With the beginning of June came Ramadan. In the scorching heat fasting was ten times more difficult. The constant want for water was great but the unwavering faith was greater. Under the heat, the sun reflected on the tarmac and gave the image of cooling water. A beautiful mirage. The trees stood still and only under their shade could one find relief. The men worked in their offices whilst the women prepared the food for iftari. As the time for Maghrib drew nearer, the sun started to fall and the heat started to spread making it a little cooler.

Inside the huge villa, Mahrukh and Amna were having a fight. Amna who was eight months along, was not fasting as she needed to eat for the child to be healthy. However, she refused to eat anything since everyone else could not eat. Mahrukh had been trying to convince her for the past one hour to eat.
"Amna plase zidd mat karo. I will call Akbar bhai!"
(Amna please do not act stubborn)
But Amna was a stubborn person.
"No I will not eat. That is final." Aliya who had been observing all this decided to step in.
"Leave it Mahrukh. If Amna does not want to eat anything then just give her some juice. And Amna you will have that juice okay?"
Hearing the stern ness of her voice, Amna nodded and Mahrukh went to get her Watermelon juice.

The day passed in little things and running around. During the iftaari, the table was ladden with an array of foods. Mahrukh's plate had been filled to the brim with food and she could not wait to devour it. Amna who had not had anything in the afternoon was unable to stop herself and was already munching on a seasme-honey wing, licking her fingers. The siren rang and everyone opened their fast with a date. After which they drank the staple of all Pakistani iftaaris Rooh Afza. The cool drink entered the parched throats making everyone sigh in content.

"Akbar bhai. Please tell your wife to eat food on proper time".
Mahrukh complained to Akbar as they were all playing ludo. Akbar looked over to Amna who had a look of innocence in her eyes before speaking like a little kid.
"I didn't do anything,"
Akbar sighed. His wife was having a child and was still a child.
"Amna you know that it is a sensitive time. Take care of yourself".
Amna nodded like a little child who was being scolded by their parents. She turned around and started playing the game with full interest. The elders who were sitting and talking asked Zain
"When are you giving us a good news?" Zain looked at Mahrukh who was blushing and trying her hardest to focus on her turn.
"Whenever Allah wills".
Zain's reply had Hooriya and Zainab burning and looking at their daughter in law's with a burning look.

It was time for sehri. Mahrukh had woken Zain up before she went to the kitchen to help around. Mahrukh, was eating the pre-dawn meal when she felt the first dizzy spell. She grabbed onto Zain's muscular arm to stable herself as she felt everything moving. Zain looked at her concerned.
"Mahrukh are you okay?"
She looked up to him and nodded. But Aliya who had noticed everything spoke
"Mahrukh tomorrow at iftari is Amna's baby shower. And you do not look well. You should not fast today".
Mahrukh tried to argue but once Zain had agreed with his mother, everything was set in stone.

The next morning, everyone was busy getting the decor done. The interior of the house covered in pink and blue streamers. With a long table covered in cupcakes of both the colours. Mahrukh despite feeling ill had been running around the house getting things done. In the evening when she was getting dressed, Amna came and gave her an outfit.
"Wear this so that the both of us can be twins," Mahrukh smiled at her and nodded. It was a beautiful pastel blue monochrome outfit with a pastel pink duppata. Wearing her pastel pink heels and curling her hair, she walked downstairs into the crowded living room. Next to the stairs stood a handsome Zain. Wearing a dark blue kurta and fitted trouser, he was a sight to see. He grabbed Mahrukh's hand as she reached the end of the stairs. Kissing the back of the dainty hand he pulled her close to him by the waist. Whispering "you look lovely. MashAllah" and then taking out a bundle of noted he rotated it around her head giving it to her mother asking her to give it to someone poor.

Mahrukh and Amna both looked radiant. Their faces were glowing with happiness as it was revealed that they were having a boy. Mahrukh had hugged Amna so bad that she forgot to breathe. After iftari, everyone sat down to drink some tea. Mahrukh who was bringing the tray swayed on her feer and fell on the floor unconscious, dropping the tray next to her feet which thankfully did not hurt her. Zain rushed to her pulling her in his arms.
"Akbar start the car. We are taking Mahrukh to yhe hospital ".
The drive was very tense. Both the brothers were very worried about the fragile girl. Finally reaching, Zain lifted Mahrukh and ran inside who was immediately shifted to a ward and a doctor began to run some tests.

