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*

Anabia

Saim had always been my best friend. He knew my thoughts and feelings without me even having to verbally express them.

"Anabia! Saim!" Mama called out for the tenth time...or so it seemed.

I covered my hand with my mouth, muffling my giggles, as I looked at my twin brother who was crouched down beside me. We were hiding in the narrow gap between the wall and the back of the sofa in the living room. Mama was trying to put us to bed, but we didn't want that.

"What's going on, Khadija?" Papa's weary voice came, followed by the sound of the front door closing.

I widened my eyes, looking at Saim. We were going to be in trouble! But Saim simply shook his head and squeezed my hand reassuringly.

"Assalam Alaikum. The twins don't want to go to bed, so they are hiding."

"Walaikum Assalam. Can you ask them not to make any noise? I am tired. I don't want to be disturbed." 

"But, Zohaib, they keep asking about you." Mama said. "You told them you'll take them to the park today so that Saim can play football with you, and Anabia can go on the swings." 

"You could have taken them, Khadija. You know how busy I am."

"I did take them. But they wanted you." 

"I just got home. Can you nag later?" 

I looked at my twin again. "He's angry." I whispered.

He shrugged. "He's always angry when he comes home from work these days. Mama says it's because he has too much work." 

"We have too much schoolwork. We don't get angry." I also shrugged.

Saim's eyes widened at something behind me. I turned to look. Oops.

Mama stood there with her arms crossed over her chest. "I have been running around after you the whole day practically. It's bedtime. Come on."

"Do I have to go to school tomorrow?" I asked.

"Why wouldn't you go to school?" She raised both eyebrows at me.

"Because it's boring." Saim and I replied in unison.

"Boring or not, it's necessary. You'll thank me one day." She took our hands, and looking exhausted, led us out of the living room. We were nine, but we still gave her a hard time. We didn't do it to intentionally bother her; I suppose we were just kids being kids, not realising at that time how much our mother had to suffer on a daily basis, raising twin tornadoes.

And it seemed like my cheekiness as a child, as a part of a set of chaotic twins, was going to come back to haunt me in the future...times two.

*

I didn't even know why I was surprise. I was a part of a set of twins; there was always a good chance that this would happen.

And yet, I couldn't think straight. I couldn't even pay attention to anything else that the sonographer had said, apart from her confirmation that the babies were okay.

Babies.

Twins.

Two kids at the same time.

I felt briefly that it was a dream, but it wasn't. I was going to be a mother of twins, In Sha Allah.

I kept getting images of myself and Saim as kids. I'd never felt lonely. I'd always felt that I had a friend 24/7 even before we started school. This was a friend I didn't have to part from at the end of the day. He understood me, and I understood him. I was grateful to have him, because he had made the darker times much easier. Alhumdulillah. 

My children will have the same, In Sha Allah. If having Saim as a twin had been a blessing for me, I should be glad that my children would get the same. They'd always have each other to turn to...although I prayed that my marriage with Rehan grew stronger with time, rather than follow in the direction of my own parents. 

"Are you happy?" I asked Rehan, only speaking up when we were in the car. "I saw you grin when the sonographer gave us the news."

"Honestly? Yes. Alhumdulillah. I am very happy." He glanced at me before he turned the ignition on. "Are you not? Because, your opinion matters more considering that you are the one who's going to go through the pregnancy." 

"I have no idea how I feel. On one hand, I know that Allah had abundantly blessed me by giving me a twin. I don't know how I would have handled my parents' divorce without Saim. But, on the other hand, I am thinking of how I'll handle raising twins...especially if they are as chaotic as me and Saim were for Mama." 

"We'll both share the duties. You won't be doing it alone." He shrugged. "I can easily work from home, you know? In Sha Allah, we'll be fine." 

"Are you sure?" I asked, teasingly. "Don't run away to the office when the twins cry too much." 

"No, I'll just leave them with my parents. Mum has waited long enough for her grandchildren; she'll be happy to take care of them." He joked.

"Or my Mama as well. She has raised twins." I laughed. 

