//Aneel

Saturday came too quickly for me. I stared into the mirror and sighed. I thought by taking off Friday then it would slow down the day for me and Saturday would feel further away. But here I am. I was going to meet my sister today. My sister that I couldn't protect even though I promised my mum I would.

I heard the patter of feet outside and turned on the tap. I splashed my face with cold water to get the thoughts out of my mind. When I turned around, I found Aisha leaning against the door, running a hand through her hair. She was wearing one of my button up shirts that was way too big for her. I let a smile come to my face as I saw her bare legs crossed at the end.

"I woke up and you weren't there," she said softly.

"Sorry, I had to empty out my bladder." She sighed and straightened up.

"Since four in the morning? Must have been pretty full for you to be emptying it out for three hours." I was about to say something but she just opened up her arms. "You want a hug?"

"Just a little one," I whispered as I felt her arms close around me. I had my head buried in her neck as she rubbed my back. "I'm scared, Aisha." She hummed and I carried on. "A big brother should protect and look out for their younger sisters. I let her go and she went through so much. She went through so much and I wasn't there to help her."

"Don't blame yourself, Aneel. You were a little kid yourself and you didn't know what was going on."

"What if she blames me?" I heard her sigh as she pulled back enough to cup my face.

"No one is going to blame you. Listen, get over yourself. You were both little so no one is to blame expect the people who hurt her. Allah does everything for a reason. Put your trust in him and he will guide you and make things easier." I nodded my head and she smiled. "Rashid told me how happy she is to meet you. Start looking on the brighter side, Aneel."

"How do I ever thank you for-" She put a hand over my mouth with a giggle.

"No. We've been over this." I pulled her into a kiss to which she only giggled in because my hands were running down her back. She was way too ticklish. "I love you," she whispered, tracing a finger along my cheek. I smiled at her and put a hand on her cheek.

"I love you too. You have no idea how much." With a small smile, she put her hands up and I rolled my eyes as I picked her up. "I regret carrying you that day at the hospital. Now all you ever want me to do is carry you everywhere."

"You love it really. You get a chance to get your hands all over my thighs and ass."

"That I do, my love." She sighed and then wrinkled her nose.

"Can we go back to bed? You still have a couple of hours till you need to go anyways." I raised an eyebrow and she rolled her eyes again. "Not like that you idiot. I meant to lie down and sleep."

"We can do a lot more than that."

"Aneel, start walking or else I'm gonna get down." I tightened my arms around her and took the few steps to the room. After I placed her down on the bed, she pushed me away. "No."

I laughed and dropped into her chest. I heard her heave but only laughed again. "I didn't say I was gonna do anything. Get those dirty thoughts out of your mind." She frowned, putting a hand on my cheek. "What's wrong babe?" She shook her head. With a frown of my own, I kissed the top of her head and looked back down at her. "You can tell me anything," I whispered.

"It's nothing." I sadly smiled and nodded my head. "I just...Do you think we can always be happy like this?" I sighed as I rolled us over so she was on top. Normally she would have giggled but she was totally silent.

"A wise woman once told me that happiness can be accomplished if there is love and effort,"  I whispered. She frowned even more and I sighed. "No. The answer to your question is no. We won't always be happy because that's not how life works. But we can try."

She put her head on my chest. "I don't like fighting with you."

"And you think I do? Baby, I love you. I don't like fighting with you. But stop thinking so much on the negative side of all this and think more of the positive. Look at the short time we've been married and look at how many great moments we had within those times."

She nodded my head with a small smile. "I'm sorry. You have other things to worry about than me being all-"

"Hey, don't be." I smiled at her whilst running a hand down her back. "I love you."

"I love you too." She shuffled around so she lying half on me and then half on the bed. Her head was under my chin and her leg draped lazily around my thighs. "So what time are you going?"

"We are leaving at four." I kissed the top of her head as she tightened her arm around my waist. "I love our moments like this. You know, I was watching you on Thursday- with the kids."

