Yumnah watched with dismay as Baba put different types of fruits on her plate. First of all, she was not a fruit person and secondly that was way too much fruit to have in one meal. Was it even legal?

"Here Yumnah, have some pineapple as well," he said as placed two big chunks of the fruit on her plate.

"Baba, please leave some for me as well," said a very concerned Yasir.

At the rate at which Baba was placing fruits on Yumnah's plate, he doubted there would be any left for him and Mama.

"Just shut up Yasir. You don't know anything. Yumnah dear, begin eating."

"But Baba pineapple is my favourite..."

"Just shut up and have you're tea and toast Yasir. Wallahi if you get late, I will ensure that you walk to work."

"Cool."

Yasir shoved a piece of toast in his mouth, as he internally sulked. The smell of pineapple that was wafting from Yumnah's plate was killing him. If only he could get bite.

They ate in silence and just when Yumnah thought that Hitler was not looking, she secretly placed a few pieces of fruit on her husband's plate.

"Thank you habibty," Yasir whispered.

"No problem my love."

"Yumnah, you know I can see you right? You have to eat all that fruit yourself okay? Stop giving it you're husband, he has had enough fruit to last him a lifetime."

"Okay Baba," said Yumnah as she shoved more fruit into her mouth.

"And Yasir, you know the baby needs fruits. How can you eat her share?"

"Wallahi Baba, I was just tasting," Yasir quickly defended himself.

Couldn't a man just have his breakfast in peace? And wait, did the baby need fruits or nutrients? Could Hitler go learn Science first. Psssht.

"Yasmin?"

"Yes Hussein?"

"I want Yumnah's room to be moved downstairs as soon as possible," he said as he took a sip of his wife's delicious tea.

"Whaaat? Why are you separating us?" Yasir quickly interjected.

Okay wait, he was the child's father here. He could understand that Baba was becoming a grandfather for the first time, but he seriously needed to calm down.

And no, his wife was going nowhere. He would not allow this sort of injustice. What was their family lawyer's number again?

"Because its not safe for Yumnah to be going up and down the stairs."

"Baba seriously, its not even a month yet," said Yasir.

Hussein chuckled before he turned to look at Yumnah with a sober face.

"But our dear Yumnah tends to skip on the stairs," he said and Yumnah immediately choked on her tea.

Yasir turned towards Yumnah a look of disbelief all over his face.

"You do what?" he asked not believing his ears. His wife was truly unbelievable. Like what was she? Two?

"Yumnah, that is dangerous okay. I really can't believe you at times," he huffed.

"But Yasir, do you know what is more dangerous?" asked Baba.

"What can be more dangerous than that Baba?"

"Its when a blind man is being led down the stairs by another "blind person" that too in the middle of the night and without a source of light." That is what is more dangerous my son."

Yumnah stared at Baba with wide eyes shock evident all over her face. Was she that other "blind person" he was mentioning?

Ouch!

"Sheesh, who even does that?" she asked as she shoved a strawberry into her mouth.

"I don't know, you tell me Yumnah."

"You know what Baba? After you mentioned the two blind people, it actually reminded me of a nursery rhyme."

"Really Yumnah? Which one?" asked Baba.

"Ooh you know. There was one that went like two blind mice, two blind mice, see how they run..."

"There were actually "Three Blind Mice" Yumnah," said Yasir not believing that his wife had actually started this topic.

"What? There were always two mice Yasir. Which pre- school did you go to?"

"There were three Yumnah. Mama how many were they?"

"Three my dear," said Yasmin trying her best not to laugh.

"Ya Allah. I feel so betrayed right now. I think il have to pay my nursery school teacher a visit," said Yumnah.

Yasmin choked on her tea as she couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. Were they seriously discussing mice on the breakfast table?

Hussein too chuckled as he stood up from the table. The expertise with which Yumnah had changed the subject was commendable. He had to give her that.

