Chapter 25

Atifa's pov:

I hadn't realised until then that Emaan was hugging me and whispering soothing words, trying to calm me down. I couldn't even remember what triggered me to cry this much.

Maybe I hadn't realised how much I missed ammi's warmth and words until now. Maybe that's why I couldn't control myself today. I was about to wipe my tears until I realised I had henna on one of my hands. Using my other hand, I wiped them away and tried to stop the upcoming sobs for the sake of Emaan.

When I was sure that I was calmer, I retreated from the hug and gave Emaan a grateful smile, letting her know that I was fine now. Watching her tear stained face, a chuckle escaped my lips. "Why were you crying baby doll?" I teased her, trying to lighten her mood.

Wiping her face hastily, she narrowed her eyes at me. "Oh please, I wasn't crying. It was you who were crying like a baby and I had to handle you. And now you are only teasing me." She replied with a pout.

"Awwh, really?" I asked her, fluttering my eyelashes and suddenly the memory resurfaced, making me realise my sudden reason for the outburst. Feeling the tears resurfacing, I tried to control them. At least for now.

"Yeah!" She replied, now checking the movie. I had a sudden urge to just go and cry my heart out.

"Okay, I'm going to the washroom." I told her, climbing down from the bed and without waiting for her reply, I closed the door.

As soon as the door locked, my back slid down the door and I covered my mouth to stop the upcoming sobs from escaping my lips. Tears ran down my face yet again and I couldn't do anything to control them.

Peeking around the corner of the hallway, I checked if someone was there. Getting the coast clear, a smile made its way on my six years old chubby face. I tiptoed to the kitchen, my eyes searching for any sign of ammi around here.

When I got none, I dragged a chair from the dining table and adjusted it in front of a kitchen cabinet, hoping no one would come here anytime soon. My eyes darted around once again as I climbed the chair and opened the cabinet slowly.

A grin made its way on my face when I found what I was looking for. Hastily grabbing the jar, I got down carefully, trying not to make any sound. Keeping the jar on the table, I ran to the fridge, opening it. My eyes searched for another one of my favourite things, Nutella.

As soon as my gaze landed on it, I picked it up and closed the door, careful not to make any noise. Peeking through the door once again, I checked if ammi was coming here. Finding no one around, I walked back to where my cookie jar was kept while opening the Nutella jar.

Opening the cookie jar, I took out a cookie and dipped it in the Nutella, all the while a triumph smile adorning my face. My hands were now covered in chocolate but I didn't mind it. After all, we didn't always get chances like this where ammi wasn't around to scold us for our mischief.

I was savouring my second cookie when I heard footsteps coming towards the kitchen. I hastily closed the lids of the jars while still holding my precious cookie in my hand. Ammi entered the kitchen just as I hid my hands behind my back. She looked at me with narrowed eyes. "What were you doing here?"

"Oh I... I came here to drink water." I replied innocently while giving her a cheeky smile, unaware of the fact that my face was smeared with chocolate and she probably caught me red-handed.

"Okay. You drank water?" She took a step closer to me and I stepped back.

"Yes, I did." I replied, trying hard not to give away my lie as I looked behind her, trying to see if abbu was coming to save me.

"Okay and what is this cookie jar and Nutella doing here?" She inquired, raising a brow and I knew I was caught. Giving her a sheepish smile and without answering her, I ran to the living room where abbu was sitting, reading something.

"Atifa, come back here!" Ammi was running behind me.

"Abbu please help me!" I shrieked as I hid behind him, the cookie still gripped safely in my hand. "Ammi is going to scold me." I whispered, hiding away from her heated gaze.

"Atifa come here! Stop hiding behind your abbu's back." She said, coming closer to us.

"What did you do?" Abbu whispered as he looked at ammi's flushed angry face.

"I ate cookies." I replied slowly in a sheepish tone watching ammi's moves, ready to run if needed.

"Oh that's why! Why would you even do that? You could have asked her or me." He whispered back - although he knew what ammi's response would have been - as he turned to look at her. "She is just like you." Abbu told her with a chuckle. When she frowned, he added with a smile, "Both of you are crazy for cookies."

"That isn't the topic here mister. Move." She growled, her angry gaze now turned to him.

"Okay, I was actually looking for you. I want to ask you something." He told her as he held both of her hands and brought her closer to him.

I backed up a little as I watched them and took a bite of my cookie. "You can ask me whatever you want later, now let me deal with this little devil." Ammi glared at abbu as she tried to free her hands.

Abbu's hand went around her waist as he pulled her closer and looked at her intently. "I will forget about it later so I will ask you now. And you can deal with our princess later."

"Your princess is becoming a devil." Ammi huffed and wriggled, trying to free herself.

"She will always remain our princess. Now as I was saying, what have you decided to give your cousin as a wedding gift?" He questioned, changing the topic and holding her firmly.

Ammi frowned. "I haven't really thought about it yet." She was deep in thoughts and I knew abbu managed to divert her mind from me, at least for a while.

I grinned cheekily when abbu glanced at me and winked. Swallowing the last bit of my cookie and licking my fingers, I interrupted them hopefully. "Can I tell you what I want as my wedding gift?"

Abbu quirked his eyebrows in amusement while ammi looked surprised. "Go ahead." She said, a curious look on her face.

"I want lots of cookies made by you." I replied with a big grin and hopeful eyes while walking a bit closer to them.

Their laughter echoed in the living room as they looked at me fondly while I looked at them puzzled and confused by their reaction. "Okay, your ammi will bake lots of cookies for you." Abbu smiled at me as he released ammi from his arms.

"Really ammi?" I asked her expectantly.

"Yes, I promise you my little devil." She replied with a smile, her eyes shimmering with love and amusement at the same time.

"Yayyy, Jazak Allahu Khairan ammi!" I squealed as I climbed on the couch and gave her a sloppy kiss. It was when I saw the chocolate which I managed to smear on her cheeks did I realise that my face was covered in chocolate too. But the grin never left my face.

"Now coming back to the point Atifa, about the cookies..." Ammi started saying when I shrieked and jumped down from the couch, giggles escaping my lips. Running to the door, I turned around to see ammi turning to come behind me. But before she could take more then two steps, abbu pulled her by her wrist, making her crash onto his chest. His hand slid around her waist once again as he whispered something in her ears, making her go still and pink.

Getting the perfect opportunity, I ran upstairs to my room and closed the door with a laugh. Abbu saved me again. I grinned.

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▪ What is your favorite memory?

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