Zoha with his arms folded across his chest with a side smile.

"You don't know how happy I am right now. I feel like I am already in clouds," he said.

Zoha's scintillating eyes kept gazing at Shehryaar. She couldn't miss seeing the first spark of happiness erupt like firework on his face.

"I am happy too," she said, as if it was already not visible to him.

"I hadn't had the slightest idea when mummy mentioned that you could be expecting. I wasn't thinking about it at all until she clearly said it."

Zoha slid up from the sleeping position and leaned against the headboard. She didn't want to lay still. It made her more nauseous and troubled her breathing.

"I wish we could go to the doctor and be hundred percent sure about it, but there isn't much time," she said.

"I know. But if mummy was confident about it, then I doubt less."

"Still."

"Yes, we will go to the doctor once we go there. You will have a proper check up and everything." Shehryaar gave an assuring smile. "No need to worry."

Zoha nodded, part lost in her trivial thoughts.

"For now we have three more hours. Let me check the suitcases again and take out my passport."

"I put the tickets in the purse if you want them," Zoha said.

"No not right now." Shehryaar dragged the suitcase over to the middle of the room and laid it on the floor. "Actually let me check the tickets."

"They are in my purse"

"Where is it?"

"Hold up, I will give you." Zoha flipped the comforter aside and slipped her toes in the slipper.

"Are you sure you are feeling okay?" Shehryaar nearly jumped over to help her.

"Yeah I am fine." Zoha looked at the way Shehryaar became overprotective about her all of a sudden. It was kind of funny, yet adorable.

"Okay."

Zoha went to the wardrobe and grabbed her purse hanging on the side. Then rummaged in for the tickets. "Here."

"Oh." Shehryaar took it from her hand. "Just double checking."

"How about your passport?"

Shehryaar was closely reading the timing and the rest of the essential information. "Keep them in the purse. And you made sure you have the green card too?"

"Yes I kept them together." Zoha dug in the little pocket inside the purse and pulled out a small card. "Here it is."

Shehryaar returned the tickets after checking and then skimmed through the passport.

"These are good." He gave them back too.

Zoha prudently stashed the important documents in her purse and hung it back in the wardrobe. Then went to the bathroom.

**************************

It was exactly two thirty when Zoha was fully ready. She had done her hair in a bun and wore the dupatta on her head. Shehryaar who was all dressed too, lastly sprayed perfume on himself and wore his wrist watch.

"You kept your sweater in the carry-on right?" Shehryaar asked, peeling his attention from the mirror.

Zoha was handling the purse and a small bag in her hand, while the dupatta kept slipping off her head that she had to fix it million times.

"Yeah I kept the new one," she said. "Ek toh yeh dupatta tikta nahi hai," then irritated.

"Why are you even holding this bag?" Shehryaar said, watching, as she zipped her purse.

"How many things are you going to carry downstairs?" Zoha said. "It's fine that I carry one thing."

"So what? I will carry that too. You absolutely don't have to take it." He took the bag from her and put it on the floor.

"Shehryaar," Zoha said. "It's okay." She tried to tell him.

"No. I am taking it and that's it." He kept her hand from reaching for the bag again.

Shehryaar first toted the biggest suitcases down the stairs. Then came back and one by one brought down the rest of them.

In the end when Shehryaar was done, he scanned around his room, absorbing the last moment before he left the place for God knew how long. Like in the past he used this room whenever he came in summer. But this time it was different. He was going to California with his wife, Zoha. He was going to settle there and have his own little family. There was no reason to come back, except for his mother and his little sister.

Zoha stood at the door, as Shehryaar contemplated.

"I wonder when I will come back and sleep here again," he said. "This was the longest time I stayed."

"I will miss this place more than you. I have never been away," Zoha said. Tears started brimming her eyes.

Shehryaar reached for the knob and reluctantly pulled the door close.

Zoha tried to hold back her tears, but they kept filling her eyes. The thickness rose in her throat and she broke out.

"Zoha, please don't," Shehryaar said sympathetically. He threw his arm around her back and pulled her in a hug. "I understand how hard it must be for you. But I promise we will come back here whenever you wish."

"But Shehryaar.." she cried, leaning into his chest.

"Look, we are going down and I don't want you to cry. I want you to show mummy that you are happy, otherwise she will be upset too," he explained.

Zoha wiped her tears, unable to avoid the overwhelming bulge in her chest.

"I want to see you smile."

Zoha didn't feel a bit happy to fill Shehryaar's wish.

"Please," he begged.

"You don't know how much I tried not to cry and be this upset. But sometimes I can't control it. It's hard," Zoha said.

