Senior Hamdaani was a strict man, with a kind heart but a disciplined hand. But looking at his father now , Rayyan could hardly see any traces of his disciplinarian Baba.

Guess impending grandparent hood does that to even the hardest of men.
Mubarak Hussain Hamdaani was smiling in glee.

His face would split if he smiled any bigger. And he had just heard that he was to be a Dadajaan. What would happen when he holds his grandchild for the first time?

His family had arrived last night. He had informed them of Duaa's pregnancy as soon as he had got her home. But his ailing grandfather was the reason they couldn't come right away. Also Duaa couldn't travel due to her weak health so they just had to wait for the correct time.

Alhamdulillah, Agha Jaan was all hale and hearty now, but still advised bed rest. Leaving him in the capable hands of Bashir, their age old trusted servant, they all rushed down here to meet Duaa and him as well, he consoled himself like that.

He was not complaining of the divided affection; more like when the greater flow went towards his wife and child. He was happy they were so loved already.

They are three brothers.
Him the eldest, Azaan the second one and Furqaan the baby of the house.

They had a family business of steel manufacturing, amongst other things. He handled that.

Azaan wanted to do something different and now his was a prominent name in the business fraternity. He was into mergers and acquisitions. 

Furqaan wanted to follow in his big brother's footsteps but also carve out a niche for himself. He ventured into building and construction using their raw material.

Their mother Jahaara Begum, had longed for a daughter, and now she got her wish in the form of his wife. His Duaa. How he loved her!
Her and their baby.

The clearing of a throat brought him back from his reverie.
They were all sitting in the lounge. Him and his brothers along with their father.

His mama was fussing over his wife and they were probably in the kitchen or her bedroom.

When asked about the two bedrooms, Duaa made up an excuse of not being allowed to take the steps and hence they accommodate the one on the lower level. The upper one still had their things and Rayyan uses it occasionally.

Believing that, his mother insisted on sharing the room with his wife so that she can take proper care of her daughter and grandchild. Her words not his. Also she wanted to advise Duaa on the various aspects of giving birth and post partum care.

They won't be travelling to their hometown for her delivery. His factory's setup was in crucial stages and he can't stay away from his little family.

Once again they resumed their conversation. He seems to drift off a lot these days.

His father and brothers all were of the same opinion. He should start investing in this baby and possibly more children's future.

His baba had already done his duty and presented him with papers of a land that he purchased for his grandchild.

His brothers presented him with bonds of shares in their companies. He was told to set up a trust fund or start a subsidiary business.

Tell you what, his children weren't even here and they were already so loved. Tears of gratitude filled his eyes and he fell down on his knees in front of his father.

Mubarak Hussain understood his dilemma and just caressed his hair. His son was grown up and about to welcome his first child.

He couldn't be prouder of his sons. They were good kids.

Next Rayyan hugged the life out of his brothers. They were the best brothers he could ask for. He only wished his children would share the same bond in future. And yes children. He didn't wish to stop at one.

After staying with them for a week, their family decided to take their leave.

The week was filled with laughter and joy and love and care. He had missed his family. Duaa was pampered to no end. Right from his parents to his brothers, everyone adored her and did anything that she wished for.

Jahara begum had brought along some ladoos with her for her darling daughter. Duaa finished them within two days. This had earned her a laugh from everyone.

She then made two more batches before leaving.
Also she gave him a list of do and don't. Like making ginger tea for bloating and cramps or giving massages every night to relieve pressure off her feet, the list went on.

He always had her on speed dial for all his concerns. Now his wife does too.

It has been a more than two weeks since they left and Duaa had turned gloomy.

Speaking of his wife, she had started treating him like earlier. He didn't know what went wrong. He did everything in his power to make her happy but she acted as if he wasn't there. She even forbade him from interacting with their baby.
They were so happy just a few days back.

She went back to her old self and ignored him and his advances. It was more than just pregnancy hormones or mood swings. 

Duaa was now towards the end of her seventh month. She was nearing the last stages of her pregnancy. He didn't want to add stress to her already troubled mind so he let her be.

Try as he may, he just couldn't get it right with her, and he was the only one to blame.He felt frustrated with himself. And he knew the only way of getting some peace was by asking his Allah for guidance.

