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47 | The Parent Trap

© All copyrights belong to StarsAndMoon1447 on Wattpad

*

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Anabia

The clock struck midnight.

I took shallow breaths as I lay in the hospital bed. My water had broken just after Fajr, and I now awaited the moment when my fourth child decided to come into this world. 

The door opened and Rehan walked in. 

"The twins? Rohaan?" I instantly asked. 

"They are with my parents. Yas is there too." He sat down beside me on the bed, running a hand from my forehead over my head.

"Poor Ro needs me..." I whimpered. "I'm such a selfish mother, having another child while Ro is still a baby."

"You didn't do this on your own." He wrapped his arm around me, kissing the side of my head.

I groaned as another painful contraction seemed to rip through my body. The gap between each contraction was decreasing, pushing me closer towards the birth. I looked at Rehan, my eyes filled with tears. "Please don't leave me."

"I'm not going anywhere, Anya. I'm right here." He reassured me.

"No, I mean...don't get fed up of our family and leave." I leaned against him, seeking comfort.

"Where will I go? My home, my world, my everything is with you and our kids." He lovingly stroked my belly.

"No matter how many children we have?" 

"What are your intentions, Mrs Rehan?" He teased.

I smiled weakly.

"Anya, you need to trust me. I will not leave your side in my lifetime, I promise."

I leaned up, pressing my mouth against his in a soft kiss.

"But you have to make the same promise, okay? Our world, our life is right here, with each other and with our kids. Don't even think about leaving me."

"Where will I go?" Repeating his words, I leaned up for a kiss again. We remained in this sweet embrace until a contraction forced me to cry out in pain.

*

The baby boy lay in the cot with a name band around his wrist that read: BABY, Rehan, along with his date of birth. His hands, with its peeling flaky skin, rested beside his head. He already had thick dark hair, and there was a soft pout on his tiny lips as he slept. He wore a onesie with bears on it, and a knitted hat that Mama had created for him.

I couldn't stop staring at him. This was my little guy who I'd had endless conversations with during the past months. It was hard to believe that he was finally here, out in this real world.

"You seem exhausted, unsurprisingly. Get some sleep. I'm here with him." Rehan whispered to me.

I shook my head. "I want to keep looking at him. I can't get enough of him."

"Anya, he's all yours. You have all the time in the world to look at him. But you need rest."

I leaned against my husband, sighing in surrender. "Only five minutes then."

The five-minutes nap turned into a long slumber which only broke when I heard the soft cries of my newborn son. I opened my eyes and saw Rehan cradling him, attempting to calm him down.

"Give him to me." I whispered, sitting up slightly.

Rehan placed our little boy in my arms.

"Hi! It's okay. I'm here, jaan." I whispered.

His crying stopped and he briefly opened his eyes to look up at me. His tiny mouth opened slightly. I smiled down at him as his head rested against my bosom. He calmed down and drifted off to sleep. 

I smiled up at my husband. "Don't feel bad. He and I have been friends for months now."

He smiled fondly at us. "Why would I feel bad? My wife holding our newborn baby son, who immediately calmed down in her arms. It's a beautiful scene to witness." He took our baby boy's hand and kissed it, the tiny fingers seeming adorable against my husband's lightly-bearded face.

"What are we naming him?" I asked.

"I was thinking Arsalan, from the names that we shortlisted."

"Brave, fearless, a lion..." I whispered out the meanings, staring down at the newest love of my life.

Rehan and I leaned closer and shared a kiss, strongly united over the birth of our fourth child.

Arsalan Rehan Tariq.

*

Arsalan

The clock struck midnight.

Twenty years ago today I was born, arriving into the warm and loving embrace of my doting parents.

And yet as I cut the small cake in front of my immediate family, I didn't sense a united front from them. 

Mama hugged me tearfully and kissed my cheeks as she prayed for my long life and good health, and Papa hugged me warmly, kissing the side of my head. But he barely glanced at her, and each time she looked at him, it was almost in a pleading manner, as if she wanted him to acknowledge her.

Haya Appi's eyebrows rose as she also noticed the coldness between our parents, something that was so unusual that now that it was occurring, it was blatantly obvious.

"What is up with you two?" Ro asked them. "I'm gonna take a photo of Arsal with you two, so please move closer, because my camera doesn't actually cover super-long distances."

I felt my parents move closer on either side of me, but the tension between them was obvious. 

