Cursed With Beauty (78)

Previously:

Khalid's wife finally gives birth, but he doesn't remember his sister's name..
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Amal:

I reminisce the happy day that Khalid named Osha, we had just gone through the incident with Aisha. It was the first time a girl had such an impact on Khalid. Is it weird that he ended up marrying Aisha's sister? Maybe, but Mai's been all the characteristics Khalid lacked. She was in a way, his completion.
I'm not going to say they were perfect, their differences got in the way a few times, but it certainly made them stronger together.

I pity Khalid for all the precious memories he lost.. Will he ever gain them back? No one could tell..
after filling him in on who baby Osha was, and how she was named, we video chatted Khalid the next day.

"Okay Khalid, so it's a boy, what are you going to name him?' I start. "We aren't sure between my father or Mai's. We're thinking either Khalifa jr. or Marwan Jr." We pause for a second when grandmother starts to tear up. I know she missed them so much, and that she'd rather have Mai and the baby close to us. It wasn't easy on anyone.

Saeed:

It felt like this. I was a completely normal human being with others trying to convince me I was not normal. It got to a point where I believed that I was a dangerous person. On one of those 6 am jogs with my father, we took the time to talk about it. Was I insanely violent? At least I didn't think so..
To me, it just wasn't fair. All I wanted was to know whether Joojoo was okay, and I didn't even get the answer..

Frustration choked me. Was I ever going to get an answer? I never thought I'd be doubting Joojoo. Usually it was that she kept other people's secrets, not her own. I felt guilty about it. I knew it wasn't right to spy on her, I didn't, but the pain I went through jerked the tears out of me.  I wouldn't have cared if she weren't mine. Signed papers, and I've claimed territory. I prayed it wasn't what I thought it was..

Khalid:

We weren't allowed to stay in the hospital for long enough. Right after they taught her how to handle the baby with delicacy we were basically kicked out. Anna and Nicolas never left our side though. They often laughed at our ignorance, but it was alright. He often cried, loudly. There weren't many distincitve features to compare whether he resembled me or her more.
When we were off to work, Mr.Nicolas would drop Anna off at the hotel, and they'd spend time together until we were back again. Anna would often ask, what did you name him? We chose Khalfan. Not her father's name, nor mine. No more arguments. Khalfan Khalid, I liked the sound of it.

Cursed With Beauty (77.5)

Khalid:

I shifted from side to side whenever I heard Mai scream from the other room. "Push! Push!" Some french doctor would shout every two seconds. Mr. Nicolas and Anna, his wife, had just arrived. "Khalid!" Anna panicked. "Go to her! Help her!" "No thanks.." I was terrified. "She needs you now more than ever, Khalid. Go hold her hands." Mr. Nicolas pats my shoulder. I step inside and they dress me up in some kind of scrubs, face mask, and gloves.

As soon as I see her, I kiss her forehead while still wearing my face mask, and apologize for what she's going through. "Breathe, umm, I don't know!" "Tell her to push!" Her doctor shouts at me. "Okay, do that Mai!" Wait, PUSH WHAT! I pat the sweat on her forehead dry and she breathes heavily. " I.. I can't go on like this.. I can't.." She cries. "Come on Mai, you can, I promise you can. Please, for me.." One final wale, and it's out. A tiny human creature covered in blood and other things I really didn't understand.

He cried uncontrollably, and as soon as we heard his cry, we both cried along with him. He was wrapped up in a blue blanket and carefully placed in her arms.

Amal:

We got a call from Khalid! It's the greatest news I've heard in a while.. Is it impatiently through class, texting Khalid on how to create a Skype account.. When I got back from school, I texted him to set up the laptop so we can all see each other.  I sat with my grandmother and Osha on my lap as we video chatted. "Hey.. Who's that?" Khalid asks, pointing on his screen. Our smiles fade.. "Who do you mean? I'm Amal.." He chuckles. "I know that stupid, who's the kid on your lap?"
I look at my screen and I see Mai's worry obviously painted across her face..

I ended the video chat and got to my phone instead. "Your sister Khalid, you named her! How could you forget!" I texted him. "I'm sorry, I think I forgot, what's her name?" he replied.

This was frustrating, Mai should not have been alone with my brother, and yet there was no way I could get there.. They needed watching over..