The cold November air hit me with a gush, and I pulled my jacket closer to me. It seemed to have no mercy against my hair, and I ran my fingers through them in an attempt to calm them, only to touch cold strands which refused to submit.

I let them be as I hurried up the steps, and quickly entered our apartment with the spare key, knowing full well Kainaat would be busy with the kids.

"Assalam-"

I was cut off when I realized how silent the home was, which was weird as usually the kids were up and howling. So I silently dropped my coat on the sofa and loosened my tie as I whistled lightly on my way to the bedroom.

I leaned against the doorframe and smiled slightly when I witnessed the scene in front of me. Kainaat was wrapped in our blanket, Muskaan in her arms wrapped around, Mehek wide awake in her cot, just staring up and pushing her hands up and down. I peaked in, and she instantly smiled at me, making small noises. I sighed deeply before quickly washing my hands and picking her up, nuzzling my nose in her cheek as she giggled. I carried her out to not wake the other two up, grabbing a packet of chips before I settled on the sofa with the nine month old in my lap.

I kissed the top of her head, "When did you wake up from your nap, baby? Hmm?"

She babbled back a response, jumping in my lap, trying to get away. I put her down, and she instantly crawled to one of the toys and analyzed it before trying to eat it, and I hurried to take it away from her, bringing her back in my lap.

Her hair had grown a bit, and were soft against my fingers as I gently played with them, her baby scent bringing peace to my soul. A rocked her in my arms until she fell asleep again and I sat there still, just enjoying the feeling. A few minutes later I heard footsteps approaching us and I instantly knew it was Kainaat.

"You're home already," I heard her mutter in a sleepy voice. I looked up to find her beside me, and I took her hand in mine before pecking it lightly,

"Yes, I am."

She gave me a small smile, and I noticed how unusually warm her hand was. I frowned, and then touched her forehead just as she took a seat beside me,

"You have a fever,"

She shook her head, "I'm fine,"

My frown deepened when I noticed how drowsy she looked, "When did you have your lunch?"

She spoke with her eyes closed, "Right before I slept."

I observed her as Mehek tried climbing into her arms, and she effortlessly picked her up and the duo cuddled. A few seconds later, she leaned deeper into the sofa and looked at me from beneath her eyelashes,

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Go freshen up,"

I nodded, before I took her hand in mine, "I will, but you don't get up. Stay here."

She was already falling back asleep, so I took the baby from her and placed her back in her crib, busying her with her toys before quickly freshening up. I came out to find Kainaat up again, this time staring down at her phone with utmost concentration. Upon reaching closer, I found her listening to an Islamic lecture,

"...when Zakariya alayhissalam prayed for a child, he was very old. His wife was old and barren, unable to bear children. However, he still made the dua'a to Allah because he knew that nothing is impossible for Him. And for sure, the dua he alayhissalam made was eventually accepted and Zakariya alayhissalam was blessed with a baby boy, who was also a Prophet of Allah. Thus, not only had his prayer been answered, but it was a great blessing from Allah.

The prophet was scarcely able to believe what he had heard. He asked how he could have a child with a barren wife. The angel replied saying that anything is easy for Allah. He does what He wills. Possibility and impossibility of an event is the uncertainty of humans, but for Allah- every single wish of ours is possible.

Never think that your dua is unheard by Allah swt. He listens to each and every word we utter, even if we don't utter it and wish for it from our heart, Allah listens as long as we tell him, He gives as long as we ask from Him. Duaa is the strongest weapon a momin possesses. We should be grateful that we have been granted the tawfeeq to make dua. Nothing is impossible for allah, absolutely nothing.

He says 'Be' and it is."

As it ended, I watched as she kept the phone aside and leaned deeper into the pillows, closing her eyes again. I walked up to her and leaned down, kissing her forehead as me and Mehek made our way to the kitchen.

I fetched myself a sandwich and promptly nodded to Mehek's baby babbles, as I prepared a soup for Kainaat. I knew full well she was trying to hide herself in sleep, but I was no one to hide from. She would obviously saw no to an offer of food, so it was now up to me to feed her. Which I didn't mind, of course. Mehek slapped her hands against the high-chair, and gave me a toothless smile when she caught my gaze.

Once done, I busied Mehek with her toys and put on an animated disney movie for her to watch, before quietly sitting beside Kainaat.

I pushed her hair side and tucked them behind her ears, gently. Caressing her cheek, I slightly whispered,

"Kainaat," she made no movement, "hey, Kainaat?"

She squirmed bit, and I patted her arm, "Wake up, my love. Chalo, shabash, get up now."

She slowly opened her eyes and flinched before mumbling, "Zaid, please. No."

I sighed as she leaned on my arm, still mumbling, "I don't wanna eat, I'm not hungry, take it away."

Nudging her up, I made her face me, "You may not want it, but you need it. It'll only take five minutes, please. Wake up now, come on."

With much reluctance, she managed to get up and I fed her bit by bit, albeit her resistence to finishing the soup. Once done, she gave me a death glare for forcing her to eat, while I chuckled before asking,

"What caused this? Why are you sick?"

She massaged her forehead just as Mehek reached out to her, "I don't know," She said, picking Mehek up, "It just started with a stomach ache, and then I had some intense aches all over my body."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "We should go visit a doc"

"No, it's-"

"not fine, we're leaving now. Get up, come on."

She groaned as I said that, and I helped her wear her abaya. I was just about to leave and wake Muskaan up, when she suddenly crouched down, clutching her abdomen.

"Kainaat?" I leaned down to be at her level, "what happened? What is it?"

She shook her head in response, tears escaping the side of her eyes as I held her by her shoulders, "it...hurts."