I looked up at my sisters, hoping they would have a magical solution to this, but both looked as concerned as me. 

I glanced at Mama, who clearly forced a smile on her face as she looked at me. I then looked up at Papa, who had his arms folded across his chest and was staring at the ground, jaw clenched. I hoped whatever it was they could sort out. I hated seeing them tensed.

*

Haya

"All okay?" I asked Papa.

Hoor and I had followed him into the steady, while Arsal and Ro would deal with Mama.

He looked up from where he sat, saw our expressions and sighed. "Everything is fine. Don't worry."

"Yeah, except that you are tensed, and Mama is worried." Hoor looked sceptically at our father. "So, just talk it out, whatever it is."

"Look, I appreciate your good intentions, but we've told you before: don't get involved. Let us deal with our own issues." 

"Nope." I shook my head. "I mean, we won't be nosy and ask what the issues are, but if nothing else, do it for Arsal's sake. It's his birthday. He doesn't need this today."

"Haya, Hoor, I'm not going to repeat myself. We will deal with our own issues. Focus on making this a good day for Arsal." He stood up and walked out of the room without a further word.

It was only later that we realised how serious things were when Ro reported that Papa was sleeping in the guest room for the night.

*

Anabia

I knew that my sons were attempting to get me to open up, but I managed to avoid any difficult subjects and made my way to my room soon after Arsal had cut his cake.

My room, where I was going to be alone tonight...and God knows for how many more nights after tonight.

I sat on my bed, closing my eyes as a tear rolled down my cheek.

*

"Is it something deeper than that, Anya? Is there something that I need to know?"

"Actually, Rehan. There is something that I need to tell you..." My mouth felt dry, but I forced the words out of my mouth. I looked up at him. "I was going to leave."

"Leave?" His eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. "Leave to go where?" 

"To Mama's, in Lahore."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, squeezing my shoulders. "Anya, I know you miss her, but she'll be back soon for Haya's wedding, In Sha Allah." 

"Permanently." I added, the word sounding nauseatingly bitter in my mouth.

"Permanently?" Now he looked even more confused. 

"After what happened with Arsalan, I snapped, and I just wanted to leave everything behind and go." I swallowed hard. "I even listed myself onto a flight." I had lowered my gaze and I didn't dare to look up at him again.

He was quiet, and I feared his love turning to hatred after hearing this.

"You were going to permanently leave me?" 

"I was being immature and emotional, and you kept unreasonably defending him and I just..."

He stood up and turned to face me directly. "Unreasonably? The kid was repenting and was begging for forgiveness!"

"I know, and as I said, I was thinking emotionally..."

"No. You were thinking unreasonably. You were the one being unreasonable!" He shook his head. "Being angry or disappointed is one thing, but to completely push him away and not giving him a chance? And now you're telling me that you were going to leave us all for a mistake that Arsal was repenting and apologising for?" 

I stood up as well. "I was wrong, Rehan. I'm sorry. I have just been so overwhelmed by everything that I just wanted to give up and..."

"Give up on your marriage and family life? Who the hell gives up on family, Anabia?" He shook his head. "You have been my wife for almost as long as you'd lived an unmarried life, but it seems like you still don't consider this your own family, Anabia."

"It's not like that, Rehan. You and the kids are my everything!"

He took deep breaths to calm himself down, but his next words felt like a bucket of ice had been thrown over me. "Imagine if I had left you after your mistakes." With that, he turned and strode out of the room.

*

There was a knock on the door.

I wiped my wet cheeks with the back of my hand. "Come in."

Rehan entered, not looking my way.

"Rehan..." I immediately stood up and rushed up to him. "Can we please talk?" 

"If only you had considered that an option in the first place." He replied without looking at me. Opening the wardrobe, he started rummaging through it.

"This thought crossed my mind, but I would never have gone ahead with it."

"You listed yourself on a flight, Anabia." He turned to look at me. "Okay, forget me. Clearly, this marriage is nothing but something that you can easily walk away from. But have you ever considered how Arsal would have felt, knowing that you walked out on all of us because of a mistake that he already felt terrible for?" 

"Our marriage is something that I can easily walk away from?" I repeated. "Rehan..."

"You were selfish, Anabia. Simple as that. Despite having two sons-in-law, despite having four grown up kids, you only thought about yourself. I meant nothing, our kids' feelings meant nothing. It was all about what made you feel better."

