" Expected weak global growth with escalated trade tensions adding to the risk and the pace of recovery of growth will have implications on revenue collections..."

Veer, she's pregnant

his Mama's voice rang in his ears shutting out all the words that the Head of Finance Department was ranting off a paper.

"... In order to boost the sluggish demands and consumer sentiments, counter cyclical fiscal policies may have to be adopted to create additional fiscal headroom..."

Pregnant.

Ibtihaaj.

Shahveer finally registered what his Mama had tried telling him when he was rushing out of the house this morning.

From that one night three months ago.

Pregnant.

How could he let that happen? Now he had actually cheated on Dia by trying to create a life that they wanted. That she wanted.

Shahveer mused on the last three months. On how his life changed but still remains unchanged.

On the little girl who now holds the title that he once felt was indispensable.

On his new wife.

On his newly pregnant wife who he hasn't spoken two words to.

He had shifted to a spare bedroom and let her have his bigger one. He hardly ever went home lest he has an encounter with her.

Shahveer knew that he was acting irrationally and that Ibtihaaj wasn't at any fault but he still couldn't bring himself to even look at her after what they did.

What he did to her.

Their family had softened up with her with the exception of his Hania Bhabhi. She still kept Ibtihaaj at a one hand distance and treated her cautiously.

Shahveer has noticed the small things about her and the little things that she tries to do for him.

She helps his Mama with anything and everything. She has taken over the kid's education and even the kids are enamored with her.

His Baba has begun spending time with his youngest daughter in law and he taught her things that every father teaches his children. His Bade Abbu and Qaan chachu also have started depending on her for little things.

His brothers have finally accepted her as their sister and they now protect and love her just as much if not more than they do to Hania or Qiraat.

Him on the other hand has not had any interaction with her and not for lack of favourable conditions. He didn't let any opportunity arise for them to be in a room together or to speak with each other.

Shahveer didn't hate her but he also didn't like her presence in place of his wife. His Sadia. His Dia.

It should have been her. It should have been his Dia playing carrom with his brothers or going shopping with his Bhabhis or discussing world politics with his fathers or trying out new recipes with his mothers.

It should have been his Dia but instead it is Ibtihaaj.

It is Ibtihaaj who is doing everything that was meant for his Dia and it is Ibtihaaj who is now pregnant.

It should have been his Dia but instead it is Ibtihaaj.

Rage like no other engulfed his being and he swiped everything off of his glass table, scaring the poor man who was just finishing off his report, unaware of his boss's temperament.

" Sir..." Aslam began.

" Mr Aslam we'll continue this tomorrow. Please inform the Finance Department to submit the Annual Report for this fiscal year, first thing tomorrow morning. You may leave now" Shahveer calmly instructed as if he hadn't just behaved so barbarically in front of the said employee!

Shahveer left for home much earlier than usual. He entered their estate and the first person he saw was his wife.

His pregnant wife.

She was sporting a small baby bump almost invisible to the unscrutinizing eyes but since he knew where to look he did and his face formed into a scowl.

He couldn't help but paint her as an imposter.

An imposter living the life of his Dia!

Shahveer didn't spare her another glance and rushed inside only to come upon his Mama.

" Veer I need to talk to you. Tum subah bhi mujhe unsuna kar chalein gaye the" Faiqa scolded her younger son.

Faiqa pulled him to the empty lounge which worked in her favor as she needed to drill some sense in her suddenly stupid son.

" Shahveer..." Faiqa began, making him cringe at his own name.

His mother has never ever called him by his full name. Never. And here she was using it for the first time and he had a feeling she wasn't going to sing his praises.

" Ibtihaaj is pregnant" Faiqa again informed her son lest he hadn't heard her in the morning.

" Hmmm" Shahveer just hummed in response.

" I think you didn't hear me properly" Faiqa was baffled at his response or the lack there of.

" Shahveer, Ibtihaaj your wife is pregnant. You're going to be a father..." Faiqa told him helplessly.

Her son didn't seem too happy with Allah's blessings.

" I heard Mama. I know!" Shahveer pulled at his hair and sat down on the couch with a thud.

" Beta, aren't you happy?" Faiqa was scared now.

" Why should I be Mama? I didn't ask for it! " Shahveer shouted.

