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*

Jasmina

After my mother-in-law called me to tell me about what Ahad Bhai did to Fawad, and after she asked me to choose between my brother and husband, I headed to the balcony to think things through. The view of the hills overlooking Islamabad was peaceful and relaxing, yet it did nothing to calm my inner turmoil.

I was fuming with Ahad Bhai, furious, but could I cut off from him completely? How was I even being asked to choose between my husband and brother?

"Jasmina, I told you to keep your phone with you." Ammi's voice made me turn. "Fawad called." Her brows furrowed. "What's going on, Jasmina? My instincts say that something is wrong? Did you two have an argument?

"No, it's nothing like that." I didn't want to tell her about what Ahad Bhai did. Clearly she didn't know, and I didn't want to worry her further, considering that she was already stressed about her brother.

She held out my phone, and I glanced down at it as if it was an unfamiliar object. "Jasmina, call him." 

I took the phone, nodding. "I will, Ammi." 

She patted my shoulder before heading back into the house.

*

Fawad

"So, how does it feel to be a patient for a change?" 

I was just passing the nurse's station, heading out to where Papa was waiting outside in the car. A familiar voice stopped me.

I looked over at the desk and saw Kinza Khan sitting there, smiling up at me. She was a nurse in her first year here, and had returned from Boston a few months ago, where she had completed her nursing education. With an almost pale brown pair of eyes and straight dark brown hair with gold streaks and a fringe, I begrudgingly had to admit that she was very pretty. I immediately mentally chastised myself for thinking that. I have a gorgeous wife, Ma Sha Allah. I shouldn't even be thinking this way about another woman.

"It feels annoying." I grinned. "I get impatient if I ever have to be a patient."

She rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. I ended up with food poisoning a few months back in Boston. I was already not drinking enough liquids, so I was quite dehydrated due to which they kept me at the hospital overnight. Nightmare, I'm telling you."

"As a nursing student, you should know about the importance of remaining hydrated." I leaned against the nursing station desk.

"My Ammi didn't let it go, don't worry. She still tells me off for it."

"Yeah, it's a desi mother thing, no matter how old you are." I chuckled.

Speaking of mothers, I spotted mine coming down the hall towards me. She had a weird expression on her face.

"Ammi, this is Kinza." I introduced them. "Kinza, this is my mother, Dr Fatima."

"Assalam Alaikum." Kinza smiled warmly at her.

"Walaikum Assalam." My mother studied her face thoughtfully. "Are you new here?" 

"Sort of. I joined a couple of months ago." Kinza replied.

"What made you choose this hospital?" Ammi looked genuinely interested.

"My family has a home in DHA nearby, so this hospital is the closest to my home. Plus, it's one of the best hospitals in Lahore." 

"Are you married, or do you live with your parents?" Ammi's words made me shake my head.

"Ammi, what are you doing?" I sighed. "I'm  sorry about this Kinza." 

The young nurse looked unfazed. "It's okay, Dr Fawad. And no, I'm not married yet. I live with my parents."

"Ammi, shall we go? Papa must be waiting." I smiled politely at Kinza. "Allah Hafiz, Kinza." Grabbing Ammi's arm gently, I led her away. "Why did I get the feeling that you were looking for someone's rishta?" I asked when we were out of Kinza's earshot. 

She laughed. "Whose rishta would I be looking for?" 

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Ammi, I don't know what you're planning, but I don't have a good feeling about it, so please, for the love of Allah, stop matchmaking." 

"You don't trust your own mother, mere bachay." 

I let it go for now. However, I couldn't help thinking that this was all connected to the fact that Ahad Sheikh had put me in this state.

*

Arhaan called me as soon as we'd arrived back at my parents' house.

"Assalam Alaikum." I answered the phone.

"Walaikum Assalam, Bhai! At least you're still answering my call."  He sounded relieved.

"You wish you could get rid of me that easily, Sheikh." I chuckled. "How is Uncle holding up? Did you tell Aunty yet?" 

"Papa's stressed, unsurprisingly. Ahad's not welcome back home. He has crossed his limits seriously. We haven't told Ammi yet though; she's already concerned about Mamu's health." 

