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*

TWO YEARS AFTER THE EPILOGUE

Rohaan

"You are under arrest." I said.

Narrowed eyes glared at me. "No."

"Excuse me? Are you defying a law-enforcement officer?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Lollipop?" She took the lollipop out of her mouth and held it out towards me.

I took her small hand in mine. "Rabiya Rohaan Tariq, you should listen to a police officer."

"No!" Giggling, my three-year-old daughter shook her head. "You can't 'rest me. I'm too cute, Mano says!" 

"Tayan!" Little Taha ran towards me, wearing just his nappy, holding out his arms. 

"Taha, get back here!" Arsal chased after him.

Yes, it was official. Arsal had taught his son to call me 'Tayan' too, the way Yamna referred to Papa.

I reached down and lifted up my bhatija in the air. "Buddy, what is it with your allergy to clothes?" I laughed.

Arsal tried to pull him away, but Taha clung onto me, crying. My grasshopper brother sighed. "Taha, you need to have your bath."

"Tayan, no bath. Taha scared." Taha muttered against my neck.

"Why are you scared, buddy? Bath time is fun!" I kissed the side of his head. "Come on, all superheroes take a bath after saving the day. It's your turn now, L'il Grasshopper."

Rabiya giggled. "He's not grass, Papa! He's a boy!"

I gently handed the little boy back to his father. Taha looked at me with a trembling lower lip and an expression that said 'save me!'. "My boy's brave, isn't he?" I asked him. "Come on, show Tayan how brave you are."

Arsal took his son to the bathroom, but I kept hearing the L'il Grasshopper's cries and screams.

"Right." I glanced down at Biya, frowning. "Who gave you a lollipop this close to bedtime?"

"Mano." Biya grinned up at me, cheekily.

"Yes, but your Mano asked you to ask Mama or Papa first." Mama's voice made me turn towards the living room doorway. "Did you ask Mama or Papa first?"

"I asked Mama." Biya replied.

Yamna let her have a lollipop this close to bedtime? Since when? My wife was pretty strict with Biya regarding these rules. 

"Come on." I lifted up my daughter in my arms. "Say good night to Mano." I stepped in front of my mother, and Biya leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"Good night, my sweetheart. Sweet dreams." Mama smiled fondly at her.

I took Biya up to our room, and as I entered, I called out. "Yamna?"

"Hmm?" Yamna was sleepily leaning against the headboard of our bed, her legs stretched out in front of her.

Next to her on the bed lay Zaviyar, our two-month-old son.

"Did you say Biya can have a lollipop?" 

Yamna yawned. "I think I did. She asked me when I was distracted with changing Zavi's nappy."

I kissed Biya's cheek. "And our little madam took full advantage of Mama's distraction, huh?" 

"Who does she remind me of?" Yamna gave me a small smile.

"Haya?" I immediately replied, causing my wife to laugh.

Once Rabiya was finished with the lollipop, I took her to the en-suite bathroom. Pulling over the stool with my foot, I got her to stand on it before the sink. 

"No toothbrush tonight, Papa? I'm sleepy." Biya blinked up innocently at me.  

"Acha ji? Now you're sleepy. But the moment I put you to put, you're going to be giggling and talking." 

Biya hated brushing her teeth. She said that the brush felt 'funny' against her teeth. Although, usually she had me wrapped around her little finger, I was not going to compromise on her health, like Yamna. Squirting out some paste onto her little toothbrush, I held it in front of her mouth, waiting patiently.

She pursed her lips together, shaking her head.

"Biya." 

"Papa, pretty p'ease. With cookies on top?" She pouted at my reflection in the mirror.

F**k it. It won't be an issue if she doesn't brush for one night. My weak side almost surrendered to her, but as a father I also had to be tough for my children's health and safety. "Rabiya, if you want to eat lollipops and chocolate in the future, you also have to look after your teeth. Without healthy teeth, you can't enjoy your favourite things, meri jaan."

"Not even ice c'eam?" 

"Not even ice cream." 

She looked like she was in a dilemma for a few moments, before she finally opened her mouth to let me brush her teeth. 

"Good girl."

One I'd finished helping her brush her teeth, she tilted her head back to look up at me, wrinkling her nose cutely. I also wrinkled my nose at her, making her giggle. She reached out and stuck her hand under the tap water before splashing me with it.

"Hey, you cheeky girl!" I bent down slightly to start tickling her.

She wouldn't stop laughing. "Papa, stop!" She pointed towards the mirror. "Look, Papa! I'm a duck." She stuck her lips out in a style resembling a duck beak.

