Sabih's POV

Turning on my laptop I rested my back on the leather chair picking my cell phone, being late today I didn't get time to check my emails and neither did  I called my parents so deciding on getting done with both the tasks I was scrolling down my contact list when the screen shone with Wali's number, my eyes went towards the wall clock as I mentally calculated the time and picked up the call.

"Sabih?" I heard his anxious voice and all my senses got alarmed, pulling myself up to sit straight I answered with salam.

"Is everything alright, Wali?" I asked hiding the sudden worry which was consuming my heart, my eyebrows were definitely furrowed.

"I need you to listen to me carefully," his voice was definitely strained and I found myself holding the arm piece of my chair firmly. "Sabih, you need to return to Karachi now, I have already talked to Mr. Riaz. He is arranging flight for you, chachu and everyone else. You guys have to get here."

"What happened, Wali? Where is everyone? What's going on?"

"Sabih it's urgent, man."

"God dammit! Tell me!"

"It's Yahya," his grave voice reached my ears and I fell back on my seat.

A tear slipped down my cheek as I turned the page of the Para I was reciting in one of the many guest rooms of Wali's apartment in New York, it had been two days since that unfortunate call, and complete twenty four hours since I landed here. Every single wall was carrying the weight of all the tears which had been shed in the last two days; they have heard all the cries of agony and loss. Every single person present under this roof was in their most vulnerable state, some more than others.

I raised my head as the door creaked open and Zaydan entered the room, dressed in creased white kameez shalwar with swollen red eyes, he looked at me as he closed the door and made his way towards the bed.

"Get ready we have to leave for the cemetery," he said as he sat at the edge of the bed, supporting his elbow on his knees he rubbed his face with his hands and then turned his head to look at me. "Can't this all be some sick joke?" he whispered as his voice broke and in few quick steps I took my little brother in my embrace and for the first time in many years my shoulders were getting soaked with his tears.

***

One by one we all entered Wali's apartment again after coming from the cemetery and masjid. I was at the back with Jibran who was following me closely behind. I saw baray abbu asking everyone to join him in the study, Wali was asked to call Khadija bhabi along with Ahyan, nodding his head he made his way up the stairs, while Murtaza went to the living room to get phupo. Both the women were the one most affected by the loss, Khadija bhabi had stopped talking and barely came out of her room, she just keeps Ahyan around her and if the child is taken away from her for even few minutes she starts panicking, phupo on the other hand had become equally stressed and doesn't let Ahyan get away from her sight.

Entering the study I noticed baray abbu sitting behind the desk, his fingers rubbing his tired eyes, bari ammi sitting with phupo and phuppa on the leather couch. Dad and Irfan chachu were sitting across baray abbu and the rest of us were standing, waiting for Wali and bhabi to come. After few minutes of silence the wooden doors opened and with hunched shoulders Wali entered and turned to open the doors wide for bhabi, with her head elegantly covered bhabi entered with slow tired steps, her hands were carrying Ahyan who was calmly sleeping unaware of the storm which has created havoc in all our lives. Both of them crossed the room to sit on the couch across phupo and phuppa, all the eyes were on baray abbu now as he gave one glance to his son and daughter-in-law and then phupo.

"Tasneem whatever you and Khalid would decide would be respected by all of us." He said and we all looked at phupo, her shoulders were slightly shaking and phuppa had his arms wrapped around her shoulder as bari ammi was holding phupo's hand. Wali got up from his place and went to sit in front of phupo, resting his head on her lap he kissed her hands and with a sob phuppo placed both her trembling hands on his head.

"Bhaiya I know what my Yahya would have wanted and I know this is right for my Ahyan too, Ahyan should stay with Wali and Khadija. I am ready to work this out legally," we all heard phupo's soft yet weak voice and Abeer sobbed in a corner, her head resting on Umama's shoulder.

"This is where Ahyan belongs." Phuppa solemnly agreed.