"By the way Yumnah, do you like watermelon?" he asked.

"Yes but i don't really like fru..."

"Good, Yasir remind me to buy watermelons from the grocery on our way back from work."

"Sure Baba."

He then left the dining room followed by Yasmin but before leaving, she didn't fail to lovingly pinch Yumnah's cheeks.

"You do realise that you are not okay right?" said Yasir after a while.

"Im feeling okay," said Yumnah confusedly.

"No, I meant mentally."

Yumnah laughed as she put more pieces of pineapple on his plate.

"Next time we meet you're Papa, I have a few questions that I personally want to ask him."

"Like what?"

"Like when exactly you were discharged from the mental asylum."

"Yassssiiiir, that is so mean," she said as she stood up and gently pretended to want to strangle his neck.

"Yeah just kill me Yumnah but you are already doing a great job at it by giving me minor heart attacks each day," he said laughing.

"I hate you Yasir."

"You wish."

"And you are so mean Yumnah, like you could have told Baba that no, I dont like watermelons, I like pineapples. Think of you're poor husband at times okay. Meanie."

"Yeah wait till I tell him that pineapple makes me feel like throwing up."

"I officially hate you. No one comes between me and my pineapple.

"I just did."

Yasir laughed as he felt for her hand and tightly clasped his warm one over it.

"Do you think that Khaleel jinxed me? I still can't believe Baba knew that we snuck out," said Yumnah.

Yasir burst out laughing, his hand still over hers.

The three brothers along with Yumnah sat in the living room talking in hushed voices since Mama just sat a few metres away knitting a scarf.

"Wallahi bro, I have no idea how Hitler does it you know?" said Khaleel.

"Its like he gets a signal or something. He is always at the right place at the right time."

"What happened to you Khaleelo?"

"I came in late the other day you know. Can you believe Khalo was waiting for me with a really large frown on his face outside the elevator and that too on second floor. Like he never even comes to second floor.

"Ive never felt so traumatized in my life," he added as he took a cookie from Yasir's plate.

"Hey, why are you taking my husband's cookies?" asked Yumnah.

"After what you did to me and Hisham? I stopped trusting myself even," he said and Hisham laughed.

"Just dont come late next time Khaleelo because I'm sure he has now blacklisted you," said Hisham.

"Yeah Akhi would know better because he has been on that list from the very second day he began working for Baba and he still on it," said Yasir.

"At least ive maintained okay," said Hisham smiling.

"Well there is no next time for me bro, if I ever get late, il just call in sick."

"Well I think you guys are just dumb enough to get caught," said Yumnah after a while.

Hisham fake gasped while Khaleel put his hand over his heart pretending to he hurt.

"Oooh, so you think you are the pro here?" asked Hisham.

"I think I am."

"Psssht, wait till the day Baba catches you. You wont even know it Yumnah and with you, I dont see that day to be far off. I only feel bad for Yasir because I am sure he will be caught up in you're mess as well."

"As if."

"We will see," said Khaleel.

"Fine though its never going to happen."

"

**

"The only thing I know is that he is going to be very happy when he learns of this," said Yasir.

"No, you will not tell him, will you?"

"Of course I am."

"Im going to go live with Papa for a few days. Until when things calm down you know," she said already imagining Hisham and Khaleel's smug faces.

She shuddered just at the thought. Knowing those two, they might even make her sign a certificate of defeat or something like that.

"You are going nowhere Yumnah," he said pulling her closer to him.

"You're rightful place is here, right next to me," he said before placing a light kiss on her forehead.

He truly meant every word of what he had just said to her but then again, what if he contradicted himself in the few days to come?

What if he let go of the one person that was most precious to him?

What if he let go off his wife?

******

Hisham hurriedly ironed his shirt hoping to make it to work before Hitler. He had missed going to work the previous day and if he showed up late today, he was sure that Baba would kill him. Literally.

"Hisham?" asked his wife as she walked into the laundry room.