He held out a hand. "In Sha Allah, it'll be ok." I put my hand on his and he squeezed it.

"In Sha Allah." I repeated.

*

Emaad

It had been over a month since I surrendered being Hareem's psychiatrist, but there wasn't a day since then that I hadn't missed those sessions. I thought of her on a regular basis. I thought of how she was doing, to do the point that I often found myself grabbing my phone to message her, just to check up on her. I had sent her the contact details of my colleagues, but so far, Hareem hadn't reached out to her.

I wonder if she's okay. What if she goes back into her shell, untrusting of people again? What if my actions reversed her progress?

"I have made my decision, and you will have to listen to me." Mom's voice floated into the living room before she even entered the room herself. She stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe. "I have contacted Hareem's family. We will be meeting." 

"Mom, are you..."

She held up a hand. "No arguments. Neither of you are going to be forced into marriage, but neither of you can stop the two families from meeting. Ms Gul seemed delighted to hear from me, which gives me a positive sign."

"Mom..."

This time she held up an index finger. "Remember who the parent is in this scenario. You don't want to come with me? Don't. But I am going to go and meet the young lady who my son has developed feelings for, In Sha Allah." As  I opened my mouth again, she used the ultimate parental weapon: emotional blackmail. "You would not have argued with your Dad; you would have respected his wishes. So why don't you respect mine?" 

"You know it's not like that..."

"Then let me do this. I want to do everything to ensure your happiness, and I felt that Ms Gul wants the same for her daughter." She spoke softly. "I won't let your stubbornness ruin your life, Emaad." 

A part of me wanted to surrender and wanted Mom to do what she wanted-after all, it was also what I wanted. But a bigger part of me felt selfish for even considering this. I had basically rejected Hareem- regardless of the reason- and now that I was changing my mind, how was I supposed to even approach her? 

"Let me do this, for my sake if not your own." Mom added.

"Fine, but I don't think I'm being very fair to her." 

"That will be decided by Hareem. But you both at least deserve one chance to see if this can go somewhere." 

*

Hareem

"I know that you felt that he wronged you in a way, but he didn't criticise you or insult you. He just felt that he wasn't good enough for you. Give him one chance to hear him out." Rida Appi told me, gently. "Think of the coincidence of his name being matched up with yours in the matrimonial app. May this is what Allah has planned for you."

"I opened myself up to him. He was my psychiatrist and he didn't understand how his refusal could impact my self-confidence?" I questioned.

"He clearly has his own insecurities. There must be a reason for him to feel that way. We can just judge things by what we see, or what we are shown by people. Sometimes things are much deeper than we realise." Mamma ran a hand over my head. "It's up to you to decide whether it's worth it to dig in deeper, or to just let it go without giving it a chance." 

"Just bear in my that this is the first time you felt something for someone, Harry." Rumaisa Appi said. "There must be a good reason behind it. Do you not want one chance to see how it goes?" 

"Nobody is asking you to sacrifice your self-respect, Hareem." Mamma added. "All we want is to see you completely happy in life. Faiz hasn't found anything dubious about him or his family, but if you still refuse after one meeting, we won't put pressure on you." 

The three of them had come to my room to give me a little pep-talk because Emaad's mother wanted to come and see us. I didn't know how it had happened. For me, Emaad had been a closed chapter, and now this matrimonial app had somehow brought us together again. This seemed like something out of the rom-com novels that Anabia loved, or fanfictions that she wrote.

"Fine. As you wish." I glanced down into my lap. A part of me wanted this really badly, but another part of me was cautious. I had no idea how I would feel if the result of this meeting was going to be in then negative.

*

Yasin

Classes had begun fully. I had began to spend more and more time on campus. The art room soothed me, made me feel at home. I could spend hours there, just drawing and painting. I was happy; well and truly happy. Alhumdulillah.

It was one particularly grey afternoon, the kind that makes you feel miserable, and the kind that constantly threatened rain. But I was immersed in painting. I was painting a landscape that depicted sunset over the mountains, with a small lake reflecting the fading rays of the sun, and lights visible through the windows of the homes in the small village in the valley.

