Finally! The day has arrived for our family's day at the beach.

So last Friday evening, mom and I went to the grocery store and purchased everything that we were going to need on our trip to the beach on Sunday. There were so many things that we had bought for our family day at the beach, like snacks and refreshments and the list goes on.

After praying fajr, we both went to Mom's place, we were directly going to the beach from there and in this way I can help Mom and Zarine with the stuffs. Now that the day had finally arrived, I was ready to spend a wonderful time with my family at the beach. Mom was very much busy cooking the food in the kitchen while I helped packed the refreshments in a large cooler box with ice.

By the time Mom had finished preparing the food, I have already packed it into a large box with plates and spoons and forks. Then we had started packing everything into our family caravan.

"Hanya, have you packed everything of Adeel??" He asked stepping inside the caravan.

"Yeah." I replied making space in the small refrigerator.

"Yours?"

"Us" I blurted and then bit my tongue.

"What?"

"I--I mean, that I've packed both of our stuffs in one bag. I just didn't wanted to carry extra bags. I hope you don't mind" I asked looking at him.

"No no...of course not" he said rubbing the back of his head.

He was wearing a simple yet significant - Jeans shirt with basic white tee and khaki colored pants. Not to miss his khaki colored boots.

"Done checking me out??" He asked smirking. I quickly averted my eyes. He laughed.

Soon, in the next hour, we were driving through the main road, and we were on our way to the beach, which is actually my favorite place in the world so far. It was around ten fifteen when we reached the beach. It was a windy day but also sunny. The ocean looked beautiful. The waves were rushing into the shore and were a little rough.

By the time, we had gotten out from the caravan, all of us were already excited including Adeel who was very much eager to get down, to go into the water and enjoy a fine sea bath.

The beach is my go to place. Some folks like their fancy coffees: cream and sugar with cream and sugar on top. But give me the pebbles that move under boot with their loud crunch louder than fallen leaves. I suck in the salty air like its an elixir, to me I think it is. It tastes like home.

The sea water was blue and beautiful as it sparkles in the warm sun. There were a few people here and there on the beach. A few kids were building sand castles just for fun. After we found a good place to sit, we spread out sheet, kept the basket down and just relaxed for awhile.

Adeel has already started crawling, so he was crawling from here and there, and Zain also kept on following him.

"Com'on Hani, lets hit the beach" Zarine shouted.

"Not now, let me feed Adeel first" I said taking out his baby food.

"Everyone is here, anyone can feed him" Zarine pouted

"You know na, he's a drama king when it comes to eating" I said.

"Okay, but come fast" she said and ran away...with others.

After feeding Adeel, I decided to take a walk on the beach. The beach was a blaze of parasols, hot colours to match the burning sand underfoot. Against the percussion of the waves was the laughter, coming in bursts and rolling like the ocean. The sun's rays peacefully float, resting on the warm waters.

Timid clouds are rarely exposed, leaving the sky to beam blue. Few trees give me a touch of shade to sit beneath. A white ribbon of cliffs and rocks surround me and the bay, guarding us from what lies beyond. My ears invite in the quiet whisper of waves, sharing the ocean's secrets.

"Hey, what are you doing here, alone?" He asked walking beside me

"Just enjoying the beach" I said smiling.

"You really like the beach na?"

"Alot....only a beach can bring a big smile on my face even when I'm angry" I said

"Wao, thanks for telling me" he said smiling mischievously

"Hush!! Where's Adeel?" I asked

"He is with Mom."

"When did you changed?"I asked noticing his change of clothes. Now he was wearing a simple grey colored tank top with white shorts.

"Adeel dirtied my tee" he gave a very dirty expression.

"What?? Don't tell me his diaper leaked" I was horrified.

"Hehy, no need to take tension. Mom took care of it. Relaxed!!" He said hurriedly.

"Nevertheless, you should have called me...why troubling Mom?"

"It's okay, Hani, we all came here to enjoy."

"But--"

"No buts" he said.

"Okay love birds Mom is calling for lunch. Come fast" Zarine shouted with the others. I turned red at her comment.

"Zarine" he shouted.

The food was incredibly delicious. Baked chicken, lasagna, salad and apple pie, it was truly an amazing meal that I've ever eaten so far. Then I drank some iced cold lemon lime juice to wash it down.

"So, where have you both been for honeymoon??" Aunty asked laughing as I choked on my drink. Never in my life I've seen such a straightforward person.

"Oh! They haven't gone anywhere yet, but they'll be going next month" Mom replied casually making me again choke on my drink!!

"Hey, you alright?" He asked rubbing my back slowly. I nodded and quickly pulled myself back.

