chapter 53

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Izhaan's pov

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After speaking with Athar I made my way to my room. While talking to Athar I realised maybe I am doing the same thing, in my jealousy, I shouted at her, and since then we are really not on talking terms

I will calmly make her realise that Hussain takes her more than a friend, I fail to understand how can he think like that about a married woman.

I opened the door and looked around to find Reem, she was nowhere. She must be in the washroom, I waited for her

The door opened and Reem entered, I turned to look at her

"Wh..." Words died in my throat when I looked at her. She looked exhausted, she was wiping her mouth with one hand and holding her stomach from the other one.

"Are you ok?" I ran to her and held her

"Izhaan, My stomach is hurting a lot. I have been vomiting a lot since two days" she leaned her weak body on me

I instantly got worried for her.

"Let's go to the hospital right now" I said

"I have no energy to walk" she said, I made her sit on the couch and got her a glass of water, she drank it. I sat next to her.

I held her waist and pulled her closer to me, she rested her head on my shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I asked

"Because you were fighting with me" she complained

"Jaan! No matter what. You should have told me about your health, i would have taken you to the doctor, look at your condition now. Get up now, I will take you to the doctor" I said

"No I don't want to go, I just want to sit with you" she threw tantrum like a child

"Don't be stubborn Reem!" I said sternly, she pouted and gave me puppy eyes.

"Ek to mai bimar hoon aur phir bhi mujhe daate jaa rhe ho (I'm sick, even then you can't stop scolding me)" she whined

"If you are sick you need to see a doctor" I stated

"No! I want you to be nice with me. And I am in this condition because of you" she pulled away from me

"Because of me? How?" I asked in shock

"Because you fed me that horrible Maggie, it was awful, I only ate so that you don't feel bad but now I'm suffering, how can someone not know how to make Maggie"

"I don't know cooking yaar"

"How did you manage in London then?" She raised her eyebrows at me

"Athar used to cook, my job was to wash dishes and clean the house" I shrugged

"Still Izhaan, who put oregano in Maggie?"

"I thought it'll taste good"

"It did not" she scrunched her nose

Her phone rang, I looked at the time, it was after midnight

"Who is calling you so late?" I asked

"Let me see" she got up, "ouch" she held her stomach and sat back

"Wait! You stay here, I'll get your phone" I said and got up to bring her phone.

"Who is it?" She asked

" I don't know, it's some number" I handed her the phone, she answered it

"Hello" she said, "Hussain?"

The moment she said the name I felt anger rising inside me. I glared at her

"Put it on speaker" I said, she rolled her eyes but did what I asked for nonetheless

"Why you never answer my phone?" He asked

"You called?" She asked

"I called, and messaged you zillion times, but you never answer. Where have you been?"

I clenched my fist, I could clearly hear the authority in his tone for my wife. I was feeling so angry at Reem who was totally oblivious of that guy's behaviour

"I was with my family" Reem answered

"Seriously Reem! Family? You care about everyone else, just not about me" he sighed, Reem frowned

"Hussain! Why are you talki..." He cut her off

"Are you playing hard to get?" He asked, I grinded my jaw to control myself

"What?" She asked

"Oh come on baby, it has hardly been any time since you have accepted my proposal and you are already behaving like a typical girlfriend" he said, I felt so angry that I thought the veins on my head would explode any second. Reem's mouth dropped and she stood up

"What?" Her voice came out in a whisper

"Don't worry sweetheart, I am already crazily in love with you, and the distance between us is killing me, I can't wait to come back to you, to hold you in m...." I snatched the phone from her hand and threw it on the ground so hard that it broke into pieces

She gasped loudly, her hands flew to her mouth. I held her arms forcefully

"I told you, didn't I?" I shouted, she jumped

"I told you that he has feelings for you, but you didn't listen to me. You made fun of me. And how can he love you? Doesn't he know you are mine? I will kill him" I left her with a jerk, it shook her and her trance broke

"Izhaan.. I.. I.. d.. don't know what he was talking about"

"Oh really? Are you really that naive? Or should I just call you stupid?" I yelled at her, "he confessed his love?" I asked in disbelief

"No" she shook her head vigorously

"Are you hiding anything from me?"

"No Izhaan! Believe me." She held my arm

"You never take me seriously Reem. You never listen to me" I said showing my disappointment in her

"It's not true, I listen to everything you say." She defended herself, "please Izhaan don't be angry with me" she cried

Before I could say anything, she held her stomach

"Aaahhh" she yelped, I panicked

"Reem" I held her

"Izhaan, it's hurting" her voice was cracking, one moment she was crying and the next moment she fell unconscious, I held her strongly in my arms

"Reem" I shook her, then patted her cheek, but she didn't move. I was horrified now. I picked her up in my arms and ran outside the room.