○~○

It was Sehri time. The three were still not back. Amna had been put to sleep as distress was not so good for her. Zainab and Hooriya had not stopped bad mouthing Mahrukh.
"Pehlay maa. Ab beti".
(First the mother and now the daughter)
Hooriya's sentence did not go unheard by Akram. He glared at her before speaking
"If we are silent feel lucky. One more word. And I will not take the blame behind the consequences".
His threat for the time was enough to silence her. But Laraib was not far behind.
"Baba they are not lying".
Akram looked at her with poisonous eyes.
"DO NOT INTERFERE IN THE MATTERS OF MY WIFE LARAIB!"
The loud voice of Zain echoed with finality. In his hands was a pale but happy Mahrukh. With an equally happy Akbar.

Aliya ran to her daughter in law. Pulling her into her arms. Kissing her forehead again and again.
"Meray chand what happened?"
(My moon)
Before she cpuld reply Akbar spoke for her.
"Mama pehlay usko betha tou dein. Phir jawab detay hain".
(Mama first make her sit then we will tell you)
Aliya nodded and pulled her to the sofa. Akbar ran to kicthen and brought her a glass of chilled water.
"Here. Drink this Mahi,"
Mahrukh thanked him and drank the water slowly. Zainab who was on the edge of her patience decided to speak.
"End this drama and tell what happened?"
Zain sat next to Mahrukh and pulled her into his chest and smiled looking at her. Then staring dead straight into Zainab's eyes spoke
"Mahrukh is pregnant ".
Aliya's happiness knew no bounds. Hearing the good news she couldn't help but pull Mahrukh to her side and congratulate her. Everyone wished them well and so did Zainab and Hooriya but with bitterness. Laraib did not wish them at all instead she just walked away.

The next morning, Amna came down to see Mahrukh having breakfast.
"Mahrukh when did you come?"
"At Sehri time."
"Is everything okay?"
The worry in her tone prominent.
"Yes. But I have a good news for you" Amna looked at her.
"What is it?"
Pausing for a second for the sake of theatrics Mahrukh said
"I am pregnant,"
Mahrukh squealed. Amna too became ecstatic and the two hugged each other already planning how their kids would be best friends.

○~○

Time was passing by fast. It had already been a month since Mahrukh found out she was pregnant. During this time, Zain and Aliya had helped and supported her a lot. From bearing her tantrums to feeding her the food she craved. Mahrukh was enjoying the pampering. Saad had been informed and he had immediately joined them in Islamabad.  He had stayed for a month and had just left. Promising to come when Mahrukh gives birth.

Last night, Amna gave birth to a healthy and beautiful baby boy. He had been named Faris. He had Mahrukh already wrapped around her fingers and she would sit and gaze at him for long periods of time and then kiss his round and soft cheeks claiming that he was a very squishy baby and it was not her fault.

○~○

Laraib was sitting inside her room not having any care in the world when Fahad entered. He looked furious. Slapping Laraib on the face, he grabbed her jaw.
"How dare you complain to mama about me. Your parents warned you but little Laraib was in love".
Pushing her onto her bed, Fahad headed out, probably to meet another one of his lovers.

Having had enough, Laraib ran to her mother's room and banged on it. Aliya opened the door thinking it was Zain, but to her shock it was Laraib. A very flustured Laraib with a bruise on her face. Seeing her daughter in that condition, Aliya cried.
"Laraib. How did this happen?"
Laraib entered the room and told her all about what had happened. Akram who overheard it all, furiously exited the room and shouted
"ZAINAB!"
Hearing the voice, Zainab ran worried that something had happened. But seeing Laraib and Aliya she understood what had happened.
"You married my daughger to your son
Is this how you taught him to treat his own wife?"
Zainab brushed aside the claims saying that they must have had a misunderstanding.

Just at that moment, Fahad entered and Aliya spoke
"Fahad give Laraib divorce. She will not suffer with an abusive man. Free her from this prison".
Laraib looked at her mother with open eyes. Not liking the mention of divorce. But Fahad was a different story.
"Sure. I only wanted her to sign away her inheritance to me which she has already done now I have no use of her". The sentence shook everyone. Laraib who had signed the papers obliviously, had heard Zainab and Hooriya talk about it. But she was so blinded by love that she did not care.

"GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE. ZAINAB AND FAHAD PACK YOUR BAGS AND LEAVE. WE WILL HAVE THE DIVORCE SETTLED IN COURT!" Akram shouted. But Laraib spoke
"We will leave. But I will live with Fahad. I do not want a divorce" .
Her ego still clouding her senses. Zainab was proud of the rift she had caused. Akram nodded his head.
"Okay. But then forget you have any parents," to say the words was like poison. But he thought Laraib would see sense. Unfortunately she did not. Packing up all of their stuff, they all left the house.

Never to return again.

○~○