"We are sorry. The patient has slipped into a coma. We did everything we could but his organs couldn't handle the stress and he went into a vegetative state."

Badiya slumped back on the chair covering her mouth as tears dripped down her eyes. There was a ringing in her ears as she stopped listening after the first two sentences and words like "very critical", "life support", "low chances" and "sorry" went through her ears but didn't get register. All she could think about was,

She'll lose the love of her life. And she didn't even get to tell him how much she loves him.

It was pain, pure agony for her to think about it. Think about life without him. He has been there all her life, standing over her like a protective shadow, never letting any harm touch her. With all these thoughts floating in her mind, she didn't realise when darkness covered her vision and she fell sideways losing concious.

Badiya woke up hearing the sound of a continuous beeping but her eyelids seemed too heavy to open. She could hear a woman's wailing in the background but it sounded distant. She tried to open her eyes but bright rays of sunlight piereced her eyes and she hissed.

"She's awake." She heard a male's voice. It was familliar. Wali. She opened her eyes again and her mother's tear streaken face came in sight.

"What happened?" She said in a slightly hoarse voice and tried to get up. Wali, who was standing on the other side of her bed helped her to sit up and made her drink a few sips of water.

She looked around the room as everything started to come back to her.

Badr. Accident. Hospital. Coma.

Tears dropped from her eyes wetting her eyelashes, trailing her pale cheeks as her shoulders shook. Her mother engulfed Badiya in her warm embrace but she still didn't feel the warmth she used to feel. There was a chill settled in her bones that refused to leave.

"Yeh kya ho gaya mere bachon ke sath. Yeh kya ho gaya. Mere bachon ki khushi ko nazar lag gayi, Shah ji. Mere bachon ki khushi ko nazar lag gayi." Sharmeen wailed as her husband tried to console her with his own eyes wet. Even the power couple couldn't keep up their resolve in these circumstance.

"Bas kar dein, begum. Hosla krain. Diya ko is halat mai mazeed stress nai leni chahiye. Or humain us ko hosla dena chahiye, na ke apna khud ka hosla kho dain." He rubbed her back and sneakily wiped his own eyes because he knew if he broke down his family would shatter.

Wali had fallen to his knees on the hospital floor as he heard that the doctors have no hope of Shehryar waking up from the coma. He was barely holding on because of the life support and as soon as they remove it, he'll slip away. He couldn't even fathom the idea of his brother, his ideal, his role model going through so much.

Shehryar had a dislocated shoulder, sprained knee, a ruptured spleen and two broken ribs, one of which perforated through his lungs. His heart stopped twice on the operation table and they revived him back after almost seven minutes of cardiac massage the second time after the defbrillator didn't help which was just a moment before the surgeon gave up him. It was a very long surgery and the surgeons patched him up the best they could but his body couldn't so much stress and he became brain-dead going into a vegetative state.

It was too much to even listen to much less imagining the guy you looked up to your whole life going through it all but Wali had to do it and handle the paper work. He had to be strong as he didn't want his parents or anybody else take more stress.

"Beta, please stop. Your blood pressure is rising again. It is not good for your baby." Badiya who was crying on her mother's shoulder froze when she heard her mother say that.

"B-baby?" She asked looking at her mother shocked.

"Yes, a baby. You have a life growing inside you. You are three weeks along and we need to take very good care of you. Okay?" Her mother said slowly, trying to ease in the news but her own words wobbled.

This day was supposed to be a happy one.

Shehryar was supposed to be here holding on to his wife's hand as they both celebrated, not on his possible death bed barely holding on to his life.

Badiya placed her palm on her still flat stomach as the information settled in.

She had a life growing in her womb. Her child. Their child. Badr loved children. He would love his child to death.

But he might not even see his child.

The thought made her heart tremble and she shook it out of her head.

"I want to see Badr." She said after a long stretch of silence.

"Diya jaan, the stress is not-" Her mother started carressing her hair and said but she cut her off.

"I want to see him, Mama." She said with a steady resolve in her voice and her mother sighed backing off.

"I'll take her." Wali said after being utterly mute and helped Badiya down after calling the nurse to take her IV out.

"Go." Wali said after unwounding his arm from around her outside the private room Shehryar was kept in.

