Chapter Two

Seventeen years later ....

"Ummi ? What's wrong?" Layla asked her mom.

The baby of yesterday , was today's 17 year old young girl. She had grown even more beautiful than she was when she was a baby.

Her hips had fully developed , her butt had grown big and round. She was flawless. Her broken voice box had given her a soft cute voice. She sounded almost like a doll. Her half blind left eye , was her only problem.

She could see properly in the daylight but when it came to night time , she had a little difficulty in seeing.

She had also been diagnosed with some strange ailment that had no cure , it was quite similar to cancer.

She had lost her younger brother , when she was 9 years old to cancer.

She was left traumatised, because he was too young and was such a wonderful soul.

At the tender age of 7, he died of cancer. It left a huge pit in her soul. He had taken a greater part of her when he died.

He would have been 15 years old if he were still existing. It hurt anytime she thought of it.

Her parents used to be very happy together , but things didn't go well as planned.

Her parents begun fighting a lot until her father got fed up and left , leaving her mother heartbroken and grumpy.

Her mother had never been the same, since he left. She was always either angry or crying.

"Can you please get me some groceries from the grocery store?" Her mother asked with a smiling face.

She smiled back at her mother and hugged her .

"Anything for you mom " she told her mom , making her mother cackle.

"I'll be right back mom!" She said in her delicate voice.

She walked to her room gracefully to change her outfit.

She was back in a beautiful green clingy jumpsuit with a long black jacket to cover the shape of her bums and a pair of black bear fluffy flip flops.

She had this obsession over fluffy flip flops .

She marched towards her mother's car and drove off to the grocery store.

She was excited to see her mother ecstatic after a very long time.

Since her father left 3 years ago , her mother was never the same.

Even that night he left , her mother collapsed and was confined in the hospital for 2 months.

Her mother never let her see the hospital results of that faithful day. She didn't seem to know why. But she had this feeling that her mother was hi ding something big from her.

She parked at the grocery's drive in and got out of the car and walked modestly to the grocery store.

Everyone stared at her for a long moment. Obviously marvelling at her beauty. She remained humble and bought all she had to buy on the list and even some surplus things, she needed.

She didn't mind looking at the perverts who were staring at her. After all such temptations are bound to come your way.

She paced to her car and hopped in it. She had started the car , when her phone started ringing. It was her mom.

"Hello Ummi ?"

"Hello Layla. Can you please get me some pasta ? I forgot to write it in the list "

"No problem mom "

She hunged up and stopped car , before coming out once again and walking back to the grocery store.

After getting the pasta, she begun feeling eyes on her. It was a usual thing , but this feeling was different all together.

It made her feel vulnerable and safe at the same time. She looked around her , only to be met by the eyes of creeps smirking at her.

She sighed and sat inside her car. She rested her head on the steering wheel , before starting the car once again and driving off.

She felt like she was being followed. But she never saw a car following behind her or a person following her.

She told herself that she was being illusional. After all , she most of the times fantasized about somethings that weren't real.

She got home after a 10 minute drive from the grocery store. Now she had to transport the groceries to the house . She carried them one after the other , to avoid dropping them

She successfully completed the task of sending the groceries to the house.

She found a note on the kitchen counter from her mother.

"I'll be home soon love.

I'm off to the hospital

Take care and please start making supper.

I love you. Mom ❤"

For some reason, this note didn't sit right with her. She found this to be awkward.

Why would her mother leave without calling at least ? After all she called when she wanted me to get her some pasta.

Layla leaned on the counter and tried to figure out what was going on.

Her phone started ringing. It was her bestfriend Munaiya ; a.k.a the hugs lover, a.k.a. Muna, a.k.a. the sassy princess.

She picked up the phone quickly and heard the loud sweet voice of her beloved girlfriend Munaiya.

"HELLO 😆😆😆 MY SWEET TOMATO 😆❤" She yelled through the phone.

If Munaiya was standing close to Layla and had screamed like that , I'm pretty sure , Layla would have burst her eardrum too.

"Hey Munaiya. I'm so glad to here you yell my name like that " Layla said sarcastically.

But Munaiya didn't seem to notice. She infact went on screaming how she missed Layla through the phone.

"Any ways tomato ? I have great news for us " Munaiya said with a pang of seriousness in her tone.

Layla gave her, her undivided attention.

"You know my elder brother , who left home years ago ?" Munaiya asked Layla.

Layla answered positively. I mean how would she not know ? Munaiya always spoke about him. About hlw rich he had become and how he made the Sheikh family's name elevate to where it is now.

From a small name in the town to the biggest name in their country Pakistan and infact the whole world.

She had never seen him before , of course. She had heard about him but hadn't seen him before.

She wasn't even interested in seeing him. But for Manaf, Munaiya's second elder brother , she would have never even known that Munaiya had an elder brother and he was a successful billionaire.

