"Many at times, the people in your family are the only ones you can turn back to. Keep them close."- Amalkhan807.

Bilal shifted his gaze from Yasir to Yumnah and then back to Yasir while continuously shaking his head in disbelief. He opened his mouth to say something but was then rendered speechless when his eyes fell on his daughter's already packed suitcase. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying his best not to laugh as he stared at the two in front of him, his heart swelling with happiness on seeing how tightly Yumnah had her hand clasped around her husband's and vice versa.

"I just cannot believe this," he finally muttered trying his best to control his laughter in every possible way he could.

"Uncle Bilal...," began Yasir only to be quickly interrupted.

"NO YASIR!"

"I am really very sorry..."

"NO YASIR! This is NOT how things work in MY HOUSE. There are some formalities. There are some procedures that you have to carry out. You cannot just..."

"Wait, is this a police station?" asked Yumnah looking around confusedly and then turning to shoot daggers at her father who simply replied by smiling sheepishly and shrugging his shoulders.

"Can you please stop?" she mouthed to him and rolled her eyes when he immediately mouthed back with "A big fat no."

"Papa!"

"YUMNAH!"

"Papa!"

"YUMNAH!" said Bilal trying to sound as stern as possible and grinned from ear to ear upon seeing all blood drain from Yasir's face.

"First of all, who even allowed you to pack your bags?"

"Uncle Bilal, please can I explain...," began Yasir only to be interrupted once again by the father daughter duo.

"To start with, I never really unpacked them, "said Yumnah unclasping her hand from Yasir's and angrily crossing them over her chest.

"Lies!"

"Papa..."

"I am really very DISSAPOINTED in you Yumnah. I never expected for you to..." said Bilal but stopped when he heard Yasir inhale sharply and both him and Yumnah quickly turned to look at Yasir whose face was all pale and laden with guilt.

Yumnah then picked up the nearest cushion from the couch and playfully flung it at her father which he skilfully ducked while sticking his tongue out at her. He then cleared his throat and continued, totally enjoying every second of poor Yasir's discomfort.

"So as I was saying, I am really disappointed in you Yumnah. I never thought that you would betray us like this. Is this how I brought you up? Where is your team spirit at?"

"Team?" asked Yumnah, quirking up one of her eyebrows.

"Yes, TEAM!"

"What team Papa?"

"The one you just betrayed. You...you treacherous...team mate. Wait till I till I tell Hussein what you just did," said Bilal pointing his finger at his daughter in the most accusing way.

"I was part of no TEAM as far as I can remember," said Yumnah and her father immediately let out a gasp, his hand over his heart feigning hurt.

"Oh, so now just because Yasir is here, you decide to backstab us? How nice!"

"Papa!"

"Traitor!"

"Papa!"

"In fact Yasir, take Traitor Saeed away already, "said Bilal and smiled when he heard Yasir let out a small laugh.

"But let me warn you, your wife has joined hands with the dark side."

"I joined no sides. Its him and Baba who made a pact that whenever you come, Papa should give you a hard time," said Yumnah as she picked up another cushion flung it at her father which he once again successfully ducked.

"You see; she even knows exactly what the agreement was. I am telling you Yasir..."

"This is so not cool," said Yumnah and both her and her father could not stop themselves from smiling when they heard Yasir let out a hearty chuckle.

Yasir then sat up straight, a solemn look on his face, wanting to say a million things but as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, there were only two words that came out and those were the words...

"Thank you!"

Two words that he sincerely meant from the bottom of his heart. Since they day Yumnah had entered his life, her father had only but made things easier for him. He had readily given him his daughter without any doubts and without questioning his capabilities and today, despite being wrong and having hurt his daughter, her father still had the heart to joke around just to lighten things up.

"Uncle Bilal...I don't even know how to...I know I don't deserve this," said Yasir, passing his hand over his face and Bilal quickly stood up and headed towards him.

He then placed his hand on Yasir's shoulder in a fatherly way, squeezed it and then said...

"You deserve it all Yasir. You are a good man and I am really glad that my daughter chose you. Right now Alhamdulillah, I cannot see any other man that deserved her other than you and I mean it."

"But I hurt her and I unintentionally hurt you as well..."

"Well, did you apologise to her?" asked Bilal his eyes drifting to Yumnah who by now had tears in her eyes.

"Yes, I did."

"And what did Yumnah have to say?"

"She forgave me very easily," said Yasir wishing that he could see her.

"Well then, if she forgave you then consider yourself forgiven by me as well. All I want is for my daughter to be happy and clearly her happiness lies with you and therefore you can take your wife back with you, Yasir."

"Thank you. Thank you so much," was all that Yasir could say as he buried his face in his hands, his heart filled with a lot of gratitude.

"You are welcome Yasir and it's not like I had any other option. Your wife has been continuously glaring at me the entire time. I'm even so scared right now," said Bilal as he once again expertly caught another cushion that came flying at him.

"Look now this is the third cushion this girl has shamelessly thrown at me. Is this how she treats you back at home Yasir?"

"Every single day."

"WHAAAT? YUMNAAAH!"

