IT ENDS WITH HIM (Completed)

9. One Year Down

It was autumn again, Hafsa's favourite season after summer. She loved how the leaves changed colours and how the air was crisp and cool. As Hafsa walked , she listened to the sound of the leaves crunching underneath her fall boots. When she was a child, Rania and her would collect the leaves into a heap and then jump into it. This caused her to absentmindedly smile. But now that they were adults, these were only happy memories locked inside their minds. Secretly, Hafsa wanted a child of her own so she could pass down this memory. But right now, the young couple weren't in a good place and bringing in a child would only complicate their relationship. Hafsa loved Khalid but at times he made her cry and question their marriage.

Speaking about marriage, their first anniversary was today. Khalid had told her he had a dinner reservation for them tonight. She was super excited.
On her end, she had already bought him a Chanel cologne set along with a few ties. She had also planned to bake him his favourite cake, blueberry cheesecake.

As soon as she had gotten her steps in for the day, she went back to the apartment and started making lunch. There were leftover vegetables sitting in the fridge all week so she decided to cook vegetables stir fry noodles. As she cooked, she spoke to her mother then her mother in law. It turned out her father in law had come down with a cold. As there were still some extra vegetables left, she quickly also made a batch of soup. She decided it'd be best to visit her in-laws after lunch and to bring some of the stir fry and the soup. Besides their dinner reservation wasn't until the evening. Khalid agreed that was a sensible thing to do and kissed her on the forehead.

After they ate and prayed, the couple headed to Khalid's parent's house. Her in-laws were pleased to see them.

"Aww Hafsa sweetheart you didn't have to worry about me. I'm fine it's just a seasonal cold." Coughed her father in law.

"I know dad but I still wanted to make you something to help you feel better. My mother says soup is a good medicine. Have some."

Hafsa poured some of the still warm soup into a bowl and offered it to her father in law.

"Mmm your mother's right; soup does make one feel good, doesn't it. Thanks again sweetheart.

Hafsa smiled. She loved how her father in law addressed her and how their relationship was nice.
Of course, it could never replace the relationship she had with her own father, but this was close enough.

After an hour of catching up, the coupe were about leave when the doorbell rang. Khalid's mother got up to answer it. To everyone's surprise, it was Omar and Yusra.

"Oh my goodness, Habibi you should get sick more often. That way our sons can visit us more often," laughed Khalid's mother.

"We heard dad was sick so we wanted to check up on him." Smiled Yusra. "Salam everyone."

They all hugged and chatted for some more. Aqsa too had arrived home as she was out doing an assignment for school. Before they know it, it was dinner time. Hafsa waited for Khalid's queue to leave. Just then Omar stood up and said, "can I have everyone's attention please. We have an exciting news. Since we're all here today we decided to announce it now."

"Oh no," thought Hafsa.

"Yusra and I are expecting! The baby is due in March." Beamed the father to be.

"Oh my Allah!" Squealed Khalid's mother. "I'm going to be a grandmother."

Everyone got up to congratulate the young parents to be. Khalid checked his watch. He knew they had plans for the evening but how can he leave now? This was his brother's and sister in law's big night. He bit the side of his cheek. He'll take her out tomorrow as it was still the weekend and give her the diamond earrings he had bought for her. He saw Hafsa take a quick glance at him. He knew he had to apologize to her right now and let her in on the new plans. As the ladies were in the kitchen getting dinner set up, he pulled her into his old room.

"I'm so sorry my love he whispered. I know we had plans but I feel awkward just leaving now. Can we please move our plans for tomorrow?" He pleaded while staring into her disappointment, chocolate brown eyes.

Hafsa didn't know what to say but it was clear that Khalid had already made up his mind. So instead of voicing her thought, she just nodded. To this he let out a sigh of relief and kissed her.

The rest of the night went on with plenty of food and a cake that Omar had stepped out to get. If Hafsa was being brutally honest, she was hurt and confused how none of her in laws remembered that their wedding anniversary was today. The only one who remembered was her mother who had wished them this morning.

When they reached home, the couple prayed Isha and then went to bed.

"Happy anniversary to us," she mumbled to herself right before her eyelids closed.