"Alright, little ducky. It's late enough as it is. Let's get you to bed." I lifted her up in my arms, kicked the stool aside and led her back into the room.

Yamna was on her feet now, holding Biya's pyjamas. "Come on, cheeky girl. Let's get you changed."

As soon as I set her down, Biya climbed onto the bed and started jumping on it, still giggling.

"Biya, your brother is asleep, bachay!" I strode towards her and placed my hand gently on her shoulders.

"Come on, Biya." Yamna called out to our daughter.

"Not sleepy!" Biya got off the bed and ran towards the wardrobe.

"What is she up to now?" Yamna asked, wearily.

A few seconds later, we heard music playing from one of her toys.

"Rohaan, she got the toys out!" My wife looked at me wide-eyed.

I got up and headed into the walk-in wardrobe and found Rabiya by her little toy trunk, taking out her toys one by one. "What's happening her? We said it's bedtime, sweetheart. Come on, be a good girl and put the toys away."

"I want to play for a little while, Papa!" Again the pout. 

Yamna came into the doorway. "Rabiya, please put the toys away. Now."

Her pout increased, but our daughter started putting the toys away.

I smiled at Yamna. The sweet, shy Hamster had grown into a loving but strict mother. Rabiya listened to her more, because I was the one who had- frankly speaking- spoiled our daughter more. I was the one who coddled Biya, who defended her; you know, typical Daddy's Girl.

Biya let her Mama change her clothes, and I headed back into the room, laying down on the bed beside our son.

Yamna returned with Rabiya, who now suddenly looked very sleepy. It's sometimes funny how kids suddenly go from lively and loud to sleepy and irritated. My wife helped our daughter into the bed and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Sweet dreams, my beautiful girl." She then picked Zavi up. "Good night, Rohaan."

"Good night." I gave her a small smile.

Rabiya refused to sleep in her room alone, insisting that she wanted to be here with me and Yamna. Until Yamna was in her third trimester with Zavi, we'd made it work. Then Yamna needed more space to sleep comfortably during the last stage of her pregnancy, and so she had started sleeping in the room that was our children's nursery. I'd suggested that I could sleep there, but Biya wanted me around. I'd set up a proper bed in the nursery for my wife. Now that our son was here, he slept in the cot in the nursery, while Yamna continued to sleep there on the bed. Now, however, we took alternative turns so that my wife could also get proper night's rest.

"Good night, Squirrel." I kissed my son's cheeks before Yamna took his away.

Rabiya cuddled up to me, closing her eyes as she rested her head against my chest. Her little fist clutched my white vest as she searched for comfort in me. "Am I a pretty fairy, Papa?" 

"You're the most beautiful fairy ever, sweetheart." I kissed her forehead.

"I'll tell Maham Appi." She smiled sleepily.

 "You, your Maham Appi and Annie Appi are all beautiful fairies. My favourites."

"You're my best Papa!" 

I chuckled. "How many Papas do you have?" 

But she had fallen asleep, her mouth slightly open. Everyone said that she was a copy of Yamna, and that was definitely true. Especially when she was sleeping, she was absolutely a mini version of her mother, Ma Sha Allah.

Her nose, however, and the way she smiled were more like me. Yamna even joked that our daughter had inherited my cheeky smirk.

*

"I look forward to these secret meetings now." I walked into the kitchen a couple of hours later.

Yamna sat at the isle on a bar stool, her hands around a mug of coffee, and the baby monitor with camera placed nearby. She looked exhausted. "I'm so knackered that I can't even sleep."

"Oh, I know the feeling." I walked over to her, softly kissing her temples, before heading to make coffee for myself.

"Mama offered to take care of Zavi for one night so that both of us could get a proper night's sleep for a change, but I can't even do that. Zavi freaks out when he's away from me for too long. He's only calm in my absence when you're around."

"Your son has a lot of nakhray." I teased her to wind her up. I knew how protective she was of him.

"Excuse me? Even if he does have nakhre, I'm not the one he inherited it from." She took a sip of her coffee. "And our son, Rohaan. Why do I need to keep reminding you that?" 

I chuckled. 

"Biya slept okay?"

"When does she not sleep okay when she's around me?" I smiled, fondly. Standing behind her, I began to gently massage her shoulders.

"Allah! Rohaan, that feels so good." She closed her eyes, tilting her head back slightly to rest it against my stomach.

For a while, I continued in silence.

"Rohaan?"

"Hmm?" 

"Aapko Zavi se itna pyar nahin hai jitna Biya se hai?" There was anxiety in her voice.

