Unexpected Promises

Chapter 6 ✓

Atifa's pov :

When we reached the dining table, everyone was already seated, waiting for us. Emaan was standing behind an empty chair with a teasing look on her face.

"Assalamualikum Saad." Ammi greeted him happily while taking her seat.

"Walikumussalam." He replied curtly, his gaze lowered.

"Api, why didn't you tell me that Emaan api is here?" Before I could leave, Amira asked me excitedly. Glancing at her, I looked at Emaan, silently asking her to answer her question for me.

Smirking, she turned to Amira and I instantly regretted my request, knowing she wouldn't leave this chance to embarrass me more. "Your api just wanted to surprise you. And also, you weren't upstairs so she couldn't tell you about it." A relieved sigh escaped my lips and smiling gratefully at her, I turned to head to the kitchen.

"Oh!... We were with bhai." Amira grinned sheepishly. "And we had a lot of fun."

"Oh by the way, Assalamualikum Saad. I'm Emaan, Atifa's best friend." Just as I reached the kitchen, Emaan introduced herself, catching my attention. Looking at her, I narrowed my eyes, silently asking her not to do anything crazy or embarrassing again. She just grinned in return.

"Walikumussalam. It's... uh... Nice to meet you." Glancing at him, I saw him looking anywhere but her.

"Alhamdulillah." Muttering under my breath, I shot Emaan a sweet smile knowing her plan was failing.

Rolling her eyes at me, she turned her attention back to him. "It's nice to meet you too. Although I'm sorry for whatever happened the first time we met. I was just trying to tell Atifa the truth. But she just doesn't get it I guess." With a smug look on her face, her gaze flickered between me and him. I was standing at the kitchen doorway, glaring daggers at her, also thankful that his back was facing me so he couldn't see me.

"Oh, have you met him before?" Ammi looked at her curiously.

"Umm... yeah kind of. I mean we first met in the kitchen when he came to refill the jug." Smirking, she added, "And we were making spaghetti when-"

“Emaan.” I warned her with a glare before she could continue and embarrass us more.

"What?! I was just telling her what happened!" She looked at me innocently.

When I continued to glare at her, she pleaded with her gaze on me mischievously. "Aunty please save me from your daughter. She will kill me with her glare one day." Her gaze flickered to him, and as an instinct, my gaze too flickered in his direction, only to realise everyone was looking at us, amused. Even the kids.

Ya Allah, not again! He wasn't looking at me, but half of his face was turned in my direction and I could swear I saw his lips twitching up before he turned his attention back to his food.

Biting my lips, I looked away. I wanted to leave. Like I said, vanish away. But not before killing my friend. I turned to look at her and she gave me a cheeky smile.

"Aren't you going to eat your lunch with me Emaan?" 

She eyed me skeptically. "Uh... no thanks. You can continue. I will eat later." She stuttered while taking a step back.

"Okay, just know that you are going to stay with me till tomorrow.” It was my turn to smirk now as I winked at her.

From the corner of my eyes I could see her stomping her feet in defeat as I entered the kitchen. "Aunty, this is cheating. She is threatening me. Again." I could hear her whining outside, making me smile at her childish behaviour.