-----

3 Months Later

Wali's POV

Carefully closing the door of the study I turned to make my way towards the stairs while carefully reviewing the papers in my hands again, today was the day, in few hours Khadija and I would be welcoming our source of hope in our home, months have passed and every night I dream about the new beginnings, surely pain which had shattered our souls and made us weak which was also the reason why Khadija and I would start a new chapter of our life today. We both are at the place where we know and understand the meaning of loss, where we treasure whatever we have been blessed with and we are still learning to be grateful to Him, indeed He is one of the best planners. Yahya and Rafia would always be a big part of our life and Khadija and I have promised to make them a part of Ahyan's too.

Stopping at a door before our bedroom I twisted the knob and entered the dark room, switching off the light I smiled as I looked at the setting which was done exactly the way Yahya and Rafia's room was designed, Khadija had invested her last fifteen day working and planning every part of the room, she would talk about it all the time and while doing that she would have a shimmer in her eyes and I couldn't help but feel satisfied. It feels like Yahya and Rafia made a great sacrifice for us and they surely did. Tracing my hand ion the crib I turned my neck to look at the framed picture hanging on the wall, it was the addition Khadija did. The black and white pictures were of Yahya and Rafia carrying few days old Ahyan.

Switching off the lights I got out of the room and in a few steps entered mine, Khadija was pinning her hijab.

"I am ready, sorry I am running late." She said as her eyes landed on me.

"It's okay take your time we have got it," I smiled as I walked towards the center of the room and picked up my coat, wearing it I walked towards the dressing table and stood beside her as I took my watch and placed it on my wrist. Our silence was interrupted by my phone ringing, Murtaza's number was flashing on the screen. Picking it up, I walked out of the room.

***

Parking the car in front of the building which I had been visiting for last two months, Khadija and I both sighed, both our eyes looking at the court bustling with people, some losing and some winning. Getting out of the car the two of us search for some familiar faces and after looking around I found Murtaza walking towards us with phupo, phuppa and Abeer closely behind. Ahyan was in phupo's arm, sucking on his favorite ducky pacifier while curiously looking around.

"Asalam O Alikum," Murtaza and I smiled as Khadija went towards phupo, I smiled as I saw them embracing each other. We saw Ahyan jumping on phupo's arm excited to get in Khadija's, laughing at him Khadija took him and then kissed him, Ahyan placed his head in the crook of her neck as he clutched her scarf. I felt my lips curling into a faint smile.

"Wali bhai I will come to meet him on weekends." Abeer stated from beside me and I turned to her, her golden brown eyes brimming with tears, wrapping my arms around her I kissed the top of her head.

"It's your home too, Abi! You can come anytime you want." I smiled at her and she nodded looking at Ahyan and Khadija with a soft smile covering her innocent face.

Phupo and her family shifted to New York in Yahya's apartment a month ago, it took them a lot of courage to leave their settled home and a lot of persuasion from our side to bring them here, near Ahyan.

Finally all of us walked inside, the decision was made and the papers were signed.

"Congratulations Mr. And Mrs. Ahmed," the woman in front of us tenderly smiled. A wave of energy and euphoria ran through us.

As all of us walked out of the room, Khadija by my side and our son in her arms, looking at her face with a soft pout.

"Let's go home," I heard myself whispered to my little family.

Definitely he found me lost and guided me.

---------

A.O.A

HELLO YOU GUYS! HOW ARE YOU??

Okay so let me take a deep breath! Yeah I am cool now! (Not)

Did you guys feel what I am feeling? I am on the verge of breaking down, good sense tho!

It's ending! Ya Allah! What a ride it has been. This was the last chapter for you guys, our trip with Wali and Khadija might be ending but they would be in our hearts, right? Oh man! Can never forget the day I started this book and how far we have come! Thank you all! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Waiting to listen from you guys :')

Till the epilogue...

TC,

Zehra :)