The early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow across the bedroom of Khan Haveli. The air was filled with the soft sounds of chirping birds and the rustling leaves of the garden outside. However, inside the bedroom, there was only one thing on Meerab’s mind today — her daughter Meesam's first word.
Meerab stood by the crib, looking down at her baby girl, who was blinking up at her with wide, innocent eyes. Meesam’s chubby little hands reached up toward Meerab, her tiny mouth curling into a toothless smile that melted her heart every single time.
“Mama,” Meerab whispered softly, her face mere inches away from Meesam’s. “Come on, say it, baby. Maa-ma. Say ‘Mama’ for me, please.”
Meesam let out a soft giggle, gurgling happily in her crib as her little legs kicked in excitement. But no matter how many times Meerab repeated the word, all she got in return was a high-pitched giggle and a joyful squeal.
This had been her goal for the entire week. Murtasim, to his credit, had been very nonchalant about the matter, insisting that it didn’t matter whether Meesam said ‘Mama’ or ‘Baba’ first, as long as she said something. But Meerab? Oh, it mattered. It mattered a lot. Murtasim had been teasing her relentlessly the entire week, smugly confident that their daughter would say ‘Baba’ first.
But not today. Today, Meerab was determined. Meesam *would* say ‘Mama.’ No question about it.
"Okay, baby," Meerab said with a determined glint in her eyes, scooping Meesam into her arms and heading toward the living room. "Today is the day. Your first word will be ‘Mama,’ no matter what. We’re going to practice all day!"
---
The day started with Meerab sitting on the living room floor, Meesam nestled between her legs on a soft blanket. Surrounding them were Meesam’s favorite toys — a few stuffed animals, some wooden blocks, and a teething ring that Meerab had bought to soothe her daughter’s incoming teeth.
“Maa-ma,” Meerab said slowly and clearly, pointing to herself and exaggerating the movements of her mouth. “Come on, baby, say ‘Mama.’ You can do it.”
Meesam, completely uninterested in her mother’s lesson, grabbed her stuffed bunny and promptly shoved one of its floppy ears into her mouth.
“Not bunny,” Meerab said with a sigh, gently pulling the toy away. “Mama. Maa-ma.”
Meesam blinked at her mother, eyes wide with curiosity. For a brief moment, it looked like she was about to say something. Her little lips parted, and she took a deep breath.
Meerab leaned in closer, her heart skipping a beat. This was it! Her first word!
“Baa... baaaa…”
Meerab’s face fell.
“Baba?” she repeated incredulously. “No, baby, *Mama*. Maaa-ma, not Baba. We’re not saying that word today.”
But Meesam, completely oblivious to her mother’s distress, giggled loudly and clapped her tiny hands together, delighted by the sounds she had made.
“Baba! Baba!”
“Nooo,” Meerab groaned, slumping back against the couch. She was barely an hour into the day, and already, Murtasim’s smug, grinning face flashed in her mind. She could practically hear his teasing voice: “Told you she’d say ‘Baba’ first, Meerab. She’s a daddy’s girl, after all.” Ugh. There was no way she was going to let that happen.
Determined not to give up, Meerab picked up one of Meesam’s soft toys and held it up in front of her daughter’s face. “Look, bunny says ‘Mama,’” Meerab said in a high-pitched voice, moving the bunny’s arms up and down. “Mama! See, baby? Even bunny is saying it!”