I heard the sound of bangles, before I caught the scent of ittar as she walked past me. Amidst the dark and dull colours of people's autumn outfits, she was like a colourful rainbow peeking from dark grey clouds. A splash of colour in a black-and-white painting. A smile after days of misery. She was wearing a long lime-green sweater-dress with cream-coloured trousers and tan boots. On her head was a cream-coloured hijab, and in her wrists were violet bangles.

*Ittar: alcoholic-free perfume/oil.

Saba.

I felt my heart pounding hard, but I continued trying to focus on my painting. I discreetly glanced her way a few seconds later and saw her sitting on a sofa, her sketchpad out and resting on the armrest, as she rummaged through her pencil case.

Building up courage, I get up and walked over to her. "Assalam Alaikum."

She looked up, seeming startled. "Walaikum Assalam." Her nose ring sparkled at the movement of her head. 

"How are you?" 

"I am well, Alhumdulillah." She spoke slowly, as if trying to understand the purpose of this conversation. "How are you?" 

"I am well as well, Alhumdulillah." I replied. "What are you doing?"

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What am I doing?" She repeated.

I nodded.

"I am just casually drawing, waiting for my next seminar." She replied.

"I draw to go to another place." I told her. "Come. I'll show you." I started walking back to where I had my things set up. For a second, I worried if she was going to follow me, but then I heard the sound of her bangles again. I stood in front of my painting and turned to her. Her gaze roamed over it with awe. "I like to picture myself in this valley, in one of these houses. It's so quiet and peaceful, nothing like the city. I can almost breathe in the fresh air." 

"There's something so peaceful about mountains." She agreed. "They seem to act as shields against the chaos and noise of the city." 

"Art makes me feel the same peace."

"You are very talented. Ma Sha Allah." She commented, muttering as if she had been forced to make that statement. 

"Thank you. As are you." 

"Jazak Allah." She replied. "I have to go." She turned and rushed away towards where she had been sitting. She quickly gathered her things and then left, without another glance at me.

I felt confused. Did I repulse her or something?

*

Anabia

Being back at work was weird. I no longer was able to wear my usual uniform blouse, and fortunately I was allowed to wear my own purchased maternity blouses that matched the colours of my uniform, otherwise the company maternity blouses were too fitting.

People could now clearly tell I was pregnant, without me revealing it to anyone. Only the people in HR, and our senior bosses knew, and they all had a duty to keep it confidential, unless I myself revealed the truth.

"Pregnancy suits you." Caitlin commented with a smile. 

"Thank you." I was sitting in the office, as I had been mostly doing recently. I preferred the peace of admin work to the chaos of check-in and boarding, and did not go out until absolutely necessary.

Rehan had signed the contract, and soon we would be moving into our new home, In Sha Allah. My life was changing beyond words, and for the better. Alhumdulillah. I still felt a little anxious at the idea of having twins, but it wasn't something that I couldn't deal with.

The radio crackled, and the voice of one of our colleagues came through. "Anabia, Cait, we need you guys out here." 

Sighing, we glanced at each other. We hardly got some peace before a new drama took place outside. Usually it was an aggressive person...and usually it was not even the passenger, but someone accompanying them to the airport. Those were the worst kinds of people.

The two of us left the office and headed out into the main terminal building. Our check in area was packed with people, which was unusual considering that it wasn't holiday period. The school half-term was approximately two weeks away, so seeing all these people was bewildering. 

"The Gatwick flight was cancelled." We were informed. "So, all these people will now be on the two flights departing this afternoon." 

"Beautiful." Caitlin muttered, sarcastically.

"Sorry, guys. I wish I had better news." The flight controller shrugged.

"Let's dedicate three desks to the Gatwick flights. Change the screens to reflect that." Caitlin told him, automatically stepping into manager mode. "And get someone to sort the queue out, separate out the Gatwick passengers to line up in front of those three desks..."

I was zoning out, feeling a little light-headed. 

"Keep munching something every two hours." My midwife had advised me. I hadn't eaten anything for four.

"What do you say, Anabia?" Caitlin was looked at me expectedly.

