Better Late Than Never

42

After Fajr the next morning, Ibtihaj packed all she'd gotten for Salama and Muhsin, and made her way over to the Abdulaziz home; the cool morning air welcoming against her skin. Salama was the one who opened the door and Ibtihaj did not need anyone to tell her the older woman hadn't sleep. It made her chest squeeze and her eyes sting.

Like Salama, Muhsin was awake and they were both glad to see her. When Ibtihaj handed them what she'd gotten for them from Spain, their faces lit up and they were sincerely grateful. Muhsin even joked about having the best time after being spoiled rotten by his two daughters. Salama laughed and Ibtihaj did too.

It was the first time Ibtihaj found herself being hesitant to ask if Ayra was awake and she couldn't understand why. As though she could read minds, Salama smiled understandingly. "She's upstairs. She woke up a little before we prayed after sleeping for an hour and she said she'd go back to sleep but we haven't checked in on her yet to see if she really did."

Ibtihaj smiled back, grateful. "Is she okay? I haven't been able to talk to her about everything. If she doesn't sleep off before I can ask, I am vomiting before she can say anything."

Their expressions softened and Muhsin spoke before his wife could. "It could have been worse so Alhamdulillah for what happened. She's coming around. She'll be fine In Shaa Allah."

"In Shaa Allah."

Salama let her husband wrap an arm around her waist and pull her towards him. "How are you and our baby?"

Ibtihaj's sigh was ever so dramatic. "I'm just waiting for this first trimester to finish. They said the vomiting will stop. Apart from that and the way I've been sleeping like goat, I am fine. The baby's fine too."

Muhsin chuckled while Salama smiled a little wider. "Don't worry. It gets better."

"Ah, it should better get better o. Because hah! You people that are our mothers tried. Hian!"

Salama laughed the same time Muhsin did. She then waved Ibtihaj away. "Come on, head up. We'll make breakfast in a little while so make sure you stay until then."

Ibtihaj nodded, walking in the direction of the stairs. "Okay!"

"Thank you for coming, Ibty." Muhsin told her.

Ibtihaj flicked a wrist. "I don't know why you are thanking me o. This is my second house and I'm coming just like I always do."

Salama and Muhsin simply smiled and watched her disappear with the curve of the stairs. Sighing, Salama leaned against Muhsin and he planted a kiss on her head, speaking softly. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

"I haven't seen the album Leilani got us yet."

"We'll see it in bed. Come on."

"Okay."

Upstairs, Ibtihaj knocked softly on Ayra's room door and then let herself in. Of all she was expecting, Ayra standing by the window while being on a phone call was the last thing. Ibtihaj's eyes widened when she realised Ayra was talking to Ibrahim.

Ayra, listening to Ibrahim talk about the upcoming wedding to Mayah, smiled tiredly at Ibtihaj and then hummed. "I'm glad it's not in Lahore. Apart from the fact that I won't need to start having to apply for a visa and paying through my nose to get it ready in a week, it's also good for you and Mayah because this is your turf and her family can't do all the crazy things they were planning on doing had you both gone ahead to have the wedding there."

Over the line, Ibrahim sighed. "True. I'm just glad this is all coming together. Thank you, for being part of this."

"Ibrahim, stop thanking me. I'm just glad you're okay and I'm glad Mayah's okay too." She left the window and walked over to where Ibtihaj stood, gladly stepping into the latter's embrace. "Also, I'm glad the wedding is going to be small. That'll be perfect. We'll have fun In Shaa Allah and everything else will work out perfectly well."