I FELL IN HATE WITH YOU

Chapter Two

Amara 

On Saturday evening we got a call from my Ma's sister Nourah Sadi. She answered the phone and tried talking to her but Nourah was crying and screaming throughout the call. it was audible even without a speaker. consoling the person speaking on the phone and started crying as well by the end. the phone hangs up.

She came towards us and said, "Nourah and her children will come tomorrow. They will be staying with us for a few days." My sister asked.

"Is everything alright?"

"Men are weird creatures girls, some don't want to own up to things but some own things that are not even theirs to keep," she said.

I didn't understand what she meant by that but I felt bad for Nourah. Later I heard my mom telling Zara that her husband eloped with a woman half his age and will not be coming back.

Nourah had two children, 13 years old girl Asiya Ibrahim and a 10-year-old son Jahan Ibrahim. her children were little angels and devils. I have seen them all my life. They are up to slaughter each other in a blink but can't live without each other for a minute.

The next morning I wake up early, clean my room, prepare all the necessary things they might need, take all my stuff, and move to Ma's room. I don't argue or fight because I have seen women being crushed on so many levels by everyone that I understand that it might not be easy for her to move and come live with us like this after all she loved her husband all her life.

 "Assalamu Alaikum," Ma said when they came. They bought nothing but a red suitcase of their things and the children were wrapped with layers of cloth. Nourah wore a blue shawl not thick enough to protect her from cold. She was a short woman with raven hair and looked too old for her age, Winter cold had turned her nose red. Eyes were bloodshot brown. I had seen her before she looked like a different woman today.

"Walaikum Assalam," they said and hugged my Ma and started sobbing. My Ma cried with her while we took the children inside. They looked like they were starving for days.

"Sit down. I will get you some food" said Zara.

"Do you need something?" I asked. Asiya politely shook her head. the sadness on her face was heartbreaking, But Jahan said. "I want my Mamma to stop crying." I didn't know what to say to him. His eyes were full of tears for his mother's suffering.

"You pray a lot for her peace and she will stop crying," said Zara.

He raised his tiny hands, wiped his tears, and started whispering prayers. I felt sorry for these children.

The Children were eating breakfast when Zara and I went to our Ma.

"Have you ever seen the end of the world?" She asked my mom.

"I have but I survived. I had to for my daughters," said Ma.

"You don't understand my pain, Aapa," said Nourah.

"I do," said Ma, stroking her back while hugging her like a warm blanket. She snuggled more and said, "Will you look after Asiya and Jahan while I fix myself in a few days."

"I need to get a few more things and there is some money and gold in my account. Which I will get. I just came here to drop the children off. Please take care of them" she said.

"Don't worry about them, they are my children too" said Ma.

"Allah Hafiz, Aapa," said Nourah, kissing both hands of Ma. Wiped her tears and left.

After about one hour, Nourah called.

"Aapa, I forgot to say bye to the children in a hurry. There are very few things in the bag also important documents in a brown package. Please help Asiya with all the arrangements. Jahan is an emotional boy he might start crying. Tell them sorry that I had to leave and tell them I love them to death."