Chapter 10

Saad's pov :

"Please have a seat." She gestured before smiling and walking away. I sat down on one of the couches and kept the bag beside me. I noticed that this room had two doors. One of it opened in the living room and the other was on the side wall opening in a lobby, which I assumed led to the bedrooms or if there is another floor, then upstairs. I was busy admiring the room when I heard some voices followed by laughter. I could hear the footsteps running around and immediately recognised Alayna's voice around the corner.

She was here. She was safe. Alhamdulillah, I thanked Allah. A sigh of relief and gratitude left my lips and I stood up. I could see a girl of around Alayna's age and Alayna running in the room while laughing. They didn't notice me at first but when they did, the girl stopped at a corner, looking at me in confusion while Alayna came running to me and hugged my waist.

"I missed you so much bhai. Where were you? You know I even got hurt but Amira and Atifa api helped me." Alayna was saying but half of her words drowned out as I caught sight of a girl standing at the door, looking shocked. Her face was flushed pink and her eyes were rimmed with kohl. She was wearing a black dress, which must I say, brought out the best in her. It suited her complexion and she looked quite beautiful in it. As soon as I caught her eyes, I lowered my gaze. Astagfirullah, I mumbled a few times. I shouldn't have been checking out someone like that.

"Assalamualikum." I greeted her. Ah, I just realised that my voice was really deep. But this wasn't the time to think about it.

"Walikumussalam." I could faintly hear her whisper.

"Uh, Jazak Allahu Khairan for helping my sister. It really means a lot." I thanked her awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. I actually had to ask Alayna why she left the park even when I asked her not to. And most importantly, why she left the bag in the park.

"Wa Antum Fa Jazak Allahu Khairan... How... Did you come in here?" She asked me, sounding confused.

"You don't know?" I frowned. But then I realised her mother most probably didn't even tell her what she had planned yet. So it was possible that she didn't know about it. I just felt like telling her everything so that she could disagree with this marriage. That was, if her mother was talking about her only. And if she was actually that woman's daughter. Before she could reply, or I could tell her something else, that woman returned.

"Assalamualikum ammi." She greeted her, still confused.

"Walikumussalam Atifa, I see you guys have already met. That's nice." Now I was sure that she was talking about her. But I noticed that there was a striking difference between the mother and daughter duo. The mother was quite modern and the daughter, she was simple, not too modern.

"Yeah, I brought him here." Her mother's voice brought me out of my comparison mode. I glanced down to see Alayna grinning up at me. I smiled back at her.

"Oh... Okay, I will just go and set up the table." She mumbled before rushing out of the room. I looked at the woman, whose name I still didn't know by the way, as she kept the tray on the table and smiled.

"You can sit, you know. And I'm glad that you met your sister." I seriously couldn't understand that woman. One moment she told me I wouldn't be able to find my sister and the other moment she was telling me that she was glad I met her. I sighed, annoyed at her bipolar behaviour and sat down. Alayna took a seat beside me happily.

She sat on the sofa opposite to me and the other young girl went and sat beside her mother. She still looked pretty confused.

"I'm Safiyah and this is my younger daughter, Amira. And the one you already met, she is my elder daughter Atifa." She introduced, beaming at me.

"Amira, this is Saad, you can call him bhai and you have already met Alayna, his younger sister." She turned to Amira and said with a smile.

Wait a minute. She knew my name? I didn't even tell her that. How come she already knew about me and Alayna? It didn't seem alright, it seemed a bit creepy and fishy. Maybe a lot creepy. I shook my head and looked at Alayna. She had a frown on her face as she thought about something.

"So that means that you are Amira and Atifa api's mom?" Alayna exclaimed in shock, looking at that woman. I couldn't tell if it was more of a shock or surprise.

Safiya Aunty, that woman chuckled, "Yeah you got that right little one." She replied, smiling slightly. She then turned to look at Amira, kind of waiting for her to say something.

"Assalamualikum bhai." Amira smiled.

"Walikumussalam princess." I tried to smile back at her.

"Atifa api said the same to me!" Alayna squealed in happiness. I was confused as to what she meant by that but both Alayna and Amira were grinning from ear to ear while looking at each other.

"Have water while Amira check's up on Atifa. Feel at home." Aunty grinned.

Only after I gulped down a glass of water in three sips, did I realise how thirsty I was. Reciting Alhamdulillah, I gave water to Alayna.

After checking what aunty was doing, I quietly asked Alayna why she left the park without taking the bag with her. I was about to scold her when Amira came running inside the room.

"Ammi, api said the food is ready." She informed her and Aunty got up and went towards the kitchen. I turned my attention back to Alayna, only to witness Amira coming and whispering something in Alayna's ears, making them both giggle uncontrollably.