"Do you think that leaving would have made me feel better?" I gasped up at him. "I was angry, I was upset, and I acted impractically, Rehan. But how could I ever have been happy away from you all?" 

"Wow. You're playing the victim again, rather than even admitting that your action could have caused my children so much pain. Arsal would never have forgiven himself." 

"It was a huge blow for me, knowing that Arsal had shown no regard for his upbringing, Rehan."

"He made a mistake. He prostrated in front of Allah, begging Him for forgiveness for it immediately. He begged us for forgiveness, crying as he did so. Who the hell gave you the right to punish him so severely by destroying our whole family?" He straightened, his frown deepening. "Arsalan."

I whirled around and saw my pale-faced youngest child standing in the open doorway.

"T-This was because of me?" He whispered.

I looked up at Rehan, panicking, before turning back to Arsu. "No, meri jaan. Arsalan, it was my mistake. This was nothing to do with you, okay?" 

"Arsalan, come inside." Rehan's tone was the complete opposite now as he addressed our son.

Looking shaken, Arsalan turned and ran off.

"Arsal!" I burst into tears as Rehan chased after him.

By the time I came outside into the hallway, the other three kids of ours were standing there, looking shocked. I followed my husband and son downstairs. What have I done? I have single-handedly destroyed my own home. I should have just kept this stupidity of mine to myself, since I never went ahead with it.

Rehan stood just outside the front door, helplessly watching as Arsalan sped away in the car.

"Rehan..." I whispered.

"If anything happens to him, we're over." Rehan looked at me with a look that I would never have expected from him.

It was one of fury and hatred.

*

Haya

"Mama, it's okay." I held my mother in my arms, having overheard the last sentence said by Papa before he had followed Arsalan in his own car. "He's angry right now, but you two will be okay. You two are Ana B and Ray, for God's sake!"

Ro silently stood behind us, and I prayed that he didn't snap at her the way he had snapped at Arsal when all this had gone down.

"My Arsal...Allah, please keep my Arsal safe! May my children never again suffer for my stupidity." Mama sobbed against my shoulders.

"I'll go as well." Ro muttered. "I'll find my brother. Mama, I'm taking your car." He disappeared into the house to grab her car key.

"I've messed up once again." Mama cried.

"No, Mama, don't say that." Hoor caressed the back of her head. "Arsal will be fine. You and Papa will be fine. In Sha Allah."

"Arsalan..." Mama was suffering from a mixture of shock and grief.

"Mama, you need to rest." Hoor said, firmly. "You're going to get sick."

Rohaan rushed past us and headed towards Mama's car. 

"How can I rest when Arsal...?" 

"Papa and Ro will look for him. Just come with us, please." Hoor whispered, before gently guiding her inside.

My twin and I led our mother to her room, and got her settled into bed. I tucked her in, underneath her duvet, while Hoor got her some water.

"It'll be okay, Mama. Papa loves you too much."

"I acted stupidly. I'm the mother of grown up kids and this is what I do." 

"Mama, please get some rest." Hoor returned with a bottle of water.

As Mama basically cried herself to sleep, my twin and I sat on either side of her, softly stroking her hair.

I grabbed my phone and messaged in the siblings' group.

<Haya: @ Arsalan, where are you? Get back home!>

"This is not right." Hoor said, softly. "I hope Arsu comes back home soon."

"I hope so too. I hope everything is okay again. This atmosphere doesn't suit our home."

We placed our hands over Mama's. With the fading mehndi on my hand, I played with Mama's favourite rose gold ring, while Hoor's silver bracelet with tiny diamonds sparkled in the lamp lights.

My phone vibrated and I glanced down at it.

<Rohaan: He's okay. Don't worry.>

I showed the message to Hoor, who seemed to be dozing off herself. She looked at me, sadness in her eyes. She whispered, "I'm scared."

Me too. "Don't be. We're too strong, Ma Sha Allah. We'll get through this, In Sha Allah."

*

Arsalan

Happy Birthday, you problem-causing boy. I drove a little over the speed limit, but I had no idea where to go. Feeling tired, I pulled into the car parking of a twenty-four/seven supermarket.

I rested my head on the steering wheel, closing my eyes as a massive ache began to pound away inside my head. I couldn't believe that I was the reason for this fight between my parents. 

"But have you ever considered how Arsal would have felt, knowing that you walked out on all of us because of a mistake that he already felt terrible for?" 

