Part 2
Three weeks later . . .
"Mr. Khan, the architect wants you on site. There's a complication that needs your immediate attention." Asad's secretary Alia knocked on his door just moments after he got off the phone with Zoya to relay this message. Asad put his head in his hands and breathed harshly. Zoya was practically bedridden for the rest of her pregnancy but the hellfire she was, she wasn't listening and Najma was acting as enforcer while he was at work.
Najma had phoned earlier in the morning to inform him that her Babhi was trying to sneak out of the house. She was apparently tired of being in bed and wanted to go out for a while. This worried Asad greatly. The doctor said that Zoya only had approximately six weeks of her term left and she should get as much rest as possible. Over-exerting herself could cause her to go into premature labour. But stubborn as Zoya was, she was constantly trying to reason with him about why she could still go out, get out of bed, and not over-do it. In this matter he wasn't budging.
She had just hung up the phone on him because he wouldn't let her go out and visit Humaira. Humaira and Ayan were newly wedded as well, only a couple of months in and Zoya had connected immensely with his brother's wife and they had spent a lot of time together before Zoya reached so far along in her pregnancy. She was adamant and so was he and because she didn't get her way she hung up on him.
He was going to go home and try to appease her but now this came up. Ever since she had that scare three weeks ago and expressed her displeasure with his unavailability due to work he'd been trying to delegate more so he could spend more time with her but that was not to happen today.
"I'll be right there." He told Alia and grabbed his hard hat and coat as he exited his office. On site the architect expressed his displeasure with a member of staff of Asad's firm and said that he needed Asad to sort out his staff or he was going to have to drop out of the project. Asad knew he couldn't afford to lose this architect, the project was too important and lucrative to his firm to risk any problems so he spoke to his employee reminding him of what he needed to do and made them sort out their differences of opinion like the adults they were.
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When Asad arrived home later than usual that evening he found Zoya in bed on her iPad. She shot him a look and then turned her face away and continued on with what she was doing. Asad sighed and shucked his jacket. He took some clothes into the bathroom and changed giving Zoya a chance to cool off though that was a lost cause.
He crawled into bed next to her and kissed her temple, "Mad at me?" She just shrugged off his hand dislodging it from her shoulder and averted her face even more. He lifted her chin and turned her face to him. Her sour expression didn't change nor did she look at him.
"Zoya, you're being impossible." Well that was a mistake. Her big soulful eyes shot to his and gave him a look so pissed off that it gave new meaning to the saying "If looks could kill."
"I'm being impossible?" She spat out. "I'm being impossible?" she laughed but it was harsh and in no way was anything funny right now. She maneuvered herself from the bed and pointed a finger in his direction. "You listen to me Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan, if anyone if being impossible, it's you. I've been cooped up in this bed, this house, for weeks now with nothing to do but lay there. You try to be here, I know, but you just don't understand how hard this is for me. I feel like I'm trapped and you won't even let me move around the house."
Angry tears were running down her face now, "You think you're protecting me but really you're making me resentful and I don't want to be because I love you and I know you're just taking care of me and our baby." Asad stood up and held her face between his hands. He started to say something but she shook her head stopping him. "I want to get out of this house Asad, so either you take me or I'll go out on my own."
"You are an infuriating woman, you know that?" He chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Feel better now?" He asked knowing she needed to get it out of her system. She nodded and jumped, rubbing her belly. "What happened?" He asked his forehead creasing with worry.
"The baby kicked." She took one of his hands from her face and placed it on her stomach. The baby kicked again and he smiled a wide, face-splitting smile. "I never get tired of feeling our baby move."
"I do, he's been kicking me most of the day." She rubbed her stomach again as the baby kicked. She looked at him and smiled then, "Seems like I'm going to win the bet. This little one seems to be practicing in there . . . for football maybe?" she grinned and he kissed her head.
"I'm going to win although win or lose we'll still be taking that vacation after this little angel makes her appearance." His smile was salacious and he backed Zoya into the wall. "I'll have you all to myself Mrs. Khan. You and me and nothing to bother us for two weeks."