She struggled to speak, and panic filled my entire being as she fell limp against me. I shook her, but she just closed her eyes in pain. Mehek and Muskaan were in the other room, and just as I turned to let her know that I was gonna go get them, Kainaat fainted right before my eyes, right in my arms.

***

I felt some stiffness in my neck and I shut my eyes closed as I heard some ruffling beside me. I sighed when the uncomfortable and cold feeling did not leave me, and opened my eyes to find myself in a dimly lit hospital room.

It took me a minute to realize that I was sleeping on a chair, and the ruffling beside me was of Kainaat. I jumped up and scurried over to her side as she squirmed under the sheets again. I held her hand in mine, just as she opened her eyes and squinted at the light above her.

."What happened?" She asked in a low voice.

"You fainted," I responded, quite dumbly.

She tried to sit up, and I helped her up. Once done, she massaged her forehead, before looking at me,

"What actually happened?"

I sighed, "They did a few tests, the reports are yet to come. They said we can leave once you wake up, something long the lines of weakness."

"Oh." was all she said as she looked down. I took her fumbling hands in mine,

"You scared me," she smiled t me, muttering a short 'I'm sorry' under her breath, and I shook my head.

"You should take a leave for a few days. Just two days, atleast."

She frowned at my words, but nodded two minutes later, "You're right. I should take a break."

And just then, her eyes widened, "WHERE ARE THE GIRLS?"

I almost jumped at how loud she suddenly went, and I hurried to calm her down, "They're at the office, Zayra's there to look after them. Relax, I was there."

She took in a deep breath and leaned against the pillows, gently nodding, "Yes. Right. Okay."

I chuckled at her reaction. A few minutes later, once the doctor had made sure she was okay, we were allowed to go home. I picked the girls up on our way back, both of them falling asleep pretty quick on the ride back home, Kainaat herself quite sleepy.

Once inside, I put the girls on their respective beds and made my way out to find Kainaat half-asleep on the sofa,

"No, Kainaat. You have to eat something and the medicine before sleeping."

She groaned, "I really just wanna sleep,"

I sighed and stood in front of her as she paid me no heed, before leaning down and lifting her up bridal style in my arms. She snuggled closer, and I shook my head. On reaching the kitchen, I made her sit on the counter, beside the fridge, and pushed her hair back,

"Kainaat, wake up."

She leaned her head against the fridge and clutched my shirt in both her fists. I chuckled as I leaned closer,

"Darling," and a laugh escaped me when her lips tugged upward in a small smile, just slight enough to make my heart race, even if she was almost in a deep sleep.

I let go of her, and upon losing all the support holding her, she jerked up awake and looked at me for a minute before the situation settled in her mind. I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. Kainaat sighed and made a face as I handed her a plate.

Seeing her pick on her food, I rolled my eyes and pulled a chair in front of her, taking the plate from her. She hesitated for a while, before slightly opening her mouth and allowing me to feed her. We sat silently for a while, before I asked,

"Does it hurt?"

She furrowed her eyebrows, "Where exactly?"

I blinked at her, "It's paining everywhere?"

She quickly shook her head, "Just my stomach, and..."

I raised an eyebrow and she hesitated, "Abdomen."

I clenched my jaw, shutting my eyes close. I opened them to see her already looking at me, and she sighed before reaching out and touching the side of my face with her fingertips.

I closed my eyes again, and she caressed my cheek,

"I'm okay, Zaid."

I nodded, placing my hand above hers which rested on my cheek, and pulled it closer, kissing her palm. She smiled back in return, and there was a peace between us. Something felt so very right in that moment, even if it was just because she'd smiled with her eyes this time around. I gazed at her for the longest of moments, and smiled back.

We were fine, I assured myself. Realizing just how much seeing her faint like that scared me.

Once done with the food, I helped her get ready for bed. She rested her head on my chest as soon as I joined her,

"Zaid?"

"Ji meri jaan?" I responded back,

"Let's shift back home."

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked down, and her eyes shone back at me in the darkness as she continued,

"I want our girls to grow up where we did. I want them to see and learn the things that we did."

She paused for a while, "I want them to be around their family."

I nodded against her head, and pondered over the idea for a while. She did have a point, so I murmured a 'In sha Allah', loud enough for her to hear, before sleep engulfed me.

***

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I squinted my eyes and checked the time to find it a bit over four a.m, and an empty bed beside me.

I lifted my head up to find Kainaat on the other side of the room, on a prayer mat, bent over in prostration. She got up from her sujood and raised her hands to make duaa, and I looked back on my phone.

I sat up straight when I saw it was a missed call from the doctor, and another from Maysa, Kainaat's gyneacologist.

I stood up as I called her back, and she picked up on the first ring,

"Hi, Mr.Farooq?"

"Yes, speaking"

"I know this is very unprofessional of me, and I apologize for it, but this is something very huge and I just wanted to let you know. Since it's almost time for Fajr, and Kainaat had told me she's up at this hour, I decided to call you up once she didn't pick up the call."

I held my phone, "It's okay, I understand. Please, do tell me what happened?"

But when the answer came, I couldn't move, I stayed rooted on my spot until Kainaat turned to me to find me standing like a statue, and she came over to my side, afraid of my stillness.

I didn't move, I didn't know how to react, and I just stood there as Kainaat took the phone from me and attended the call instead. But when the phone slipped from her hands, I knew the ground had been slipped from beneath both our feet.

It is all a matter of faith in your prayers, belief in Allah's mercy, and Allah will shower you with blessings you hadn't even asked for. Such is the mercy of Our Lord, who gives us without us asking, who gives us before we ask for it, who gives us better than what we ask for.

Because who are we to say something is possible or impossible, for all it takes is a "Be" from Allah, and It Will Be.

كن فيكن.

Be, And It Is.

[AL QURA'AN 36:82]