Between Two Hearts (4)

The five months of Hafsa's pregnancy passed soon, and now it was the sixth month. Hafsa took a leave from the office because the doctor advised her for bed rest.

When she was pregnant with Huzaifa or Ayaan, she wasn't that sick. Huzaifa was her firstborn, she didn't have her mother, or mother-in-law who would tell what to do, or whatnot. Hafsa only had her father and Daniyal but her first pregnancy passed smoothly, she was hardly sick or had any mood swings, most of the time she was just sleepy or hungry. Her second pregnancy was also easy as she already knew now what she had to do or not. But this time, it was very troublesome for her as she was always sick.

"Mamma, please!" Ayaan jumped on the bed and whined.

Hafsa had her head in her hand as she told her son. "Ayaan, please, beta, I am not feeling well."

Ayaan wanted to go to the park, while Hafsa felt too weak to even walk. She has been resting in her room since morning, beside Daniyal has also prohibited her from doing any work.

"Ayaan, don't trouble mamma." Huzaifa, being the big brother, scolded Ayaan when saw Hafsa's pale face.

This made Ayaan huffed as he sat down and held his cheeks in his tiny palm. This was one of his ways to show he is upset.

A soft smile falls on Hafsa's face on this. "Alright, go and tell Rani to get you two ready." Lovingly, she pats Ayaan's head and told him. No matter how sick she is, she could never see her sons upset.

Ayaan cheered, as he happily ran out from the room.

•••

Hafsa also took Rani with them, as she didn't have the strength to play with Huzaifa and Ayaan. Rani was eighteen years old girl who was the granddaughter of their old maid, Raima.

Raima was an old nanny of Hafsa and after her death, there was no one to look after Rani as her parents were already dead. That's why Hafsa took Rani under her care. Rani was studying, and in her free time helps around the mansion, she mostly spends her time with Ayaan and Huzaifa as the kids were fond of her.

Hafsa tiredly laid her head on the headrest of the car, her energy drained off after the walk in the park. While Huzaifa and Ayaan were chirping, jovially.

"Mamma, I want ice cream..." Ayaan leaned toward Hafsa and mumbled.

Even in tiredness, her beautiful face broke into a charming smile.

She ordered Murad to take them to the ice cream parlor.

Murad got down from the car to buy ice cream for them, but Huzaifa and Ayaan also wanted to go. Hafsa nods her head toward Rani and told her to take them to the parlor.

Now, she was alone in her car.

Looking at the glass door of the parlor, she saw Ayaan removing his hand from Rani's grip and ran toward the counter. It made Hafsa scared as she thought of going there but when saw Huzaifa held his little brother's hand and maybe scolding him.

Hafsa couldn't hear them but she did see how Ayaan bowed his head down and mumbled something.

Shaking her head, Hafsa looked at the other side of the road.

It was the cold and breezy evening of February, grey fluffy clouds adorned the sapphire sky. Maybe it will rain today, Hafsa thought as she rolled down the window and let the gusting wind blew against her face, her open hair sway on her face.

The delightful weather brightened her mood, as her eyes roam with the passing cars of the street when her eyes fall on the other side of the road, she felt her world stopping for a moment.

It was Daniyal's car on the other side of the road, stopping at a traffic light. But what made Hafsa's heart freeze was he wasn't alone. In his car was a young lady. Hafsa couldn't see her face but could see that she was laughing. And sitting in the driving seat, Daniyal was talking, his handsome face have a captivating smile. The smile which he rarely shows around her.

Hafsa felt someone threw chilled water on her. Even when the window was open, Hafsa couldn't breathe, a lump formed in her lungs as her eyes burned.

Hafsa didn't know for how long she was looking at him, who did not even feel his gaze on her. Maybe one minute passed, or one hour, or maybe the time stopped for her, all she could see was her husband with another girl.

"Mamma!" She got startled but Huzaifa's voice, as she looked at her son. Ayaan and Huzaifa were already sitting in the car.

"Your ice cream." Huzaifa passed her a cup of ice cream to her. Ayaan already started relishing his ice cream, while Huzaifa was waiting for her to hold her ice cream so he could eat too.

Taking it from him, Hafsa tried to smile at him, but couldn't. She couldn't muster a smile, but kids were busy in their ice cream to see how their mother's eyes were wet with tears.

Murad started the car, while Hafsa once again looked at the road where Daniyal's car was. It wasn't there anymore.

•••

When the night fall, the clouds were roaring in the sky and pouring down the rain.

She was wearing a simple black churidaar, a shawl draped around her, as she on the balcony and looked at the rain. The rain wasn't pouring outside only, inside of her too. There was a turmoil inside her heart. As the scene of the evening keeps flashing in front of her eyes. Some raindrops were falling on her charming face.  Enhancing her beauty.

•••

When Daniyal returned from the office, he found Huzaifa and Ayaan in the living room, doing their homework with the help of Rani. Hafsa wasn't present there which was strange.

Hafsa always help them with homework, but it was very rare when Hafsa leaves them with maid alone.

He asked Rani about Hafsa and was informed she is in her room, she was feeling queasy since evening and didn't leave her room since then.

Patting Huzaifa and Ayaan's head, Daniyal left for his room.

Hafsa was standing on the balcony, her huge eyes gazing at the beautiful scenery of rain, her long hair was put together in a braid but some of its locks were falling on her face, she was looking like an enchantress even in her simplicity making Daniyal's heart flutters.

Taking steps closer to her, he called her. "Hafsa!" his deep and husky voice made her startled as she turned to him.

Smiling a little, he took one step more closer to her while extending his hand for her to hold. But Hafsa had only glanced at him when she felt her vision getting blurry and the floor seemed to slip away from her feet. Before she could fall on the floor, Daniyal held her cold body in his arms.

"Hafsa!" Patting her face, he tried to wake her up.