"Have you spoken to Jasmina?" I asked the question that was bothering me. She still hadn't called me back.

"No. I don't know how to face her, knowing that Ahad did that to you in my presence."

"You can't blame yourself, Sheikh." 

"I can't help it." He sighed. "He's my brother, and I couldn't step in." 

"Look, Sheikh. We all know how hot-tempered Ahad is, and when he loses it, it's hard to control him. Don't blame yourself." 

"I have no idea how Jazzy is going to take this. She's going to flip out." 

"It's best that she doesn't find out until she gets back."

After speaking to Arhaan for a while, I showered to get rid of the hospital germs, and then headed to bed for a nap. The aftereffects of the medication were still there, causing drowsiness.

I woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating on the bedside table, God knows how long later.

Turning onto my back, I reached for the phone and squinted at it. 

Mina.

I answered immediately. "Assalam Alaikum, Mina. Where have you been?"

"Walaikum Assalam." Her voice sounded strange.

"Are you okay?" 

There was a brief silence.

"Would you care to explain, or do I not even deserve that?" I rubbed a hand over my eyes, rubbing away the sleep. "You haven't been answering my calls or messages."

"We'll speak when I'm back in Lahore, In Sha Allah."

"No, I want an explanation now, Jasmina." I snapped. "I've had no contact from you for a while now, and you still expect me to wait until you get here."

"Fawad..."

"Jasmina, please."

"I know about what Ahad Bhai did to you, Fawad, and I just can't face you right now." 

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Who told you? How do you know?" 

"That's irrelevant..."

I sighed. "Did Ammi call you?" I knew that my mother tended to act impulsively when it came to me and my sister. She was extra emotional, overprotective when it came to us.

"Why didn't you tell me?" 

"Mina, you went there with your mother to check on your unwell Mamu. How was I supposed to add to your stress?" 

"This is important too, Fawad! I should have known about it immediately! You were in the hospital, for God's sake!" She sounded very upset.

"Mina..."

"And then Aunty basically asked me to choose between you and Ahad Bhai! I know that he wronged you, but isn't that a little extreme? I'm furious at my brother, and I don't think I'll be speaking to him for a while, but to completely cut off from him?" 

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I don't expect that from you, Mina. I would never ask you to cut yourself off from Ahad." I paused, and when she didn't say anything, I continued. "We should be talking face to face, not like this."

"I'm coming back to Lahore soon, In Sha Allah."

"Any estimate as to when?" 

"Maybe the day after tomorrow. I'll ask Ammi." 

"Let me know." I said.

"I will. But Aunty..." 

"You and Ammi are going to be the death of me one day." I was exhausted, irritated and I felt a sudden need to punch a wall. Feeling unable to further bear this constant tug-of-war between them, I ended the call. Ammi just needed an excuse to blame Mina and the Sheikh family. And Mina, despite my reassurances, always allowed Ammi's words to cause her anxiety. 

*

"Ammi ki mujhe samajh nahin aati." Fariha shook her head.

*"I don't understand Ammi." 

I'd found her downstairs, and we were now having coffee together. 

"Why is she punishing Bhabi for what Ahad did?" She sat cross-legged on the arm char in the living room, while I sat on the sofa, holding my coffee mug between both my hands.

"She just needs an excuse to blame Mina or her family, and Ahad gave her the perfect excuse.." I took a sip and felt relieved as the warm liquid flowed down my throat.

"Ahad's behave was inexcusable though, Bhai."

"She cannot punish Mina for it though."

"I know." 

I leaned back against the sofa, staring at the family photos lined up on one of the living room walls. "I'm so tired of constantly convincing her to let go of the resentment that was created within her on that mehndi night. Everything that happened was written that way, and the important thing is that it all worked out well. Yet, she just can't completely get rid of the resentment." Finishing my coffee, I stood up. "Thanks for this, Fari. This was much needed." Even I had no idea whether I meant the coffee, or the fact that she'd let me vent to her.