"Hmm?" I looked at her, returning back to reality.

"Since we are short staffed, how about you and I do the meal vouchers?" She asked, clearly repeating herself.

I want a meal, not to give meal vouchers to others! I nodded. "Okay." 

And as we wrote out the meal vouchers, and passengers asked us about the options they had to buy food, I thought of all the restaurants and cafés that my colleagues and I had tried. All the delicious food... I felt unbearably hungry, but I had to remain professional and continue doing my job.

My twins are more important than professionalism!

"Cait, I really have to go." I suddenly stop up and told her. "I'm sorry." 

She was a mother herself, and she seemed to understand my urgency to be away from here, and she nodded, giving me a reassuring smile.

I was starting to miss those days when I was able to last through my whole shifts, including overtime hours, without eating. It wasn't right, pregnancy or not, but I had done it. But now I could barely manage four hours without eating something. And when I got hungry, it was so intense that it felt like I hadn't eaten in days.

As I sat in the restroom eating a vegan wrap (healthy), and sipping from a bottle of water, I received a message from Hareem.

<Hareem: Emaad's family is coming over to see me.>

I blinked, reading the message again and again, unable to believe that I was actually reading those words. I had to call her immediately under the Best Friend Law. "What? When? How? Excuse me? How did I not know this?" 

"I didn't know how to tell you. I don't even know what to feel about it myself." She admitted. "My thoughts are all jumbled up."

"Are you willing to give him a chance, genuinely?" 

"Our families were pretty persistent. And him randomly being linked to me on the matrimonial app got me thinking, I guess." She sighed. "But I don't want a repeat. I don't know how I will go through that all over again." 

"You won't. When you meet, let this be the first thing you say to him: a repeat is not acceptable." I said, firmly.

"You are right. I need to make this clear to him. Hareem Jamshed has self-respect, and I will not throw myself on a guy who keeps pushing me away. I'm only doing this for my Mamma's peace of mind, nothing more. I just need him to give me one excuse to say no and finish this chapter once and for all." She sounded so confident and determined, but as someone who knew her inside out, I could sense the hurt hidden beneath the words of strength. 

I could understand how she felt. Hareem had always protected herself and her feelings, always trying to remain indifferent on the surface, putting up a brave façade. But for her to have stepped out of her shell and to give her heart to someone, before basically being rejected, would have hurt more than anyone of us could imagine. I knew very well that she must be trying to find her way back into the shell, but I also knew that she wasn't succeeding very well. "Hey, Harry? How about a sleepover at my Mama's house one of these days? We can catch up on everything." 

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. I've had too much guy drama to last a lifetime." 

"Oh, Harry..." I giggled. "This is just the beginning..." 

*

Saim

"My parents want us to come over for lunch on Saturday." Laila told me as she got ready to go to the bakery.

"Saturday? There's a big football match..." I stopped short as I saw the expression on her face.

She was still facing the mirror, but her reflection clearly indicated that she was not pleased by my reply. "Saim, you always have an excuse for my family!"

"It's not an excuse." I shrugged. "It is a major game. But we'll go, fine."

She whirled around. "Don't do me any favours."

"Lai..."

"I never make an excuse when it comes to your family, Saim. In fact, I love them like my own. I never complain, never protest when you have to go and see them. I encouraged you to go to Lahore when Mama was unwell. But you always seem to avoid my family. Why?" 

I walked over to her and placed my hands on her shoulders. "You are misconstruing things, Laila. I...I don't know. Your family is brilliant, wonderful people, but the put me up on a pedestal, treat me like royalty, and it just doesn't make me comfortable. I'm not the kind of guy who likes the limelight." 

"You are their son-in-law, and they are just giving you respect and love!" 

"Love is fine, but I don't want my elders to act so carefully around me, as if one small error and their daughter's future is at stake. I'm not like that, Laila."

She sighed. "That doesn't mean you avoid them. They keep asking me why you don't come around. What do I tell them? That you don't like the pampering and the attention? Saim, come on! Be mature." She shook her head. "If you don't want to come, just be direct. I am an adult. I can handle it. Just don't give me the whole 'I-don't-like-attention' nonsense." 

