"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending"
~ C. S. Lewis

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Epilogue of Junaid and Bushra's story. Also consider it as a bonus chapter for Ruhaniyat. This is the longest chapter I've written till date. Enjoyyyyy.
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"JUNAID!! Come on get up. We're getting late" bushra went and tried to snatch the blanket away but he held her hand and pulled her towards him. she stumbled on top of his naked chest.

"You know what is the most romantic thing for me?" he asked her slowly and sensuously while he twirls her hair on his index finger and kissed her on the sweet spot just below her earlobe.

"Hug? Kiss?" she asked him.

"No" he clearly denied.

"Then?" she thought what else could be more romantic than that.

"It's when I catch you staring at me and you start looking else where" she blushed at that. He had caught her staring many times. She liked watching him. She noticed little things about him. Like the way his eyes would sparkle when he would smile. Or when he was in tension there would be wrinkles on his forehead. Or when he would be angry, he would clench his jaws.

"Oh really? Now stop with your romance and get up already. We're really getting late. Ayman and bhai also will be leaving in sometime. Everyone would have reached already Junaid! I do not want to get embarrassed like last time for getting late. You don't know the way they tease me for being late" she made a cute pout.

"Haan so what's the problem in this? They know we are married and we need time for ourselves as well. It was the same when they were newly married"

"exactly! When they were newly married and we've been married for almost 4 years now. So you better get up and get ready and come down in 5 mins" saying this she got out from his grip and went to get ready herself.

All friends had decided to meet up in a farm house for the weekend stay. They wanted the kids to enjoy themselves like how they enjoyed their childhood and friendship.

Their was a knock on the door and Bushra opened it to find two cute pair of girls standing. She bent down to their level and kissed their cheeks and received wet kisses on her cheeks. Bushra whispered something in their ears and they giggled and got on bed and started tickling junaid.

"Chote abbu get up we go bye-bye" Adara told in her sweet voice.

"Chote abbu come on get up, Ziyan and everyone are waiting for us. We cant be late" Amara whined complaining to her Chachu.

Amara and Adara were Nihaal and Ayman's kids. Amara had turned 5 years and Adara had turned 3 years.

"Okay I'm up. I'm up. Stop tickling me" he raised his hands and got up from bed. Bushra was overwhelmed seeing the scene in front of her eyes. He pulled them closer to himself and started tickling them. The sounds of giggles melted her heart. She was happy to witness this pure bliss feeling. But she felt sad for herself.

After getting their dose of daily tickles, the kids escaped from the hold of their Chachu after biting him on his hand and leaving imprints that resembled a watch like round circle on both his hands. They went out of the room leaving behind a teary eyed bushra.

Junaid immediately got up from bed and stood by her. He knew the look on her face. Just by looking at her face he knew what was running on her mind and he truly felt helpless. But he had to be by her side no matter what.

It was 4 years to their wedding but the romance had never died in them. Junaid always tried his best to get a smile on her face. He would always bring her her favourite flowers and chocolates,  he would take her to weekend dates, he tried managing time from his busy schedule and spend it with her.

Bushra had completed her masters degree online. She gave her best in this relationship but still she was a bit sad. They weren't blessed with a kid till now, but Junaid made it a point to keep her away from stress. He told her that in shaa Allah, one day Allah would bless them with a kid.

He pulled her in his embrace and held her close to his heart. "Bushra, you know that I love you right? And it really pains to see this look on your face. It literally kills me every time I see tears in your eyes. Please stop crying jaan."

"Junaid, I'm sorry. I don't know what do I do. It always saddens me that I cannot give you a child of your own, no matter how much we've tried. And it saddens me even more when I see you play around with the kids of our family. I wish you could also play with our kids one day. But I feel like I couldn't give you any happiness or bless you with a child" she clutched his hand and cried on his shoulder.

He pulled away from her and made her sit on their bed and brought her a glass of water. One she was done drinking the water, he sat down on his knees and held her hand.

"Bushra don't even think that you not given me any happiness in life. You are the biggest and the most beautiful blessing of my life. You are my Inayat (blessing). I would be nothing without your love. Stop belittling yourself. The first day you came into my life, I knew that you would stay with me until the end.

