Unexpected Promises

Chapter 1 ✓

A few years later.

Atifa's pov :

The alarm rang for the third time and I finally woke up with a yawn. I had been putting my alarm on snooze for the past fifteen minutes, wanting to just snuggle up in my comforter and sleep for a few more hours.

I knew ammi and Amira would be asleep. After praying, I headed downstairs to the kitchen and started making breakfast. It might be early but ammi had to go to work and I had to pack her lunch too. Getting to work, I made chapatis (tortilla's) and omelette.

Setting the table, I went to make coffee. Ammi needed coffee first thing in the morning, and it was 7 already.

As I took the two cups of coffee to the dining table, I saw her sitting there, ready to go.

"Assalamualikum ammi." Handing a cup to her, I sat on the chair opposite to hers.

"Walikumussalam." She replied before starting her breakfast. 

I sipped my coffee silently, thinking of the time when we would be talking and chatting while having breakfast. Those days were gone, and thinking about them just pained me. It used to be so much fun back then, no worries or stress about anything. The breakfast went with none of us uttering a word, both immersed in our own thoughts.

I was brought out of my thoughts when I saw her getting up. By the time I brought her lunch bag, she was at the front door, strapping her heels.

"Ammi, aapka lunch…" I rushed towards her before she could open the door and handed it to her with a small smile, hoping to get one in return. I knew it was hopeless but one could still hope. That was the only thing which kept me going on.

(Mom, your lunch...)

"Jazak Allah." Glancing at me, she left, as always.

(Thank you.)

As soon as the door locked, my smile slipped and tears sprang to my eyes. Blinking them away, I turned around. No, I was already tired and this was not the time for it. This had been happening for a year and I should have gotten used to it. But it still hurted. A lot. And I still had to get used to it one day.

._._._.

As soon as I freshened up, Amira started dragging me towards the kitchen. "Mira, wait a minute! I need to dry my hair princess." Chuckling, I stopped her.

"Okay okay, but I am giving you only five minutes for that. Understood?" She folded her arms bossily.

"Okay madam!" Chuckling, I saluted her before making my way back to my room.

"Api, your five minutes are up. Come back!" While climbing down the stairs, I heard her scream.

"Yes Mira I know, I am here!"

I started taking out the ingredients for baking. Amira was keenly observing me and helping me with such concentration that it surprised me. She wasn’t as concentrated even while studying her favorite subject. That was something new!

We were making two cakes. One chocolate and one vanilla. Chocolate was mine and Amira's favorite while Ammi liked vanilla more.

After keeping the trays in the oven and setting the timer, we sat in the living room, searching for something to pass our time.

"Api, Aapko pata hai, I will be a pro at baking the best cakes in the whole wide world!? And people will be standing outside my bakery waiting for their turn to come so that they can order their cake. I will be so famous! And the best baker ever!" Standing on the sofa, she told me, her arms flailing around.