CHAPTER | TWENTY ONE | ALIZA | POV

The plane ride back home went by smoothly and I was grateful for it since both of us really were tired of everything that happened last night. All in all I was proud of what we had accomplished because now that we know Alex is locked away, hopefully he won’t be out or back for a very long time at all. There was still the court case to go to though and even though the thought of that made me queasy, I didn't show it; I didn't want to ruin our new found happiness.

Throughout the journey back home none of us made conversation and that was because of how tired we actually were. When I was awake I found that Isa was sleeping and I'm guessing when I was sleeping, Isa had to be up. Even though no one spoke though, we knew there was no need to and Isa didn't bug me about my birthday like I thought he would, though I did get a bouquet of flowers when we stepped foot on the private plane.

I was happy enough that he had remembered my birthday as even I had forgotten that the day had arrived when I woke up. It felt different this year to be spending my birthday with someone who was going to be the father of our baby or that I was spending it with a person I love other than my own family.

“Ali, stop zoning out. In this rate you won’t even know if you’re in labour or not.” Isa’s voice teased out to me and I couldn't help but pout back at him to which he laughed at me.

We were currently at the hospital along with one of the twins. The labour pains had started just as soon as we had reached home and the surprise on my face was obvious since the baby wasn't due for at least another week; yet me and Isa both are still happy that baby Shoaib is arriving sooner than we had expected.

“Well sorry for thinking.” I replied back to him while rolling my eyes.

Asif had heard us from the corner where he was sitting one of the plastic chairs and laughed at us being childish to each other. It was weird to think that out of everyone else apart from Isa that I would have Asif come with me to the labour room since he was the most childish one, but once a pact is made then we can never go back on it. 

“Are you two really going to carry on arguing? I mean, I don’t mind, it’s funny and all but I don’t think your baby is going to be very happy.” It was also weird how right my little brother could be sometimes so instead of saying anything back to him, I stayed quiet and rested my back on the hospital bed which was raised so my back wouldn’t hurt.

“We’re not arguing dude and try to be helpful for your sister while you’re in here. Go get her a cup of water.” I was about to argue with Isa and say that I didn’t want or in fact need anything when Asif had shrugged his shoulders and walked out the room.

Crossing my arms I turned to look at my smiling husband, “I’m fine Isa, stop being so mean to be Asif. He is being helpful by just being here.” I commented and watched him drag a chair over to the side of my bed so he could sit down.

“I know you’re fine, I just want to have some alone time with you before all those doctors come in.” He said while breathing out and taking his hand in mine.

My hair was set in a ponytail and out of a hijab since I was going to be having a female doctor helping me give birth rather than a male one. To be honest I didn’t mind who it was as long as my baby was out fine but obviously Isa has to be the protective husband and demand for me to have a female doctor; one so that I could be more comfortable and not worry about my hair and two, because he didn’t want any other man touching me, which is something I understand.

“You could have said so. I still don’t see why you have to be mean to my brother.” The pout was back and so was the chuckling from Isa. Even if I wanted to though, I couldn’t stay mad at him for him long so in no time a smile was formed on my face too.

But a second later the smile vanished when a knotting pain in my abdomen starting to form make me squeeze the life out of Isa’s hand. If this is what the contraction pains felt like when giving birth then I’m sure I wouldn’t have any energy left by the time this process was over.

“Ali what’s happening?! Hold on I’ll get the doctor.” I didn’t see him let go of my hand and run out the room since was eyes were tight shut trying to block out the pain that was happening throughout my stomach, as if that would help the pains go away. Sure enough a scream erupted through my throat though I tried not to again.

The pains were coming and going but not slow enough. My hands were surely going white now that I was clutching on to the sheets of the bed for support. There was nothing strong enough for me to clutch on to, to try and reduce the pain that I was feeling.

“She’s about to give birth!” I heard a shout and from my guess, it was probably a doctor who was going to help me deliver our baby. 

At that moment though I wanted to shout out something sarcastic like ‘I know that’ but I couldn’t since nothing apart from heavy breathing erupted from my mouth. There was nothing that I could say to make the pain lessen until I felt my hand back in someone else’s which Isa’s was probably.

A shout of pain rang through my ears and by the force that my hand had on Isa’s I knew that it was him who was also in pain from me. I wanted to take my hand back and just stop both the pains that we were going through but it seemed impossible for me to move my hand away from his, in fear that the pains would increase.

