Mrs Mahmud, Mrs Mas'ood

Bonus Chapter 02

June, 2024

Mas'ood pulled out a trolley and easily caught up with Asiyah who was already examining the shelf that held baby swaddles in different colours and materials.

She picked out a peach coloured one and put it in the trolley. "I know we already have some for her but it won't hurt to add like two more."

"We can get as much as we want, Asiyah. Pick anything you want. We can always give them out if they end up being too much. That way, we'll get rewards."

She smiled at him. "I love you."

He smiled back. "Love you too...Let's go."

She was eight months pregnant and it was still hard to believe how fast the pregnancy had gone. Their baby girl was calm most of the time but there were days she could be a handful. They looked forward to meeting her and they did everything possible to ensure all was in perfect place for her arrival.

It was their last shopping trip and they only had to buy items they had been putting off for the longest time. It took half an hour for the trolley to get filled up and once they were sure they didn't need anything else, they moved to the checkout point. They waited in queue for a short while before it got to their turn. Like always, Mas'ood didn't let Asiyah do anything and she rolled her eyes while the cashier chuckled.

The purchased items filled the car booth and they stopped at a nearby restaurant to satisfy her snail craving before heading home. Tired, Asiyah gladly let him offload the vehicle and meet her in the baby's nursery; one of the rooms they had left bare when they moved in.

The walls were now painted Taupe and it went well with the ivory curtains. The name they agreed on – Amaris – was spelt out on one wall using gold letters. The wooden crib was one that could be expanded into a bed as the baby grew older so it had the whole wall with her name to itself. The opposite wall, which had the windows, had the rocking chair, a play area and then a mini bookshelf which they filled with books they hoped she loved.

They unpacked all they bought. The cloth items were loaded in the washing machine while everything else was put in the right spot. Mas'ood finally assembled the changing table and Asiyah couldn't hide her happiness.

He rolled his eyes. "You make it seem like I wasn't going to do it."

"After how many weeks, Mas'ood Dantata?"

"Oh stop it."

She laughed. "Yes sir. Come on, let's pray. It's past time for Asr."

When they finished, he let her sit between his legs and lean against him. He patted her bump and as though their daughter felt she was being summoned, she moved and he grinned. Asiyah rolled her eyes. "Mas'ood Dantata, if I'm not able to sleep this night, I'll kill you. That's a promise."

"You know I'll always stay awake with you. I won't let you suffer. We are pregnant after all."

She snorted. "I still can't believe you're saying that. How has Zayd not hit you yet?"

"Let's just say I'm blackmailing him with his son. If he tries anything funny, Yazan will stay here for a month whether he likes it or not. We know how inseparable they are now."

She shook her head, laughing. "Oh Mas'ood."

"What do we eat for dinner?"

"Please let's have a dish with sweet potatoes, I beg you."

"Anything you want, Asiyah."

"Yay! Please let's make fruit juice too. Mixed fruit juice, Mas'ood. The way you've been making it."

He felt their daughter move again and his smile widened. "Anything else?"

"A massage after Isha..."

His hand stopped moving on her bump and his smile left his face. "Asiyah Dantata."

"I'm sorry!"

"You made me cancel our massage session because you said you didn't want to be massaged anymore!"

She turned around with little difficulty to face him, nearly crying. "Wallahi I regret it. I'm sorry."

Mas'ood pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing he wouldn't be able to fight with her. "Asiyah Dantata..."

"I love you."

He just shook his head, perfectly hiding the fact that those three words still messed with his heart. He knew that he would find a way to rebook their massage session because he always wanted the best for her. He loved her that much.

In Nizamiye, Mahmud raised his head; moving his attention from his bandaged wrist to the woman standing in the now open doorway. Hauwa's expression softened. "Qalb..."

He smiled, pushing back the pain of the major wrist cramp he suffered while in surgery an hour back. "Hi."