I carefully descended the stairs.

Khalda Aunty was in the living room, she was talking on phone, but when she saw me, she quickly came running to me.

"What happened to her?" She asked

"I don't know, she fainted, I'm taking her to the hospital, please open the door"

She quickly opened the door and then helped me to get Reem in the car

"I'll come with you" aunty said

"No I'll manage" I said, I sat in the car and made my way to the hospital

I quickly reached and Reem was taken to the emergency, while I was told to stay outside.

I was pacing around the corridor while impatiently waiting for any news. After around half an hour the doctor came.

"How is She?" I asked

"She fainted because of severe dehydration, I am giving her fluid through IV"

"She has been vomiting for two days, and she was complaining about acute stomach ache" I told her

"Stomach ache? Then I will do an ultrasound before starting any medication"

Then she told the nurse to get Reem shifted to the ultrasound room.

Ya Allah! Please make her feel better. I was feeling so guilty about making Maggie for her, and I promised myself that I will never cook for her.

*****

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Reem's POV

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I opened my eyes and the white ceiling was there to welcome me. I couldn't understand where I was, I felt something cold running in my veins, I turned my head and there I saw a doctor staring back at me.

Oh so I am in the hospital! But how did I get here?

"How are you feeling now?" She asked with a smile

"Just a little pain in my stomach" my throat felt parched

"I'm going to do an ultrasound and we will find out the reason of your pain" she said and lifted up my shirt from my stomach, I flinched when I felt something cold on my stomach.

She put some stick on my stomach and moved around, I was observing her face expression, she was frowning then she smiled, she turned to the nurse.

"Sister, call her husband" she said and I felt my palms turning sweaty, I don't know what she was going to say I was feeling too nervous.

Am I going to die?

Within a minute Izhaan walked in. His pale face worsened my fear, I extended my hand in front of him, he quickly held it.

"Is everything ok?" Izhaan asked the doctor

"More than ok" she smiled

She turned the screen towards us, and pointed at something.

"Do you know what is it?" She asked

"Tumor" my brain yelled in my ears

I was shaking in fear. Izhaan tightened his grip on my hand.

"Please just tell us clearly doctor, is it something serious, is Reem ok?" Izhaan asked

"She is ok for now" her answer scared me even more

"What is it doctor?" I finally found my voice

"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Khan, this is your baby" she said and my heart stopped beating

"Our what?" Izhaan asked

"Your wife is pregnant, and the baby is healthy. Wait" she said and then she did something on her device, the room echoed of some noise, "that's your baby's heartbeat" she said

It didn't sound like a heartbeat, but whatever it was, it was music to my ears, I felt wetness in my eyes. I looked at izhaan, even his eyes were moist.

I am pregnant! This is my baby! I have a life inside me? Oh. My. God

"Clean her up" the doctor instructed the nurse, then she turned to us, she looked up at the fluid bottle, "it's almost finished, I'll see you in my cabin" she said and left the room

The nurse wiped my belly, made me sit on the bed, and removed the cannula.

I was just waiting for her to leave the room. So that I talk with Izhaan

Finally she left and the moment she left the room, Izhaan engulfed me in a hug.

"Jaan! We are going to have a baby" he said, suddenly I got overwhelmed and broke into tears. He pulled back and held my hands

"What happened Reem? Are you not happy?" He asked

"I am" my voice came out in a whisper

"Then why are you crying?" He looked worried

"I don't know" my crying worsened, he smiled, and pulled me in his arms, I soaked his tshirt with my tears

"It's ok! I know it's a big news to take. But don't cry my love" he kissed my head.

"I can't express how happy I am" he said. I stopped crying, but stayed in his arms. I was still processing the news, "by the way, you were right" he pulled back and looked at me

"About what?" I asked, he smirked

"You are really in this condition because of me" he winked, understanding the meaning behind his words I blushed so hard, I covered my face with my hands, he pulled my hands down

"I love you." He said grinning ear to ear

"I love you too" I smiled

"And I love you too" he leaned and kissed on my stomach, just his small gesture gave peace to my soul. I felt alive from within.

"Let's go to the doctor" he said, I nodded. He helped me in getting up and going to the doctor's room.

