"Her name meant gift and that was what she truly was for me. She was the most beautiful gift for me and that too, from Allah!"- Yasir Hosseini.

The biggest and brightest smile ever lit up on Yumnah's extremely tired face as she watched the hospital's tiny room that she was in, get filled the most ridiculous amounts of flowers and balloons.

Her smile grew even wider and she even let out a tiny chuckle when she heard the greatest amount of commotion in the hospital's hallway.

Commotion and that too in this particular section of the hospital could only mean one thing...

Her family was on its way.

She covered her mouth with her hands to prevent herself from bursting into laughter as she watched with much amusement as they tried to squeeze in through the narrow doorway all at the same time.

Her eyes drifted in search of Yasir and since she knew him a bit too well, she knew that he must be somewhere at the very back pretending not to know any one of them.

The very first person to make it into the room was a very eager and overly thrilled Khaleel who basically chose to ignore Yumnah's existence as he looked around for the baby and upon not finding her, wasted no time in asking or rather excitedly shouting...

"WHERE IS SHE?"

"Who?" asked Yumnah pretending to be confused only to earn the most exaggerated type of eye roll from Khaleel.

"I knew you were coming so I told the nurse to take her away," she quickly added.

"Scared that she won't be able to handle her Khalo Khaleel's killer personality on day one?"

"Whatever makes you sleep at night," she said and let out a laugh when he stuck his tongue out at her while tying three humongous pink helium balloons to the foot of her bed.

Their playful banter was cut short when the rest of the family finally made it in and Yumnah's heart literally melted out of joy when Yasmin engulfed her in the biggest and warmest bear hug ever while whispering in her ear...

"The news out there is that there is a very very beautiful new mother and even more adorable baby girl in town."

Yumnah could not help but beam back at Yasmin's loving words, her tiredness fading away bit by bit as her eyes slowly swept across the room while taking in everyone's happy faces.

Her father and Hussein both looked like they had either already cried or were about to cry, Yasmin's smile seemed to be getting bigger and bigger by the second, her friend Asiya sent her the shyest and sweetest smile ever, a huge bouquet of roses in her hand, Khaleel looked like he was about to explode due to excitement any moment and as for Yasir, who was currently standing by her side, his face was that of a man who had just been gifted the entire world.

Her eyes finally met with those of her mother who stood quite a distance away from the rest and there was only one thing that Yumnah could see in her mother's eyes and that was nothing but disdain.

Loads and loads of disdain.

She quickly looked away while lowering her head, her heart filled with two very strong emotions.

Emotions of shame and guilt.

Emotions to which she had absolutely no idea as to why she was experiencing them.

She knew she had done nothing wrong.

Yasir was one of the most respectful, honest and loving man she had ever met and she was now tired, extremely tired of having to prove that to her mother over and over again.

Maybe she had tried too hard and it was now time to let go.

Any child or more so a new born baby, is like a flower. A flower waiting to blossom. A beautiful flower waiting to spread its strong fragrance of love and compassion into everyone's hearts and if a new born baby girl was not enough to melt her mother's hardened heart then yes...

She had given up!

Her inner turmoil was cut short by when the nurse wheeled in the new born baby girl and for a moment, a pin drop silence engulfed the room as everyone watched the nurse place the baby into Yumnah's arms.

Yumnah held on to her breath as she lovingly looked down at her beautiful daughter.

Her and Yasir's beautiful daughter.

She cradled her tightly bringing her close to her racing heart after which she silently broke down into tears.

Tears that everyone in the room mistook to be those of happiness but rather, they were tears that held her pain and grief, love, gratitude and too many other inexplicable emotions.

She slowly lowered her daughter, placed the tiniest of feathery kisses all over her face afterwich she looked up at her family through her tears a small smile on her face and asked...

"Who would like to hold her first?"

Her smile was immediately turned into laughter as she watched all the grown ass men in the room scramble for the baby, Khaleel being on the absolute verge of flying across the room.