I knew that Mama had briefly gone to Mamu's, but she almost permanently walked out of our lives because of what I had done? She had almost left her marriage, her home behind because she was so hurt by what I did!

I heard a car pulling in next to me, and almost instinctively I raised my head to look. I wasn't even surprised to see my father. He got out of his car, and came around and took a seat on the front passenger seat of the car I was in. For a long few moments, we sat in silence, looking straight ahead at the brightly lit supermarket.

"I'm sorry, Papa. I caused the problems." I broke the silence in a shaky whisper.

"Arsal, every marriage has issues. But it's something between a couple, and nothing to do with the children. It's not your fauly, kid. It's just an issue that your mother and I have yet to discuss and resolve, that's all."

"But that matter became a reason, Papa. I became a reason."

"Arsal, listen to me as I say this loudly and clearly: none of this is your fault, okay?" He put a hand on my shoulder. "It's your birthday. Come back home and let me and your mother resolve this amongst ourselves, okay?"

I looked at him, and a part of me wanted to listen to him and let them handle the issues. But something was bothering me. When I'd overheard their argument, it hadn't sounded like something that could be resolved very easily. It had scared me, worried me. "Don't let her go. Don't ask her to go. She belongs with us."

"This is entirely her choice, Arsal. It's not my call."

"If you let her go, it will hurt a lot." 

He glanced thoughtfully at me. 

My cheeks warmed up and I turned away. "I mean, you have been together for like two and a half decades, so it will hurt you if she's not around. And it will hurt her to be away from you, from us. It will hurt all of us. And you and Mama wouldn't want to hurt us kids, would you?" Okay, so I added a little bit of emotional blackmailing at the end, but I really didn't want my parents separating.

He smiled weakly. "I know what you're trying to do, kid. But let me and Anabia deal with it."

"You call her Anya."

He turned away.

"She's apologising. She is accepting her mistake. Why were you taking my repentance, my apology in consideration, but not hers?" I pointed out. 

"Come home, Arsal." He pushed the car door open and got out, but I could see that he was pondering upon my valid point. It wasn't an excuse that I got forgiveness, simply because I was his blood. Mama was his spouse, and one that he loved more than anything or anyone in the universe. She deserved forgiveness too.

*

Hooriya

Sometimes I felt so grateful that we didn't have toxic relatives who would pit us against each other, especially Mama and Papa. They would choose sides, under the pretence of being well-wishers, and then cause a further divide between them. 

Meanwhile, in the non-existence of those toxic relatives, my siblings and I were striving hard to get them to talk.

"You need to wear this tonight." I held up the icy blue sari that hung in a hanger. "The mother of the birthday boy needs to look like a true showstopper."

"Hoor..."

"Mama, it's your Arsu's birthday!" I insisted. "Haya is going to drop you off at the parlour, okay?" 

"Parlour?" She looked startled. "With everything going on, do you really expect me to go to a parlour?"

"For Arsu." I smiled angelically.

She rolled her eyes.

"And don't worry about Papa. Rohaan is going to make sure that he gets ready on time." I began to gently push her out towards the foyer, where Haya was ready to take her.

"Hoor..." Mama began to insist.

Arsal was coming down the stairs and gave her a warm smile. "I'm glad you're getting all ready for my birthday, Mama. You and Papa deserve to look your best, considering that after Allah, my existence is due to you two."

Mama paused in her steps, guilt spreading across her face. "Oh, Arsu..."

"Haya, hurry. She's getting late for her appointment." I urged.

My twin nodded and immediately took our mother out.

Arsal sat down on the stairs, looking glum.

"Chin up, soldier. We have a plan to put in action." I told him.

"I don't want them to get divorced, Appi. If they get divorced, would Mama move to Lahore?" He looked up with me, raw vulnerability spread across his face.

I sighed and walked over to sit down beside him. "Don't be melodramatic, Arsu. They won't get divorced. They're crazy about each other."

"But no love story is more important than a person's kids. And because of me, what if they have irreconcilable arguments and..."

"That's what we're trying not to let happen, okay?"

"We're gonna fail miserably. Reality is far different from the fantasies in our head."

"Ok, now you're just being miserable. Get up and check on how Rohaan is doing in his part of the mission." I ordered like the eldest sibling that I was.

Rolling his eyes, Arsal got up and headed upstairs.

