Two days passed and Walija was recovering just fine and today she was discharged from the hospital but she's still on drugs.

"Your appointment is next week Friday" the doctor told Fawwad while he was seated in his office for her discharge.

"Alright"

"She should take her drugs on time and make sure she doesn't carry anything with the injured hand" the doctor advised.

"Okay...insha Allah"

"Okay...I think that's all for now" he closed the file and got on his feet "may Allah grant her shifaa"

"Thank you doctor"

*****

After the discharge, Mami insisted Walija should stay with them at least for a few days to regain her strength before going back to her home.

"I have to rush somewhere now, but insha Allah I'll come back after Magrib prayer" Fawwad told her when he dropped her at his parent's mansion before he left.

She just nodded and smiled still confused about her husband's sudden change of behaviour.

When they got into the house, Hafsat and Maya were at school so Mami instructed the maid to take her to the room given to her.

She sat on the bed thinking about everything that happened for the past few days and she realized that a lot has happened. But what baffles her more was Fawwad's sudden change towards her.

Did he really change? or is it out of pity and guiltiness? She shoved away the feeling hoping it isn't the latter.

If there was anything she wanted at the moment, was Fawwad changing back to a better person and she wants to be the reason for that. Even though she stills feels bad because he only cared about her when she was in pain, nevertheless she was still glad of the improvement and she prayed it stays like that.

Mami coming into the room was what brought her out of her little trance.

"My dear, how are you feeling?" Mami asked placing her hands on her shoulders.

"Much better Mami, just that I still feel weak"

"And your arm...does it still hurts?"

"Yes...but not severely"

"Don't worry my dear, you'll regain your strength and your arm will heal in no time insha Allah. Now, you should get ready and have a warm shower then come down. I've prepared a vegetable soup for you"

"Thank you, Mami"

"I'm your mother. You don't have to thank me" and with that, she left the room leaving behind a delighted Walija.

Mami reminds her of her mother. She's kind-hearted and generous. She never seizes the opportunity to make her feel wanted. She knew that even if it was her mother that was around during that time, that's the kind of care she'll receive from her.

Thinking about her mother made her realize how much she'd missed her family. She had only spoken to them once when she was still on the hospital bed. She remembered how Mubeen and Muhseen wanted to cry just by seeing her in that state. She was the patient but they switched it, making her console them throughout the face time. She has also spoken to Neimat and her husband while she was in the hospital.

Her stay in the hospital made her realize how much her family loved her. Everyone was trying his very best to make her feel better and Fawwad and his family too weren't an exception. Indeed she was surrounded by her loved one's.

After a long refreshing shower, she wore a simple gown and slid into her long hijab to pray Asr prayer. She felt much better and thanked Allah the Almighty for his endless blessings and how things were finally getting into place. She just hoped that it will last forever.

When she finished praying, she headed downstairs as instructed by Mami. She found Mami on the phone, so, she just sat on one of the single couch and waited for her to finish.

"I have to go. I'll call you back later" with that Mami ended her call and turned to her.

"Hope you're feeling stronger now?"

"Yes Mami" how can a woman be so kind she thought and she just smiled.

"Your soup is on the dinning and there's also wheat bread. Finish everything then come for your drugs" she instructed.

"Thank you, Mami"

"I think I've made the don't-thank-me-again very clear the other time" Walija just smiled and left to the dinning.

After she finished eating, she went back to the sitting room to take her drugs. It wasn't really necessary for Mami to keep her drugs but what can she do when she has a mother-in-law that treats her like a baby.

She found her with Abby discussing something. She greeted Abby and he asked her how she's feeling.

"I'm feeling much better Alhamdulillah"

"Let me get your drugs" and when Mami was about to stand, Walija stopped her.

"Don't worry Mami, I'll go get them" and before Mami could utter a word, she was already on her way to the spiral stairs.

