It's late and I really wanted to post this, so feel free to point out and mistakes. Insha Allah I'll have it edited later on today. Enjoy!

Mother's Day: May 8th 2016

Published: Tuesday, May 11th 2016 1:51 am

Ayah:

Mother's Day. Not my first to be exact, but it's still special. For the past few weeks I've been trying to get Jafar to hint any indication of him doing it up like he did last year, but all I got was nothing. Maybe if I get Hayat to ask him in her adorable voice he'll actually tell her. I screwed the top on her bottle and bent down to where she was drawing a few pictures for her grandmothers and picked her up.

"Hi," I smiled, and she squirmed in my hold in happiness, the few baby teeth she has shining through. Many times I've wondered how I ended up being in the position that I am–happy–after everything that's gone in our lives, but I know that it wasn't for nothing. "Can you help me with something?" I asked, and she smiled widely: I took that as my cue to put her to work and sat her in my lap. "Okay, this is how we're going to do this. When Abu comes in–"

"Abba," She shouted playfully, and for the life of me I couldn't help but stop and fawn over what she said. It's not the first time that's she's called Jafar 'Abba,' but every time she does it just takes my breath away. Even he was in a trance for a few minutes when he first heard her say it!

"Yes," I nodded and bent down to kiss her head, "for Abba. When he comes through," I paused to direct here yes where my finger was pointing. "Through that door. You see it? Okay, when you see him, you–"

"Abba!" She screeched again, and I sighed but smiled nonetheless.

"Yes, Hayat, Abba. When he comes in–"

"Ayah," I froze mid sentence and turned in the direction Jafar was coming in and smiled sheepishly. He shook his head at me and sat down besides me and pulled Hayat from my lap. "Hey, Hayati. Is your mama trying to make you a spy?"

"No she's not,"I defended and placed both hands behind me and titles my head at his outfit. "Are you going out somewhere?"

"Just out with Wasim."

"Why today of all days?" I asked.

Jafar looked up at me with a smile and raised his eyebrows as if I asked him a weird question.

"I said I would help him pick out a gift for his mother."

I eyes him narrowly as he continued to play with our daughter as if what I'm implying has no meaning. Then it hit me.

I gasped and pointed a finger at him.

"You forgot!"

"About...?"

Is he serious? He can't be serious. I sat up straighter and placed a hand on my forehead in realization. No wonder he didn't drop any hints, he forgot. It all makes sense now. The reason why he was acting the way he was every time I dropped a hint. All of this time I thought he was faking, but now I know the truth.

"Well, if you're going out, I guess we'll just go over to Mama's house."

"That's the other thing," He said and adjusted Hayat in his lap. "I want to bring Hayati with me. That way we can have a daddy daughter day."

"What about me?" I pouted. Jafar shook his head at me and stood up with Hayat.

"Don't worry. We haven't forgotten you."

***

"And then he said he hasn't forgotten about me, when he has," I exclaimed to Mama and crossed my arms as I waited for the nail stylist to finish with her and start on me. After Jafar and Hayat left, I went and took my time getting dressed while I waited for Mama to come pick me up. I don't even remember the last time I had a full hour to myself. Once Hayat arrived all of my attention was out on her. I wouldn't want it any other way, but it comes a time when you want some peace and quiet alone time in your home. That is probably the only upside to Jafar taking her with him.

As soon as I sat in the car and explained everything to Mama, she didn't share the same feeings as I do. I went on and on about him forgetting and leaving me home alone, but she just smiled and didn't say anything. She gave a chuckle here and there, but that's it.

"And another thing–"

"Ayah," She turned to me with a small smile and sighed. "I understand you're upset about how your Mother's Day is going, but this is mine too. Let's enjoy it! Enough of the complaining."

I nodded and relaxed back in my seat.

"He could have a perfectly good explanation," She continued. "After we treat ourselves to a much needed mother daughter afternoon, you can go question your husband, happily. Deal?"

I picked my phone up to check for any missed called or messages, but the only ones I found were from friends and family telling me happy Mother's Day. I placed it down and placed my head back against the seat.