" Veer kya keh rahe ho?" Faiqa was horrified at his response.

" Mama she is not my Dia. She's just living my Dia's life!" Shahveer whispered, tired of his life.

" Veer..." Faiqa held the couch for support.

" And your baby? Uss masoom ki zindagi ki kya keemat hai?" Faiqa was devastated now.

" Allah ki rehmat ko yun thukrane wale khud ek din Unse reham ki bheek maangte hai Shahveer. Yaad rakhna iss baat ko" Faiqa warned her son.

" I don't care about her or that THING inside of her..." Shahveer was slapped out of saying anything further.

But, the damage was already done. Because unbeknownst to them, Ibtihaaj who had come to ask her husband for tea; had unintentionally listened in on their talks

Ibtihaaj wanted to extend an olive branch towards her husband after knowing the impending arrival of their baby but looks like her husband didn't even consider them his own.

Her and her Thing!

She choked back a sob and turned to leave just to bump into another body. Hania.

A Hania who now had pitiful looks cast in her direction.

Ibtihaaj was done with all of this. She was done with being humiliated in her supposed home.

Never had she ever missed her parents so much as she did today. This moment.

If they would have been alive, she would have rushed to her mother and cried in her chest, complained to her father about everything. They would have set everything straight.

But, they obviously aren't and she clearly has no place to go if at all she ever thinks of leaving this house. Where will she go?

Helplessness like no other engulfed her at the mere thought of her dependency on others. She could have been foolish enough to think she could strive on her meagre salary but now she has her baby to think about. She would swallow her pride if it means her baby would be safe and healthy.

Ibtihaaj rushed to her room and locked the door behind her. It was just the two of them against the world.

Her and her Thing!

Two months passed by and Ibtihaaj had now entered in her second trimester. Movements didn't come easy to her and there was no one whom she could turn to for assistance.

Getting up in the morning was a task in itself but her job needed attention. She wasn't going to give up the one thing that gave her a semblance of independence.

The entire day she would slug her heavy body from home to school and there from class to class. She would be extremely tired at the end of the day and would sleep the minute her head hit her pillow.

Her mother in law is a godsend. Her and Qiraat Bhabhi. They took such good care of her that she sometimes forgets that she is the bahu of this house.

The kids were excited for their new sibling and even the boys were eager to hold the baby. The baby's father was another story.

Shahveer never made an effort to talk to her let alone ask after her and their baby's wellbeing. It's like they didn't even exist for him.

Faiqa, Qiraat, Duaa and Aamaal fulfilled all her wishes and cravings as much as they could. But alas, they can never fill the gaping hole that her husband's absence has formed in her life.

There are certain things that are shared just with your husband. Certain woes meant just for the father of your baby.

Shahveer was absent from both the roles and unbeknownst to the two of them, he would forever regret this missed phase of their life.

This particular night Ibtihaaj was feeling very uneasy. Her feet were swollen and her back was aching. Her stomach was bloated and her baby was kicking up a storm inside her, demanding that she feed him right that instant!

Ibtihaaj padded down barefoot to the kitchen in search of something good. Something sweet, something spicy, something tangy!

She raided all the cabinets but none had that one special thing; that which her heart craved.

This brought tears in her eyes. She was pregnant and tired and alone and on top of that she couldn't fulfil her child's desire.

What kind of a mother was she?

She sat down weeping on the chair by the kitchen island and that's when she felt a presence behind her.

Hania.

Hania had seen Ibtihaaj go down a few minutes ago and when she heard the quiet whimpering, she couldn't control herself from checking in on her.

That what she saw brought tears in her own eyes.

There sat a crying Ibtihaaj, cradling her small baby bump and was repeatedly apologizing to it.

What have they done to this innocent girl?

Hania gingerly placed a hand on her shoulder making her flinch away from her touch, her actions totally justified.

She hadn't exactly been a friendly presence in her life.

" Kya hua hai?" Hania asked her slowly.

Ibtihaaj just shook her head in answer. She always has been intimidated by Hania's aura.

" Batao bhi" Hania urged her gently.

" Inhe bhook lagi hai aur khaane ke liye kuch bhi nahi hai..." Ibtihaaj was moved to tears yet again at the lack of food that she craved.