We only need to have a little patience jaan. You remember how we were tested by being separated?" he asked her reminding the time of being separated for months and she nodded.

"We just need to wait like that but I guess a little longer. And it's not like I'm forcing you to give me kids. Also we've got Amara and Adara always by our side. Even if they are Nihaal bhai and Ayman Bhabhi's kids, they will always remain our kids as well" he pulled her along with him after wiping her tears away from her cheeks.

And now go and get ready. Or else we will definitely be late and our kids will be angry. The whole lot might have already reached. I can't wait to spoil everyone's kids with lots of chocolates and gifts today. Come on let's go. We're getting late" he winked at her.

He was truly blessed to have bushra as his Inayat and he knew one day Allah would bless him with a baby and he was ready to wait.

It was almost an hour long drive to the farm house. They hadn't done any talking and were fine with it. The silence was comforting. It showed that they need not have to talk always. They could just sit back and enjoy each others company, while he held her hand and intertwined their fingers.

The farm house was located in the outskirts of the city. The herds of sheep were slowly grazing over the landscape of greenery. Bushra watched the captivating clouds slide over the bright blue sky. The sight of mountains was spectacular. The air around the farm house was fresh and clear.

Once they reached, they saw the guys or rather the gentlemen of the group were playing cricket and the girls slash ladies were enjoying their cup of morning tea with a view of watching their husbands play cricket.

Bushra walked to the girl gang and junaid went to play cricket with his buddies. He joined them in fielding.

"Kyun madam Aap itni Jaldi Kyun aagayi? Thodi aur deri karni chahiye thi" Anam winked at Ayman while she teased Bushra. Bushra knew this was coming.

"Yaar Ab phirse shuru matt hojao please" bushra withheld a blush that was ready to form on her pale cheeks by turning around. She didn't want to be more embarrassed in front of her friends and their teasing.

"Where are the kids?" she enquired, totally changing the subject.

"They are playing in the kids playground area. I'm glad Nihaal bhai thought of making a separate play area for the kids" sadiya said.

"Haan or else we would again see the kids and these men fighting over the playground to play" Amina giggled reminiscing the time when these men wanted to play cricket together and the kids didn't allow them saying they wanted the ground for themselves.

"Aani (aunt) can I give this chocolate to Adeena?" Amara asked Amina referring to her kid.

"Amy, you can't give it to Adeena. It has nuts. It will poky poky her throat" Ziyan jumped by her side.

"Bacha, ziyan is right, Adeena cannot have this chocolate. Instead you can give her this" Ayman pulled out another chocolate from her purse and handed it to her child, Amara. And both Amara and Ziyan went back running being happy that they could give a chocolate to their other friend Adeena.

"Ayman I really like the way Ziyan and Amara take care of the other kids" Ayesha said.

"I remember them being excited when Zafir was born and they had a new company" Ayesha said referring to her and Faazil's kid.

"The kids literally remind me of our old times. Ziyan is just like Zeeshan but I think Amara is more like Anam. Both Ziyan and Amara fight just like how Zeeshan and Anam used to fight. Adara is just like Ayman, the silent one" Amina said.

"I really wish to get Amara married to my Ziyan but I know that it's wrong to set the kids up in their childhood. I want them to have their choice in selecting their partner just like we all did" Anam voiced out her thought.

It reminded Ayman of her past and she too completely agreed with anam.  She had been through that and she wouldn't want any of their kids to suffer the same as she did.

"I think Shamayal is just like Shahmir  and you know what? Those two just team up against me and Adeena and torture us with their pathetic singing" Amina explained.

"The same happens with me Amina. Ayzan and zain do the same with me. They literally pull out pranks on me every single day" Sadiya narrated her story as well.

"I wish my kid is not like me and more like Jawaad. I swear I cannot handle a kid with my tantrums and stubbornness" Nabiya joked making the others laugh as well.

"And I'm sure when bushra will have a kid one day in shaa Allah, it will just be like her and junaid, the notorious one, climbing trees and all" Sadiya said laughing and the rest joined her. They never made her feel out of place and always prayed for her.

