'Call me baby' - EXO
Unedited
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The year flew by so quick, Zayn was not anticipating his A levels to pull up that quick. Imran was a cheeky little thing - Zayn still remembered his first words (dada), when hw begun sitting up without support too. He remembered how he used to roll over so much that they never left him on the bed alone incase he rolled off. How Imran had surprised them by learning to crawl at an early age.
Well at first he didn't know how to use his legs so it was more like him on his stomach the floor scoot forward with his arms. He had caused everyone to laugh so much - he looked like a little caterpillar moving about. Soon he had caught the hang of using his legs. Which led Syra running around the house, making sure to 'baby-proof' everything. How his mother used to playfully scold him when he opened the cupboards and messed up her whole collection of plastic containers she had faithfully collected over the years.
And he had begun walking - at nine months. Which mostly ended up with Zayn and his siblings chasing after him, as Syra was heavily pregnant. Now, at eleven months, he could understand some phrases in all the languages he was surrounded with. He could say some words, and some sentences but they didn't make much sense as he would mix up languages in one sentence. From hearing Pashto from his dad, Punjabi and Urdu from his mum and Syra's parents and of course English from him, Syra and their siblings.
Speaking of which, this time you could see her baby bump. It wasn't too big, it didn't seem like she was having twins, but they knew that one baby was probably hidden within her body as Imran was. He had yet to wrap his head around the fact that no one knew, not even Syra herself, that a whole ass human was camping out in there. She was literally due in a few weeks. She had her last exam the week of her due date.
Her pregnancy didn't turn out to be very smooth. She was unable to keep down anything, including water. Everything she ate or drank came right out like fifteen minutes later. This resulted with regular trips to the hospital to get drips - she needed nutrients for herself and both her children. Whenever she was not feeling well enough to go sixth form, she would do her classes online, as her school was gracious enough to provide that.
Zayn was worried about his cousin. Shahzad. His father had an accident, which left him in a coma. His dad's brother. Zayn did not know exactly what happened as Shahzad refused to tell anyone the details until his father woke up. Zayn had to take Syra back and forth from the hospital a lot as if recently, as well as working as well as moving their stuff slowly into their house. They were going to move in right after they had their registry, so after the birth.
So he wasn't able to chase up Shahzad who had seemingly vanished into thin air. Shahzad was already hard to get a hold of and now he just wasn't anywhere. Barely picking up calls, not replying to messages. He was on full ghosting mode. Most of what he heard was from Ahmad, even though Ahmad was from his mums side of the family. They were practically neighbours so they saw each other a lot more often.
Zayn decided not to pester him. If he wanted distance right now, he would respect that. He still took his mums dishes over to their house. Shahzad didn't want Zayn to be involved especially now that he had Imran, Syra and soon the twins. All Zayn knew for sure was that this 'accident' didn't seem much like an accident but rather more deliberate. However he would not intrude. Shahzad would come to him at the right time. Hopefully.
Zayn had also secured a good job under his fathers friend. His business was somewhat similar to what Zayn wanted to do, which is why he chose to leave working under his father and brother in law. He could now at least pay the bills of his new house independently. And the groceries and other expenses. And when he was fully independent in the future, he would pay back the money his father lended for the house and the money his father in law gave for the furniture and other expenses of buying a house. He just didn't say it to anyone but Syra incase he wasn't able to do it in the future. Almost as if he didn't want to jinx it. He tried not to worry about money and income that much anymore.
He closed his eyes and rested his head, his mind going back to when they had the gender reveal. Syra also held a baby shower just for the ladies.
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Syra insisted everyone dress up in white. They were not inviting their whole khandans but their immediate families, their close cousins and friends. He didn't invite all his friends, knowing they weren't into this type of stuff. He just invited Ahmad, Shahzad, Sajid & Majid and lastly Anwar. The rest had a trip to the bowling alley anyways. Syra of course invited Layla, Isla and Jannah and some of her cousins. Even then the house was crowded. They had decided to host it at Syra's house.
They didn't do the typical blue and pink theme. They chose mint green for boys, lilac for girls and both if it's both. Zayn hoped it was two girls. Syra wanted a boy and a girl. But they would be happy with anything. Balloons and bunting hung from the ceiling, confetti littered across the floor. He and Syra's sisters planned everything for ages, wanting everything to be perfect.
He literally had to wrestle Imran into his clothes. They had dressed him in black as he made his clothes dirty quickly by dragging himself on the floor. But then he pukes all over his new clothes. So Zayn had to go back and bathe him with the help of Syra because he kept splashing water everywhere. Then he begun crying because he absolutely hated it when his legs were covered. And Zayn couldn't get him to quieten down so he left him to Syra and went down to his mother to help her. Zeeshan, his four year old brother, was crying as Zahid, his nine year old brother, knocked down his Lego tower. So he resolves it by promising he would build the biggest tower for him when they came back, and sent him off to Zaina so she could get him changed.
