Mrs Mahmud, Mrs Mas'ood

58

All Asiyah had on her as she unlocked the front door of their house was a beating heart, a dozen pregnancy test kits and her sling bag which held her cards, wallet and phone. Mas'ood was at the restaurant and she was glad he still hadn't noticed there was something up with her.

It was Wednesday November 15th and she could no longer chose to turn a blind eye to the fact that she was most likely pregnant. Too nervous to head up, she opened the guest bathroom and stepped in. The vanity was a recent addition and it came in handy as she dumped all the test kits on the marble top.

She then opened her bag and pulled out her phone. A near minute later, she was sending a video call request to Humaira, hoping her older sister wasn't at work or busy with something since she didn't have to physically show up in the office every single day.

It was picked up on the second to the last ring. Humaira, casually dressed and reclining on the balcony of her house with Jalal perched on her laps, smiled at her sister. "Look who finally remembered me today."

Asiyah's smile was shaky. "Adda, I called you because I need moral support."

Humaira's smile vanished and she straightened, one arm holding Jalal steady. The little boy was so lost in his toy world to notice. "What's going on? You okay?"

Asiyah shook her head. "No...I mean, I'm fine but not really." She put her phone on the stand, another new addition to every bathroom in the house, and tilted it a bit so Humaira could see the test kits. "I think I am pregnant, Adda."

Humaira gasped loudly. "Oh my God. Asiyah, da gaske kake?"

Asiyah nodded. "Na rantse, da gaske nake." She unveiled her head and removed her cap. "I've been trying to ignore it but there's only so much that can be done. I'm surprised Mas'ood hasn't noticed anything."

"Wait." Humaira adjusted her seating position. "Asiyah, this is real. What are the symptoms you've had?"

"I've not had much. The first major sign was that my period was late and my period is never late, Adda. You know that. Like, I haven't seen my period since before the wedding. I spotted a few days to Hauwa and Mahmud's wedding and that was it. It's been no-show since then. Don't get me started on the tiredness and the recent queasiness, Adda. There's a slight weight gain too and God, my boobs are heavy."

"So you're trying to tell me that you got pregnant before Hauwa and Mahmud's wedding?" Humaira's eyes couldn't get any wider. "Ma'am!"

Asiyah suddenly felt the urge to cry. "Adda, please. We can talk about this in detail later. I just need to get this pregnancy test out of the way before Mas'ood gets back."

Humaira nodded in understanding. "No problem...How many test kits are there, Asiyah?"

Asiyah sniffled, glad she could push the tears back. "I got a dozen. I don't know why I freaked out at the store but I did. I just grabbed a dozen and paid for it."

"Asiyah."

"Na'am?"

"Before you take this test, I want you to be sure you're ready to adjust to the reality of being an expecting mom. I know you said you and Mas'ood agreed to have kids as soon as possible but it's one thing to say that and it's another thing to actually have it happen...So you're going to have to be really sure you're ready to adjust to the reality of your life changing if the test results are positive."

Asiyah bit down on her lower lip and considered her sister's words for a long moment. She then sighed softly. "I don't think we'll be given a baby if we aren't ready for it. I get what you mean because I'm really overwhelmed right now but –"