echoes of defiance (Rewriting)

chapter 37

“Can you walk? Let me carry you to the car.” Zain’s face was a picture of serious concern, but even the doctor couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Mr. Qasimi, she can walk perfectly fine—it’s pregnancy, not a broken leg!” the doctor said, chuckling. I couldn't stop smiling like an absolute fool, completely taken by Zain’s over-the-top worry. His protectiveness was sweet, even if it was a bit much.

Zain ignored the doctor’s remark and gently took my arm. “Let’s go,” he said, guiding me out of the room like I was a toddler learning to walk for the first time.

“Zainnnnnnn, I can walk on my own,” I protested, trying to stifle my laughter.

He just grinned, continuing to hold me with care, as if I were fragile glass. His sheer excitement was so endearing that I didn't have the heart to keep bursting his bubbles. When we arrived home, Zain immediately helped me sit on the couch before plopping down beside me. Without hesitation, he placed his hand on my stomach, his eyes gleaming with joy.

“Hello, little man. It’s daddy,” he said softly, his face lighting up as he spoke to my belly like he was having a conversation with our unborn child.

I couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous and adorable he looked. “It’s a girl,” I teased, raising an eyebrow at him playfully.

Zain’s grin only grew wider as he shook his head. “No, it’s a boy—Muhammad,” he insisted, leaning closer to my stomach as though expecting a response from the baby. His cheeks flushed with excitement, and I couldn't help but blush too, overwhelmed by his happiness. All I could do was smile.

“You’re really going to keep calling him that, huh?” I said, amused.

He nodded, his hand still resting protectively on my stomach. “Lie down, I’ll be right back.” He kissed my forehead and gently helped me lie down, covering me with a blanket as if I were something precious. His eyes lingered on me for a moment, as if he couldn’t believe this was real.

I closed my eyes to get some rest, but soon, I heard him return. Zain came back with not one, not two, but five different types of chicken wraps, each one more enticing than the last. His excitement was palpable, his eyes twinkling like a little boy at a candy store.

“Eat some of this, please,” he urged, holding out my favorite wrap from Demir’s restaurant. “I’m sure Muhammad is hungry.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. He was acting like I hadn’t eaten in days. “Zain, it’s not even been a few hours since we found out. Calm down,” I teased as I took the wrap, my heart warm with affection.

As I took a bite, he sat down beside me, watching me like I was performing some miracle. Then, almost nonchalantly, he added, “Oh, by the way, I told them you won’t be able to go to the hospital anymore since you’re pregnant.”

My heart stopped. “You told who?” I asked, staring at him in shock.

“Usman and Amma,” he replied, his smile beaming with pride, like he had just shared the best news in the world.

All I could do was place my head in my palm, groaning in disbelief. “Zain, hayati, are you serious?” I muttered, torn between laughing and crying. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks, and not just from embarrassment. “You told Amma?”

In our culture—being Hausa, Fulani, and Kanuri—you don’t just casually discuss things like pregnancy with your parents. It’s not something we openly talk about,  We are shy about those matters, and the thought of facing Amma now made me cringe with embarrassment.

Zain, however, didn’t seem to notice my discomfort. He was in his own world, buzzing with excitement, grinning like the happiest man alive. "Sannu hayati’m," he said, kissing my temple softly, as if nothing was wrong. I sighed and took another bite of the wrap, feeling the weight of everything settle on me.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, with Zain hovering over me like a doting husband, his enthusiasm unwavering. I couldn’t help but smile at his antics—his constant fussing, his over-the-top care—but deep down, I was still trying to process everything. While Zain was floating on cloud nine, my mind was buzzing with thoughts about school, exams, and the fact that he had told Amma about the pregnancy before I even had a chance to wrap my own head around it.

Yet, despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me, one thing remained crystal clear: Zain’s love for me was boundless. The way he looked at me, the way he touched my stomach as if it was the most sacred thing in the world—it made my heart swell with emotions too big to contain. And though I was still overwhelmed, one thing was certain: with Zain by my side, everything was going to be just fine.

But how in the world was I going to face Amma now?