After finishing the match, everyone went inside to have lunch. The kids enjoyed each others company. Everyone were witnessing Ayzan take wobbly steps towards the other kids. Adeena and Adara were colouring the farmhouse wall with their crayons. Shamayal, Ziyan and Amara trying their best to play with their indoor games but would always end up fighting saying the other one is cheating and turn the board upside down.

All of them were seated in the living room of the farm house and suddenly the door bell rang. Everyone looked around wondering who could it be.

And Zeeshan literally reminded everyone the scene of F.R.I.E.N.D.S show, where joey literally looks around the entire room and then counts everyone present in the room and then looks at the door asking who could it be while everyone is already present here?

The door bell rang again and Bushra got up from her seat, shaking her head at the childish act of zeeshan, even when he had his own kids. She went to opened the door as she sat closest to the door. The door was opened and bushra was greeted with a bone crushing hug from Zaiba, her London roommate and behind her was Ikram, who held the cot of their 3 months old son, Nameer.

Apparently Ikram and Zaiba had hit a thing and she had crossed paths with Ikram quite a few times. She had seen Ikram change. And one day he sent his sister to Zaiba's house to request for her alliance in marriage and he made sure he did it only when he had forgotten bushra and moved on in life. He couldn't forget the time Zaiba had told him that he only needed to have a little patience and he would be blessed with a partner who was written in his destiny and once he prayed istekhara prayer and he knew it definitely had to be Zaiba as he had seen her in his dream.

Her parents did a good cross check and asked Zaiba, if she agreed to the wedding proposal and she immediately told a yes. She had personally seen him change and by change, she knew it was a good change. They had been married for two years now and they were proud parents of their 3 months old son, Nameer.

Junaid walked up to the side of Bushra and held her hand, still being the possessive one after everything that happened. He had forgiven Ikram but he couldn't get the fact out of his mind, that Ikram had kidnapped Bushra and caused her harm. But now he knew that he had repented and asked for their forgiveness. He had forgiven him long back or else he wouldn't be having Bushra by his side as his wife.

After greeting and giving Ikram a manly hug, he invited them inside their farm house and welcomed them. The rest of them got up and exchanged greetings. They had seen them on video calls. Everyone had bonded quite well.

In the evening:

After playing games, charades and antakshari, and then later having a barbeque filled dinner, all of them were seated in the living room. Zain and Nihaal had arranged cots and pillows on the ground and everyone sat down comfortably after putting the kids to sleep. They felt nostalgic and shared a lot of stories that happened in the past 4 years.

"Who would have thought that Bushra's words would come true some day" Ayman told all of a sudden.

"what are you talking about Bhabhi?" Sadiya asked Ayman while she grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl. Ayman and Bushra had arranged snacks like popcorn, ice cream, chips, biscuits, Pepsi. For the kids they had made home made snacks to keep them healthy and not to fall sick.

"You remember that sleepover at Bushra's place? And she just told that how nice would it be if we all get married to one family or to a group of friends?"

"Yes yes I remember. Kaash Kuch aur b acha maang liya hota uss din but ab kya karsakte hein" bushra rolled her eyes just to rile up junaid.

"what do you mean Kuch aur b acha?  you've got me, what else do you need bushy?" junaid winked at her while he teased her back because she just hated pda and that is exactly what he would do now.

"Before these two start again let me continue" Ayman interrupted.

"If we look back at time, who would have thought that we all would be married to our partners. We've all had our own ups and downs. Like how I hated Nihaal in the beginning and Allah has blessed me with him and I eventually developed feelings for him. Zeeshan and anam always irritating each other and not having a day without their silly banter" she eyed Nihaal who sat close to her and then zeeshan and Anam, they had a pleasant smile on their face.

"Then we almost witnessed Zain and sadiya having a forced hidden marriage. But I'm glad that we arrived on time and witnessed their wedding" she exclaimed happily.