After that incredible lunch and some weird questions, they all went to the beach. I decided to relax and play with Adeel who was busy making something out of sand, which kept on falling from his tiny little hands. Despite the heat I find myself frozen in place once my eyes take in the ocean. The waves roll in white tipped, spreading themselves like fine lace over the beach after they crash in their soft way. There is nothing noisy about them, yet they have sound.

After like half an hour Mom, dad and elders came from the beach so I left Adeel with them because it was officially time to have some real fun. I ran into the sea water. The water was cool and wonderful.

"Brr the water is a bit cold" I said shivering.

"Its fine" yelled Zarine;

"If you say so" I said feeling it again with my toe.

"Why don't we get in the water" yelled Zarine to me and Mawra her cousin.

"Okay" we both yelled back.

We all dived into the cold salty ocean and played. The water felt like it was much warmer after being in it for a while.

"There are some massive waves" Zarine said shaking.

"The wind is a bit cold, but it doesn't matter" Mawra said shivering a little bit. As we all started playing, even bigger waves start to crash in. After playing some more, I came out of the water fully drenched. I quickly went into the caravan and changed myself into some faded blue denim, pink blouse and white hijab.

After feeding Adeel and putting him to sleep. I walked towards the shore and peacefully sat down watching Zarine, Mawra, Dad and Uncle all playing with the beach ball. Well, I have to say that I was enjoying our family day at the beach so far.

I didn't noticed when he came and sat beside me. His shoulder touches my shoulder making me freeze.

"Let's go in the water" he said.

"No, thanks, I just now changed" was all I could say.

I watch him walk steadily down the beach an air of self-confidence in him. He glances over his shoulder, and there it is, that second glance that tells every woman, a guy is interested. I glared at him and he beamed triumphantly. I huffed and went in the water with him.

It was five o'clock when we all had packed up our belongings and put them back into our family caravan. As I sat beside him, he was driving back the caravan. I looked out of the window to have a quick look at the clear blue sea water once more before we drove off. I can see that sun was already setting above the horizon of the ocean.

I take another look at the beach and commit it to memory. I don't just want the photographs I want to bottle the scent and have seashells to touch. I want to recall the feel of the sand between my toes and the clarity of the ocean. I want to be able to come here in my dreams.

And then I realized that today he had called me Hani and I haven't shouted at him once also. I smiled and turned to look at him, but he was already smiling and looking back at me.

Guess, he again knew what I was thinking about.

Zain, you're making me fall for you!!!

***

It's been two weeks since we went to the beach. Zain now calls me Hani, instead of Hanya and I kind of like it. Zain had all the height of a man but none of the bulk. There were muscles under his shirt, but not the bulky kind, men can get from years of weight lifting. From behind he could be anywhere in his late teens to early thirties, but when he turned his face was of a boy.

He had always that grin, which boys wear when they have something mischievous planned. His chocolatey hair flopped over his eyes in the way no office worker could get away with and on his wrist was a Rolex Watch. He was twenty six, I was nineteen but still he stole my heart without even knowing it was in his pocket.

I'm in love with him.

He never leaves my mind, he's always there; mentally if not physically. It's just incomprehensible. He's my one stable force, my one stability in a world filled with chaos and I so desperately need that in my life. I love him so much for that. I'm in love with him and I can't believe I've only just realised it.

This feeling is so strange; it stretches throughout my whole body. It's overwhelming, yet makes me feel complete. It has no bound nor length nor depth.

I can't stop thinking about him.
I don't know how he has gotten into my head. And I hate the fact that he can mess up with my mind just so easily. To be honest, I'm afraid of love. I'm afraid of the feeling that someone keeps stucking in my heart, making me wondering all night whether he had feelings for me too.

You know, that kind of pain. Pains are caused by being rejected when you decide to give all your heart to someone, who doesn't need it. Pains are caused by opening your heart so easily and casually. And there you are, alone, heartbroken, depressed, but can never think by yourself how to escape.

"Zain come fast with Adeel, breakfast is ready." I called

"Coming" he said coming with Adeel in his arms.

"With him crawling everywhere, need to take special care of my belongings" he said putting him in his chair.

"Yes, you know yesterday I was keeping his clothes in the cupboard and in the meantime, he created a mess" I said buckling him up in his chair.

"You must feel tired running after him all day" he said taking a bite of an omelette.

"No, I love running after him all day" I said pinching his cheeks and he laughed making all the food come out from his mouth.

"Dirty boy" I said wiping his mouth.

"Hani, why aren't you eating anything?"

"Not feeling well" and just then there was an ache in my abdomen. "Aahhh" I shrieked.

"What happened? Are you alright? Drink water" he said coming to my side and giving me a glass of water.

"I don't know, what's wrong. I'm having these unusual abdominal pain and sometimes I feel like to vomit." I said.