*"Do you not love Zavi as much as you love Biya?" 

"What are you even saying, yaar?" I was surprised by her question, even slightly offended.

She looked at me. "I just..." She looked at me, before shaking her head. "Never mind."

"What?" I took a seat beside her. "Talk to me."

"You'll be angry."

"Even if I will be angry, you never need to be afraid of that, Hamster. Be honest with me, come on. What brought about that question?" 

"I just..." She sighed. "I just sometimes feel like he doesn't get as much attention from you as Biya does." She took my hand in hers with her free hand. "He's a baby right now, Rohaan, but what if he grows up and feels that way?" 

I'd always accused my own father of partiality towards his daughters, even though I knew better know. I now knew that my father loved us equally and unconditionally, but as a young child if that thought ever enters your mind, it's not a good feeling. "They're both my kids, Hamster. I love them both more than life itself."

"And I love Biya more than life itself too, and I'm not asking you to pay her less attention. She's also at a stage where she would seriously feel it if the attention on her decreases. I'm just saying that, please, give Zavi more time too." 

Yamna was not wrong, and I had no valid reason to deny it or to argue with my wife. Maybe, I could spent more time with my son as well. 

As if on cue, we heard a sound from the baby monitor. We both looked towards it and saw movement in Zavi's cot.

Yamna started to get up.

"Sit. I'll go." I put a hand on her shoulder and got up.

I'd barely reached the stairs when I heard my son crying, and I dashed up the stairs. When I reached the nursery, I saw him cry with that pout that babies have. "Alright, Squirrel. What's going on?" I lifted him up in my arms, holding him against myself. 

As I rocked him back to sleep, Yamna entered, holding my mug of coffee. "Give him to me. You have your coffee."

"Did you finish yours?" 

"Yes, don't worry." She set the mug down on the chest of drawers, before walking over to me.

I glanced down at my sleeping boy. "It's okay, I'll have it in a bit. He's sleeping peacefully." Am I really discriminating? Am I really doing what I'd accused my father of doing- back when I was young and stupid?

"I didn't mean to make you feel bad." Yamna ran her hand up and down my arm. "I know you love him more than life itself. I just spoke the thought that came to my mind."

"It's okay, Hamster. It's good that you did. Sometimes, we unintentionally end up doing something unfair, and it's best if our loved ones point it out to us." 

The little squirrel had no idea yet, but he'd eventually start to feel it, and I wouldn't allow that. I knew my dad had never, ever intentionally done anything unfair to us, but based on the feelings that I'd felt, I wouldn't allow my own son to feel the same. "Mera beta." I kissed his forehead.

*"My son."

"Papa!" Biya's terrified voice came from our room.

With Zavi still in my arms, I rushed towards our bedroom, with Yamna at my heels.

"Where did you go, Papa?" Biya was sobbing, tears streaking her cheeks.

"I'm here, Biya." I spoke softly. "Go to sleep, princess."

"How about I stay here with Biya tonight?" Yamna suggested. "We can make stories with the soft toys, Biya."

"I want Papa." Biya shook her head.

I saw the look of hurt on Yamna's face, before I turned back to Biya. "We'll play a swap game for tonight, okay? Tonight, I'll be with Zavi, and Mama will be with you. We should do something different for once, right?" I glanced at my wife. "I'll take Zavi. You be here with Biya, okay?" 

Yamna looked helplessly at me, and I nodded reassuringly at her.

*

Yamna

Why am I having such a hard time bonding with my own daughter? I got into bed beside Biya, running a hand over her head. Is it because I'm stricter than Rohaan? "Did you have a bad dream, Biya?" 

"I miss Papa." She muttered, a tear running down her cheek.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "You don't want to spend some time with Mama? You know, Mama misses you."

She looked up at me, her eyes wide. "You do?" 

"Of course. Mama loves spending time with her special little Biya." I kissed the top of her head.

"Can I have the lion toy today, Mama?" She leaned against me.

"Of course, sweetie." I got up and headed to the wardrobe to get her favourite lion soft toy. When I returned, I handed it to her and she clutched it. 

"Lions are brave!" She muttered sleepily. "Like Papa." Her eyes fluttered close, and soon she had fallen asleep. 

I watched her. She seemed like a beautiful little doll, Ma Sha Allah. Maybe I'm too strict with her. Maybe I need to be a bit like Rohaan. 

No, the bond between a father and daughter is natural. I cannot even begin to compete. And I don't even want to compete. I loved Biya's love for her father, and vice versa.

