Light Upon Light
It was Saturday. Bhabhi, Sidra and I had everything sorted out for our little surprise for Di. We were waiting for everyone to leave so we could set things up and surprise her. She has been having a hard time and her due date's only been drawing closer. Despite everyone else trying to draw Abid away from her, the little man always wanted his mom. He was excited to welcome his sibling, but he didn't understand that his mother needed time off. It wasn't that hard for Bhabhi to convince Di to let Abrar Jiju take him to the Nikah. And Bhabhi sent Ihsan along as well. That lady is nothing short of a super woman. And a super cheeky future sister in law. My, it's still unbelievable at times. It's only been a few days since Mr Zaid Hashim dropped his proposal on me and the good news conveyed to our families. One word was all it took and there was an air of joy and festivity in the house. One word is all it takes for life to pivot instantaneously and now you're stuck in the nether world of transition. At least that has been the case for me. I'm sure it was the same for my cousins, my brother and my best friend too. And perhaps Zaid as well. And tomorrow we'll be getting engaged. Oh teen Juni would have probably squealed to death had she known that she would, in fact, end up getting engaged to Zaid Hashim.Or she'd probably have found it unbelievable. To be honest, a part of me still does find it unbelievable. Despite all the praises and reasons that he did heap on me yesterday. The conversation kept replaying in my head. And of course that meant I blushed a lot, which of course drew in a lot of teasing. My cousins and best friends were paying me back in kind. And said cheeky future sister in law happens to live in my home. And the other future cheeky sister in law lives in the house next door. As does Zaid Hashim. My future husband. Cue internal squealing. "Oh there she goes blushing again Dadi. You know, I'm thinking I should tax her for every thought she has about my brother before their marriage. I'd become super rich!" Iqra Bhabhi laughed. And Dadi and Sidra too. Well Bhabhi was laughing until dear little Kanza took care of it with her puking. Bhabhi ran off to her room with the baby in tow. "My niece loves me," I grinned. "Of course she does, but not more than-" Sidra started. I didn't let her finish."Not a word more. Dadi can you please ask them to focus on Di and not me?" I begged.Dadi laughed at me. Again. "Dadi!""You're secretly enjoying this," she said with that twinkle in her eyes. "Of course not!"Did I mention I blush a lot these days?
I do. It's crazy. Where is the button to control this?The good news is, they forbid Zaid from popping in to Ashiana as he usually did. It was a relief because I cannot imagine how much all of this teasing would double and said young man would totally enjoy it. Especially since I had played my little stunt the other day. I hadn't seen or heard from him since. And he'll be here in Ashiana tomorrow. Goodness. The little table in the courtyard was set with some cookies and cake and fresh juice and chaat that Sidra had bought after her teaching session at the masjid. There were also a few little gifts for Di and her baby. We had just finished arranging everything when Di came downstairs with Kashaf. Iqra Bhabhi was out with Kanza right on time too."Surprise!" Di was tearing up and laughing as reached the table. "You guys this is so thoughtful," she said as she hugged us and then sat next to Dadi. "Oh it's nothing, just some snacks and gifts and some girl time for you!" Sidra chirped. "Jazakum Allahu khairan katheeran. You girls are the best!" "Well Ayesha, I'm a bit old to be called a girl," Dadi noted, trying and failing to look prim and austere. She was way too happy for that."Oh Dadi, you know you're the youngest," I said winking. The rest of the family had left just after maghrib and we had the house to ourselves till they came home. Dadi returned to her room after a bit as she was tired. The ladies and I were having a great time. We were laughing and poking fun at each other. Di looked tired, but she was having a good time. Alhamdulillah. And then she wasn't. Her water broke. Sidra and I were panicking, Kashaf didn't know what was going on. Iqra Bhabhi was the only level headed one but Kanza burst into tears. A moment before we laughing and having fun and then it was "Oh my Allah! What do we do?!""Juni go upstairs and get her hospital bag! Sidra can you please take Kanza and calm her down?" Bhabhi instructed as she helped Di. Dadi had come out hearing our commotion, I was halfway up the stairs by then. I grabbed the bag that we had packed just a week or so back from Di's room and a purdah from mine and rushed down as soon as I could. Dadi was on the phone, I guessed it was Phupi at the other end. Iqra Bhabhi was also on call."Shoaib, is the function over yet? When will you be back?"Kanza was still inconsolable and Sidra was finding it difficult to pacify her. Kashaf came running to me. "What is going on Ju Phups?" She asked looking confused."We are going to the hospital. Ayesha