Hussein got to hold her first much to Khaleel's dismay who immediately crossed his arms across his chest and said to which Yumnah and Yasir both agreed...

"OKAY FINE BUT I CALL ALL DIBS ON HER FIRST ADHAN!"

As everyone cooed over the new-born baby Yumnah turned to look at her husband who had the brightest smile on his face.

"I thought you would want to hold her first?" she asked.

"Are you kidding me?"

"But why not?"

"There is no way I am going to let my daughter associate me with these bunch of clowns. She has to know that her father is the most sophisticated, refined, civilised, courteous man ...

"Who is also very good at synonyms," added Yumnah and smiled when she earned a small laugh from her husband.

He then felt for her hand, entwined it with his and whispered...

"Mabrook by the way."

"Mabrook to you too," she whispered back shyly not failing to notice how his hazel eyes were twinkling so brightly.

"I am sorry I kicked you out of the delivery room," began Yumnah only to be quickly cut short by a highly exhilarated Khaleel who currently had the baby in his hands and looked like he was about to have a literal heart attack.

"I can't...I just can't!" he exclaimed.

"Can't what? Carry the baby?" Bilal asked worriedly.

"No, like I can't believe she actually took after me. Like I had a feeling but I can't believe that she actually did," he said to which he earned simultaneous eye rolls from both Yasir and Yumnah.

"Yeah sure," muttered Yasir to himself but loud enough for his wife to hear who could only help but chuckle.

Khaleel held his niece in the gentlest and most protective way, expertly cradling her to his chest and upon receiving a questioning look from Yumnah, he whispered...

"I've been watching YouTube videos!"

He then sat down on a nearby chair, his eyes meeting with those of his Khalo who sent him a look of approval afterwich he turned to the baby's right ear and gave the Adhan in the most beautiful and clearest voice.

He looked up a broad smile on his face only to receive identical smiles from everyone in the room including Asiya who for the very first time sent a shy smile his way before she quickly looked away, blood rushing up her cheeks.

Their tiny innocent cute exchange didn't go unnoticed by Saeeda who glared angrily at the otherwise oblivious Asiya.

"Who is going to do the Tahneek?" Khaleel asked while looking at Yasir and Yumnah.

"Umm, Aunt Saeeda would you like to...?" Yasir asked his mother-in-law and his heart sank when she didn't even let him finish and within a split second replied with an overly loud...

"NO!"

An awkward silence reigned the room for a minute, everyone feeling extremely uncomfortable with Bilal shooting daggers at his wife, Yumnah looking like she was once again about to cry and as for Yasir, he just stood there with the most expressionless face ever.

Thankfully Yasmin was the only one who had what it took to break the unpleasant aura in the room. She stood up, a huge grin on her face, gestured for Khaleel to pass her the baby and while trying to sound as cheerful as possible she said...

"It doesn't matter which grandmother does it. At the end of the day and every other day from today this little angel's mouth shall always be sweetened by her grandparents. It's in the grandparents' rule book and none of you can do anything about it. Today its honey and In Sha Allah loads of cakes, chocolates and sweets are to follow."

She then took a small dab of honey from the jar her husband handed her and lovingly placed it in her granddaughter's mouth and everyone laughed when the baby eagerly sucked on to it.

"Okay so now since that is done, who is ready for our little angel's name?" asked Bilal hoping it would create an even better ambience.

"Have you already thought of the name?" asked Yasir, his voice still laden with hurt.

"It didn't take me long to find the perfect name Yasir. I was just eagerly waiting for this day and Alhamdulillah it has finally arrived but first, we are going to play a little guessing game."

"Oh this is going to be so much fun," said Hussein rubbing his hands together gleefully while sharing a very knowing 'evil' look with his friend Bilal.

"What kind of guessing game?" asked Yasir confusedly.

