Chpater 38

Atifa's pov:

"This isn't over yet." Zara bhabi told her husband in an annoyed voice when we saw ammi making her way towards us.

Her husband just huffed and sat back like a child. "I can't even have my meal in peace." He muttered, earning a low growl from bhabi. I still didn't know her husband's name.

"So how are my baccha's enjoying the food? Do you guys want something?" Ammi questioned one after the other worriedly. Her gaze roaming around as she looked for any kind of inconvenience or shortage.

(Kids)

"Seriously aunty, the food is amazing Ma Sha Allah. And you shouldn't worry this much. We already have enough." Bhabi replied with a warm smile.

Ammi smiled back at her. "Jazak Allahu Khairan. I'm glad you like the food. But should I ask someone to bring something else for you guys?" She asked, her voice tense.

"No aunty, no need for that, we already have enough. See." Bhai replied while showing her his plate, which was a bad idea by the way.

As soon as ammi's gaze landed on his plate, she went in a frenzy. "Ya Allah! Your plate is empty. You guys don't even pay attention to who needs what. If I wouldn't have come here to check then I wouldn't have even gotten to know." She hurried away as she continued saying these things, leaving a very flabbergasted brother behind.

"What just happened?" He asked us in a confused voice.

But before anyone of us could answer him, ammi returned with a plate full of biryani and chicken tikka. I suppressed my smile as I knew what was about to come. Poor boys. May Allah help them.

Without any word, she quickly emptied almost half of the contents of the plate on his plate and after surveying his plate, she did the same with him, leaving them both gaping at her unbelievably. "Anyone else want something?" Ammi turned to us and eyed our plates, making us hide them or pull them closer to us.

"No aunty, we are good." Emaan squeaked. I so wanted to laugh at their gaping faces but I knew I couldn't in front of Ammi. Even bhabi seemed to be suppressing her laugh.

Raising her brow, ammi asked her cautiously, "Are you sure? Your plate seems-"

"Yes aunty, I'm 100 percent sure. In fact I'm full and I don't know what to do with the food on my plate." She replied quickly, interrupting her. Ammi just shook her head at her antics and looked at me and bhabi. Bhabi started eating her food, avoiding her gaze while a grin cracked on my face.

"Ho gya ammi? Now come and sit here. We all already ate and you are still remaining." I told her as I got up from my place and made her sit there.

(Are you done mom?)

"Nhi hua. You guys can continue eating, I have to go and check on others. Mai baad me kha lungi." She replied as she started getting up from her place.

(Not yet.)

(I will eat later.)

"No ammi. You will eat now and everyone is already having food. Also, mami is there to check up on them na, so now you should eat." I stated firmly while forwarding my plate to her.

"But-" She started to protest but Emaan interrupted her again.

"Atifa, I think you should feed her with your own hands. Waise bhi she doesn't seem to be in the mood to eat. And as I said, I'm already done with my food so come and sit here." Standing up from her place, she sat on the table in front of us. "Also, this is my favourite place since I can just click pictures of you all while enjoying myself." She added with a wink. I just shook my head at her but a smile formed on my lips.

(And anyways)

"Okay, I guess you are right." Sitting beside ammi, I extended a spoonful of rice towards her.

"You guys should be listening to me, I'm your ammi, it's not the other way around." She narrowed her eyes as me and Emaan.

"We listen to you, now no more talks while eating. Aapko hi khane k waqt baate karna pasand nahi hai, haina?" I asked while raising my brows at her.

(You don't like it when we talk while eating, right?)

As soon as she opened her mouth to protest, I put the spoon in her mouth, successfully stopping her from talking any further. Smiling in victory as I fed her, I reminisced about our old days.

My gaze roamed around before landing on him, only to find him looking at me. He had a longing look in his eyes and before I could detect the other few emotions, he averted his gaze, making me realise my work at hand. Turning back to ammi, I continued to feed her as my thoughts drifted away.

._._._.

Once again, we both were standing together with a two tier vanilla cake in front of us. Mamu bought two cakes for us. One of which was kept in front of us. And since I loved chocolate, the other one was chocolate cake.

Well, ammi had refused him to bring two cakes but despite her declining the offer, mamu had gone ahead and bought a chocolate cake for me. Yes, it was especially for me and not for anyone else so before anyone could notice it, I hid it in my room.

"Come on now, cut the cake!" Ammi said, extending the knife to us. Taking it from her, I held it in my hands. Nervousness coursed through my body as I realised even he would be holding it with me.

Holding the knife tightly, I inhaled deeply. 'Relax Atifa, he isn't going to give you any current or shock.' My mind mocked me, making me huff at it in annoyance.

His warm and firm hand closed over mine and I realised how cold my hands had turned. His hand was warm, making me feel cozy and giving me a kind of weird comfort. I glanced at him to find him already looking at me, maybe waiting for my reaction. And I didn't know what my reaction was. I didn't know if my face was hot or if my whole body was feeling hot or was it just the temperature in the room.

Smiling slightly, he looked down, making me realise that I was staring at him in front of everyone. Flustered and embarrassed, I looked down, not daring to look up at anyone. This time, I was sure my cheeks had heated up and no doubt I was resembling a tomato.

Firmly, he guided my hand as we cut the cake. Well, he had to. Because it felt like the energy from my hand was drained and there was no way I could have done it. The sound of clappings, hooting and clicking filled the room. I left the knife as soon as he left my hand. Taking the piece of cake in his hand after placing it on the plate, he extended it to me. I could still see a hint of smile on his face as his hazel eyes twinkled.

Taking a bite, I took the piece from him before extending it to him. Looking at him through my lashes, I waited for him to have it. He glanced at me before holding my hand and finally having a bite. I could feel goosebumps on my arms or was it just my imagination and reading too much cliché stories? I didn't know nor did I want to know.

I waited for him to leave my hand but instead, he guided my hand to ammi, surprising me. She grinned at us before having a tiny bite. After that we fed the kids. They both had a cheeky smile on their faces. The cake was then distributed between everyone as we enjoyed the rest of the evening.

._._._.

The guests left before Magrib. Emaan too had left with her parents after promising to visit me and sending me the pictures soon. Before leaving, she made us do some poses on the staircase until she was satisfied with the results. I was tired to say the least. And sleepy too. But there was still time for that.

I was sitting on the couch with my head on ammi's shoulder, almost dozing off. But the constant chatter of the kids kept me awake. He too was sitting on the other couch with his bhai and bhabi. His head was thrown back as he stared at the ceiling. Or maybe, he already slept. But it seemed like the hype was still present in ammi, his bhai and bhabi as they planned something together.

I rubbed my eyes before yawning. "I'm going upstairs." Standing up from my place, I informed ammi as I grabbed my clutch and flower bouquet. Even the heels of my feet had started paining because of these heels.

"Take Saad with you." She replied, making me still in my place. Blinking, I looked at her to see if she was kidding me.

._._._.