I rushed forward with Zaidaan on my heel as I hastily wore my coat, fishing out my batch as I reached my family.

I acknowledged them with a nod and threw bhaiya a reassuring smile as he nodded, walking right past him as I entered the theatre.

Miss Wadiya, our HOD was already there, and she gave me panic stricken look,

"We need to do a C-Section, now!"

I nodded as the four of us lined up, bracing myself as excitement and fear surged through me,

"Bismillah."

***

After four hours of pain, the cries finally filled the operation theatre, and I rushed to hold the wailing baby.

Bhabhi passed out right after, and as the rest of the nurses rushed to clean her up, me and doctor Wadiya ran a few tests to check if everything was fine with the baby, before wrapping him up in a towel.

I headed out with the bundle of joy in my arms, to find my entire family standing up at my sight.

Bhaiya and Mamma rushed forward as I exclaimed,

"It's a boy!"

Husna stood beside Mamma as I removed my mask and coat, smiling as I rubbed my forehead and watched Sahifa trying to touch the baby from Bhaiya's arms.

She frowned when Husna stopped her and extended her arms to Zaidaan instead, who craddled her until she fell back asleep.

She sure was too pampered for a four year old, and something told me she wasn't going to be exactly kind to this new member of the family.

"Where's Sahar? Can we meet her?"

I shot bhaiya a smile, "They're just shifting her in the ward and cleaning her up. We'll meet her in a few."

My heart went out as bhaiya handed the baby to Zaidaan, and he gazed lovingly at our nephew before swiftly looking at me.

Our eyes met, and I gave him a short smile, suddenly nervous as his lips twitched up.

Fariyal cleared her throat and we looked away,

"Baba, please give the Azaan now."

I heard bhaiya say. And as Baba gave the Azaan in the baby's ear while the baby stirred in Zaidaan's arms, I placed a palm over my heart, my breath hitching in my throat at the way Zaidaan held the baby.

Something he could never do for his own flesh and blood.

I shook my head, and took a deep breath and looked to my side, to find Husna handling a fast asleep Sahifa as Fariyal looked right back at me.

Per habit, she placed a hand on her protruded belly, and I swiftly muttered a 'MashaAllah' as I nodded her way.

Praying to Allah for protection from every evil-eye for my family, I made my way to Fariyal,

"Did you eat since you woke up?"

Fariyal nodded, "I had a banana."

I sighed, motioning for Husna to join us,

"Let's get something from the cafeteria, I'm hungry."

Husna nodded, and we helped Fariyal stand up. Informing mamma, we went ahead and left them to go visit Bhabhi, promising to be back soon.

Once there, we ordered tidbits for ourselves and settled in comfortable silence until Husna said,

"Just a few weeks more for another baby, InShaAllah."

I shot her smile and watched as Fariyal gulped, "InShaAllah, I'm scared."

I rubbed her nuckled with my fingers in a comforting manner,

"I'll be there. Always."

There was a deeper meaning to my words, and I knew that both of them knew it.

Fariyal left a few minutes later, saying she needed to use the washroom and would directly go up to Sahar Bhabhi's room from there.

Finally being alone with Husna after a long while, I kicke dher under the table,

"What's up?"

She sighed, "I'm on a writer's block, I have exams from next week, the Aqeeqah will probably be between my exams, I hate college, and I hate everyone who says Arts is easy, I'm in love with this baby, I have a feeling I'll have to handle Sahifa so that Bhabhi can take care of herself and the baby, oh and- I'm a bit too excited for Fariyal's baby!"

I laughed at her mini rant, "Same. And I agree, I think I'll drop by every other day, InShaAllah. As for Fariyal's baby, what do you think it will be?"

Husna shrugged, "I think it's a girl. Tayammi and Bhaiya say it's a boy, and Sahifa just thinks her mum and Fariyal ate a baby up. Allah knows what she'll do when she wakes up and finds someone else in Bhabhi's arms."

I chuckled along her, there was never a dull moment with Husna.

Changing the topic, I asked,

"Hey, what happened to Arhaan?"

Instantly, her cheeks coated a shade of pink, her eyes brightened on their own accord, her lips curled up in a breathtakingly shy smile. She looked way more beautiful that she already is, and to say all of it was just by the mention of his name.

I took in a breath and made a quick prayer to Allah for keeping this light of love alive in her even in the worst scenario.

