Khadijah Atish

There were some moments in my life which were full of pain. I used to think that I would never find my happiness.

I used to think that there was no joy in my life anymore.

I had been through so much.

We had been through so much.

But I was wrong.

There is joy and happiness in my life.

Allah was kind to grant me that privilege.

"Ahhhh!" I screamed as waves of painful contractions passed through me, causing my muscles to spasms all around my body, making my insides twist and turn. It was so painful that I felt like every bone in my body was being slowly crushed.

"Shh, baby, we're almost there. Just hold on." I heard Shehzad murmur in my ear as he tried to comfort me.

"Step on it!" He yelled to the driver.

Currently, I was in labour with the twins. Alhamdulillah, they were due in proper time. Full nine months and 38 weeks. But it was a great toll on my injured body. When I had gotten pregnant with the twins after everything that happened in the family, I was put under intense care because my body was still healing from the accident. It was a miracle that I hadn't incurred too much damage in the accident and Allah blessed me again.

We came back to Karachi around two months ago. Shehzad had insisted that we stay in New York until I had safely delivered the twins but it was my wish to deliver my babies in Pakistan.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when another contraction occurred and I screamed in agony. I felt Shehzad stiffen behind me. "It's okay Khadijah. Babe please hold on. It'll all pass." He cooed in my ear but I wasn't having any of it. My hormones were raging and the pain was so blinding that I needed desperate reprieve.

"Shehzad, I swear if you impregnate me again I'll kill you!" I shrieked. I felt his chest rumble behind me as he chuckled in amusement.

In my annoyance, I gripped his hand hard that my nails must've painfully dug into his skin but he didn't seem affected by it in the least and it made me annoyed even more that I screamed:

"I'm not worried about that darling," he whispered in my ear, his one hand grasping mine while the other was securely wrapped around my huge belly.

"Because I'm keeping you knocked up for the rest of our lives, Mrs. Atish." He murmured alluringly in my ear but to me it was anything but alluring.

"I hate you!" I shrieked as the pain intensified with every contraction. I wanted to badly smack him. He's the reason I'm in so much pain.

"And I love you to the moon and back baby." He said.

We made it to the hospital and I was immediately taken to an intensive care room. Because of my previous history, I was given an epidural for which I was grateful. It helped to numb my lower body but it did nothing to relieve any pain in the rest of my body. For six hours I was labour. Shehzad was by my side and he didn't leave even for a second.

He was with me every step of the way.

The chairman had arrived to witness this moment a week ago along with Larry and Courtney.

My little family and my friends were all here for us.

And that was enough for me.

I was so grateful. Their presence was enough to make me feel better a bit in this excruciating pain.

Finally, after the doctor announced that I was dilated enough, they took me to the delivery room. Shehzad was with me and held my hand as I pushed and pushed.

It was painful. An agonising torture.

It clouded my senses completely. I prayed to Allah for strength.

But it was all worth it when a shrill cry filled the air and instant relief washed in me.

"It's a girl!" I heard the doctor announce through my hazy senses. I tried to smile but the pain wouldn't let me as I shrieked.

"Just a little more," Shehzad murmured in my ear.

"Mr. Atish, would you like to do the honours?" The doctor called. Shehzad looked at me for approval and I nodded. He let go of my hand and I shrieked again as my muscles contracted painfully as if twisting and threatening to burst.

Through my misty vision, I saw my husband go ahead and cut the cord that was connected to our daughter. He smiled so widely that it was enough to make me bear the pain and feel proud about it.

After strenuous pushing, until I felt like I was completely drained, another shrill cry sliced through the air around me. And I delivered a baby boy twenty minutes after my baby girl.

I collapsed. My entire body felt as heavy as lead as I breathed in, trying to catch my breath as the pain subsided and paved way to exhaustion.

"Please, I want to see them." I cried as my tears of joy and happiness rolled down my cheeks as I fought against my exhaustion.

Shehzad came towards me holding our babies in both arms. He had tears in his eyes and a look of pure happiness on his face. He gazed at me with so much love and adoration being reflected off in his turquoise eyes.

"Here, easy there." He handed me my baby boy first and then carefully placed my baby girl to my right.

I cried so hard when I embraced my weeping babies. Planting kisses on their foreheads, I hugged them close to my heart.

Thank you much Allah Ta'ala, I'm so grateful thank you so much. You've blessed me again.

"Thank you so much," Shehzad said as he kissed my cheeks, forehead, nose and eyes. "Subhan Allah," he murmured as his eyes fell on the two babies in my arms.

I didn't realise when I slipped into unconsciousness. But when I woke up, dada jaan was by my side. He smiled tenderly at me and kissed my forehead. I smiled warmly,feeling exhausted but nonetheless relieved.

I heard soft cooing going around and I found Larry and Courtney playing and adoring my babies. When they saw me, They burst into happy chuckles and chatters.

Shehzad entered the room.

I looked at him and he looked so tired and weary.

"Hey," he said as he approached me and sat beside. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he took my hand and kissed my knuckles.

"Okay I guess," I gave him a weak shrug and a small smile. He was literally glowing despite looking so tried. His handsome face was so alit with glee as his blue green eyes shone with a blissful brilliance.

"Can I hold them?" I asked in a whisper. He grinned and asked Larry and Courtney to hand me my twins.

When they were placed in my arms, I felt as if the whole world was in my hands.

I felt so complete.

My eyes welled up as I stared at their faces. Two pairs of beady chocolate brown eyes resembling my own stared at me in wonder and awe. Their chubby cheeks flushed, skin pale with a beautiful pink texture matching their father's and their heads dusted with light brown hair.

I was unconscious for six hours so that meant that it had only been less than a day since the twins were born.

Dada Jaan took my baby boy in his arms while Shehzad took the girl and they did the honours of whispering the Azaan in their ears for the first time.

I inhaled with satisfaction.

Sometimes, I couldn't believe how lucky I was.

Then we chose their names.

Iqra and Ibteshaam.

These names were chosen by Dada jaan and I wouldn't have it any other way.

After a few hours, Dada jaan and the American couple left us to give us some privacy.

Shehzad sat left to me as he held Iqra while I held Ibteshaam.

"Look at them, they took after you." Shehzad said. I giggled in delight. "They have some of you too." I responded.

He gave me his beautiful crooked smile as he leaned down and brushed his lips upon mine.

"I love you, thank you so much. For being so brave, for bearing our kids." He murmured against my lips.

I smiled and cupped his cheek with my free hand. "I love you more." I mumbled, my forehead meeting with his.

This was perfection at its peak.

Happiness at its finest.

Blessings at their height.

Thank you so much Allah for giving me so much.

Iqra stirred in his arms and began to cry. I smiled at her.

"looks like someone is hungry." I said as I handed Ibteshaam to Shehzad and took Iqra in my arms.

Shehzad beamed at me as he proudly held his son while I held on to my daughter.

Things couldn't get any better, Alhamdulillah.