"And then we also saw a different kind of story. Just like a story from books. The bride being kidnapped and then they realise their feelings and come back and get married. But that also had a good side of it. Junaid got the love of his life and threw that cunning Fiza out of our lives. People may think that he didn't try his best to get the love of his life but I'd seen him try his best to find Bushra. I'd seen him cry and make calls everyday. Even though Nihaal had told him not to go back to London, he was ready to go but then it was a miracle to have Bushra back that day and let him know about her love" she held Bushra's hand for support as she knew she would break down any moment remembering those days.

"But if Bushra wouldn't make me face reality, I too wouldn't have Zaiba as my life partner" Ikram guiltyly added taking Zaiba's hand in his.

"Ayman yaar now don't make us cry. Remember we also witnessed you setting up Ayesha and Fazil. I can never forget how you've convinced your mom" Anam continued.

"Who can forget it. I was the victim. She would always be in my room convincing me to get married to Ayesha. But then I'm glad she did. If I would have gone to search a bride for myself, I would have hit a rock or just jumped from the mountain because nobody can take Ayesha's place in my life" Fazil expressed his love through his eyes to Ayesha who was sitting far away from him.

"Nobody remembers our wedding Shahmir. Chalo let's go" Amina told sadly.

"Arre how can we forget our crazy duo. Although not all of us had been to your wedding, but we've witnessed your romance in college" Zeeshan wouldn't leave a change to exasperate and annoy them.

"Zeeshan you better shut up or I'll tell the story of your jealousy towards a guy who was just staring at Anam" Shahmir too wouldn't leave a chance.

"What story Shahmir?" Anam asked having no clue about the story.

"Shahmir don't even think of it. I'll throw you into the pool"

"It's my time for revenge and No, we don't have a pool here. So I'm safe"

"Okay soooo..." Shahmir looked at Zeeshan and enjoyed his misery completely and he continued, "one day Zeeshan noticed a guy staring at Anam. And let me tell you this happened before he had even proposed Anam" and this gained everyone's interest.

"He was Soo angry that day, that he wanted to punch that guy, but I pulled him back and then Zeeshan went and punchered that guy's bike. He was jealous because someone was just staring at Anam and I knew that day that he liked Anam and I was prepared for them to get married. And just after a few days Zeeshan proposed Anam in Ayman's brother's wedding" he finished the story and ran for his life as zeeshan decided to chase him.

"But whatever it is. In the end I'm happy that all of us are together. I'm glad we have our happy ending. I really wish that our kids also remain the best of friends just like we were and we are" Ayman said hugging bushra and amina, who sat next to her and then the other girls joined them in the group hug.

"I thought that it's only Nabiya, who is senti right now because of her pregnancy but it looks like all these girls just need a lil reason to cry and hug each other" Jawaad exclaimed shaking his head at the drama.

"Oye hello, what do you mean by being senti all the time? It's just my hormones being all over the place and it's all because of you. So just keep quite and don't over react" huffing she got up and walked out from the living room to the room that was given to them for the stay.

"Jawaad always remember not to upset your pregnant wife or else you'll be thrown out of the room" Zeeshan hi-fied Shahmir while Anam glared at Zeeshan and Amina threw daggers at Shahmir.

"I think Nameer is up. I'll just go check" Zaiba got up as she got a notification from the baby monitor. Ikram too got up to check up on their kid biding everyone goodbye.

It was around midnight and everyone were enjoying each others company after a lot of time. Everyone had gotten busy with life and couldn't meet everyone on a regular basis.

"Junaid I'm glad that Ikram's changed from the first time we saw him" Bushra silently whispered to junaid.

"Yes I'm glad too. I find him more responsible and caring towards Zaiba."

"If we wouldn't have done to London, we wouldn't have seen that phase of our lives. It was a beautiful phase according to me. It thought me a lot of things junaid. And the best of it is, that it made me realise my love for you" she saw him with all the love she had for him through her eyes.

"I'm truly blessed Bushra. London made us realise a lot of things and also it gave us friends like Ikram and Zaiba whom now we call our extended family" Junaid too agreed with her.

"I think it's time we go back to bed now. It's quite late now. I do not want you all to miss tomorrow's fun part" Nihaal said standing up and helping Ayman. Everyone agreed and got up to leave to their bedrooms.

The next day everyone got up quickly and freshened up. Today they would be spending the day outside.