Badiya entered the room and walked towards the bed her husband was lying on. There were so many wires attached to him and he lied in the midst of chaos looking deathly pale. He didn't have a shirt on since there was a plaster on his shoulder and his torso was wrapped up in bandages. There were a few stitches here and there on his body covered with bandage.

In short, the sight was enough for Badiya's heart to come to her throat.

She went to sit beside him as her knees were giving up on her. She gingerly held his hand and said in a wobbly tone.

"Shehryar...ap mujhse naraz hain? Is trha ankhain kiu band ki hui hain apne. Meri tarf dekh bhi nahi rahe. Dekhain ap mere ansu bhi saaf nhi kar rahe."

"Please uth jayain Shehryar. Please. Ap ese karain ge tou humara kya hoga. Hum sab toot jayain ge Shehryar." She wiped her own tears with trembling hands but it was futile as her cheeks kept getting wet by her grief.

"Ap gussa hain na is liye baat nai kr rahe mere se. I-I promise mai apko bilkul tang nai kru gi. Apki saari batain manu gi. Sari dant bhi sun lu gi." She said in a strained voice as her throat clogged up.

"I'll keep everything at its place. And-and I won't call you during office hours. I swear I-I won't leave my dirty laundry in the bathroom. And-and I won't eat junk food. Bas ap is trha naraz na hon. Wapis aa jayain mere paas."

She placed her hand on his face and took a deep breath.

"Badr, I...I love you. I cannot live without you."

"W-we cannot live without you." She continued as she placed his hand on her womb.

"Ap Baba ban'ne walay hain Badr. You're going to be a father." She said wiping her tears and tried to muster up a smile.

"Uthain na. Please get up. I can't do this alone, Badr. I-I am scared."

"I need you, Badr. I need you." She kept her head beside his hand as sobs raked her body and she kept crying willing her Lord to give her husband back.

~

"Abbu! How can you even think about this?!"

Wali yelled in a strained tone with blood-shot eyes. His father had asked him to sit with him for a moment as he wanted to talk about something important. That 'something inportant' was that the elders were thinking of getting him married to Badiya.

"Bhai marain nai hain. Zinda hain! Ap-" Before he could say anything else his father cut him off.

"We have decided to take him off the life-support." His father said in sullen.

"What the fuck! Have you all gone mad!" Wali stood up in shock and rage.

"Mind your language Wali. Baap se ese baat krte hain." His father repriminded him.

"Baap. Baap ho kar apke dimagh mai yeh khayal aya bhi kese!"

"Do you think I am happy with this? Do you think even the thought of losing Shehryar forever is peaceful for me? Letting him go from my hand like this?" His father asked grabbing his son's shoulders.

"Then why, Abbu? Why?" Wali asked in broken voice.

"He's in pain, Wali. We are making him suffer. It's been two months now and there is no improvement. Not a single response. Mai apne bete ko ese nai dekh sakta. Mai apne dill ko tukray ko yun takleef nai de sakta." His father sobbed and Wali also broke down on his father's shoulder.

The past two months have been hell for them. Wali had to grow up more in these two months than he had grown up in the past twenty-three years. Badiya, who was supposed to be glowing and filled up in this state, had lost all her weight and the shine in her eyes. Her cheeks had hollowed up and her bones had started to become visible. She couldn't keep anything down except for juice or a few spoons of yakhni (broth). The only visible sign of her pregnancy was the unusually small baby bump she had. The only way for her to get a few hours sleep was to wear Shehryar's clothes and bask in his cologne but still it wasn't peaceful enough. Hasifa had been visiting her alot, doing her best to comfort her but the only person who could bring her peace was her Badr.

"Uncle, I...I understand your concerns but-" Badiya who was passing by the hall to go to the main entrance heard their whole conversation and stepped in after the father-son duo had consoled each other a little.

"Diya mai-" Kaleem Shah was going to clear his intentions to her but Badiya held her hand up stopping him.

"I understand...but legally only I am allowed to make this decision as Shehryar's wife. And I will not let him go. Never." Badiya said with the determination of a warrior.

"He will wake up. He has to."

She left after saying this and went to the only place she found the only little peace she could these past two months.

Her sleeping husband.

It has become her routine now. She goes to the hospital right after breakfast and come back home only for meals and a few hours sleep. She narrates everything that happens around her, everything that she does, every craving she has, how his child bothered her all night and everything that comes to her mind to her sleeping husband. This was her way of finding solace.

