That's Just How Life Goes!!

Chapter 3

Life has been blissful since I have informed Arsalan and everyone else about my pregnancy. Actually it has been blissful since I got married. Alhamdulillah. I sighed. It's 4 months since I told Arsalan about our baby and I am 5 months pregnant with twins.
Arsalan has been pampering me even more than before. But since a few days he looks stressed. I asked him but he just says it's nothing I should worry about.
......

Since a few days I am not having a good feeling too. Maybe pregnancy hormones acting up but there is a constant fear that I am going to lose everything I have. I am trying to be positive but nothing is working.
I want Arsalan here with me but he is also not here. He got some news about his friend. So he went there. Last time he went but just got a clue. This time he was sure to find him.
"Allah please keep Arsalan safe." I prayed.
I called Arsalan but he did not receive. I haven't talked to him in 2 days. But he messaged me that he is fine. So I was a bit relieved but now this constant fear is getting me tensed up. I called him again but he didn't receive it.
I kept praying for his safe return and soon sleep engulfed me.
........

"Maham beta, what happened? Why aren't you eating anything?" badi Maa asked me while everyone was having breakfast.
"She must be missing Bhaijan badi Maa." My brother Ali teased me. I just gave him a weak smile.
"But you should be happy then. He is coming today isn't he?" badi maa said confused. I looked at her equally confused but my heart beating differently at the news of him coming back to me after 15 long days.
"He didn't tell you?" she asked me I shook my head.
"oh my Allah. He must be planning to surprise you and I spoiled his plan. I am so sorry." she said.
"It's okay badi Maa. As long as he comes back." I instantly beamed.
Everyone laughed at my enthusiasm and Ariz started teasing me.
........

I got ready in a mint color kurti with white pant and embroidered dupatta. I am waiting in the living room waiting to just hug him and feel the peace that I have been craving for since past few days while ignoring everyone's teasings. I heard the car's horn and quickly straightened my dupatta and hairs and rushed outside. I could hear everyone chuckling at me from inside. I ran to him as soon as I saw him getting out of the car and coming to another side. I hugged him tightly and sobbed out"Don't leave me alone next time please." I felt him stiffen a bit and looked at him who had a blank look on his face. He cleared my tears. I expected him to kiss my forehead but he didn't. He didn't even meet my eyes. I got confused but I still hugged him again. This time he removed me from his arms and I instantly felt bad but covered it and took his hand excitedly to go inside. But he didn't move in fact he removed his hand from mine and went to open the passenger side door. A girl came out with a baby bump. I looked between them confused. I said my salam and was about to ask who she is but before I could do that Arsalan said "let's go inside." I again took his hand and started walking towards the house. Also asking the girl to come inside. Everyone welcomed Arsalan and then asked about the girl. "she is my friend's sister." he answered our questions. I gave water to both of them and Maa asked them to freshen up and rest for sometime.
"Maham beta, show the guest room to Zoya." I nodded and took her to the guest room. I went to our room to find it empty but heard the shower. So I sat on the bed with our babies's pictures from sonography that he missed. He always asked me to show him if he couldn't come to the appointment. Once I forgot them in my cabin in hospital when he had a very important business meeting so he couldn't come and he kept whining about it whole night.
I laughed as I remembered his face. I heard the door opening sound so I looked at him fully fresh. He sat on the sofa. I got confused why is he behaving strangely since he came back. I went and sat beside him. Resting my head on his shoulder I passed him the photos. He kept looking at them without saying anything unlike everytime when he has countless questions.
He sighed and finally asked "what did the doctor say?"
I informed him everything as the doctor said and he just hummed.
"Arsalan, what's wrong? Why are you behaving strangely since you came back?" I asked him. He stiffened but didn't reply. I faced him and asked again "did you find your friend?"
He looked at me for a second before looking away and nodded. "how is he then? Did you punish him how you wanted to?" I asked. He kept silent looking into space. I wanted to ask more but seeing him zoned out, didn't. I took his hand and got up. He looked at me questioningly but I just pulled him up and made him lay on the bed. I also joined him placing my head on his shoulder but unlike everytime he didn't take me in his embrace. Again my heart started feeling restless. I just want to be held by him. "Arsalan please hold me." I requested. He didn't react first then sighed, took a deep breath and took me in his embrace. He nuzzled his face in my neck smelling me like everytime and I smiled. I took a relief breath and dozed off.
.....
Everyone was sitting in the living room eating rasmalai after having dinner. I got up to take more from kitchen. I crave for sweets a lot. Arsalan says it's because his princess loves sweets like her father.
After talking for some time everybody got up to go to their rooms when Arsalan cleared his throat gaining everybody's attention. We looked at him waiting for him to speak.
"I am going to marry Zoya." he said loud and clear taking my breath away. I couldn't breathe. I kept looking at him. I could hear everyone saying different things but couldn't register their words. I kept looking at him to see if he was playing a prank on me but he looked directly into my eyes confirming the thing he just blurted out. Suddenly everything blurred from my vision. I felt my body falling.
........

It's been 9 days since he declared that he is going to marry Zoya. I have shifted to dadi jani's room. I only talked to him once, only one question when I woke up in the hospital after fainting.
Flashback
"if I won't agree then also you will marry her?" I asked
He tried to say something but I cut him off
"Yes or No Arsalan?"
"Yes but just listen -" he tried to explain but i cut him off.
"I want to rest." saying I lay down he again tried to say but I said "I really need to rest Arsalan."
He sighed and left the room. I immediately asked to be taken home. And before he came I packed my bag and came to dadi jani's room. After that he tried several time to talk to me but I didn't give him a single chance.
What's the use of explaining? He is not going to listen to me anyway. I just shut my mind off. I don't want to think about it. I just can't. I can't imagine him with someone else. So I just spend my time with dadi jani, and praying. I went out to take lunch for dadi jani and saw Arsalan holding Zoya's hand helping her descend the stairs. My heart clenched again. I somehow managed to go to kitchen. This is not the first time I have seen that. He is helping her with everything as no one is giving attention to both of them. I have everyone taking care of me but I only need him.
I felt my cheeks getting wet so I shook my head and cleaned my tears. I took lunch for dadi jani and started walking to her room when I felt dizzy. I placed the plate on nearby stand and held the wall for support. I felt someone holding me on the shoulder. I opened my eyes as soon as I felt better and found those blue eyes I always admired looking at me with concern. I looked down not being able to hold his gaze but saw him holding Zoya's hand with his other hand and instantly moved away. He seemed to notice that as he left her hand and tried to hold me again but I moved back, took dadi jani's plate and started walking ignoring his calls behind. I was sure he won't come following me as he was with Zoya. And she needs him, right?! I gave a sarcastic chuckle and entered into dadi jani's room. I fed her as usual. Whenever I am home, I always feed her. It's not that she can't have it on her own but I just love to do it. I have always been an introvert so didn't have much close friends. I always spent my time with Maa, badi Maa, and dadi jani. Maa is the only daughter of her parents. And abbu and bade abbu also don't have sister. Even badi Maa has only one brother who has 2 sons. So basically there is no girl in the family except me. I do have distant cousins though but I am not that close to them.
I wiped her mouth, gave her medicine, water. She placed her hand on my head with moist eyes as usual. I put my head on her lap and we talked about her and dada jani's love story. I have heard it many times but I still like to hear it. I didn't know when I dozed off.