CHAPTERS LEFT TO THE END:
1(ONE)

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Nazmeera stood in front of a building she thought she would never see again.Her hands felt wet and her heart beat against her chest,as if it were going to run away.Nazmeera took a deep breath in and held Umme Khultum's sleeping body in her arms,walking towards the double doors.

The guard greeted her and after she stated where she wants to go,she signed the register of entry and walked to the lifts.

Nazmeera felt her throat closing,her heart beating faster and faster.As the lift reached the floor,the doors opened and Nazmeera took two deep breaths before walking out only to stand outside the door.

Was she ready for this?No!Did it have to be done?Hell yeah!Was Nazmeera going to faint?Maybe!

Gosh,I'm dramatic,Nazmeera thought to herself as she rang the doorbell.

Nazmeera's stomach begin to turn and twist as she heard footsteps approach the door.Ya Allah please don't let me faint,this repeated itself in Nazmeera's brain as she heard a key twist and the door begun to open.

"Nazmeera."

Aamanah was shocked,absolutely shocked.Standing in front of her was no one other then Nazmeera and could not believe it.

“Come in.” Aamanah moved away from the door and Nazmeera took a few deep breaths as she entered the apartment,memories of the last time she had been here hitting her hard and if it were not for the fact that she was holding Umme Khultum she would have turned to run.

“I need to put Umme Khultum on a bed.” Her voice was just above a whisper and Aamanah nodded pointing Nazmeera to what used to be the boys nursery.

“Jazakallah.” Nazmeera laid her on the bed and she looked around the room,her breath catching in her throat as memories assaulted her.The room was now navy blue and white,but Nazmeera smiled as she saw one of the rocking chairs still in place.Taking a deep breath Nazmeera walked out of the room.

“How come she didn't go to kindergarten today?” Aamanah asked once they sat down and Nazmeera gave her a small smile.

“She's down with a flu and slight fever,so I didn't want her going to school when she's like this.”

“Oh.”They sat in an awkward silence which Nazmeera broke by speaking.

“I'm sorry for being so rude to you and treating you like a stranger.I just didn't want to return into the family and cause issues like I did the last time.I mean I almost broke your and Hamza's house.Years ago I left to keep you'll together and the fear of you'll separating because of me was huge.I would never want to harm your relationship with Hamza.I'm so sorry.I hope you can forgive me.”

Aamanah felt tears blind her eyes at Nazmeera's apology and she shook her head,”You don't need to apologize at all.You never did anything wrong,you were right in your own place.I’m sorry for making you feel as if you were harming my relationship with Hamza and that you were breaking my house.You weren't Nazy.Never was it like that.The last time you heard me talk to Hamza,I was hurt at his actions and his words.It was never your fault in fact I mostly did wrong.We both forgot that our duties have changed after your marriage to Hamza and we tried to take it normally.” Aamanah held Nazmeera's hands,”We forgot that we are sister wives and not just cousins.What you did do wrong was leave without waiting for an explanation and that hurt.”

“My fight or flight instincts took over and I presumed that if I left everything would be fine.My entire life I thought that leaving solves all problems and that's what I did then also,” Nazmeera blinked away tears as she gazed at Aamanah with a heavy heart,”I forgot that walking away never did anyone any good and that walking away would make everything okay.I did do wrong,to Hamza,to you and to ammh and ammo.Sometimes walking away foes give you a clearer picture of what's to come and I got that.I realized my mistakes but never thought I would get a chance to right itbut now here we are.Aamanah,this time I went to do everything in a good way,I want there not to be any bad blood between us and I want that whatever happens we can talk it through.Do you think we can do this?”

Aamanah nodded her head,”We can,nothings and no one's perfect.We going to make mistakes and learn from them we won't let our small world crumble,ever again.In Sha Allah.”

“In Sha Allah.” Nazmeera moved forward and embraced her sister.

Aftera long time the sister's hearts felt at peace and tears dropped from their eyes.Finally the past was done and dusted,now they could move on and create a bright future for their family.

Hamza held the twins hands as he made his way to the apartment door,worry etched on his face.Nazmeera had ignored his calls and she was not at her office.Hamza was stricken with worry and he imagined the worst had occurred.Perhaps Nazmeera had taken Umme Khultum away to Canada or she was breaking what she had told him.

Ya Allah please keep her safe.He opened the house door and after the twins entered only to freeze when he heard the laughter of women ring through the house.

What the…..?The second laugh sounded like Nazmeera's but Nazmeera here,in his and Aamanah's apartment.That could not be,was his thought until his sons scream out.

“Mama,Umme!”

Hamza hastened his pace to the balcony door,where he froze,his jaw falling to the ground.

Sitting on the balcony chairs with boxes of pizza were his two wives and children.

“Ahh hi.” Aamanah and Nazmeera looked at Hamza,before laughing at his extremely shocked expression.It seemed as if Hamza had seen a ghost.

“What hi?As salaam mu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa baraktu.” Nazmeera glanced at Aamanah,giggling before looking at Hamza.

“Why so shocked Hamza?”

Hamza shook his head just as Umme Khultum came to hug him,”As salaam mu alaykum dada.”

Hamza bent down and carried her in his arms,”Wa alaykum mu salaam binti.How was your day?”

“I'm sick.” Hamza looked at Nazmeera worried but she shook her head.

“It's just a flu,her fever is gone.”

Hamza nodded his head and the put Umme Khultum down when the boys called her.Hamza was still in a state of shock at seeing Nazmeera here but he kissed Aamanah's cheek and then Nazmeera's.

