48| Nawal

As discussed, the four of us– my parents-in-law, Ahad and I– were to leave for Islamabad together, right after iftar. But first, I had an appointment with my doctor.

I stayed in touch with my doctor, Dr. Sadaf, regularly to discuss any problems or questions I might have and went in a few times too for checkups but today was different. She called last week and scheduled an ultrasound and since last week, I haven't been able to contain my excitement. I was counting days till I could see my baby for the first time though I'm pretty sure it looks like an olive but it's my baby nonetheless. Ahad, unlike many husbands, didn't have to reminded about the appointment even once. In fact, he kept reminding me that I have to go to the hospital today.

For our trip to Islamabad, I had packed all our clothes last night so I could have a carefree day and enjoy the happiness of seeing my baby to it's fullest.

As advised by Dr. Sadaf, I had an early breakfast and kept consuming fluids as much as I could. Dressed up in jeans and a light blue kurta that stopped mid thigh with a matching scarf in my neck, I grabbed my bag and files and went downstairs to find my husband. Once he saw me, he already knew what we had to do so we both went to the car and drove off to the hospital.

"I feel like I'm more excited than you are." He admitted with the biggest grin on his face as he continued to look at the road in front.

"Trust me, I'm just as excited. I feel like I'll cry though. Happy tears." I was already getting emotional and we hadn't even reached the hospital yet. Ahad put his hand on my thigh and gave it a slight squeeze, reassuring me.

If I had gotten more cautious ever since I got to know about my pregnancy, Ahad had definitely gotten more protective of me. As we walked inside the hospital, his hand never left the small of my back. At the reception, the lady behind the counter guided us to Dr. Sadaf's room where she warmly greeted both of us. A nurse handed me a big bottle of water to empty out and I silently did so while Ahad sat in front of me in a chair he pulled from a corner of the room.

"I see you finished your water, well done. Are you comfortable with your husband staying inside the room while I do the ultrasound?" She professionally asked and I looked at Ahad who looked at me hopefully, wanting to stay. It was his baby as well

"I don't mind. He's partially responsible for the child too." I shrugged and my husband and doctor laughed. I pulled down my pants a little, as requested by the doctor and pulled my shirt up and laid down on the bed. Ahad stood on one side, holding my hand as the two of us looked at the monitor on my other side.

She gently applied the cool gel on my stomach with gloved hands before running the equipment over it as we watched the monitor intently. For a few moments, I couldn't spot anything and my mind went into panic mode.

"Is everything okay?" I impatiently questioned the doctor and she gave me a nod before concentrating at her work again. Finally, she pointed towards the screen and I saw it. Our baby.

Instantly, tears welled up in my eyes and I looked up at my husband whose eyes were still hooked to the screen in awe. He muttered a 'Masha Allah' under his breath before looking down at me and smiling.

"I'll get the reports ready and leave you both alone for a while." She smiled at me as she wiped the gel away and left the room, giving us some privacy.

"I feel like I will start crying too." I sat up and engulfed him in a hug, struggling to hold back my tears. His eyes were glossy as well and he pulled away, leaving a kiss on my head.

I fixed my clothes and we both waited for the doctor to return back to the room. I wasn't done being emotional but I could save all that for when we were back home.

At home, mom had been waiting for the ultrasound pictures too though all of us were aware there won't be much visible in them but we were all equally thrilled for my first ultrasound. I totally understood mom's excitement as it was the matter of her only son's first child and we both would often sit down and talk where she gave me some tips and told me her own pregnancy stories with her three children.

A short while later, Dr. Sadaf returned with my reports and we thanked her and left the hospital. I couldn't help myself and immediately opened the envelope to take out the pictures of my baby and gushed at the sight.

"Do you want to eat something?" Ahad never disregarded my health and needs even though he, himself, was fasting. I shook my head. It would be odd getting something to eat in the middle of the day in Ramadan.

"You're only denying because you think it will be disrespectful, right?" I gave him an amused smile at how accurately he had read my mind. He stopped at a restaurant and bought a plate of biryani for me that I held in my lap, without opening.

"Do I have to make you eat? I won't mind, okay? Just eat." He continued driving the car and I reluctantly ate my food.

***

Shortly after iftar, Ahad and dad loaded all our luggage in the trunk of the car and I slid into the backseat with my mother-in-law. My parents-in-law insisted that I sit in the front but I politely passed the offer and sat at the back, giving the passenger seat in the front to my father-in-law as Ahad drove. It was only the four of us so no one saw a point in taking two separate cars. The journey would be overnight and we were expected to reach at some hour late in the night so our hosts had already been informed of the timings. I was definitely a little nervous as all of them were from my sasural and I had to be extra careful to not disrespect anyone or make any mistake as it would all be accessed. Mom helped me with the feeling as it was her sasural too so she had once gone through the same feelings.

When I couldn't fight off my sleep any longer at 12 in the night, I leaned my head against the window and shut my eyes, sleeping peacefully.

(A.N): Another six chapters + epilogue left until we bid goodbye to this story :(
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