~

"Ya Allah! Meri madad kar. Mere andar ab or sabar baaqi nai hai. Please help me fight this battle, my Lord. Please help me." Badiya was crying in sajood while praying tahajjud.

It has been three months now. She was already in her second trimester but her baby bump was barely there and you would only notice it if you knew Badiya was pregnant. This past month has been the most difficult one for her as the pressure kept increasing on her.

Everybody had lost the hope of Shehryar's recovery except Wali and Badiya. They were both steadfast that Shehryar is going nowhere. He will never leave them alone but now Badiya was becoming weak. Everybody was pressurizing her into signing the consent papers and freeing Shehryar of his pain but she was in denial.

She was standing there as a sheild to protect her kin but for how long? For how long she could deny the people who were only concerned for them?

Badiya had become undeniably close to her Lord in this difficult time. Her belief in His blessings was what kept her strong. She begged Him for mercy and solace everyday in every sujood but tonight she was broken.

Tonight she was not praying for her husband but for the father of her unborn child.

Tonight she was not praying as a wife but as a mother of her unborn child.

Badiya's mother had shaken her soul today. She asked her to stop being selfish and think about the future of her child. A fatherless child has to face the scorns and burns of the world alone despite having a supportive family. How could she ruin the life of her unborn child much less than her own? Her resolve had started to chip off now and she couldn't handle that. She couldn't handle any of the possible outcomes other than Shehryar waking up so she did the only think which would make all these thoughts go away.

She laid out her prayer mat and bowed down in front of the Almighty. She cried herself to exhaustion and her vision went black as she was still in the position of sujood.

"Diya! Diya!" Someone was shaking her as she heard her name being called in distance.

"Diya! Diya, get up!"

"Huh?" Badiya straightened up and rubbed her blurry eyes as Wali's face came into her vision. He was kneeling beside her on the floor. She had slept while praying. Her knees and back screamed in pain baring evidence of it.

"Diya, wo-wo Bhai...."

This felt like a deja vu to her. This was the same line Wali had said when he came here as the news bearer of her doom. This was the same way he held her that day. The only difference was the ear splitting smile he had on his tear-stricken face intead of the solemn.

"I just got a call from the hospital. Bhayi woke up."

Badiya's head dropped to Wali's shoulder as her body shook like thunder-waves. Tears flew out from both their eyes like waterfall. Happy tears.

Ya Allah Shukr.

Badiya kept thanking her Lord as Wali drove them towards the hospital. He would have flied to the hospital in an instant if it were possible but he couldn't so he resorted to driving at the highest speed allowed and the smallest route.

"Bhayi!"

Wali banged open the door to Shehryar's private room and ran to his brother's side engulfing him in a hug. The nurse who was checking Shehryar's vitals took a step back quitely letting the two brothers unite.

Wali couldn't control his tears and started crying on Shehryar's shoulder making him laugh.

"It's okay kid. I'm here now." Shehryar rubbed Wali's back with his left arm as his right arm was still bandaged. The right side of his body took most of the impact so his left side was relatively fine.

"I am never letting you go anywhere again. Never." Wali said wiping his tears and making Shehryar chuckle.

"I can't really go anywhere with these machines hooked up to me anyways." Shehryar ruffled his baby brother's hair.

Badiya was still standing at the door as she didn't have enough courage to walk towards him. She didn't want to go near him just to find that this is another dream of hers. So she stood completely still in the doorway to ensure that even if this is a dream, it doesn't end.

"Diya jaan, andar ao. Yahan betho apne shohar ke paas jisne kabse tumhara puch puch kr sabko tang kiya hua hai." Sharmeen Shah, her mother-in-law, grabbed Badiya's hand and pulled her along making her come out of the trance she was in.

She was taken to her husband's side as Wali stepped back making space for her. She stood quitely staring at him, tracing his features with her gaze as he did the same. She gathered some courage and lifted her trembling hand gingerly placing her hand on his jaw.

He's real.

It's not a dream.

Badiya took a few moments to let that sink and when it did, she threw herself at him burying her face in his neck taking his scent in. Shehryar also wrapped his arm around her tiny waist and took a deep breath in, inhaling her fragrance.

"We all can go out to give you guys some privacy but doctors have restricted Bhayi from doing strenuous acts." Wali teased in a voice full of mirth and Badiya retreated with blushing red face making everyone laugh.

