SORRY FOR BEING SO LATE!

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Two Months Later.

"You can do this!" Khadija whispered like every day she does when we come for my physiotherapy and exercise treatments, looking at her encouraging smile I gripped the rod from both sides and pull my body up with all the strength I had and after a few seconds when I was on my feet I sighed, I have been doing this for past couple of weeks every day I stand up, hardly take a step and fell back. "Come on relax," she traced the crease on my temple and then gave my arms a light assuring pat.

For her.

Taking a deep breathe I moved my right foot forward and then left and then stood straight to catch my breath just this little movement was enough to make me completely drenched in sweat but giving up right now wasn't an option so gathering all the power I could I tried taking few more steps and repeating the procedure of moving right foot forward and then left I took four steps in total and then fall back on my wheelchair while gasping for air.

"You did great!" Khadija cheered passing the water bottle to me and wiping the sweat from my forehead.

"Yeah," I weakly smiled running my hand through my hair.

"Hey," she slowly whispered and I meet her gaze," Wali, look at the bright side, you are improving in a much faster rate than everyone predicted and the great thing is you will be back to normal on the day of our walima." She grinned with the hint of red on her cheeks and it does made me feel better.

"In Shaa Allah! So have you guys decided what you are wearing?" I teased her with the same question I have been asking from last ten days when the first time the discussion of our big day started.

"Oh, don't get me started on that! I am so ready for wearing pajamas!" she got up and pushed my wheelchair towards the exit while I laughed because almost every day Rafia and Rumaisa are found at our place looking on different website for the perfect dress for not only Khadija but everyone and as we have decided that the function would take place in Karachi in July just after Eid so everyone is going crazy, these days it's just a chaos.

"Let's have lunch before going back home?" I suggested once we were in the car as Khadija is driving lately it's important to guide her to the destination because according to her 'driving in front of you isn't easy!' and I haven't figured out the reason yet.

"So the Turkish place it is!" she smiled while strapping her seat belt and turned the key in ignition, there was a comfortable silence in the car where both of us were drowned in our thoughts and I didn't realize that I was battling with mine till Khadija took my hands which were placed on my knees and interlaced our fingers, looking at our linked hands I smiled, it was a reassurance that we'll be all right, I'll be all right.

Fine, All right, Okay...

I have been listening to these similar words for what feels like eternity now it should make me frustrate but on the contrary I am feeling anything but frustration, it's like a numbness which has settled inside me, I sound like pessimist but I know it's not even pessimism, it's more like a cold calmness. I smile when my family and friends cheer me up, I certainly believe what they say, I have hope but it feels like after everything I am not counting on it and if nothing happens I might not be even surprised.

Shrugging my thoughts away I looked at the women beside me, her eyebrows creased together, a slight pout on her full lips and her left hands tightly gripping on the steering wheels while her right still holding mine. It still feels surreal to be here with her. Its been almost four months since our wedding, four months since she took away my last name, I would have said heart but wasn't it always hers? As a smile took its place on my face I looked away. Funny isn't it? That the presence of one person can actually change your entire way of thinking, can make you believe in life and happiness more than you ever did. Sometimes presence of this one person is enough to bring you closer to your own self, to your faith and makes you hold on your imaan.

As Khadija parked in front of the Turkish restaurant she was excited about, her phone rang displaying a picture of Rafia and herself in one of those animal filters and I gave her an amused look with a raised eyebrow and smirk making her cheeks flushed red when she quickly attended the call looking anywhere but me, making it hard for me to control my laughter and I end up snorting but quickly covered it with a cough.

KHADIJA'S POV

As Wali coughed beside me I gave him a daring look and he quickly looked away but I didn't missed the smile on his face which made me groan. Leave it to me, to make a complete fool of myself in front of him, but it doesn't matter because I have couple of his photos with the same filter while he was sleeping, I suppress the urge to grin wide because I was continuously ignoring what Rafia was saying on the other side as my mind was busy thinking about his photos though the thought heated up my cheeks but I can't simply ignore how cute he looks while sleeping.

"ARE YOU EVEN LISETENING TO ME? KHADIJA?" I jumped on my seat when Rafia yelled in my ear bringing me back to the driving seat of Wali's car.

"Rafi can we talk when I get back? You guys are at our place anyways so we'll talk once I am there."

"But... Okay on one condition!"

"Yup?"

"Bring me those fish stakes!"

"Fish stakes? Right now?"

"Honey my cravings doesn't care about what hour of the day it is!" I can actually imagine her rolling her eyes.

"Okay! Because I can't wait to see my nephew I am gonna bring the stake!"

"Khadija did you just revealed the gender of my panda in front of your husband?"

"It's A BOY!"

"Oops!" Rafia, Wali and I said at the same time and I knew I was dead.

"I... I was... Keeping it a secret!" I heard her voice cracking and sighed, she is six months now and her emotions are all over the place, she would laugh at the little of things and cry even when I tell her to rest and look for other shopping website later, she would get mad at Yahya for not wearing the shirt she asked him to but we all were trying to be at our best especially Yahya and I, poor man! already have dark circles because my cousin would keep him awake at night so she can just talk.

"I am so sorry!" I said slowly.

"We'll talk later!" she said and ended the call.

Take fish stakes and two bottles of maple syrup!

"Is our lunch in danger?" Wali looked at me and I shook my head slight, "Just keep in mind we gotta take fish stake and maple syrup on our way back!" I replied getting my bag from the back and he chuckled.

The lunch was full of pleasant conversation and Wali briefing me over some of our companies' clients and strategies as I am soon going to join the work with him he had been helping me out and training me a lot.

By the time we got back it was almost time for zuhr, so after Yahya and Wali left for namaz together and I went to the guest room with plate full of fish stake and the take out we had from the restaurant for everyone else, as I entered the room Rafia looked away and Rumaisa gave me a closed lip smile.

"I know I made a huge mistake but I promise you it's still a secret! Wali won't tell a soul, I believe him." I quickly said placing the tray in front of her though she gave it a glance but ignored me. "I promise, Rafi!"

"I wanted it to be a surprise," she whispered pulling her self placing a right palm carefully on her swollen stomach but quickly flinched, making Rumaisa and I smile. "Yeah kick me all you want and wait what I am going to do once you are here!" she said looking at her stomach while the two of us chuckled.

"Hey you won't do anything to my prince!" I teased her and she rolled her eyes filling her plate.

"Tell me the same thing when it's you!" She smirked and my eyes went wide while I was sure my cheeks turned into a complete tomato.

Soon the three of us were discussing Rumaisa's time and I found myself touching my flat stomach.

We have never discussed it but secretly I am waiting for the day when Wali and I would be walking the same road.

Waiting for our baby.

I was busy in my thoughts already planning our days and imagining our child that I forgot I have never gotten what I desired without feeling the pain of losing it or worst not be able to have it completely.

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A.O.A

How are y'all?

 Well though I have updated a chapter but I am apologizing in advance because I might be late for the next update too :3 I have my aptitude test coming up and well I am not prepared; literally! Need prayers! :)

Anyhoo... shower your love! Comment and Vote :D

Till the next time...

TC,

Zehra :)