Chapter 20

Atifa's pov :

We were roaming around the busy streets, looking for a good shop to buy whatever ammi had in mind. I didn't mind wearing anything for the next day, but just that whatever it would be, it shouldn't be heavy, I had decided. I didn't want to wear anything heavy when it was a small nikkah with just family and close friends. And I really hoped ammi hadn't planned to buy anything heavy for such a small nikkah.

Emaan was walking with me, behind ammi. And the kids were holding his hand, walking a few steps behind us. I was so tempted to turn around and look at how cute the kids were looking with him, holding his hands. But I didn't dare to do that. I didn't want to be caught looking at them like that. And for him to get any ideas...

"You actually aren't going to turn around and see them?" I glanced at Emaan who was staring at me expectantly.

"No."

"Well, it's your wish, but I'm not going to stop myself from watching them." Huffing, she replied with an evil smile and as if to show me that she wasn't kidding. "Are you both enjoying it?" Turning around to look at them, she called out.

"Yes api!" I heard their chorus, I could feel the grin on their faces. My lips twitched on their own, glad that at least someone was enjoying it.

Emaan turned back to me and grinned. She wasn't wearing a niqab so it wasn't hard to see her expressions, unlike mine. "Told you I will see them!"

"Yeah yeah. Enjoy." Replying, I continued to look for an interesting shop. You get what I mean, right? Yeah. Huffing, she stomped to ammi, whispered something in her ear and pouted. Ammi seemed to agree to whatever she said as she grinned widely and slowed down to catch up with me.

I raised a brow but realised that she couldn't watch my expression. So I turned to look at her but before I could ask her anything, she spoke. "I will be back, I'm just going to that shop right there." Turning around, she went away.

Confused, I shrugged at her odd behaviour and continued to walk. Ammi stopped at a stall and started looking for something, making me halt in my steps.

I was contemplating something when I heard Emaan yell my name. "Atifa!" Was this girl seriously yelling my name in the middle of a busy street?

I turned around furiously, ready to go and scold her for doing this when I saw her holding her mobile out and sitting on one knee around five meters away from me. The kids were still a good two to three meters from me. It was then that I noticed them walking towards me and I realised what she did.

She made me turn around so that I could see the kids holding his hand. I glanced at him and saw him looking down, listening to the kids attentively. His brows furrowed in concentration as the kids rambled away.

They were merely a meter away from me when my gaze turned to Emaan. She was standing now, a mischievous smile on her face. My face heated up and I turned around quickly, back to ammi, only to notice her watching me intently. My gaze met hers and a knowing smile passed her lips, making me look away. I was embarrassed at being caught but thankful that he didn't catch me. I was also thankful for my niqab.

I could hear the steps halting behind us. I didn't turn around knowing fully well who was standing there. I moved aside a bit, standing beside ammi but not entirely facing them. Emaan came behind them and grinned, standing beside Alayna. A small circle was formed by the way we were standing.

"I think I found a nice shop but let's go in and check out if it has what we want." Ammi informed before turning around, going to the shop. Once again, Emaan was right beside me as we entered the shop.

"I did it!" She whispered triumphantly, only loud enough for me to hear. The smug look didn't leave her face, it was like she won something. I shook my head at her antics but couldn't help the smile forming on my lips. That girl was crazy!

._._._.

"How many family members are there in your family?" I heard ammi questioning him as we were going through the aisles, trying to find a dress for Emaan. Ammi was with him, behind our aisle. And the kids were running around, playing catch catch.

"Including me and Alayna, we are five. I have my parents and an older brother." I heard his reply.

"Oh I see, Ma Sha Allah that's great! What does your father do? I mean, is he working?"

"Yeah, he is a professor, teaching in a university currently."

"And your older brother? What does he do?"

"He is a doctor."

"Oh that's nice, Ma Sha Allah. Is he married?" Why was ammi suddenly asking him these questions?

I didn't want to eavesdrop but I wasn't exactly eavesdropping. They were literally talking in the aisle behind mine.

"Yes." His replies were so curt that it seemed like he was a robot programmed to answer in as many less words as possible.

"Does he have any kids?" Could I just run away?

"No. He just got married last year." His voice was stiff? Or was it just my ears?

Wait a minute, was I actually listening to their conversation this attentively? Trying to get away from them and their conversation, I dragged Emaan away with me.

._._._.

"I told you guys already, I'm going to buy all of your dresses. Then why is there an argument here?" Ammi inquired angrily, her eyes fierce and her face red.

He flinched slightly, probably scared of this side of ammi and glanced around once. I quickly looked away, pretending to look for something. I could feel his gaze lingering on me for a while before turning to look back at ammi, a helpless look overcoming his face. And by the looks of it, he was most probably looking for a way to calm her down. Suppressing a giggle, I contemplated whether I should help him out or not. Watching all this was fun and I didn't want to let it go but...

Reluctantly, I walked up to them. "What happened ammi, why do you look so worked up?" I asked her, trying to look clueless. Ammi's eyes snapped in my direction, and for a moment, I thought of backing out. The look in her eyes could burn down a person right there, if it could.

He really did mess it up bad. Shouldn't have even argued with her in the first place. Because if she had thought about something once, then she would do it no matter what. Gulping, I tried to appear nonchalant, as if I didn't even know what was happening here.

Sighing, she calmed down a bit. "Aah Atifa! Glad that you are here. Now tell him that I'm paying and that's it. No more arguments." Smiling sweetly, she left, - leaving me alone with him, but not exactly alone because there were other customers and workers here - most probably to drink water and calm her worked up nerves.