"Congratulations once again" the doctor said as we settled in front of her

"Thank you" we both said in unison

"Everything is ok? Is she ok? And the baby?" Izhaan asked

"Yes! Everything is fine, both mother and the child are fine" she replied

"Why did she have stomach ache?" He asked

"It happens in the beginning, it will be ok"

"And what about the vomiting?" He asked

"I will give medicine for that"

Izhaan was asking question one after the other and she was patiently answering while I was just looking between them

"Is she on any medication?" She asked Izhaan

"Yes" I replied to show my presence also

"Ok! So next time when you come, bring your prescription, I will see if you can continue those medicines" she said

"I have the prescription in my phone" Izhaan said and took out the picture of the list of my medicines in his phone, he showed it to the doctor. She looked at it carefully

"No! She can't continue with these" she shook her head. "I will write some vitamins for her, she has to take it regularly" she said and then looked at izhaan "and you have to really look after her, she is quite weak" he said and Izhaan visibly paled

"Just tell me what I have to do, I will do it" he said with determination, even the doctor smiled

"Mrs Reem, your husband really loves you" she said

"Alhamdulillah " I said under my breath.

The doctor continued giving instructions and Izhaan listened attentively. I felt so happy looking at his concern towards me and our baby.

******

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Ayesha's pov

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After Mr Khan left the room I called mumma to divert my mind.

"Hello" she answered

"Assalamualaikum" I cheered

"Walekumassalam beta! How is my child?"

"I'm absolutely fine" I smiled

"How is Athar?" My smile dropped at her question, can't we just talk about us!

"He is fine. How are you? What's keeping you busy these days?" I tried to gossip and it worked, she started telling me about some shopping she went with our neighbour

After she was done explaining to me how  horrible it was shopping with Shagufta aunty, she gave the phone to baba. I greeted him, he replied lovingly, he also asked about Mr Khan, and I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes

Why does everyone want to talk about him?

I had a chat with baba for a while then I hung up the call. I checked the call duration and we talked around forty minutes.

I put the phone and went to the washroom to change. When I returned in the room, I saw Mr Khan entering the room, I ignored him and got busy in preparing the bed to sleep.

He came and stood next to me, I didn't even look at him and continued dusting the pillow I don't know why. He took it from my hand and kept it aside, I raised my eyebrows at him

"Don't do this please. I request you" he said

"It's my pillow" I cleared it out, he sighed

"I mean, don't ignore me"

"Mr khan please, I said what I had to, nothing is left to say now"

"Ayesha please give me a chance. I know it is very difficult for you, but you have to try, your stubbornness is just going to hurt the both of us" he said and I looked at him in disbelief

"Excuse me? What did you just say? Stubbornness? You think I'm being stubborn?" I asked getting angry

"I'm sorry, but yes, you are being stubborn"

"To hell with you" I snapped at him and turned to walk away, but he held my hand to stop me.

"Ayesha please! Bohot pyar karta hun mai tumse, mujhe aise mat aazmao (I love you so much, don't test me like this)" he pulled me a little closer to him

"Believe me, what's between us is beyond my power to control, the fear of losing you makes me do things I never want to. I am so passionate in your love, I wish you could see"

I pulled out my hand out of his grip.

"Stop this melodrama, Mr Khan"

"You think it's a melodrama? Don't be so ruthless. Whether you accept it or not, it is true, we both need each other. Your ego has blinded you otherwise you are also aware of the feelings you have for me, somewhere you also know that you love me" he said and I scoffed

"You really dream big, I don't know what misunderstandings you have regarding me" I laughed mocking him, "seriously? You think I'm in love with you? You can go and marry someone else, I don't care" he got angry and held my arms roughly, I startled at his sudden action

"Damn it why can't you see my love for you?" He shouted, "why can't you just forgive me? Can't you see that how badly I love you?" He shook me, "I can do anything for you, anything for your happiness" he said softly, his grip on my arms loosened

"Really? You can do anything for me?"

"Haan! Kar sakta hoon aur karunga, apna pyar sabit karne k liye, bolo kya chahti ho (Yes! I can and I will, to prove my love to you. Just tell me what you want?)" He asked

"mai chahti hun aap kisi aur se shadi karle aur mujhe divorce dedein. (I want you to marry someone else and divorce me)" I said, he looked at me in shock, his hands dropped from my arms, he took a step back from me

"What happened?" I took a step closer to him, "just now you were saying, you can do anything to prove your love, now what happened?" I asked him in a challenging way, without saying anything he turned to walk into the closet

"Itna sa nahi kar sakte mere liye? (Can't you do such a small thing for me?" I asked, he stopped in his track

"Dil se dhadkane maang rahi ho aur keh rahi ho itna sa nahi kar sakta? (you are asking for heartbeat from the heart and saying I can't do such a small thing?)" He scoffed and without turning around he went into the closet, I clenched my fist at his over acting

"Heartbeat from the heart" I imitated him

Aaahhh, this guy drives me mad. I was feeling so angry at him, I walked towards the table to pour myself a glass of water to calm myself, but found the jug empty.