"Well , he's back in Pakistan and he's going to arrive here at the Mansion, anytime soon" Munaiya continued.

Layla didn't really know how that was her business but she had to keep it cool , in order not to break her friend's heart.

"Okay Muna ? So how do I come in ?" She asked.

Muna giggled and said calmly

"I want to hook you up with him".

Layla was astonished. She never expected that from Munaiya.

"What ?! C'mon Munaiya, don't pretend as tho' you dont know my hallmark. And if perhaps you've forgotten, let me remind you. I DON'T DATE OR HOKK UP ! " Layla snapped at her best friend.

She didn't feel bad , because , it was their usual vibe. They would argue with each other and say hurtful things to each other. But would come back around and make peace once again.

"Hmm.. it's alright girl.I just wanted to know if you wanted to hook up " Munaiya said sadly.

Layla felt bad for her bestfriend. But she knew that she wasn't ready for this dating stuff. After all she was just 17 years old.

She still was in her teens. And she wanted to stay as holy as possible for Allah and for her future partner.

"It's alright Muna, don't be sad okay?" She consoled her bestfriend.

Munaiya finally snapped back to the happy girl she is and they started all their girlie talks and some interesting thing that hapoened during the week.

These two ladies were best of friends. They told each other everything and could trust each other faithfully.

"My mother is hosting a welcome party for my elder brother and she's invited you and your mom" Munaiya enlightened Layla.

Layla was reluctant to o at first, but after several bouts of persuasion , she finally gave in.

"And don't worry about clothes, I've got a whole stack being sent for you right now " Munaiya added.

"C'mon girl. You've already got me enough . You're making me feel like a pauper" Layla sulked.

"It's alright baby girl, anything to make my bestie till casket happy 😆❤" she yelled once again through the phone.

Layla giggled in her cute doll like voice and thanked her.

The delivery came after 10 minutes. The girls were still chatting on the phone. Layla directed the delivery guy to leave the package on the couch in the hall , before she signed the papers and dismissed the man.

"These clothes are so beautiful Muna" Layla complimented while speaking to Muna on phone and looking through the things that had been gifted to her by her bestfriend.

"Yes I know right? I wanted you to look irrestible " she added.

Layla just rolled her eyes and giggled at that statement .

" I've also got a dress for your mom. It's in a small blue parcel" Munaiya added.

Layla couldn't thank her bestfriend enough.

"Thank you so much hun. So when is this welcome party ?" She asked.

"Anxious are we ?" Munaiya teased.

Layla blushed and giggled.

"I'm pretty sure you're blushing tomato . Anyways it's this evening . So get ready girl." Muna notified her.

"Alright girl. Mom's home now, I've gotta go tell her hun" Layla said as she wrapped up their conversation.

"No problem hun, I'll see you around later tonight" Munaiya said before hunging up the call.

Layla paced towards the hall where her mom was sitting .

"Hey mom , what's wrong?" She asked her mother . When she saw her mom looking sad.

"It's nothing Abinti( my daughter) " she replied with a genuine smile on her face.

Layla smiled back at her mom and broke the news to her mother.

"Woww that's great! It's been very long since, I last saw Mika'il. He was such a good lad , I wonder what made him leave. But his departure brought good fortune to their family" her mother said.

Layla was surprised as to how her mom , knew about him that much.

"Do you think I know him mom ?" She asked her mom.

"I doubt you'll remember him. He was 8 years old at the time of your birth. So I doubt you both will remember each other" her mother said.

She just smiled at her mom and helped her mom to her room and gave her, the parcel Munaiya got for her.

It was a very beautiful black flair long dress with beautiful lace embroidery . It came with a matching hijab and low heels.

"Allah bless that little girl Munaiya. She's such a good soul" her mother praised Muna.

She was happy for her bestfriend. She walked to her room to check out her outfit.

It was a clingy white long dress with white lace long sleeves. It came with a matching white birkin, a white hair band , white hijab and some white long heels.

It was so beautiful. Layla decided to paint her nails white , to compliment with her outfit.

She sat down to paint her nails. She was done after 15 minutes. They had about two hours before the welcome party would begin.

She put on her silver coloured contact lenses. It helped her a little to see at night. She walked to her mom's room to help her out . Her mom was already done dressing up and was sitting down reciting the Holy Qur'an . Layla sat down beside her mother and listened and recited along with her mother.

After they were done , her mother hugged her and said

"Always know that Allah knows best and is always going to be behind you , in times of hardship"

Layla smiled at this piece of advice and smiled at her mother.

She walked back to her room and dressed up in a simple outfit and packed her party outfit inside her car.

She ushered her mom into the car and drive to the Sheikh Mansion.

The Sheikh Mansion was a grand white house in their part of Pakistan. It was as big as 3 castles combined.

Layla and her mom had unlimited access to the Mansion , because they were a close family friend.

