Rayyan answered the call without even checking the screen. He thought it was Lisa.
But the soft fragile voice turns into,
a scream hit him — broken, shaking, soaked in tears.
"Rayyan… Rayyan…!"
It was his mother. Not Lisa.
Rayyan's heart dropped.
"Mom? What happened? Tell me. Is everything okay? How's Dad? Please—"
Her breaths were short, uneven, as if every word cost her strength.
"Your father… he– he's not well… I just sent him to the hospital…" her voice cracked into sobs. "The doctor says he needs surgery… I paid what I could… but… I don't know what to do, Rayyan…"
This was the woman who always stood strong. The woman who survived storms and smiled through hunger. The woman who never cried where anyone could see.
And now she was breaking.
Rayyan felt his own chest tightening.
"Mom… listen to me." His voice trembled but he forced it steady. "I'm coming. I'll be there. Just stay with Ad. Don't leave him alone. I'll be home soon."
He hung up.
The clock showed 12:47 AM.
Midnight. No buses. No trains. No way home.
But he had to go.
He grabbed his phone again — hands shaking — and called the only name he could think of.
Amir.
The call connected.
"Bro?" Amir's voice was sleepy. "You okay?"
Rayyan exhaled like he had been holding his breath for hours.
"Amir… I need help." His voice cracked. "My father… he's in the hospital. I need to go home. Please. Help me get to the bus station."
Amir was silent for one second — then:
"I'm coming. Pack your bag. Don't worry."
No hesitation. No questions. Just brotherhood.
Amir arrived and drove him to the station.
"Go check, bro. I'll wait."
Rayyan ran through the bus counters — all closed, except two. No buses. No way home tonight.
He walked back slowly, his steps heavy, hopeless.
Amir saw his face and understood without words.
"Don't worry. We'll find another way."
Rayyan shook his head, voice almost gone.
"My mom needs me… I can't wait for morning…"
They returned to the hostel.
While driving back, Amir sent a message in their group chat — just one:
"Guys… Rayyan's father is in the hospital. He needs to go home tonight. I don't know how."
Within minutes, the room filled with people — friends, course mates, hostel mates —faces he barely talked to before… now all standing with him.
Giving ideas. Searching maps. Calling relatives. Trying. Trying anything.
And then — one voice from the doorway.
Raveen.
"Bro, Rayyan. You said you can ride, right?"
Rayyan nodded. "Yes… but I don't have a license…"
Raveen placed his bike keys in Rayyan's hand.
"It's not the time to think about license. ""Take my bike. Ride home. Reach before sunrise."
The room fell silent.
Rayyan looked at him — eyes heavy, heart full.
"Bro… thank you…"
Friends helped him pack —a reflective jacket, a bottle of water, some money, a GPS device.
"We are with you, Rayyan. Go. Just go. ""Text us when you reach. ""Your father needs you more than anything."
He started the bike.
The night was dark. The road was long. But his heart was clear.
Halfway through the ride, rain started pouring — heavy, merciless.
But Rayyan didn't stop.
Not tonight. Not when his father needed him.
Water blurred his vision, but he kept going.
Then — headlights. A checkpoint.
Police.
Rayyan slowed. His heartbeat hammered.
An officer stepped forward.
"Good evening. Where are you heading this late?"
Rayyan tried to speak. His voice trembled.
"I'm going home, sir… My father is in the hospital…"
The officer looked unconvinced.
"License, please."
Rayyan opened his bag slowly — delaying, praying.
And then — another voice.
"Hey… wait… this boy… I know him."
Another officer stepped closer, squinting.
Inspector Aidil.
"You're Zeegan's son, aren't you?"
Rayyan froze.
"Yes, sir…"
The officer nodded slowly — almost smiling.
"Your father… he helped me when my house was being built. Did the plumbing. Worked through the rain. He told me proudly… 'My son will become an engineer one day.' " He was such a kind hearted person.
Rayyan felt something inside him break.
The officer placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Go. Your father needs you. Go."
Rayyan bowed his head.
"Thank you… thank you, sir…"
He rode again — faster this time.
He reached the hospital at 4:03 AM.
Ward 2A.
He walked in quietly.
His father lay on the bed, pale, breathing weak.
Rayyan touched his hand.
He opened his eyes slowly.
"Rayyan? Why are you here… College is—"
"No." Rayyan whispered. "No exam, no class, no world is more important than you."
His father's eyes softened.
For the first time, Rayyan saw the man behind the strictness. The man who carried the family on his back. The man who never asked for help.
Rayyan went to the doctor.
The doctor leaned in.
"He needs surgery soon. Very soon. But the hospital is waiting… the payment is incomplete."
The words were a blade.
"Get the money," the doctor whispered. "Save your father."
Rayyan walked back to the bike.
The night sky was beginning to lighten.
His heart was heavy — but determined.
I will find the money.
I don't know how yet.
But I will.
Because a son's love moves mountains.
This… was only the beginning.
He rode again — faster, through rain and dark curves and fear —
until he reached home.
The familiar street.
His house.
The quiet.
Too quiet.
He ran to the front door and knocked.
"Mom! Mom, open the door!"
Silence.
He knocked again. Harder.
No answer.
His breath tightened.
He dialed her number.
It rang.
And rang.
No answer.
Rayyan's heartbeat turned to thunder.
He ran around to the back — the window was slightly open.
Inside — shadows.
Something hanging on the ceiling fan—
His soul split.
"MOMMMMMMM!"
Boom.
He slammed his shoulder into the door.
The wood cracked.
Boom.
Again.
Boom—
The door burst open.
And what he saw inside— broke him completely.