Are We Okay?

Chapter 19

Sahil’s Point Of View

"Daneen," ummi whispers causing us all to stop eating and look at ummi who's looking at Daneen. Daneen looks at her. 

"Beta, I'm not trying to take away your freedom to do work, I'm just concerned about your safety which could harm your baby, please understand--" 

"It's okay, I get it I already informed them I'll start after giving birth," Daneen whispers. Ummi's face brightens with relief and she smiles. "And I'm sorry for acting like that towards you yesterday, I should've listened to you firstly," she adds.

I look at her, shocked, then look at ummi who's smiling, then she rubs Daneen's hand happily. "It's okay, beta, now eat up." Daneen nods and eats her food slowly, but is not making eye contact with anybody.

"Abdullah, where's Aminat? She didn't eat with us," ummi asks. Daneen and Zara bhabhi clean up the table and head to the kitchen. 

"She's tired, so she stayed up," bhai replies. 

"Oh, is she okay?" baba asks him. 

"Yeah, just tired that's all." 

Just then Aminat bhabhi walks down the stairs. 

"Aminat beta, are you feeling better?" ummi asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She nods with a small smile.

Daneen walks out of the kitchen and bumps into bhabhi. Aminat bahbhi looks at Daneen, who looks away from her, then walks past her. Bhabhi turns around and stares at Daneen, who's sitting down on the couch and staring at the table with so much intensity.

"Daneen," I whisper as I try to talk to her but she's been ignoring me since last night. "Please talk to me," I whisper. 

She looks away from me. "Daneen," I whisper. 

"Leave me alone," she whisper-yells, then gets up and sits beside Aisha instead. I look at her, then ruffle my hair when ummi and everyone else looks over at her and me with concern.

"Daneen, talk to him, he's been restless since you've been avoiding him," Aisha whispers. 

"Aisha, please don't talk to me about him," Daneen says. Aisha sighs, then nods and gives me a sad smile. The doorbell rings and Aminat bhabhi goes to answer it.

"Ummi? Baba?" she gasps then smiles. 

"Asalam Alaykum, beta, how are you?" her mama asks as she hugs her. 

"Walaykum Salam, Allamdulilah, mama." 

Daneen gets up and her face brightens up. "Baba!" She runs over to him. 

He lets out a chuckle and kisses her head a few times. "How are you, beta?"

Daneen smiles. "Allamdulilah," she whispers, then hugs her mama. "What's wrong?" mama asks her. 

"What?"Daneen asks with confusion. "Your body is tense, it's always like that when your upset or angry, what's wrong?" mama asks her.

"Oh, Asalam Alaykum," baba greets ummi and baba. 

"Walaykum Salam, hope all is well?",baba asks as him. 

Ummi and mama also hug while greeting each other. 

"Just wanted to visit and tell the girls something and we were around the neighborhood, so thought we'd come visit," mama replies. 

"That's great, Aisha beta, get them something to eat," ummi says. Aisha nods, then gets up and walks to the kitchen.

"Beta, talk to me, what's wrong?" mama asks Daneen, who doesn't say anything. Mama looks at me and I look away. 

"Aminat beta, you must know," she says. Aminat bhabhi looks at Daneen, then mama. "Ummi, Daneen is being stubborn, you know she's pregnant. Mama thinks she should start working after birth, but she refuses and says she wants to work now. Also, she's not talking to Sahil because of it," bhabhi explains earning a stern look from Daneen. She gets up to walk away, but her mama holds her back. 

"Daneen, what am I hearing?" she asks. 

"Ummi..." Daneen looks at her with a sigh. 

"Baba." Daneen walks towards him and hugs him tight. "I feel like I'm being forced into it. You know how hard I tried to finally get this far and I'm here and it's being snatched away. Didi doesn't even care, she's just going along with everything they say," she reports. Baba looks at bhabhi. 

"Daneen, don't cry, beta. I understand what you mean and I think since you've worked hard for this, then you should have your own say as to what you want," baba says. 

I look at ummi, who raises an eyebrow at him. 

"That's what I say but t--"

"But you are married now and this isn't just your decision, it's your husbands too. If he agrees with your mother-in-law, then as a respectful daughter-in-law and wife you must listen. I know how hard you've come this far but life changes after marriage for the better or worst. Learn from your sister. Do you see her spending time with her friends nowadays? Or having sleepovers with them like she used to? She matured and so should you, especially since your carrying my grandchild. Beta, this is a dream we've had that's finally coming true. One of our children is expecting, us being able to see our grandkids, and you are fulfilling it for us, your husband and your in-laws we all want what's best for you and your baby."

Daneen looks down for a second, then baba hugs her and rubs her back gently. "Take good care of her, you know how she is," mama whispers to bhabhi, who nods. 

"Anyways, we have good news for you girls." She smiles. 

"What is it?" bhabhi asks. 

"Your brother is coming back home tomorrow," mama says excitedly. 

"No way," bhabhi and Daneen whisper, then they look at each other and scream. "Really? Oh my God! What time? Why didn't he tell us? How?" they bombard their parents with questions. 

"You have an elder brother?" Abdullah raises an eyebrow at Aminat bhabhi. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you since we barely see him. His name is Mohammed," she replies with a small smile. 

"And he's coming home." Daneen squeals excitedly. 

"We should take your leave now," mama says as she greets ummi and baba. 

"Asalam Alaykum," we all greet them. 

"Walaykum salaam." They smile,  then hug their daughters, me, and Abdullah before walking out.

Daneen squeals, then grabs her phone. "Wait, let him come tomorrow," Aminat bhabhi says. "No, didi, I want to now," she whines. 

"Okay, fine." Daneen smiles, then scrolls through her phone.

"Asalam Alaykum, bhai," Daneen greets her brother on the call. 

"Mm, is that why you haven't tried talking to us?"

"No, didi is also here. We heard you are coming tomorrow."

"Nah, nah, nah, bhai you missed both our weddings, so if you don't have my wedding gifts, then don't come."

Daneen laughs. "Okay, okay, bhai, I missed you so much, I love you so much too, ah didi too. Be careful, you know she'll start crying."

Aminat bhabhi frowns, then pushes Daneen playfully. I smile watching Daneen laugh so freely and happily. She hands the phone to bhabhi, who smiles.

"Asalam Alaykum, bhai," bhabhi says, holding the phone between her neck and ear. 

"No, no, I did not. Okay, okay, but why didn't you tell us?"

"Yeah, I love you too, bhai. I know, don't worry, he is." She chuckles and looks at Abdullah. "You will."

"Walaykum salam."

She hangs up, then smiles. Daneen turns around and bumps into me. Her smile drops, which makes my heart drop. 

She smiles, then squeals loudly before hugging me. Then whistles fill the room. I smile and she giggles.