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*

Yamna

"How are you holding up?" Rohaan kept glancing at me as he drove me to the hospital.

"Just focus on the road, Rohaan..." I groaned, placing my arm over my stomach.

"The baby wasn't even due till next week!" He almost sounded panicked.

"The baby is full term already, and the doctor said that we shouldn't be surprised if it decided to make an appearance earlier." I wanted to scream, but I started taking shallow breaths instead. No need startling him into breaking all speed laws of the country. "And d-don't worry... the midwife said it can take over twenty-four hours after my water breaks, for the baby to come." 

"Twenty-four hours?" His eyes widened in surprise.

"You know the classes I took with some ladies at the mosque?" I asked. "One lady said it took her forty hours. She was hospitalised because of the risk of infection, but yeah, it took her forty hours." 

"Bloody hell. No wonder Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers." He shook his head.

I smiled weakly. I'd already learnt that lesson throughout the pregnancy: the morning sickness in my early days, the aches, the pains, the swollen feet, the lack of proper sleep, the restlessness; it all added to why the status of a mother was so high in Islam. 

Yet, the worst was yet to come: the labour pain. 

Ya Allah, help me. I'm terrified.

*

A FEW HOURS LATER

My mother was playing Surah Maryam on her phone for me as I sat on the hospital bed.

I'd initially almost been sent back home, and asked to come back as it was too early. However, my pain had increased, and I was instantly taken to a room.

"How long now?" I groaned. With every passing second, I was getting more and more uncomfortable.

"Whenever the baby feels ready." Mama smiled, running a hand over my head.

"The baby just wants to sleep like Rohaan." I muttered.

"On a serious note, Allah has decreed a time for everything. Neither is the baby going to come any earlier than that, nor later." She held my hand. "This is the time when you need to have a lot of sabr, Sunshine." 

"I'm just praying that the baby comes out safely, and is healthy. Ameen." 

"May Allah give you both good health and long lives. Ameen." Mama kissed my forehead.

*

Rohaan

I almost dropped my phone with nervousness as I paced the waiting room.

"Rohaan!" Mama entered, her eyes wide. "How is she doing?" Papa followed behind her, looking almost amused as he saw my state.

"Mama." I hugged my mother tightly. "I feel so helpless. This waiting is so difficult." 

"The anxiety of a new dad. I'm very much familiar with it." Papa patted my back. "The best thing to do right now is make duas, kid." 

"Can I go and see her?" Mama asked.

"Yes, she's in the last room down the hall. Chachi's with her." I told her.

Mama headed out, and I took a few shallow breaths, trying to remain calm.

With a light chuckle, Papa wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "It's natural to be nervous. In Sha Allah, it will all go well, and soon you'll officially be a father yourself, and finally you'll realise what you've put me through." He smiled at me.

I laughed. "Yep, I'm expecting karma with full force." I walked over to the window and stared up at the stars visible in the night sky. 

My Chipmunk is about to enter this beautiful, yet simultaneously cruel, world. May my Chipmunk witness nothing but the best and most positive sides of this world. Ameen.

*

Arsu and Tahira were flying down from Manchester, while my sisters had already rushed over.

"I'm so excited!" Haya beamed. "I cannot wait to hold my bhateeja or bhateeji, In Sha Allah!"

"We're going to be Phuphos, In Sha Allah!" Hoor had a similar expression of excitement and joy on her face.

Haya glanced at the time on her phone. "When are Arsu Chachu and Tahira Chachi getting here?" 

"Their flight has landed, and they will be coming by Uber." Hoor replied. She turned to me as I sat beside her, resting my forearms on my knees, patting my back. "Ro, I know it's a stressful time, but In Sha Allah it will be okay." 

"Yamna cannot even stand the slightest of pain..." I muttered.

"Listen, you are underestimating the strength of a woman." Haya told me. "And this is one of the moments that she's the strongest." 

Suddenly, a nurse walked in. "Mr. Rohaan?" 

"Yes!" I stood up, quickly.

"It's time. Would you like to be in the delivery room with your wife?" The nurse asked.

I don't know why but I looked at Haya, letting my nerves show blatantly in my expressions.

She stood up and patted my arm, nodding. 

"I want to be in there." I composed my expression and turned back to the nurse.

"If Grasshopper arrives late, tell him that I'm going to kick his a*s." I told my siblings before I followed the nurse. 

My sisters laughed.

*

Yamna

I was crying, I was in pain. I didn't know what was happening.