Oh, Allah, let our good intentions succeed. We are technically doing the opposite of what the Shaitaan desires, so please help us. 

*

Haya

"Look." I told the receptionist after Mama had gone to take a seat at one of the chairs in the beauty parlour. "Make sure she's unable to make any phone calls. Just trust me, okay? My siblings and I have planned a surprise for her."

The receptionist blinked at me with a 'duh' expression. "It's 2023. Doesn't she have a phone of her own?"

"I wasn't born yesterday." I rolled my eyes. "I have that part covered." My mother's phone was safely inside my bag right now. I had taken it at home, under the pretext of searching for a particular photo from my Nikah, that she had asked someone to take using her phone. And then I had sneakily put it in my back. And Mama didn't remember, with everything going on around her.

"Mama." I walked over to my mother. "I'll be back by six, okay?"

"I don't know why you and Hoor are forcing me to do this."

"Only for Arsu." I kissed her cheek. "Love you. See you later."

"Haya..."

I rushed out before she could stop me. 

*

"I'm going to pick Rebecca Khalla, since I'm closer to where she is than Aariz is, and then I'll bring her straight to Dada Jaan and Dado's home." I told Papa.

It was an event with close family and friends, and of course mine and Hoor's in-laws.  

Rohaan adjusted Papa's black tie. "There. You're all ready." He smoothed down the lapels of our father's suit jacket.

"Is this really necessary?" Papa asked him.

"You are the father of the birthday boy! Of course it is!" Ro scoffed, before turning to me. "Go, Behaya. Where's Hoor?"

"She went home to get ready, and will come with Farhaan Bhai." I replied. "See you later, Papa." I leaned up to kiss my father's cheek before heading out.

"Where's Anabia?" I heard him ask Rohaan.

I paused briefly to hear my brother's answer.

"The twins forced her to go to the parlour." Ro replied, as per the unofficial unwritten script that we had roughly prepared.

I smiled to myself. So far so good...

*

Arsalan

I was nervous. Was this going to work? Were we just being ridiculous?

I paced the garden at my paternal grandparents' house, kicking a small pebble out of the way.

"Stop being so nervous." 

I took a deep breath and turned. "If this plan flops, everything will crumble..."

"When did you become such a Negative Nancy?" Rohaan raised both eyebrows. Dressed in formal black trousers and a cream button-down tucked in shirt, along with polished black shoes, he looked nothing like his usual self.

"I'm a Realistic...Rob." 

He casually placed and arm around my shoulders and I smelled mint chewing gum and the scent of Tom Ford cologne- something he had sneaked from Papa. "Just enjoy your birthday."

"How can I? Mama's not here yet! What if this all backfires?"

"Arsalan, there comes a time in one's life that one must stop being such a mouse, and took a step towards lion-hood. One meaning of your name is literally 'lion', and yet you act the opposite."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Let's go. Your party is about to start."

"But what about Mama?" 

"Good God! How are we brothers?" He exhaled dramatically.

*

Hooriya

I was nervous, worried about this all backfiring.

"You okay?" Farhaan looked at me, concerned.

I nodded, smiling at him reassuringly. Dressed in a plain maroon shalwar kameez with a stunning lace dupatta which truly beautified the appearance of the outfit, I had my hair curled and pinned back with a silver clip. 

"Gorgeous beauty, Ma Sha Allah." Discreetly, Farhaan leaned down to peck my lips.

We walked hand-in-hand to the marquee with heaters at the back of the Tariq family home.

We met Haya first, dressed in black jeans and a navy blue long-sleeved shirt with a short hem at the front and a longer one at the back, over which she wore a navy blue cropped sequined shrug. Her hair was in a high ponytail, and the only make-up she had on was the eyeliner and mascara, which I knew without asking, would have been done by one of our aunts.

As Farhaan chatted to Aariz Bhai, Haya dragged me away.

"So far, so good." She said.

"I feel bad. Mama must be panicking." I glanced towards Papa, who was chatting to Dada Jaan and Faiz Uncle. "And so far, he isn't worried about her absence."

Haya followed my gaze. "Oh, trust me, he is. See the way he is discreetly checking the time on his wristwatch? The way his gaze is 'casually' sweeping around the room?"

And now that I paid closer attention, I realised she was right. Papa glanced over his shoulder, frowning slightly. "Haya, you're going to get in so much trouble for this, you know that? It was your duty to pick her up."