"Oh god, you didn't see that moment when I got scared did you?"

I lightly chuckled and then leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "No babe. I was watching you mostly with Omar and I saw the way you were with him...and you know how I said we needed more time for ourselves- well we've always been one to move quite fast and I was thinking, I want a baby. I want to find you one day looking down at our child smiling and I want it all. I want to start a family with you, Aisha."

It stayed quiet for a while as I rested my cheek against her head. "Okay."

"Really? Just okay?"

"What else do you want me to say?" She looked up with a smile. "We move quite fast don't we?"

"Just a bit."

//

I leaned back in my seat as I watched the cars drive past. I felt Aisha look over at me but I just focused outside. I was shitting myself! How the hell do I face my sister?

She carried on driving whilst I repeatedly wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans. I only looked over at her when I saw her stop in front of a big house. If anything, it was bigger than the other one.

I felt her hand squeeze mine and I slowly smiled. I can do this. She opened the car door so I also got out. I saw her stop at the gate, holding a hand out for me. Seriously, how can you not love this woman? Before I could lead the way, she opened the gate, walking side by side.

"We do this together, Aneel," she whispered. I slowed down so she didn't have to speed up after me. "Thank god. You walk too fast." I let out a loud laugh and she smacked my arm lightly.

The front door slowly opened to reveal Amina standing there. Her hair was covered now unlike in the photo. Aisha let go of my hand and I took those steps closer to my sister.

"Look at how much you've grown up," I whispered. She had a huge smile on her face when she pulled me into a really tight hug. When I say tight, I mean really tight.

"I've been waiting ages to see you! Rashid keeps telling me about you ever since he found out and-"

"Amina, let him go," my mum said softly.

"Sorry." She loosened her arms around me and I inhaled sharply. "Rashid says I hug too tight," she said with a sheepish smile. She turned back to Amma. "Can we eat the cake now?"

"You have to share. Cut them evenly and-" before she could even finish the sentence, she walked through the long hallway and through another large door.

"She seems...happy." Aisha came back to my side and I immediately held her hand. "She's comfortable with you. I'm guessing you've been there a couple of times."

"Couple of times? This one used to go every day that could," her husband said with a laugh. "Good thing though because she met your siblings through that way and now she was the one that insisted to come and stay here with us. If we hadn't gone for those meetings then she wouldn't have been comfortable with us and would either still be there or would be in her own house that they would have provided."

"Amma! Rashid is stealing my cake!" Amma rolled her eyes and walked down the hallway. I heard Rashid's evil laughs and shook my head.

"How are the both of them?"

"I will tell you once you decide to step into your house." Once the front door was shut, he pointed to the small carpet that had shoes on them. I took the hint and began taking off my shoes. "Rashid and Amina are perfect. It's like seeing the both of you but stupider."

I laughed again and he guided us to the kitchen where I saw Amina chasing Rashid whilst he stuffed his face with cake. When I looked around, it seemed as though nothing ever happened and that we've been a family all this time. Amina came up to me and smiled sweetly.

"Do you want some cake? I made it and I promise it's nice. That's why my fat shit over there is stuffing his face with it." I looked over at Rashid who was still eating the cake in his hand. "You must be Aisha!" Aisha's eyes widened for a second before a smile reached her face.

"I am. It's nice to finally meet you. Aneel has talked non-stop about you." Amina smiled as she looked at me. "Trust me, he wouldn't stop yesterday."

"You know what, Bhai? I missed you." I quickly pulled her into a hug, closing my eyes. "I mean it, Bhai. I remember everything, you know. You used to read me a story every night as you put me to bed."

"I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I should have protected you-"

"Don't. Please don't blame yourself. We were kids and you had no idea what was happening in the first place. And I think it's good that happened because I wouldn't have met Rashid that way and I wouldn't know how it felt to love someone."