"Sharam karo thori, badmash larkay!" (Have some shame, you naughty boy!) Wali's mother hit his head scolding him lightly.

"Get a chair for Diya. She shouldn't be standing for so long." Badiya's mother instructed Wali and he obliged moving a chair near Shehryar's bed.

"What happened to Badiya?" Shehryar asked with furrowed brows trying to look at her feet to check for any injury completely ignoring the doctor who was trying to take his memory test.

The doctors left after ensuring that Shehryar was completely healthy except for weak muscles and malnurished but that was quite normal for a patient who was in coma for three months. His recovery was not less than a miracle and everybody was shocked yet happy for him.

"Diya, we have your appointment in an hour. I think you should go home and rest for a bit, have a proper meal." Sharmeen carressed Badiya's hair and reminded her gently.

"I don't want to leave him here." Badiya said in a small voice. She had finally gotten some peace of mind and soul after what felt like eternity and she didn't have the heart to part with her love.

"Thakan achhi nahi hai apke liye." (Fatigue is not good for you.)

"Why isn't anybody telling me what is wrong with her?" Shehryar squeezed Badiya's hand in concern and questioned his mother.

"Wrong nahi, sab right hai Bhai." (Not wrong, everything is right dear brother.) Wali said with a wink and the door opened at the same time. Hasifa walked in with a bunch of balloons and flowers.

"I came in as soon as I got Wali's message." She said as she hugged Badiya after greeting the elders and placed the flowers on the bedside table after tying the balloons to tha bed railing.

"Daddy-to-be? Tum dono ne shadi bhi kr li?" Shehryar asked in a shocked tone as he read the inscriptions on the balloons. Some of them said 'Get well soon', some said 'Welcome back!' And two of them said 'Congo, Daddy-to-be!'.

Hasifa blushed as Wali laughed at his brother's question. Hasifa and Wali had gotten very close over the past few months. She was his rock when he started to sink under grief and depression. She stayed up with him talking all night on the phone when he couldn't sleep due to the nightmares or anxiety. She saw a new side to him, his vulnerable side and she felt special as he trusted her with his vulnerability.

"Not yet." He said giving Hasifa his lover-boy look. "All of these are for you." And turned to Shehryar trying to give him a hint.

"Mere liye Daddy-to...Badiya!" He got confused at first then whipped his head towards his meek wife who was sitting quitely enjoying the show.

"Badiya you...we...." His eyes trailed over her body stopping at the small bump which now became slightly visible to him.

"Itna hairan kiu ho rahe hain. Ese kaamon ka yahi nateeja hota hai." Wali was having the time of his life teasing them. He could not enjoy the thought of being an uncle before as he was too deep in grief but now he could fully celebrate.

The ladies went out making an excuse and Wali took Hasifa with her to the canteen to get her something to eat since she directly came from university. Their fathers had already left as they had to arrange appropriate supplies for Shehryar at home and settle the bills. None of them wanted to stay at the hospital anymore.

"You're pregnant." Shehryar stated after the whole room fell in silence for a few moments.

Badiya just took his hand and placed it on her bump. She could see the hesistancy and unsurity on his face but feeling her bump made it go away.

"You're really pregnant. We're going to parents, Badiya." Shehrayar rubbed her bump lightly and exclaimed in happiness, his eyes shinning like someone who has won the lottery.

Badiya just nodded her head as a few tears of happiness escaped her eyes. She felt like she had tanks of water instead of tear glands with the amount of crying she has done.

"Hey, hey. Don't cry now babe." Shehryar pulled her towards him and wiped her tears.

"I missed alot, didn't I?" He said carresing her cheeks as he looked into her brown orbs.

"Don't worry. There are still six months of tantrums and cravings and massages left for you." She said in wet tone smiling widely.

And Shehryar finally did what he wanted to do as soon as he saw her. He pulled her face towards him and their lips touched but it felt like their souls united. Again.

Author's Note
I had so much fun leaving the last chapter at that cliffhanger. And I had much more reading all the comments you guys left. I think I am the only person who laughed out loud at every threat she recieved.

I know I tortured you guys but hopefully this chapter was enough redemption.

Tell me your thoughts.

The next chalter is going to be the last chapter/epilogue. And I'll take time writing it.

~❤