7] My Complete Family
"So I'm gonna skip a little 'cause you don't need to know about what I did everyday. After eight and a half months, it was about 2 am when the time came." Falak tells Haidar.
"Okay..this is a bit awkward but carry on.." Haidar says, grinning a little.
"It is awkward for me too, but you need to know how I felt about everything and most importantly how Faaris felt. Do you want to decide or not? You have been indecisive for too long. Faaris should be telling you this!" Falak replies, getting a bit frustrated.
"Ah, I'm sorry! Forget I said anything, please." Haydar says in return.
"Okay, but first come over here. If I'm gonna tell you this, I need to play with your hair! Put your head in my lap."
"Fine." Haidar settles on the sofa beside Falak and puts his head on her lap. Falak starts with his hair.
Smiling a little, Falak starts to narrate her story again.
*** ***
I woke up Faaris and we both rushed to get ready. Faaris obviously had to help me and in about fifteen minutes, Alhamdolillah, we were ready.
"Faaris, I think I want the baby to wear the blue shirt, not the yellow one." I told Faaris when he was helping me to the car.
"We haven't packed that."
"Can't we... OUUUCH! ... do that?" I asked despite the pain.
Faaris looked frustrated with me.
"Clearly, we can not. Now, watch your step." he said as he guided me down the porch steps.
"Ugh! Fine. Wait, did you get the camera? I told you... OUUCH... yesterday!"
"Oh. I forgot. Sorry!" He replied.
"Faaris!!! How are we gonna capture our baby's first moment in the world? Please go get it now. It won't take long." I said, in slight anger.
"Are you out of your mind? Here. Sit in the car right now, Falak Yusuf!" We had reached the car and he made me sit inside. I didn'tput on a fight because I knew better than to to that. Also, I didn't have the energy to do so.
He went around and sat in the drivers seat after tossing the baby bag in the back seat.
"Don't you go all 'Falak Yusuf' on me, Faaris Sanaullah!" I snapped at him.
He started the car and rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand.
"I'll ask Ammi and Abbu to bring one. They'll be here by morning. Okay, dear?"
"Okay."
We drove in silence apart from my occasional 'ouches' and wincing.
"Faaris, I'm gonna ask you something to keep my mind off everything. Okay?" I said.
"Okay.." he replied, nodding.
"You know how I call you 'Faaru'? And Baba called my 'Fal'?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Well, I was wonde... AAAHH!!" I suddenly screamed.
"Are you okay, Falak?" Faaris asked, his head abruptly turning towards me and then back to the road.
"Yeah... but it hurts!" I exclaimed in pain, clenching my teeth.
"We're almost there, jaan." He said.
I'm sure I heard him muttering that why couldn't we have gotten a house neighbouring the hospital.
Faaris we being even more desperate than me and we had been in the car for barely five minutes!
"So, I was wondering why do you always call me 'Falak' and not by nickname?" I asked my question, though this time I had my eyes tightly shut and my teeth clenched. I had tightly grabbed my Kameez(1) and was trying my very best to ignore the immense pain.
I... Ah! Here we are! Finally." Faaris said with relief.
He drove to the guard and identified himself. He also showed his Army service card. We were let in and he drove to the emergency instead of the parking.
Faaris got out, leaving me there and ran into the building. He emerged only moments later with a nurse and a wheelchair. I was taken inside and to the maternity ward.
After ten long hours, finally, our dear son was born. My parents in law had also arrived in Gujrawala and soon Faaris, Ammi and Abbu were allowed in my room.
Looking at my family, I felt content. There were so few people in my family. We were a total of five, yet I knew I was,loved. I knew Ammi and Abbu both adored me.
I was exhausted, but I'm sure my face was glowing with happiness. So was Faaris's.
Once everyone was inside, the moment of truth had arrived. We had to name the baby. I was still pretty adamant on naming my son Hamza. The name sounded so cool!
"I have one last suggestion. If Falak doesn't like that, then we can name him Hamza." Faaris declared when he was seated beside on the hospital bed. We had already taken a few pictures and had successfully captured the first moments of the baby on film.
"Okay. What do you suggest?" I said in return.
"Haider."
"Ma sha Allah! A beautiful name. What do you say Fatima?" Abbu said, looking at his wife.
"Yes. It is lovely, but so is Hamza." She agreed.
"It's your call, Jaan." Faaris said to me as he took the baby from my arms.
At that moment, I felt something strong. For some reason, I knew I had to listen to Faaris.
"Haider it is!" I exclaimed with an ear to ear grin and when I saw Faaris's huge smile, I knew it was worth it.
My little family was complete!
*** ***
A single tear rolls down Falak's cheek and then many follow.
"Ammi.. don't cry." Haider tells his mother, wiping her tears.
"I can't help it. Everything was so beautiful. You were beautiful. You were a mini Faaris. And now, you are a ditto copy of him!" Falak exclaims.
Haider laughs.
"I guess Abbu is lucky to have a clone, then."
"He is, Haider, he is." Falak replies with a serene smile.
***
GLOSSARY
(1)Kameez: a long tunic worn by many people from South Asia, typically with a salwar or churidars.
***
YOU ARE READING
His Land Called
Spirituelles-Complete- He was her guide, And she was his darling. He was her rock, And she was his home. He was her ease, And she was his joy. He was her love, And she was his world, But he was a man with a duty, And he had to answer when his land called. ▪•▪•...