"Oh please, do carry on. I'm flattered," Rashid said. He was leaned against the counter while drinking a glass of water. He had a stupid smile on his face as he looked at her. With a laugh, she turned to him and pulled him into a hug. Aisha walked past me but I stopped her by putting an arm around her shoulder. She giggled and stood in front of me and I hung my arms loosely around her shoulder.

The other Amina came in and wrinkled her nose. "Too many happy people," she said with a groan. She pulled her hoodie over her head and pulled it over her pyjamas. I looked down at my watch and saw it was already twelve.

"You stay in your pyjamas all day?"

"Yes. I have nothing to do and no one to see so it's pyjamas day. And even if I do go out, it's too much effort to look nice for people."

Aisha gasped and walked over to her. They were about the same height with Amina being a bit taller. "Where did you get that hoodie from? I want one like that."

"Don't know. Stole it from Kabir." She frowned and came back to me. "Is she seriously getting upset because she doesn't know where this hoodie is from?"

Aisha turned around with a laugh. "Hoodies are more comfortable when they are stolen."

"Very true." I wrapped my arms around Aisha who looked up at me with a smile. Amina scrunched her nose up looking over at us. She then lifted the spoon of yoghurt to her mouth. "Too many happy people. Swear to god I'm gonna go mad."

"Stop being so pessimistic," Amma said. I looked over at Amina who was smiling at something Rashid said. He was holding her hand whilst rubbing his thumb over her hand. Truth be told, I have never seen Rashid this happy. I then watched as he kissed the top of her head and made his way out the kitchen.

"Where is he going?" Aisha asked.

"To the bathroom. Then he's gonna drive over and take all my stuff from the asylum and bring it here." She smiled at me whilst towards me. "I know I haven't been here long. But you're my big brother and it's only right for me to ask. I want to marry him, Bhai. I really do. He makes me happy and-"

"Hey, it's okay. Rashid already told him and I gave him the right to do so."

She shook her head with a frown. "No. This is me asking you because you're my brother. Stupid guy can't keep his mouth shut. But I want to do it in the next two weeks. We were gonna do it last month but he insisted we wait till I got out and he want our family there."

Rashid came back in with a smile on his face. "You guys were gonna marry each other last month?! Rashid why the fuck didn't you tell me that?" I screamed.

"I...I..."

"I what?!" Aisha cringed and ducked under my arms to go and stand in front of Rashid. "Aisha move, I'm talking to him."

"No, you're screaming at him," she said softly. "Listen, she told you now, didn't she? And what did she say? He said no because he wanted the family there. He wanted you there to witness your little sister getting married." I groaned. Why did she have to be right? I sighed and looked over at a sheepish Amina.

"I'm sorry."

"I thought you knew. But anyways, he stopped it and I didn't make anything better by not speaking to him for two weeks. But I want to do this, Bhai. Look, we have our family again. We have Mum again and I want a small wedding. A very small one with only my side and his and maybe a few friends but that's all. Just a nikah and a little ceremony here then a honeymoon and that's all."

I looked around the room and everyone was here now. "What about you staying here? With Amma?"

"Well we already talked about this...Rashid is going to come and live here. That was the only thing I asked of him. I don't want to leave, not after I just got everyone. Mum said we can have the little house on the side so that way it's still part of this one."

I turned to Rashid who was playing with the corner of his jacket. "You're gonna leave your house to come here? The house that you re-built and got ready for you and your wife?" Rashid did move out eventually from my flat and decided to refurbish the house that he was living in. He had been doing that for the last three years because he said that one day he will get his wife and they would both live in there.

"It's only a small price to pay. What's the point in having a house for a wife if there is no wife?" He smiled over at Amina. "And I wouldn't want to marry any other woman other than Amina. I'm not giving up the house though. We agreed to keep it because she did say she was going to move out after a while but she just wanted to be around her family first."

I looked back at Amina before pulling her into a hug. "I already said yes but I'll say yes again to you," I whispered in her ear. "Trust me, Rashid is a good man but if he does anything to upset you, then you tell me okay?"

