Winning her heart

3. Hadi , Masooma and the baby

{In the course of translating this novel into Urdu, I took the liberty of adding a new section to the story. This additional scene was not present in the original version. So, here's the extraa part. Hope you'll enjoy}

Rafiq picked Masuma up from her friend's house when they ran into Hadi on the way. Hadi was also heading home from work. Rafiq was delighted to see him, as he had plans to meet another friend. He asked Masoma to go home with Hadi.  Masuma nodded silently.

Hadi slipped his hands into his trouser pockets and led the way, Masuma trailing behind him. It was evening, and there was a chill in the air. Hadi desperately wanted Masuma to talk to him, or to say something to her himself, but his ego held him back.

"Hey, what's that?" Hadi heard Masuma's voice and turned to look back. Masuma had pointed to a spot. Hadi shrugged and said, "What'?"

"There's a child," Masuma said in surprise and walked forward. Hadi followed her and said, "Why would there be a child there?" But when they got there, they were both stunned. A two- or three-year-old child was crying there. There was no one else on the road at the time. Masuma took the child in her arms and tried to calm him down. She looked around for the child's parents.

"I wonder where his mother is?" Masuma said, patting the child's back.

"You stay here, I'll go check it out." Hadi went into the nearby alleys, but he couldn't find the child's parents anywhere.As Masuma held the crying child in her arms, a wave of empathy washed over her. She couldn't imagine the fear and desperation the child's mother must be feeling. She gently rocked the child back and forth, trying to soothe him with her soft voice and touch.

Hadi, meanwhile, had been searching the surrounding area for any sign of the child's parents. He had checked every nearby shop and house, but there was no trace of them.With a heavy heart, Hadi returned to Masuma and the child. They both waited there for a while, but when time passed and no one came, Masuma and Hadi took the child to the police station.

"There, they disclosed everything to the police. The officer listened attentively to every detail.

"We'll try to locate the child's parents as soon as possible. But we have a request for you," the officer said gravely. The child was now peacefully asleep, nestled against Masooma's chest. Hadi frowned. 

"What is it, officer?" Masooma inquired.

"The child needs temporary care right now. We don't have any child welfare facilities available at the moment. If both of you could become temporary caregivers for this child, it would make our situation much easier," he requested.

"No, absolutely not," Hadi immediately responded. "I mean, we have no experience in caregiving."

"Look, you both seem like the best option for him at the moment. If we had a better environment for this child, we would place him there. But right now, we're left with no choice," the police officer explained helplessly.

"But..." Hadi was about to say something when Masooma grabbed her arm.

"Please, Hadi," she pleaded, her eyes peeking out from behind her niqab. "It's just for a few days. We can take care of this child." 

Withing the short period of time, Masooma grew attached to the baby. 

Hadi looked into those eyes, soft and pleading, and he made the biggest mistake of his life. She wasn't just looking at him with a gentle request; she was melting his heart. Slowly but surely. It was the first time she had ever asked him for something in such a soft and loving tone. How could he refuse? So, he agreed.