I lightly traced a finger against the back of her hand as she slept. My fear of spoiling her might be making me too strict towards her. I need to be softer. I want her to love me like she loves her Papa, and not fear me.

I stared at her until I felt sleepy myself.

*

"Mama. Mama!" 

I felt a light tap on my cheek and I opened my eyes. I had left the lamp light on for Biya's sake, and I saw her leaning over me, her eyes wide. "Biya!" What's wrong?" I sat up, my heart pounding hard. Was she okay? Was she sick? In pain?

She got onto my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Mama, I saw the lion eat Zavi..." She was trembling and crying.

"Oh, Biya, it was only a dream, my fairy." I wrapped my arms around her, using one hand to caress the back of my head.

As she remained in my lap, she began to calm down. The next thing I knew, she had fallen asleep in my arms. 

A mother is a mother; strict or not, children find comfort in their mother, no matter what. I couldn't help smiling as I held my daughter in my arms. 

*

Rohaan

The day Zaviyar was born, I got in a car accident.

I had been-very stupidly- driving above the speed limit when I'd heard that Yamna had been taken into the delivery room. I'd only stepped out of the hospital to get a shower, after the doctor had advised us that it would potentially take a few more hours before the baby arrived.

Well, the baby arrived earlier.

I swerved to avoid into another car, and had ended smashing my car into a tree. Fortunately, no harm was done, and I'd abandoned my car and taken an Uber to the hospital instead.

"Started troubling your parents before you were even born, huh? Truly my son." I chuckled, laying back on the bed in the nursery, with Zavi curled up and sleeping on my chest. 

He was lying on his stomach, his little hands curled up into fists as they rested on my chest. 

While everyone doted on both my kids, Zaviyar was a special ladla of Hoor. She had instantly bonded with him, and even he seemed very happy and at peace with his Hoor Phupho. Rabiya, meanwhile, adored her Arsu Chachu. She was such a fan, she loved following him around. As for Haya, she and Rabiya were absolutely besties. 

"I want to go in Haya Phupho's car!"

"I want to sit next to Haya Phupho!"

"Lessgo Haya Phupho's house!"

Rabiya was also an absolute fangirl of her 'Baba', a.k.a. my father. She could spend hours listening to him tell her stories, or telling him stories of her daily activities. Whenever he sat on a sofa, for example, she would climb up and wrap her arms around his neck.

Zaviyar, so far, was my Mama's 'little Ro', and she could spend hours just holding him. 

"Alright, little buddy. Tummy time over." I got up and walked over to his cot before setting him down gently inside. Pulling his little grey blanket over him, I ran a hand over his head. "Grow up a little, and Papa will make you a footballer, In Sha Allah." 

*

A few days later, we'd all brought the kids to a theme park specially for younger kids.

Ali, now fourteen, and Arham, eleven, were a bit bored, but they busied themselves with playing handheld games.

Eight-year-old Maham, walked everywhere, holding the hands of Biya and four-year-old Annie. 

I stood by the pirate ship ride, watching the giggling girls enjoying themselves. Even Arham had gone on this ride.

Shayaan, the bunny, stood beside me, holding his one-year-old daughter Khadija in his arms. When Mama had found out that Bunny was naming his daughter after Nano, she had cried, overwhelmed with emotions. 

"How's life going as a dad?" I asked, glancing down in Zavi's pram. 

Yamna, Tahira, Hoor, Haya and Mehwish Bhabi were sitting in a nearby café, having coffee. Arsal had taken Taha to the baby soft play area. 

Shayaan yawned. "It's tiring, but since both Mehwish and I are used to odd timings thanks to shift work, we're not doing severely bad, I guess."

I noticed that Zavi was now awake, so I lifted him up in my arms. Khadija looked at him, curiously as she sucked on her pink dummy. 

The three giggling girls returned then, holding hands.

"Again!" Rabiya insisted.

"No, I'm bored of that now, Biya." Maham said. "Let's find another ride!"

"One more time, Maham Appi! Plllllllease!" Rabiya tugged at her arm.

"Okay, fine. One more time." Maham sighed dramatically. "Coming, Annie?" 

Annie shook her head.

I slowly followed Maham and Rabiya to ensure that they'd safely entered the ride enclosure. I noticed Annie following me. "What's up, Princess Annie? Why didn't you go?" 

"It's too fast, Mamu. I don't like it." She reached up for my free hand, sliding her small hand in it.

"It's okay, Annie. We'll find a ride that you'll like, okay?" I smiled down at her, before walking back to where Shayaan still stood with Khadija. 