She was really angry, and it was understandable. I was always finding excuses or reasons to avoid going to her parents' house. I knew it was wrong, but the way they treated me was wrong as well. I didn't like how the girl's family felt that they have to treat the guy and his family like nobility. Why? I wouldn't want my mother to act that way around Anabia's in-laws- not that her in-laws were those stereotypical villains either. I would hate for my mother to think that we were inferior to my sister's in-laws. And I didn't want Laila's family to feel that way either.

"I'll come. Just, don't be angry, okay?" I said, softly, placing my hands on her cheeks.

"Don't. I'll just tell them that you were too busy." 

"Laila." I tilted her head up to look directly into her eyes. "I'll come. I'll be pampered. Okay?" 

She gave me a small smile. "You're one of those rare desi sons-in-law who don't want to be pampered." 

I hugged her and closed my eyes. "Lai, I give your family as much importance as I give my own. I don't differentiate. Don't ever think that." 

I don't know why, but I felt a little coldness between us, even as I embraced her. I was worried that this was just a spark that could become a full-blown inferno if I was not careful. 

****

Rehan

Miraal had come into the office a final time, to collect her belongings. 

I was sitting at Josie's desk when she came, and I glanced at her over my shoulders. Wearing blue jeans, with a simple black hoodie and black trainers, and with her face deprived of any make-up, she looked simpler than I'd ever seen her. Her hair had grown out slightly and was now in a ponytail. A small part of me felt bad that she had lost her job because of me.

"This isn't your fault." Josie whispered, as if reading my mind. "Her own actions caused this."

I looked at her. "I didn't want to be responsible for someone's employment being terminated?"

"Even after the way she had behaved? If you hadn't approached HR, this behaviour wouldn't have stopped, and ultimately questions would have been asked as to why you haven't done anything to stop that behaviour. This was necessary, Ray." 

"I know." I sighed, standing up. As I turned to return to my office, I stopped abruptly as I found Miraal standing right there, her eyes welling with tears.

"Love is blind." She whispered. "Your mind loses logic when its captured in the powerful grip of love."

Unwittingly, I gazed down into her eyes. A part of me couldn't help silently admitting that she looked much prettier without make-up. 

"I loved you. Love ruined me." Miraal continued. "And yet, my heart is still pounding uncontrollably in your presence." 

"You want me to make it stop pounding?" Josie suggested helpfully, standing up.

Miraal glanced at her, a sad smile on her face. "I won't be offended by your words. I know you share my pain of unrequited love." 

I glanced at Josie, surprised.

My PA showed no emotions though. "If you are crossing your limits, your boundaries; if you are concerned only about what you want; if you pursue someone to the point of illegality- that's not love. That's lust and obsession. So get over yourself, and get out of here."

"Maybe not today, maybe not soon..." Miraal whispered, moving closer to me. "But one day you'll realise that you have made the wrong choice." 

"I did." I admitted. "By not putting you in your place on the very first day." 

Miraal walked away and I turned back to face Josie, who looked lost in her thoughts.

"Josie?" I called out her name, softly. "Faisal?" It was a guess. I had suspected it often, but Miraal had practically confirmed it. 

"His jokes are considered the ultimate 'Dad Jokes'." She muttered. "He can be annoying and clueless. But he is loyal to the core, and will always have your back. But just because two people can become closer through friendship, does not mean that they belong together."

"Have you guys talked about this?" This was not my area of expertise, and I was treading this subject cautiously, as if one wrong word could be offensive.

"His parents are sending him a list of potential girls for a marriage alliance, all originating from Pakistan." She told me. "And he asked his family to decide for him." 

"Josie..."

"It's okay, Ray. I never built up hopes. It's almost like having a crush on a celebrity- you can like them, but it's never going to happen. I always knew that, and I always will know." 

"Does he know?" 

"I don't know, and I really don't want this to ever come up in a conversation again, Ray. I'm satisfied, I am happy. I will not let my feelings for a guy determine my future happiness. I refuse to be that person." She paused. "I have been applying for other jobs, Rehan." 