"Anytime." She smiled at me, finally looking like her former, happier self. Ever since she'd married Umair, she'd lost a considerable amount of weight, even after two kids. There were dark circles under her eyes, and she constantly looked exhausted and much older than she was. Ever since she had left him, she'd looked much healthier, with pink cheeks and twinkling eyes that had a hint of mischievousness in them. She looked like my baby sister again. "Look, Ammi loves you so much, and she also loves Bhabi. Our mother's a tough one, but she'll come around. You'll see, In Sha Allah."

I nodded. "I hope so. I hate being caught between them constantly." 

"Yes, it must suck to be loved so much by both." She giggled teasingly.

"Shut up, Fairy." 

*

Jasmina

Two days later, I stood outside our flat in Lahore. Ammi's driver had dropped me off home straight from Islamabad, before continuing along to take my mother back to my family home. I was relieved to see his car parked in the car parking downstairs.

I lightly knocked on the front door, and for a second I wondered if he would have even heard that. Not only did I have to apologise to him for what my brother did, but I also had to give him our life-changing news. I had contradicting emotions fighting a battle within me, each eager to remain superior to the other. 

The door opened a few moments later, and my rib cage was seriously struggling to control my heart at the sight of him. Freshly shaved and dressed in a shalwar kameez, he looked like a hero of a Pakistani film or TV show. Every part of me struggled not to throw myself at him. He was probably not happy with me after what Ahad Bhai did, and I wasn't sure that making out was the right thing to do right now.

"Assalam Alaikum." I spoke uncertainly.

"Walaikum Assalam. I was wondering when you'd make an appearance, Mrs. Jasmina Fawad." He gave me a small smile, his tone flirtatious.

I blinked. "Huh?" Why was he flirting with me? He should be annoyed at me, for the way I'd gone back to my parents' house, and for what Ahad Bhai did. This was not what I was expecting! It was like walking into an audition and being asked to improvise a scene, completely different from the script given.

Grabbing my hand gently, he pulled me inside, closing the door behind us. Then he took a step closer so that my back was pressed against the front door. I was breathing hard as I stared up at him, feeling like I'd entered an alternative reality. He smelled good, like soap and ittar.

I wore white wide-legged trousers and a petal pink kurta. My hair was in a braid which was now messy as I had fallen asleep during the long car ride, and I'd chosen not to apply any make-up. "Are you okay, Fawad?" I studied his face carefully.

"I'm okay, don't worry." He softly pressed his lips against my forehead, and I clutched at his biceps, trying my best to control my desire. "You've no idea how much I've missed you, Mina."

Maybe I'm still asleep in the car, and I'm dreaming? This isn't right. We are due an argument, or some sort of clash. I pressed my hand against his chest and lightly pushed him away. "I feel disgusting. I need to shower first." 

Dazed, I headed down the hall towards our bedroom.

"I'll see you in a while." He called after me.

I turned to face him. "Are you going somewhere?" 

"To the masjid for my Nikah with my second wife." He winked at me before turning to go.

"What?"

He chuckled as he opened the door and left. 

Did I hit my head somewhere? Why is he being so... nice?

An annoyed husband should mean an inevitable argument, not flirting and teasing. 

What on earth is going on?

*

"Assalam Alaikum." I opened the door and stepped aside, immediately catching the scent of biryani. My stomach growled immediately. "Wow, I'm starved." We had stopped over to get something to eat on the drive back from Islamabad, but I guess my appetite had grown due to obvious reasons.

"Walaikum Assalam." Fawad pecked my lips as he began to move pasts me. "So am I." With a wink, he headed into the kitchen, seemingly setting my cheeks on fire by the innuendo.

"Should I be congratulation you on the second Nikah?" 

He grinned at me as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink, before taking out the plates. "Yeah, you should. In fact, I've just dropped her off at my other flat."

I was getting more and more confused by his behaviour every second that passed by, so I decided to be direct. "Okay, drop the act. Start the yelling." 

He opened the container of biryani, and the aroma floated towards me, making my stomach growl. 

"Why aren't you mad at me?" I snapped, frustrated. "The way I left for my parents' house... and then Ahad Bhai..." 

He looked amused. "Are you mad that I'm not angry at you?" 

"Yes! This isn't normal behaviour, even for Dr Calm, like yourself!" 

