𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒𝟐

ARZO

The following week, none of us touch the subject and go back to our normal life where there’s no voice in my head- or I pretend there isn’t.

I sometimes have trouble sleeping so we have a new routine now.

Whenever it’s hard for me to sleep, Faizan recites a Surah and I sleep to the sound of his voice and the comfort of the words.

Everything isn’t quite normal but we’re getting there. The voice will go away. It has to.

Aside from that, Api and Zahid bhai invited us for dinner tonight along with mama and baba. That’s where we’re headed right now.

Zahid bhai is the one who answers the door with a huge smile on his face.

“Assalamu Alaikum,” he greets us, opening the door further for us to go in.

“Wale Kum Assalam,” Faizan says and I sign after Zahid bhai takes the box of custard from me.

“Everyone is in the backyard,” he tells us, closing the door then leads us to their grand backyard where we find mama and api sitting on a couch, talking and baba standing by the pool. Their heads turns towards us when we walk in.

“Assalamu Alaikum,” we greet them.

“Wale Kum Assalam,” they greet back.

Mama and I share a hug before she goes to hug Faizan and I hug api.

“How are you doing?” I sign

“Good.” she says, smiling. I return the smile.

Faizan, Zahid bhai and baba stand by the pool, talking while we take our seats on the couch.

“I’ll be back. I need to use the restroom.” api says after a while, getting up to leave. Zahid bhai meets her halfway with a concerned expression, asking if everything’s okay. After api reassures him, he relaxes and returns to baba and Faizan.

“Faizan looks happy.”

I turn my head to mama when she says it. I frown and type, what do you mean? He’s always happy when he’s with you all.

“Yes but this is different,” mama says with a warm smile, “he’s more relaxed. I know it’s hard for him to recognize basic emotions. It’s not his fault that he’s different but I know he wishes he could be like others, he tried for years to figure out what to feel, when to feel- did he tell you about his past?” when I nod, she releases a sigh, “Good. I was worried he wouldn’t.” she smiles again, “both of you sisters are the best thing that could happen to my boys. I am so thankful to Allah that my boys have wives like you two.”

I smile, holding her hand as I type, Faizan loves you a lot. Both you and baba. You both saved him and gave him a home he thought he’d never have. He wants you both to be proud of him.

“We are. We are so proud of him. Of both of our boys,” she says, squeezing my hand gently. Both of our smiles widening.

After a while, api returns and asks, “so, what did I miss?”

“I was just telling Arzo how lucky my boys are to have wives like you two.” Mama replies.

Api and I exchange a smile.

“They’re lucky to have parents like you and baba,” api replies, “you both raised them very well.”

She lets out a soft chuckle, “JazakAllah.”

“What are you ladies talking about?” Zahid bhai asks as he, Faizan and baba come to us.

I get up from my seat so that Zahid bhai can sit with his wife and I sit with Faizan on the other couch, across from mama and baba.

“Nothing much. Just tattling about our husbands,” api replies as Zahid bhai takes his seat.

“Oh, I thought I was improving.”

“There’s nothing to improve, that’s the problem. I can’t even stay mad at you for a minute.” api says, playfully rolling our eyes. Zahid bhai grins while we let out a soft laugh.

Faizan interlocks our fingers together and places them on his thigh, his thumb caressing my knuckles as we watch api try to bicker with Zahid bhai only to end up blushing in the end by his replies.

“What are you laughing at?” api asks me, hitting my lap playfully.

I point at her, falling back on Faizan, trying to control my laughter.

“You have some nerve pointing at me when you were grinning ear to ear after finding out Faizan brought home his proposal.”

My smile falls and everyone else lets out a laugh. I make a face at api and she laughs it off.

“Were you that happy to marry me, amar?” Faizan whispers into my ear when everyone else shifts to a different subject.

My cheeks warm up at the hint of amusement in his voice and I turn my head to face him, catching a smile placed on his lips.

“It's not everyday Faizan Malik comes to your house with a marriage proposal. I felt special.” I sign.

He chuckles and kisses my cheeks, “you are special.”

I smile and interlock our fingers again, resting my head on his shoulder.

Zahid bhai brings out a board game and dramatically challenges Faizan to play against him. Faizan nonchalantly agrees and the brothers start playing.

Watching the game turns out to be more fun than expected. Zahid bhai tries to use tactics on Faizan in order to crack him or figure out what tactic he is using but fails because Faizan keeps a poker face at all times.