"What about work and the baby?" she asked, her breathing taking on a husky quality.
"I've made arrangements for some time off when the baby comes. We won't leave right away of course. I'm sure you'll want as much time with our little girl as I will. We'll go when you're ready." He kissed her nose and she giggled.
"Really? A vacation?" Her eyes were alight with excitement now and Asad was glad her bad mood had abated. He hated seeing her upset and he knew some of her angst was due to pregnancy hormones so she was entitled.
"Really." He breathed in her ear. "Two weeks, you and me on a cozy beach maybe." He kissed her neck and she sighed. "We'll have lots of time to work on baby number two." He kissed her neck again.
She put her hands to his chest and pushed him back looking up into his eyes with shock filled eyes, her full mouth parted in surprise, "You fiend. I'm still in the process of the first one and you're already planning to give me another one already? Incorrigible." She looked thoroughly scandalized at his plans. He just grinned. "Lots and lots of trying." He pecked her on the lips and she slapped him on the chest as he grinned and went to get her bath started.
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Five weeks later . . .
"Asad? I well . . . I'm in labour and I . . . Oh God!" Zoya broke off on a scream. "You better get down here now or I am never letting you touch me again." Asad flushed to his roots wondering if his Ammi heard her say that.
"I'm on my way." He hung up and dashed out of the office and tried not to break every traffic law on his way to the hospital. He parked almost haphazardly on the curb of the hospital and dashed inside. He found his Ammi, Najma, Humaira and Ayan in the waiting room.
"Where is she?" He asked. "Did she have the baby yet? What's going on?" He asked looking from his Ammi's face to Najma's.
"She's in Room 1276. She didn't want anyone in the room with her but told us to tell you to come as soon as you got here. Go on." His Ammi smiled at him. She stepped closer and kissed his forehead. "Go take care of my bahu and grand-child."
Asad looked at Ayan who was leaning against the wall with a huge grin on his face, "Congratulations daddy." He said and Asad smiled patting him on the shoulder. He found Zoya's room easily enough and took a deep breath before he entered.
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Asad cautiously stepped into the room to face a flushed, heaving Zoya. She was in a hospital gown, her long dark hair scraped back into a messy ponytail. Her face was red and flushed with moisture. Her breaths were deep and heaving and when she spotted him she shot him a look of pure loathing. He gulped.
"You!" she said her teeth gritted with pain. "You did this to me!" She growled and he swallowed and carefully approached her taking her hand from the bed and holding it between two of his.
The nurse took a wet cloth and wiped her brow as Zoya breathed in and out steadily. "Your contractions are about a minute apart, it's almost time. I'll go get the doctor."
"I'm right here. You'll be fine." He kissed the back of her hand and then gritted his teeth and groaned in pain as she squeezed the life out of his hand when her next contraction hit. He let go of her hand and shook out his palm trying to alleviate the pain. "You got one strong grip there." He laughed awkwardly.
He reluctantly put his poor abused hand back in hers until the doctor came in and informed them it was time for their baby to make its debut. He put his free hand on her head and soothingly smoothed her hair as she breathed deeply. "I'm right here okay."
For what seemed like hours to Asad, he watched Zoya scream and cry almost break his hand as she delivered their baby girl. He'd won but that didn't matter to him right now. He was a father. Zoya had given him the best gift he could ever get in life. His beautiful baby girl. The nurse steeped up to Zoya and handed her the little bundle then cleared out of the room leaving them alone.
"Hi baby." Zoya crooned softly to the sleeping infant in her arms. She looked into Asad's eyes her own eyes teary and a breathtaking smile lined her face. "Look at her. Our baby." She pressed a soft kiss the baby's head.
"Our baby." He repeated putting his arm around his two girls and smiled feeling like the luckiest man in the world.
THE END.
Hope you guys enjoyed it!
(PS- Since I brought up the idea of an AsYa vacation. That'll probably be my next TS 😉)
Naagin 7
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