Chapter 51

Atifa's pov:

"No we don't do that abbu." I squealed as he started running behind me, trying to catch me. We were stuck in a forest since abbu thought it was a good idea to come here without a guide and map. He wanted to 'explore' the forest with his family but alas! Look where he got us?

A few moments ago we were all panicking on what to do and how to get out of here before abbu thought of lightening our mood and started chasing us, trying to hug us with his sweaty self, which obviously wasn't a good idea. Who would like to get themselves sweaty in a forest where we couldn't even take a shower later on? And we didn't even know for how long we would be stuck here. So it was better to be safe than sorry.

"There was no such rule Princess." He replied back with a laugh as he continued to chase me. Ammi and Amira were giggling as they watched us with amusement.

"But still, this isn't fair." I replied, now huffing and stopping behind a tree. Peeking from behind it, I glanced at abbu's approaching figure. I gripped the tree trunk tightly, hoping he wouldn't actually catch me.

"Everything is fair in love and war." Saying this he winked at me before turning to look at ammi mischievously. A relieved laugh escaped my lips as I saw ammi's horrified expression and realised abbu's plan.

"No, you aren't coming near me." Ammi warned, showing a finger to him. He just chuckled while taking predatory steps towards her.

"And why won't I come?" He asked her while raising a brow. I came out from behind the tree and watched their banter, admiration clear in my eyes and a smile playing on my lips.

"Because... Because we are going to play hide and seek." Ammi exclaimed quickly, taking a few steps back.

Amira's eyes lit up as she exclaimed happily. "Yayyy! Hide and seek. I will hide."

Ammi looked relieved to say the least. "See, even Amira wants to play that." She told abbu while glancing at him.

"I don't have any problem playing that. But only after I complete my task at hand." I could hear the mischief clear in his voice, making me laugh.

"Daniyal I'm warning you. Stay away from me." But her pleads were landing on deaf ears as without hearing anything, he reached her before caging her in his arms and snuggling his face in her neck, making her squeal. Abbu's throaty laugh echoed around us, making us giggle as he finally left her, taking a step back.

"I hate you! Dekhiye mujhe bhi gila kar dia aapne apne pasine se. Ughhh!" Ammi groaned, glaring at him, her hands lifted in the air as she made a disgusted face.

(Now you have made me sweaty with your sweat too.)

"I love you too. And you look cute this way. I'm finally at peace." Abbu deliberately said, teasing her as he sighed in exaggeration, which fumed ammi even more.

"I didn't confess my undying love for you mister! But wait, did you just say that I don't look cute otherwise?" Ammi said through gritted teeth as she continued to glare at him.

"Nope, I never said that." He laughed nervously before glancing at Amira. "Amira wanted to play hide and seek right? Let's play." He added, trying to divert her attention.

"But you mean exactly that." Ammi muttered, making abbu gulp. "Wait till we get home." She added slowly before turning to look at us. I was standing near them now as I watched their interaction, amused. "So let's play hide and seek now. Who is going to find us?" She questioned while raising a brow.

"I will hide!" Amira squealed with a giggle.

"Me! I mean I will find you all." I replied enthusiastically with a grin on my face. "But you guys can't go anywhere far. I don't know the way around here." I added, looking at abbu pointedly.

"Okay okay, we won't." He replied, raising his hands up in surrender. "Jeez, why am I always the center of attention." He muttered under his breath but we could still hear him. Ammi chuckled while I just shook my head at him.

"Oh please! You love this attention." Ammi replied, shaking her head.

"Yeah yeah whatever." There was a small smile on abbu's face as he dismissed whatever ammi just said. "Chalo let's start. Stand there with your back turned around and start counting. No cheating." He said while pointing to a tree.

(Come on)

"Okay!" Nodding my head and saluting, I headed towards the tree. "I'm starting." I informed them loudly and after hearing their positive response, I started counting. "1... 2... 3..."

I could hear the footsteps running around, making me smile slightly. I continued to count until I was done. "I'm coming!" I said. Not getting anyone's response, I turned around, only to find the place empty.

Taking slow and precautionary steps, I moved forward. "Mira?" I called out her name, hoping to hear her reply so that I could catch her. When I didn't get any reply, I looked behind the trees nearby. "Ammi?" I tried calling her name but it was the same, I didn't get any reply. Going a little further, I tried looking behind the bushes. "Abbu?" Still no reply.

