Chapter 5

Atifa's pov :

"I missed you so much bhai. Where were you? You know, I even got hurt but Amira and Atifa api helped me." Alayna's bubbly voice brought me out of my thoughts. She was talking to that man, who I realised, was her brother. But the question still remained, where did he come from? How did he know that she was here?

I just felt like disappearing because I didn't go in front of non-mahrams. But I couldn't just turn around and go without being noticed. I wished the earth would swallow me to save me from this awkward moment. Actually I shouldn't even be thinking like this, instead, I should just ask him where he came from and how he got to know that his sister was here. And also maybe, give him a lecture on how to take care of kids and not to leave them alone just like that.

"Assalamualaikum." A smooth deep voice brought me out of my raging thoughts. I glanced at him to see him looking at me. As soon as he noticed my gaze, he looked down, making me turn my gaze away too.

"Walikumussalam." Instead of a strong and firm reply, my voice came out like a soft whisper, which I wasn't even sure if he heard.

"Uh, Jazak Allahu Khairan for helping my sister. It really means a lot." I guessed he actually did hear my response because he replied. But anyways, that didn't matter at that time.

"Wa Antum Fa Jazak Allahu Khairan... How... Did you come in here?" I asked him with furrowed eyebrows, confused.

"You don't know?" He questioned with a frown. What did he mean by I don't know? How could I even know? Like what was he even saying? My already confused mind just got more jumbled up. What was even going on here?

Before I could reply to him or contemplate anything else, I saw ammi coming in the room through another doorway. "Assalamualikum Ammi." I greeted her, still confused.

"Walikumussalam Atifa, I see you guys have already met. That's nice." She replied with a smile, making me more confused. She knew him? She brought him here? And she was smiling? I mean that was a good thing Alhamdulillah, but it still didn't add up or answer any of my questions. Ya Allah please help me!

"Yeah, I brought him here." She informed me, maybe after watching the confusion clearly visible on my face.

"Oh... Okay, I will just go and set the lunch up." I mumbled awkwardly before turning around and rushing towards the kitchen. I was so engrossed in reading and playing with kids that I didn't even realise it was past four already.

Now my thoughts of giving him a lecture were replaced by my new confusion. Trying to distract myself, I started heating up the food.

I shouldn't be thinking that much because I was sure that I would get the answers to my questions soon. At least I hoped so. After heating the food and setting up the table, I took out two cakes and cut them into slices, thankful that I decided to bake something today. Two cakes were still in the fridge. After setting up the cakes on a platter, I kept it aside. Amira came in the kitchen, a silly grin adorning her face.

"What happened? And where is Alayna?" I inquired with a frown.

"Nothing and she is sitting with bhai." She replied, hopping around happily. "Ammi was asking if the table is set." And before I could ask her anything else, she asked me quickly.

"Yeah, you can call everyone for lunch. It's ready." I replied to her suspiciously.

"Okay!" She chimed and ran away. Weird. But I decided to go to my room since I didn't feel like eating anymore. Well, at least not in front of that guy.

Sighing, just as I was about to leave the kitchen, ammi came and asked me to keep the water jug and glasses on the table. Maybe I forgot to put it since I was lost in my thoughts. Taking out a glass jug, I filled it with cold water. After keeping that and a few glasses on the tray, I went out to put it on the table.

In the meantime, others went to wash their hands and came to sit here. I took the tray back to the kitchen and contemplated whether I should go out from the kitchen or not. Because I might need to refill the bowls... I decided to go anyway, not wanting to confuse myself anymore. I wanted some peace of mind.

Sighing, I left the kitchen. "Atifa why don't you join us too? I mean it's pretty late already so come and eat." I wasn't expecting ammi to notice me leaving, nor was I expecting her to ask me to join them. I wasn't even sure if I heard her right because she never asked me to sit and eat with her if I ever skipped my meals or something. I mean, she used to ask me but that was before things changed.

"Yes api, aaiye na." Amira too pleaded happily. I was just awkwardly standing there, contemplating whether I should join them or not. I would have loved to join as ammi asked me herself, something which I was wishing for quite a long time, for her to notice us and acknowledge us once again. To talk to us. To be happy. To be like how we used to be before things changed. And now that she finally did that, I didn't want to lose the chance. But... That guy!

(Please come.)