"I will. I promise." I let go of her and heard her laugh. "Cake now?"

"Cake," I said with a smile. I leaned on the counter as I watched everyone get what they wanted. I felt someone lift my arm only to see Aisha. I laughed and pulled her in front of me, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist.

"Thank you."

"What for?" She turned around with questioning eyes. I turned her back around as I buried my head in the crook of her neck.

"For being you." She pulled a plate in front of her and began to eat her cake. "Thank you for being here with me because I couldn't have done any of this without you. Thank you for helping me get my family back."

"Oh my days," the younger Amina said. "That's it, I'm leaving this house. I cannot do with all of these happy people." I chuckled into her neck to which Aisha only giggled. She sunk into a stool that was around the counter.

"One day you'll have a relationship like this," Aisha said. "I used to be like you all the time. But now it's the best feeling ever." I smiled knowing that I was the change in this feeling of her and tightened my arms around her. Amina just shrugged her shoulders and swallowed another spoon of yoghurt.

"Bhai, can I talk to you please?" I turned around to face my sister who was smiling at me. I let go of Aisha, kissed her temple and then we both made our way to the garden.

She immediately took her place on the swing and I joined her. The garden was absolutely beautiful. I could see that there were lights around us so I was waiting for when it got darker.

"Do you blame yourself?"

"Of course I do! I was meant to be there to-"

"You were a kid! The only people to blame were the ones that hurt me. No one else." I shook my head and looked over at her. "I forgive you, Bhai," she whispered. "I'm not angry at you, Bhai. I know you would have done everything to help me. I don't blame you so don't do it to yourself." She pulled me into one of her tight hugs but this I wasn't complaining.

I closed my eyes as I put my hand on her back. My little sister. "I missed seeing you grow up. God I didn't even get to make you hate me," I said with a laugh. I pulled away from her to see her smiling. I kissed the top of her head and she laughed.

"I can still have the chance to hate you, you know?" I leaned back on the swing with a smile, looking at her. "I love him. The same way you love your wife. She's beautiful by the way. He's been there for me even when I pushed him away. Those two weeks I didn't talk to him, he still came and sat there opposite me, or in the waiting room all throughout the visiting time."

"That's sweet of him. I see the stubbornness runs in the family."

"He is a good man isn't he?"

"Having doubts already?" She shook her head with a laugh.

"I've seen him as a partner and I know he is a loving man but I've been in the asylum and I haven't seen him as a friend. I have seen him as a brother and son the way he acted with everyone as they came but I haven't seen him as a friend. He is a good friend isn't he?"

"He is the absolute worst." She frowned and placed her hands on her lap. "But that's what makes him so great. This guy would do anything to see others happy. Just as Uncle does. He has learnt a lot from his good father."

"Yes, Uncle is a great man." She stayed quiet for a moment. "How come you don't called Amma's husband by anything? I call him Abbu because technically he is my father." I leaned back further into the swing with a frown. It had never occurred to me to address him as anything other than my mothers husband. "He would love it if you did. It would really make his day. Oh my, I remember the day I called him Abbu- the smile on his face..." She smiled into her own thoughts and I watched her.

"Kids, you have to come and eat something," I heard him say. Amina smiled at him, hugging half his body.

"I'm not hungry, Abbu. I'll only eat with everyone." I watched him roll his eyes as he kissed the top of her head.

"Go. Gather everyone together and your mum will serve the food."

"Food? Isn't it too early to eat a full meal?" I asked.

"Yes it is. It's just tea or coffee and a few snacks. I came over to call you kids." He smiled down at her again. "Go on." I heard her laugh and she ran off into the house. "Aneel, can I speak to you?"

"Of course. Would you like to sit down?" He shook his head with a frown but then sighed before sitting next to me.

