Light Upon Light
After our baby boo came, there was good news and bad news back home. The good news was, our engagement got postponed to day after the baby's Aqeeqah. The bad news, our engagement got postponed. A part of me was sighing in relief because somehow things seemed rushed, a part of me couldn't wait for it to be over already. With the extra time, I was busy overthinking. Well, whenever I wasn't around any of the babies that is. Back at the hospital when both Di and baby were brought to the room, we were anticipating Abid's reaction. He was with his father, pestering him about Di. When he saw her finally, his joy knew no bounds and he also had a thousand questions. "What happened to your tummy Mama?""How did they take the baby out?""Baby is not there?" He once asked poking at her belly. He was quite distressed thinking the hospital people had taken away his baby. Then the little one was brought in and suddenly he was really quiet. Phuppi took the baby, wrapped in a little pink blanket, and brought her down to his level so he could see. The darling was sleeping soundly with a tiny little fist resting near her cheek. "It's your sister Abid," Phuppi said. He was staring at her, taking her in, probably formulating another hundred questions. Leaving his father's hand, he reached out and poked her rosy cheek. "Baby!" He squealed with the most adorable smile. All of us were cooing at how cute it was. He wanted to hold her, he gave her a kiss on her forehead, he kept rushing to the crib and standing on his tippy toes to see her so Zaid lifted him. Abid was taken in and he didn't want to come home from the hospital. Jiju had to take drag him away as he cried. And the next morning he woke up, dressed up and had his breakfast as soon as he could so he could rush to his mother and sister.Once Di came home, it was so hard to hold myself back from going to the baby. It's good thing babies don't feel creeped out by all the adults coming in to see them as they're snoozing. It was an irresistible pull though. So I often found myself sitting with Di and carrying the baby around whenever I could. After all, she'd be going back to her home as soon as her mother recovered. And so when my future parents in law came to visit the baby, they found me cuddling her to sleep as Di fed Abid his lunch. The little man was slowly starting to realize that he won't get Di's attention all the time. And he had little tantrums from time to time and always wanted to be fed by Di. The thing about cuddling babies to sleep is that you fall asleep with them. And it doesn't really matter, unless your future mum in law gently taps your shoulder to wake you. Yes, that's exactly what happened. I didn't ever think I'd feel like hiding my face from Haseena Aunty ever. "Assalamu alaikum beta," she greeted with a warm smile. "Wa alaikumasalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu," I responded as I sat up quickly, and fixed my dupatta. Di and Iqra bhabhi were not really trying to hide their fits of giggles as I brushed away non existent strands of hair from my face. "Looks like you're the one staying up at nights with the baby and not Ayesha hmm?" Haseena Aunty asked with an amused glint in her eyes. Now where have I seen that before... Cue the laughter at my expense as I sat there with a flustered smile. "It's good practice for the future Ammi," Iqra Bhabhi said and winked. "Arey hush... You must really be teasing my bahu to death all the time. Give her a break!" Aunty said.This time I didn't try to stop the smug smirk I had for bhabhi. "Aye hayee... Look at that, she's not even your bahu yet and you're favouring her!""Of course... She's going to be married to my only son!"Iqra Bhabhi's look of indignation was so funny. Just then Chachi and Dadi came to the room. Bhabhi told Chachi what her mother said and both my aunt and grandma were smiling wide. "Well, lucky for you, you're my only daughter in law too," Chachi pointed out laughing. As the ladies sat chatting, I placed the baby in Haseena Aunty's arms and slowly made my way out of the room. Only to find the mister seated in the courtyard with his father and my Dad and Samir and Shoaib. I thought he wasn't allowed to come here? While I was having my deer in the headlights moment, Samar had slowly crept up to me. "He is here to see the baby not you Juju" he whispered. Clutching my heart, I bit into my lips so I wouldn't squeal at his sneak attack. It's been a while since he pulled one of his tricks. I turned to glare at him as, unfortunately for me, he laughed out loud and drew everyone's attention. "Why does it look like you just saw a ghost Juni?" Samir called out from the courtyard. Can this day get anymore embarrassing?"Nah it wasn't a ghost she saw, just Zaid," Mr Samra called out in response drawing more laughter. Apparently sky's not the limit for embarrassment. I ran away to the kitchen before they pair of them could tease me anymore. Of course I didn't miss the smile that he sported before I made my escape. Traitor heart of mine was happily beating away.