He sat on his musallah, helpless in front of his Creator. He couldn't stop the tears coming out nor did he want them to. If not in front of HIM, then whom?

He poured his heart out in front of Allah and asked for forgiveness. He asked to be guided on the right path and also on how to make his wife happy. He was lost. He cried and cried until he felt a presence behind him.

Duaa was searching for her husband since the past half hour. She was suddenly too restless and wouldn't have peace until she saw him. She couldn't explain this feeling. She was mad at him all over again for everything he did.

Being with his family made her realize that she could have had all this, right from the very beginning. She missed out on all the love and care because of him. Their child missed out on all this because of him.

That had her going berserk and she started treating him even harsher.
She was an orphan, never got a chance to experience love of any kind let alone that of parents.

By Allah's grace, her child had both his parents, a set of extremely loving grandparents, a great grandfather and two adorable if not over protective, uncles.

And she would have missed out on all this just because of Rayyan's insecurities and poor judgement. How dare he make their child go through that!

But she's realized that she may have overreacted this time.
They cannot move forward if she keeps rehashing the past.

They wouldn't be happy if all she does is throw his mistakes in his face every chance she gets. She wanted a happy marriage and a stable life for her child and making her husband feel guilty for every little thing, is not the way to go about it.

Her feet took her towards the nursery that he had set up.

Rayyan had worked extra hard to have it completed within a very short time. And the results spoke for themselves.

The room was exquisite. He had done every single thing by himself. Right from the paint job down to the last rivet in the crib he had had imported.

And she loved him for that. That and all the other things he's been doing for them. Not because he wanted her forgiveness but simply because he gained joy in it.

It's time she showed her husband that she has forgiven him. She had to apologise as well.

The scenario in front didn't sit well with her. There was her husband bawling his eyes out in prostration.

Duaa felt as if she had failed as a wife. Taking slow steps towards him she sat down with great difficulty. She then embraced him from behind and kept her cheek on his back. The back that was carrying the weight of the world.

Rayyan turned around and engulfed her in his arms. He was crying still, but now his sobs were muffled by her bosom. She put her arms around him and cried along.

"Uss din kitni baarish ho rahi thi pata hai aapko? Hum pata nahi kaise uss shelter tak pahunche. Waha jaane par hum teen din beemar the."

She wiped her nose on his shoulder and continued, " Hume kai din khana bhi nahi milta tha. Humara baccha bhooka sota tha. Aur wo kuch log hume aise ghaleez nazron se dekhte the hume ghin aati thi. Kitna ganda bolte the. Par hume yakeen tha Allah par ki Wo zarur humari hifaazat karenge."
She couldn't help but shiver recalling all that.

This made Rayyan go mad with self loathing. His woman and child had to go through so much because of him. But never again. If today she gave him a chance to redeem himself, he would spend a lifetime making it up to her. Them. God he loved them.

"Mujhe maaf kardo Duaa. Main tumhara gunahgaar hu. Mere pass koi safaii nahi hai dene ke liye. Mujhe bass maaf kardo. Mai zindagi bhar tumhe khush rakhne ki poori koshish karunga. Aur jiss din ye na kar pau uss din mera aakhri din.." he couldn't complete his declaration because his wife slapped him.

" Aainda se aise baatein ki toh main ammi ke pass aapki shikayat laga dungi. Unhone kaha hai mujhse ki aap zyada pareshan kare toh main unhe batau. Aur Maine aapko maaf Kar Diya hai. Aap bhi please mujhe maaf kardein. Main chahti toh aapko bata sakti thi par maine apna ego choose kiya. I'm sorry Rayyu!"

Hearing his wife lovingly call him Rayyu after so many months was his undoing. He hugged her even tighter.

This was how the difficult phase in their marriage was crossed.

Marriage is not some fairy tale. It is love, patience, selflessness, tolerance and enduring all the hard times together. Only those marriages who stand the test of time make it to their happily ever after. And this was just the beginning for them.

"Never again baby. I'm never letting you go. Thank you for giving me a second chance. And also for this precious little gift that you've given me. But I want more. I don't want our child to feel alone."

" Jo aap chahe, meri jaan. Hum dono aapke hai. Sirf aapke. Aur aap humare."