One Way or Another (Al-Ameen Family #2)

Relationships

"Not a problem Bhabhi. I'm leaving work now, I'll head over." I told her and with a thanks, she hung up. Instead of getting off the bus at my stop, I got off two stops earlier and walked to their townhouse. Bhabhi asked me to just look through all the rooms to make sure everything was okay. I started upstairs and just cleaned up a little bit so dust wouldn't accumulate.

I head downstairs but I had to pause for a bit. I'd never actually properly been in Yusuf's house. I'd come in a few times with Bhabhi but it's not like I ever gave it much importance. I readied myself and opened the door.

It was surprisingly neat but that may just be because he's not here to mess anything up. The décor was minimal and functional as expected. I looked around the main room for a bit before heading down the small hallway to his bedroom. Tentatively, I opened the door for his bedroom. It was unlike the rest of the house. He had a simple black bedroom set in front of light gray wall. There were a couple picture frames on top of a dresser. I had to reach up a bit to see and in the middle of a couple of his siblings and family, there was one of us from the engagement ceremony.

I squealed like a loser and then quickly left his room before I screwed something up. While I was double-checking that the oven was off, the doorbell rang. It was odd but I assumed it was charity collectors or maybe a mailman.

I closed his door behind me and opened the main door. I was greeted with two chocolate bars and a bottle of lemonade. Yusuf's eyes peeked out from behind the dairy milk. "It was all I could get at the airport or I would've bought flowers."

I stepped aside and let him in out of the snow. He shook the tiny droplets of snow off and handed me the goodies. I opened the door to his house and he walked in ahead of me. "You came alone?"

"Nope. Ali, Armaan, and Navsheen came too but they're buying dinner and then will come," he explained.

I turned on the heater while he settled into the couch. "How are you here?" I took a seat on the biggest sofa and tucked my feet under me.

"I told dad an emergency for a school assignment came up. I don't know if he bought it but Saf helped me out and we left," he smiled mischievously to which I shook my head.

"You'll get caught," I warned him. He snorted, running a hand through his hair.

"I'll risk it." We looked at each other in amusement before I had look away.

"How was Dubai?"

"It was nice, got to see the whole family together after a long time. Ayaan's family came too."

"I really like how close you all are. There's never a dull moment," I smiled. "How was the flight and all?"

"Not short enough," he muttered and I held back a gasp. He had no off button. "How's your break been so far?"

"Pretty good. Work's been steadily busy so I usually spend my whole day home and come home just knackered. And I went to my aunt's for Christmas, as you know which was a nice break."

"How is everyone there?"

"Good, good. There's always someone singing your praises," I looked at him tauntingly but his smile didn't waver.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. I don't have enough data to make a informed opinion," I shrugged one shoulder. He was about to retort but the doorbell rang and I went to answer it. Ali and Armaan ran in and I quickly closed the door behind them. The snow was starting to come down a lot heavier.

"BHABHI!" The three yelled simultaneously and pulled me into a group hug. Just as quickly they let go and stood with huge smiles on their faces and bags full of food in their hands. I led them into the downstairs apartment and took the food from them.