough to make Zainab run out of the cafe,she had been trying not to think the worst, as she gave Yasmin her long overdue breakfast. The sight of police and an ambulance pulling up outside made her feel terrified...

"Zee, what the hell is goin' on," Denise was standing next to Zainab, who without warning passed Yasmin to her and ran across the square. As she ran into the house, and saw her son lying covered in blood being lifted up gingerly by paramedics. The scene in the kitchen is like a horror film unfolding in front of her.

"Is my son going to be alright?"

"Your son is in a very serious condition, but we're doing everything we can for him. We think Mr Masood has a puctured lung from a stab wound so we need to get him to hospital." They transferred Syed to the ambulance, Zainab climbed in alongside - totally numb with shock.

As soon as they arrived at Walford General they rushed Syed into theatre and battled to save him.

Zainab was left in the relatives room, she had told Mas and Tamwar, who were now both on there way. Shabnam, was trying to arrange a flight back from Pakistan as quickly as she could. There was one person who didn't know, Christian. Zainab knew he'd have to find out sooner rather than later. She didn't know Christian's number off hand, but had been given Syed's mobile phone, after saying she needed to call a very close friend for him. Zainab called Christian.

"Hello you," I was almost beginning to think you'd forgotten me," Christian voice answered with a sense of relief and the usual touch of sarcasm. Zainab took a deep breath. "Christian, it's Zainab, you need to come back." Zainab blurted the words out as her throat seized up with emotion.

"What's happened?" Christian's mind began racing with all the worst possible senarios.

"Syed has been stabbed, he's in a very serious condition, He's having surgery now."

"He will live, won't he?" A single tear ran slowly down Christian's cheek.

"I don't know, the doctors say it's too early to tell".

"I'm on my way." He hung up, he'd been in his room watching an old film when his mobile rang. He switched the TV off, grabbed his suitcases and started shoving his belongings in. Christian's legs had turned to jelly, it must be the shock, he thought.

"Amira Masood, I'm arresting you on suspicion of attempted murder. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mentioned when questioned something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say maybe given in evidence." Leila Takiri handcuffed Amira and led her to the waiting police car.

I'm sorry for once again taking so long. This chapter has been a hard one to write. I hope you enjoy it.