"I just want to keep this brief...I'm your mother's husband and I guess that makes me your step-dad." He ran a hand through his greying hair. "I'm not gonna try and take the space of your father because I knew he was a good man before everything happened and he was a splendid father indeed. Your mother speaks highly of him." He smiled at me. "I would never try to take the place of your father but I want you to know I will treat you like my son. I won't make you feel any different to what any of my children feel."

"You don't need to say all of this..."

"I do! I need to tell you so you don't hate me."

"I don't!" I laughed and looked at him. "You're my father. Not my step-dad. My Dad, okay?" He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Then again but nothing.

"You really mean that?" he whispered. I saw the small smile start to grow and new exactly what Amina meant.

"I mean it, Dad." All of a sudden he had his arms wrapped tightly around me. I laughed and patted his back.

"You gonna come in now?" he asked as he pulled away, his hands on my shoulders.

"I just need a minute. You go and I'll join." I watched him stand up but he then smiled and looked down. He kissed the top of my head and then went back into the house.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. I heard the door open but before I could do anything, someone's lips were on mine. I was going to get up and scream but it only took me a second to recognise the lips of my wife. I smiled into the kiss and she pulled away.

"Hey love," I whispered against her lips. She pecked my lips before standing up straight. "Wow, a kiss in front of my whole family, I must be doing something right." She rolled here eyes. "Come on then, let's go in," I said with a small smile.

We both walked into the house hand in hand, swinging it the slightest. Aisha walked through the hall and then went into a packed room where everyone was. There were a couple of seats empty throughout the large table but only one beside my mother and sister. Aisha squeezed my hand letting me know that it was okay to leave her alone but I only frowned at the idea. I didn't want to leave her alone while I just went off. She gently pushed me away with a smile and made her way to the other end of the table. That was the thing that made it worse- she was all the way at the end and I couldn't even see her.

"Here, Aisha made your tea," Amma said as she handed me over the big mug. "I was gonna make something else but she told me you don't really like having white tea." I look over at the large teapot that I know had plenty of her tea in.

"I'll have a cup of yours, Amma."

"You don't have to-"

"Please, I want to." I saw the bright smile on her face as she poured me a cup of her tea into an empty mug. "Thank you."

//Aisha

I took my mug in my hand as I slowly sneaked out the room. Everyone was talking with each other and it was their family moment so I didn't want to intrude. I almost bumped into the young Amina who was coming out the bathroom.

"What you doing?"

I looked back at the room and then sighed. Before I could say anything, the doorbell rang. She nodded her head in that direction so I took that as permission to open the front door. Before I did, I looked through the window and saw it was Reema who was shaking her leg like crazy. Maybe she needed to go to the toilet.

As soon as I opened the door, her daughter ran through the hall giggling. Reema stepped in and put Omar's car seat down on the floor.

"He left me," she whispered. I had gotten along well with Reema the last time we all met. And I mean we got along really well like I did with Priya. She spoke about her potential divorce with her husband so I'm guessing he just did it.

I pulled her into my arms and she started to sob into my neck. I didn't say anything because there was nothing to say. What's done is done and the only thing we can do is move on from that but you couldn't tell that to someone who just got divorced.

"Come, I'll take you guys to a room," Amina whispered. I took Reema's hand and followed Amina into an empty room. She had Kabir in her hand, out from the car seat. Reema sat down on the bed and sobbed to herself.

"I want my child," she said through her cries. I took him off Amina and she quietly walked away.

"I got him, don't worry." I sat down beside her giving her hand a squeeze. "You want to talk about it?"

"I asked him and he did it in a second. As soon as he could. He's already kicked me out the house and said to get my stuff all out by the neck too weeks. He was my husband. The man I foolishly loved." I picked up a cushion from the side and put it on my lap. She wiped away her tears and started to take off her scarf.

"I think you could do with some rest. Don't worry, I have Omar." She lay down the pillow, pulling a small blanket over her body.