Giggling, I said loudly, "I know you guys are hiding somewhere here. I heard your footsteps. No point in hiding for long." I started looking around the trees near the place where I was counting. When I couldn't find them anywhere, I could feel panic settling in me. "Ammi?" I called out, now trying to stay calm.

"Abbu?" Not hearing any response, I tried calling again as I rechecked the places around me, not going anywhere further. "Where are you guys?" I called out, tears brimming my eyes. "Okay, this isn't funny anymore. I give up, you guys can come out." I cried, taking a few steps back, going back to my old place.

"Ammi? Abbu? Mira?" I shouted their names as I felt my throat clogging up and my breath getting short. Suddenly, it started getting darker, the clouds lightning and thundering, making me more scared. Running around, I kept shouting their names frantically, trying to find them. But it was of no use.

I suddenly found abbu, standing behind a tree with a smile. Sighing in relief, I tried to get closer to him, only to watch him fading away into darkness. "ABBU!" I cried, tears streaming down my face as I frantically tried to clear my path and reach him, hold him before he vanishes completely.

But I was late. Just as I reached him, I saw him vanish completely into thin air. "Abbu!" I cried, falling down on my knees, my breath hitched when my gaze landed on ammi and Amira. Both of them were standing on my right side as they smiled at me, calling me over. Standing up quickly, I stumbled, trying to reach them. "Ammi! Mira." I called out running towards them.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard someone calling me from behind. Turning around, I was stunned to see Alayna and Saad standing there with a smile, waiting for me. I turned to look back at ammi and Amira. Confused, I started taking a few steps back, fear gripping my heart as tears threatened to escape and let loose once again.

I didn't know what to do. I was confused. Who should I go to? Who was real and who was an illusion? Who-

I saw ammi and Amira too fading away, just like abbu. "AMMI! MIRA!" Shouting, I took off, determined not to lose them too. But even before I could reach them, they were gone. No traces left behind. It was like they weren't even there in the first place. My tears were now freely rolling down my face as I lost them too.

Realising Alayna and Saad were there too, I turned around running towards them as even they started fading away. "NO! PLEASE NOT YOU TOO." I begged but it was of no use. No one stayed, they all left. They all left me alone. I fell down on my knees once again, crying, as it started becoming hard to breath.

Sweating, I woke up with a start, tears streaming down my face. I sat up hating the darkness surrounding me. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. I tried to assure myself as I brought my knees closer to my chest, hugging them and hiding my face in it.

'It was just a nightmare.' I mumbled, trying to calm down my racing heart beat as I tried to inhale deeply. 'No one left me, they are here with me.' I told myself as I moved my hand on my bed, trying to find his hand or something to reassure myself. I frowned when I couldn't find anything. Panicked, I moved my hand around on the bed frantically. Once again I could feel fear gripping my heart as a new set of tears let loose.

Quickly flicking the table lamp on, I looked beside me to find the place empty. Where did he go? That... That wasn't a reality, right? That was just a bad dream, a nightmare. Nothing else. Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to drown out the negative thoughts while fisting my bed sheet tightly. A sob racked my body, making me cover my mouth.

Opening my eyes, a sigh and sob of relief escaped my lips as my gaze landed on him sleeping on the couch in an uncomfortable position. At least he was alive. At least he was safe. At least he was here. At least he didn't really leave. Internally thanking Allah and saying Alhamdulillah over and over again, I tried to wipe away my tears, but in vain.

Giving up, I let them roll down freely as I continued to gaze at him, afraid to look away and lose him too. He was crazy. Why did he sleep on the couch? Was there no space on the bed? If that was the case then he could have asked me to move or something. But no, he had to go and sleep there, giving me a mini heart attack.

Knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep again, at least not until it was still dark, I decided to go check up on ammi. Wiping away the last remnants of my tears, I stood up, heading to the washroom.

But when I reached him, I couldn't stop myself from touching his face lightly, not wanting to wake him up. A sigh escaped my lips as my hand lightly grazed his stubble. Getting assured that he was real and that he was here, I let my hand fall before continuing my way to the washroom.

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▪ Have you ever had nightmares? If yes then how do you overcome them?

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