Chapter 32: Chapter 32

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I groaned before picking up. "Hello" I said in a faded voice. "Hafsa! Hafsa!! Get ready we're going out today" she chirped in. I checked the caller ID "oh, anisa its you. So where are we going to?" I sat down properly. "Just get ready please, I'll come pick you up by 2pm" she stated and hung up.

I sighed and kept the phone aside. I tried standing up but couldn't. My legs are killing me. My whole body hurts. Why is this baby stressing me out this much? I laid back down huffing. My phone started ringing again. I smiled before picking the phone up. Yeah baby is calling! His ringing tone is unique.

"Morning beautiful" that voice! I missed it. "Hey handsome" I was grinning from ear to ear. Why am I suddenly happy? "Looks like someone didn't forget to take her happy pills" he laughed making me to giggle. "Uhmm Hun anisa and I are going to hang out later" I bit my lip nervously. "Hmm are you asking or telling me you're going out?" He asked. "I'm asking" i replied.

"Then correct your statement" he can be annoying sometimes. "Can I go hang out with my friend" I rolled my eyes even though he can't see me. "No, try again" he chuckled. Doughe bag! "Can I please go out with my friend?" I was starting to get irritated. "No try again, almost there" I could hear him laughing silently. "My sweet lovely husband I need your permission to go out with my friend"

"Yes baby you can go, but please be careful". I smiled "don't worry I will be"   "Habibaty I have to go now, bye I love you" he hung up. I tried standing up again. Luckily, I did. My right hand on my waist as I walked slowly to the bathroom. I took a quick shower before ayman wakes up.

I came out and dressed in a simple gown. I can't wear skirt anymore. I'm just seven months far but my belly is so huge. "Mamaa!!!" I heard ayman calling. That's unusual! He rarely calls me mama! "Chu Chu" I squealed at the sight of ayman. "Upses!" He raised his hands up. "No baby I can't carry you, mummy is not feeling well" he wasn't buying it.

"Upses!!" He pouted. "Come" I sighed. We went downstairs and made breakfast. I checked the time, it was only 11:03am. I finished my breakfast and did the dishes. I laid down on the sofa looking at ayman watching cartoon. I just can't wait for him to start going to school...

**

"So where are we going to?" I asked sinking into my seat more. "Cold stone" she grinned. "Oh goodie, but you know aasim would kill me if he finds out I went to cold stone" I laughed. "Why?" She asked. "He doesn't like it when I take ice cream because of 'the baby' " I rolled my eyes. "Woman it's not like he's going to find out" she shrugged.

We went to cold stone and placed our orders. "Where's amira? I haven't seen her in like ages! She's such a bad friend" I pouted. "Don't worry you'll soon see her" she laughed. "Hmm anisa don't you think it's time to settle down?" I asked looking at her typing away from her phone. "I'm already sitting down, Durh!" That's her being sarcastic. She knows what I mean. "You know what I mean so stop pretending" I groaned. "Seriously marriage isn't in my agenda right now" she shrugged. "If you say so" I sighed.

My ice cream was finally bought. I can't remember when last I had ice cream. "Chu Chu don't ruin your shirt with that ice cream please" it's like I told him the opposite. He's just like his Father.

I finished my ice cream before anisa. I waited for her to finish before we left. She started driving "how about we just go for a ride before I drop you off" she smiled. "No, I'm already exhausted. Take me home please. I'm even hungry" I rubbed my big tummy. "Good, let's go eat somewhere" she grinned.

"Anisa it's already 3:30pm" I furrowed my brows "take me home" I feel like she's up to something. "But...." Her phone interrupted. "Hello" she answered. "Ok good, we're on our way" she cut the call. "To where?" I asked. "Your house of course" she rolled her eyes making me to groan.

The rest of the ride home was silent except the noise of ayman. She bought out a box from the back trunk. What is this girl up to now? She opened the door and close it. I followed suit in. Why is the lights off. I switched on the lights of the living room.

"SURPRISE!!!" I jerked back. They startled me. My friends, all my friends are here! Aasim's sisters are here too! "Don't just stand there, come in" amira laughed. "Wait! Baby.... Baby shower... It's a baby shower!!" I squealed. "Oh my god you guys. I love y'all so much" I sniffed. "Awwwwn group hug" nafeesah yelled.

As we broke the hug I looked around. Black balloons were tied up. With stars on the curtain. Varieties of food kept on the table. And the cake, the cake is so, what's the perfect word for it? Yummy?

"Ok time for gifts" aidah announced. "Open mine first" basma handed me a medium sized box. I ripped it open. It was a cute giraffe toy. "Aww basma baby thank you so much" I hugged her.

"How about we open gifts later" anisa suggested. "Yes" they all yelled in agreement. "Let's have some fun now" ruqayyah squealed. They danced while I watch. I wish I can join them. We played a lot of games. Danced again, ate till we were full. They helped me cleaned up the house before Leaving.

'Wow this baby is really special' I thought to myself. So many gifts. I'll just open it when aasim is back.