Shortly after, the ladies joined us as well then.

"Aren't they bored with this ride yet?" Haya asked.

"Biya isn't." I grinned. 

"I think I'll take Khadija to the soft play area too. What do you think, Mehwish?" Shayaan glanced at his wife.

"Sure." Mehwish Bhabi nodded.

"I'll come with you guys and see where Arsal and Taha are." Tahira said.

They walked off.

When Biya and Maham returned, they insisted on going to Fairy Land, an area of the park designed to be exactly what the name stated.

"I'll get coffee in the meantime." I said.

Yamna began to follow my sisters and the girls. She stopped and turned to look at me over her shoulder.

"Let me take him." Hoor reached out for Zaviyar. "Aajao, Phupho ki jaan."

I handed my son over to my eldest sister, smiling.

"I'll stay with you." Yamna said to me.

"Why? Fairy Land sounds like something you'd like." I teased her.

She rolled her eyes. "I still remember the last time, when Biya threw up in that Fairy Land. I think I'll skip it this time."

"And here I thought that you're staying for me." I chuckled.

Yamna slid her arm through mine as we walked towards the café.

Rabiya was more than happy to go with her Phuphos and cousins. She barely noticed that her parents weren't with her as she skipped happily with Maham and Annie. 

"Domesticated detective." My wife teased me. "You look good in the role of a family man, Ma Sha Allah." 

"I miss work. I can't wait to go back." 

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you do." 

As we waited in the queue for my coffee, she slid her hand down my arm, sliding it into my hand instead, smiling up at me.

"Feeling bold, Hamster?"

"I missed you." She whispered. "I feel like we haven't been us in ages. Just Biya and Zavi's parents. And as much as I am blessed to have that status, Alhumdulillah, I miss us."

"We'll try to take some time out." I placed my forehead against hers.

*

When it comes to being parents to very young kids, 'taking time out' means stealing moments from the chaos of every day.

As we all headed home in our respective cars, Rabiya and Zaviyar fell asleep in their respective car seats in the back. 

Yamna herself looked tired as she sat beside me, leaning her head against the window. 

We got caught in really bad traffic on the motorway. I reached for her hand, squeezing it lightly. She glanced at me, seeming surprised.

"Tonight, after the kids are asleep, let's have coffee together." I whispered.

"Is that meant to be a date?" She smiled weakly.

"It's meant to be a something." I shrugged.

"Well, Zavi keeps waking up during the night, and when Rabiya wakes up, she..."

"Yamna, we have to take what we get. For now, this is the best that we can do."

She sighed, tilting her head back against the headrest. "I know."

*

We sat on the floor of the living room that night, our backs against the sofa. I had my free arm around her as we occasionally sipped our coffees.

These were precious stolen moments, as Zavi and Biya both slept.

Today, we were using two baby monitors: one was with Zavi and one was with Biya.

"Biya had a great time today." She muttered.

"Hmm." I nodded. "Days out with the family are really good for the kids."

"I'm glad that Biya has cousins close to her age to get along with."

"She adores Maham and Annie." I smiled fondly. "Remember how Maham came along with Biya for her injection the last time, for moral support?"

Yamna sat up with a gasp. "Injection! What date is it today?" When I told her the date, she pressed her fingers over her shoulders. "I almost forgot that Zaviyar has to have his vaccinations today. I have an appointment booked for eleven."

"Poor little squirrel."

"I hate it when they get injected." Yamna said. "Whenever Biya got hers, I cried. I couldn't bear to see her cry... and now I have to repeat it all with our baby boy."

And so, our limited stolen moments were filled with discussions of our kids. Was that normal? I don't know. All I knew was that both of us were more than happy to discuss Zaviyar and Rabiya, our whole world. 

A small whine was heard over the radio, and we exchanged a tired smile.

"Duty calls." I said.

"Until the next stolen moment." Yamna smiled at me, and we exchanged a quick kiss.

*

Early the next morning, my phone vibrated. 

Groaning, I reached for it. "What?" I growled in irriation.

"Yo, Ro! You ready to dive into another complicated homicide case?" Ahmed's cheerful voice came from the other side.

And so, I returned to the other aspect of my life: being a detective.

Alhumdulillah, I was satisfied with all aspects of my life. The career of my dreams, a loving extended family, and of course...my adorable family.

The Detective, his Hamster, their Chipmunk and Squirrel. 

Our perfect little family, Ma Sha Allah!

*

This chapter was unplanned. I just missed writing about Rohaan and Yamna, so I decided to write this! 

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