Salma

CHAPTER TWO

THREE MONTHS LATER

" assalamualaikum ammi" I greeted ammi as I start close to her putting her legs on my lap and massaging it gently. "Ammi today I met Saleem he told me to tell you he'll surely come to meet you" I waited for her to reply but she wasn't listening. I sighed and touched her laps looking at her in the eye "ammi I have been talking but you are not listening " she gave me a sad smile that didn't reach the eyes and patted my back" ( sighs) Salma I want you to promise me you won't act the way your sister acted on her wedding day" tears filled my eyes as I hugged her close to my heart. We spent time talking about random stuff and later on stood up to pray Asr. "Uhm Salma I'm going out for some minute I'll soon be back" ammi said while adjusting her niqab because it was a tradition in our family every female should put on niqab either big or small. "Okay ammi"

After ammi left I went to my room and sat on the queensized bed with pink bedspread and matching  duvet that once belonged to me and adda. Tears formed in my eyes when I remembered how we used to fight,play,gossip and do a lot of girly stuffs together.. I closed my eyes and flashback of that faithful day came rushing back into my mind making my cheeks and pillow more wet with tears.
FLASHBACK
"Ammi please tell me it's a joke and adda is coming back" I pleaded with a hoarse voice. Ammi couldn't reply but her eyes was filled with tears. I turned to face ya kabeer and asked him. Seeing none of them was ready to tell me anything I took the letter and read it again.
      ' dearest kabeer the time you are reading this letter maybe I'm not  together with you. I know you will feel disgraced and hurt but believe me it is for the best. Take care of ammi and auta. I love you all but please don't hate me....'
                                         Runaway Bride
FLASHBACK ENDS

I felt tender hands on my face wiping off the sad tears running down my cheeks. I opened my eyes slowly and I came in contact with my cute niece Fateemah but I call her fluffy. Seeing how her brows raised I knew she was tensed so I gave her a one dollar smile that revealed two deep dimples on each cheek of mine. "Aunt Salma you know I hate seeing you worried" I pinched her cheeks making her squeal in pain "my one and only fluffy you know I love you soooo much" she frowned her face which made her look like a teddy bear "aunt sammy(nickname she gave me) you know I love you more right?" Her words touched my heart so I hugged her like my life depended on her. "Gosh.... (Cough) woman you're choking me (cough)" she said playfully making me hug her more.
After the hugs and playing we sat and I kept asking her about school. Her face always lights up whenever I brought up school. "Aunt sammy I forgot to tell you dad was asking for you" I nodded and motioned that we go together. We were talking and laughing when we heard ya kabeer screaming and throwing things. We looked at each other and within seconds we were in the room. As we entered fluffy made a shocking scream seeing how her dad destroyed ammi's room. "AMMI THAT GIRL IS DEAD FOR THIS FAMILY I DON'T WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT HER IN MY PRESENCE PLEASE!!!" ya kabeer said while rubbing his forehead in frustration. "Kabeer I want you to understand maybe she did it for a reason I know my daughter and I believe she won't run away with just any random ghetto boy I know she won't ...Layla won't do such disgusting act I trust my daughter and I believe she will be back. I know (cry) my daughter she won't just leave me because of a boy (cry)" ammi's tears brought tears to my eyes. I went to her and hugged her "Salma I know your sister won't do such shameful act I can feel it. My Layla is in danger and I can't do anything about it I'm such a bad mother. Ya Allah keep my daughter safe wherever she is." Ammi said while crying her tears and cries broke my heart to the core. "Ammi  please don't cry I believe you and I believe Allah will keep her safe wherever she is" I said trying to make her feel better. I looked around the room looking for ya kabeer but he wasn't there then fluffy indicated that he was in the balcony. I stood up and motioned for her to sit with ammi. I went out of the room in search of my angry brother then I spotted him sitting looking at the sky with his eyes closed. I furrowed my brows and sat near him on the  stool putting my hands on his but I didn't say anything and he also didn't say anything. Ya kabeer let out a frustrated sigh and I saw tears running down his face. I quickly wiped them off and held his face in both my hands making him face me. He opened his red eyes and bore them into mine then he did what I thought he never did. KABEER MUSTAFA CEO OF MUSTAFA INDUSTRIAL COMPANY BURST INTO TEARS. I became shocked I didn't know what to do looking at a father like figure to me burst into a heart wrenching cry. I didn't know when my eyes filled with tears and I cried together with him. "Salma I'm mis...sing her so m..uch I can't ....be..ar it she left everybo......" He couldn't complete his sentence when I felt him become limp on my fragile hands. I shook him but he wasn't moving."Ya Allah what is happening?" I said as I cried. With shaking hands I dialed the drivers number telling him the situation. Within seconds he was before us looking shocked seeing kabeer's situation. "Let's take him to the hospital" he said and we went outside and off to the hospital.