She sighed a longing sigh, "Alhamdulillah, he isn't marrying Areeba now because of some reason that I don't know."

I shook my head, "You speak as if heartbreak is a good thing. Maybe he truly did love her!"

Husna smiled, a smile that scream a secret hidden deep within it,

"Sometimes love isn't enough, Kainaat."

And for some unknown reason, goosebumps rose all over my body at her statement and my heartbeat fastened against my will.

I couldn't stop myself from asking,

"Then what is?"

At my question, she blinked, before going quite for a minute.

And in a voice barely above a whisper, Husna muttered,

"He is. And he is too."

She met my eyes, and I was spell bound by the limits of love she'd crossed while being in the limits of Islam.

My heart went out to the way she loved him, through duaas, through prayer, through everything unseen. Through Allah. With her Imaan and Duaa.

I breathed through my nose and gulped,

"Husna. Just know that you're the most patient person I know."

She bit her lip, "Alhamdulillah. Anyway, did I tell you that I got featured in a magazine?!''

My mouth fromed an O in surprise,

"What? That's amazing! When?!"

As she filled me in on the details, I listened intently, although my mind was just on one person.

Sometimes, love was not enough. Husna's answer was a simple one, yet deeper than my entire being. He is, He being Allah. And he is too. The second 'he' being, in my case, Zaidaan.

And she was right.

***

"What will you name him?"

At Fariyal's question, Bhaiya and Bhabhi looked at me, and I winked at them as Bhabhi shook her head,

"He is Sahil Ammar Khan."

I grinned as I looked at Zaidaan and smirked, indicating that this was the name I chose.

As per her promise, Bhabhi had let me choose the name. Although me being me, instead told her to give me options and I would choose. In the end, I combined a name Bhaiya had suggested with and came up with Sahil. Me and Bhabhi had resorted to keeping it a secret, just to annoy everyone. It had nagged Zaidaan that I wasn't telling him the name, which was extremely fun to watch.

Just then, Sahifa climbed beside Bhabhi and peered curiosly at her brother,

"Baby?" She asked in a questioning gaze and Bhabhi took her hand in her own, cautiously caressing Sahifa's finger over the baby's cheek.

Sahifa cooed, "It's so soft!"

Now fully awake, she extended her arms to hold him and bhaiya stood behind her,

"Saahu, jaan, that's your brother."

At this, she paused and turned to her father,

"My brother?"

"Yes Saahu baby," Husna piped in, in a teasing voice, "he was the baby in mamma's stomach!"

My mamma smacked her arm and everyone chuckled as Sahifa's eyes widened,

"Him?!" She exclaimed in a shocked whisper and I laughed when she shot a horrified look at Sahil.

Bhaiya shook his head, "Don't mess with her head guys, my daughter's imagination is wild, all thanks to her phuppos and their dramatisations!"

"Hey!" All three of us yelled in unison, Husna the loudest, and everyone laughed.

All laughter died down when Sahil wailed loudly and Sahifa nearly fell off the bed in shock. And seeing her mother craddle another human so close, Sahifa's heart broke and soon enough, she broke into a fit of tears.

I took it upon myself, but before I could approach her, Zaidaan was already by her side.

As he lifted her up and she buried her head in his neck in a fit of sobs, we headed out, giving Bhabhi some privacy as Bhaiya stayed back to help her.

Once out, her cries subsided and she took a good look at Zaidaan,

"Will mamma not hold me now?"

"Awh no," Zaidaan said, "um..."

He trailed off and looked at me for help.

I raised an eyebrow, oh. So now he remembers me. He shot me a sheepish smile and I bent down to Sahifa's level, pushing her hair back,

"No, baby. Of course not. Everyone loves you just the same. It's just...the baby is tiny, did you not see? It's so soft,right? He's your baby brother, Sahil. And I know my Sahifa darling will be a good girl and take care of him with mamma, right?"

She peered at me from beneath her long eyelashes and sniffed,

"Okay."

I smiled, "Okay."

I kissed the top of her head and Baba decided it was best that everyone headed back home and prepared for Bhabhi and Sahil's return.

Once everyone had gone, I made sure that a nurse was always by bhabhi's side incase she or the baby needed anything, before joining Zaidaan in our car.