I heard the reassuring voices of my doctor and midwife. I heard the loud duas that my mother was making. I heard Anabia Mama reassuring my mother.

Then I was wheeled out towards the delivery room. 

It was almost hilarious, but seeing a full medical team there freaked me out, rather than reassured me. "Why do you need so many people?! Is the baby okay?" 

"It's okay, honey. It's normal." Kathy, my midwife, told me. She then proceeded to introduce me to every single person and what their duty was, and I had a feeling that she was attempting to calm me down as everyone prepared me for the childbirth.

"Yamna." Dr. Melanie King, my obstetrician approached my bedside. "I know it's painful, I know it's uncomfortable, but I'd need you to follow our instructions through the delivery, okay? We're all here to take care of you and your baby, trust us." 

Suddenly Rohaan appeared, wearing scrubs and a surgical mask. "Yamna!" 

I looked at him, eyes filled with tears. "Don't leave my side."

He took my hand. "Never." 

I looked around at the nurses, the student midwives, my doctor and midwife. 

Dr. King moved to the foot of my bed and examined me. "Alright, it's time. Let's do this. You ready, Yamna?" She gave me a kind and reassuring smile.

No. I looked at Rohaan, who nodded at me. I turned back to the doctor. "Y-Yes."

Alright, Chipmunk. I'm ready to welcome you.

*

Rohaan

I have witnessed the most horrid crime scenes, but nothing had prepared me for this. 

Seeing Yamna in pain as she delivered our baby shook me to the core, but I remained strong for her. Not once did I let go of her hand. She was sweating, and tears were streaming down her face. It was an unimaginable pain, and I felt almost guilty that she was the only one who had to suffer it... not that I could do anything about it.

I leaned down. "I know that I can never feel what you're feeling, Yamna, but soon it'll be over, In Sha Allah. Chipmunk will be here very soon. Just hold on a little longer, okay?" 

"I... I can't..." She sobbed.

"Yamna, you have to keep going." Dr. King called out to her. "Not long now."

"I'm going to die." Yamna looked at me. "Don't let anything happen to my baby!"

"In Sha Allah, you both will be okay." My jaw was clenched as I spoke those words. The truth was that I was terrified for my wife and baby. Normally, I would never let Yamna risk her life or safety, but here she was, putting her life at the ultimate risk by delivering our child, like all mothers did. 

"Alright, Yamna." Kathy the midwife said. "One more time, and this might take a little more effort."

Yamna looked helplessly at me. 

"Chipmunk is stuck in an awkward position. You can't leave him or her like that, can you?" I spoke in a light, teasing tone. "Come on, Hamster. You can do this." 

Nodding, she closed her eyes and put all her effort it, crying out. The tears flowed endlessly down her cheek, and her knuckles were turning white from holding onto my hand so tightly. 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. I implore you, Ya Rabbil Alameen, to give good health and long lives to my wife and baby. May they remain under Your Protection throughout this childbirth, and throughout their lives. Ameen. 

I began to recite some supplications under my breath, fighting the urge to break down as I watched Yamna fight for her own life, as well as her baby's. 

You are the Creator, You are the Protector, Allah. Take care of Yamna as she takes this final step towards brining our baby into this world. Take care of my baby as it enters this whole new world. Protect my baby from the Shaiytaan, from all influences of evil. Ameen.

"Ya Allah!" Yamna gasped out.

And then we heard the tiny cry of a newborn baby. 

"Hi there, cutie." Kathy gently spoke as she spoke to the tiny little baby, who I couldn't see from here.

"Did...d-did I do it?" Yamna asked me, hopefully.

I nodded. "Yes, you did. Nice one, Hamster."

She laughed, even as she cried. "My baby. Chipmunk."

I glanced expectantly towards the doctor and the midwife. "Well?" 

"Congratulations, Yamna and Rohaan." The midwife smiled at us. "You now have a beautiful little baby girl."

A wide grin broke across my face, and I glanced down at Yamna, who was crying now, but still smiling. She looked back up at me and I leaned down to kiss her quickly.

"You've given me my world. I cannot thank you enough." I whispered to her.

"Well...you helped." She smiled weakly at me.

*

After they cleaned our baby girl, our daughter, up, she was brought around for some skin-to-skin contact with Yamna. 

A nurse gently placed the tiny baby on Yamna's bare chest. I watched in awe as the baby whined a little, but then seemed to find a sense of familiarity as she cuddled up against her Mama.

