Rayyan was still staring at the last message from Lisa when his phone rang again.This time, it wasn't her.
"Hello… is this Rayyan?"The voice was calm but urgent."This is the clinic. Your friend Lisa listed you as her emergency contact. She is unwell and her condition is serious. Can you come over?"
For a moment, Rayyan couldn't speak.
His mouth went dry. His heart dropped.
"I… I don't have any transport," he whispered. "I— I'll try."
After the call ended, Rayyan sat there helplessly. He wanted to run, but he didn't even know where to run to. His hostel room felt too small, too suffocating.
He had only one person in mind.Only one person he trusted.
Monica.
But then he remembered her father's voice.The cold tone.The way he clearly didn't want Rayyan near her.
Rayyan closed his eyes."I shouldn't disturb her… not today…"
He looked at his phone again.
Lisa. Emergency. Clinic.
He swallowed hard and made the call.
Monica Answers
The phone rang once.Twice.Three times.
Just when he was about to give up — she picked up.
"Rayyan?" Her voice was a little breathless. "Why calling at this hour? What happened? Are you okay?"
Rayyan's voice was soft… shaking. "Monica… I got a call from the clinic. It seems Lisa is there. They said she put me as her emergency contact."
He took a breath, trying to steady himself.
"And… Monica… I talked to Ayden today. He said the things Lisa told me… some of them were lies. But now she's haunting me again… I don't know what to do. I'm sorry for disturbing you tonight. I know today was a special day for you…"
"Rayyan," she interrupted gently, "there is nothing special today. And you can always call me. Anytime. It's never a trouble."
His throat tightened.
"Just wait at the hostel," Monica said firmly. "I'll come now. We'll go to the clinic together and find out what is happening once and for all."
Monica vs Her Father
Monica hung up, grabbed a shawl, and rushed downstairs.
Her father was sitting in the living room, talking to her mother.
"Dad, I'm going to college," she said while putting on her shoes.
Her father frowned. "What now? Why must go at this time? Go tomorrow. It's late."
Monica took a breath. "Rayyan needs help. I have to go."
His face hardened instantly. "Again Rayyan? I told him this afternoon not to disturb you today! Why is he calling you? Can't he handle himself?"
Monica froze. "What do you mean 'this afternoon'? He called today?"
Her father looked away. "It's not important, Monica. No need to tell you."
Monica's eyes widened with hurt and anger. "So you hid it from me?"
"Monica—"
"Now I understand why Rayyan said today was a 'special day'," she said quietly. "Dad, please… don't make my day worse. I'm going now. I'll be back in two hours. Don't worry."
Before he could answer, she grabbed her keys and walked out.
Her father's voice followed her—
"You deserve someone better than him!"
But Monica didn't stop.
Picking Up Rayyan
Rayyan was waiting at the campus bus stop, sitting on the curb with his head down.His leg was shaking. He didn't even realise it.
Monica's car stopped beside him.
He got in quietly.
"I'm sorry…" Rayyan murmured.
"Rayyan," she said softly, "don't worry. I'm here. We will sort it out."
There was a moment of silence before she asked, "Did you call me today?"
Rayyan nodded. "Yes… your dad answered."
Monica tightened her grip on the steering wheel. "What did he say?"
"He told me your friend's family came with a proposal…" Rayyan whispered. "That's why… I didn't want to disturb you."
Monica stared ahead. "Rayyan… do you really think I would accept that proposal?"
He didn't answer.
"Ask yourself," she said, voice quiet but firm. "You'll know the answer."
Rayyan looked down.He didn't dare to speak.His chest was too tight.
Monica exhaled slowly. "Let's settle Lisa's issue first. That's more important now."
At the Clinic
They reached the clinic. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still wet, reflecting the lights from the building.
A nurse led them to a small waiting area.
The doctor approached, holding a clipboard.
"You both are here for Lisa, right?"
"Yes," Rayyan said quickly. "How is she?"
The doctor sighed. "She is physically weak… high stress, very low appetite. It appears she hasn't been eating properly for days. She's also pregnant — but she hasn't come for any regular follow-up."
Rayyan felt Monica gasp beside him.
"Doctor… why did she collapse?" Monica asked.
"Her blood pressure dropped drastically. She fainted outside the clinic door."
Rayyan clenched his fists.
The doctor continued, flipping the page.
"And… one more thing."He looked at Rayyan.His voice lowered.
"She listed you as the father of the baby."
The words hit Rayyan like thunder.
"What?" Monica whispered, her face turning pale.
Rayyan shook his head immediately. "No! Doctor… I didn't— We were never— I'm not—"
But the doctor raised his hand. "Calm down. I'm just telling you what she wrote."
Monica's eyes were wide.Shock.Confusion.Something else Rayyan couldn't decipher.
He stood there frozen, breathing hard.
"Can… can we see her?" Monica asked.
The doctor nodded. "Yes. But please, don't stress her. She needs rest."
The Confrontation
They walked into the room.
Lisa was lying on the bed, eyes half-open, looking weak and drained. She tried to sit up when she saw Rayyan.
"Rayyan…" she whispered.
Monica stepped forward immediately. "Lisa, what is all this? The doctor said you listed Rayyan as—"
Lisa looked away.
Rayyan's voice trembled with anger. "Lisa… why? Why put my name?"
Tears filled Lisa's eyes. She opened her mouth but couldn't speak.
Monica's voice rose, sharper than usual. "Lisa… answer us. You're hurting everyone. What is the truth?"
Lisa covered her face with her hands. "I… I didn't know what to do…"
"Lisa," Rayyan said, voice shaking, "do you know what you've done? Do you even realise—"
His voice broke.
Monica placed a hand on his arm, trying to steady him — but she herself was trembling.
The air in the room felt tight, heavy, suffocating.Even the beeping from the monitor in the corner felt louder than usual.
Lisa finally whispered, "I was scared… I didn't know who else to put…"
"That doesn't make this right," Monica snapped. "You can't drag Rayyan into this!"
Rayyan turned away, rubbing his forehead. His pulse was racing. Everything was spinning around him — Ayden's voice, Lisa's messages, Monica's father, the proposal, the clinic —
Everything hitting him all at once.
Lisa began crying softly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I panicked. I didn't want to put Ayden because he… he blocked me. I didn't want to put my parents because they'll kill me. And Rayyan… you're the only one who ever showed up."
Rayyan stared at her, torn between anger and pity.
Monica clenched her jaw, trying to remain calm.
The doctor stepped back into the room just then, sensing the tension.
"Enough for tonight," he said gently. "If this continues, her condition may worsen."
Rayyan nodded silently.
Monica took a deep breath.
"Let's go outside," she said softly. "Let her rest."
Rayyan followed her out, the door closing behind them with a soft but heavy click.