"Maho," Murtasim gently called her name, placing his hand on her cheek. Her eyes were closed, and the lights were off. It was early morning, but Murtasim couldn't fall asleep; his thoughts kept him awake, worrying about their future.

"Mahjabeen, suno na," he called her name, and she responded with a sleepy "Hmm..."

He lay down facing her, softly whispering, "Ek baat puchni thi."

"Jaldi pucho... Ice cream pighal jayegi," she mumbled, her eyes still closed, but a hint of a smile appeared on her lips.

Murtasim chuckled, amused by her response, "Hain? Konsi ice cream hai?"

"Chocolate. Ab kuch puchna mat," she replied, content with the thought of ice cream, and turned her back to him.

Murtasim sighed in frustration, "Yaar, maine apna sawaal nahi pucha." To which Mahjabeen playfully complained, "Yaar, meri ice cream woh kha jayega."

"Kaun kha jayega?" Murtasim asked, curious about her dreams.

"Woh pyaara sa ladka," she replied.

"Kiske sapne aa rahe hain tumhe?" he asked, his tone a bit serious now.

"Aap kitne sawal puchenge, mai so rahi hoon," she retorted.

"Accha accha, sorry, ek last sawaal puchu?" Murtasim persisted.

"Hmm...?"

"Pregnancy ka kaise pata chala tumhe, koi test kiya tumne?" he asked.

"Nahi, Maa Begum ne bataya," Mahjabeen replied.

"Unko kaise pata chala?" Murtasim inquired further.

Mahjabeen opened her eyes and sighed, "Yaar, bahar abhi bhi andhera hai. Aapko konsa jinn chad raha hai..."

She picked up her pillow and blanket, preparing to leave the bed. But before she could get up, Murtasim held his ears and apologized. Mahjabeen gave him an exasperated look and quickly went back under the covers. As she drifted back to sleep peacefully, Murtasim remained wide awake, his thoughts still swirling in his mind.

___

Murtasim decided to confront Maa Begum, wanting to verify the news about Mahjabeen's pregnancy. To his dismay, he realized that the news was based on assumptions and not a confirmed test.

"Mai tumhe likh kar deti hu, Mahjabeen pregnant hai," Maa Begum claimed, fidgeting with the knot on her dupatta, a sign of her nervousness.

Murtasim noticed her uneasiness and tried to console her, "Aap tension mat lijiye, mai kuch karta hu."

Maa Begum nodded, grateful for Murtasim's reassurance, and gave him some money to give away as sadqah, an offering for the well-being of the unborn child.

Murtasim goes to Mahjabeen and gently says, "Mahjabeen, suno meri baat." He noticed her sitting, seemingly lost in thoughts while writing names on a piece of paper. "Kya kar rahi ho Mahjabeen?" he asked, curious about her actions.

"Naam soch rahi thi, maine toh list bana li hai aapko konsa accha lagega," she replied with a smile, still engrossed in her task.

Murtasim took a seat beside her, not wanting to break her concentration, but he knew he had to talk to her. "Mahjabeen," he began, his voice soft and caring, "there's something I need to tell you. We're not entirely sure yet."

"Kya matlab? You mean..." Mahjabeen's face fell, fearing the worst.

Murtasim placed his hand gently across her cheek, looking into her eyes with love. "Listen, Mahjabeen, the news from Maa Begum was based on assumptions, not a confirmed test."

Tears welled up in Mahjabeen's eyes, and she struggled to come to terms with the uncertainty. "So... our baby...?" she couldn't finish her sentence, the emotions overwhelming her.

Murtasim held her hands firmly, trying to provide comfort and reassurance. "Mahjabeen, we haven't confirmed anything yet. We will go for further tests and consult with the doctor to be sure," he said, his voice tender and caring.

She felt torn between hope and disappointment. "But Murtasim, I have dreamt of so much... I had so many plans with a child, a life filled with happiness," she whispered, her heart heavy.

Murtasim hugged her tightly, trying to console her. "Mahjabeen, humari zindagi sirf bacha par hi tiki hui nahi hai. Hamara pyaar, hamara ek doosre ke saath bitaye har pal yehi kaafi h.  Chahe bacha ho ya na ho (Mahjabeen, our happiness doesn't solely depend on having a child. Our love, our companionship, and the moments we share together are the true essence of our happiness. Whether we are blessed with a child or not, our love will remain steadfast and strong)" he said, his words filled with sincerity.

Mahjabeen looked into his eyes, feeling the depth of his love for her. "Aap theek bol rahey hain...", she said, feeling a slight sense of relief.

In the following hours, they decided to undergo further tests to determine Mahjabeen's pregnancy with certainty.

"Do positive aaye hain," she announced, and Murtasim hugged her, kissing her cheeks as they both melted into each other's arms, overwhelmed with relief and joy. Her eyes were brimming with tears as she whispered, "I love you, Murtasim."

He chuckled and kissed her lips tenderly, sealing their moment of happiness. "I love you too, Mahjabeen. I am so grateful and blessed to have you as my wife," he said, his heart overflowing with love.

***

Pregnancy chapters ahead... Btw the last scene was a what if scenario.