"Try this." He took a spoonful of rice and held it out. "Arhaan and I accidentally discovered this place a while ago. How delicious is this?" 

Still sulking, I opened my mouth and he fed me. I groaned at the deliciousness that seemed to make my taste buds dance in excitement.

"Nice?" He smiled, as he stepped up really close to me.

"Are you trying to make me feel guilty or something?" I asked. "Because if you are, it's definitely working." 

He just continued to smile.

*

"Seriously, why aren't you mad at me?" That evening, after a long nap, I was now lying on the living room sofa, my head resting on his lap.

"Why is it actually bothering you that I'm not angry?" He chuckled, running his fingers through my hair.

"Because it feels like that we should have had an argument."

"Under which law?"

"The Marriage Law." I sat up, my hair falling around my face, and sat on my knees to face him.

Tell him.

Not yet.

Tell him.

How?

Tell him!

I have no idea how to! 

"Tell me something, Mina." He grabbed my hand. "Would you rather be sitting in your room at your parents' house right now, upset and angry, while I'm in the same state here? Or would you rather be here right now, as we are, happy and peaceful?" 

"Well, obviously happy and peaceful. But..."

He put a finger on my lips. "Shh. Stop looking for problems unnecessarily, Mina."

I was too adamant. "Nope. I'm going to be restless until we talk about this."

"I know you are." He sighed, turning a little so that he was facing me. "Fine, let's talk."

"Look, I owe you an apology." I rubbed a thumb over his knuckles, not meeting his gaze. "I was wrong to discuss your relatives in such a mocking manner, and to make matters worse, I headed to my parents' house. I didn't even stop when you suggested that we come back home and talked. I acted immaturely, and I'm sorry about that." 

"Mina, we already discussed that."

"Not face-to-face." I bit my lower lip. "And then Ahad Bhai..."

"Look, Ahad is having a difficult time right now, so I'd rather not discuss that."

"He caused the difficult time!" I was so annoyed. 

"I don't hold any grudge against him."

"You should! He behaved like a monster!" 

"I just want to leave it at that, Mina. I don't want to drag this on any further."

Sometimes I wished that I could be as forgiving as he was. 

*

I'd an appointment booked for a gynaecologist the next morning, because I wanted confirmation from the doctor before I found a special way to break the news to my husband.

It was hours later, when Dr Khan called me to confirm the news. "Congratulations, Jasmina. I can confirm your pregnancy based on the tests you took earlier this morning." 

I was still finding it hard to believe. Pregnant. Like, with a baby.

Umm... what else would I be pregnant with, you weirdo?

I paced around the bedroom, waiting for that husband of mine to return from work. "It feels like a prank by the doctor. It doesn't seem real." 

Yeah, because the gynaecologist has nothing better to do than to prank her patient! 

I put my hands over my stomach. "I wish you luck, kid. You have me as your mother. We're both lucky that at least Fawad is sensible." I felt a mixture of emotions: nervousness, excitement, confusion an a happiness that was of an unexpectedly large quantity.

My baby.

Our baby.

"Get home, doctor." My eyes drifted to the clock on the wall. It was almost eleven at night.

I sat own on the bed, resting against the headboard, and I was just drifting off when I heard the front door unlock down the hall. I jumped off the bed, taking a deep breath, my heart racing in my chest. A few moments later, Fawad appeared in the doorway of our bedroom, and I just rushed up to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. "Assalam Alaikum!" 

"Walaikum Assalam!" Taken by surprise, it took a couple of seconds for him to wrap his arms around me. "Very happy to see me, are you?" 

I tilted my head back and looked up at him. He had an amused smile on his face, an his gaze on me was adoring. "I was bored." 

"Right, and I'm just your entertainment?" He kissed my forehead. "Let me wash up, jaan." He gently pulled away and headed into the bathroom after setting his things on the bedside table.

I sat back down on the bed, casually grabbing his phone. As I pressed the home button, I was surprised to see my photo as his wallpaper. It was the one taken by a professional photographer at Arhaan Bhai's wedding, with me wearing my rose gold lehenga. I was a candid photo, where I was smiling at someone out of view of the camera. I have to admit, that's a good photo of me. I set his phone back down.