“Give me some kind of space to win, my wife is watching.” Zahid bhai tries to whisper after making his move.

“So is mine,” replies Faizan and makes his last move, “I win.”

We all look at Zahid bhai who stares at the board game with his jaw dropped.

“Its okay,” api pats his shoulder.

“You know what? This game is rigged.” he says and closes the board.

“Sure,” Faizan replies with a small smirk.

“Okay, let’s have dinner now.” api says and starts to get up but Zahid bhai pulls her back down.

He pecks her cheeks and says, “Stay here, we’ll go.”

“You don’t have to. I’m fine-”

“But I will,” he says and stands, “hey, show off, get up.”

“Okay, sore loser.” Faizan replies, getting up.

“Boys.” Mama warns them.

“Sorry, mama.” the brothers say before disappearing inside the house. Baba shakes his head, chuckling before following his sons inside.

None of the men let us get up from our seat to help them. They bring plates, glasses, drinks and food and forbids us to do anything except eat.

When everything is set around the table, they finally take their seat. Faizan hands me a plate before taking his.

Everyone stays in a light conversation during dinner, a conversation in which Faizan and I only have to nod or shake our heads. During dessert, I notice that api ate less than she does but don’t point it out.

Faizan and I clean up the dishes after everyone is done.

“Is it just me or does api look a bit tired today?” I sign after we put the dishes away.

“Right now? Or since we came?” Faizan asks.

“Since we came. I don’t want to point it out and be rude, I’ll ask her later.”

“There’s nothing rude in asking if your sister is okay, amar.” he says and kisses my cheeks.

“Okay.” I sign, then add, “by the way, you look very attractive tonight especially when you were playing with your strategy. How can you look so attractive while playing a board game? It is not fair.”

He smiles, his eyes roaming my face, hands placed on my hips as he pulls me closer and says, “how could you look so breathtaking every second of the day?”

I only get to smile before he kisses me. I kiss back, placing my hands on his face.

I keep the kiss short before I end up breathless and hazy.

We return back to the backyard and take our seat. Api is resting her head on Zahid bhai’s shoulder, her eyes becoming droopy.

“Api, are you okay?” I sign when she looks at me.

She nods, “yes, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You look really tired.”

She chuckles, “I’m fine, I promise. I just become a little exhausted sometimes since…”

“Since?” mama asks when api trails off.

“Um,” she exchanges a look with Zahid bhai, who has a smile on his face. Her lips form a smile as well before she looks back at us, “we have news.”

“What news?”

“There will be a new member of the family coming soon,” Zahid bhai says with a smile.

Everyone stays silent for a moment, letting Zahid bhai’s words settle in.

A gasp leaves my mouth. Mama lets out a soft laugh, her eyes brimming with happy tears while baba and Faizan are the first ones to say, “congratulations,”

Mama engulfs api in a hug, her voice cracking as she says how happy she is for them. I sit beside her- after Zahid bhai gets up to earn the hug from baba and Faizan- and engulf her in a hug, a huge grin plastered on my face.

“Did you tell ammi and abbu?” I ask after mama goes inside to get a glass of water for herself.

“Yes, we had lunch with them earlier today since they couldn’t join us for dinner.”

“What was their reaction?”

Api chuckles, “ammi started crying out of happiness then I started crying because of my hormones.” We laugh as she finishes her sentence.

“I am so happy for you.” I sign, “I am going to be a khala! The best one by the way.”

“Yes, yes, In Sha Allah.” she replies.

“Are you happy?”

She nods, “more than I ever thought I’d be.”

My smile widens, “you’re going to be a great mother, api. I know it.”

“In Sha Allah. I hope so.”

“If you need anything, let me know, okay? I will be there to help during your pregnancy.”

“All I want for you to do is to focus on finishing university and making your career in the art industry.”

I sigh, “I told you, my art isn’t worth that.”

“Yes, it is.” she says then glances behind me, “did you talk to Faizan about it?” I nod, “and?”

“He said to make a masterpiece for myself. But I haven’t painted in months. He built an art studio for me and I haven’t painted anything.”

“You will. I know it. And I know you will be successful, In Sha Allah.”

“You can stop using me to test your motherly skill.”

“Who else will I use to practice beside my baby sister? I have to be prepared before the baby comes.”

“Maybe then you’ll stop calling me a baby.”

“Nope. Never going to stop.”

I sigh and api laughs, wrapping her arms around me, squeezing me in a hug making me let out a soft laugh as she continues to be motherly with me.

She will be a great mother.