HER CRUSH

Epilogue

Three months later...
Zarah...
I was sleeping peacefully until Imaan's loud cries pierced the night air. She is only a couple of months old, but her nightly wails had become a familiar routine. "Being parents isn't easy at all," "but it's the most beautiful thing ever." I have forgotten what a full night's sleep felt like for months now.

I tapped Abdul's arm, "Abdul, go get her." He, being a good father and husband, woke up and got out of bed. Sometimes, when Imaan cried, he would tell me to sleep and handle her himself. This time, he rubbed his eyes, stood up, and walked over to pick her up. She didn't stop crying, though - in fact, she cried even louder. I realized she might be hungry.

"Baby, just bring her, let me feed her," I said with a sleepy voice. Abdul gently placed Imaan on my lap, and I unbuttoned my shirt to nurse her. "Abdul, go back to sleep, remember you have an early meeting tomorrow." Before he could respond, Imaan started crying again. "What's this girl's problem at midnight?" I wondered, exhausted but loving every moment of motherhood.

"See, your daughter doesn't want me to sleep," Abdul sighed, as sleep seemed to evade us once again. I tried to soothe Imaan, "Shhhh, my baby, don't cry," picking her up in my arms. She slowed down her cries, and Abdul took her from me, smiling as she giggled at him.

He pecked her cheeks, "Why cry, allow Mommy to sleep, please?"

My back ached from spending the night feeding her. Abdul managed to put her back to sleep, and he asked me, "Babe, are you okay?" I nodded, and he asked again, "What's wrong with you?"

I whined, "My back hurts."

"Should I give you a massage?" He offered,

I eagerly agreed, "Yes, please!"

He gently massaged my back, and I felt much better. "Babe," he called out, and I looked at him with sleepy eyes. He pulled me towards him, pressing his lips on mine. "You want another baby?" he asked, and I was taken aback,

What baby, Abdul?" No, no, no! Not again!" I exclaimed, recalling the pain of childbirth. "You know I felt like I was dying when I gave birth to Imaan."

Abdul smiled, "Pretty please, I want to have twenty children."

I was shocked, "Twenty? Seriously? And who would give birth to them?

You?

You must be kidding me! You're going to marry another wife, then?"

"You only will give birth to them?

No, I don't want."

He chuckled, "Okay, okay, Imaan is enough for us."

I agreed, "Yes, Imaan is enough."

He smiled, "Anything for you, princess." We drifted off to sleep, ending the playful conversation.

*****

Five years later

"Abdul, please hurry up! I have patients waiting for me at the hospital, and I'm running out of time," I urged. Abdul emerged, holding Imaan's hands, and she asked

Mommy, how do I look? Daddy did my hair today."

I chuckled, "What's this, Abdul?" I replied, "Come here, princess, let's make another one - Daddy has messed up your hair!"

Mommy, when are we going to see Jalil?"

"We're going tomorrow, Insha Allah.", "Shall we go now?" (Note: Jalil is Sufyan and Hanan's baby boy)

I fixed Imaan's hair, and she looked beautiful. She whipped her head around, gazing at Abdul, and he said, "Yes, my princess looks beautiful now! Let's go to school." He scooped her up in his arms, playing with her as we drove to school. "Oya, baby, study well, no fighting, and don't play too much!"

"Okay, daddy!" Imaan leaned forward, awaiting a peck on the cheek - a habit Abdul has instilled in her. I pecked her cheeks, and she reciprocated,

Mommy loves you, study well, okay?"

Okay, mommy, I love you too," she replied, hugging Abdul and whispering in his ear, "Buy me chocolates." I smiled and shook my head, amused by their interaction.

Abdul dropped me off at the hospital and headed to the office. Around 6 pm, he picked me up and then collected Imaan from Islamiya. We visited Ummi and then headed to Sufyan's house. The next day, I took a three-week leave from the hospital, and we visited Aunty Ramla in Kaduna, spending almost two weeks there.

Now, as I sit in my office chair, I hear a knock at the door. "Yes?" I answer, and the door slides open to reveal the two most important people in my life.

Mommy!" Imaan exclaims, hugging me tightly. "Yes, how are you doing, my baby?" I ask, beaming with love and affection.

"Fine, mommy," Imaan replies, and I glance at Abdul, who winks at me. "What do you think? Let's take a selfie," he suggests, looking up.

Yes, 'CHEESE'!" we exclaim in unison, and the best picture is captured. The three of us look stunning together.

As I gaze at Abdul, he's playing with Imaan, making her laugh and giggle uncontrollably. He's laughing harder, and his cute light dimples are on full display. The joy and love we share in this moment is priceless.

"We met as strangers, but this is how it turned out. It was love at first sight, love at the hundredth sight, and the thousands of times after that. True love is loving the same person over and over again. He's my true love.

A first love comes and goes, but the man I choose to spend the rest of my life with is someone I will lovingly have and hold for as long as we both shall live. I want to be his last, not his first.

From the moment I set my eyes on his picture, I promised to love him with all my heart. He is so much better than the knights in shining armor I read about in fairy tales. He is more than words on a page; he is real, and our love is real. He is special, and he is mine alone to love and cherish. MY CRUSH , ABDULLAH ."

Tears of joy 🥺😪
Until next time guys🤞🏽❤️
Ummeetarh05❤️🌹