He came back out, shirt unbuttoned, and headed straight to the wardrobe. I nervously went over to him and circled my arms around his waist from behind, my finger brushing the bare skin of his stomach.

"What happened?" He asked, softly. "You don't want t let go of me today." He turned around and I pressed my forehead against his chest, breathing in his scent.

The father of my baby.

"Main aapse bohat mohabbat karti hoon." I kissed his chest.

*"I love you a lot." 

"Main bhi aapse bohat mohabbat karta hoon, jaan." He raise an eyebrow. "Seriously, what happened? Did you watch a romantic film or something today?" 

"Are you complaining?" I put my hands on my hips.

"Definitely not." He kissed my cheek. "But I need to have my shower, and then we can sit down and talk... or whatever my wife wants to do." He grabbed his clothes from the wardrobe.

I was getting sleepy as I waited for him and briefly considered breaking the news to him tomorrow, but I was too excited and impatient. I scrolled through my phone to keep myself awake until he came out.

*

When Fawad finally got into bed beside me, I was struggling so badly to keep my eyes opened that he noticed.

"Why are you fighting sleep, yaar?" He asked, propping up on an elbow and looking at me.

I was still leaning against the headboard. "I was waiting for you." I slid down to lie on my back, turning my head to look at him.

"We'll have plenty of time to spend together tomorrow." He placed his hand on my cheek.

To my own disappointment, I started to doze off, but a short while later, as I watched him scrolling through his phone, I turned my back to him and reached out for my own phone. It was now or never- well, not really, but this was a good opportunity.

<Jasmina: Hi, Papa. 😊>

I heard his light chuckle behind me.

<Fawad: Jaan, you must really be sleepy because you texted me instead of your father.>

I pursed my lips to stop a shy smile from spreading over my face.

<Jasmina: If I meant to text him, I would be writing 'Nana Jaan', not 'Papa'.>

He inhaled sharply, and didn't say anything for a few moments. "What do you mean, Mina?"

I turned onto my back again and patted my stomach. "The next generation, huh? Texting before they're even born." 

I couldn't directly meet his gaze and my cheeks felt like they were on fire.

"Mina, are you...?" 

I looked into his eyes now and nodded shyly.

Sitting up suddenly, he pulled me into his arms and I shrieked with laughter.

"Fawad!" I giggled as he started kissing me all over.

"We're going to be parents, In Sha Allah?" His gaze ran all over my face. "Jaan, are you sure?" 

I nodded. "I had it confirmed with the doctor this morning. I wanted to be sure before..."

His lips pressed against mine, interrupting me. For a long while, we just remained there in each other's arms, kissing. My hands ran up his bare torso, eagerly exploring his muscular built. Are these the famous pregnancy hormones, because suddenly, I want him so much! Or maybe I'm just feeling so much more in love knowing that we were about to have a baby together.

I rested my head on his chest, our hands clasped.

"Are you ready for it?" He asked sleepily, kissing the top of my head.

"I am. I had enough time to think things through." 

We lay in silence for a while.

"Are you sleepy?" I asked, even my whisper seeming too loud in our quiet room.

"Hmm..." 

"Well, I'm not anymore. I'm too excited!" I grinned.

"Can this excitement be continued tomorrow?" 

"Fawad!" I protested, looking up at him.

His eyes were closed and his breath was starting to even out.

I sighed, turning my back towards him. 

I lay awake for a long time, imagining what our baby would be like, and all other future scenarios relating to him or her.

*

I woke up in bed alone. 

I rushed to the bathroom for my usual round of morning sickness, before performing the morning routine. 

I'd just come out of the bathroom, twisting my long hair in a loose bun, when I noticed Fawad standing in the other doorway of the bedroom. His arms were crossed over his still bare chest, and he was smiling fondly at me.

"What?" 

"You're pregnant." His smile grew wider.

"Did you just realise that? Or did you think that last night was a dream?" I giggled.

"I did think that, but then I read your messages again... and again... and again." 

And suddenly, in the light of the day, I felt incredibly shy. It was easier to do this when I was sleepy and it was night. I dropped my gaze and walked over to tidy up the bed. I felt his hands on my hips a few moments later, startling me. I hadn't realised when he'd walked over. "Fawad." 