I yawned as he started driving. The sun was now out, and the eight a.m fresh rays of the sun did no help to reduce my headache,

"Don't you have work?"

He gave me a look, "I've taken a leave. Dad said he'll handle. Oh, check the backseat."

Curios, I reached out to a package of krispy kreme and gave him a bright smile,

"Donuts? Thank you so much!"

A hint of a smirk graced his lips,

"Eat. And sleep when we reach home,you must be tired."

I nodded absentmindedly as I bit into the softly baked goodness. We drove in silence and once home, I rushed straight up to shower and sleep.

When I came out with a towel drying my damp hair, I found Zaidaan looking intently at me through the mirror.

We spoke less, and half the time it was just eye contacts and smiles, but there was something between us. Something no less than a fire, yet a blooming rose that filled this fire with grace.

His arms were my latibule, my safe place, my escape. And his heart was my home, a home I never planned on leaving.

As I silently made my way to the bed and layed down, his eyes followed my every move and I rested my head on the palm of my hand while my elbow kneaded into the soft below,

"What?"

He shook his head, and in a swift motion, drew the duvet over me. He watched until I'd closed my eyes, and just as I was about to fall asleep, in that moment of slumber nad sanity, I felt warm something on my forehead, before his breath fanned the side of my face,

"Sleep tight, my queen."

***

Three hours later, I woke up to mamma's call, saying that bhabhi would be discharged the day after, and that she needs me that day to welcome her grandson.

Calming her excitement a bit,I made my way out and in the kitchen, preparing for lunch.

Just as I was about to enter the kitchen, I heard voices from the living room. Quickly adjusting my dupatta, and making sure I looked presentable,I made my way towards the voices.

I found ammi with a few of her friends, and greeted them politely,

"Assalamualikum. How are you all?"

They replied in unison, and I turned to my mother in law,

"Can I get something for everyone, ammi?"

By now, I was accustomed to addressing Rubina Aunty as Ammi, though initially it was a problem. In nine months of my marriage, me and Fariyal had built a close bond with this entire family, obviously excluding Abaan. Fariyal's pregnancy was still a secret to her and Tayajaan, and whiel I initially had protested, Fariyal's strict orders had kept my mouth shut. I shared a pretty cool bond with my MIL, and she even teamed up with me a few times to annoy Zaidaan.

Ammi shot me a sweet smile,

"Just a few snacks, jaanam. Oh and, how's your bhabhi? You must go to their house now!"

I shook my head, "She's good alhamdulillah. And no ammi, it's okay. I'll visit them once bhabhi is discharged."

She said an alright and then turned back to her friends, while I made my way to get some snacks for them.

This was the one rare thing about my in-laws, no one ever stopped me from visiting my parents and siblings, no matter what time of the day it was.

Placing pastries and juice on the tray, I headed out.

As I gave one of the aunties a glass of juice,she gave me a bright smile,

"MashaAllah Rubina, your daughter-in-law is very precious."

Ammi laughed, "Alhamdulillah, Jenaan, alhamdulillah. I'm very lucky in that criteria."

I blushed quietly and muttered a 'jazakAllah'. Aunties always loved me for some reason.

They asked me a few more questions, the general non-awkward ones, until the same Jenaan Aunty said,

"So when are we hearing the good news?"

Now, in nine months, a lot of aunties had asked me this question, mom's friends, ammi's friends, my friends' mothers. And usually I'd answer with a 'When Allah Wills,' or an 'InshaAllah'.

But when ammi was around, she would usually tell her friends to stop annoying her beloved bahu and that they would get it when it's meant to be. It was always a savior for me, because I really didn't know how to answer differently, and also because it gave me a sense of satisfaction that she accepted me.

Per usual, I looked at ammi, waiting for her to answer.

But this time, I noticed how ammi looked away the minute our eyes met, before looking back at me with a face of masked expression, eyes void of the previous glint.

My smile wavered a bit at the sudden change of winds, though it wasn't much, it was obvious that unlike usual, she was leaving this question for me to answer, to answer both her friends and herself.

I should've known that sooner or later that fact would come in between our relation. And I threatened the tears to not fall, and the stilled at my eyeline like a layer of glass pricking my eyes.

I blinked rapidly and shot Jenaan Aunty a smile,

"InShaAllah, when Allah wills for it to happen, it will."

Ammi gave me a smile, a meaningless smile.

