Rabt

22

2 months later
(3months after Saima's death.)
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Rukhsar

She didn't feel great this morning.

She woke up with the worst nausea ever .

She had gone three times to the bathroom to throwup, but every time ended up only dry heaving.

She groaned against the sink,

She didn't remember it being this bad in her first pregnancy.

Infact she had to felt this nauseous even in the first trimester.

The past three months had been strange to say the least .

Inaya had started going to her grand parents house on and off,
Qasim had accompanied her to the last two appointments and Alhamdullilah the baby was fine .

They both shared a cordial relationship.

He would make sure that she was comfortable, he had also made sure to take up most of Inayas responsibilities so that she could rest.

Sometimes things felt so easy they would talk but other times

If only she could throw up and then feel better.

She splashed water on her face , and tied her hair , she needed to be at the university in an hour.
There was a workshop she needed to attend .

Exhausted she headed to her closet and took out a shalwar kameez she wanted to wear today.

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By the time she walked into the kitchen, Qasim was sitting on one of the barstools .

Inaya was coloring in coloring book while he typed away on his laptop.

The scene looked so wholesome, the level of ease with which Qasim made place for Inaya while working ,
Rukhsar could imagine in a parallel universe she would have hugged Inaya and then Qasim would have looked at her with a soft smile on his lips.
Like an idealistic family.

If only.

"This was such a mistake,"

"I regret it bhai"

"Rukhshar auntie , look!" She said , happily,

She had coloured tigger from Winnie the pooh .

"Looks great Inaya" she said , her voice sounded weak to her ears .

She put on the saucepan for making some green tea.

"When will you be back" Inaya asked ,

Rukhsar smiled ,
"By 2 I think" she said ,

"I'll be back from nanos too" she told her , Rukhsar smiled ,

"When will the baby come" Inaya asked ,

"5 more months beta" Qasim spoke , looking up from his laptop.

He frowned at the cup in Rukhsars hand ,
"Why aren't you eating?" He asked ,

Rukhsar felt heat rise in her cheeks.

"I can't today." She said ,

He looked at her cup again, and then back at her , a frown on his lips.

"Thats not going to work, eat something." He said and it sounded more like an order.

Rukhsar bristled .