She shrugged. "Every mission requires risks and sacrifices." She took my hand. "Ooh, he's walking over. Let's polish up our rusty acting skills." She suddenly laughed, clutching my arm.

I looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

"Hoor, don't mess it up." She said from between gritted teeth, while still smiling.

"Twins." Papa walked towards us. "Where's Anabia?"

Then Haya surprised me even further. "Does it matter? After what she caused, does it matter if she's here or not?" 

Rohaan, who had also been keeping an eye on things, approached us. "Behaya is right. Anything could have happened to Arsal last night because of her."

Papa looked a little taken aback, but a disapproving frown soon appeared on his face. "Excuse me, but who gave you two the right to say such things about her?" He glanced around, jaw clenched. "She's Arsal's mother. She should be here."

Haya then continued her act, and this time, it was a part of sheepishness. "I forgot to pick her up from the parlour."

"You forgot to pick her up?" Papa repeated in disbelief, before taking his phone out. He frowned. "There are no calls and messages from her."

"It might be because she left her phone and purse with me..." Haya winced. She placed a hand on her forehead. "God, how can I be so stupid? She must be all dressed and alone, with no way to get here..."

Papa looked tensed. "Send me the address of the parlour. I'm going to get her."

"Papa, look...one of us can go." I placed a hand on his arm. "You stay here with the guests."

He shook his head. "I'll be right back. Speak to your Chachu and Mamu to keep an eye on things while I'm away." He rushed away towards the exit.

"Right...too early to celebrate?" Rohaan asked me and Haya.

"We are not even thinking about it until they enter arm-in-arm...or at least, side-by-side." Haya replied.

"I wish that happens." I whispered.

"In Sha Allah." Haya said, confidently.

*

Anabia

I don't know what was wrong with the parlour staff because nobody let me make a phone call- they didn't even book an Uber for me when I told them that I'd pay them back as soon as I had any form of payment with me.

And now the parlour was shut, leaving me standing out in the cool evening air, shivering a little in my blue sari. The breeze ruffled through my beautifully styled hair. My make-up was at risk of being washed away with the tears threatening to overflow in my eyes.

I was missing the birthday party of my Arsu, and I was standing here alone in a part of the town which I wasn't very familiar with, all dressed up.

I hugged myself as a stronger gust of wind blew, making me shiver even more. The brutal chilliness of the autumn air was merciless. I tried to think of what to do, and short of walking down the road to the nearest shop to ask for help, there was not much I could do but wait for Haya. She was already forty minutes late, so I was in serious doubt if she would come.

Is she mad at me too? I shook my head. No. My kids would never do that to me, no matter what.

I felt something warm placed on my shoulder and I whirled around, my heart pounding hard with terror. "Oh my God..." I grabbed onto Rehan's arms in relief, my knees threatening to give way. His gaze was intense on me, and his hands steadied his jacket on my shoulders as it almost slipped off. Bursting into tears, I slipped my arms around him. "Rehan." 

"You okay?" He wrapped his arms around me as I trembled continuously.

"I didn't- I d-didn't know what to do." I looked up at him, a tear running down my cheek.

His jaw was clenched. "But I know exactly what I have to do."

I blinked at him, confused. Clearly he was still furious at me, and we were probably going to get into another fight over this. "Rehan..."

"I'm going to disown our kids." He took my hand in his, and led me towards his car, parked in a proper parking space around the corner.

*

I held my hands over the car heater as Rehan drove us towards my parents-in-law's house. I was still shivering a little, I don't know out of the residual fear or cold. "Y-you think the kids planned this?"

"They put you in such a risky situation, caused you so much anxiety." He was muttering from between gritted teeth. "This is the limit."

A small smile automatically appeared on my lips. "Rehan, they Parent Trapped us."

"Those little schemers."

I placed my hand on his. "Well, at least I know that we still have a chance." I spoke softly. "You're still fiercely protective of me."

"You're in my Nikah, my responsibility. And you know that I take my responsibilities very seriously." He didn't look at me.

"You only came here today to fulfil your responsibility?" I asked. "All the way here, you only thought about how you'll fail in your responsibility if anything happened to me?" 

He didn't reply.

"Because I felt more than that when I looked into your eyes." 

He glanced briefly at me. "What you did, how easily you considered leaving everything behind; it really killed me, Anya. After everything that we've been through together."

I nodded, glancing down.

