"Faheem," Began Umar as he approached with care.
Faheem sat in the window, overlooking the courtyard below, his gaze sharp, but distant. When he heard the man's voice, he looked back. Umar, looking more tired than he had the day before. "What troubles you, brother?" He replied, turning to face him.
"She is not doing well… she fears for our child's life, and I…" The assassin, trained as he was, had a look of regret upon his expression.
"And you?" Faheem pressed.
Umar met his eyes, gold on chestnut. Truly, there was concern to be found there. "I fear for hers." He replied in the ghost of a whisper.
There was no comfort Faheem could offer his friend, though his chest ached at the very sight of him. "How long now?"
"Three months, supposedly. They say he is to be born in March. And yet… I give it two weeks, best."
"He?"
"He. He is a boy."
Faheem sighed. "I suppose there is a fifty-fifty chance in that. Tell me, Umar. What makes you think your child will come early?"
"It is a feeling I have… and dread."
"But you do not know this for certain." Stated Faheem, stepping forward.
"I know for certain, Faheem, in the same way your wife is certain your first born will be a girl." There was, in fact, such certainty in Umar's tone that he might have believed him. Yet there was no way of knowing.
Faheem shook his head. "My wife is wrong about a great number of things, Umar. I would not put trust in her to be correct in this one time. Nor do your suspicions have any basis. There is simply no way of knowing."
"But if she gives birth to a girl, your child and mine will wed, and I know. He is my child, and hers."
Chuckling, Faheem set his hand upon Umar's shoulder. "Yes, yes. We will agree upon that." At least Umar, for the time being, was becoming distracted from his original line of thought. "You will not be left alone, Umar, rest assured. Banish such thoughts from your mind and hope for the best." Another thought crossed his mind, pushed violently from his thoughts as he retracted his hand and turned away. He could feel Umar's eyes upon his back.
"It is all I can do, Faheem… and I have never felt as helpless."