**"
The door creaked open, as Khalil and Aisha walked into the house. The house was booming with loud music and they were mesmerised with the decor. Their sitting room is an English decor and the couches but today, It looks more like a ball room. The couches were pushed aside and the carpets were folded aside.
I hope mum is going to watch this or else, dad will go bunkers on her. He thought.
Amal sighted him for the doorway and called out to him. He turned towards her 4' 0 clock and found her ambling towards his direction with a wide grin. "Yaya! What took you so long?"
"It's just past 2, I'm not even supposed to be this early if not for Aisha!" He said, pointing at her. Aisha grinned and held Amal's hands. "Happy birthday Amal, And congratulations on your engagement!" She squealed.
Amal chuckled. "T... Thank you Aisha!" She appreciated it. She got a gift wrapped in a box by Aisha as she looked at the three squares so curiously wondering what was inside. Khalil, knowing fully well who his sister is, he clearly his throat and shook his head. "No no, you don't change at all do you? Happy birthday kiddo!" He wished her, spreading his arm for a hug. She was taken aback and then fell into his arms. "Hmm, is this how comfy it feels? You never let me hug you!"
"You are taking it only for today and this would be the last day you would take it!" They pulled away. "Where is mama!?" He asked, looking around. "She is with the guest I guess!" Amal Answered.
Just then, two girls walked in, singing happy birthday song to her and pulling her into a tight hug. She responded immediately. They were her friends. They greeted him and he had to excuse himself.
He never wanted to be here, but he wouldn't want to be on the bad side with his sister and mother. They always do things extravagantly. He hissed and sipped the juice given to him. "I thought you wouldn't make it lulu?" Nabila asked, sitting beside him.
"What do you expect, mama wants me here!"
"Like play, you've become a mama's boy fah, anything she says you don't object to!"
"How am I supposed to!"
She scoffs. "Oh! What's with that tone? Where is the I Am A Man vibe you always put on? Now you are just as simple as a woman, so unlike you!"
He laughed, even though it hurt his ego, but he laughed to pass the time. His sister is right, he is soft and simple but that doesn't make him less of a man.
"Well where is Amir?" He asked,
"He is with Hanan and Faruq, they are playing over there!" She said, pointing at the direction they are in. He watched them carefully and thought of his own child being amongst them.
Urgh!
"Where are these two for God's sake!" He mutters, tapping in his text with Faisal and Ibrahim. They all replied to him with, i would be there and no one is even here. He should have just let Aisha come alone.
"Let me go see dad!" He excused himself and walked out of the house, heading to the other part of the house. His father's wing.
Meanwhile, Nabila watches Aisha with disgust as she gums to Amal, smiling and laughing with people as if she was the host, when she is just an invite. She sighed, surfing through her phone when Khadija sat beside her. She followed her gaze as it fell on Aisha's.
"She's still as clumsy as ever!" She hissed.
"You don't like her, Nabila?" Khadija asked.
"I am just not fond of her, she is too blunt and..."
"Well she is pregnant with a niece or nephew for you!" Khadija interrupted her by disclosing the news. Nabila sat up stunned. "Are you for real? I don't see any bump?"
"Are you this dumb and a doctor? She is still growing, you fool!" Khadija smacks the back of her head.
"Hey, don't do that!"
"I will do even more if that would make you come to your sense!" She said, Nabila sighed and sat back on the soft couch. "That is so soon! I wonder how sumayyah is doing!"
"What about her?"
"Nothing, I just missed her."
"Well she is not part of the family and..."
"I saw her!" She cuts in immediately making Khadija stare at her confused. "What do you mean you saw her?" She inquired, drawing her brows together.
Nabila examined her facial expression then turned away. "It was, I think after she left. She often comes to the hospital and I know she had no idea that I work there and she was coming for a check up!"
"Check up? For what?"
"She was pregnant!" She disclosed that Khadija's jaw dropped. So her instinct were right.
"But why didn't you tell any of us?"
