Chapter 1

A few years later.

Atifa's pov :

The alarm rang for like the third time and I finally woke up with a yawn. I have been putting my alarm on snooze for the past fifteen minutes as I just wanted to snuggle up in my comforter and sleep for a few more hours. I couldn't sleep early last night as I kept thinking about all the things that happened in the past few years.

I knew ammi would be sleeping now and even Amira would be asleep. So after praying, I headed downstairs to the kitchen and started making breakfast. I knew it might seem early but ammi had to go to work and I even had to pack her lunch. Getting to work, I made chapatis (tortilla's) and omelette.

After cleaning the kitchen I glanced at the clock, it showed 7 a.m. Setting breakfast at the table, I went to brew two cups of coffee. Ammi would be up already by now and she needed coffee the first thing in the morning.

As I took the two cups of coffee to the dining table, I saw ammi already sitting there, ready to go.

"Assalamualikum ammi." Handing a cup to her, I greeted while sitting on the chair opposite to hers.

"Hmm, Walikumussalam." She replied before starting her breakfast.

I just sipped my coffee silently, thinking of the time when we would be talking and chatting while having breakfast. Those days were gone, and thinking about them just hurted me. It used to be so much fun back then, no worries or stress about anything. The breakfast went with none of us uttering another word, both immersed in our own thoughts.

After breakfast, ammi stood up and went into her room to grab her bag. I headed to the kitchen to take her lunch bag and came back only to see her standing in front of the door, strapping her heels.

"Ammi, aapka lunch…" Rushing towards her, I stopped her before she could open the door and handed the lunch bag to her with a small smile, hoping to get one in return. I knew it was hopeless but one could still hope. That was the only thing which kept me going on.

(Your lunch)

"Jazak Allah." She replied without any emotion as always and went out of the door, locking it.

(Thank you)

As soon as the door locked, my smile slipped and tears sprang to my eyes. I blinked them away and turned around. No, I was already tired and this was not the time for it. This had been happening since a year and I should have gotten used to it. But it still hurted. A lot. And I still had to get used to it one day.

I shook my head and went towards the dining room. After cleaning the table and the kitchen, I went to my room. All this while I was trying my best not to overthink. Allah is with the patient and I should trust Him. In Sha Allah things would be alright soon and ammi would be back to her old self. At least I hoped so.

._._._.

I was woken up by someone jumping on my bed trying to wake me up. Yeah, you got that right, it was Amira. Yawning, I covered myself by my blanket. "Let me sleep Mira." Muttering the dua, I told her in my sleepy voice.

"Api, uthiye na, I'm hungry and why are you still sleeping?" She whined in her childish voice. I loved her voice. It made me smile. Removing my blanket I checked the time. It was 9:15 so she was bound to wake up by now.

(Wake up please)

"Did you brush your teeth Mira?" I asked her while getting up from the bed and tying up my hair in a messy bun.

She came down from the bed before answering me with a sheepish smile. "No, I wanted to wake you up first." Then she ran out of my room, probably towards her room to freshen up. I shook my head, a smile on my face. She would never change! After folding the blanket and washing my face, I headed to the kitchen.

Heating the breakfast, I set up the dining table while calling Amira. She came down running and sat on her chair. I sat opposite her. "Api we are going to bake cakes today, remember?" She asked me while taking a chapati. (Tortilla)

"Yes, I remember Mira." I replied while taking a chapati myself. Amira loved cakes much more than me and when I say that, it was something. Because even I was a huge fan of cakes and cookies. Basically all baked sweet stuff. She wanted to learn how to make cakes as she said, 'like a pro'.

"But we will make it after cleaning the house and completing all the work. Got it?" I said while looking at her.

She opened her mouth to say something, most probably to protest but then looked at me and closed her mouth. "Okay api, as you say." She passed me a cute smile.

Awww Amira, sometimes she just managed to melt me with her words and expressions. I knew she wanted to argue with me but decided against it because she knew I wouldn't agree with her.

I silently prayed to Allah at that moment to always keep her happy and protected. She was innocent and I prayed that may she never be exposed to the cruelties of this world. It is said that one of the fastest dua which is accepted, is the dua made for a muslim brother by his muslim brother behind his back. Subhan Allah how beautiful is that?

The dua that we make for our muslim brother/sister in Islam behind their back is accepted so fast. And it is also said that when we make dua for someone the angels say 'Aameen and same for you'. How beautiful is that? That we make dua for someone else and the angels pray the same for us too. Islam is truly beautiful if once we started to explore it. Even behind a small act of kindness or worship there is so much reward and wisdom that a human mind can never truly grasp.

After doing our breakfast and washing the dishes, I asked Amira to clean her room while I went to clean my room. Amira's exams were completed and it was a 15 - 20 days holiday, which was usually given after exams. The classes for the new year were supposed to be starting in a few days and Amira was really excited about it.

I had completed my high school and was waiting for my results of the final year. They were supposed to be released in a month maybe. I wanted to become a lecturer but I didn’t really want to have a job. I just wanted to study.

._._._.

When I came out all freshened up, Amira came running to me and started dragging me towards the kitchen. I knew where this was going! "Mira wait a minute at least! I need to take this towel off my head and dry my hair princess." Chuckling, I told her lovingly.

"Okay okay, but I am giving you only five minutes for that. Understood?" She stated bossily. This girl, I tell you!

"Okay madam!" Chuckling, I saluted. Shaking my head, I went back to my room to dry my hair.

"Api, your five minutes are up. Come back!" I heard her as I was climbing down the stairs.

"Yes Mira I know, I am here!" I replied as I started taking out the stuff for baking. Amira was keenly observing me and helping me with such concentration that it made me surprised. She wasn’t that concentrated even when we were studying her favorite subject. That was something new!

We were making four cakes. Two chocolate and two vanilla. Chocolate was mine and Amira's favorite while Ammi liked vanilla more. And we loved cake so much that these four cakes were going to get finished within these five days! Actually, it would be a miracle if it didn’t get finished before that. We had a record of not letting these sweet stuff stay for much time.

After keeping two trays in the oven and setting the timer, we went and sat in the living room, searching for something to watch on TV.

"Api, Aapko pata hai, I will be a pro at baking the best cakes in the whole wide world you know!? And people will be standing outside my bakery waiting for their turn to come so that they can order their cake. I will be so famous and the best baker ever!" Amira exclaimed while standing on the sofa and flailing her arms around.

(You know that,)

I laughed, "Yes Mira, I know. You will be the best In Sha Allah!" I told her while making her sit beside me. "Now while the cake is getting ready, go to the park and play with your friends. They might be waiting for you." I said while standing up.

"Okay api, but please don’t cut the cakes before I come back." She pleaded with her puppy dog eyes, making a cute face.

"Okay Mira, I won't! But come back soon." Laughing, I shouted after her as she dashed towards the door with a grin.

"Okay!" Hearing her reply, I returned upstairs to my room to offer my Zuhr salah just as the azaan went off.

I was reading something online when I heard the doorbell ring. It was early, Amira usually stayed outside for at least two hours playing with her friends. I wondered who it was.

._._._.

GLOSSARY :

- Ammi - Mom

- Aapka - Your

- Quran - The holy book of Islam

- Fajr - A prayer prayed by Muslims before sunrise

- Dhikr - Remembering God

- Api - Elder sister

- Uthiye na - Wake up please

- Chapati - Tortilla

- Aapko pata hai - Do you know/You know that

- Zuhr - A prayer prayed my Muslims at noon

._._._.