*

Yamna

Holding her was like a beautiful dream that I never wanted to wake up from. I couldn't believe that she was mine. She rested on my chest, her head covered with dark hair. Her eyes were open, and even from here I could see the strong Tariq family genes. At this time, she was a strong resemblance of both Rohaan and Tayan.

"Assalam Alaikum." I whispered to her. I stroked the back of her head with one hand. "My sweet little fairy, welcome to this world." I looked up at Rohaan. "Chipmunk is here, and she's a girl!"

He looked almost close to tears, as he watched us with an emotional smile. "I need to hold her, if that's okay."

I nodded, and he reached for her. He paused, frowning slightly, then stepped back. "What's wrong, Rohaan?"

"She's so tiny. I don't want to hold her. What if I hurt her?" He looked worried, displaying a rare vulnerability that was almost unexpected from Rohaan Rehan Tariq.

"Do you think that you can ever hurt her?" I asked.

"I'd die before I let that happen." He spoke with determination.

"Hold her, Rohaan. You can hold a gun, but not your own baby?" 

A nurse had returned, and she looked almost amused as she helped place the baby in Rohaan's arms.

I'd never, ever seen a more beautiful sight than my husband holding our baby daughter, our Chipmunk. He was right, she was tiny, and she seemed even smaller in his muscular arms.

*

Rohaan

The feeling of holding Miss. Chipmunk in my arms was beyond anything I'd ever felt. She was mine, my girl, my daughter, my love. 

"Adhan." Yamna reminded me.

I whispered the adhan in the baby's right ear, and the iqama in her left ear, as Papa had taught me.

A tear landed on her forehead, slipping despite my attempts to stop it. My baby daughter winced.

"I'm sorry." I whispered to her. "I just never realised that I could feel love on this level before."

She felt so fragile in my arms. I wanted to protect her from everything and anything. I'd fight anything or anyone for her. I'd protect her with my life. 

"We'll get you cleaned up, Yamna." The nurse told her. "Mr. Rohaan, the neonatologist wants to check up on the baby one time, and you two can reunite with her in the recovery room."

"Neonatologist? Everything okay?" I asked.

"Yes, it's just a routine check-up." The nurse reassured me, reaching out for Miss. Chipmunk.

I handed my baby daughter over to her, before turning back to Yamna. "I better go and inform the excited family members." 

She nodded, her gaze on our baby as she was taken away by the nurse.

*

It was almost funny how exhausted I felt as I walked out of the waiting room, tossing the scrubs and the mask in bins designed for them. I didn't even do anything! Yamna did all the hard work.

It was also weird how nervous I felt about informing our family about Chipmunk.

When I walked into the waiting room, everyone seated practically jumped up to their feet.

"Rohaan!" Mama rushed over to me, clutching my upper arms with wide-eyed.

"Congratulations, everyone! Yamna gave birth to a beautiful baby girl." I announced.

The joy radiating in the room was deeply felt inside me, down to my heart and soul. My mother hugged me tightly, bursting into tears. Saba Chachi was also in tears, as Hooriya, who was the closest to her, hugged her. Even Chachu was emotional as he tightly hugged Papa. 

Haya ran over to me, throwing her arms around me. "Badrooh, I'm so happy!" She started crying. "Ma Sha Allah!"

"I'm a Nana!" Chachu spoke in disbelief, making me smile wider. 

Arsal, who had arrived, also rushed over to me and threw his arms around me and Haya, and soon Hoor joined us.

Mama and Chachi hugged each other, both crying their eyes out.

"Maham is going to be so excited!" Haya spoke tearfully. "She already adores Ain, and now she has one more sister to play with."

I smiled fondly at the thought of my nieces. "These three are going to get up to serious trouble, I'm telling you, my sweet little jaans." 

"I can't believe you're a father, Rohaan." Hoor kissed my cheek. 

Speaking of father, I pulled away from my siblings, and walked over to Papa before hugging him tightly and wordlessly. I remained there for a long time, words not needed. It was only after a few minutes that I could finally speak. "I forgive you for being blatantly biased towards Hoor and Haya. The love I feel for my daughter cannot be expressed."

He chuckled. "I know that it feels that way, Rohaan, but you'll also soon realise that even though it may not seem like it, but a father loves all his children equally, regardless of gender." 

"But fathers are generally softer towards their daughters?" I grinned teasingly.

"The mother compensates by being more lenient towards the sons." Papa smiled at Mama.

