Better Late Than Never

60

Following their return to Aomi, Ayra and Ayman got their house in order and then slowly fell into the routine of sharing life together, constantly surrounded by family and friends with lots of good news coming from one end or the next.

Zainab got married. Ricky got with the lady he'd been one-sidedly pining over for years. Mayah got pregnant and so did Amna and Aabidah, and Ibtihaj got ready to welcome Faris; tired for being pregnant for "far too long".

Work, for each of them, went well; all the companies blooming beautifully. When they weren't working, they made times for themselves and time for each other; strengthening bonds and making the very best of memories.

On the evening of Saturday December 17th, as Adil was about to leave the house to get them dinner from the Mediterranean restaurant he and his wife had been loving as they reached the near end of her pregnancy, Ibtihaj slipped on a small puddle of water by the sink and hit her stomach against the edge of the island as she'd grabbed onto it for support.

Adil was by her side in seconds just as she felt the gush of water between her legs. The pain followed and it was nothing like she'd ever experienced. Coupled with the fear that came with the sudden halt in Faris's movements, Ibtihaj spiralled and no one had to tell Adil he had to immediately get her to the hospital.

He only grabbed their essentials and it was when they were out of Omar Bello Drive that he called Ayra to go over with Ayman to their place to help with the hospital bag Ibtihaj had finished packing the day before and then to help lock the doors and call the others.

Ayra got to work immediately with Ayman while Adil did everything he could to not cause an accident while ignoring every traffic rule he'd learned all his life.

The emergency unit of the University of Atlantica Teaching Hospital received Ibtihaj with swiftness and got in contact with her medical team. Scared was an understatement to describe what Ibtihaj felt and while Adil was terrified as well, he hid it and stayed strong for her sake; never leaving her side.

They sampled the leak she was still experiencing and confirmed that it was amniotic fluid, and then ran a quick ultrasound to confirm their next line of action. The amniotic sac being ruptured told them Faris was going to have to come out soon and the revelation of him being in a breach position had them scheduling an emergency caesarean section rather than inducing a natural delivery.

Ibtihaj burst into tears and Adil had to assure her – and himself – that everything was going to be okay. According to the scan, Faris seemed okay but they had to get him out. That much was clear.

By the time Ayra and Ayman made it to the hospital with the Bello family in tow while the Abdulazizs and Adeolas left Plum Boulevard for the hospital, Ibtihaj was being prepped for the surgery and Adil was being briefed on what to expect.

Ayra went straight to her best friend's side and her heart broke at how vulnerably scared Ibtihaj was. She took Ibtihaj's hand in hers and smiled, hoping it was assuring as possible. Ibtihaj, already in a hospital gown, squeezed Ayra's hand as though her very existence depended on it.

"Ayra," Her voice came out unusually frail, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "Ayra, I'm scared. I can't lose Faris."

Ayra's heart broke further and she shook her head, willing her smile to remain on her face. "You won't lose Faris, Ibty. In Shaa Allah that won't happen. They say he's fine and you're fine too. They're just going to get him out a week earlier than planned and you're going to hold him, and love him, and do everything you've planned out. You'll get to scream and play with him too, and teach him all the Yoruba insults you've been writing down so that you don't forget. And yes, I saw the notebook. Well done."