"I know, jaan, but you have to be strong."

"Yes, I am trying." The hopelessness dripped from her words.

"I know you can do this. I believe in you," Shehryaar confided.

********************************

When Shehryaar and Zoha made it down the stairs, in the living area Manal was sitting on the sofa, waiting. As she noticed them, she got up, having a support of one crutch under her left arm and headed over.

"ZOHA!" she exclaimed with overflowing excitement. "I am so happy to hear the news." Smile stretched across her lips.

Zoha who was unsure at how to react, wore a nervous smile.

"I can't believe I am going to be an aunt," Manal perked. She wrapped Zoha in a hug.

In that Saliha rushed over from inside and joined them at the bottom of the stairs.

"You guys are leaving and nobody called me?" Saliha said, in an upsetting tone.

"No, mummy, we just came down. How do you think we would have left without saying Allah-hafiz to you," Shehryaar said.

"I wish you guys didn't leave us." The yellow excitement on Manal's face was tinged with gray gloom as the word 'Allah-hafiz' rang an alarm.

"I know, Manal," he said, then quieted.

"I wish I could see the baby. But by the time you will come visit us, the baby will be grown up." Manal saddened. "It won't be like how I imagined."

Shehryaar stepped forward and enveloped his little sister in a hug. "Me and Zoha promise that we will come soon. As much as you can't live without us, we can't live without you either."

"Then don't go. Stay here." Manal sounded like a baby posing a simple solution.

"I am afraid we can't."

"Manal," Saliha said. "Don't upset bhai."

"Sorry," Manal said.

"It's fine, mummy," Shehryaar said.

"Zoha, are you happy that you are going to California?" Manal asked, gaining the previous excitement.

Zoha glanced at Shehryaar and then with hesitancy, she said, "yes."

"I am happy for you."

Saliha came forth and hugged her son, diving her face in his chest. "I have never felt this much sad and happy together at the same time. I don't know what to say."

"I feel the same way too," Shehryaar said.

"I wish for this moment to pass fast so you guys can come back and unite with us again."

"In Shaa Allah."

Saliha pulled away from Shehryaar and went over to Zoha. She smiled sweetly at her and kissed her on the forehead.

"I want you to greatly take care of yourself, beta," she said. "Now you are not alone. You have a small life inside of you that seeks your attention and care."

"Yes, bari ammi," Zoha said, meekly.

"I want you to be happy on this new journey of your life."

"In Shaa Allah."

After the last, brief exchange of words, Shehryaar pulled out the handle and started dragging the suitcase to the driveway. Zoha realized that that was it. It was their time to leave and to finally say Allah-hafiz.

Shehryaar brought out all the suitcases and began loading the car trunk. The only thing Zoha was holding was her purse on her shoulder. She didn't carry anything else as Shehryaar instructed her.

In the driveway, Saliha and Manal stood, watching as Shehryaar settled their belongings in the car. When all was done, Zoha shed some tears and hugged Saliha. Neither of them wanted to let go of each other. Manal came around and hugged Zoha from the back.

"I will miss you so much," Manal said, dismally.

"I will miss you both and this house so much too," Zoha cried.

"Mera bacha, don't cry," Saliha said, cupping her face.

"I don't know when I will get to see you both again," Zoha said, pulling away from Saliha.

"If Allah wills, very soon," Saliha hoped.

"Don't forget us once you go there," Manal said. "I will keep calling you and bhai all the time, asking how my niece or my nephew is doing."

"Yes, do," Zoha laughed, while in tears.

"I want both of you to be happy and nothing else," Saliha said, as Shehryaar joined them after putting away the suitcases.

"Chalo shukar yeh rona dhona toh band hua," he teased.

Zoha dried the tears from under her eyes and promised to herself that she wouldn't cry after that.

"Did everything fit in the car?" Saliha asked.

"Yeah. The trunk was big enough for two suitcases. The small carry-on we kept them in the back seat," Shehryaar explained.

"Chalo acha hai. When is the flight?"

Shehryaar glanced at this wrist watch and said, "we should get going. It's at four-forty five."

"Then you should hurry up. What if there is a traffic on the way. You will get late," Saliha said.

"Yes. I hope there is no traffic."

Before Shehryaar sat in the car, he gave a last hearty hug to Saliha and Manal.

"I love you both," he said. "I will miss you so much."

"You too, beta."

"I will try to make a visit as soon as possible after Zoha's delivery. After all you will be a grandma."

"I know. I can't wait to see my grandchild," Saliha said.

"In Shaa Allah bohat jald."

Zoha sat in the backseat of the car since she had already said Allah-hafiz and waited for Shehryaar.

**********************************************