Pious Or Profane | ✔

#12 - Fate

A new chapter as promised. Enjoy!

Don't forget to vote and comment, I'll really appreciate it.

~***~

Time passed and I got to mend the relationship between me and my mother-in-law. She got better in no time with my persistence. I never allowed her to move whenever I went to see her which was exactly what the doctor had recommended. Father was very happy with me as I helped everyone around me.

Months had passed when one day I got the call from my brother about Daniya appi's delivery. She had gone into early labor. I was ecstatic to meet the new baby. I told Ahmad about and got a cab to the hospital since he was very busy.

"I can't believe my grand baby is about to be born. I just hope everything go okay." I could see the sheer happiness on mom's face. She looked as if about to burst in tears with joy. After waiting for an hour more, the doctor gave us the news of a healthy baby boy and also told that Daniya was alright. I hugged my mom tightly as I took in the happy news.

"Let's go see the baby." Bhai came and ushered us to the nursery where the baby was resting. We all crowded over the new born as he adjusted with the world around him.

I couldn't help my tears when I put my fingers in between his loose grip. He tightened his fingers around me that triggered my emotions. I could sit there watching the little soul all day.

Mom carried him in his arms and slightly kissed him. Bhai had already gone over with the practice. He had said azaan in little guy's ears. We all wanted to take him home but the doctor insisted they'd stay for two more days; mom and the baby both. She said it was nothing to worry about; it was just to run regular tests on them to make sure nothing was wrong.

~***~

"I want a baby." Ahmad said abruptly when we were having dinner later that night. He had picked me up from the hospital after visiting his new born nephew.

I choked on my food and coughed to get my breath even. I avoided his graze.

"What's wrong? Is it not what you want?" He put down the spoon and looked me in the eye. I blushed harder than ever.

I had no courage to say that it was what I had wanted all along. I had the desire to hold my baby in my arms for so long that it hurts whenever I see someone else doing it. I cried partly on seeing the new baby and partly on not having one. I wanted to be happy for my brother and sister-in-law. But I also wanted to have the same happiness for myself too.

"I want one too." I don't know how but I did. Even after all the intimacy and frankness between us I couldn't say it before. But now I plucked up the courage to tell him what I wanted.

~***~

"Zaina, will you please help me with this?" Mom asked me. I looked up at my mother-in-law whom I called mom too now. She was looking at some cloths that were spread on her bed.

"What are you doing?" I asked with curiosity.

"I am looking at clothes for Sana for her 'jahaiz'." She told me and I quickly sat to look at the clothes.

"Mom, her wedding is not even in two years. It could take even more time." I argued with her.

"It is still not enough." She reasoned.

And we sat there for almost three hours selecting cloth to prepare for Sana's jahaiz. I was very tired when mom closed the suitcase where she kept all the clothes.

"Don't you get tired?" I asked rubbing my stiff neck.

"Of course not, mothers love doing these kinds of stuff for their children. You'll know when you have kids, which is soon I hope." She said hopefully. But when I avoided her gaze she stiffened.