Glancing at him quickly, I saw him looking relieved to say the least. I just realised that he was so scared that the colour had drained from his face, which was now returning back. I fidgeted with my fingers while looking down, contemplating what to tell him because he clearly heard ammi and I knew he wasn't going to go and argue with her again.

"Umm... What exactly happened?" I inquired instead, curious to know what set her off and landed him in a situation like this one.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he sighed. I couldn't exactly figure out if he was nervous or just feeling awkward. "Uh, I..." He stumbled with his words. "Alayna actually liked a dress and I was going to pay for it when she came and we had a small argument before she blew up." Laughing nervously, he looked away.

A chuckle escaped my lips. "Just remember never to argue with her again. She is pretty..."

I was struggling to find a perfect word when he replied. "Stubborn?"

"Yeah, she is quite stubborn. She doesn't listen to anyone." I smiled - although he couldn't see it - and gave a breathy laugh, now trying to escape from him and his slightly intimidating aura. Where had I even landed myself?

Looking around, I tried to find someone who could help me. Noticing Emaan's gaze, I looked at her helplessly but she just smirked before turning around to continue her work. My mind reeled. She didn't just do that! She did not just ignore me. My gaze narrowed into slits as I stared at her back, wanting to kill her. Again.

Maybe she sensed my gaze because after a while, she turned around to look at me. She looked taken aback for a moment until she realised she might actually get killed by my hands today. Quickly scurrying towards me, she smiled sheepishly. "Sorry Saad but I need her, so I'm taking her with me." Without waiting for his reply, she started dragging me away.

"Wait!" His voice stopped us in our tracks. I slowly turned around, waiting for him to continue. He seemed nervous? I didn't know, I was not sure. "Jazak Allahu Khairan." Clearing his throat, he added before walking away quickly, without waiting for my reply.

"Wa Antum Fa Jazak Allahu Khairan." I murmured, confused as to why he said that and continued to walk with Emaan. Sighing in relief when we were a safe distance from him, I turned to look at her questioningly. "What was that?"

"What was what? I should be asking you this, what was that?" She asked me in return nervously, looking anywhere but at me.

When I didn't reply, looking at me, she gave a nervous laugh. "I... I was just trying to give you both some time together?" It came out like a question rather than an answer.

"Oh yeah? By leaving me alone with him when clearly I was asking you to help me out?" I asked her, irritated. It was not only her action which made me irritated, but it was this whole shopping fiasco. I didn't like going out much, and roaming around the streets since the last two hours definitely took its toll on me.

"Sorry?" Sensing my mood, she replied cautiously.

Sighing, I tried to calm down. Until now not even half of the shopping was done and yet I was feeling irritated. Hopefully we would get over it soon because I couldn't handle being here anymore. "It's okay, I'm sorry for taking my irritation out on you." I replied after a while.

We strolled along the aisles for a while until Emaan finally found a dress which she liked. It was a full sleeved long gown. Grinning, she showed ammi the dress. And thankfully, we were getting out of that shop.

"Give me your dress." Ammi asked Emaan and she handed it to her, confused. When she saw her taking it to the counter, she realised why she took it from her.

"It's okay aunty, I will-" Emaan started when I squeezed her hand and shook my head vigorously, hoping she got my hint. She just stared at me, confused, but thankfully didn't complete her sentence.

I noticed him covering his face, trying to stop his laughter while looking at us. A smile slipped onto my face and I looked away. The kids were tired too and they just wanted to eat and rest now, it was clearly visible on their faces.

Once we were out of the shop, a relieved sigh escaped my lips. "Now only the bride and groom's dresses are remaining!" Ammi spoke with enthusiasm. I wondered where she got that from, her excitement, I mean.

We were looking for a shop which could get us our 'perfect' dresses when ammi caught sight of a gold shop. Ya Allah, please save me! I dreaded going there. "Let's go and check out the latest trends." She said while moving towards it.

Looking at Emaan pleadingly, I looked at the shops around the gold shop, trying to find an alternative one. Emaan squeezed my hand and motioned towards a watch shop. I smiled at her gratefully.

"Aunty we are going to that shop. I have to buy something from there." Emaan informed while looking at her hopefully.

"Okay but be back soon, I will be here." Replying, she went inside. The others followed her unknown to what was awaiting them. I sighed in relief but felt pity for others. I hoped they would be able to get out of there soon.

Emaan dragged me to the shop happily. "Come on, let's find something for your future husband!" She exclaimed with a wide grin.

I looked at her in confusion. "Didn't you just say that you wanted to buy something from here?"

"Well yeah, if I like something I might as well buy it, but that was just an excuse. What are you planning to give him after your nikkah as a gift?" She inquired while looking around.

"Uh... I haven't thought about it?" Frowning, I went towards the counter and took a look at the things available.

"Are you serious girl?! Tomorrow is your nikkah and you haven't even decided what you want to buy for him?" Coming beside me, she asked me incredulously.

"Well spare me, even I didn't know my nikkah would be tomorrow. But let's see what we can get from here I guess." I replied while scanning the things.

We silently scanned the stuff, looking for something which might attract us and would be good enough as a nikkah gift when something caught my attention. But before I could ask the salesman to show it to me, I felt a tug at my abaya. I looked at the person confused, but that confusion was soon replaced by shock.

What was she doing here?

._._._.