To my surprise, I noticed Arsal discreetly wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, even as he grinned with happiness. It warmed my heart. 

I would never admit it out loud, but I was extremely proud of the bond that I shared with my siblings. 

*

Yamna

I glanced at the empty cot by my bedside, eagerly awaiting my daughter.

When the nurse entered, I held out my arms. "Please! Give her to me."

With a smile, she gently set my daughter down into my arms. "Let me know if you need anything, okay?" 

I nodded. "Thank you." 

She left and I stared down at my daughter. "Hey! You've been away from me long enough. How are you adjusting in this new world? It must seem strange to you, huh?" I kissed her forehead, breathing her baby scent. She seemed to have a tiny frown on her face. "Aww, don't be angry like Papa. Be happy like Mama." I smiled. 

Rohaan walked in then, smiling as he saw our daughter in his arms. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead. "Hey there, Chipmunk."

"Use her name." I told him. 

"Rabiya." He spoke softly.

Pronounced Rub-ee-ah, we had finalised this name if we had a girl. Rabiya means 'Spring' in Arabic. It was purely a coincidence that she was also born in Spring; we hadn't planned the name according to her birth season.

"Rabiya Rohaan." He grinned proudly. "A.k.a. Biya."

"Already a nickname?" I giggled.

"Why are you even surprised? You know me." He looked up at me. "Anyway, there are some people who are eagerly looking forward to seeing this beautiful little girl." 

"Well, what are you waiting for? Bring them in here." I smiled.

*

I had no idea how the hospital made an exemption to allow me so many visitors at once. Maybe it was because I had my own private room, or maybe Aariz Bhai had pulled some strings. No matter what the reason, my heart was overflowing as I watched the members of our extended family have their first glance of Rabiya, as well as holding her. 

It made me sad that Dado and Dada Jaan couldn't be here in person, but I was going to there home after discharging from the hospital anyway, and I was going to take Rabiya straight to them.

"She looks like Rohaan." Anabia Mama had tears in her eyes as she held her. She glanced up at Tayan. "And you." Clearly, I had been right about that. 

"How are you doing?" Mama asked me, running a hand over my head. "Shall I get you some juice or something?" 

"I'm okay for now, Mama. Thank you." I smiled at her.

"She's so tiny, but she already owns my entire heart." Haya Appi commented, as she played with Rabiya's little foot. 

Anabia Mama then passed my daughter onto Mama, who burst into tears again as she whispered duas. "My little Star, my baby. Sadqay jaaon main apni bachi ke."

And when Papa held her, I wanted to cry. He looked at her in awe, almost as if he couldn't believe that she was real. "My heart and soul, my beloved Rabiya."

As I watched the Rehan siblings dote over my daughter, I almost forgot the physical chaos that my body had just been through, to bring this pari (fairy) into this world. A part of me still found it hard to believe that I was a mother. All my life I had turned to others to support me, to take care of me, and now this sweet little life was going to look at me first and foremost for everything.

"I think she looks like Yum-Yum." Haya Appi's words brought me back to reality.

"No, she's definitely like Ro." Arsal Bhai shook his head in disagreement.

"Oh, come on! That pout is so Yamna!" Haya Appi gently ran a knuckle over Rabiya's soft cheek.

Everyone laughed at this light-hearted disagreement. 

"Come on, hand her over." Tayan reached out for her, and Haya Appi handed Rabiya over to him. He smiled down at her. "This brings me back to when our Yamna was born. Ma Sha Allah!" He kissed her forehead, and her tiny fist rested against his chest.

I felt extra emotional as I watched my baby girl with my beloved Tayan. 

Haya Appi came over to me, leaned down and hugged me. "I always loved you so much, Yum-Yum but I love you even more now that you have made me Phupho to such an adorable little sweetheart." She kissed my cheek.

"Keep her away from Behaya, Yamna." Rohaan winked at me.

"Never! I want Rabiya to be as strong as her Phuphos and Chachi. I want their influences strongly on my daughter." I said. 

"She'll be as strong as you too." Anabia Mama corrected me. "A daughter's first inspiration is her mother." 

Haya Appi pinched Rohaan's arm discreetly, causing him to glare at her.

"Papa, can I?" Arsal Bhai reached for her.

Tayan handed Rabiya over to him. 

"Hey, I'm your Chachu." My brother-in-law smiled fondly at his niece. "We're going to play pranks on Papa, okay?" 

