Chapter 19

Atifa's pov :

I examined myself in the mirror. "I don't think I should wear this, it's just shopping Emaan." I told her, still looking at the heavy abaya which she chose for me to wear.

"Yeah I know, but we are going there with your future husband. So you should dress well." She replied, emphasising the word 'future husband' while wearing her hijab.

I looked at her incredulously before taking off my abaya. "I don't care, if I want to dress well I will do it at home. I'm not going to wear that heavily embroidered abaya just for shopping." I said while taking out my usual abaya and wearing it. This abaya just had minimum work on the sleeves, was packed from the front and was loose, comfortable for me.

"And if I wear that heavy abaya it is going to attract people to look at me and abayas are worn to conceal our beauty and blend us in, not make us stand out for people to look at. Our beauty is reserved only for our husband. Remember? And moreover, it isn't even someone's wedding that I should wear it and go." I reminded her sternly while wearing my hijab.

"Yes yes, I remember. Now don't give me a lecture, I was only trying to help you. Which was a terrible idea I realised." She muttered the last sentence but I heard it anyway.

Rolling my eyes at her, I wore my niqab. I checked myself in the mirror once, fixing my niqab. "Let's get going. We also have to check up on the kids." I said while taking my handbag from the side and keeping my mobile in it.

"Yeah let's go." She replied in excitement before leaving the room. Shaking my head, I chuckled at her excitement. Turning off the lights, I left the room too.

As soon as I stepped out, closing the door behind me, I smelled the delicious aroma of kheer coming from downstairs. That too ammi's special kheer. I was so tempted to just go down and have it but I decided to check up on the kids first.

Opening the door, I entered the room to find them all ready. Except for their hair which they were trying to comb. Emaan was standing there giving them instructions. Shaking my head, I slapped her head lightly. "Couldn't you help them?"

She frowned. "I'm helping them, okay?!"

"I didn't mean it like this. Just make a pony for Amira and I will do it for Alayna." I replied with a sigh, motioning her to go ahead.

Taking a comb, I held Alayna's hand and took her to the bed. Sitting there and making her sit beside me, I did her hair quickly. She was wearing a pink frock while Amira was wearing a purple one and both of them looked cute. I gave her a matching headband and she wore it. Amira was also ready by then and together they looked like best friends. I really hoped they would become best friends.

"Awww you both look so cute." Emaan gushed while taking out her mobile to click pictures.

"Ma Shaa Allah, Barak Allahu Feekum." I murmured with a smile.

"Now both of you stand together." She told them while sitting on one knee to take a picture. After she was done taking pictures - which took her around ten minutes must I say - we headed downstairs.

Following the aroma, I went to the kitchen to see ammi ready and taking out kheer in bowls. "Oh you guys are here! Let's just have this sweet dish and then go." She said happily.

"Jee ammi, let me help you." I replied while taking out a tray and keeping the bowls in it. "You didn't sleep?" I inquired after a while.

(Yes)

"I couldn't sleep due to excitement. And so I thought of making something sweet. And anyways we haven't had anything sweet since your nikkah got fixed. And we should definitely have something sweet on such an occasion, right?" She replied while garnishing the sweet dish with dry fruits.

"Uhh, yeah... I guess." I replied uncertainly while taking off my niqab and keeping it in my handbag. I decided to wear it after having kheer.

We took the trays to the drawing room where everyone was waiting for us. "Come on everyone, I made kheer. And since Atifa's nikkah got fixed and we haven't had anything sweet, we will leave only after having this." Ammi chirped happily while passing the bowls to everyone.

I could see Amira and Alayna getting confused and I knew questions were coming our way. Quickly taking a glance at him, I saw him looking down, his ears pink. Wait, did I really see his ears turning pink?

Looking away, I went to sit beside Emaan, who was now undoubtedly grinning while looking at me. Ammi gave me a bowl too and I took it while murmuring a quiet Jazak Allah. "What?" I asked her quietly.

"Oh nothing, just that your future husband looks cute while blushing." She whispered back, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"Just finish up this kheer or we won't be able to go shopping." Glaring at her, I warned sweetly while fluttering my lashes.

"Yeah yeah, excited are we?" She smirked before having a spoonful of kheer. Without waiting for my reply she moaned quietly and exclaimed. "Aunty, this is the best kheer I have ever had."

"Awwh, Jazak Allahu Khairan beta. I'm glad you like it." Ammi replied, I noticed that she was sitting in the middle. In front of us he was sitting with the kids.

I turned back to eat my kheer, and it was definitely delicious. I missed having this kheer so much, it was our favourite. We would always ask ammi to make it, and at times we would skip our meals to have this kheer. I smiled remembering our old memories.

"Ammi I'm confused. Atifa api is getting married?! When?" Amira suddenly questioned, her eyebrows knitted together in a cute frown.

I shouldn't have been surprised but I was. And I had to look at ammi for her reaction. She was just happily sitting there with a big smile on her face, having kheer. I knew Amira's gaze was flickering between us for an answer. Even Alayna was sitting there with a frown, confused.

"Yes sweetheart, Atifa is getting married to Saad tomorrow. Then he will officially be your bhaijaan." I could feel the excitement in ammi's voice.

I glanced at them to see their reaction and they were just watching us with wide eyes, trying to take in the news. My gaze flickered to him and my breathing momentarily stopped when I realised that he was already looking at me. My cheeks burned and I quickly looked away, regretting my choice of taking off my niqab while eating. If I would have been wearing that, at least he wouldn't have seen my reaction. Although I doubted if he could even see me properly. At least I wished he didn't see that.

Quickly looking at Emaan, I realised that she already knew what happened because of that silly smirk on her face. Trying to show her that I wasn't affected by it, I continued eating my kheer.

"My brother Saad?" Alayna inquired incredulously, her mouth agape and her eyes unblinking. She looked at ammi and then at her brother.

"Yes, your brother Saad." Ammi replied while glancing at her lovingly.

"Bhai you didn't tell me!" Alayna whined, getting upset.

"Yeah even api didn't tell me." Amira added sadly. I blinked, almost choked. How could I even tell her that? I hadn't even uttered the words to myself yet and here she was, saying that I should have told her?

'She is just a kid, she doesn't know how I couldn't tell her or anything. She doesn't understand how it feels.' I tried to calm myself down before replying to her awkwardly. "I'm sorry princesses. I didn't know how to tell you both."

I glanced at him to see him looking tongue-tied, not knowing how to answer his sister. I knew it must be super awkward for him too, so without thinking anything, I added. "Umm, maybe we can make it up to you both by buying you whatever you want. What do you say?" I asked while looking at them expectantly.

Their eyes lit up and once again their lips adorned pretty smiles as they looked at each other. Maybe my idea worked. "Okay api, as you say." They giggled. A sigh of relief left my lips and my gaze once again flickered to him, only to find him looking at me gratefully. He didn't seem tense anymore as he smiled. I caught myself smiling back at him.

Was this our first genuine smile at each other? It looked like that.

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Glossary :

- Barak Allahu Feekum - May Allah bless you both.

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