Deciding to sit anyway, I joined, sitting beside Amira and unfortunately, in front of that guy. I couldn't lose this chance just because of some guy. Reciting astaghfirullah a few times in my mind, I reminded myself I shouldn't be thinking about him much. And that too in a negative light because I didn't know him and his reasons.

The lunch went silently for a while, that was until ammi decided to break the silence and ask him questions. Now coming to thinking about it, I felt sorry for him. We were all girls. He was a guy, sitting with us alone. I mean, he might be feeling awkward in front of us.

"So how old are you beta?" She started asking him. And I didn't bother to think much about her questions because I didn't want to confuse my mind anymore.

I could feel him stopping midway while eating his food. Then after a while, I heard his deep and cold voice again.

"I'm twenty-two." He replied, a bit rudely? I didn't know, his voice was also a bit hard. Like he was angry and trying to control his anger. Ignoring it, I continued with my food. But I guessed ammi didn't mind it at all because she continued to ask him questions.

"And what do you do? Are you studying?" Feeling her gaze, I could notice him shifting uncomfortably at his place. My head was bent low to avoid looking at him. But I could feel him moving a bit. I glanced at ammi and she was smiling. I felt my lips tugging upwards, watching her smile. I continued with my food after checking up Amira and Alayna's plates, whether they needed a refill or not.

"No, I have completed my studies Alhamdulillah. I'm working as a manager in a company." He replied awkwardly. I could see that he had resumed eating again. Maybe to avoid ammi's upcoming questions.

"Oh Ma Sha Allah, that's great! Atifa has just completed her high school this year and is waiting for her results. Right Atifa?" She turned to look at me with a smile playing on her lips. I almost choked on my food hearing her taking my name. Alright she was asking him questions, but why would she take my name and tell him about me?

After taking a sip of water and calming down, I answered her. "Yeah ammi." Again, it came out more like a mumble. I weakly smiled while glancing at her and my gaze flickered to the man in front of me. He just awkwardly looked down while nodding his head.

I desperately wished that she wouldn't ask him anymore questions or tell him something, anything else. But it seemed like she didn't realise that we were feeling pretty much uncomfortable because she continued to question him further. And even if she did realise it, she made no such move to acknowledge it.

I just tuned her out as my thoughts turned to ammi. Why would she suddenly start talking again and that too in front of this man. What effect does this man have on her? Was she just pretending in front of him? But why would she even do that? I didn't realise that ammi was calling my name and only after she squeezed my hand lightly, did I realise that all eyes were on me. Moving uncomfortably in my seat, I looked at ammi.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Slightly worried, she asked me with a frown adorning her beautiful face.

"Yeah ammi, I'm alright Alhamdulillah. What were you saying?" I questioned, changing the topic while smiling slightly.

"Oh nothing, can you bring the platter of cakes from the kitchen?" Removing her hand from my hand, she requested. I nodded my head and stood up from my seat.

"Yeah sure." I smiled at her before heading in the kitchen. I took the platter back and started serving them. I knew Amira and Alayna would choose chocolate and ammi would like vanilla. Now came the difficult part. Which cake would he prefer? Pausing a bit, I cleared my throat.

"Uhm... Chocolate or vanilla?" I asked him nervously. I didn't even know why I was feeling nervous.

"Vanilla." His gaze flickered towards me as he answered. I could see a smile tugging at the end of his lips. I quickly turned my gaze away before serving him his cake.

Thankfully, ammi wasn't asking him anything anymore. A sigh of relief left my lips as I sat down and continued having my cake in contentment.

"You know bhai, Atifa api made this cake. Isn't it delicious?" Just as I thought that I could be relieved now, Alayna informed him, making me choke on my cake. Coughing, I drank some water and looked up. He was looking in my direction a little concerned, and when he saw me looking at him, he turned his gaze away, although he couldn't hide his smile. My already pink cheeks were now burning red in embarrassment. Today just isn't my day, I thought. I kept embarrassing myself in front of this stranger. I mumbled astaghfirullah before looking away.

"What happened Atifa? Are you alright?" Ammi asked me, concerned. 'No ammi I'm not, all because of this guest of yours', I wanted to reply, but instead, I just nodded and mumbled an embarrassed yeah.

Before I could embarrass myself anymore, I stood up and started taking the dishes back in the kitchen.

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GLOSSARY:

- non - mahrams - any guy who isn't a woman's husband or who is not related to a her by blood.

- Hadees/hadith - Saying of our beloved prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)

- astaghfirullah - "I seek forgiveness in God".

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