The week didn't take too long to get over with though. Soon enough it was time for our little one's Aqeeqah. As was custom, us cousins got together and helped decorate the house, make seating arrangements and set the table for breakfast. Abrar Jiju's family had come to our home with the exception of Alia bhabhi who was at her place. She was due to deliver soon too. The Hashims were invited as well because they were Shoaib bhai's in laws and also our closest neighbors. And someone was throwing a tantrum because we were sidelining his in laws. Well future ones anyway. "Mom should have called Najwa's family too," he said, like the little baby he was slowly growing to become. "Samir are you sure it's not your Aqeeqah today?" Samar asked him and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you implying that I'm being a baby?""Of course not. Why are you putting words into my mouth... Unless... ""Poor Najwa... Girl has no idea what she has signed up for," I laughed as Samir punched Samar in the arm and I ran out of his range before he could chuck a cushion at me. We were down in the hall changing cushion covers and bantering as usual. "As if Zaid has hit a jackpot," Samar rolled his eyes. "Of course he has!" I said shaking my head. "Of course he has what? Of course who has?" Guess who. Tall, dark, possibly handsome and probably my future husband. Standing behind me at the threshold of the hall. "Junaina don't tell me you're talking about other men," he said as he stepped into my line of sight because I refused to turn around. Need I mention that my dear brothers were having the time of their lives laughing at me and were not at all bothered to correct him? "So what if I am? It's none of your business," I huffed crossing my arms. "Yet," he said smirking. Ugh. This man. I felt like wiping that smirk off his face and blushing at the same time. Samir stepped in just then. "Ahem. You guys are not even engaged yet, forget married. So Juni my darling sister, I suggest you scoot from here right this minute." Behind the crossed arms and pseudo stern raised brows, he was biting down his laughter. I could see it in my brother's eyes. "Careful Samir. Green is so not your colour. It might just slip from my tongue when I call Najwa later... What a baby you were being..." I trailed off as I slowly backtracked out of the hall. "Juni!"And then I ran."Junaina Javed Ali, you come right back here," he called out."Nah ah... You told me to scoot. Enjoy your bro time!"Ahh the joys of being the annoying little sister whose best friend he was going to marry. Which brought me to the epiphany, what is it with us Ali kids and marrying best friends of our cousins or siblings! After Di's in laws came, the barber showed up and the baby's hair was shaved off. She was named Asiya Abrar by her grandfather. Once breakfast was over the boys went out to distribute the slaughtered meat while us girls helped Annu and the ayahs clean up. Baby Asiya looked like a princess and she was dressed in the daintiest white frock. Jiju, Di and Abid were all dressed in white to match her and we clicked a family picture of them. They looked so lovely together, I whispered a silent prayer for their protection from the evil eye. And a small prayer for me to have a moment like this in future. Once all the everything was over and everybody was just lounging in the halls and courtyard, Mohammed uncle brought up the talk about our engagement. The men and women were sitting separate, but we could hear him from the ladies sitting area."Alhamdulillah, this has been a wonderful morning, Jazakum Allahu Khairan katheeran for inviting us Irfan and Abrar, may Allah bless your family.I know that it might be strenuous for you to have two functions back to back, but I was hoping to get my son's engagement over with and his Nikah dates fixed as soon as possible. Javed are you okay with tomorrow? Or should we wait for another two days? What is your opinion?"Needless to say my heart was racing a mile a minute. "Why should there be a delay in what's khair? In sha Allah we will come over to Baithun Noor tomorrow," Dad said. Smiles and hugs and cheers were shared. As were suggestive looks and teasing and jokes at my expense. Let's just say, I was on cloud nine. ***Tell me what you think. I'm not supremely pleased, but I love some of the moments in there. What about you guys?In sha Allah, just one or two chapters left. Much love,fmf
