Marrying the son of Asraf 2

...Bonus Chapter...

Araf's wail pierced the silence at exactly 3:00 AM. Summayyah shot up, eyes wide, grabbing her baby from the crib like a soldier reporting for duty. "Araf... haba now..." she whispered, rocking him with one hand, the other trying to guide his mouth to her breast. He refused.

Khalil stirred beside her, half-awake, fully annoyed. "Subhanallah... for three days straight. This boy no dey tire?"

"He's testing our faith," Summayyah hissed, standing up and pacing like a night guard. "Maybe if I walk around, he'll calm down."

He didn't.

She sat cross-legged, still swinging him while Khalil, sleep-deprived and desperate, scooted behind her to support her back. They looked like two students who failed Parenting 101.

"Maybe he's hungry?" Khalil offered.

"He refused to drink!"

"Try again," he said with half a yawn.

She did. Fifteen whole minutes of effort later, Araf pulled away dramatically, and screamed even louder.

"What if he's sick?"

"The doctor said he's fine!"

She tapped his diaper gently and sighed. "Now now, boy... your brother wasn't like this, was he?"

"Azman?" Khalil asked.

"Yes! Azman was an angel! Quiet, always laughing... Look at him now, he's already three."

"That's children. They grow fast. They grow loud." Then came Khalil's "brilliant" idea.

"Let's take him to mama. She can babysit for two days."

"Have you lost your mind? He's still breastfeeding!"

"I mean, just express it into a bottle. It's only two days. Please!"

She laughed but considered it. Moments later, she handed the baby to Khalil and Araf immediately screamed like he'd seen a ghost.

"Poor Araf," Summayyah chuckled. "If only he knew it's his own father."

By the time they got there, there plan flopped. Khalil's mother rejected the mission with a firm "Over my dead body." "Who told you things are done that way!?" "That's how you will manage it, you will get used to it!" And that was how they returned defeated. Since then, they took turns swaying and rocking Araf at night. Sometimes, Summayyah just left the room so at least one person could sleep in peace.

...Three Years Later...
"Boys! Bedtime!" Summayyah called.

Azman, now six, and Araf, three, raced into their room, each bed dressed in their chosen aesthetic: Spider-Man sheets for Azman, jungle animals for Araf. Their toys were scattered in happy chaos.

She tucked Araf in first. As she covered him with the blanket, he smiled, and her heart caught for a second.

"He looks just like you," people always said. Tonight, she saw it too. She ran her fingers through his hair. Meanwhile, Khalil leaned in the doorway, arms crossed, watching.

"Do you know what?" she asked softly.

The boys shook their heads, eyes wide with curiosity. "Be good boys, okay? Gentlemen. Kind. Understanding. Always."

"Like me?" Khalil grinned from the door.

"Of course not," she said, stifling a laugh. "Just... be good. That's all I ask."

Khalil frowned. "That sounded like a parting speech. What's going on?"

Summayyah just smiled wistfully. "Maybe it is. But it's the only one you'll get."

"Goodnight, mummy! Goodnight, daddy!" the boys chorused, snuggling into sleep.

She kissed both their foreheads, switched off the lights, and gently grabbed Khalil's arm.

"Hey hey hey," he whispered as she dragged him out, "why are you so harsh to me?"

"I'm not. Come on. Let's watch a movie."

The moment they reached the living room, she let go of him and bounced onto the couch, flipping on Netflix and grabbing the popcorn bowl.

"Netflix and chill?" he asked, raising a brow.

"Yup. The boys are asleep. It's time for we time."

"Is it Korean?"

"Yes."

"Oh no..."

"Then never mind. Goodnight!" she chirped, already sinking into her favorite spot like a queen. He stood there, blinking.

"So you won't beg me!?"

"I can't force you to enjoy what I like. It's your choice. And—"

"Okay okay! I surrender. You and your lawyer logic," he grumbled, sitting beside her and sliding his arm around her shoulder.

"Well, you married me. No refund." She stuck out her tongue while he just rolled his eyes. But as they sat there, tired, in love, and still learning, they laughed.

He never imagined love would look like this, and she? She never thought she'd find home in someone's arms again.

Yet here they were. Two flawed people. One noisy house with a lifetime ahead. Always. Forever. And maybe... just one more episode.

—The Final End.
Thank you for reading.
If you have a question to ask about how I started or what made me start writing the book? Please feel free to ask.
A question and Answer session and I will be delighted to answer.
Kisses 😘