Somewhere along the screams of pain coming from me and occasionally from Isa, I had felt my other being taken into theirs and I instantly recognised the warmth of my brothers’ hand comforting me. Those same hands of my brothers I held when he was born and in some time I would be holding my own baby’s hand in mine. I tried letting that fact make me feel better that I had the support of two people who loves me and others who couldn’t be in here with me watching me give life.

The pains running through my body couldn’t ever be compared to anything else but even at these times where I happen to be suffering from these pains I tried to remember Allah and the outcome of what will happen after I’m done. As soon as Allah’s name rang throughout my head, I remembered Surah Maryam that mom used to read when she was pregnant with Mustafa. 

"Rabbi Inni Nazartou laka Mafi Batni Muharranan, fata khabal Miniya, Innaka Anta Samikhoul Halimoul" [Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of 'Imran said, "My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing." (3, 35).

Nothing miraculous happened like all the pains had gone but I felt at ease with my mind and all the negative thoughts that may have been circling my head before was now gone and filled with positive things. Things such as hearing our baby cry for the first time or smile was more than enough for me to thank Allah for giving me the chance to fill my womb.

It went on like this for a long time until I couldn’t take it anymore and finally let out the strangled cry from my throat that was dying to come out. It was then that my ears had perked up to hear something that I was dying to listen to.

“I can see the baby’s head!” Was exactly what the doctor had said and the joys forming through me was indescribable. 

I and Isa’s baby was nearly in this world and the thought of that happening in just a few minutes or so made me push harder than ever as soon as another cry of ‘push’ was instructed to me. 

Finally when that final push was done a sense of relief washed over me and the cries of a baby was heard throughout the room along with a chorus of ‘congratulations’ coming from the doctors and nurses surrounding my bed. If I had the strength to stay awake and see the smiles in everyone’s faces then I would but sleep soon enough took over me and the thought to even stay awake vanished from me and darkness took over.

***

The sense of people watching over me and talking was what woke me up to find my body very sore and aching. My hands were the first thing that moved and it went to my almost flat stomach which hurt as soon as my hands touched that part of my body.

I now knew that the delivery was over and that I had passed out as soon as Shoaib's cry echoed in my ears and soon enough my eyes had fluttered open too to see my entire family gathered around in the hospital room.

"What's going on?" My voice was croaky due to the fact I just woke up from sleeping and water was something I really needed for my throat right now.

Instantly shouts of 'she's awake' was being flung across the room and I found myself being surrounded by those all too familiar faces saying things to me. I had no response for them and instead watched the smiles on their faces grow bigger with every word they got out to me.

"Ali do you want to see Shoaib?" That was the question from my father in law which got my insides jumping with excitement. I was finally a mother and about to hold my first new born baby in my arms.

"Yes please." My voice was still a little hoarse but it managed to get out.

I watched my father in law's retreating figure to go to where the baby's crib was in the hospital and pick Shoaib up. The look of pride and happiness in everyone's faces as my father in law came closer with the baby was evident and I couldn't deny those emotions running through me too.

One thing for sure that I had noticed though was that Isa wasn't in the room. Both my family and in law's were all in here, heck even my old neighbour was in here but Isa wasn't.

The question I wanted to ask about Isa though was left hanging since my arms were being spread open for my baby to lay in them. The happiness and overwhelming emotions that were going through me was something I felt when I was near Isa and now our baby is going to be doing the same. I felt a tear running down my cheek while I stroked Shoaib's flustered cheeks and kissed them just to make sure he was actually there and not dreaming.

Soft as anything else that could have been invented was what stroking Shoaib felt like. It was something like no other and I wished his father was here to experience this feeling with me.

"Where's Isa?" I finally asked looking up from the little angel that was still in my arms.

"He's gone to get some coffee. I'll call him in here." Adam said out to me from the back and it was the first time in months I had seen my brother again because he was away at college and had too much work to come visit in the holidays.

I was grateful when everyone gradually kissed my forehead and walked out the room to give us some privacy but I was still waiting for Isa to walk in here. He must have already read the Adhaan (call to prayer) in Shoaib's ears.

"Hello baby." I whispered with a smile to Shoaib who was still fast asleep in my arms but I still felt the need of saying something.

My eyes looked away from Shoaib to the door where it had opened and in stepped Isa looking tired as ever with a glass of water in his hands; hopefully for me. The smile on my face grew when he took his steps closer to the bed and sat down on the edge of it with a smile also.

"Can you believe he's here?" I asked with joy evident in my voice.

