Chapter 24

Atifa's pov :

It was around 10:30 already and all of us were exhausted. I just felt like collapsing to have a good sleep. But obviously not everyone had the same plans and I couldn't do anything but go with their plan.

The kids were already half asleep, so after asking them to change, we let them sleep. He already retired to his room and all the shopping bags were still resting in the living room, except for the one which had his suit since ammi asked him to take it with him.

We all went to our rooms to freshen up and change. As soon as I was out of the washroom and hit the bed, my muscles relaxed and I felt sleepy. I might as well ditch their plans and sleep, I decided. Smiling, I snuggled into my pillow.

But of course it wasn't my day. I mean night. It wasn't my night that night. "ATIFA! You can't sleep now!" Emaan yelled while snatching my pillow from me, making me groan.

"Yaar so jaate haina, I'm tired." I grumbled, reaching for another pillow.

(Let's just sleep buddy, I'm tired.)

Emaan smacked my hand, "NO! Stand up now, we made plans for tonight, remember?" She said in frustration, making me squeeze my eyes shut as I sighed internally. I frowned, knowing that if I sighed in front of her, she would kill me.

"Okay, let me sleep now and wake me up after a while?" I suggested as sweetly as I could, fluttering my eyelashes and smiling at her.

She glared at me, not buying my excuse. "Cruel!" Pouting, I muttered under my breath while standing up. "Now what do you want me to do?" I asked her in a tired voice, narrowing my eyes at her.

"Oh nothing much, let's get your henna done!" She exclaimed happily while clapping her hands, making me groan.

"Now?" I asked her, exasperated.

"Yeah obviously, tomorrow is your nikkah so we have to do it today." She grinned.

"But I'm not in the mood for it." I told her while rolling my eyes and sitting on my bed, ready to snuggle back into my pillows and comforter.

"Don't you even dare sleep now! And it won't depend on your mood today. Just select a good movie on your laptop while I go and bring some snacks for us with your henna." She warned, giving me a pointed look before walking out.

Sighing, I glared at the door, wishing I could just kill her and have my sleep peacefully. Clearing my mind, I repeated astagfirullah a couple of times before taking out my laptop.

Comfortably sitting on my bed, I selected a movie while waiting for her. Luckily, I didn't have to wait for long as she came in, holding a tray in her hands.

I raised one of my eyebrows at her questioningly but ignoring my look, she kept the tray in front of me while sitting beside me. "Henna, chocolates and choco pops with chips!" She exclaimed in excitement while taking a henna cone from the tray. "So what did you choose?"

"I don't know, watch it yourself." I replied, winking at her and starting the movie.

She raised an eyebrow but didn't argue and we silently started watching the movie. After a while, she took my hand and started doing henna on the backside. She was carefully doing my henna as I popped in chocolates and chips in my mouth, occasionally popping a few in her mouth too.

We were silently working our way - her doing my henna and me watching her do it intently, leaving the movie in the background - when ammi entered the room. Her eyes gleamed with excitement and happiness. I was stunned for a while since I thought she went to sleep already. But it seemed like she was way more excited than any of us.

"So how much of your work is remaining?" The question was directed at Emaan since she was the one doing the work. Ammi sat on the edge of the bed as she peered at the intricate design.

"One hand is almost done while the other remains." Emaan replied as she turned away from my hand and smiled at ammi.

"Acchi baat hai Ma Sha Allah! After completing your work just dab it with this sugar water. Okay?" It was then that I noticed what she was holding in her hands.

(Oh that's great!)

I was surprised at her request but nevertheless, we nodded our heads. "Sure aunty, don't worry about it." Emaan replied, taking the bowl from her hands and keeping it on the bedside table.

"Waise aap abhi tak soye kyu nahi? You should be sleeping now." I asked, narrowing my eyes at her and leaning a bit forward.

(By the way, why aren't you sleeping yet?)

"Oh I'm just going to go and make chocolate cookies. Don't you remember I promised you I would make them for you on your wedding day?" She asked me, her eyes twinkling and her smile so pure - it all made her look so much more younger and beautiful. For a while it looked like she wasn't tired at all. I searched her face for any signs of tiredness but found none.

But I knew better than to believe that. I had seen her overworking herself and yet managing to look as fresh as always. But it was all a facade kept for our sake. And honestly, even I had done it myself a number of times.

She was tired but there was also a look of determination in her eyes. And I knew that, at least for today, she wasn't going to listen to me. I didn't realise I was staring at her until she clicked her fingers in front of my face and raised her brow questioningly.

Shaking my head, I gave her a warm smile. "Yeah I remember. But you don't have to do that, you know." I replied as memories flooded my mind and nostalgia started hitting me. I had to hold on, I couldn't think about it right now and ruin this moment.

"Yes, I don't have to do that but I want to do that. So I'm going to do that." She said standing up and gazing at me lovingly.

Suddenly tears brimmed her eyes and she kept her hand on her mouth, as if trying to cover an upcoming sob. I looked at her, shocked with the sudden turn of emotions. A few tears rolled down her face as she came to my side, held my face in her hands and with a loving gaze, kissed my forehead. I could feel tears brimming my eyes too as I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid they would betray my strong portrayal and make her weak again. And even after she kissed my forehead, her hands still held my face as she stood there, gazing at me, deep in her thoughts.

Maybe nostalgia was hitting her too, but I didn't dare say anything, afraid that I would ruin this precious moment and lose her warmth again. Opening my eyes slowly, I looked into her eyes. Searching for something? Maybe. I didn't know, just something to hold on to. "Always remember that I love you and Amira, my princesses. Never ever forget that." She whispered softly as her hands left my face and she smiled at me. A smile so pure and genuine that it brought a smile on my face too.

"We love you too ammi." I whispered back, afraid that if I said any louder, I might break the spell around us.

Her smile widened. "Good night, sleep well ladies. And Allah hafiz." She said, walking towards the door.

"Same to you. Allah hafiz." Emaan finally replied and I whispered a quiet Allah hafiz as we watched her leave the room, closing the door behind her.

Emaan turned to me teary eyed and I couldn't stop my own tears from streaming down. It was like the final restraint was broken and nothing could stop the tears from flowing down as much as they wanted.

._._._.