"Hani, why don't you go for a checkup? Lately I've been also observing you, you're looking pale and you've lost a lot of weight also." He said rubbing my back.

What to tell you Zain!! From the last two months, I'm bleeding more than seven days but now it's been thirteen days.

"As it is I don't have much work today in the office, let's go to the hospital. And we'll leave Adeel with Mom" he said and I nodded.

The hospital, lies beside the sea, where clean winds blow, its neat roadways are bordered by green lawns and flanked by long, low buildings that reach away in far perspective.

Accident and emergency, wide entrance with automatic sliding glass doors, ambulances lined up outside, paramedics wheeling in patients on trollies. The hallway has as much personality as the rest of the hospital.
The floor is slate grey and the walls dove. Above the ceiling is made from those polystyrene squares laid on a grid-like frame.

The light is too bright for my eyes after the darkening gloom outside, I find it abrasive, enough perhaps to bring on one of my migraines. There are commercial prints on the wall, tasteful in the dull kind of way. This place certainly isn't run by risk-takers and I guess I should find comfort in that.

The air had a perfumed scent and the seats were plush. Every surface was dustless. The nurses were unhurried and they moved with a serene purposefulness from room to room on their rounds. There were vases of flowers and beautiful framed pieces of art on the walls. In the corridor was a water dispenser and in most rooms could be heard the noise of a television.

"Good morning, I have an appointment with Dr.Khan" he said at the reception.

"You can wait over there" the receptionist said.

"Okay, Thank you" he said.

"Your welcome, Sir" she smiled.

After waiting for thirty minutes, it was our turn to go in.

"Assalamualaikum" we both said together.

"Walekumasalam" she smiled and replied.

"How are you, Aunty?" He asked

"I'm good and you?" She asked.

"Good, Meet Hanya, my wife" he said introducing me. I turned to look at him but he was very much casual about it.

"Nice to meet you, dear. I'm your family doctor" she said smiling.

"Nice to meet you too" I smiled

"So what made you both come here?" She asked. He motioned me to tell everything. I nodded.

"Aunty, I'm having these abdominal cramps, especially when I bend down or do any work. Sometimes, I feel like to vomit." I said

"Hmm...what was the date of your last period?" She asked, I tried to look anywhere but not at him or her.

"I'm on periods" I said blushing slightly and turned a bit to look at him, he had already turned into a tomato, his ears were also red. Oh God, this is so embarrassing!!

"What day it is?"

"It's my thirteenth day. Actually from the last two months, I'm bleeding more than seven days" I said and he coughed. God!! Why did I even came with him??

"Anything else apart from these symptoms?" She asked

"No"

"Hmm...have you both consummated??" She asked.

"Nooo" he was fast to answer as I didn't dare to look up.

"Zain, you have to go out. I need to check her" she said

"Check her in front of me." He blurted making me more blush. Why can't you just go out??

"No, go out!!" She said standing up.

He sighed and went out.

After asking me hundreds of more questions, and checking me twice, she called him inside.

"I'm giving you some medicines, which you need to take regularly for a month. After one month visit me, along with the reports of the tests which I've written." She said giving me the prescription.

"Thank you so much Aunty."

"It's my duty!! Take care."

"You too..."

"You could have told me, Hani" he said looking at me.

"As if it was the most interesting topic to talk about!!" I said looking out of the window.

"No, but it sure was a serious topic" he said glancing at me.

"And what you wanted me to tell you?? That "hey Zain, I guess there's something wrong with my ketchup diet!!" I glared

"Ketchup diet?? Seriously??" He tried not to laugh loudly. My face grew hot as I realized what did I just said. Damn me!!

"It's okay...I'm fine. She did prescribed some medi and that's all" I shrugged.

"That's not all, you have to take that regularly without bunking" he said

"God, you're making feel like a small child!!"

"Because you're behaving like one"

"Why aren't you going office??" I was now irritated.

"Because today I feel like to spend sometime with my family" he teased

"You can spend in the evening after coming from the office" I tried to convince him.

"But I want now..." he said.

"You're impossible"

"You should thank me that atleast I'm giving you all time and not like others who doesn't give full time to the family!!" He said smirking.

"The last time I checked, you gave time to the family was the day we went to the beach and the months before when you went to Canada to bring me back. And today also you decided to ditch the office because you didn't had much workload, I bet if you would have got work in the office, then you won't be sitting here, right now" I smiled sweetly.

"Wow, you speak so well!!" He commented. I glared. "Okay, chill and yes you're right. I seriously need to spend more time with Adeel and you all" he smiled. I smiled back.

"Assalamualaikum" we both greeted together as we went inside the house.

"Walekumasalam, my dear" Mom said giving me a hug.