Layla drove into the house and parked the car in the garage.

The party hadn't begun yet , but a few guests had arrived . Layla's mother walked to her bestfriend Memuna's room for a chat , while Layla walked to Munaiya's room.

She had her outfit in her bag.

"Asalamu Alaikum " she announced her presence before literally barging into the room of her bestfriend forgetting to close the door.

"Layla!!!!!😆😆" Munaiya yelled into Layla's ears.

Layla giggled and hugged her bestfriend till casket, tightly.

"I missed you girl" Munaiya yelled into Layla's ears.

Layla shook her head and said

"I missed you more Sugar " .

"Now let's get our makeup done" Munaiya said as she pulled the makeup artist Layla to the dressing mirror.

Layla started her work and by the time she was done, the sassy princess Munaiya had been transformed into a Queen.

She looked very beautiful.

"It's your turn hun. Thank you so much by the way for the makeover" Munaiya said.

"I don't really need makeup , you know, just a little mascara and maybe lipgloss, and we're good to go" Layla said.

Munaiya nodded in agreement and whispered into Layla's ears.

" We still have some time before the party begins. Teach me a few of your belly dancing skills in the meantime"

Layla looked at her bestfriend and smiled.

She couldn't possibly deny her best friend.

"Okay ?? Why not?" Layla gave in.

"Alright now let's begin.

The usual lifts and drops,

The slides,

The shimmy

The twists

The circles

The figure 8's and

The undulation" Layla stated the steps first before she begun showing her the moves.

She was really an expert in this dance. After about 30 minutes of teaching Muna , they paused their lessons and begun dressing up for the party.

Unknown to them, someone had seen their dancing and had taken keen interest in Layla's expertise.

Layla and Munaiya were done dressing up and walked hand in hand downstairs to the party's venue.

Layla looked awkward with Munaiya. She was 5 foot 2 whilst Muna was 5 foot 7. They looked like a girl and her elder sister.

All eyes turned on them especially Layla when she walked downstairs to the party's venue.

One eye that caught her's was an irresistible jade green eye. He was the most handsome man , she had ever seen. He was about 7 foot and looked like a modern day Goliath.

He had a fairly long beard and was very muscular with disheveled curly hair. The dimples on hsi cheeks made him more majestic.

He was in a very expensive looking outfit , of a Balenciaga hoodie and some black ripped jeans and black Jordans.

He had tattoos on his arms and his palms. He was very attractive . He had a scar running diagonally on his left eyebrow.

He wore a hard look at everyone, but his face seemes to calm down when he looked at her.

He locked eyes with her for a long time, before her gaze was obstructed by Manaf.

Manaf was Munaiya's second elder brother. He hugged her from behind and yelled into her ears

"I missed you Layla!" .

She giggled and wriggled out of his grip.

"I missed you too" she said as she looked round to see if she could see that man.

He wasn't there anymore.

Her mother called her along with Munaiya and Manaf.

They walked to the kitchen , where the Sheikh family was. There , she saw that beautiful man in the midst of 4 other muscular and beautiful looking men.

He totally towered everyone there. Whilst she was the shortest of them all.

All eyes turned on her , when she arrived with Munaiya pulling her in.

She didn't seem to like that much attention.

Everyone looked at her for a long while before Memuna; Munaiya's mother introduced them

"Maryam ? Layla ? This is Mika'il, my eldest son"

Maryam; Layla's mother looked surprised and so did Layla.

This was the man Munaiya was always talking about?

"Woww Mika'il; you have grown to be an even finer man" Layla's mother complimented.

He smiled lightly at her mother showing his dimples and some cute laugh lines.

Layla involuntarily smiled also exposing her cute dimples.

"Mika'il, this is Layla. My daughter " Layla's mother introduced.

Mika'il looked at Layla for a very long time , before speaking up in a husky yet seductive voice

"Nice to meet you"

The aura from how he spoke didn't go unnoticed to the family.

She smiled softly at him and said in her soft voice; as a result of her broken voice.

"Nice to meet you too"

He smirked and raised his eyebrow slowly .

Layla lowered her eye at him ; she knew something was going to happen soon.

The whole family stared lovingly  at their eye contacts .

The worst was about to happen.

The reason for Mikail's return was about to be revealed.

"Let's get back to the party shall we ?" Memuna said.

Everyone nodded ; Munaiya pulled Layla out of that place to the party venue.

She had invited a few of her cousins.

She introduced them to Layla.

They all complimented about her doll like voice and looks.

She was AntiSocial; so she didn't really talk much.

She only smiled and said a word or two if necessary.

Her mind was still on that beautiful man. She was scared of him.

He sat down in a corner staring at her smirking...

"Seeing you after a very long time , calmed me down. Your crystal blue eye colours had changed. I've missed them every night after that day I left you.

Now I'm back and you're going to be mine!"