"Deal."

-*-

Jafar:

"Here you go, Hayati," I placed my daughter back into her stroller, placed her bottle in her hands, and draped a blanket over her. When I walked out of the bathroom I saw Wasim leaning against the wall, shaking his head at me. Without saying anything, I kept walking to the main hallway. No matter how many times Ayah tells me to check Hayati's diaper before we go in anywhere, I always forget. It wasn't until we were halfway to our designated store did I remember, and thankfully I did.

"So, what did you get for Ayah?"

"Something I think she'll love," I said. "What I really wanted to give her is rest. She works too hard."

"But she doesn't have a job, how can she be tired?" Wasim asked, and I scoffed. If only he knew how much work a woman does, let alone a mother. The way she was raised says a lot of Aunt Amaya, and the way she's raising our daughter shows.

"A mothers work is harder than any job," I explained to him. "Trust me."

"How do you know this?"

"We were both raised right, weren't we?" I asked, shuffling around my pockets for my phone. "Hello?"

"Jafar, Jafar, Jafar. Long time no talk."

"No kidding," I rolled my eyes with a smile and mouthed to Was who is on the other line. The last time we spoke we made a truce and there are hardly any bad feelings, but it's a habit to roll my eyes whenever he talks. "I'm jut going to skip the formality and get on with it; were you able to do it?"

"Don't worry about it, I wasn't going to ask about you anyways. Have you met me? Of course I was able to!"

"Are you sure?" I motioned for Wasim to push the stroller while I walked a few steps behind them. "Because I want this to happen–I need this to happen. I can count on you, right?"

"More than I can count on you, mister 'I want to up and quit without telling my manager.' Stop worrying and ruining the mood of my day. Bye."

Before I could get a word out he had already hung up, and I put my phone in my pocket, jogging up to where Wasim was playing with Hayat.

"Everything good with the plan you won't tell me about?" Wasim asked.

I nodded and rubbed a hand over my face. "Better than good. All I have to do now is wait."

-*-

Ayah:

I placed my key into the lock and opened he door, narrowing my eyes at the bright room in front of me. Seeing as I turned all of the lights off when I left, I held my purse tightly in my grasp in case I needed a weapon. It wasn't until I saw my husband walk out of the hallway and towards me did I feel myself relax.

"Have fun during guy time? Because I will have you know that–"

My rant was stopped short when he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him for a kiss.

"I didn't forget," He breathed out when we pulled back. "I could never forget."

"But you–"

"Will explain everything when he put on the outfit I picked out and meet me out here so we can enjoy this night."

"Okay. Just one thing..."

"What?"

I cleared my throat and pointing to the play pin. "Where's Hayat?"

"Don't worry," He kissed me one last time and pushed me towards the back. "All part of the plan."

-*-
Jafar:

"Can I look now?"

"Not yet," I kept my hands on my wife's eyes and led her to the restaurant, determined not to give anything away. After all of the planning that's gone into this night, I couldn't afford for there to be any mistakes. "Hi," I smiled at the guy at the front, trying and failing to contain a laugh at the way he is looking at us. "I have a reservation for Ibrahim."

"Yes, I-I...your table is this...way."

"Thank you. Ayah, we're almost there," I assured her, but i could see how the curiosity was getting to her. I stopped a few tables away from our table and smiled at who was sitting across from us, then moved to whisper in her ear. "Okay, here you are."

I removed my hands and waited for her to admire the restaurant and figure out who was across from us. By the times she did, I knew that it was worth it.

She lifted her hand and pointed at the woman at the table.

"Is that...?"

"Loraine Stanton, your favorite author and top editor? Yes."

She turned time with tears in her eyes. "How did you..."

"A friend owed me a favor. And since its Mother's Day, she has agreed to hear your book ideas and point you in the right directions for publishing. Happy Mother's Day."

"Yes," She threw her arms around me and sniffed. "Yes it is."

-*-

Please...

Vote

Comment

Follow

Share