"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm fine and what happened to you?? Visiting Dr.Khan?? Hmm?? Should I start shopping??" Mom said wiggling her eyebrows while his ears again turned red which matched with my face.

"Mom...not you please" he groaned going up.

"Ignore him, you say" she said making me sit beside her.

"Nothing Mom, it's just I'm bleeding more than seven days from the last two months." I said.

"Two months?? And you didn't tell anyone?? Why??" She asked

"Because I thought it was normal until I started feeling pains in my abdomen and wanted to throw up!!"

"What did she said?" Mom asked.

"Nothing much, she gave me some medicines and told me to come after a month along with the reports of the tests" I said taking a sip of my juice.

"Don't take tension. In Sha Allah everything will be fine" Mom said hugging me.

"In Sha Allah. And Mom please don't say anything about this to Mama. Unnecessarily, she'll take tension" I said.

"You don't have to take tension regarding this. Just take care of yourself" she smiled.

"What are you both talking about?" He asked coming down, Adeel jumping in his arms.

"Someone is jealous" I teased taking Adeel in my arms.

"Obviously, it's you" he said.

"But the smell is coming from you"

"Blow your nose or put some nasal drops"he was irritated now. I laughed.

"Enough of you both!!" Mom said.

"Assalamualaikum" both Dad and Zarine greeted us while coming inside.

"Walekumasalam" we replied.

"You came home early?" Mom asked Dad, she was shocked.

"You should thank me that at least I'm giving you all time and not like others who doesn't give full time to the family" Dad said. I looked at Zain and he was also looking at me. We both burst out laughing.

"Like father like son" I teased him

"I did not copied that" he said

"Keep on saying..." I said laughing.

When we both calmed down, we looked around to find everyone, giving us amused looks. Ooo...why are they looking at us like that?? After few minutes realization hit me...God, we both have never behaved this frank with each other, forget about in front of them, we haven't even been like this in private also.

"Why so serious everyone?" Zain asked.

"No-nothing. Everything's fine." Mom tried to sound casual.

After that awkward moment was over, we were now having evening snacks. All of us were just sitting and chilling, Zarine was saying something about her college which was kind of funny, so I was giggling more than enough. And Adeel as usual was playing in his play room.

"Okay okay...listen now everyone." Mom said suddenly.

We all sat up straight at how serious she sounded.

"What happened Mom?" He asked.

"We wanted to talk to you both about something. It's good that you both came today otherwise we were going to your place tomorrow" Mom said looking at both of us.

"Mom you don't need any reason to come. That's not only our home" I said pointing me and Zain "It's our Home" I said gesturing towards everyone.

"Masha Allah." Dad said smiling.

"See, I told you that my daughter is a gem" Mom said.

"No Mom, she's a diamond!!" All of our heads turned towards Zain. He was looking at me. Did he even realize, what he said just now!! He loves to make me blush at odd times.

Dad cleared his throat and we both came back to our senses.

"Yeah, so where were we??"

"In short all three of us wanted you both to go for a Vacation. Alone. Only you both. Adeel will stay with us." Dad said.

"So What Dad means is that you both are finally going on a honeymoon" Zarine said excitedly.

"Zarine" Mom said in a warning tone.

"Dad, we can't go. I have work and moreover, we can't just leave Adeel and go" he said

"Work, I'll handle and I've still not retired. And don't forget that Adeel have stayed with us more than with you. So leaving Adeel with us is not a problem." Dad said.

"But Dad--"

"Hani, what do you say, dear?" Mom asked. I sighed, how can in one second, the moment can change?? Right now all of us were laughing and now suddenly the atmosphere has turned sour!!

"Mom, I can't leave Adeel and just go like this. I know he has stayed with you all, but still...I won't be able to leave him behind and go." I said.

"Apart from leaving Adeel and going, is there any particular reason?" Dad asked. I looked at Zain and his jaws were already clenched. I knew he was trying his best to control his temper.

"It's decided then, you both are going after fifteen days. Dubai or Mauritius, pick your choice now" Dad said calmly.

"Hani, say" Mom said.

"Dubai" he already said clenching his teeth.

"Good" Dad said and went up.

"This is why, I don't like to express myself!!" He stood up and went out.

_________

Assalamualaikum my beautiful Readers. How are you all? I hope you all are enjoying the story so far? I know I'm not able to update regualarly, but trust me, I'm trying my best to make a proper order but failing misersbly!! Sigh...

Nevertheless, I started writing this Chapter...and it's the longeesssttt Chapter, till date.

Waiting to read all your beautiful comments.

Do shower your love in form of Votes and Comments.

Let me tell you a secet, Zain is becoming my crush!!🙈🙈🙈🙈