She shrugged. "By the time i was ready to confront her, i never saw her again. I asked the doctor who treated her and he said she was discharged after giving birth. She probably won't be coming back."
"What did she give birth to!"
"He said, she gave birth to a baby boy!" She answered, sipping her fanta once more and staring into the crowd, while Khadija was lost in her thoughts. Should I tell Khalil? What would he do about it?
"You don't have to tell him anything Dija! It will just make things complicated. Did you not see him? He is always trying to smile even though it's hard for him and then he hears about him having a child, what else do you expect that he would feel? Whatever reason behind her disappearance. We will find out when the right time comes isn't that right?"
Khadija nodded. "Yeah right!"
But when will the right time ever be? When did our family become so complicated?
Summayyah had returned to the hospital and met Faruq alone with Azman. Rukayyah and Asma'u weren't around and when when asked. He said that he sent them home for Rukayyah to get some sleep and rest. She was grateful he did that because she never listens to anyone but him.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, as she sat at the other end of the chair.
"Alhamdulillah! Azman is better isn't It?" She asked, rubbing Azman's belly. He chuckled and held his mother's hand. "Mummy, daddy has been here all alone!"
"Oh, I kept him waiting, right?"
He nodded. She turned to Faruq as she bows her head. "I am sorry for keeping you waiting... Is that okay by you little man?" She asked and he nodded, laughing.
"Daddy, when are we going to play cops!?"
"When you get well Son, in sha Allah we will play!"
"When will i get better?!"
Faruq inhales as his eyes met with Summayyah's who quickly averted her eyes, avoiding to answer that. He sighed and faced Azman. "Very soon, my Boy. Very soon!" He said, rubbing his head.
"Now get some sleep okay. I would like to borrow mummy!" He requested, standing up as Summayyah followed suit. Azman slowly closed his eyes and when they made sure he was starting to fall asleep, they walked to the sofa at the end of the room and sat down.
"So how is everything with you, how are you feeling?" He asked, sounding worried.
"You asked earlier. I am fine. Is something wrong?" She asked but he shook his head.
"No, I'm just worried about you that is all!" He confessed, turning away from her face. "I will be meeting with Ibrahim today as I said, it will just be a brief meeting and I will come back!"
She nodded, "thank you!"
He was taken aback. "Thanks for what exactly?"
"For helping the Asraf company, I don't know what is taking them so long but someone there is a mastermind behind their downfall. If it wasn't because of the name the company has and that their products are good, it would have been shut down by now. Don't you think so?" She asked.
He pressed his lips together and then faced her. "I will do what I can do. I do not guarantee you that my company will be of help but I will see to it!"
She smiled. "I'm really proud of you!"
He blushed. "Oh come on, where is that coming from!" He giggled awkwardly.
"Are you shy? It's just a compliment!" She laughed.
"Yeah right! It's my pleasure!" He answered, laughing in between. "By the way..." He started, seeking her attention once more, but he didn't say anything. He kept staring at her and not that he was actually staring but his mind was somewhere else. Summayyah furrowed her brows, wondering why he is intense and she can't keep up to staring at him so much, she looked away immediately.
"Is there something you want to say?"
He clicked back to reality. "Oh s... Sorry. I was lost in my thoughts!"
"And what were the thoughts about?" She asked immediately. He sighed, scratching the corner of his eyes before he spoke. His voice was deep and calm. "When will you be able to face everybody? When will you go back home? At least, to see Abdul?" He asked and the question hit her hard. it's not like she doesn't want to go home and see them, she just doesn't know how to approach them.
She stared ahead at sleeping Azman as a small smile curled up her lips. "Very soon. In sha Allah!" And that was all she said to end the discussion between the two of them.
She really missed her mother, and its torture to repay them for what they had done to her by running away.
I can't run forever can i?
I just have to face my problem myself.
I started all this and it's left for me to end it. If i hadn't left, my life, khalil's life, Azman's life wouldn't turn out to be this lancinating.
I missed you Khalil!
I really do!
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