"Just know it's an awesome game okay," Hussein quickly replied his whole body trembling with excitement.

"Okay and what are the rules of this so called awesome game?" asked Khaleel, equally confused.

"All you guys have to do is to guess the letters of the name I have chosen. As simple as that," said Bilal, his lips quivering almost as if he was about to burst into laughter anytime.

Khaleel stared at the two old mischievous looking buddies in front of him for a while, crossed his arms over his chest and asked...

"WHATS THE CATCH?"

"Pssht. Look at this son of mine. Wallah I should have made him a cop. What do you mean by catch? Cant two INNOCENT grandparents come up with a lively game?"

"But..."

"Yallah, let's start the game," said Hussein not allowing Khaleel utter another word.

"Okay, so what do you guys think is the very first letter of the name?" asked Bilal his eyes fully set on Yasir.

"Oh my God, Oh my God. I have a feeling I know this one. Is it M? Does the name start with the letter M?" asked Hussein and Yumnah, Yasmin and Khaleel immediately palmed their faces knowing exactly where this was heading.

Yasir on the other hand just simply shoved his hands into his pocket as he exhaled deeply.

"That is very much correct Hussein. Okay now who can guess the second letter?"

"Oh God I feel like I know this one too. Is the second letter a vowel?" asked Hussein once again and Bilal immediately nodded his head.

"Okay then what about the third letter?"

Hussein pretended to think for a while, the mischievous grin on his face growing wider as he watched Yasir tighten his jaw.

"I don't know why but I feel like this name should have the letter N. It will bring kind of a ring to the name I think," said Hussein and Khaleel rolled his eyes, while whispering to Yasir...

"I didn't know that this was an only two-person game. Why is Khalo the only one answering and that too, correctly every single time? Like he could even at least PRETEND to guess a few wrong ones to begin with."

"Wallah Khaleel, if these two epitomes of evil think that they are going to name my daughter MUNEERA, they are so wrong. I am never and I mean never going to allow..."

"Okay fine, we have stopped. Sheesh you guys are absolutely no fun," said Hussein, both him and Bilal trying to pull off very disappointed looks and Bilal gulped upon receiving the deadliest glare ever from Yumnah.

With loads of pride in his eyes, Bilal turned to look at his grandchild who currently lay in Yasmin's arm and said...

"I chose a name that is symbolic. A name that will always remind us of what she truly means to us. I chose the name Minha. Minha meaning gift. Minha meaning blessing.

"Yasir what do you think?"

"MashAllah its nothing but perfect," Yasir quickly replied extremely grateful with the fact that the name was nowhere related to that of his sole enemy- MUNEER.

"Alhamdulillah now let's take a picture of this literal picture perfect moment," said Khaleel pulling out his phone while everyone else huddled close together in order to fit in.

Khaleel raised his phone to take a group selfie only for his heart to drop at Saeeda's next words.

"We all won't fit in if you take a selfie. Why is Asiya in this picture? She is not part of the family. Let her be the one to click our picture."

Khaleel's eyes immediately shot to Asiya who had a hurtful look on her face which she immediately covered with a short nervous laugh, her face turning red due to embarrassment.

She then walked towards Khaleel held out her hand for his phone and no one but Saeeda noticed the great amount of reluctance Khaleel had in handing her the phone.

"Well, if Asiya is not in this picture then the rest of us will also not be in this picture. Khaleel can take pictures of Yasir, Yumnah and their baby. It's their day anyway. Friends have always been considered family for us Hosseinis at least, and any friend of Yumnah is considered nothing short of family for us. THAT'S IT!" said Hussein and Khaleel swore if it hadn't been awkward, he could have kissed his Khalo at that very precise moment.

"Exactly! Sorry I mean that it's exactly not that hard to click a picture of all of us. I just need a stool...and...," said Khaleel as he pulled a nearby trolley, strategically placed his phone on it and placed a five second timer.