" Aur humare pairon me bhi dard hai, aur back ache bhi ho rahi hai..." Ibtihaaj went on complaining about all her woes to an amused Hania.

Hania suddenly felt ashamed at the way she had treated her. She was but just a little girl who was thrown into a whirlwind of adventures, one that she most probably did not ask for.

What was her fault in all this? She wasn't to blame for Sadia's death. She wasn't to blame for Hania's incapacity at moving on. She wasn't to blame for Shahveer's folly and she wasn't to blame for this pregnancy.

And yet, here was this Little Doll who was sad because she couldn't feed her child with what he craved.

Hania felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness for this darling girl and her baby.

Ibtihaaj and the baby were her responsibility now and she would be damned if she lets even a scratch befall the both of them.

Hania suddenly hugged her small body and kissed her forehead.

" I'm sorry sweetheart. I was so blinded in my love for Sadia that I did not see the pain I was inflicting on you. Please mujhe maaf kardo" Hania pleaded with teary eyes, her senses flooded with remorse at her despicable behavior.

" Appi, ye aap kya keh rahi hai. Aap badi hai mujhse. Ye sab naa karein..." Ibtihaaj hugged her sobbing body.

" Achaa chalein, ab royein nahi. Inhe bhi apni Badi Ammi ko aise dekh bechaini ho rahi hai" Ibtihaaj wiped Hania's tears away.

She always was a forgiving person. Who was she to hold grudges against people that she called family. Family that she always prayed for?

Allah surely doesn't like an ungrateful believer!

" Kya khaogi? Main bana doon?" Hania wiped her wet face and asked a suddenly cheerful Ibtihaaj. Food does that to a pregnant woman.

" Pata nahi Appi inhe kya chahiye" Ibtihaaj pouted because whatever option was available her baby didn't seem satisfied with it.

" Let me see" Hania pulled her cheeks and smiled seeing her face. With her red pouted lips and sparkling blue eyes, she looked like a little doll and Hania felt a surge of love for her in her heart.

Hania checked the cabinets and started listing the things that were available.

" Pasta?"

" Nahi"

" Noodles?"

" Nahi"

" Biscuits?"

" Nahi"

" Mathri?"

" Haan!" Ibtihaaj had the urge to eat the fried mathri with curd and pudinae ki chutney.

" Appi, pudinae ki chutney hai?" Ibtihaaj was already making a plate of Mathri Chaat in her head.

" Fridge me dekhne do..." Hania understood what she wanted to eat.

Their little baby was a Chaat lover just like his Daddy!

Hania got the curd, pudinae and imli ki chutney out from the fridge. Thank God they had some left over from yesterday's takeaway that the twins had brought.

She went a step further and chopped up some vegetables and even quick steamed some sprouts.

The Mathri was made of refined flour and was not extremely healthy for a pregnant woman. Reason why Hania added all the other stuff in abundance and used the Mathri cautiously.

By the time Hania was done making her bowl of Chaat, Ibtihaaj was almost salivating at the sight of it. She started gobbling it down as soon as it was kept in front of her and looked at Hania with reverent eyes.

" Thank you Appi" Ibtihaaj said with a mouthful of food, grateful for her efforts.

" It's okay Meri Jaan" Hania wiped a smudge of the chutney from the corner of her mouth.

" Next time you want to eat something, even if it's in the middle of the night, you wake me or Qiraat up. Okay?" Hania helped her stand up after she was done eating.

" But I don't want to disturb your sleep" Ibtihaaj felt bad that Hania had wasted half her night catering to her needs.

" I don't mind and I'm sure even Qiraat won't. Akele nahi ghoomna itni raat ko, chot lag sakti hai tumhe " Hania was now switching off the kitchen lights and Ibtihaaj was waiting for her by the landing of the stairs.

" Chappalein kaha hai tumhare?" A horrified Hania asked Ibtihaaj.

Why was this foolish girl roaming around barefoot on the cold floor?

" Room me bhool gayi" Ibtihaaj answered sheepishly.

Hania removed her own slippers and made her wear them. She would have to keep a strict eye on this careless little girl whom she has come to love in the last one hour.

How had she ever resisted that sweet doll face? How could she ignore that innocence? Never again. This little girl was her responsibility now and she would see to it that her stupid Veer Bhai realizes her worth before it's too late.

