A couple of months later, The Ahmed Palace was decked up like a bride for the their national day celebrations
The Ahmed brothers did the main prayer together as usual.
"Let the bond only get stronger, touchwood," Fatima, their grandmother, said, warding off any evil eyes with a hand gesture.
After the brothers did the aarti, Zayed and Basim stepped back so that their sister in law and Salim could do the prayer.
No matter what, Salim and Camille will always do it together first. They aren't going to change that tradition to please anybody.
"Zayed, please hold Anya for a moment" Camille said, handing over her one month old precious bundle to Zayed who took her happily.
"Awwlee Is uncle's cutie pie awake?? Are you bored?? Don't worry, you will have a little brother or sister to play with and boss around soon" Zayed said cuddling the baby closer.
Once Salim and Camille did the prayer, Salim took his daughter from Zayed and cuddled her closer.
Zayed walked over to a heavily pregnant Aveline
"It's our turn love. Come on" he said and helped her up from where she was sitting and wrapped him arms around her and took her towards the space where the prayer is held.
"Where are the triplets??" Aveline asked once they did the prayers.
"Must be plotting new ways of irritating the hell out of people" Zayed said dryly earning a wack from his wife
"That's mean" Aveline said
"No. That's the truth. You know Sheikh Mariban from the neighboring country complained about Zahir puncturing his car tire. He was here at our invitation" Zayed said
"He did what?? Did you ask him about it??" Aveline asked
"Oh yes. Sheikh Mariban was also there when I asked him" Zayed said dryly
"And what did he tell" Aveline asked worriedly
"He asked Sheikh Mariban whether there is any proof that it's him who did it" Zayed said, sighing in exasperation.
Basim laughed hearing that.
"That's my boy"
"Bass, you are the one encouraging him in all his antics. You are spoiling him" Zayed scolded his younger brother
"Come on Zay. Old Mr Thappar deserved it. Yesterday he bumped into my car taking a wrong turn and was blaming me for it." Basim said
"Stop making excuses" Zayed said
"Anyway. Leave that. It's time for crackers. Come on. The triplets are waiting" Basim said
"Crackers?? Who bought crackers?? You know how much pollution it causes Basim" Zayed demanded
"Oh please. It's our national day. It's a festival of fireworks" Basim said
"It is not. It has never been. Some spoiled princes like you introduced that tradition" Zayed said making Basim roll his eyes
"Then don't come. I am going" Basim said and walked away
"Let's go Mon cher" Aveline tugged him and he reluctantly walked out
****
"I am a big boy. I can do it" Zahir said stubbornly to Hugo who was refusing to let him light the Cracker rocket.
"I will do it for you, Prince Zahir . It's dangerous" Hugo said trying to appeal to his young boss
"I am the great wall of ZAZ. Nothing is dangerous for me" Zahir said, sticking out his chin in a defiant gesture, making Hugo pray helplessly for someone to come and rescue him.
Even the SAZ before meeting Camille hadn't given him such a tough time like this little ZAZ does.
"Hugo uncle, my shoelace came undone. Can you help me with it please" Zada asked from a little distance
Hugo sighed and walked over to the little girl and bent down to tie her shoe lace and Zada took the moment of Hugo's distraction and grinned at her brother who in turn grinned back and lit the cracker
Hugo jerked around at the whoosh sound of the rocket coming out of the bottle to see the little tyke grinning smugly at him
"Prince Zahir! What have you done??" He cried out in horror
"See Hugo uncle. It was not dangerous" Zahir said taking another rocket from the packet and placing it in the bottle
"What is going on here??" Zahir and Zada turned back to see their father glaring at them and Zada looked down guiltily
"Hugo uncle was lighting the rocket. I was telling him it is dangerous" Zahir said lying to his father's face
Zian who came out from the house at the moment looked at Hugo with disapproval
"Hugo uncle. You don't know crackers cause air poll-... What's that papa??" Zian asked
"Air pollution"
"Yes. That!! Crackers cause that" Zian wore his environmentalist hat ready to give Hugo a six year old's worth lecture on environment protection.
