Out Of Wreckage?

Chapter Twenty Five

I dabbed the towel on my mouth.
I was sweating profusely with fright.

This is too soon. What should I do?
Am I really pregnant?

Bushra's faint cries got my attention. I rushed to her and picked her up.

She immediately cosied up to me. Even at this hour of tension, she could still make me smile.
I fed her and cradled her till she fell asleep.

My mind was occupied with a lot of questions.

First of all. How will I manage two babies?
Bushra needs my attention and so does her father.
With Aslam being unemployed and crippled.
No! I just can't give up.
I have to be the strong one here. I have to support my husband and look after my family. They need me. I'll manage somehow. I have to.
There's no other option.
But first, I have to be sure whether I'm pregnant or not. Atleast before I tell him.

Now, I'm concerned about his reaction.
What will he say? Oh Allah!

I was not this nervous the first time I had conceived.

I exhaled loudly and looked at the time, I had to prepare lunch. I placed Bushra in the crib and came out.

To my surprise, everything was neat and in it's place. As I trudged to the kitchen, I saw Nida already in the kitchen,  preparing our lunch.

I couldn't be more thankful to her.

She looked at me, "Rabia, you could have taken a nap. You appear very pale." She murmured.

"I'm fine. Thanks for cleaning the outside mess." I smiled.

"You shouldn't, Rabia. This is the least I can do." She told me, as she stirred the pot.

"Where's Aslam?" I asked her.

Her hands stopped stirring.

"Abba took him to his room. He's resting." She replied.

I nodded.

"May I ask you something?"

"Rabia, I take the liberty to call you by your name so you may ask me anything anytime you want."

"Why did Mr. Naseer chose to work with a man like Aslam?"

She became still.

"Why are you asking this particular question?" She looked at me in the eye.

"Because he's no stranger to you, his actions are not, definitely. Yet you all work for him."

"Rabia, we owe him. He's our employer. That's all I would say." She said and we both fell quiet.

"So would you all still work for us?"

"Yes until Master tells us to stop." She said and turned off the flame.

"Rabia! If you need me, I'm going to be there for you. My father believes in nothing but loyalty and I would always follow him." She simply uttered.

I held her hand, "I do need something for you to do." I whispered.

She blinked at me. "Yes, tell me."

"I.. I.." I was hesitant in asking her but I had no other alternative.

I took a deep breath, "I think I'm expecting. Again."

Her eyes widened.

"I want to confirm it. There's no way that I can leave this place in Aslam's presence so can you help me with this?" I asked her.

She nodded, "I'll go and get the pregnancy test kits if you want."

"That will do but bring atleast five of them. I want to be hundred percent sure." I spoke.