" Baby, don't trouble your Mama. Be good for Badi Ammi okay?" Hania caressed her small baby bump and Ibtihaaj weeped at that. This was too much for her fragile heart.

All she had ever wanted in her life was a family and now she had that. What more could she ask her Allah for!

Alhamdulillah!

Unknown to them, Shahveer who was still up reviewing some reports had come out for water and happened upon the two women. One being his sister and the other his wife.

His pregnant wife.

Masha Allah! She was glowing. What Noor she had!

He felt something akin to possessiveness seeing the beautiful girl round with his baby but he dismissed that thought as soon as he had it.

He was Dia's Shahveer!

A few days later, Ibtihaaj and Usaamah were waiting on the porch for the driver to get the car. Everyone had left for their respective workplaces leaving the driver to take them to school.

Ibtihaaj settled Usaamah in the backseat and tried to get in. The only car left behind for their use was a SUV and it's foot rest was high making it difficult for a pregnant Ibtihaaj to climb in the car.

After a few tries she was frustrated and almost on the verge of crying.

" Chachi, come fast. Hum late ho chuke hai" Usaamah shouted from inside the car.

" Yeah baby, Chachi is trying" Ibtihaaj tried climbing in again but her heavy body made it difficult to do so.

Giving up she asked the driver Anwar Bhai to help her sit. Just as Anwar Bhai was coming to her side, Shahveer who had seen the entire scenario came to her rescue.

No ghair mard was touching his wife!

Shahveer picked a very surprised Ibtihaaj, deposited her small body in the back seat and buckled her up. His hand unknowingly touched her baby bump and he felt a small flutter inside her belly.

Is that his baby? Did he recognize him?

He knew, that's just wishful thinking on his part because he hasn't made any effort to get to know him or his mother.

Shahveer's hand was unknowingly caressing her bump mesmerized by the little flutters he felt beneath his palm.

" Chachu, hum late ho rahe hain" Usaamah's voice brought him back and he realized what he was doing.

He abruptly removed his hand as if he was touching something forbidden, kissed Usaamah's head and shut the car door.

Ibtihaaj sighed. It was like Deja Vu. Her husband had abandoned them yet again. Just like he always does.

She doesn't have any hope from him now.

It's just her and her baby against the world.

Shahveer controlled his ragged breaths as he saw their car pull out from the driveway. Why did it feel that his heart was going away from him?

He didn't have time to question his emotions any further as his phone rang indicating he was late for his own office. But first thing first, he was making sure a town car was always available at home at his family's disposal.

Shahveer didn't want to admit that he's doing it for someone else.

No, he was Dia's Shahveer!

A couple of weeks passed by and Ibtihaaj was now entering into her fifth month of gestation.

She had a routine check-up scheduled for today at the gynecologist and Hania and Qiraat were accompanying her.Zohaib was going to drive them to the hospital and she was waiting for everyone to come down now.

So excited was she to see her baby that she had gotten ready an hour before time and now she was hungry. Again. But not for proper food.

She wanted to eat those little Pancakes that were dipped in Nutella and topped with whipped cream and chocolate chip and strawberries. Oohhh! Strawberries...!

Ibtihaaj felt her mouth water and even her baby was getting restless at the thought of that chocolaty deliciousness.

" Relax Meri Jaan, hum Zoh chachu se kahenge wo aate waqt hume pancakes khaane le chalenge..." Ibtihaaj caressed her baby bump and sweet talked to her baby.

Just then Zohaib and Behroz entered and Ibtihaaj perked up seeing Zohaib.

" Zohaib Bhai, kya hum aate waqt chal saktein hain? Mera bohot man hai wo chotey wale pancakes khaane ka" Ibtihaaj pleaded with Zohaib.

" Bhabhi, aate hue hume Highway se aana padega. Iss waqt Main Road me traffic rush rehta hai, waha se aayein toh teen ghantey ki chutti hai..." Zohaib told a sad Ibtihaaj.

He felt bad for denying such a simple request of his Bhabhi but getting stuck in traffic with her being pregnant is also not feasible.

" Bhabhi, kal subah office jaane se pehle main le aaunga. Vaada!" Behroz promised his sister in law.