Everyone sat in their cars and moved to the highway for morning breakfast.  They had planned to go to the Amusement park and have breakfast on the way to the park.

The kids were really excited and dressed their best for the day. Everyone enjoyed the rides apart from Zaiba and Nabiya. Since one was pregnant and the other was a lactating mother with a 3 months old kid.

They enjoyed rides like Ferris wheel, drop zone, mixer rides, water rides, roller coaster, and the scary house.

It was really fun to take Anam inside the scary house because she was scared of such places and zeeshan didn't leave a chance to make fun of her.

After sometime Bushra joined Nabiya and Zaiba saying that she didn't feel good and felt dizzy after the rides and wanted to rest for sometime. She felt herself drained out of energy.

Zaiba was concerned for her friend and gave her a bottle of water and some snacks that they had got. Once she started eating the snacks, she felt like throwing up. And that is what she did, she vomited all the content out.

"Are you alright? Let's go to the medical room" Junaid came running to her side. He made her drink water and held her close to him

"I'm fine junaid. It's because of that ride I just went. I'll just sit for sometime and then I'll be fine. You go enjoy" she told him.

"Are you mad. I'm not leaving you in this condition. How do you expect me to enjoy when you're in this condition" he told her sternly and sat with her.

Everyone came back deciding it was time they go back to the farm house. They had dinner on the way back to the farm house. Everyone was very tired and decided to call it a night as soon as they reached back.

Bushra got up in the middle of the night. She was feeling queasy. She decided to take a walk. She got down from bed and went outside.

She was walking towards the lawn but stopped once she heard noises from the kitchen. She noticed that the lights were switched on. She went inside and noticed Zeeshan and Anam. She looked over and saw that they were making Maggie.

"Bushra! You just scared me. Do you need anything? Are you hungry too?" Anam asked while she placed a hand on her heart. She was startled. Zeeshan and Anam usually would wake up at night and eat something.  So they had arranged for Maggie. They were preparing Maggie and were startled to see Bushra join them at 4 am at night.

"once a foodie, always a foodie. Both of you will never change" bushra laughed at their condition.

"and no I'm not hungry. You two carry on. I was just feeling a bit queasy and I came for a walk. I'll go back and you two enjoy your midnight date" she winked at them and went outside letting them enjoy their little late night date.

Bushra was taking slow steps in the lawn and she heard another sound of footsteps. She turned around and saw, it was Junaid.

"What happened bushra? Are you alright?" Junaid had panicked when he saw that the bed was empty. He came out and saw that the light in the kitchen were on and he went to look for bushra but hostess he found Anam and Zeeshan. They told him that Bushra had gone for a walk in the lawn.

He was worried about her health. She had been taking a lot of stress lately. He promised himself that he would take bushra to the doctor first thing in the morning before returning to their house.

"Why did you wake up Junaid? I'm fine. Stop worrying about me so much. Kuch nahi hua hai mujhe" she told him. She knew he would be tensed for her but she tried her best to coax him.

"How can I not worry about you jaan?  Even if a little thing happens to you, it makes me worried. I do not want to lose you again" he told her softly. His emotions were all over the place but he still hasn't forgotten the London incident. He panicked not seeing her beside him at night.

He gently pulled her to himself and she was pressed against his chest. He lifted her hand and placed it on his chest, just above the place where his heart resides.

"Junaid, I'm not going anywhere. You've got to jhelofy me for the rest of your life. So don't even think that I'll leave you now or later on" she placed her head just where her hand was placed a little while ago.

"I'm ready to jhelofy you here and in paradise. I'll ask God to see you twice, once here and once in paradise" saying this he kisses the crown of her head.

"But this doesn't mean that we aren't going to the doctor tomorrow once you wake up" he mumbled and she whined. She hated going to the doctor. She hated hospital smell and the atmosphere.

"okay fine" she groaned.

The next day everyone got up early and got ready to leave. Bushra was still sleeping as she had slept late after offering fajr Salah.

Everyone had gathered in the living room to bid each other bye. Junaid informed them that he would be joining them later on as he had to take bushra to the doctor. Nihaal and ayman asked him to take extra care of Bushra. They had treated her just like sadiya. Bushra was their little sister and they truly cared for her.