When I raised my brow at them, they just gave me a cheeky smile. Before I could ask them what the matter was, aunty returned, informing us the lunch was ready.

._._._.

Aunty started serving us even before we could sit properly. I had seriously started considering the fact that she might be bipolar. Clearing up my thoughts, we started having our food. And let me tell you, it was delicious.

"Atifa, why don't you join us too? I mean it's pretty late already so come and eat." I heard aunty's voice. She was looking behind me.

"Yes api, aaiye na." Amira insisted on her sister. Even Alayna was looking behind her seat. I silently continued with my food. After a while, I saw her sitting in front of me. I didn't really see her, but I saw the chair being dragged back.

(Please come)

"So how old are you beta?" The food went silently for a while, me busy in my thoughts, until aunty decided to take my interview. I felt so awkward sitting in the middle of all girls.

I stopped midway while eating my food. "I'm 22." I replied, trying to stay calm. I knew my reply might have come out cold but this crazy woman was again getting on my nerves by asking me these questions. Maybe she already forgot, but I hadn't forgotten about the kidnapping incident.

"And what do you do? Are you studying?" She inquired, looking at me. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and saw her smiling at me. I glanced around to see everyone engrossed in having their food, kind of thankful that no one was watching me as that would have made me even more uncomfortable and awkward.

"No, I have completed my studies Alhamdulillah. I'm working as a manager in a company." I replied, a bit awkwardly. I resumed eating my food to avoid her 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 her daughter and I could see that she was surprised by her question.

"Yeah ammi." After taking a sip of water, she mumbled. I just nodded my head, looking down.

After a few more questions from her we ate the rest of the food in silence. We were almost done when aunty called out her name. Looking up, I saw that she was lost in her thoughts. I glanced at her mother to see her worried. I hadn't realised that I was looking at her until I caught her eyes and lowered my gaze immediately.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Aunty questioned with a frown.

"Yeah ammi, I'm alright Alhamdulillah. What were you saying?" She replied. Standing up, she walked in the kitchen after hearing aunty's reply. Returning back, she started serving us cake.

"Uhm... Chocolate or vanilla?" She asked nervously when she reached me.

"Vanilla." My gaze flickered towards her as I answered, a smile tugging at the end of my lips. She quickly turned her gaze away and served me the cake. I didn't even know why she was nervous or why I was smiling.

I took a bite of the cake and it was pretty nice. I was wondering where she ordered that cake from when I suddenly realised that Alayna wasn't supposed to have any more sweets today. I turned to look at her and when she caught my gaze, I glared at her. Understanding why I was glaring at her, she smiled sheepishly.

"You know bhai, Atifa api made this cake. Isn't it delicious?" Alayna told me, trying to turn my attention away from her. And she succeeded. Because the next moment, she started coughing, making me look at her in concern. Drinking water, she glanced up only to catch my gaze. I could see her already pink cheeks turning red and I turned my gaze away from her, although I couldn't keep that smile off my face. She looked cute. Uh, I mean, she looked embarrassed. Yeah that was what I mean.

._._._.

When we were done, we washed our hands and went to the drawing room. Since Alayna and Amira were feeling sleepy, aunty asked them to take a nap in Amira's room. Before I could interrupt her and say something, she ushered them both outside and they lazily headed upstairs.

A tired sigh escaped my lips. I missed the chance to scold Alayna for leaving the bag and for having more sweets. Again. I turned around to see Aunty standing in front of me.

"So what do you say? You got your sister back safely and you have already seen and met Atifa. Are you ready for this marriage?" She questioned, looking at me with hopeful eyes.

I was standing stiffly and my muscles tensed, hearing her question. Yes, I did say that I would think about it after having seen my sister safe, but I still hadn't thought about it. Before I could reply, she continued.

"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. And I don't want the answer in the negative." She told me, the last sentence cold, stiff. Like she was emphasising on it more.

"Also by the way, you and your sister are staying here till the nikkah and even after that. Till your trip here isn't finished, you will be staying here. I hope you don't mind." Before I could even process the information which she threw on me, she added, more like informed me in a finalised tone. It was as though she was sure I would say yes. I mean, I didn't know, maybe I would agree or maybe not.

"But-" Just as I started to object, she interrupted me quickly.

"You can stay here for now. I will get the room arranged by tonight, don't worry. And please feel at home, you can call me or Atifa if you want anything, we will be upstairs. Or you can even take anything yourself. As of now, I would suggest you take rest." She smiled before walking out of the room. Sighing once again, I sat on the sofa. Running my hand through my hair, I laid down for a while.

The only reason why I was even considering this, was because I was true to my words. Before I could even realise, sleep overcame my already exhausted mind and body, pulling me in it's deep abyss, away from this mess.

._._._.