*****

She opened the door to the humongous room which was furnished with elegant furniture. The pleasant scent of bakhoor(incense) hitting her nostrils made her remember her Umma. The room was neatly arranged and cool. She now knew where Fawwad got his sense of neatness from.

She walked further into the room walking on the soft rug to the queen-sized bedside drawer and there, she saw the drugs. She was about to leave when her eyes caught a glimpse of a photo frame. She wanted to leave but her curiosity didn't allow her. She just had to look at it. It was a photo of Abby and Mami with a little cute boy which she assumed to be Fawwad. He looked so cute and innocent. She just smiled and carefully kept the photo where she took it from and sauntered out of the room.

When she came down, Hafsat and Maya were back from school and the whole family was in the sitting room including Abby. Immediately Maya saw her, she rushed over to her hugging her.

"Maya! Be careful and don't hurt her" Hafsat chided.

"It's alright Hafsat. I'm feeling much better" she smiled.

Maya collected the drugs bag and they walked hand in hand to the sitting room.

"Hafsat, get her a glass of warm milk to take her medicine" Mami instructed her and she left to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, she was back with the milk and handed it over to Walija. Mami gave her the required drugs and she gulped them down.

They all stayed in the sitting room talking about everything and nothing until when it was almost time for Magrib. Abby excused himself and left to the Masjid. Mami also told Walija to go and have some rest before Magrib. But she wasn't going to rest because after spending some time with her in-laws, she decided to face time her family too.

"Assalamu Alaikum, good evening Umma"

"Waalaikis salam my dear, how're you feeling"

"Much better Alhamdulillah"

"And your arm?"

"It's much better too....Where are my twins?"

"They are downstairs having their islamiyya(Islamic school) lessons"

"Alright... Send my regards to them when they're done please"

And that's how they continued talking and Abba also joined them before they called for Magrib prayer. They said their goodbyes and the call was disconnected.

She went into the bathroom and performed her ablution. Coming out, she sprayed the praying mat and wore her hijab and said her prayers. After she said her azkaar and dua, she got up and folded her hijab.

The thought of Fawwad telling her that he'll come back after Magrib prayer crossed her mind. And for some odd reason, she felt the butterflies in her stomach fluttering. She was still not used to the new Fawwad.

She was still deep in thoughts when she heard a deep familiar masculine voice salam-ing into the room. She abruptly looked up and when their eyes locked, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her gaze answering his salam. He noticed the sudden uneasiness in her voice but he ignored that and moved further into the room to where she stood.

"How're you feeling?" He asked.

"Much better, Alhamdulillah"

"Masha Allah...can we talk...please?" He stuttered.

"Okay" she simply replied.

He sat on the edge of the bed and gave her the come-and-sit look. She was reluctant but her mind dragged her to sit keeping her distance away from him. He was silent and didn't utter a word, but she knew he didn't ask her to sit just to look at her.

"So...how's work?" She asked to reduce the awkwardness.

"Um... Alhamdulillah.... Thank you" he stammered.

she noticed that he was thinking about something since the time he walked into the room so, she asked: "What are you thinking about?" She expected him to react, but his reply shocked her.

"Huh... Thinking... Me ... Um... I'm not thinking" and he left out a humourless chuckle.

Is he possessed by some evil jinn? She thought because the last time she checked, he was bold but now, he was struggling with his words.

He saw the look on her face and he knew there were numerous questions running through her. He sighed in defeat before he turned to look at her completely.

"Actually I want to tell you something"

"What's it? Tell me" she sounded curious.

"I want to...apologize for everything that I've done to you. The pain I'd caused you and all the times I made you suffer...it may be hard but please, find it in your heart to forgive me. I know that I've caused you a lot of pain beyond measure, but please forgive me" his eyes suddenly became teary but he managed to push back the tears "I'm just wondering if...if we can start afresh? Let's put everything in the past and our differences aside and just live like... a normal married couple"

😿

❤