The week didn't take too long to get over with though. Soon enough it was time for our little one's Aqeeqah. As was custom, us cousins got together and helped decorate the house, make seating arrangements and set the table for breakfast. Abrar Jiju's family had come to our home with the exception of Alia bhabhi who was at her place. She was due to deliver soon too. The Hashims were invited as well because they were Shoaib bhai's in laws and also our closest neighbors. And someone was throwing a tantrum because we were sidelining his in laws. Well future ones anyway. "Mom should have called Najwa's family too," he said, like the little baby he was slowly growing to become. "Samir are you sure it's not your Aqeeqah today?" Samar asked him and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you implying that I'm being a baby?""Of course not. Why are you putting words into my mouth... Unless... ""Poor Najwa... Girl has no idea what she has signed up for," I laughed as Samir punched Samar in the arm and I ran out of his range before he could chuck a cushion at me. We were down in the hall changing cushion covers and bantering as usual. "As if Zaid has hit a jackpot," Samar rolled his eyes. "Of course he has!" I said shaking my head. "Of course he has what? Of course who has?" Guess who. Tall, dark, possibly handsome and probably my future husband. Standing behind me at the threshold of the hall. "Junaina don't tell me you're talking about other men," he said as he stepped into my line of sight because I refused to turn around. Need I mention that my dear brothers were having the time of their lives laughing at me and were not at all bothered to correct him? "So what if I am? It's none of your business," I huffed crossing my arms. "Yet," he said smirking. Ugh. This man. I felt like wiping that smirk off his face and blushing at the same time. Samir stepped in just then. "Ahem. You guys are not even engaged yet, forget married. So Juni my darling sister, I suggest you scoot from here right this minute." Behind the crossed arms and pseudo stern raised brows, he was biting down his laughter. I could see it in my brother's eyes. "Careful Samir. Green is so not your colour. It might just slip from my tongue when I call Najwa later... What a baby you were being..." I trailed off as I slowly backtracked out of the hall. "Juni!"And then I ran."Junaina Javed Ali, you come right back here," he called out."Nah ah... You told me to scoot. Enjoy your bro time!"Ahh the joys of being the annoying little sister whose best friend he was going to marry. Which brought me to the epiphany, what is it with us Ali kids and marrying best friends of our cousins or siblings! After Di's in laws came, the barber showed up and the baby's hair was shaved off. She was named Asiya Abrar by her grandfather. Once breakfast was over the boys went out to distribute the slaughtered meat while us girls helped Annu and the ayahs clean up. Baby Asiya looked like a princess and she was dressed in the daintiest white frock. Jiju, Di and Abid were all dressed in white to match her and we clicked a family picture of them. They looked so lovely together, I whispered a silent prayer for their protection from the evil eye. And a small prayer for me to have a moment like this in future. Once all the everything was over and everybody was just lounging in the halls and courtyard, Mohammed uncle brought up the talk about our engagement. The men and women were sitting separate, but we could hear him from the ladies sitting area."Alhamdulillah, this has been a wonderful morning, Jazakum Allahu Khairan katheeran for inviting us Irfan and Abrar, may Allah bless your family.I know that it might be strenuous for you to have two functions back to back, but I was hoping to get my son's engagement over with and his Nikah dates fixed as soon as possible. Javed are you okay with tomorrow? Or should we wait for another two days? What is your opinion?"Needless to say my heart was racing a mile a minute. "Why should there be a delay in what's khair? In sha Allah we will come over to Baithun Noor tomorrow," Dad said. Smiles and hugs and cheers were shared. As were suggestive looks and teasing and jokes at my expense. Let's just say, I was on cloud nine. ***Tell me what you think. I'm not supremely pleased, but I love some of the moments in there. What about you guys?In sha Allah, just one or two chapters left. Much love,fmf
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