"What?"

"Don't forget what you have to do."

"Do I have an option?" he snapped, anger evident all over his face.

She furiously walked into the kitchen, her phone in her hand. Hisham stared at his wife confusedly. Wait, why was she awake so early?

"What is this I am hearing Hisham? You rejected the Ceo's post?"

"Who told you that?"

"Just answer my question."

"Yes I did but that should be none of you're concern," he said sighing. He didn't want to go through all of this again. Especially not with Zulekha.

"You are so inconsiderate Hisham and a fool as well. At least think of the baby."

Hisham laughed as he clasped his hands infront of him, one of his eyebrows raised.

"Me? Think of the baby? I think I am the only one doing that here Zulekha."

"If you were thinking of the baby you wouldn't have rejected the post. Have you thought of the baby's future?" What if something happens to you? I need a source of protection for this baby."

Hisham frowned. What the hell did that even mean?

"What do you mean?"

"I need assurance. I don't trust you Hisham. You just rejected a post. Tomorrow you might tell me that you left you're job. I can't trust you with this baby anymore."

"That will never happen."

"Then give me assurance."

"How?" he asked and her next words drained all the blood from his face.

"

"No!"

" Fine, then lose the baby. You can't think of her future right, then you can't foster her as well."

"I don't have shares," he said quickly. Would she really dare to take his child away from him?

"That is a lie. Everyone knows that you're father has given the three of you equal shares."

"I sold mine to Baba himself," said Hisham as he passed his hand through his hair in frustration.

"Thats impossible."

"Oh yes it is. Its possible when you're wife wants a grand mansion to live in. Its possible when, you're wife wants to go to Maldives for her honeymoon. Its possible okay. Its always possible whenever there is a woman involved..." he snapped.

"I couldn't afford our honeymoon nor this house that you insisted on having. I used all my savings but still wasnt able to buy it, I then gave Baba my shares who gave me money in return. Money with which I provided for you the luxurious life you always wanted."

Zulekha huffed as she rolled her eyes.

"No father can do that. I though he paid for our honeymoon willingly."

"Ooh yes, he was willing to buy for us this house and to pay for the honeymoon. But I am a man with some self respect. I couldn't have my Baba pay for what I was supossed to be paying myself. My Baba has his own wife for whom he should be providimg for."

"Youre self respect can go to hell Hisham. Give me assurance or else you lose her. Why dont' you ask you're brothers for their share. Someone like Khaleel doesnt need it anyway. Even Yasir, he lives with you're Baba right?

"Zulekhhhhhaaaaa!!!!"

"Don't dare shout at me. Im just but looking out for my baby," she said as she walked out of the kitchen leaving a very stressed Hisham behind.

**

He stared at her not believing that he had married such a woman. If only he could go back in time.

"Zulekha, if only you had treated me with the love and respect that I really deserve, things would be so different between us," he said as looking at her.

"I dont care Hisham. If you want love and respect get yourself another wife."

Hisham let out a sarastic laugh before he moved closer to her and stopped when his face was just a few inches aways from hers.

"Another wife? Yeah right. After what you have done to me Zulekha, I hate and despise every woman. I can't handle another one of you creatures," he said too hurt to even realise what he was saying.

If his Mama had been around to hear what he had just said she too would have been deeply hurt.

But he was too numb to even think straight.

"Just do what I asked you to do Hisham. Its only for her."

"Oh yes, whatever il do, il only do it for her Zulekha. Dont even for a second think im doing this for you," he said as he moved his hands towards her stomach inorder to touch her non existent bump. She was already five months pregnant but without much of a baby bump but he knew that all women were different and that it would start showing soon.

"Dont you dare touch me," she said as she quickly wrapped her robe tightly around herself her eyes flashing with guilt and worry.

Hisham sighed as he pulled his shirt from the ironing table.

He life was a total mess right now and he needed help.

And there was only one man who could help him right now.

His younger brother.

*****