"Surprise!!" Zainab squealed and jumped into her waiting arms.

Maryam released herself from the hug and ushered her in. "What a pleasant surprise. I was told you'd come today, but I wasn't expecting you so early in the morning." She voiced.

"Yup. I was very excited to come. I couldn't wait any longer to see my little princess Manal and also this little one here." She smiled, placing a hand on Maryam's stomach.

Her eyes widened a little in surprise. "Who told you...?"

"Who else, but my handsome brother."

Maryam chuckled and shook her head. Zainab had always reminded her of just how lucky she was to get a husband as handsome, religious and patient as Saeed. "Please come in, Zainab."

She walked in and her gaze trailed around. "I can't find Manal and bro anywhere. Lemme guess, he has already left for work and Manal school?"

"Wrong guesses." Maryam chuckled. "They are both upstairs in our- oh! Here he is." She pointed immediately she sighted Saeed coming down from the stairs

"Who is at the door, habibty?" He asked.

"Shhh." Zainab placed a finger on her lips silencing Maryam and quickly went to hide behind the couch.

Maryam suppressed a laugh and composed herself. "What were you saying, habibi?" She asked, walking towards him.

"I asked who was at the door." He repeated.

"Oh that? It was no one. Wrong address." She replied.

"Okay." He turned around and was just about to walk away when Zainab appeared in front of him with a broad smile tugging on her lips. "Zainab?" He called in disbelief and embraced her. How much he missed his sister. He couldn't even remember when last he saw her. Seeing her made him miss his other siblings as well. He pulled back and his brows furrowed. "Why did you hide?"

"I wanted to surprise you. Did I?" She asked.

"Of course, you mischievous girl." He replied pinching her on the right side of her cheek.

"Ouch!"

"I thought by now you'd have grown up." He teased.

"There's is no fun in being serious all the time, right?" She asked Maryam who had begun to feel her presence was not noticed anymore as the siblings bonded.

"Yeah." She nodded.

"Won't you sit down?" Saeed asked with a raised brow. "Or-"

"Alright. Okay, I will." She cut him off and sat down.

Saeed also took a seat beside her. "How was the journey? I'm so glad you decided to come and spend your vacation with us."

"Same here." She giggled.

"How is everyone at home. I hope you extended my greetings."

"I did. Mum sent her regards as well. She wanted to know when next you'd visit her."

"Soon, in shaa Allah."

"Great. Where is that best niece of mine? I haven't seen her around since I arrived."

"She's upstairs sleeping." He replied.

"Sleeping? I thought she was an early riser." She voiced.

"She is, but recently, she hasn't been feeling too good." He replied.

"What's wrong with her?" She asked worriedly.

"Nothing to worry about. She's alright now."

"Such a relief."

"Habibty?" Saeed called his wife who was still standing on the same spot gazing at them. Her presence seemed to have been totally ignored by the both of them, especially her husband - a side of him she wasn't used to witnessing.

She looked up at him.

"Could you please bring a glass of water for Zainab? She must be very tired after the long journey she embarked on."

"S... Sure." She was just about to move when Zainab's voice stopped her. She must have sensed her reluctance.

"Did you just send ya Maryam to bring a glass of water for me? Me?" She asked, widening her eyes dramatically. "You don't send a pregnant woman to do anything for you." She remarked and walked up to Maryam. "Does this brother of mine bully you this much? Don't worry now that I'm here, he won't be able to do it anymore."

Saeed's gaze was fixed on Maryam to hear what she had to say.

"It's no big deal at all." Maryam forced a smile and sauntered upstairs to her room.

"You see what you've done? Now she's mad at us." She could hear Zainab say.

"What did I do?"Saeed asked.

She heaved a sigh and increased her pace. On getting into the bedroom, she climbed into bed beside her daughter and engulfed her in a hug. She couldn't help herself from recalling what just happened momenta ago. Was it proper for Saeed to tell her to bring a glass of water for his sister when she knew exactly where the kitchen was? If it was proper, his sister wouldn't have chipped in. She blinked and few tears escaped her eyes. "Is this his way of taking revenge on me for allowing me go back to my job? - degradation?" She asked herself. She was making a mountain out of a mole hill - she knew, but couldn't blame anyone for it except her hormones.

