ROUHI

seventeen | epilogue

Hafsa opened the gate and in rushed two little girls in black jilbabs. "Mami!"

"Hooriya! Janaan!" Hafsa knelt down to hug her 8 year old nieces.

"Assalamu Alaikum," greeted Hafsa's elder brother Hussein with a big smile, extending his hand towards Saaqib.

"Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatuhu!" Saaqib responded with the same enthusiasm before pulling Hussein in for a brotherly hug.

"Juwairya!" Hafsa leaped to hug her sister-in-law and best friend. She pulled back, eyes glazed over with tears, her mouth agape. "Ya Rabbi! How did you guys-"

"Saaqib was generous to send some money so we could come see you," replied Hussein, placing a hand on Hafsa's head. "Come here."

It had been over five years since Hafsa wedded Saaqib and left home to live with him in his hometown a thousand miles away. Five years since she had seen her father, her mother, her elder brother and sister-in-law, and of course, their twins, except on the few photos sent on Eids.

"Mami! Mami! We brought your favourite sweets!" Hooriya said, jumping to get her only aunt's attention.

"We helped Ammi make them!" Janaan followed.

"Oh, thank you!" Hafsa pressed kisses to both their foreheads, taking the packets from their hands.

"Let's sit inside! We have much to catch up on," Saaqib suggested and led them all inside, sending a smile his wife's way that didn't escape her acknowledgment.

***

After a whole day of chatting and cooking with her sister-in-law and playing with her nieces, Hafsa closed their bedroom door with a happy sigh and wheeled around to face Saaqib with a fantastic beam. "I can't believe we're traveling to meet Ammi and Abbu tomorrow!" She sprinted across the room and collapsed on the cot beside Saaqib. Saaqib put on a lazy smile for her, laying on his back, resting his head over his folded arm. They both stared up at the ceiling while going down the memory lane, the stupid grin on Hafsa's face never leaving.

A breeze came in through the open window and flicked the fire on the candle. Shadows danced across the room.

"Do you remember when you first came up to my father to ask for my hand?"

"How can I not? I said one sentence and he closed the door in my face."

Hafsa giggled. "You knocked, like, five more times."

"Eight. And then he hit me."

Hafsa bit her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud. "With a bathroom brush."

"Hey!"

Hafsah took her time controlling her urge to laugh. Then she continued. "Why did you come back the next day?"

"Why would I give up so easily?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"I was in love, Hafsa." Saaqib turned his head to face her. The sincerity laced in his voice touched her core. "I was fully, utterly, completely in love with you."

Hafsa gulped, feeling some distant memories making their way back. "You could've easily gotten over me. I was the infamous witch who sacrificed her baby." She could still hear the taunts of the neighbours from when she used to go to college.