Caged Crown

◇18

Allah understands our prayers even when we can't find the perfect words to say.

11-03-2020

DEDICATED THIS CHAPTER TO nafshah
because she's so special to me.

Nothing has changed except the days. Expectations hurts. Never knew I would be this happy when doorbell ring. I ran to open the door expecting Ayman. Yet, he hadn't show up these days. I wonder what happened to him. My chest began to hurt as I placed my hands on the chest bearing the pain.
''What's wrong? Are you okay?" Hima asked and I gave her a thumbs up.

She let out a chuckle and we both headed inside the mall. We are here to shop. I couldn't hide my excitement because tonight Jabir bro and Lunah will be coming carrying their little baby inside her tummy. My favourite spot here at mall are food court, toys shop and horror house. Ticking the last option in my shopping list, I get that feeling of forgotten something to add into the cart. I shrugged my shoulder and headed to the counter to pay. After the shopping sessions we both headed inside the food court to feed our grumbling stomach. I was exhausted because I and Hima were wandering around the shops for 2 days. How could we stop shopping because Hima is a shop lover and her engagement is postponed so that we could spend our days with shopping for engagement. Tonight Jabir and Lunah would arrive, tomorrow we'll go to the hospital for sister's checkup and the day after tomorrow would be my best friend's engagement. Busy busy very busy. I'll be busy that my mind wouldn't be occupied with Ayman's thoughts. I heaved a sigh of relief and devoured the food. Everytime when I go to the mall, I'll go to horror house because that's the only place where I feel myself at an ease. Hima doesn't like accompanying me inside the horror house. She would wait for me outside, but this time I insisted her to accompany me so that she could get rid of her nervousness of her engagement and also I could get rid of my anxiety. This is my only trick to stop overthinking. Whenever I'm deprived of mood, I'll go to the horror house. Therefore, This time I booked two tickets.

''You go by yourself. I'm not coming." She retorted, but I didn't back off.

''Consider this as my engagement gift for you." I grinned.

''I'd rather cancel my engagement than going in." She smirked and I pushed her inside.

All I heard was her screams. I placed my hands in my ears, ''This is unbearable. I wish you didn't come." I said rolling my eyes but she didn't stop. Her eyes were shut but her mouth was wide open.

Weird!

She searched for her mobile phone from her bag and turned on the flash lights. A man came running from behind yelling to turn off the flash lights.

''Ghosts, please don't step closer,"She ran screaming believing that man was a ghost. I tossed my head back in laughter and chased her from behind. ''Hima that's not a ghost, that was a man." She didn't listen. Finally we saw exit and stepped out. I saw her puffy eyes and red face. Her hijab was messed up and I laughed seeing her weird face.

''I wish I could shoot this scene and play this on your wedding."

''For the first time in my life, I hate you."She said trying to catch her breath. I laughed rewinding that scenario of Hima running believing that man was a ghost. How I wish I could share this with our other friends.

I helped her to drink some water and she started choking. ''What happened?"

''Lai, Run!" saying that we both ran. I didn't turn back to check because I was already aware it could be someone from my family.

**

''I'm scared."I said

''You weren't scared to go to horror house, but you're scared to get into your house? You don't have to. I guess Junaid didn't see you." She said comforting me. I had been standing infront of my house for about five minutes. I took a deep breathe and mustered up some courage. ''Okay bye, it's getting late. Allah hafiz." Saying that, she left.