She breathed heavily, trying to stay calm. She waited impatiently for him to arrive. She paced around the living room. "Ooouu!!" She grimace in pain holding her large tummy. She sat on the couch moving back and forth. The pain suddenly dialed down. He barged into the house. "Ameenah!" He called out. "I'm in the living room." She shouted. The pain of labour was a prison for her mind. In that jail cell of fear and confusion the time passed without her being able to keep track. Her stomach tightened, she heard her own scream without being aware of making it.
"I'm here, I'm here. Are you alright? Is the baby coming?" He panicked. "Do I look okay to you?" She yelled clenching her eyes close. She felt the pain again, making her to scream. "Take me to the hospital already!" She yelled at him. "Yes yes! Lemme get the baby's bag." He rushed in.
He helped her to get up and took her to the car. He rushed her to the hospital in no time.
Xx
With each contraction came a pain that dominated Ameenah's entire being. In those moments, for those seconds that stretched into infinity, there was nothing else. She could hear screaming from other rooms, yet she made no sound at all. When the pain passed it was only for a minute or so and she breathed with closed eyes, unwilling to re-engage with life outside of her own body. "You'll be okay In sha Allah." He said smoothing her hair.
"Breathe in and out." He said and she did as he told her. She held his hand tightly whenever the pain comes. "Okay you have to push hard," the nurse instructed. "Baby you can do it. Just push," He whispered. She pushed hard but that wasn't enough.
After much pushing she had no strength left. It had been more than an hour already. "Ya Allah... aunty!!" She yelled when the nurse cut her open. He couldn't hold back the tears seeing his wife in so much pain... "Ameenah you have to push harder." He said. "I'm trying!!" She blubbered. She pushed harder this time.
Xx
Her newborn baby smile was as sweet as a summer strawberry and filled her with a sunshine she never knew existed in the world. Ameenah couldn't hold back the tears of joy. This is a moment she can never forget, this moment with her little girl in her hands. Her eyes are more brilliant than Ameenah could have dreamed they would be, her hands more delicate. She feels so light, looks so perfect and smells so divine. She is her protector for as long as she live and her love for her will last for all time.
"She got your beautiful eyes," Bashir finally talked after much silence. "And your nose. I'm so happy about that." He added. "Babies change you know. Before next week she'll change to a complete new person."
"Salamu Alaikum. Oh habibty," Aisha rushed in. Adam followed suit, holding their three months old baby girl. "She's finally here," Aisha cooed scooping her up. Her parents couldn't help but smile. "Congratulations man. I'm so happy for you." Adam shook hands with him.
"She looks like her mommy; chubby and cute." Aisha said taking pictures of the baby. They stayed for a bit before leaving. Aisha made some lunch for them. Ameenah had to take a nap. Maama was coming the next day. Bashir couldn't stop staring at his flesh and blood, his daughter. The thought of being a father made him more happy.
Xx
"She's so cute," safwana cooed. "What's going to be her name? Oh, oh it's definitely Safwana!" Ameenah laughed a bit. She missed her. "Drama queen," she shook her head. "Go ask her father," she added. "Name her whatever you want but for me her name is safwana." She grinned.
"Now bring her to me. It's time for her evening bath and your water is ready," Maama informed. Ameenah made a straight face. She hated everything about their tradition. How you have to sit in hot water, stay close to heat no matter how hot the weather is, no taking cold water....
She met no one in the room when she came out. She finished everything and headed down to the living room where she met her husband watching Tv. "Hey babes, come join me." He said, his eyes still on the TV. "You're watching football," she sat down beside him. "That's boring," she added. He wrapped his arms around her. "You have me here to keep you company." He kissed her cheek. "All of this we have to stop. You know Maama and safwana are around." She removed his arm.
"Buzzkill! And now you're going to be away from me for forty good days. Do you have to go please?" He returned his arm to its position. "Yes B, I have to. And I'm going to miss you so so much more." She snuggled up more. They stayed there for only God knows how long before Safwana interrupted.
"Baby Saf needs her mother," she said walking towards them. She handed her to Ameenah. "Now Who told this girl the baby's name is Safwana?" He asked looking at his wife and sister.
She sat on the two sitter, "Safwana is a beautiful name, Yaya. It fits this adorable child please her name has to be that." She pouted, batting her lashes. Safwana never seize to make Ameenah laugh. "You're nuts sometimes. I'm not naming my first child that. Her name will be Ameenah." The name shocked Ameenah. She looked at him, unable to utter a word. Then she remembered, that's also his mothers name.
"What are y'all talking about?" Maama came into the living room. She sat beside safwana. "Yaya refuses to name the baby Safwana." She said annoyingly. "Why's that?" She asked. "Maa because I already have a name for her. A very beautiful name.” He said. "Safwana you've heard what your brother have said. It's between you two. I'm going in to pray Maghrib now." She stood up from the couch and left.
Xx
Later in the night...
The baby was fast asleep. The couple can finally spend time together just like they wanted for days. They were leaving for Nigeria early in the morning. She was excited about their journey tomorrow.
She wrapped her arms around his torso, lying her head on his broad chest. His arm around her. "So I've noticed you're so excited about this trip," he started. "It's been months I last went there, remember? I miss Aunty and baba. I miss my country." She told him. "True. Well don't worry you'll spend weeks with them." He kissed her head.
"I'm going to miss you bae," she whispered. She raised her head and rested her chin on his chest. They looked at each other. "You are the purpose of my life. You are the reason of my strive. You are my smile when I am sad. My hope when situation is bad. Without you, I am nothing Ameenah. You're my everything. I'm going to miss you so badly." He spoke. She leaned in and kissed his lips. "You're going to make me cry right now," she pouted. He chuckled and pecked her.
"No need to cry babes. I'll come check up on you guys possibly every week, Insha Allah." He said. She returned her head to it's position.
So shall it stay put, a smile eternally stained upon her lips. There's no such things a being perfect but her life was close to being perfect. She was Thankful to Allah for a wonderful husband. A caring and loving husband. Someone who she knows he'll always be there for her no matter what. She never expected to be loved or to fall in love. She never thought someone like him excited. She heaved a sigh of relief and hugged him more. This is the life she wanted....