Hugo hung his head low.
He had learnt his lesson the hard way, not to refute anything the three little devils says.
Zayed shook his head knowing too well who is the culprit
Aveline who had been watching the scene wearily doubled over in pain as a contraction hit her hard.
She had been having the contractions for a while now. She had brushed it off as false alarms as she is not due for another week.
But this seemed harder
"Zayedj" she screamed in pain gaining everyone's attention
"Aveline, love. What's it??"
"Is the baby coming momma??" Zada asked
"Is it time for me to run to the room and get the bag??" Zahir asked anxiously
"Is it time for me to call for help??" Zian asked equally anxious
"I think it's time" Aveline gasped as the contractions seemed to increase in frequency
As soon as the words got out Zahir ran to their parents room to get his momma's bag, Zian ran inside to inform everyone and to ask for help and Zada ran to get a glass of water for her momma.
Aveline and Zayed had given them the class two weeks ago, about what all they were supposed to do if a situation arise where the baby is about to come when no one is around other than them.
In their eagerness to help their momma in any way possible, they had overlooked the fact that Zayed, Basim and Hugo were present at the time and decided to fulfil their part anyway.
****
Zaif Ahmed al Zidra was born on the National day night with the entire Ahmed clan standing outside the labor room.
A tired Aveline had fallen asleep and Zayed had accompanied the nurse who pushed the trolly in which his little boy was now lying asleep.
The image of his son is still blurry because his eyes continued to fill with tears how much he dabbed them away.
As soon as they came out of the labor room, everyone surrounded the trolly.
The triplets wormed in through the gaps between the elders legs and tried to see the baby.
But the trolly was high and they couldn't see clearly
"Is it a girl baby papa??" Zada asked in excitement
"No it's a boy baby. Isn't it papa??" Zahir asked
Zayed chuckled through his tears and he hugged the triplets close to him
"I am sorry. I am so sorry" he said through his tears as he hugged his children for whom he was not there when they were born.
Zada looked anxiously at her father
"It's okay papa. I don't mind having a boy baby. I will love him. Don't cry papa" Zada said
"See we all want a boy baby. There is no need to cry papa" Zahir said, not willing to give up his wish for a baby brother, no matter what.
Zian wiped his fathers tears
"I love you all so much" he said
"We love you too papa" they said smiling at him
Zayed took the baby, who had woken from his sleep listening to all the hustle bustle, and kneeled in front of the triplets with the baby in his arms.
"Say Hi to your little brother" Zayed said and the triplets fawned over their little brother.
Zayed looked up at his brothers and said
"I thought I couldn't possibly love Aveline anymore than I already do" he chuckled through his tears.
Tears of happiness at witnessing something so wonderful and tears of anguish at having missed all this six years ago.
At the thought of Aveline going through all this all alone
****
Aveline woke up from her sleep to see her husband staring at her with so much emotions
"Zayed, where is my baby??"
He took her hands in his and kissed them
"I love you"
"I love you too"
"I am sorry. I am sorry for every pain you had to go through because of me." Zayed said
"Zayed, we have been through this so many times. I am happy now. We are happy now. That's what matters now" Aveline said smiling
"Thank-you. Thank-you so much for giving me a second chance. Thank-you so much for loving me" Zayed said earnestly.
"This little guy is ready to meet his momma" the nurse said walking towards them with little Zaif all wrapped up and placed him against Aveline's bosom
They had chosen two names. One for a boy and one for a girl.
Zaif and Zera
Zayed sat next to her on the bed and wrapped his arms around her shoulder looking down at his son
Soon the triplets joined them
"Momma? Can I read stories to the baby, momma?" Zada asked
"No. We will go to the zoo with me and feed the animals" Zian argued
"I am the great wall of ZAZ. I will decide what the baby does" Zahir said, puffing out his chest showing his dominance.