Life Under the Hijab | ✔

Epilogue

Ten years later...

Zaynub Khalid

"Mommy! Mommy! Help me!" shrieked my five year old daughter, Aanisah.

Aanisah ran to me and hid behind my legs. I smiled down at her.

"What is it?"

"Baba is trying to tickle me," she whispered.

I laughed and turned back to making eggs. Zakir loved to mess with our kids. When our eldest, Tahera, was born, Zakir was nervous about just holding her. He thought he would drop her, but eventually he took the father role like a natural. I admit when Tahera was born we were both stressed out, especially since we moved to live on our own.

"Aanisah, where are you?" called Zakir.

Aanisah made the mistake of giggling and Zakir spotted her. He grabbed her and threw her up in the air. Aanisah squealed while Zakir laughed.

"Shh. You'll both wake up Badr," I told them quietly.

Badr was my one and only son. He was three years old and a big trouble maker. He reminded me a lot of Zakir from when we were younger.

Suddenly, you could hear the cries of Badr. Man, he really wasn't a morning person. I sighed and just when I was about to walk over to his room, Zakir stopped me.

"Here, I'll do it," he said while pecking me on the cheek.

As Zakir walked away, Aanisah flopped herself on the couch.

"Mommy! I'm bored!" she whined.

"Why don't you go call Tahera for breakfeast? We need to hurry and eat so we can go to your grandparents house," I said.

Aanisah jumped to it and ran up the stairs. She looked almost exactly like Zakir. She had his complexion and those mischievous dark eyes. She even had his famous smirk mastered.
Tahera had hazel eyes, which was a recessive gene, and my golden tan skin. Zakir said she was the mini version of me.

"Looks like someone is a little grumpy today," chuckled Zakir while coming into the room.

I turned around to face him and laughed at Badr's face. He had his sleepy face on. His eyes were puffy and he was openly glaring at Zakir and I.

"What's wrong, Bebe? Did Mummy and Daddy disturb your sleep," I grinned.

He looked at me once and then buried his face into his father's shoulder. It was surprising that Zakir managed to keep his muscular form even after ten years.

"Mom! Aanisah messed with my paints again! Those were my favorite too," pouted Tahera.

"I promise I'll buy you new paints, and Aanisah how many times have I told you not to touch your sister's stuff?" I sighed.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"Now hurry up and eat so we can go."

* * * *

"Zakir! Zaynub!" squealed Hajar.

"Hey little sis," I grinned.

"Oh my gosh! Badr is so big!"

I laughed. Amu hugged me and nodded her head at Zakir.

"Zakir, what's up? Long time no see," said Amir.

"Yeah, man. We're getting older everyday. Gotta keep those tabs on each other you know?" sighed Zakir.

"Uncle Zakir! Guess what? I got an amazing writer award at school!" exclaimed Uthman.