"PAPA!"

"What kind of complaints are these that I am receiving? Half deen things remember? Coolness of his eyes? Ring a bell? I am sure they don't. You know with Yumnah things tend to be opposite. I am sure you must have figured that out by now," said Bilal and Yasir couldn't help but laugh and nod his head.

"Oh please, just stop the both of you," said Yumnah smiling, her mind drifting to all those early morning squabbles she would have with her husband.

Something she knew that they both loved and had tremendously missed.

"And what about aunty Saeeda? Can I apologise to her? I know that I do owe her an apology as well," said Yasir knowing that he wouldn't be able to get rid of his guilt until he had genuinely apologised to everyone concerned.

Both Bilal and Yumnah stared at each other not knowing what to say but the pin drop silence was loud and clear enough for Yasir to understand everything.

"It's okay. I understand. It's my fault even. I haven't given her any reason to like and truly accept me but I promise that I will try change everything," said Yasir and everyone could only but whisper...In Sha Allah.

In an attempt to break the awkward tension in the room, Bilal then gently took hold of his daughter's hand and in the most honourable way placed it under Yasir's.

"She is all yours once again Yasir and you both can hold hands now; the way you were holding before this conversation started," he said and laughed when he saw Yasir shyly and quickly pull away his hand his face all red.

"And finally, Yasir?"

"Yes Uncle Bilal?"

"As much as all is well now and there are no hard feelings, I want you to remember that Yumnah is my only child and more so my only daughter whom I love very much. I don't want to see her crying and the last thing I want is for me to be called at night to come pick my daughter."

"Don't worry Uncle Bilal. I promise to never give her any reason to cry and I promise to respect and love her to the best of my ability."

"You better because if not...don't forget that I am the one going to name the baby."

For a moment Yasir froze unsure if by now Yumnah had told her father that she was expecting.

"Chill, she now knows that I know."

"Wow, can't anyone keep a secret in this family?" asked Yasir relief surging through him.

"I doubt so," replied Bilal and Yasir nodded while smiling his thoughts drifting to one person who was best at keeping secrets.

His one and only Akhi.

The one person who had kept so many secrets, carried so many burdens and in the end had just left them all with nothing but unanswered questions. A lot of unanswered questions. Questions that he wanted answers to and that is why he was hell bent on searching for his Akhi. His thoughts were cut short when he heard Yumnah's father say...

"So since I have been given the honour and liberty to name the little bundle of joy that In Sha Allah will soon be coming our way, any mistake from you Yasir and Wallah I will name the baby...MUNEER."

"WHAT?" asked Yasir his face now all murderous.

"Yep!"

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

"That is just plain mean. No wonder you are friends with old man Hussein. Yumnah aren't you going to say something?"

Yumnah sat back, moved her eyes from her father to her husband and back to her father and then asked...

"Okay like seriously...who is this Muneer?"

"Nobody," replied Yasir totally irritated and jealous and Bilal could only but wish that Hussein had been there to witness Yasir losing it.

"And...and... anyway, Muneer is a boy's name and Wallah I am praying from the bottom of my heart for a baby girl. MY baby girl..."

"Whose name can be MUNEERA," said Bilal, placing his hand over his mouth to stop himself from bursting with laughter.

"Can someone please tell me already who this Muneer is?" asked Yumnah, totally confused.

She remembered having heard the name from Yasir before but upon asking he had turned all irritated and jealous and she till date had no idea as to why and as to who this Muneer was.

"Well, we used Muneer to make Yasir agree to marry you."

"What?" asked Yumnah surprised and as her father narrated to her as to what exactly happened at the mall that day she couldn't stop herself from beaming and sooner than later, there was blush creeping up her cheeks.

As much as she knew that Yasir had fallen in love with her after marriage, she still could remember how annoyed and extremely irritated he had been that day at the mall. He had been so furious to the point of rudely telling her 'bye'. Had her husband already liked her so much from then? But that had been only but their second "accidental" meeting. She looked up to glance at him and laughed when she saw how red he was.

"But Yasir, Muneer is only but in sixth grade and he is so cute MashAllah," she said and laughed when she saw Yasir roll his eyes, his jaw fully tightened.

"Well, he was never portrayed to me as a sixth grader. I was told he is a pilot who will take you I don't know where and where... as if I would have allowed it."

"But Muneer..."

"Can we please just KILL, BURN AND BURY this topic SIX FEET UNDER, PLEASE?" asked Yasir and Bilal laughed as he stood up having enjoyed every single moment of this early morning conversation.

"Yumnah, go and say Salam to your mother," said Bilal and as soon as Yumnah left the room, he turned to his son in law and said...

"Please keep your promises Yasir."

"Don't worry Uncle Bilal. I have not made any empty promises and I have always been a man who keeps his promises and this time round In Sha Allah...

I plan to prove it!

***

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I HOPE THE CHAPTER MADE YOU AT LEAST SMILE :)

SHORT CHAPTERS FROM NOW ON, BECAUSE NOT MUCH CONTENT IS REMAINING.

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

ASALAM ALEIKUM.