"I feel so pathetic," she whispered. "I loved this man, fell into his trap and then I'm left alone." She sniffed a couple of times. "My children deserve a better mother. I couldn't even get their father to stay."

"That's not your fault so don't even go there. You could have selfishly stayed in this relationship for yourself and naivety of love but you did this for your children. A great mother does anything for her children and you did this for them."

She slowly nodded her head. I dropped one hand onto her open hair and slowly ran my hand through it. I saw her close her eyes and sadly smiled. "Thank you for doing this, Aisha."

"Don't thank me, Bhabi. Just close your eyes and get some rest."

Twenty minutes later, I heard the door open and Aneel's mother came marching in. She looked upset. "Is she okay? What's wrong with her?"

"I...I can't say." She frowned at me and I looked away. Reema had made me promise to not say anything to her family especially her mum so I had to keep my word.

"What do you mean you can't? How can you know what's wrong with my daughter without me knowing?" She was raising her voice now but I still couldn't tell her.

"I told you, I can't say anything. I promised her." 

"You cannot keep this secret from me! I'm her mother and I have a right to know!" My eyes widened at her loud voice. "Who the hell do you think you are keeping a secret from me about my own daughter and her well being?"

"Amma, what's wrong?" Aneel asked in a rush. He looked around the room, looking slightly panicked.

"Ask your wife."

"Aisha? What did you do?" He was now glaring at me and I stared opened mouth at his mother. I thought she was a nice woman until now. She turned Aneel against me in a second.

"I didn't do anything. I promised Reema Bhabi that I wouldn't tell anyone anything and I stay true to my words, you know that Aneel. And how could you just blame everything on me? How do you know your mother wasn't at fault? She's being dramatic over a small matter."

Aneel marched over to me and leaned down to my ear. "You better leave this house right now before I lay my eyes on you again because I swear to god that if I do then I will take the opportunity to kill you myself. She's my mother! Don't you ever speak ill of my mother in front of me again!" He straightened up and glared at me, his eyes blazing. "Shameless."

Reema took this moment to stir. She slowly opened her eyes and jumped up when she saw half the family at the door. Her father came up to her with a smile.

"Child, what's the matter?" Her head snapped to mine and I shook my head.

"I didn't tell them anything. I kept my word," I whispered.

"Thank you so much. Really, thank you a lot. I've never met anyone that can keep their promise even after a short while of knowing me. I'm guessing you denied my mother's request of knowing." I looked over a guilty woman and the anger I had for her had now vanished. She only did what she thought was best for her daughter. I know it would kill her inside knowing that she was the last to know that her own child was upset. I smiled at Reema and handed over Omar.

I slowly walked past Aneel and made my way out the room. Once I gathered my things, I quietly left the house only to be stopped at the gate. I turned around to face Reema's father.

"You come in. I apologise for my wife's behaviour. She never takes the news of sadness of her children well." I forced a smile and stepped out the gate. I remembered waiting for Aneel right here- waiting to hold his hand knowing it would calm him down. "Come back."

"No. Thank you for a lovely time, Uncle. I must be going now. Tell Aunty I am truly sorry for speaking against her, I really didn't mean it. I let anger get the best of me and-"

"Aisha!" I looked past Uncle to see Aunty running towards me. Aneel was following after her but stopped when he saw me. "Don't go!" She finally reached up towards me and I forced a smile again.

"I'm sorry, Aunty. It was wrong of me to speak bad of you."

"No. Forgive me-"

"No! No, please don't do that, Aunty. I'm going to take my leave now." She quickly pulled me in and shut the gate. "Aunty-"

"No. You go back into the house and we will enjoy ourselves like we were before." Like you guys were. I wanted to tell them I felt like an outcast in their family but I had already done enough damage. She turned back around and locked the gate with a key. Where on earth did that key come from?

"Go inside, Amma. I'll bring her in," I heard Aneel's voice. I sighed and looked up at the grey sky. It was going to rain soon. "Aisha, stop being a drama queen and get in." I looked over at everyone who was standing at the door, watching us. "Aisha!"