I stomped my foot in irritation, picked up the jug and made my way to the kitchen.

He has been unfair to me since we have met and now he is pretending as if he's the innocent one between us. Stupid, Idiot, jerk..

The chain of my thoughts broke when I saw Khalda Aunty pacing around the living room, I checked the time, it was so late

"What is she doing here?" I wondered and walked to her, I kept the jug on the table and put my hand on her shoulder

"Aunty! Are you ok?" I asked, she turned around to look at me, she looked terrorised, i instantly got worried.

"What happened?" I asked

"Reem" she whispered and my heart sank

"What Reem?" I asked

"She fainted, Izhaan took him to the hospital, I tried waking up Reem, but she did not wake up" she shared the worry and I panicked

"What? Reem fainted? Wh.. when? Oh God" I had so many questions in my head, but I buried them for now as all I wanted was to be with Reem, I ran back to my room, to grab my car key, I will go to her right now

I came running to my room and hurriedly opened the drawer, but the key was not there, I checked in the other drawer but it wasn't there

"Shit! Why can't I ever find anything on time?" I shouted and kept looking for it

"Ayesha!" I heard a voice, I turned and found Mr Khan, looking at me so alarmed he came to me, "what happened?" He asked

"Mr khan" I held his hand, "I need to go to the hospital right now"

"Hospital? Why? Are you ok?" He looked at me from top to toe, I rolled my eyes, "yes I am fine. Reem fainted and Jeeju took her to the hospital" I rushed out words while pulling my hand from his grip to find the key.

"What?" He shouted, "let me call him" he took his phone and called jeeju, "Izhaan is not answering" he sighed

"Let's just go to the hospital" I insisted

"We should wait to get in touch with them first" he said and his answer set me on fire, I glared at him

"Why am I even wasting my time with you?" I stomped my foot and left the room

"Dadi" I shouted and ran to her room.

I was about to knock on the door of dadi's room but Mr Khan held my hand

"Ayesha what are you doing? It's late, everyone is sleeping" he hushed me

"I don't know in what condition my Reem is, I should be with her, and instead of taking me to her you are arguing?" I shouted

"Hush your tone" he said and I narrowed my eyes at him

"Just go from here, I don't want to deal with you right now, instead of understanding the situa..." I was cut off by dadi

"Athar! Ayesha! Why are you both shouting?" Dadi came and dada ji was behind her

"Dadi" I ran to her, "I told her that I will take her to the doctor, she refused, dadi please take me to her" I broke into tears while hugging her, I was going crazy worrying about her

"What are you trying to say?" Dadi held me

"Take to whom?" Maa asked coming towards us.

"Reem" I replied

There was a dead silence for a few seconds.

"Can someone tell me what is happening in this house?" Dada ji asked getting angry. Mr khan explained the whole situation to him, as I was in no condition to speak.

"Has Izhaan gone crazy? He did not even inform anyone of us! Reem is my responsibility, God forbid if something happens to her how will I face my brother like friend, and what will I tell Abdullah" dada ji got upset.

"Don't worry dada ji, I'm sure Reem is fine, I will go to the hospital right now" Mr Khan said

"I will come with you" I said immediately

"No beta you stay at home, I will go with him" papa intervened, I protested but dadi told me to let them go for now

All of us came down to the living room, papa and Mr Khan were leaving the house, when the door opened, and Reem and jeeju entered.

Relief washed over me seeing her all well, I ran in a lightening speed and hugged her, she stumbled, but jeeju held her back

"Careful Ayesha" jeeju said.

"Shut up Izhaan" dada ji roared

"Beta are you ok?" Dada ji asked Reem lovingly, she nodded, one by one everyone gathered around her, maa and dadi bombarded her with endless questions

"Let her sit first" dada ji said and jeeju immediately held her and took her to the sofa and carefully made her sit

"I'm so disappointed with you Izhaan, you should have informed anyone of us" dada ji scolded jeeju, and I agreed with him, but for some reason jeeju couldn't stop smiling, I frowned at his weirdness

"Scold him later, let me make sure my Reem is fine" dadi got upset with dada ji and sat next to Reem.

"What did the doctor say? What happened to you beta?" Dadi asked her, she smiled looking at jeeju and then looked down.