Phups' baby is coming dearie," I told her. She was the only one who sported excitement at that moment. "Of course I can drive Shoaib. And if not we'll get a cab or call my father. Just ask Abrar to get to the hospital. Ayesha will be fine, in sha Allah," Iqra Bhabhi said and ended the call. She took Kanza from Sidra and stuffed her phone into my hands."Tell him to come here with the car ASAP, Sidra will go and get the gates open," she instructed.I was in auto mode then, merely following what I was told, not even wondering who she had called. Actually I just assumed it would be Mohammed uncle since that's what she told Shoaib bhai. "Hello, Assalamu alaikum!" I greeted."Wa alaikumasalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. Well well Ms Junaina Javed Ali, using my sister's phone to call me huh?"Little did I know it was her brother. "Oh please. I don't have time for this. Di's water broke we need to get to the hospital now! There's no one home, they're all at some Nikah. Can you stop with the teasing and come with the car already?" I may have sounded a little bossy."Whoa whoa... Relax I'm coming over. Everything will be fine. In sha Allah."I conveyed the message as I handed the phone back to Di. Sidra was already outside and Di and Bhabhi had donned their purdahs. I put mine on as well. Dadi was talking to Di, putting her at ease. Di wasn't due for at least three weeks, so she was looking tensed. We were all tensed. And to top it all off it started raining cats and dogs. Sidra agreed to stay home with Dadi and Kashaf. Zaid was here by the time we reached outside. Di and Iqra Bhabhi climbed into the back and that left me with no option but to sit up front with Zaid. And here I thought I still had time before I'd see him again. "Ayesha Di all good?" He asked turning."Of course not she's going into labour! Just drive already," Bhabhi chided. Well, the rest of that trip to the hospital is a blurry and fuzzy and panicky memory. I would have been really flustered if it weren't for Di's cries in the back. It was Saturday night so obviously there was traffic in the streets despite the heavy rain. Zaid kept honking obnoxiously as Di's cries kept getting longer. It was only adding to the anxiety of that moment. "Just tone it down Zaid! All that honking is of no good. Be patient, we'll get there in sha Allah," I remember saying at some point. Once inside the hospital we got to the gynecology department and Di was taken to the labour room. Iqra Di went to the reception to get the admission done and left Kanza with Zaid and me outside the labour room. Fathers to be and relatives of other patients were already seated there sporting looks of worry and anticipation. Some were pacing. Some were seated. Zaid told me to take the only unoccupied seat as he stood next to me. "You okay?" He asked after a few moments of silence."Yeah I'm fine Alhamdulillah. Di's the one giving birth.""Even in anxious times equipped with sarcasm as always," he chuckled. I just rolled my eyes at him. And then became aware of the fact it was the first time that I was with him since the other day. And it was just the two of us amongst a bunch of strangers. Along with Kanza who had fallen asleep by then. Mercifully, I was spared from awkwardness and more blushing as Phupa and Abrar Jiju rushed over to us followed by Iqra Bhabhi. A few hours later, our dearest and littlest niece joined the gathering. My Di was blessed with a baby girl. ***Dearest readers, Short chapter I know, especially compared to the previous ones. In my defense, I'm coming back to LuL again after a year and I feel really really rusty! So forgive me if the pacing doesn't feel right and if the grammar is off and if the characters seem out of character. I'll get back to all of it later, In sha Allah. So ... Thoughts?Much love,
f.m.f
I do. It's crazy. Where is the button to control this?The good news is, they forbid Zaid from popping in to Ashiana as he usually did. It was a relief because I cannot imagine how much all of this teasing would double and said young man would totally enjoy it. Especially since I had played my little stunt the other day. I hadn't seen or heard from him since. And he'll be here in Ashiana tomorrow. Goodness. The little table in the courtyard was set with some cookies and cake and fresh juice and chaat that Sidra had bought after her teaching session at the masjid. There were also a few little gifts for Di and her baby. We had just finished arranging everything when Di came downstairs with Kashaf. Iqra Bhabhi was out with Kanza right on time too."Surprise!" Di was tearing up and laughing as reached the table. "You guys this is so thoughtful," she said as she hugged us and then sat next to Dadi. "Oh it's nothing, just some snacks and gifts and some girl time for you!" Sidra chirped. "Jazakum Allahu khairan katheeran. You girls are the best!" "Well Ayesha, I'm a bit old to be called a girl," Dadi noted, trying and failing to look prim and austere. She was way too happy for that."Oh Dadi, you know you're the youngest," I said winking. The rest of the family had left just