"What, Aneel?! What do you want me to do? Go back inside and pretend to be all happy again? What's the point of going in if the main reason was for you, and you don't want me there? You don't even wanna see my face!" If anything, the anger in him grew. What was I doing so wrong? "You go in. You spend time with your family and I'll go back home," I whispered.

"Stop fucking around and get in." Knowing there was no way out, I slowly walked past him. I heard him swear under his breath but didn't stop to question. I already pushed it enough today. Reema stood there, frowning.

"I'm so sorry-"

"Don't apologise to her. No one is gonna apologise to her," Aneel muttered angrily. I looked down from Reema's eyes and stared at the ground.

No one said anything to him but went back into the living room. I watched Reema bouncing one leg to another to quieten Omar but it was no use.

"Do you want me to take him? You can spend some time with them if you'd like."

"No, it's fine. He just needs to go to sleep. And Zainab needs her nap otherwise she'll keep me up all night." As if on cue, Zainab came in whilst rubbing her eyes.

"Give him to me. I'll take them into that room and put them both to sleep." She smiled and handed Omar over. "Trust me, it will be best. Aneel doesn't really want to see me and I don't even blame him. I can't keep my stupid mouth closed half the time. Anyways, I'll join you guys later, that will give him some time to cool down and hate me less." I turned around only to face Aneel. He wasn't glaring at me this time but he looked distant. "I'm sorry," I whispered. Taking Zainab with me, I went into the room and put her down in bed. Reema was behind me with a bottle. The baby bag was beside the bed so I guess someone already got that in.

After Reema had told me to give him some milk and then put him to sleep, making sure he was changed first, she kissed her daughter and left the room. I went over to shut the curtain as Zainab got under the duvet. She looked so tiny on the massive bed that it made me smile.

"Can you say me a story, pease?" I smiled at her language and nodded my head. I sat down on the bed and started to feed Omar.

"Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Zainab." She gasped and I laughed.

"She has the same name as me!"

"Yes. You must be famous." Just at that moment, Kabir stepped in with a smile. Then the young Amina. They both pulled up chairs on the side of the bed, smiling at me.

"Is it story time?" Kabir asked softly.

"Yes! And it has my name in it!" I laughed quietly and looked down at Omar who was starting to fall asleep.

"Okay. Let's start from the beginning. Once upon a time, there was a little princess called Zainab. She had loads of uncles and aunties who loved her very much but the one who loved her the most was her mummy, the Queen. As a little princess, Zainab..."

I carried on with the story until she fell asleep. I only made it to the bit where the princess and her best friend built a treehouse for themselves and she fell asleep. Kabir smiled at her and kissed the top of her head before leaving the room. Amina smiled at me.

"Love sucks right?" I rolled my eyes and put Omar down. She handed me his clothes that were on the end of the bed and I thanked her.

"Love can be many things, Amina. But yes, it's sucks." I sighed as I took off his nappy. After it was all wiped clean and his new clothes was put on, I cradled him into my chest once again. "Sometimes I wish I never fell in love," I admitted. "Everything comes with good and bad including love. I love our moments and I will treasure them forever but moments like this...I wish I never did."

"But how do you keep going back to it though?"

"Because you know that the good moments always outweigh the bad. I would go through this moment a hundred more times just to create more memories with Aneel."

It seemed like everyone always popped up whenever I was talking about them because Aneel stepped in through the door. He shoved his hands into his jeans pocket as he looked at the ground. Amina winked at me and then hurried out the room. From the corner of my eyes, I watched as he shut the door, leaning against it for a second or two. He sat in front of me but looked like he was in deep thought. He put his head into his hand.

"I know you're mad at me...but I'm going to ask you anyways and you'll probably snap at me and get angry again b-" Aneel quickly leaned over and kissed me. My eyes widened in shock but I felt him smile into the kiss.