"I'd be lying if I said I was but I'm happy that he is and we're a proper family now. Alhamdulilah." That last part in particular made me happy inside that he mentioned that. I was glad too that we were now a proper family.

"The house is going to be a lot more noisy now." I joked to Isa because I knew how grumpy he gets whenever he has to wake up early and the fact a baby will wake you up at probably three in the morning is something everyone knows about.

"Yeah but it's all worth it." He said with pride and kissed my forehead before extending his arms out to hold Shoaib for himself.

I watched how he struggled to keep Shoaib from moving around in his arms and it made me think that even though we were definitely new to this whole idea of parenting, Insha'Allah we would get there someday and try to be good parents to our children. 

The thought struck me and I wondered just how much children Isa actually wanted. I knew that I atleast wanted about for children in total but maybe Isa wanted more or even less. Yes, the pains of going through labour is a little excruciating but its all for a good cause and Allah likes those who bears their wombs with children to build on the Ummah. 

"Isa how many kids do you actually want?" I asked out while sipping on the glass of water he left on the bedside table. He looked at me for a minute before answering, 

"Five." He said smugly before paying his attention back to Shoaib that was now awake. Hearing him cry made a protective side of me come up and before I could even ask to have him in my arms, Isa had already placed him there. 

"I think he needs feeding." Isa said and I nodded my head to do exactly that. It felt weird to feeding a baby that was now ours but the wide eyes that stared back at me relaxed me. Shoaib definitely had my green shade to his eyes but his cheekbones and nose resembled Isa's. 

"He's a cute one." I said to no one in particular and if Isa did hear then he didn't bother saying anything back to me. It felt as if he was now full so I pulled away and remembering back to health class, we had to burp the baby after it was done eating/ drinking. Isa looked at me in awe as if thinking how I knew I had to do all this for a baby. 

"Health class." I answered his unspoken question and watched how his mouth formed to an 'o' and realising that we're actually taught this in school. 

"Were you guys not taught this?" I asked cautiously while playing with Shoaib's small fingers. He was still taught in Venice after everything that had happened and I didn't want that to cause some unnecessary memories to come flooding back to him. 

"We probably were. Then again I slept in all my classes..." He trailed off while I laughed softly hoping not to scare the baby in my arms. He was impossible sometimes and while he answered his phone that began ringing I took the opportunity to look around the room and especially the bedside table where a dozen cards were spread out reading 'Congratulations on your baby boy' and others along that line. Shoaib was still awake and surprisingly quiet which I liked. 

I knew though that it wasn't going to stay like this. Babies are known for being loud but I didn't mind that since I grew up with four brothers who are louder than five trumpets put together; it was deafening really. 

I didn't bother listening in to the conversation that Isa was having on the phone but I knew it was Sia by the girlish screams coming from the phone. Sia had turned out to be a really good friend of mine and I know that Isa and her were just good friends as well as cousins too. 

"Can I come in?" My head whipped to the door to see Adam standing there with his hands in his pockets and a sheepish smile formed on his face. I smiled and motioned for him to come inside and sit on the bed. 

"I'm really proud of you both Ali. He's Mash'Allah so beautiful." I mouthed a 'thank you' to him before remembering something about Adam. Adam and Khadija had a small engagement and I've been dying to know when the wedding date was.

"Adam, when are you and Khadija getting married?" I asked and unlike me who can't blush at anything, Adam turned a bright red and turned his face away from me which made me laugh at him.

"It's actually in a month's time." I gasped at how soon the date was but it was in happiness. I knew that Adam was dying to make her his wife and that would be happening in just a months time.

"Congratulations." I beamed at him while his face grew a darker shade of red. He said something back to me which I didn't hear and left the room.

"Ali you should get some rest now. Let me take him." Isa came up to me and extended his arms out to take Shoaib in his.

I couldn't protest with him since I was feeling worn out even though I did have some rest. Then again giving birth does wear you out, so I handed Shoaib over and rested my head back on to the pillow. Soon after I felt the bed sink down with an arm wrapped round my waist. Opening my eyes I saw Isa and Shoaib between us looking back and forth at us with his small eyes. I gave him a kiss and closed my eyes again. 

Things were finally looking up again. Subhan'Allah.

***

Asaalamalikum guys, sorry for not updating sooner but school started and I was obviously too lazy to start writing. Shoaib is finally here, so what do you guys think? The book is about to end soon and I would look to thank everyone who has supported me so far!

Dedicated to @Zammurad who seems to be liking this story! xD

Have a Good Day and May God Bless You All.