“How come you are here?”

Nazmeera bit back a grin at Hamza's shock filled statement,”I needed to talk to Aamanah about something that's why I'm here.”

“And that meant not answering my calls if I must pick Umme up from kindergarten and drop her to your apartment?”

Nazmeera shrugged,giving Hamza a sheepish look,”My phone is switched off and I figured when you went to pick the twins you never see Umme there so you'd figure out I picked her up.”

Hamza sat down glaring at Nazmeera,”Oh I thought that you've left for Canada with Umme when the twins told me she wasn't at kindergarten today.Clever jack you are hey.”

“Oh Hamza.Stop scolding Nazmee now and have some pizza.She's still here so chill.” Hamza turned his glare to Aamanah who rolled her eyes,looking at Nazmeera who smiled at her.

“His like a small child,nagging all the time.”

“To think so many years have passed but his still the same.”

Nazmeera's eyes lit up as she remembered something,”Oh remember when you were pregnant and Hamza was an aimless kajoor.”

Aamanah burst out laughing and she glanced at Hamza who leaned forward to pinch Nazmeera's side causing Nazmeera to jump a bit and swat his hands away,Aamanah was in tears by now.

“Oh Lord,and what did Hamza call you back.Ahhhit was something to do with a nut but the Indian word.What was it?”

“Brainless badaam.” Hamza mumbled but Aamanah caught it,clapping her hands at the memories that hit her.

“That was it,that one.You guys made my day plus Zeeny got so mad with Ihsaan that day.”

Nazmeera shook her head,”That's what I forgot to tell you.Ihsaan is going to propose for Zeenat's hand in marriage.”

“Oh that's great.”

“What the hell!No!”

Nazmeera and Aamanah looked at Hamza like he had two heads,”That's mean Hamza.Zeenat loves him.”

Hamza looked at Nazmeera with an open mouth,”That makes him your brother-in-law,my indirect brother-in-law.That gives him more access into your apartment.Nooooo.I’m going to tell Zeenat I can find a man who's a hundred times better.She can marry anyone but that…that thing!”

Aamanah and Nazmeera exchanged looks that said one thing clearly “Here comes a drama king tantrum”

TWO HOURS LATER….

Nazmeera sat on the couch watching along with Aamanah as Hamza paced the place in front of the TV for the tenth time.They were waiting for Zeenat to come after Hamza had called her to tell her he wanted for speak with her ASAP.

“Where is she?She said she'd be here in fifteen minutes why isn't she here as yet?”

Aamanah shook her head,”Hamza,the lifts must be busy or she's got a call that's why she's late.Can you please calm your farm already?”

Hamza stopped pacing and gave Aamanah an offended look,”How the hell do you expect me to calm my farm?!My sister wants to get married to that thing and you expect me to stay quiet,are you mad?I don't care,it can rain,snow,hail and the sun can shine but I want Zeenat here now to talk to her.That's.It!”

Juat then the doorbell rang and Hamza a hurried to answer it,while the two sisters looked at one another shaking their heads.

“May Zeenat have enough patience to deal with this overbearing brother of hers.”

“Ameen Nazy.Let’s hope she does or else Hamza will end up killing Ihsaan.”

Nazmeera gave her a sly grin,”Might just be worth it.”

Aamanah smiled but quickly lost it when Zeenat came to sit next to them with an extremely confused look on her face,regarding her brother-in-law’s behavior.

“Whats going on sisters?” Zeenat whispered to the two women,who only gave her looks of sympathy.

“Good luck dealing with Satan's spawn sis.”

“Manah is right Zeenat.Good luck.”

“So Zeenat.” They all looked at Hamza who gave Zeenat a glass of coke,”I need to talk to you.”

“About ughi?”

Hamza took a deep breath looking at his wives who had straight faces despite wanting to laugh.

“There's a man who I find really nice for you.”

Zeenat's eyes went wide and she glanced at the women next to her who only could give her sympathetic smiles.

“Ahhh,I'm confused.”

Hamza sat opposite her and gave her a small smile,”There's a really nice guy who I work with who would make a great partner for you.I want you to meet him.His name is Irshad.”

Zeenat glanced down and she took a deep breath,unsure of how she would be breaking the following news to her brother like brother-in-law.

“Ughi Hamza,I don't want to lie to you or give you false hope that I will probably meet this guy you talking about.” She looked up at Hamza,”I like Ihsaan and his going to be proposing for my hand in marriage soon,so I can't meet the guy you talking about.I'm sorry.”

Hamza sighed in defeat,not bothering to look at his wives who were probably giving him smug looks,he kept his gaze on Zeenat.

“You really like that thing hey?” Zeenat nodded and Hamza nodded back,”Okay fine but that doesn't mean I'll start liking him anytime soon.”

Zeenat's face lit up in a bright smile and she squealed in joy,”Yayyyy,jazakallah ughi Hamza.You don't have to like him soon because you already do like him.”

Hamza glared at her,”No,I don't.His annoying.”

Zeenat gave Hamza an amused smile as she looked at Aamanah and Nazmeera,and his eyes went wide,”Zeenat don't….”

”Do you'll know,that ughi Hamza actually used to meet up with Ihsaan to discuss how they could find Nazmeera and how much they missed her.”

The two women's mouths fell open and they glanced at Hamza with amused eyes.

“Oh Zeeny tell me more about this.”

“Nazmee….”

“Of course,so basically…..”
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As salaam mu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

Whatever Zeenat tells Hamza will be in her and Ihsaan's book.

Please take care

Fi Amanilah