"I love you and that big mouth of yours," he whispered. He put a hand on my cheek, smiling softly. "Why do I keep hurting you? I am so sorry, Aisha. I am so, so sorry. I called you shameless in front of my family. I threatened you. I didn't even listen to you. Please, forgive me, Aisha. I am truly sorry for causing you so much pain."

I smiled at him and he kissed me again. "If you think kissing me will make me change your mind then you're wrong." He frowned and kissed me again.

"Is it working yet?" Before he could kiss me again, I burst out laughing. He took a hand in mine, raising it to his lips. "Forgive me, Aisha."

"I was never angry at you, Aneel. Have you forgotten I know you when you are angry? It's okay, Aneel, I never took in what you said." And that was the truth. As soon as I saw his glare I knew he would say something hurtful so I just blocked it out. Aneel transferred onto the bed and lay down on my lap. "What are you doing?" I asked with a laugh. "Aneel, go and spend time with your family."

"I'm sure they can live for an hour while we make our own," he whispered wigging his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes looking the other way. "I love you," he whispered.

"Is that so?"

Before he could say anything else, Aunty stepped in, everyone else following. My eyes widened at the sight of them carrying in chairs and small tables. "Aisha, I would like to apologise on behalf of my family," Uncle said. I carefully put Omar down on the bed as Zainab was on the other side so I knew she wouldn't be able to hurt him in her sleep. He stirred a bit but I slowly patted him to sleep. "Including me," Uncle carried on. "We are sorry that we didn't include you into our family properly and made you feel like an outcast in your own family. You are my daughter-in-law and all these idiots sister-in-law so you are our family."

I felt my eyes tear as I looked around the room. Aneel was still lying down on the bed as he looked around the room with a smile. He then looked at me, waiting for me to say something. "You guys didn't have to do all this..."

"And I am so sorry for-"

"No! Please, Aunty do not apologise for anything. you were only upset because you didn't know what was wrong with your daughter and trust me when I say this, she only hid that problem from you because she wanted to keep you proud and happy. I totally understand where you were coming. You're a mother." She frowned and leaned closer, taking my hand.

"No, it's still not right. I caused a fight between you and my son. I'm sorry-"

"Please, don't apologise again. And look at your no good of a son. Lazy guy is just lying down," I said with a laugh. Everyone laughed along with me and Aneel took my free hand and held it to his chest.

"Kabir, do you now understand why we annoy our wives? Because they do this." I saw Kabir smile and turned my attention back to Aunty.

"Please, Aunty, believe me when I say I am not angry nor am I upset. I am a woman of my word, Aunty. I would never lie to you." Aneel turned to his mother and smiled, "true, my wife can't lie. She has this thing that takes over her even before she lies."

"Then you have a lovely, lovely wife," she whispered smiling at me.

"And your children have a wonderful caring mother." She slowly nodded her head. She squeezed my hand and let go of it. Aneel was quick to take it and place it on his head. I rolled my eyes knowing what he wanted. I slowly ran my hands through his hair and saw him close his eyes.

We all stayed there for an hour, just talking about nothing. During that time, Reema had gone to get some juices for everyone and a few snacks. She then put Omar in his car seat so that we could take him to the dining room with us. Just as we were about to get up and leave, Zainab jumped up from the bed and sat on my lap. She had been awake for about two minutes and everyone thought she was going to go back to sleep but I'm guessing not.

"Can we finish the story now?" I laughed, nodding my head. Aneel sat up with a sigh. He helped Aunty collect all the plastic cups and then soon enough we were the only ones in the room. Zainab got up and ran after her mother.

"Hey," he whispered. He helped me up from the bed and soon enough I was engulfed into one of his tight hugs. "I am so so sorry."

"I told you it was okay, Aneel."

"It's not-"

"Aneel, we are gonna go and eat with your family now. I said it was fine so it is." His eyes went over to the closed door before leaning down and kissing me.

"Yeah, lets go," he whispered.