My hands shivered as I gripped Kainaat's shoulders from behind her, and she stretched her arms forward, taking the baby girl from Fariyal.

I peered at the tiniest baby I've ever seen, way more tiny than a premature born Inaya or Sahil, and she was comparitively thin.

The baby stared right back at us, her dark chocolate eyes wide open, lips parted just slightly.

She was breathing slowly, and Kainaat's shoulders slumped beneath my grip, before she turned to look at me with an expression I've never seen on anyone's face, except on my mother's after she'd scolded me.

It was an expression of love, a face with eyes of a mother's love filled in them.

I stared back at her, and then at the baby, unaware of what I should feel.

Someone took a shaky breath across us, and we looked at the actual mother of the baby.

"Take her," I heard Fariyal say, her eyes closed, "take her, name her, give her the life I can't afford to give. I will only nurse her for three months."

Kainaat's breaths came out heavier and she gently hugged the baby closer to her chest,

"Fariyal, you can name her. She still is your daughter."

Fariyal visibly flinched,

"No, it's okay. It'll save me some attachment."

Kainaat hesitated, but reluctantly agreed, and I wondered just how many mountains of stones did Fariyal keep on her heart to do this.

The pain on her face was unreadable, unrecogniseable, and I didn't know then, but if Abaan was to ever come near her again, I would have killed him.

I walked back out to the rest of the family, and as Kainaat's dad nodded, I recited the Azaan in my daughter's ears.

I didn't know what it was, but something in me soared higher than ever as I recited the call to prayer in the little girl's ears.

Inaya stepped forward and repeatedly showered her niece with kisses, while my parents were too shaken to believe all of it.

"What will you name her?"

Husna asked from where she stood with Kainaat, gently craddling her niece in her arms and muttering sweet nothings.

The baby stirred in her arms, and made a voice akin to a short cry, and I watched how Kainaat instantly shot up on her feet and patted the girl's chest lightly, ever so carefully taking her from Husna.

My heart skipped a beat at the brightest smile I've ever seen on Kainaat's face, and just as she looked up and our eyes met, a memory from nearly an year back hit me.

I raised an amused eyebrow, "You love kids, don't you?"

"A lot, Zaid. I can't even begin."

My eyes glinted, and I knew she saw me saying it before I said it,

"Well, what would you name your daughter?"

Some sort of a pain crossed her features, but she hid it fast, though she didn't think I saw it.

Her reply came in an instant,

"Muskaan."

It was probably the way she said it, or the smile on her lips when she did, but I had my mind made up that I loved this name, as much as I loved her.

Muskaan.

But now as my thoughts took a turn and I actally watched the said daughter in her arms, I knew I loved the name, but the one we were naming? I was yet to fall in love with her.

Before my mother could say anything, I said, answering Husna,

"Muskaan,"

Everyone turned to me, for it was the first time my voice found me since we came here yesterday.

My eyes were focsed on Kainaat, at the way she completely stilled for a minute, and then looked up, her face slightly shaken and pink, as realisation dawned on her.

My mother looked at me with raised eyebrows, and I continued,

"Muskaan Ayesha Farooq."

A murmur of approval and mashaAllah went around, and everyone fell silent after that.

Kainaat ushered everyone to go meet Fariyal, while she took the baby away for something that I didn't quite catch, Husna stood behind, watching me with a twisted expression.

"What?" I asked her.

She shook her head, "How times change, we'll never know. Will you both be okay?"

I shot her a skeptical look. Now the thing about Husna is, the girl knows way more of the things that happen than she let's on. She's so observant that she can tell in an instant if the person is okay, even if she barely knew him.

So as I, for the first time, looked at my wife's best friend, I knew she knew.

And then, I nodded in affirmative. Convincing myself that we will be okay.

I heard her sigh before she walked away, her footsteps echoing in the lengthy hallway.

Not having the strength to face Fariyal, I chose to try and find Kainaat.

***

That night, I, Kainaat, and her mom decided to stay at the hospital. Kainaat's mom stayed with Fariyal, while the two of us sat outside in the waiting room.

I paced the length of the corridor and Kainaat sat still, posture straight. She kept sighing every now and then, and I finally took a break and turned to her,

"Hey. Let's go out."

She looked at me in surprise, and nodded, getting up and joining me as we fell in step.

I took her hand in mine and squeezed it, she leaned her head against my arm. She was exhausted. Maybe not physically, but mentally.

We walked in that pose until we reached my car.

The winds hit us from all directions, indicating the coldness of weather at the bittersweet turn of events.

I silently motioned for her to get in the car and she looked at me quizzically.

Once she was seated, I leaned inside,

"You wouldn't sleep inside the hospital, I know. Sleep here. We'll be okay."

She looked at me in a sort of surprise for a few seconds before her eyes filled up and she fisted my shirt in her hands, pulling me closer.

I held her as she cried in my arms, kissing the top of her head.

Once her sobs had subsided, I pulled away from her and I reached an arm behind her to push her seat back, so she could rest in a better position.

When our eyes met, yet again, I knew we were in the same moment, back in the flight to our honeymoon.

Except, now we were both stuck in a reality we didn't predict.

***

Two days later, Kainaat and Fariyal decided to stay at their mom's home for another two months before returning back home to us.

Which was to say, Kainaat was going to stay there. For two months, and that was something to be troubled about.

Everyone at the Khan household was hyper, having two babies only two weeks apart, and a very proud Sahifa who refused to stop smiling because she could now rule over two babies. And if anyone disobeyed her, she would easily go wake up and trouble not one, but two babies.

Suffice to say, the seven year old was way more smart than we'd predicted.

Fariyal was in a sullen-happy mood. She kept reminding everyone from time to time that baby was Kainaat's, that Muskaan was Kainaat's, and everyone knew it was more to remind herself.

How someone can be so patient, I didn't know. What I do know is that it is only a mother's brave heart that can let go of a child for her safety.

The last I saw them, I'd seen Kainaat holding a sleeping Muskaan, with Fariyal beside them,watching the duo with a smile. A smile which held no trace of jealousy. A smile that was so geniune, it could put the happiest of smiles to shame.

And once I was alone, on a prayer mat after Ishaa, I didn't stop, for once, the tears that left my eyes, as I prayed for both the sisters, and all the sacrifices they were taking up on themselves.