Winding down with Zoya - pt23 updt pg 60 - Page 10

loved it..😊

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That was moving. Thanks for your appreciation. Love ...

Thank you will do!

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Zoya woke up with her leg over Asad. She was just about stirring gently when she felt a wet kiss on her cheek. Asad got up with a big smile...looked into her eyes ..smiled wider when he realised that she wasn't exactly preparing to make a dash to the restroom. "Better" he questioned as he easily scooped her up and laid her over his body. "Asad" she gasped as she felt all spread over him facing the celling.. " don't worry ..you are ok.." he insisted.. "Boy did i miss this you weight over me" he grinned. She smiled and slid off him...got ready for the day. Asad stood up and he felt queasy again and it was his turn to bolt up to the restroom, his insides wrenched and he hated the way bile rose up his abdomen and hated the after taste even more. Zoya looked at him with wondering what was wrong.."the lunch at the dhabha I guess" he said "and probably the stress ...at work" added Zoya as she hugged him from behind while he was washing up. " hummm said Asad you could help destress you know..." said Asad with a glint in his eyes..." we could shower together" he said. " Oh why not!" beamed Zoya. After a lot of lathering and laughter they emerged energised from the shower. Asad " you seem to have more mosquito bites" said Zoya as passed some cream to him from the First Aid kit. "Well..it doesn't really bother me..."said Asad. Asad took a moment looking at his refection in the mirror..he was actually wondering what the day held in store. He smiled at Zoya and hand in hand they left their "paradise" to head out.

Jeeju was surprised to see Asad emerge from his room , he chose not to ask anything. He noted that Asad appeared sorted so may be it was all under control he hoped. Ammi was also tentative around Asad and Zoya. Asad put her at ease " Ammi today things will be back to normal Ammi" he said Dilshaad could not help but feel proud of her son..he took all so bravely she thought. "Ya Allah take care of my children" she said. Aapi smiled and asked Zoya if she would like her to escort her to the clinic today. Ammi gestured unknown to Asad and Zoya " Asad said " I should be free for a couple of hours in the afternoon I will take her". He was keen on going with Zoya to the clinic as this would be the beginning of the next trimester for Zoya.

Asad was again swamped at work. Thankfully the was no more damage..and Harish called him to say that the Police would now take over and all Asad was needed for was some paperwork that could wait till the following day. " I owe you one Harish Thank you! You have been a true friend and a great professional to work with" he said. " Thank you Bhaijaan" Harish replied."Let's get together soon" he said.

Asad left his office with a smile and a good feeling...except his damned tummy. I should have skipped the coffee he chided himself. He reached home, told a waiting Zoya that he would go up change ..he needed to ...he thought he was smelling of puke. He made a mental note to ask Dr.Chaaya to prescribe him something to settle his tummy.

Asad and Zoya shared a silent ride to the clinic. There was an emergency for Dr.Chaaya to attend to so all her regular appointments were rescheduled and patients were directed to the other Doctor Dr.Arif. " NOT him" groaned Asad in his head again. Somehow Dr. Chaaya felt better - she did not have tatoos or nail marks on her arm!! They could wait or come tomorrow said the receptionist. Asad would have loved to wait. They had and ultrasound scheduled for the day he knew Zoya would have liked to have it done as early as possible. He said that they would meet Dr.Arif.

Asad helped Zoya up on the table. Dr Arif quickly looked through her file and smiled pleasantly at Zoya. He nodded to Asad and told him that he could wait with Zoya if he'd like. Asad was only too happy! There was some commotion outside. Angry words and stinging slap..that was what Asad and Zoya heard from where they were. The nurse popped in to tell them to wait a couple of minutes and that Dr.Arif would be there soon. Over the frosted glass door Asad could see an Inspector thank Dr.Arif while he sat slumped on the chair at the reception. He shook his frame, centered himself and got off his seat, came back to the exam room with a red face. He scrubbed in looked over to Asad and Zoya and told them that Dr.Chaaya had recommended an Intra-vaginal scan because this was more accurate and that was only a precaution and not any concern he explained. The nurse prepped Zoya who was by now crushing Asad's fingers. Asad remained stoic and waited for the Dr.Arif to complete the scan. He clicked a few buttons turned a monitor towards the waiting parents. Pointed to a tiny image, increased the volume on his machine. Time stood still for Asad and Zoya - they saw a tiny shadow of in the amidst all the lines around it and heard their baby's heart beat for the first time. Dr. Arif's face transformed seeing the couple. He smiled and quietly left the room. Asad and Zoya could see and hear nothing else but the image and the heartbeat. Till the nurse knocked and they gave each other a tear filled smile and a quick kiss before Asad helped Zoya get off the table again.