After a lot of convincing bushra finally got ready to go to the doctor. She had always been scared of doctor's since she had lost her brother. Junaid was always by her side to calm her down.

They reached the hospital and waited for their turn outside the outpatient room.

"Bushra stop worrying Soo much. Nothing will happen. And god forbid even if something is not good I'm always by your side. So you need not worry" he told her softly and held her small hand in his large one. She smiled in gratitude and nodded her head.

Once their name was called from the reception, they entered the room and explained everything to the doctor. The doctor asked them to undergo some blood tests just to ensure that her doubts were clear.

The doctor asked them to go back home after she prescribed some medicines for Bushra and asked them to come back later to collect the reports.

They decided to have their lunch in the nearby restaurant and then stroll in the park that was nearby.

Once it was almost evening, they got a call from the lab saying that the results of the blood tests were out and they could collect it now.

They reached the hospital and collected the results. Both of them didn't have enough courage to open and see what the results were inside the envelope.

They went to the doctor and gave her the envelope.

"Mr. Khan, I hope you've checked the reports before coming here?" the doctor asked them once they were seated and junaid shook his head.

"No doctor Seema, we didn't have the courage to open it.  So I gave it directly to you without opening them" junaid told her truthfully.

"It's alright. I get it. Well there's nothing to worry about and instead it's a good news. Congratulations, you both are going to be parents"

Both junaid and bushra were joyful once they heard the good news and asked the doctor if it was true.

Junaid got up and performed a sajdah (prostration) in front of his lord. He was ecstatic and contented with the blessing.

Both of them thanked the doctor and excused themselves.

Once they were in the parking lot, junaid couldn't control his emotions and pulled her towards his chest and hugged her tight. He had tears in his eyes. Both of them were crying holding each other. He couldn't stop peppering her face with kisses.

"Let me just inform everyone on the group" Junaid said happily. He couldn't keep this news away from their best friends slash extended family.

*Group chat ahead*

~Houseful~

Junaid:
Assalamu alaikum everyone. Alhamdulillah we have another member joining us soon in this houseful group. We are glad to announce that Bushra is pregnant.

Ayman:
Masha Allah. Congratulations.
Well that explains, the stealing of pickle at night.

Anam:
Alhamdulillah
Also the way she was feeling queasy at night.

Zeeshan:
I'm sooo happy bro. Congratulations. Also get ready for late night cravings😏

Junaid:
Anything for her😉

Nihaal:
You're totally head over heels for her but Masha Allah. Also congrats lil bro. I too can spoil your kids just like you spoil my kids.

Sadiya:
Nihaal bhai I'm joining you for revenge.

Junaid:
Haha! In your dreams. But no one can spoil kids like I've done to all of your kids😜

Nihaal:
Okay now enjoy your stay and come back after a few days. Take a break for sometime.

Ayman:
I'll send your clothes and other necessities. Enjoy your time alone.

Anam:
But don't enjoy it too much😜

Bushra was blushing reading all the message from the group. She was truly happy from the bottom of her heart. She was happy to see the smile she craved to see on Junaid's face from the past 4 years.

The congratulations and Masha Allah kept coming from everyone. Everyone were really happy for the couple. Allah had heard their prayers.

You never know when the angels knock on your door with the mercy of Allah. It's just that we need to have a little patience. We must always ask our rabb Sabr(patience) with tranquillity. Because if we ask our rabb patience, then patience comes with difficulty and new challenges. Which is why we should always ask for Sukoon (tranquillity) and one day our wishes will come true.

Bushra and Junaid's were blessed with a baby boy after 8 months. And they named him Nabeel.

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Assalamu alaikum everyone

How are y'all? I hope you're doing good.

I can go on and on when it comes to this groups story but I do not want to spoil any more by dragging the story.

This story will always remain close to my heart. I will feel sad but writing about them. Each and every member of this group has a special place in my heart.

I hope you enjoyed reading this story just like I did when I write it.

Stay safe.
Keep smiling.

~Huda_Fatima.