"You have what?" I was genuinely shocked by this admission, more than I'd been at the sight of Miraal in the office again.

"I feel like I cannot show my full potential because of our friendship. You have been an amazing boss, but now I feel like our friendship is overpowering our boss-employee relationship, and I don't want that. I want to keep my professional and personal life separate." She admitted. "I have been looking for placements in fashion magazines. I may have quit modelling, but I am still interesting in fashion." 

"To lose you would be a great loss, Josie." 

"I don't want to go either, but I feel like it's a necessary step for my career's sake."

"I respect that, but the doors are always going to remain wide open for you, you know that, right?" 

"Yes, and I appreciate that." She gave me a smile. "Thank you for everything, Ray."

"Thank you for being an amazing PA, but an even better friend." 

"I can help you find a replacement. The interview would be tough though." She grinned.

"I don't know how I'll ever find your replacement." 

And in a few simple moments, another part of my life was changing. It felt kind of strange. I had become accustomed to the way things were. Josie leaving would create a huge change at work for me. In my personal life, we were moving home. We were about to be parents to twins. In Sha Allah. I didn't know how I felt about all this change so rapidly, but it briefly felt a little overwhelming.

But life was about change; change was a mandatory part of it. The only thing we could do was accept it and adapt to it.

*

Anabia

I'd finished Turquoise a long time, and I was re-reading it. I'd fallen in love with the plot, like with the other Rehan Tariq novels, but one thing made me squeal: The sizzling chemistry-filled meeting of the detective and the girl in turquoise.

Rehan claimed that he didn't know how to write romance, but the scene made me fan myself. It wasn't smut...God, it didn't even involve a kiss. It was just the way they spoke to each other, their expressions and mannerisms were so well written that I might as well have been viewing the scene in a film or a TV show. It was just one scene in the book, but it had won my heart completely.

But today, I couldn't concentrate on the book, no matter how hard I tried. Today was the day Emaad and his family were visiting Hareem and her family. It was a big day for Hareem. I just hoped that Hareem thought things through carefully before making a decision.

I surrendered attempting to read, and opened my laptop instead. It was time to continue writing my as-of-yet untitled project about Sara and Sameer. The feeling of homesickness was overwhelming Sara, but she starts to feel better as Sameer told her tales from back home. A new friendship was starting to form between the two.

I was starting to get more and more serious about writing professionally. I wanted to publish this book, even though I didn't feel confident. It was different to hide behind a username and publish fanfictions anonymously. Would anyone even read this book?

Doubt was strong inside me, but I fought against it. No. I love writing and I cannot give up without at least trying.

*

Emaad

We arrived outside Hareem's home. As far as I knew, she and her mother lived in the annexe behind Hareem's elder brother's home. 

From what I have heard, Faiz Jamshed was a very influential man. Being the eldest brother of five sister, it would be natural for him to be intimidating and protective as well, I suppose. I could see it as he came out of the front door with his mother to greet us.

"I'm Faiz, Hareem's older brother." He held out his hand towards me.

"Emaad." I shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you." 

"It's nice to meet you too." He smiled but is scrutinising gaze made me feel that I was being judged.

"I am Gul, Hareem's mother." Hareem's mother spoke to Mom. "You must be Ms Khawaja?" 

"Please call me Sonia, and yes, I am Emaad's mother."

Our mothers hugged as as a younger female came in the doorway and greeted us all with a Salaam, to which we replied.

"This is Anaya, my daughter-in-law." Gul Aunty introduced us all.

After the greetings and formalities were done, she led us inside, where we met Hareem's Rida Appi and her husband Waqas Bhai.

"Before we continue, we have a small request." Gul Aunty said. "Hareem would like to talk to you, Emaad." 

*

Sorry, guys, this chapter was a bit all over the place because I wrote it in bits.

How will Hareem and Emaad's meeting go?

Will Miraal surrender so easily?

Will Josie leave and find another job? 

Consider this a filler chapter for now.

Thoughts and comments?

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