I plastered a happy face and rushed out as normally as I could, and once in the confines of my room, I broke down like every other time that thought troubled me, and like every time, I found solace in the way my tears settled on my raised palms in my dua'a, and there was small moment that I actually felt it in me that Allah would only test me because He wanted me to ask from Him, so that He could grant me everything I needed.

***

I took Zaidaan's bag from him as he spoke on the phone,

"No, mister Shaykh we can't cancel the deal now, it's too late."

I tugged a strand of my hair behind my ear, and peaked at him as his biceps tensed and he plopped down on the bean bag in our room.

His hair was a mess of smooth dark brown, tinging slight strands of light brown as light hit them, his tie askew and the top button undone, just the way I like it.

Once he was done, he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, exhausted.

It was still only evening, and since I ha dto go help in preparing dinner, I placed his clothes to be worn after freshening up at the edge of our bed.

Just before I could move past him, he caught me by my wrist and pulled me closer to him, making me sit on his lap as he trapped me between his arms,

"Hey beautiful,"

I blushed eventhough I couldn't see him as I lowered my gaze,

"I've to go, Zaid. Dinner's not ready yet."

He pouted and leaned his forehead against mine,

"I'm sure you can give me five minutes to satisfy myself."

I rolled my eyes and without thinking, said,

"Five minutes won't be enough."

He raised his eyebrows and gave me a cheeky smile,

"Indeed."

I blushed furiously, and I was pretty sure I resembled a tomato as I pushed his arms away and rushed outside, my heart beating fast.

I entered the kitchen to find Ammi on a call with Fariyal, with Inaya eating an apple.

She gave me a slice and I refused, I hated apples.

I joined Alviya in making the simple dinner, and just as I added spices to the mutton, Ammi turned to me,

"Beta, Zaidaan's back?"

I gave her a small smile,

"Ji ammi, I just gave him his clothes to freshen up."

Not half a second after I said that, Zaidaan's voice called out,

"Kainaat! I can't find my tee-shirt!"

Before I could even react, Inaya was up on her feet,

"Oooooh, Zaidaan Bhaiya! Bhabhi just said she gave you your clothes!"

The mischeif in he rvoice was hard to miss and I prayed for teh ground to swallow me up, the embarrassment eating me up as I coloured from head to toe.

Zaidaan ignored Inaya's yell and called out again,

"Kainaat!"

The three of them chuckled, thoroughly understanding why he needed me as Ammi said,

"Go, beta. It seems like he can't see his clothes anymore."

I lowered my gaze as heat rushed in me, and quietly made my way to our room, and upon reaching, I almost burst out on him,

"Zaidaan! Why would you that? Ammi was there!"

"So?" He shrugged, coming closer, "It's not like she was never newly married!"

I gasped and hit his shoulder as he pulled me closer. Before he could close his gap between us, I pulled away,

"I'm letting you get to me so easily,"

He raised his eyebrows,

"You call this easy?"

I smirked, "If you really need me so badly, wait for it when I'm not busy."

He groaned in annoyance as I chuckled and left him again, this time shooting him a warning glance as he sulked and muttered something about me torturing him.

***

That night, I stood by our glass wall and watched the moon.

Zaidaan joined me and wrapped his arms around me from behind,

"What are you thinking?"

I leaned against him, "About you."

He buried his head in my neck,

"Mhmm?"

I turned in his arms, circling my arms around his neck,

"Zaidaan?"

"Yes?"

I chose my words carefully,

"We love each other."

He leaned dangerously closer, "Alhamdulillah, we do."

I tightened my hold on him,

"But there's something we haven't done."

He leaned away in confusion, before his eyes widened at the look on my face and realization dawned on him.

The fire between us was seemingly tense now, and he nervously cupped the side of my face,

"Why are you bringing this up now?"

I pulled him closer by his collar, my hands shaking, my breaths breaking as I touched the tip of his nose with my own,

"Because I want to,"

I didn't know why I was doing it, whether it had something to do with ammi's behaviour earlier, or with us being so close after so long, but whatever it was, there was something in me that told me that I had to do this, more so now than ever.

He tightened his hold around me if that was even possible as I kissed cautiously close to the side of his lip and trailed his jawline until I reached his ear,

"I love you,"

"I love you." he growled back, his voice shaking and my heart beating faster against his.