Like some rare nights on-call, today too was a slow shift. The ER was going on about it's usual slow pace while the nurses and doctors went around the Ward, checking up on their patients.

She sat in her place, behind the Nurses' counter; sipping on her coffee while skimming through her notes. Yet, for the first time, tonight her mind was elsewhere. Her eyes lingered on the words but she found her focus drifting time and again. With a sigh, she shook her head, in attempts to ward off her thoughts, when suddenly the siren rang through the Ward.

The sound piqued her attention and she instinctively looked up from her book. From the corner of her eyes, she caught the Nurse and staff on duty making their way towards the Resuscitation room. Without wasting another moment, she got up, after gathering her things.

With quick steps, she began to cross the room and walk out of the Ward towards the RR. The siren was an indication of an emergency case coming in through the ambulance and by the time she had reached the room, the nurse and staff had begun to shift the patient from the stretcher.

Her gaze caught on the bloodied casualty; whom the nurses were giving first aid, before finding the House-officer on duty, who was busy taking notes from the paramedics' staff. She kept walking towards them, until her gaze trailed towards the victim again.

And then she forgot to breathe.

Her eyes kept staring at his lifeless body, unblinking; for what felt like an eternity to her. She was aware of the House-officer, relaying the history to her—Yet, she could make no sensible move; except gawk at him, while blood drained from her face.

"—Dr. Hajra! We are losing the rhythm!" The outcry of Nurse had finally managed to pull her out of her reverie. She lunged towards his bedside and quickly went over his vitals. Her heartbeat getting faster with every passing second as she worked on him. Tremors running through her whole body, while she picked up the pedals and continued CPR.

Her mind racing through all sorts of thoughts while her eyes remained glued to the monitor.

"When something is meant to reach you, Hajra—it will find you, even if you were to hide in the depths of the ocean. And if it's meant to go elsewhere, then it will slip right through your fingers, even if you were to forcefully make it yours. This is the Qadr of Allah."

The words rang through her head, as she continued the chest compressions. Her breaths coming out in sharp gasps, as she desperately prayed for help, from the One and Only.

'Please—! Please, ya Allah—!'