"Are you alright?"

She flinched at Saeed's voice for it was unexpected. She had no idea he followed her to the room. She swiftly wiped her tears away. She raised her head and their gazes met. "Yes." She replied curtly.

"Why did you leave the way you did?" He questioned.

"I was tired." She replied, averting her gaze from him.

"Zainab is worried about you." He commented.

"She doesn't need to be, besides you're there to keep her company." She muttered.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked again.

"Of course I am. You should go and keep your sister company. I'm sure she's already bored sitting there all alone. Why did you even follow me here?"

"I didn't follow you." He denied.

Maryam suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "Yeah, right." She muttered underneath her breath.

"Did you say something?" He asked raising a brow.

"Nothing." She replied and shut her eyes. She could hear him heave a sigh before exiting the room.

She opened her eyes and could feel more tears prickling her eyes. "Why is he suddenly treating me so badly?" She asked herself. Perhaps it was because his sister was there - she thought and wrapped her arms tighter around Manal, unintentionally waking her up.

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her palm and asked; "where is abi?"

"He is not here." She replied. "How are you feeling now? Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I will cook anything you want for you."

"I want abi. He promised not to leave me alone. Where is he?" She asked, wrapping her arms around her folded knees.

Maryam instantly felt a pang in her heart by her daughter's attitude. It was making her feel unloved. "He didn't leave. He is just downstairs in the living room. Wait here. I will go get-" before she could finish her statement, Manal had already ran out of the room. She smiled tightly before following suit.

"Aunty Zainab! Aunty Zainab!!" Manal squeaked and ran into her waiting arms.

Zainab picked her up and planted multiple kisses all over her face. "How's my favorite niece doing?" She asked, caressing her slightly chubby cheeks.

Manal grinned.

"I heard you fell sick. Hope you're strong now. Are you?" She inquired.

"Yes, bestest aunty." She imitated.

"I can't be your bestest aunty." She furrowed her brows. "Because... I'm your only aunty." She giggled.

"Still." She pouted.

Zainab put her down and sat down on the couch, sitting her on her laps in the process. "I missed you so so much."

"I missed you too. When did you arrive?" She inquired.

"Just a while ago." She replied.

"You're not leaving right?" She asked, pleadingly. "You will stay with me forever right?"

"Is that what you want?" Zainab asked amusingly.

"Yes."

"Alright then. I will think about it."

"Yay! Thank you, bestest aunty." She said jumping down from her laps. She grabbed her wrist and started tugging. "Let's go to my room. I have so many things to show you."

As soon as they left, Saeed moved closer to Maryam and spoke; "she's so happy having Zainab here."

Maryam swallowed a lump in her throat and forced a smile. "I can see that."

"Now you don't have to bother taking care of her. You shouldn't worry about her either." He said and walked away.

Maryam's jaw dropped and a lone tear escaped her eye - she didn't see or feel it coming. She took a sit on the stairs and his words came back to her and kept repeating itself in her mind like a mantra.

Now you don't have to bother taking care of her. You shouldn't worry about her either.

Now you don't have to bother taking care of her. You shouldn't worry about her either.

Now you don't have to bother taking care of her. You shouldn't worry about her either.

She couldn't believe he actually said those words to her. Yes, he gave his permission to her to continue working, but he wasn't himself anymore. He was slowly changing into a different person. How could he tell a mother to stop worrying about her daughter! "What is happening?" She shook her head aggressively at the possibility of what she was thinking - things were falling apart.

~~~~~
🙋 everyone!

Saeed: Was I mean to my wife? (From when I asked her to bring a glass of water for my sister to when I said those words to her.)

Maryam: what do you suggest I do now?

deey_jah: follow my Wattpad account @deey_jah for updates, my Instagram account @deey_jah and please don't forget to vote and comment if you like this chapter. Share to your friends on Wattpad 🙏🙏

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