after maghrib and we had the house to ourselves till they came home. Dadi returned to her room after a bit as she was tired. The ladies and I were having a great time. We were laughing and poking fun at each other. Di looked tired, but she was having a good time. Alhamdulillah. And then she wasn't. Her water broke. Sidra and I were panicking, Kashaf didn't know what was going on. Iqra Bhabhi was the only level headed one but Kanza burst into tears. A moment before we laughing and having fun and then it was "Oh my Allah! What do we do?!""Juni go upstairs and get her hospital bag! Sidra can you please take Kanza and calm her down?" Bhabhi instructed as she helped Di. Dadi had come out hearing our commotion, I was halfway up the stairs by then. I grabbed the bag that we had packed just a week or so back from Di's room and a purdah from mine and rushed down as soon as I could. Dadi was on the phone, I guessed it was Phupi at the other end. Iqra Bhabhi was also on call."Shoaib, is the function over yet? When will you be back?"Kanza was still inconsolable and Sidra was finding it difficult to pacify her. Kashaf came running to me. "What is going on Ju Phups?" She asked looking confused."We are going to the hospital. Ayesha Phups' baby is coming dearie," I told her. She was the only one who sported excitement at that moment. "Of course I can drive Shoaib. And if not we'll get a cab or call my father. Just ask Abrar to get to the hospital. Ayesha will be fine, in sha Allah," Iqra Bhabhi said and ended the call. She took Kanza from Sidra and stuffed her phone into my hands."Tell him to come here with the car ASAP, Sidra will go and get the gates open," she instructed.I was in auto mode then, merely following what I was told, not even wondering who she had called. Actually I just assumed it would be Mohammed uncle since that's what she told Shoaib bhai. "Hello, Assalamu alaikum!" I greeted."Wa alaikumasalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. Well well Ms Junaina Javed Ali, using my sister's phone to call me huh?"Little did I know it was her brother. "Oh please. I don't have time for this. Di's water broke we need to get to the hospital now! There's no one home, they're all at some Nikah. Can you stop with the teasing and come with the car already?" I may have sounded a little bossy."Whoa whoa... Relax I'm coming over. Everything will be fine. In sha Allah."I conveyed the message as I handed the phone back to Di. Sidra was already outside and Di and Bhabhi had donned their purdahs. I put mine on as well. Dadi was talking to Di, putting her at ease. Di wasn't due for at least three weeks, so she was looking tensed. We were all tensed. And to top it all off it started raining cats and dogs. Sidra agreed to stay home with Dadi and Kashaf. Zaid was here by the time we reached outside. Di and Iqra Bhabhi climbed into the back and that left me with no option but to sit up front with Zaid. And here I thought I still had time before I'd see him again. "Ayesha Di all good?" He asked turning."Of course not she's going into labour! Just drive already," Bhabhi chided. Well, the rest of that trip to the hospital is a blurry and fuzzy and panicky memory. I would have been really flustered if it weren't for Di's cries in the back. It was Saturday night so obviously there was traffic in the streets despite the heavy rain. Zaid kept honking obnoxiously as Di's cries kept getting longer. It was only adding to the anxiety of that moment. "Just tone it down Zaid! All that honking is of no good. Be patient, we'll get there in sha Allah," I remember saying at some point. Once inside the hospital we got to the gynecology department and Di was taken to the labour room. Iqra Di went to the reception to get the admission done and left Kanza with Zaid and me outside the labour room. Fathers to be and relatives of other patients were already seated there sporting looks of worry and anticipation. Some were pacing. Some were seated. Zaid told me to take the only unoccupied seat as he stood next to me. "You okay?" He asked after a few moments of silence."Yeah I'm fine Alhamdulillah. Di's the one giving birth.""Even in anxious times equipped with sarcasm as always," he chuckled. I just rolled my eyes at him. And then became aware of the fact it was the first time that I was with him since the other day. And it was just the two of us amongst a bunch of strangers. Along with Kanza who had fallen asleep by then. Mercifully, I was spared from awkwardness and more blushing as Phupa and Abrar Jiju rushed over to us followed by Iqra Bhabhi. A few hours later, our dearest and littlest niece joined the gathering. My Di was blessed with a baby girl. ***Dearest readers, Short chapter I know, especially compared to the previous ones. In my defense, I'm coming back to LuL again after a year and I feel really really rusty! So forgive me if the pacing doesn't feel right and if the grammar is off and if the characters seem out of character. I'll get back to all of it later, In sha Allah. So ... Thoughts?Much love,
f.m.f
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