It was a new day!

It was a new beginning!

That morning after Fajr Salah, there was nothing but immense hope and faith filled in the hearts of each member of the Hosseini family. Everyone had a new sort of anticipation. Anticipation for better days ahead and each one of them also knew, that it was high time they buried the past and moved on.

Moved on with utmost faith in Allah and with the belief that everything that had happened had been part of His plan and there was nothing but good that would come out of it in the days to come.

It was all just but a matter of time!

Khaleel stood at the front door of the Hosseini mansion, a big bouquet of white orchids in his hand and as he waited or the door to be opened, he couldn't help but nervously rake his fingers through his hair, wondering if everything had turned out right for Yasir and Yumnah.

If there were two people that deserved to be happy, it was them and he just couldn't wait to see them together again.

The front door was opened by a smiling extremely eager looking Yasmin and Khaleel didn't fail to notice the tiny bit of disappointment that flashed through her eyes upon seeing him. He bit back a smile knowing that she had been expecting Yasir and Yumnah and he couldn't blame her because he too, could not wait for Yasir to bring Yumnah back to her home.

"Asalam Aleikum Khaltu."

"Waleikum salam. Oh it's you Khaleel," she said, her face radiating utmost joy.

"Of course it's me but you don't seem very happy to see me, Khaltu. I am Khaleel, your other son, remember?"

"Sorry, who?" she asked cheekily and Khaleel immediately placed his hand over his heart feigning hurt.

"Please do not scare me like that."

"I promise not to only if you tell me that those beautiful flowers are for me."

He stroked his chin pretending to be deep in thought and then said...

"Are you Khaleel Othman's one and only most beautiful and favourite Khaltu?"

"I think that should be me," she said with a Cheshire like grin.

"Well then these are most definitely for you then," he said as he handed her the flowers much to her delight.

He then followed her in the house, his hands casually shoved in to his pockets, the tantalizing aroma from the kitchen causing his stomach to do flips.

"So what's cooking?" he asked only to be quickly interrupted by Hussein who stood at the top of the staircase and equally eager and expectant look on his face as well which was quickly wiped away once his eyes landed on Khaleel.

"Asalam aleikum Khalo."

"Waleikum salam."

"How are...," said Khaleel but stopped when he saw Hussein turn his back to him and walk away.

He then turned to his aunt while rolling his eyes and asked...

"Isn't your husband just a treat?"

"Khaleel..."

"If only he had been nice to me this morning. Wallah I would have been kind enough to buy him a cactus plant the next time I passed by the flower shop but what a pity, he doesn't get to have that as well. Sad. Very very sad."

Yasmin laughed loudly while shaking her head afterwich she made her way to the kitchen, her nephew right behind her. As soon as Khaleel entered the kitchen, his jaw literally dropped. Every inch of the kitchen's worktops was filled with a different kind of dish which he was pretty much sure had to be Yumnah's favourite.

"I call dibs on the leftovers already," he said as he sat down on a kitchen stool, pulled a large bowl of fruit salad from the nearby worktop and immediately dug in.

"Khaleel that is Hussein's!" shrieked Yasmin as soon as she saw him gobbling down the entire bowl of fruit salad.

"Is he the one who brought you the beautiful orchids, early this morning?"

"No, but..."

"Good, then no fruit salad for him then," he said shoving another spoonful of the fruit salad in his mouth and Yasmin couldn't help but laugh, her heart warming up as she remembered Hisham.

He always tended to do that as well. In fact, all of her sons. As soon as they would know that something was meant for Hussein, instead of putting it away, they would then now dig into it with even more found enthusiasm.

"But like on a serious note Khaltu, why did you even marry Hitler and please don't tell me that you fell in love with him."

"I did," she replied as she began cutting a new set of fruits.

"What? But why? Why would anyone fall in love with him?"

"Khaleel..."

"Listen Khaltu, there is still time and I agree that everyone makes mistakes. You can still move in to my house. Il take care of you," he said amusedly and immediately stood up and dashed to the door, cackling with laughter when he saw her pick up the nearest spatula.

"Khaleel, come here," she shrieked but he only shook his head and for a moment they both stood looking at each other while doubling in laughter.

The loud ringing of the doorbell caused them to both sober up and just like little kids they both rushed to the front door only to find that Hussein had already beaten them to it. The next minute or so, brought profound happiness to all of them as soon as Yasir and Yumnah stepped into the house.

"YUMNAH," shouted Yasmin as she engulfed her daughter in law in a big bear like hug, tears of joy streaming down her face.

