Chapter-14

A few months later

Author's pov

" Where is Omi hiding? Where is she?" Maryam said loudly searching for Omaira in the whole room.

Suddenly, she noticed a tiny leg that was peeping under the bed. An affectionate smile appeared on Maryam's face seeing Omaira's tiny leg.

"Omi....Where..are.....you?....Yay...Gotcha," Maryam yelled crouching down.

Omaira giggled when Maryam pulled her out and picked her up. Her giggling got louder feeling Maryam's kisses all over her spongy cheeks.

Omaira asked pouting," How did you find me?"

" Mamma always knows where her kitten is hiding," Maryam answered kissing Omaira's adorable pout.

Then, she said touching Omaira's nose playfully," Look what you have done to your dress? There is dirt all over your dress. Let's bath you and put a clean dress on you."

Saying all these Maryam took Omaira to the shower to give her a nice bath. Filling the bathtub with slightly warm water Maryam added baby shower gel. Placing Omaira in the tub she started cleaning her tiny body.

Six months passed just in the blink of an eye and nothing changed between Yardan & Maryam. But, with passing time Maryam got used to his cold behaviour though she still wants him to change for good.

Maryam was still cleaning Omaira's body when she started feeling nausea. She couldn't control herself anymore and ran outside. Entering another washroom she threw up whatever she ate in the morning. Cleaning her mouth Maryam looked at the mirror and noticed some changes in her.

Maryam looked carefully at her reflection and noticed that she has gained quite an amount of weight. All the time she just feels hungry and tired. The more she eats the more she throws up. Not only all these but also she felt that without any reason she gets upset and sometimes her mood becomes Jolly. Most importantly, she has missed her period for the last three months. She didn't pay that much attention to this matter since she gets irregular periods. Not for a single time, she thought that she might be pregnant.

Pulling her dress upwards Maryam looked at her belly and noticed that it has bloated out. She thought that it was just fat due to eating so much food.

" I am getting fat. I have to work out," Maryam thought mentally and returned to the place where she was before.

It was 8:30 p.m. and Maryam was with the kids. She was helping Yamir with his homework holding Omaira in her embrace. Omaira was sleepy and Maryam was rocking her slightly. Yardan hasn't returned from the office.

" Sum 2 and 8. Then te..........." Maryam couldn't finish her sentence when she ran into the washroom.

After throwing up for the 5th time in the whole day Maryam was irritated about all these. She came out of the washroom having an annoyed expression when a maid noticed her. The maid has been noticing Maryam closely and she already guessed.

" Mam, if you don't mind may I say something?" The maid asked for permission.

Maryam nodded her head when she said," Mam, I think you are pregnant."

Maryam blinked her eyes trying to understand the maid's words while the maid said," I mean I have been noticing you lately. All the symptoms are indicating that you are pregnant. I think you should check with a pregnancy kit."

" I am pregnant!! I don't think so. Maybe I am suffering from any stomach related disease," Maryam answered though she was confused.

The maid insisted," Still, Mam. I think you should check with a pregnancy kit."

After that, Maryam checked with a pregnancy kit and the maid was right. She was pregnant. Recalling the missed periods she guessed that she might be 3 months pregnant.

Happy tears started flowing down her cheeks thinking that she is going to have her first child. Besides happiness, nervousness started bothering her. She was wondering how Yardan will react to this matter. Won't he be happy? After all he is going to be a father for the third time.

" Mamma, you are looking so happy? Yamir asked curiously.

Maryam answered excitedly, " Yes, baby. We are going to have another member in our little gang."

" Another member?" Yamir said sounding confused.

Maryam replied smiling," Very soon Mamma is going to bring a baby brother or sister for you."

" Really?" Yamir said surprisingly when Maryam picked him up.

Twirling him in the whole room Maryam said loudly," Mamma is so happy today."

Two hours later Yardan reached home and after freshening up, he is now sitting at the dinner table. He was eating silently while Maryam was looking for a chance to tell him.

" Baba, you know that we are going to have a new member in our gang," Yamir said and Yardan can feel the raw excitement in him.

Yardan asked still concentrating on his food," New member?"

" Mamma said I am going to have a baby brother or sister very soon," Yamir said.

No sooner had those words left Yamir's mouth than Yardan looked at Maryam with questioning eyes. She looked down shyly while Yardan was silent completely. Maryam expected a happy reaction from him but he didn't say anything.

" Maybe he isn't comfortable to talk about it in front of Yamir," Maryam thought mentally.

After finishing dinner Yardan went to Maryam's room while she followed him silently. Closing the door she hugged him from behind resting her head on his back.

" You didn't say anything," she said softly.

He asked," About what?

" About my pregnancy. About our baby," Maryam said biting her lips.

He said emotionlessly," Abort it!"

Maryam was taken aback by his words. Getting away from him she looked at him having a fearful expression. She clutched her belly protectively.

" You must be joking," She asked nodding her head.

He answered holding one of her upper arms," Listen, woman. I don't want any type of carelessness from your side regarding Yamir & Omaira."

" What are you even saying? Why would I be careless towards Yamir & Omi if I have my own child? They all are my kids. Why would I discriminate among them?" Maryam screamed at the top of her lungs.

He shouted back with pure hatred," I know women like you. Once you have your own children you forget about your responsibilities regarding your other children. I have seen a lot of stepmoms like you. They accept their husband's children from the previous relationship wholeheartedly but once they have their own children they forget everything. And, the other children started growing up with negligence. I don't want my children to face the same situation."

" I don't know what you are saying and I don't even want to understand. I will never abort my baby," Maryam announced going backwards.

He said in an intimidating voice," You will. Without my permission, you can't keep it."

" If you even dare to touch my child then I won't spare. I will go to the police and file a complaint against you," Maryam threatened shaking with anger.

She expected a reaction from him but he didn't show any kind of reaction. He just continued looking at her having a challenging look that shook Maryam from the core.

" Police!! Ok, go ahead. I won't stop you," Yardan let out mockingly and Maryam's eyes widened.

Clutching her jaw tightly he threatened lowering his voice," If you go to the police then I am gonna stop supporting your family financially. Let your pathetic family starve, hmm?"

This time Maryam burst into tears and fell to her knees. She knew that her family doesn't care about her but she isn't like them. She cares for them and loves them. She can't see them starving.

Joining her hands in front of him Maryam pleaded," Yardan, don't be so cruel. I beg you. This child is also yours. How can you be that heartless to your own blood? Please, don't kill our baby."

" Our baby!! I don't accept this trash in your womb. So, stop crying and prepare yourself for the abortion," Yardan answered having a blank expression on his face.

Holding his legs Maryam begged helplessly," I promise I won't discriminate among my children. Yamir & Omaira are my kids just like the baby in my womb. I am their mother. A mother can't discriminate among her children. Please, try to understand."

Holding her hair he stood her up and made her look into his eyes. Her teary helpless eyes met his emotionless eyes. For a few seconds, he softened his eyes but something clicked inside his head when an emotionless expression appeared on his face.

" You are going to abort the baby. That's final," Yardan whispered and then threw her on the bed.

He left the room hurriedly and this time Maryam didn't cry. She just kept looking at his retreating figure having a blank expression.