Even though I'm tired as hell I have to cook for my husband. I opened the pantry to search for what to cook. "Nothing" I sighed. "Salamu alaykum". I walked to the living room. "Waalaikumus Salam. Welcome back Hun" I hugged him. "I bought takeaway" he handed me the leather. "How did you know I didn't cook?" I asked.

"Ruqayyah told me about the baby shower so I thought you'd be tired and won't have the energy to cook" he finished of with a goofy smile. "Awww, you're such a darling" I hugged him again. "Where's my little champ?" He asked. "Already asleep" I answered. "Let's go eat then" he went to the dinning and I tagged along.

I served him and served myself. "So you're going to eat all that?" He asked pointing at the mountain of food in front of me. "Yes of course" I rolled my eyes. "Now if I call you an elephant you'll start crying" he shrugged, I glared at him.

"Inna jummai called me" he started making me to choke. "Hafsa are you alright?" He asked trying to pull me up from the floor. "Take this" he handed me a bottle of water. I sat back down on the chair. "Don't worry it's nothing. She just called about ayman. She wants to take him but I said no" he smiled.

"You know she'd think that I was the one who made you to say no, so what's there if he goes to katsina for few weeks. You know we'd have some alone time" I winked. "My answer is still no, whether you like it or not" he stood up and left. "Well at least come back and finish eating" I yelled. "I'm not hungry anymore" he yelled back. Your stomach not mine.

I finished eating and strolled upstairs. I hate stairs. "Hey baby girl" he kissed my cheek. "I hate stairs" I whined. "That's because you're..." He trailed off. "I'm what?" I asked through gritting teeth. "Pregnant of course" he shrugged.

**

Today is the day that ruqayyah's Kayan lefe (pre wedding gifts) will be bought by my family of course. My cousin is going to marry my sister in law. Ruqayyah and couple of her friends are coming to my house. I know any minute they'll be here. I baked cookies, cupcakes and brownies for them. I made masa and fried rice with grilled chicken.

Ding dong!

"Yay they're here!" I squealed. I opened the door for them. "Rukky!" I hugged her. "Aunty Hafsa meet my friends fahmida and hamida. And well you already know this trouble maker" she pointed at munira. Why is she in my house? The bigger question is why is she in Abuja? She kept glaring and hissing but I didn't spare her a glance. I don't have her time.

"Food is already set" I led them to the other living room upstairs since aasim is at home and his friends are coming over to watch football. "Oh my god I love you so much Aunty Hafsa" ruqayyah hugged me. Well it's because of the masa she saw. She has a thing for masa.

They all served their selves. Even munira. I thought she'd hate me enough not to even glance at my cooking. The way she was eating, it made me wanna laugh hard but I kept it cool. "Where's nafeesah?" I asked rukky. She gulped down a glass of maltina "she's at home with Maimuna" she replied. "No wonder I didn't see Maimuna here" I chuckled.

"Salamu alaykum" Aasim peeped his head through the door. "Sannun ku" he greeted. "Ina wuni (good afternoon)" they greeted in Union. "Lfy. Hafsa come please" he said.

"Yes? What is it?" I asked looking at him as we traipsed into his room. "Nothing, I just wanted to hug you" he hugged me "I missed you" he whispered. "You are not serious" I laughed. "What? I haven't seen you in like 20 to 30 minutes" he beamed. I rolled my eyes "I'm going back to the girls" I turned on my heels. "Hey what's munira doing here?" He asked. "Why don't you go ask her" I said and walked back to the living room.

I met them laughing about something. "Who wants some brownies and cookies?" I asked. "Me!" They all yelled well except that swine, munira! "I'll be back" I went to the kitchen and came back with a tray of muffins and cookies.  "Sannu Aunty Hafsa" she smiled "you're really trying with this big belly" she added. "Tell me about it" I sighed.

"You should get a maid, the work is too much you alone" she said. "I tried talking to your brother about it, not once not twice but his answer is still no" I talked to aasim about hiring a maid but the stone headed guy always say no. "Oh ya aasim ko, don't worry I'll talk to him about it" she smiled. "Maimuna said they're gone. Let's go please, I'm tired of this house" munira said as she got off the phone call with probably Maimuna. "Wai ke meh matsalanki ne (what is your problem?)" ruqayyah blurted out almost yelling. She hissed and rolled her eyes. She stood up "I'll be out waiting for you guys"

I chuckled. "she's something else" I shook my head. "We should get going" ruqayyah stood up so as her friends. I accompanied them outside. "Insha Allah I'll come tomorrow to see the Kayan lefe" I hugged ruqayyah. "Greet ayman for me please" she waved. "I will Insha Allah" I waved back. They drove out before I went in. Aasim is with his friends watching football, making a hell lot of noise.

I went out to the gazebo and laid down on the sofa. Ayman is with his dad. I can finally have some me time. I looked around and thanked Allah for everything. For the loving and caring husband he blessed me with. I always pray for ayman and aasim. They're my everything. I can't live fine without them.

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