She was so happy to have her daughter back but even happier that her son had finally made the right decision to bring her back but even more so to move on with his own life.

As for Hussein, his happiness was indescribable. Yumnah was like the daughter he never had and when Yasir had sent her away he too had been hurting just in the same way Bilal had been. Therefore, as soon as he got the chance, he swatted away Yasir's hand from Yumnah's and pulled her to sit on the nearby couch.

"Yumnah my dear, how have you been?" he asked as soon as they sat down, his voice fully laced with concern.

"Alhamdulillah, I have been fine Baba."

"And how have you been feeling? Is the baby okay? Did you eat all the fruits I specially sent you? Did Yasir disturb you on your way back?" he asked, and Yasir immediately turned his head in their direction as soon as he heard his name.

"WHAAAAT? Why would I disturb her?" asked Yasir raising his hands in the air in protest.

"Shut up. I am talking to Yumnah. This is important," replied Hussein barely looking his son's way.

"And this so unfair, he never even bothered asking me if I was dead or alive for the two years I was in college," said Yasir and Khaleel couldn't help but laugh beside him.

"Wallah and just look at him treating Yumnah as if she just fell from heaven," whispered back Khaleel totally unamused.

The two brothers then stood in silence, both rolling their eyes from time to time as they listened to Hitler talk to Yumnah with so much fondness that Khaleel had to keep pinching himself from time to time just to prove to himself that it was all real.

"So, did you get Mama the flowers?" Yasir asked Khaleel after while choosing to block out his father's overrated conversation with his wife.

"Yes I did and she was so ecstatic about it. In Sha Allah I plan on doing it more often," replied Khaleel.

"Of course and we should also plan on taking her out for one those special dates soon," said Yasir, as he began to think of as to how to make the date for their Mama different but at the same time really special.

Both him and Khaleel had agreed that they would not let Hisham's absence ruin things. They had decided that they would love and treat their mother even better so that she would never grieve the loss of her eldest son. She would always be reminded that she still had two other sons who loved and cherished her even more than ever before.

"But umm, how will we go on the date now that Yumnah is back? Will she also be part of the dates from now on?" asked Khaleel and Yasir immediately turned to look in his direction confusedly.

"Why would Yumnah be part of the dates?"

"I don't know man; she is your wife. Wouldn't she want to be part of it?"

Yasir remained silent for a while and then said...

"The dates have always been about Mama, Khaleel. It's always about her and her alone during that day and In Sha Allah it will remain so. As you had said, I will have to learn how to balance and as much as Yumnah is my wife and I love her, I love Mama as well and therefore I would not want any of them to overshadow the other."

"Just because I am married now does not mean that I will forget the special things we did for our mother and neither do I want to make any changes to how we used to do them. The dates were always about Mama and her sons and will continue to be so..."

"Yumnah is the most understanding wife one could ask for and I am sure she wouldn't mind me giving some of my little time to Mama," said Yasir and Khaleel only but nodded his head in agreement.

"So true bro and anyway if Yumnah wants to go on a date, she can go to one with Hitler and Uncle Bilal. Oh, just look at him treating her like I don't know what. Where exactly can I throw up?" asked Khaleel while staring at the two and his eyes immediately went wide like saucers when he saw his Khalo pull out a golden card from his coats pocket and hand it to Yumnah.

"NO! NO! NO! This cannot be happening," shouted Khaleel but Hussein chose to ignore him his attention full on Yumnah.

"Here you go Yumnah. This is a golden pass. Whenever you have a problem or whenever Yasir disturbs you I want you to come directly to me. Show this pass to the receptionist at the company and you will be immediately brought me, even if I am in the most important meeting."

"But, why don't I have golden pass?" shouted Khaleel his hands in the air in disbelief.

"Khaleel...," began Hussein only to be interrupted.

"This is haram. Wallah its discrimination. How can you? Why don't I have one?"

"Is your name Yumnah?" asked Hussein raising one of his eyebrows.

"No?"

"Then you don't get one."

"But... but...but..."

Hussein then stood up totally ignoring Khaleel and said...

"Yasir take Yumnah up to the room. You both can freshen up and then come down for breakfast. We shall be waiting."

As Yasir and Yumnah both slowly walked away, Hussein turned to glare at his nephew with murderous eyes and Khaleel immediately gulped wishing that Yasir could have also taken him along with Yumnah.

"Yasmin?" said Hussein, his eyes still fully fixed on Khaleel.

"Yes Hussein?"

"This boy. He seems to be very idle and I want him off my back. Look for a woman SMART enough for him and...

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