Marrying the son of Asraf 2

Epilogue

Ten months later, Khalil and Summayyah welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world. Everyone had guessed it would be a girl, but to their surprise, it was a boy. A healthy, bouncy baby boy who looked exactly like his mother. A carbon copy of Summayyah, just the male version. Ma sha Allah.

Both families were overflowing with joy. The naming ceremony was held right after Amal's. She had also given birth, to a lovely baby girl named Afnan. Khalil named his son Araf.

Khalil's mother was over the moon. She had finally become the kind of grandmother she had always dreamed of—one surrounded by not one, not two, but six beautiful grandchildren. A blessing beyond words.

After both naming ceremonies, Amal suggested a family feast. "Everyone has their own life now," she said. "It might be a long time before we can gather like this again." Mr. Omar immediately agreed.

Summayyah, with a soft smile, asked if she could invite Faruq and his wife. Khalil agreed without hesitation not necessarily because of Faruq, but because of Rukkayyah.

That evening erupted in laughter. The house was alive with chatter, the clinking of cutlery, and children's giggles. Cameras clicked nonstop. Faisal sat beside Halima, both blushing and laughing at their private jokes. Arif and Ibrahim chatted about business. Ahmad and Abdul were busy entertaining Azman and his new cousins.

It was a beautiful evening.

On the balcony, Summayyah stood with Araf sleeping soundly against her chest, Faruq beside her. They stared out at the sunset, the noise of the feast fading into the background.

"Should he really be sleeping through all this noise?" Faruq asked.

Summayyah smiled. "He's just like Azman. Calm as a baby... stubborn as a toddler," she teased.

Faruq chuckled. "I didn't think he was stubborn. Noor is worse than ever."

"She's still little," she said, and they both laughed.

They talked for a while, about how far they'd come, how their youthful dreams had transformed into grown-up realities. Even though Faruq never got to marry her, she was still family to him. That mattered.

Inside, Khalil had started feeling a little left out. Amal noticed and quickly called out, "Come, mama na kira!" Summayyah turned with a warm smile. She handed baby Araf to Amal and walked back inside, taking her place beside Khalil's mother.

Her mother-in-law handed her a full plate of fried rice and beef. "Eat, eat plenty," she said lovingly. Summayyah wasn't hungry, but she didn't refuse. She knew this was her mother-in-law's way of saying I'm sorry. And that gesture alone made her feel seen, loved.

Outside on the balcony, Faruq sighed softly. "You know," he said, "Summayyah was the only woman I ever loved as a teenager. I tried everything to win her over, but her father never liked me. She's sweet, calm, patient, bold... I didn't meet another woman like her until recently."

Khalil, who had been standing quietly beside him, nodded. "I really appreciate you. For being there for her and Azman while I was... being a jerk."

Faruq laughed. "You sure were! But I think she loves you more than you even realize. Just... don't let her slip away again."

"I won't," Khalil said. "Not even for a second."

They smiled, shook hands and an unspoken agreement of peace. Trust rebuilt, even if the past couldn't be erased.

From the corner of her eye, Summayyah watched them. She didn't say anything. But her heart felt full.

"Oya oya, it's time for the feast!" Amal's voice rang out, calling the men back in.

Everyone gathered around the largest round table Mr. Omar had ever arranged. Laughter filled the air, children ran in circles, plates clinked, drinks poured. In that moment, surrounded by love and noise and food, Summayyah looked around and realized something.

She had a big family. And a small one of her own. And somehow, both were enough.

One week later.
"Azman! Stop running around with that spoon in your mouth!" Summayyah yelled from the kitchen, balancing a pot cover in one hand and her sanity in the other.

Khalil peeked in from the living room, a mischievous grin on his face. "He gets that from you, you know."

She shot him a playful glare. "You mean he gets his chaos from you. I only gave him the nose."

"True. You gave him the nose. I gave him the drama."

Azman zoomed past them again, still holding the spoon like a warrior charging into battle. "I'm the lawyer! I'm defending my teddy from going to jail!"

Summayyah burst out laughing. "Khalil, what are you teaching our child!?"

Khalil shrugged, unfazed. "Criminal defense. It runs in the blood."

"I hope Araf doesn't learn all this!" She laughed

"He would!"

She nudged him playfully. "He's still a baby!" And he just rolled his eyes.

Their home wasn't perfect, there were unfinished to-do lists, half-washed laundry, and loud cartoons that echoed through the hallways. But there was peace. There was love. There were sleepy cuddles on rainy nights and burnt toast on sleepy mornings.

And Summayyah, she was no longer the girl who doubted if love could feel safe. She was now a woman who saw love in little things. In Khalil's annoying habit of finishing her sentences, in Azman's dramatic reenactments of court scenes, in quiet Fridays when they all curled on the couch doing absolutely nothing and Araf midnight cries.

Marriage, it turned out, wasn't the problem. It was choosing someone who wouldn't give up on her, even on the days she gave up on herself. Someone who could hold her pain without trying to fix it, who could make her laugh even after the tears.

As she stood by the window, sipping her Cinnamon tea, Khalil walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You still think you married the wrong person?" he teased.

She tilted her head, pretending to think. "Hmm... maybe. But if this is wrong, I don't ever want to be right."

And they laughed, that kind of laughter that lingered. It danced in the walls. It lived in their hearts...

The end... and a new beginning.
.
.
.

Shss, I have a bonus chapter for y'all! But that comes after a small moment. Thank you once more. I hope you found peace and solace in reading my books. I would be publishing a new short story soon and trust me you would love it, at least you won't miss Khalil and Summayyah too much. Also, Khalil's Nikka would be coming out, soon but not promised.

Byeeeeee