Chapter 6

Atifa's pov :

"So what do you say? You have already seen and met Atifa. Are you ready for this marriage?" I was going towards the stairs when I heard ammi's voice, making me stopp dead in my tracks. The world around me seemed to freeze and I couldn't fathom anything else happening around me. It was her words which hit me hard like ice cold water. Her words forced me to turn around a bit and as I peeked in from the wide open door. I could see that stranger's back towards this door and ammi facing him. He was standing stiffly with his muscles tense.

Although ammi couldn't see me as this stranger was blocking her view, for which I was kind of glad, I realised that the kids weren't here. Maybe they went to Amira's room to take a nap. But that still didn't calm my nerves down. My mind was so loud that I couldn't hear the stranger's reply. I didn't know if he even replied something or not. But ammi's words snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Alright, I don't want your answer today. I want you to think about it and let me know by tomorrow morning. Because I want this nikkah to happen on Friday." She told him, making me stunned. "And I don't want the answer in negative." She added as a warning in a hard voice. What is even happening here? Why would she suddenly want me to get married to some stranger?

"Also, by the way, you and your sister are staying here till the nikkah and even after that. Till your trip here isn't completed, you will be staying here. I hope you don't mind." She said in a finalised authoritative voice. It was as though she was sure that he would say yes.

"But-" Just as he started to say something, ammi interrupted him quickly.

"You can stay here for now. I will get the room arranged by tonight, don't worry about that." She was telling him something but I tuned out whatever else she was saying. And before any of them could notice me, I covered my mouth, turned around and rushed upstairs to my room.

Closing the door, I slowly went towards my bed and sat down, still shocked about what I heard. I couldn't believe it. Maybe I'm just hallucinating. This couldn't be happening right now. Yeah this must be some kind of a joke. But if it would be a joke, ammi wouldn't have been so serious about it. She wouldn't have told him everything in a finalised tone. He wouldn't have tried to interrupt her. He wouldn't have been so tense. I took off my hijab and threw it beside me. I couldn't be bothered about anything right now.

Was ammi acting like this because of this guy? Because she wanted me to marry him? Because she didn't want to give him any wrong idea? I didn't know. But if ammi was being like before because of this guy, then there must be something about him which she liked. Maybe he makes her happy like how abbu used to make her happy. But marriage? Without even asking me? Maybe she is going to ask me but after knowing the stranger's answer. But I didn't know. I didn't...

A hiccup escaped my lips and I realised that I was crying. Again. I felt so frustrated with myself for crying at anything and everything. I was tired of myself. But this wasn't just anything right? This was a decision for my life, for my future. I wiped my tears before covering my mouth.

I didn't want to leave ammi and Amira so soon. I wanted to spend time with them. I wanted to stay with them. I wanted to be there for them when they need me. I wanted to...

A sob escaped my lips and I squeezed my eyes shut. I can't leave ammi like this when she is being so cold. I want her to feel alive again, I want her to be herself again first.

With these thoughts roaming in my mind and my tears streaming down, I laid on the bed and covered myself with my blanket. My exhausted mind drifted off to sleep sooner than I thought it would.

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I was woken up by my alarm ringing continuously for a while. Groaning, I could feel a headache coming my way. Picking up my mobile, I squinted my eyes to watch the time. It was 5:45 pm. I slept for around an hour. Sitting up on my bed, I frowned. I didn't remember putting an alarm before going to nap. My eyes wandered towards the window to notice it closed. I didn't remember closing it too. I looked around my room and everything else seemed to be in its place, as it was before.

Someone came into my room? Maybe someone did, but who? My mind was reeling, trying to think who could have come here. Once again my gaze fell on my mobile and I saw the time. Ya Allah it was going to be Magrib soon! Quickly standing up, I went to freshen up and make wudu.

After praying, I folded the blanket and kept it in its place. Watching my room once again to see if I needed to keep something else in its place, I donned my hijab before leaving the room. I had to wash the dishes but before that, I decided to check up on the kids.

Opening the door of their room, I saw that they were still sleeping. Going towards them, I gently tried to wake them up. "Amira, Alayna wake up now. You both have to pray asr." I reminded them while patting them but to no avail. A tired sigh left my lips. These kids! How deep do they sleep?

Someone cleared their throat, making me startled. "They won't wake up like this. Let me wake them up." I heard a deep voice from behind me. I turned around just to see him standing in the doorway. Without looking up at him, I moved aside, giving him space to come and wake them up. He came inside and before I could see what he was going to do, I left the room rushing downstairs to the kitchen.

I was surprised thinking how he even came upstairs. I mean, I was sure he wouldn't have just decided to come up when he knew that I was there. Maybe ammi sent him there, but I still wasn't sure.

Also, I didn't want to stay in the same room as him. Especially when my mind was going haywire just because of his arrival and ammi's change of behaviour. I started doing the dishes. I didn't want my mind to explode from all these thoughts.

As I was going towards the stairs, I saw him coming downstairs and it was then that I noticed his outfit. I was so busy in my thoughts that I didn't notice it before. He was wearing a plain white shirt with blue pants. His hair was a bit messy, maybe because of running his hand through them again and again. I almost caught his gaze before lowering my eyes. "Astagfirullah." I muttered under my breath.

Ya Allah why did I keep doing this?! This wasn't me. I wasn't like this! Shaking my head, I headed upstairs. Maybe because I overheard their conversation I was feeling this way and behaving like this. This was the only valid reason which I had.

As I was walking towards my room, I heard Amira and Alayna's voices, indicating they were up. Sighing in relief, just as I entered my room, magrib azaan went off. I made my wudu once again, just in case, and started praying.

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GLOSSARY :

- Nikkah - A Muslim marriage where both the bride and the groom accept each other and sign the marriage contract in front of a few witnesses.

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