Dr.Arif put in the pictures into her file. Told the concerned parents that the pregnancy was progressing well there was no need for concern. All that Zoya had to do was to continue with her healthy eating and sleeping habits. He also mentioned that Asad would need a blood test soon - routine again and that Zoya should now walk as much as she could without straining herself. He looked pointedly at Asad and was framing sentences in his head when Dr.Chaaya swept into the room. " How are you my dear?" she asked Zoya. Dr.Arif smiled rose from his chair and handed over the report to her. He also gestrured something to Dr.Chaaya - her eyes widened in surprise. She stood between Asad and Zoya who were seated passed her phone to Dr,Arif before she bent down and put her head between Asad and Zoya...gestured Dr.Arif to take a picture of the 3 of them. A shocked Asad was wondering what was happening.

Well Asad beta she said moving his shirt to look under his collar, his jaw, his sleeve and checking his nails. " It seems to run in your family... Couvade Syndrome". " You have been throwing up haven't you" she asked. " The last I saw this here in my practice was with Rashid miya when Dilshaad was carrying you...only those days we did speak about it ...neither was it diagnosed". I missed a picture last time this time I won't" she said with kind eyes.

Looking Asad's reaction, Dr.Arif enlightened him that this is called " sympathetic pregnancy" it happens to some men, starts around the end of the 1st trimester. Luckily you are not pregnant so you can be treated and it will all go in a day, he assured handing Asad a prescription. And you as a couple can be a normal married couple said Dr.Chaaya casually looking at Zoya. "Don't tell me you didn't need to know that " Dr.Arif winked at Asad and Asad disapproved of that. They did get the drift and Asad saw Zoya return Dr.Arif's wink. Today he found it hard to be angry with anything or with anyone.

Asad was settling the bills when he noted how relieved Zoya was. It was a swell day..he would remember it for a really long time. He was looking forward to getting home and sharing the news with his Ammi. Asad quickly called his office tied up loose ends and there was no way he was going to get back to work after this. He came home elated. The family was thrilled looking at the images, Zoya was smiling non stop Asad could not tear his eyes off her neither could she off him. They day ended with a lot of cheer and happiness and prayer for them all.

Asad could wait no more...Ammi and Appi were clearing up after dinner he bent down winked at Zoya picked her up and carried her off saying she has been sitting all day and she needed to get to bed early, He would work in his room so please do not wait up for me he said. He disappeared with an coy Zoya squeaking "goodnight". There where more smiles and laughter.

He gently let her down on their bed. Peeled her pants off and kissed her tummy...one thing led to another and at the end of it Asad flopped down at the far end of the bed with a huge contended smile. "Tigerrr" roared Zoya in a hushed tone. Asad leaned on the headboard pulled Zoya close and kissed her shining eyes. They spoke about the baby, the heartbeat everything else they shared that day. Asad slid down kissed Zoya on her stomach again..." do you think that the baby can hear me??" he asked with tears streaming down his cheeks.Zoya vigorously nodded a yes! " These are happy tears" he borrowed Zoya's words "and now you get to sleep" he said. All the action had drained Zoya she dropped off to sleep. Asad tucked her in and kissed her forehead. He was too excited to sleep. " I need a Coffee" he thought and headed down.

He made his coffee and sat in his Garden..looking at nothing in particular, enjoyed the quiet and the cool breeze. He looked at the stars recounting the day. Dr.Chaaya's words went through his head if Rashid Ahmed Khan was so in love with my Ammi why then was he not man enough to be with her all the time he thought and slammed the empty coffee mug on the ground.