What is wrong with her?

"Tell me beta, how are you?" Dadi asked again, but the stupid girl just kept on blushing and looking down. I really started to doubt her mental health.

Suddenly maa gasped loudly everyone looked at her. She had an ear to ear grin on her face, she marched towards Reem.

"Is it really what I think it is?" Maa asked excitedly, Reem nodded her head. "Alhamdulillah" maa said loudly and gave some look to dadi, even she looked too excited suddenly.

All of us were standing, so confused not really knowing what was happening, while dadi and maa couldn't stop thanking Allah, Reem got up and ran upstairs

What is happening? What should I do?

"Can someone please tell us also what is happening?" Papa lost patience, he asked maa, she giggled

"Ohho you can't understand such a simple thing." Maa shook her head at him, "you are going to become a grandfather" she said and I looked at her in disbelief

Grandfather? What is she saying?

Suddenly it striked. My heart skipped a beat in excitement.

"Congratulations my child" dadi hugged jeeju.

"Oh my god! Are you saying that I'm going to become chachu?" Mr khan asked, maa nodded, "buddy" Mr Khan pounced on jeeju.

Suddenly the ambience was filled with delight, everyone had a smile on their lips and tears of joy in eyes.

Everyone circled jeeju to enjoy the good news, I left from there and made way to Reem.

I opened the door of her room and found her standing in front of the mirror.

"Reem" I said, she turned to look at me, she shrieked when she saw me, I walked to her and we hugged

"I'm pregnant" she beamed

"This is so exciting, I'm so happy" I said truthfully, "how do you feel?"

"I am over the moon, it feels so good" she held my arms and started spinning with me.

"Reem! What are you doing?" Dadi shouted entering the room. I held Reem to stop her from spinning

"Are you ok?" I asked, she nodded

"Beta you should be careful. You are not alone anymore" maa lovingly caressed her cheek and kissed her forehead.

"Bohot bohot Mubarak ho meri bachhi, mai bata nahi sakti mai kitni khush hun, mere izhaan ki aulad aa rahi hai (many congratulations my child, I can't tell you how happy I am. My Izhaan's baby is coming)" maa wiped her tears

"Allah has answered my prayers" dadi took Reem's hands in hers

Reem smiled looking at me, she looked genuinely happy, I was feeling so at peace looking at her smiling widely, when Khalda Aunty told me about Reem, I felt like I couldn't breathe properly.

I could never imagine such beautiful news was awaiting us.

Maa and dadi were giving her endless advice and she was listening carefully. I was feeling so happy for her.

*****

I was feeling so uneasy that my slumber broke, it was so cold, I checked myself I was wrapped up in a blanket completely, the air conditioner's temperature was also perfectly fine, then why do I feel like this.

I turned around to look at Mr Khan, but was shocked to see the barrier was still there  between us and he was lying down with his back towards me.

My heart sank, it was the first time ever when I was waking up so far from him, otherwise since the day I have shifted to his room, I somehow always end up in his arms.

It should not affect me, but still it made me uncomfortable. Ignoring my condition I immediately got up, did my morning routine and went downstairs for breakfast.

I was the first one there, so I went in the kitchen. Maids were still cooking, so I just stood there to supervise, I was thinking about making a diet chart for Reem, she had to eat healthy now.

Soon one by one everyone came and now we were sitting on the dining table and enjoying our first meal of the day together.

"Where is Athar?" Maa asked me, I looked around and he surely wasn't there.

"I don't know" I shrugged

"Beta go and call him for breakfast" dadi told me, I nodded.

Reluctantly I got up from there and went to my room. He was nowhere in the room, I was about to walk into the closet, suddenly he came out and we bumped into each other

I was about to fall, but he quickly wrapped his arm around my waist and held me, we both looked into each other's eyes, he was the first one to avert his gaze and pull back.

He bent down and picked up his suits, I didn't see when they fell. He took them to bed and put in a suitcase.

My eyes widened, he was packing his clothes. Is he going somewhere? Where?

He didn't say a word to me and continued doing his work. I thought of asking him where was he going but decided otherwise.

If I was important enough for him he would have told me himself, it shows how much he cares about me. Huh!!!!

I was walking in the room trying to show myself busy, he closed his suitcase, I noticed him taking out his passport. After he was done, he looked up at me.

"Ayesha I..." He said but I cut him

"Dadi was calling you for breakfast" I said. He kept his gaze on me for a while

"Fine" he sighed and left the room.

I clenched my fist at his rudeness. He may go to hell for all I care.

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