My Blue Orange [COMPLETED]

Chapter 2

I'm writing after a long time. My brother Zaid is now in Kuwait with Musa. They are running a successful chain of hotels. Zaid is calling me there too. I'm going to be there new designer for the new hotel they are anticipating to launch.

In this span of four years I've gained and loosed a lot. My father died a year ago leaving us in despair. He didn't like the idea of Zaid in Kuwait. He wanted him to stay here in his native country and make his degree productive.

Zaid on the other hand wanted to do a business and he is now what he wanted to be. A perfect business man. Musa and Zaid are friends since childhood. And they still preferred eachother's company rather than adding some other fifth wheel.

Mum is deteriorating too but she has me and Zaki. We try our best to cheer her up every now and then but we can't hide from the reality, a little peek at it surely shakes us to the core. She is diagnosed with hepatitis C and that totally revolved our world upside down.

'I want you get settled.', she said while I gave her the pills.

I stayed quiet not knowing what to say. The idea of marriage always gave me goosebumps. I mean seriously it's a big step. 

'Zasha!'

'Mum'

'Are you listening to me?'

'Yes.'

'Then what do you say?', she gave me the glass back.

'Mum its very soon.'

'Ohh no, I had Zonia and Zaid in my lap at your age--', she started again. I listened to her rant for what seemed hours. I didn't want to shut her. She only had me to talk to now. Even Zaki was taking care of his office too. He had work.

'Ok fine but where are you going to find a guy for me?'

'I just need your affirmation. There are many families in our circle asking for you. I kept telling them to wait. There must be few left now. I'll ask them to come.'

'And you're talking as if there's a whole queue waiting up for me mum.', I laughed it off. Seriously, she must be feeling sleepy.

'Sleep now I've got work to do.', I pulled the duvet on her frame and turned off the light.

Tomorrow was last date of submission and I had to complete my assignment tonight. I opened the cap of marker and that's when my phone chimed. Zonia. 

What the--

She must have to tell me something about that nasty beast. I received the call.

'Assalamoalaikum.', I said deliberately sounding tired.

'Zasha.', she sounded weak.

'Hey you okay? You sound low.', I got worried.

'He's not home. I've been calling him for an hour, I can't take this anymore these contractions are getting worse.', she shrieked at the end making me jump. God!

'I umm so urrrghh, is it time?', I whispered slowly into the phone.

'I guess. Please come.'

*************

I called Dawar a lot but he didn't pick it up. I rushed my sister to the hospital. She was howling all the way to the hospital. 

'Why can't you drive faster?', she was shouting like a maniac in the car. 

Boy! Her pain looked genuine. She clutched my arm and the handle above her head. Either my arm or that handle would give away. Her nail dug deep in my skin. I hissed and that was my biggest mistake tonight.

'It hurts you huh? You can't even imagine what I'm going through Zash.', 

'Why are you not answering me?' 

'I'm not a fool here'

'Look at me'

'Where the hell is Dawar?'

With all those howlings and shoutings we reached the hospital. She was practically slapping  her head and pulling her hair by now. The doctors immediately took her to the delivery room. I waited outside, heard her cries. 

Six years after her marriage she was going to be blessed with a baby. I prayed for their health. I saw her despair whenever she came across children somewhere. Thankfully now she was going to have her own.

'Zasha.'

I looked up and was confronted with a familiar face.

'Where were you? I've been calling you--'

'Where is she?', he cut me amidst my rant looking serious.

'They've taken her inside.', I looked down not knowing what more to say.

He slumped onto the chair and raked a hand through his hair. He looked distressed. I sat there leaving a chair between us. He looked at me and the space between us. It looked like he was going to burn the chair between us with his eyes.

He rubbed his hands together then again looked at me. It was past midnight and there was no sign of human life in the corridor. I prayed for Zaki to come faster. It felt cold. The ticking of clock mingled with mild horns on the road outside made my situation even worse. It looked like a horror movie.

Why is it always me?

He kept staring as if feeding himself, smiling slightly at god knows what. Must be enjoying his nasty secret joke.

Jerk

I stood up and walked towards the end of corridor. 

Where is Zaki? 

I was about to pass a turn when I felt him behind me. I turned around and he was there. As expected. I walked backward and thankfully saw Zaki talking with the receptionist. I ran up to him. And looked behind. He was coming to us. 

'You're here too?', he asked Zaki looking appalled.

Here you go prick. Yes he's here can't you see.

Zaki shook his hand and nodded. He didn't like Dawar too. Zaki moved towards the corridor and I followed his steps. We sat on the chairs together but this time it was Zaki between us. 

'It's a girl.', the doctor emerged from the room and congratulated us. She handed me the little bundle of joy who was yawning showing her red tongue.

Ohh my god she is so small. Wait, she is way too smaller than a baby should be. Something is wrong??

'That's how babies are?', Dawar said looking at his girl with a look that I've never seen before.

'Aloud?', I turned to Zaki and mouth asked him. He laughed and nodded his head.

I heard her small cry and looked down. She got red and flailed her small hands. She then started crying loudly breaking the silence of the whole corridor. Dawar took her from my embrace and cooed her. He looked like a perfect father right now.

I headed into the room to see Zonia. She smiled at me. An exhausted smile. We chatted when Dawar and Zaki entered the room. He handed the baby to her and she kissed her nose. 

God! I'm already in love with her. Can't wait to have mine too.

'Easy babes.', Zaki whispered and I blushed beatroot. 

Why am I saying my thoughts aloud.

It's happening a lot today.