Izzat An-Nisa (Pakistani Short Stories)

Hadsaa Part 5 🌸 (Final)

Almas waddled into the kitchen, rubbing her swollen bump as her baby kicked her excitedly. "What smells so good?" She asked, letting Dawud help her into a chair as he dropped a kiss onto her cheek.

"Strawberry crepes." He replied, sliding the plate in front of her as he took his own seat. Lately, Almas had been craving anything strawberry and Dawud was more than happy to comply.

She smiled at him and dug in as Dawud looked through his phone for any notifications. With Almas' due date only 3 days away, he was on parental leave. However, he felt it imperative to keep checking in and making sure Omair had the tide under control.

"These are really good!" Almas moaned, lips smeared with strawberry sauce. Dawud chuckled.

In the last few months of her pregnancy, it was as if they'd grown closer. Dawud had learned his wife was shy by nature but quite enjoyed reading and watching horror movies. She loved baking and had a lot of highly opinionated thoughts that he loved hearing about but most of all, Almas was a homebody. She loved staying in.

"Are you as excited as I am?" He finally spoke up after a pause, his voice nervous as he hinted at their baby's arrival.

Almas' face fell into a matching expression. "I definitely want to meet him, but I'm scared of the whole process."

Dawud nodded. He had spent countless hours comforting his wife and aiding her in some exercises that'd make labor easier, but it couldn't erase the worries she had. 

"We'll be alright, sweetheart. Everything will fall into place."

///

After an excruciating 12 hours of labor, Almas finally birthed their son into the world. Dawud had never felt such a flurry of emotions, but seeing her in so much pain, either shrieking or wincing as her face turned into the side of her pillow, Dawud was very reluctant to ever get her pregnant again.

But when his baby came out, crying and slimy, he couldn't help but release his own tears of joy. He kissed Almas' head over and over, whispering a million thank you's as he pushed back her sweaty hair. She was entirely spent but when the doctors placed the baby on her chest, her eyes sparked up.

Almas caressed his tiny face, watching as he turned into her touch, seeking comfort from her skin and she felt a sort of love she had never felt before. This protectiveness opened up her heart to him and she just felt the intense need to shower him in kisses. 

They named him Maaz, hoping that much like his name he'd grow up to be a brave man, one that they could be proud of.

But what amazed Almas wasn't how her body had made such a beautiful baby, his hazel eyes and delicate nose asking to be kissed, but the way her stone cold and fierce husband sobbed into her neck, losing himself to the notion of having a child, finally.

1 year and 7 months of marriage had brought them a gift.

///

"Is he sleeping?" Almas whispered, walking into the nursery to see Dawud rocking Maaz safely in his arms. 

Dawud smiled, outstretching his hand and asking her to come closer, which she did. He immediately tucked her into his chest, standing there with Maaz secured in his arms. Almas laid her head on his chest.

"He's beautiful, Almas. Just like you." Dawud was still in awe of his son.

Almas smiled in response. "I hope he has a happier childhood than I did. I hope to raise him right."

Dawud looked at her, a promise shining in his eyes. "We will. We'll raise our son to be an honorable man. Even if it takes our all."

Almas closed her eyes. "It's harder to raise boys, Dawud. They hold so much privilege in this world. Not only do we have to protect them, but we also have to protect others from them."