He sighed. His siblings had already made him feel like a father even before he was one.
Believe it or not, by fifteen minutes everyone was ready, and in the cars. The drive was another fifteen minutes before they finally reached Syra's house.
So the confetti was actually popped on top of them as they entered. He hoped his sisters enjoyed sweeping that up. He remembered what a pain in the ass it was.
"Assalamualaikum," he greeted to no one in particular because there were already many people inside.
A chorus of 'Walaikumasalam' came back, people standing up for hugs and a billion kisses of the cheeks. Zayn held Imran in his arms as an excuse to not to get smothered by his aunts.
Ahmad hurriedly walked over to him,
"Bruv, you took so long. Ilyas was alright until he found out I was your friend. Then he interrogated me and then ignored me. Shahzad ditched me for Anwar so I was left with him,"
Zayn snickered, glad his friends could now know how he felt.
"Where are the twins? Are they here yet or not?" Zayn inquired.
"No, not yet. Their mum wanted to send some food with them so they got delayed by that," Ahmad responded.
Zayn smiled knowingly. Whenever Zayn went to their house, their mum, Zulaikhah, made sure to fill him to the brim and take food home for his family. She had claimed that Zayn was too skinny and needed to put on more weight - which he did need to at the time.
Imran wriggled in his arms, babbling as he held his arms out to Ahmad, who took him instantly. Zayn felt a little relieved. Yes, he absolutely loved his son to death, but sometimes wanted to demonstrate the act of defenestration with him. Or drop kick him. Or rolling him down the stairs. Just kidding.
He wondered what food there was. He was famished as Imran, that little devil, had managed to find his way into the plastic containers again and somehow spill oil, which Zayn had to clean up as Zaina took care of him. Then he had to help Syra with her shower as she had almost slipped last time.
He wondered over to the food table, seeing small portions of a range of foods, brought by all the guests so Syra's mum did not overwork herself. There was biryani from Ahmad, hutki from Anwar, haleem from the twins, tajine from Layla, kabuli puloa from Jannah, jollof rise from Isla, jalebi from Shahzad and so much more. Samosas, spring rolls, pakoras and an assortment of sweet dishes too like rasmalai, kheer, gulab jamun and of course, the large decorated cake which would reveal the gender. It was iced with with sage green and lilac decorations.
Well damn. No one could stop him from eating early at his own children's baby shower.
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It was finally time for the gender reveal. Zayn handed Syra the knife, he was sure he would end up sawing at the cane which would result in it toppling over.
Syra was wearing a loose white dress which draped over her small bump, making her look like a little bird. Carrying two humans did take a toll on you. She constantly had one hand on her back and one hand on the underside of her belly, as if supporting herself.
Syra's friends Jannah was a baker. So she had gone with Syra to find out the gender of the baby, without letting Syra know. She had designed the cake accordingly. Lilac chocolate chips for girls, sage green chocolate chips for boys and both mixed together for a boy and a girl.
She positioned the knife and brought the knife down and out. Zayn could see no lilac or sage on the knife. She cut another time and pulled the slice out slowly, to reveal sage green chocolate chips tumbling out from the centre of the cake.
Just green. Meaning she was having twin boys.
Cheers erupted in the room. Syra turned her face up to Zayn, smiling at him excitedly.
"Zayn! We are having two more sons!" she squealed excitedly, coming over to give him a hug.
Zayn couldn't describe the happiness he was feeling in that moment. Whatever Allah would bless them with, boys or girls, they would be content, for they believed as Muslims that Allah was the best of planners and only He knew what was best for them and why. So they would never be disappointed with His plans.
"Alhamdulillah," Zayn murmured, setting his chin on her head after kissing her forehead.
His family of three would be expanding to a family of five. If God willed in the future, they would have daughters too. He always wanted a daughter to spoil rotten. Not that he wouldn't spoil his sons.
It felt surreal at times. Him as a husband. Him as a father. It was a scary responsibility. But being surrounded with those he loved? It just felt right.
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Guys I accidentally switched which side of the family Shahzad and Ahmad were from. Shahzad Ahmed is his PATERNAL cousin and Ahmad Khan is his MATERNAL cousin. Lmk if I made this mistake elsewhere in the book. I'm so sorry.
Bruh I legit chat so much rubbish. I'm like oh imMa StArT RevIsInG oN mOnDaY but here I am still not done with the book. Smh. I was studying and then I forgot I had to go out. Fml. Need to sort out my life.
2010 words.