He then ran towards the rest of the family only for Yasmin to coincidentally pull him and Asiya towards her and just in time for Hussein to tell everyone to yell HOSSEINI for the picture.

"How's the picture?" asked Yasir as Khaleel headed back to check on it.

"It's perfect. Just perfect," he said his eyes set on only him and Asiya.

"We are perfect!" he added while looking at Saeeda knowing she was the only one who would understand the double meaning of his statement.

Bilal then requested Yasmin to hand him Minha whom he took for his wife to see because he knew right from the moment they had all walked in, Saeeda had not bothered to catch even a tiny glimpse of her granddaughter.

"Saeeda look, MashAllah isn't she beautiful?"

"Did any of you even bother confirming with the doctor if she has been born blind or not?" she asked and Yumnah's head instantly shot towards her husband who had all the blood drained from his face.

"We don't care if she is blind or not. As Bilal already said, Minha is a gift to us. She is a blessing and no blessing is ever flawed and even if it is, it is only but another blessing in disguise," said Yasmin.

"I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE," said Bilal having no idea as to how his wife had turned so heartless.

He quickly kissed his daughter's forehead afterwich he angrily walked out of the room, his wife following him behind.

"I think we should also get going. Asiya come, me and Yasmin will drop you home," said Hussein only to be taken aback by Khaleel's sudden outburst.

"Khaltu is coming with me. I...I need her help with something and Asiya's place is nearer to the route I will be taking. So it's reasonable if I'm the one who drops her home."

"Okay, can't you use your Khaltu's help on another day?"

"Nope. It has to be today. Like right now," said Khaleel knowing very well it wasn't appropriate for him to drop Asiya home all by himself.

He needed a third person and that was none other than his Khaltu.

"What do you need help for this urgently?"

"I...I...I need to buy curtains for my kitchen window."

"Curtains?!"

"Yes my neighbours tend to check me out when I'm cooking and it makes me uncomfortable and..."

"Yasmin just go with him," said Hussein not buying his nephew's story for even a second.

The minute Khaleel closed the door behind them Yumnah turned to look at Yasir and asked...

"What was that all about?"

"I have no idea and currently I don't even want to know. Just hand me my daughter."

He opened his arms and Yumnah did not fail to notice how his hands were trembling.

He was nervous.

She gently placed Minha into his arms and as if on instinct, he immediately closed his eyes. He pulled his daughter close to his racing heart, laid his head gently against hers and whispered...

"I love you!"

He remained like that with her for quite a while and Yumnah couldn't help but click the father and daughter's perfect moment using her phone.

"Yumnah," he whispered after a while his daughter still tightly circled in his arms.

"Yes Yasir?"

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me for anything Yasir. Just thank Allah."

"Well then I cannot thank Him enough for both you and her."

"You know, this feeling I have is just so indescribable. I just cannot believe that she is mine. My daughter. All I want is to hold her close to my heart now and forever. I want to protect her against every single little thing. She is mine, all mine and in fact NO BOYS ALLOWED," he said and Yumnah couldn't help but laugh.

She moved closer to Yasir and their daughter, put her hand on his shoulder and smiled when he turned to kiss her forehead followed by that of their daughter.

"Do you know what the best part of all that you just said is?" she asked.

"No, what?"

"It's the fact that you can do all of what you just said. She is your daughter Yasir and you have every right to."

He smiled as he pulled them both even closer towards him. Everything was perfect.

There was him, there was Yumnah and now their daughter Minha.

He couldn't ask for anything more but as much as him and the rest of the family tried to move on and forget the past, there was one reality none of them could ignore and that was the fact that...

Hisham Hosseini was still missing!

****

PLEASE DO VOTE AND COMMENT.

HOPE YOU LIKED THE LAST CHAPTER.

ONLY THE EPILOGUE IS REMAINING WHICH I AM ALREADY WORKING ON.

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

ASALAM ALEIKUM ❤