"Shh." Gently pulling me towards himself, he then wrapped his arms around me as I turned to face him. "Let me love you and pamper you today."  

"Just today?" I teased him.

"For the rest of my life." He scooped me up into his arms.

"What are you doing?" I gasped out.

Carrying me out of the bedroom, he took me into the kitchen and set me down on a chair at the kitchen table. "Your breakfast is almost ready, Mrs Fawad." 

I glanced over at the kitchen counter and saw toast with scrambled eggs, and a pot of yoghurt with some fruit, along with a glass of orange juice. He grabbed the tray and set it onto the kitchen table in front of me. "Wow, I can get use to this." I grinned as he took a seat opposite me, with a mug of coffee for himself. "Aren't you going to eat something?" 

"I've been up a while, so I had breakfast already."

"Thank you for this." I broke a bit of toast and scooped some egg onto it before putting it into my mouth.

"Don't flatter yourself. It's for the baby." He teased me.

"You know, you're more than welcome to sleep in the other bedroom tonight. It would be good for the baby if I get as much space on the bed as possible."

"Okay, fine. Point taken." He chuckled. Suddenly, he turned serious. "I'm going over to the family home tomorrow to talk to Ammi." 

"About?" 

"About how she shouldn't have asked you to choose between me and Ahad."

As angry as I was with my mother-in-law, I would rather avoid the drama. I didn't want to cause any problems. They were, after all, my family too. 

"We'll both talk to her, Fawad, I'll tell her that I won't forgive Bhai until he asks you for forgiveness, but I cannot cut off from him forever." 

"She shouldn't even have asked you that. I know that she was upset about me, but this isn't the solution. I really have to talk to her." 

*

MATURE SCENE

That evening, while Fawad wasn't yet back from work, I stood in front of the full length mirror in the bedroom, in my bra and pyjama trousers. My gaze was directed at my midriff. The gentle curve of my stomach gave no indication that there was a baby inside. I could sense no change in my body, in my belly, but I suppose it was still an early stage.

"You're so beautiful, Ma Sha Allah!"

I whirled around with a gasp. "A-Assalam Alaikum." 

"Walaikum Assalam." With a suit jacket folded over one arm, and a laptop bag in his other arm, Fawad stood in the doorway of our room. Today, he'd been attending a course for cardio-something surgery. He set his laptop bag and suit jacket on the bed, before unbuttoning his shirt and walking into the bathroom.

I picked up his laptop bag and suit jacket, before placing the former in the wardrobe and hanging the latter on a hanger, also inside the wardrobe.

I was just pulling back the duvet, ready to get into bed, when he came back out. He strode straight over to me and slid a hand over my stomach, pressing me against himself.

His hand on my stomach sent waves of desire through me.

"So. Beautiful." He repeated, leaning down to kiss my neck, my shoulders, and my jawline. "Pregnant with my baby." 

"Fawad..."

"Tonight, no outside drama. No grudges, no resentments. Tonight it's just you and me." 

I felt butterflies in my stomach as his thumb caressed the area just underneath my navel, the softest of touches that seemed to his reflect his utter adoration for our unborn baby.

I turned in his arms, looking up at him. His lips found mine in a sweet reunion, his hands on my waist. 

Pleasure coursed through my body. I felt myself tremble, in fact, with the need to be close to him.

We made love that night, our beautiful bond heightened to a whole new level with the news of the impending arrival of the baby that we had created together. 

Our love had deepened, our relationship had strengthened, and I felt utterly thrilled at the idea of being the mother of Fawad Ali's child.

He was my true love, my soulmate, and now we were going to have a tiny little life, a new soul, that would reflect our love for each other. It was a surreal feeling.

May Allah keep my baby under His protection, and may He safely bring him or her into the world, in good health. Ameen.

May Allah give Fawad a long and healthy life, filled with happiness and success. Ameen.

*

Fawad is clearly thrilled at the news!

Will Fatima's anger melt when she eventually finds out about Jasmina's pregnancy?

Favourite part?

Thoughts and comments?

Thank you for reading and don't forget to vote!