"I dare you." Rohaan challenged him.

"I may have backed off due to fear of being pranked even worse, but Rabiya won't back off. Don't forget that, Rohaan." Arsal Bhai smirked at him. "She has power over you too." 

"Absolutely!" Papa nodded. "She'll have you wrapped around her little finger, Rohaan." 

"We've all been there, done that." Tayan agreed.

"And she's your kid, so she'll be twice as mischievous." Anabia Mama laughed.

I began to feel tired, and an involuntary yawn escaped me.

"Alright, everyone. She needs rest." Haya Appi noticed immediately. "We all should leave her be. In Sha Allah, Rabiya will be home soon for us all to dote over anyway."

I think everyone struggled to leave. Nobody wanted to say goodbye to Rabiya. 

Soon, it was just me, Rohaan and our baby Rabiya in the room. Rohaan held her against his chest, staring down silently at her, love and affections displayed all over his face.

A nurse entered the room. "It's time to breastfeed her, Yamna." She gave me a small smile. "Would you like your husband to remain in the room or leave?" It was a generic option given to all new mothers, apparently. 

"He can stay." I smiled at Rohaan.

The nurse helped me adjust Rabiya in my arms, and soon my daughter was feeding on me. I giggled automatically because it still felt weird.

"She seems hungry." Rohaan commented a few moments later. "She has my appetite, Ma Sha Allah."

I laughed and Rabiya whined in protest, her little nails digging into my chest. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Biya. It's your Papa's fault."

"Biya, huh?" 

"It's only natural to give her that nickname." 

Rohaan smirked at me. "Just like you were so against the idea of calling her Chipmunk, and you ended up calling her that more than me."

"Chipmunk turned out to be an adorable name." 

"So is Biya." 

"I'm going to call her Pari. Mama and Papa called me Sunshine, and I want a special nickname for my daughter too. Pari, my little fairy." 

He grabbed her little foot gently. "My sweetheart Biya." 

*

Rohaan

Yamna had been taken for a check-up, and I was in the room alone with Rabiya.

There was still a hospital tag around her foot which read: ROHAAN, Baby. Every time I saw it, it made my heart warm up. My baby. I'm her father.

I held her in my arms, because it was impossible for me to put her down. With soft cheeks, pouty lips, and lashes that brushed her cheeks as she closed her eyes, she was undoubtedly a beautiful baby, biased as I sounded. Ma Sha Allah. And for a brief second, I caught a glimpse of Behaya in her. "I'm not telling her that, Biya. She's already big-headed as it is, your Haya Phupho." I kissed her forehead. "But jokes aside, she'll love you unconditionally, sweetheart. You are as safe with her as you are with me and your Mama. In fact, all my siblings will keep you just as safe." 

Rabiya opened her eyes and looked straight up at me, her pink and white outfit a complete contradiction to my black shirt. 

"My heart, my soul, the newest love of my life." I kissed her tiny fist. Sighing in utter contentment, I stared down at her.

*

Yamna

When I was wheeled back into my room, I smiled automatically as I saw Rohaan sitting on the bed, holding Rabiya against his chest. It was such a beautiful sight that I didn't want to disturb them.

He looked up and smiled at me. "All okay?" 

I nodded as the nurse helped me into bed. "Rabiya and I will be discharged tomorrow."

"So, Baby Angel will be going home tomorrow to see her Par-Dado and Par-Dada Jaan, right?" He kissed her fist.

*Par-Dado: Great-(paternal)-grandmother.
Par-Dada: Great (paternal) grandfather.

"Dado called and spoke to me." I told Rohaan, placing my hand on his back. "She was so happy that she was crying. She can't wait to see Rabiya, In Sha Allah." 

As the nurse left us alone once again, Rohaan turned to face me. His eyes contained all the emotions that he gone through today, with love and admiration being the most obvious ones. I ran a hand through his hair, and he closed his eyes. Leaning close to him, I gently nibbled his earlobe. "Congratulations on the birth of Rabiya Rohaan, Rabiya ke Papa." 

"Congratulations to you to, Rabiya ki Mama." He smiled.

I pressed my lips against his, even as he carefully held onto Rabiya. "I love you so much, Rohaan. You and Biya are my whole world, my everything."

"I love you and Chipmunk too, Hamster." He chuckled before he deepened the kiss.

*

I know that a lot of you wanted twins, but I already had this all planned out.

Welcome to the world, Rabiya Rohaan!

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