"But the thought of anything happening to you tonight killed me even more." He added, placing his hand on my clasped hands in my lap. "And I'm fuming that our kids could put you through that, regardless of their intentions."

"They meant well." I, naturally, defended my children. "The poor kids were so stressed out over our argument." I smiled. "And it's Arsal's birthday. Let's call it a truce for tonight, just for his sake?"

"Only for Arsal." He nodded.

*

When we entered the event, arm-in-arm, everyone greeted us with warm smiles, congratulating us on our son's twentieth birthday.

But the best part of it all? The happy beam on Arsal's face as he saw us walk towards him together. My smile widened, seeing him happy and glowing.

"Happy Birthday, my sweet Arsu." I kissed his cheek. "May Allah bless you with a long and healthy life. Ameen."

"Ameen." Rehan ran a hand over his head.

"Parents? Photos." The photographer called out to us. 

My husband and I stood on either side of your youngest child, our hands overlapping each other as we rested them on Arsal's upper back.

My gaze then searched for our other kids and I had to bite back another smile as I saw Rohaan grin at us as he stood between his delighted sisters.

How can I not feel proud of their upbringing?

Arsal took my hand and placed it in Rehan's. "You two are late, so this is your penalty. You cannot ever leave each other's side."

"Ever?" I repeated.

"Ever." Arsal cutely narrowed his eyes at me, then at his father. 

"Come on, siblings!" The photographer called out to our other kids.

In one photo, Haya and Hoor pinched Arsal's cheeks as Ro ruffled his hair, grinning at down at him as he sat on a chair.

And then there was the photo where Arsal once again stood between me and Rehan, with Ro on his father's side, and the twins on my other side.

"We're going to talk." I narrowed my eyes at Haya once the photographer was done.

She looked sheepishly at me, ducking behind Hoor. 

I then looked at my elder daughter. "All of us."

"I really should go back home tonight. I've been here too much." Hoor immediately said.

"Traitor." Haya pinched her arm.

I then turned to look at my sons. They both were talking and grinning at each other, but both turned sombre when they saw me glare at them.

Rehan placed his arms around our sons' shoulders. "We are going to remind you all why we're still the parents in this equation."

The four siblings exchanged nervous looks.

And yet, I was still uncertain about the equation between me and my husband.

*

"Peace offering?" 

I turned and saw Rehan holding up a spoonful of Arsal's birthday cake. "Are we on cake-friendly terms now?"

He put the spoon into his own mouth. "We have a common enemy- or four of them." He took another spoonful of cake and again lifted it up towards my mouth. "Consider this a white flag for now, until we get to properly talk."

I opened my mouth, and he placed the spoon into my mouth. The soft deliciousness of the cake made me close my eyes, savouring it. "It's absolutely delicious. Laila has pure talent." My brother's wife had insisted on making the cake for our son.

As we shared the cake in silence, he looked at me, a hint of worry in his eyes. "Would you really have left, Anya?"

I looked into his eyes and I hated myself for causing him to worry. "This is not a dialogue, but a true reality, Rehan, but I really, truly can't live without you. So, I'm not getting out of this marriage or our home alive."

A corner of Rehan's mouth lifted up in a small smile as he continued gazing into my eyes.

Someone cleared their throat, and we turned to see Arsal standing there.

"Hey." He said, sheepishly. "Listen, since it's my birthday, so if I can request that I get cut some slack? I'm willing to snitch on my siblings for some leniency..."

I exchanged an amused look with my husband, before turning back to face our youngest child. "And who is the mastermind behind this place, Arsalan Rehan Tariq?" 

"I'll tell you if you promise me leniency first." 

"See, we can't do that until we know that we can trust you." 

Arsal cleared his throat. "I'll consider this deal, and come back to you." He hurried away, head bowed.

Rehan placed his hand on the small of my back, chuckling.

I leaned against him, looking up at him with a smile.

We didn't need to admit it out loud, but I knew that he felt the same pride in our kids that I felt. The efforts they had put in, for our sake, was awe-inspiring and touching. 

"They'll pay for what they put you through." He whispered, kissing the side of my face. "And you, Mrs Rehan Tariq, will pay for what you put me through."

I widened my eyes up at him and he winked.

*

Aww, the Rehan siblings and their scheming brought Anya and Rehan back together!

Even a birthday can't occur without drama lol.

Thoughts and comments?

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