Duplus (Ongoing editing)

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—Third Person's POV—

"Why don't we go to the nearest park and get some ice cream?" Sufiyaan suggested out of the blue. Amaani looked up from the flower pot, her curiosity piqued.

"You sure this is you talking?" she asked, standing up and stepping in front of him. Her tall frame blocked his view of the TV as she leaned in, narrowing her eyes.

Sufiyaan shot her an unimpressed look. "Of course it's me," he replied, unbothered by her obstruction. Amaani gasped dramatically, placing a hand on her chest. "I don't believe it! My brother just offered to treat me to ice cream! Pinch me, I must be dreaming." She held out her arm, prompting Sufiyaan to roll his eyes. "I'm not talking about a world tour, Maani. It's just ice cream. I usually treat you when I have the money." He leaned back in the sofa, hand carelessly holding the remote. The bags under his eyes were hardly noticeable but Amaani could catch them from afar. Though she knew he would never admit it, he was actually under a lot of pressure. The kind that he felt obligated to take but was not expected to.

Amaani hopped next to him with a grin. "But what's the special occasion? Something good must have happened. Are you finally getting me a sister-in-law?"

Sufiyaan froze, his eyes widening as a faint pink colored his tanned cheeks. "A sister-in-law?! Where did you get that idea? I just got a bonus at work!" His hurried explanation only made her chuckle. "Aw, look at you blush. Now that's a sight worth celebrating with ice cream. So come on, let's go!"

"Wait, right now?" he asked, still flustered by her comments. Amaani nodded enthusiastically. "What are we waiting for? Next year? Let's go!"

She tucked a white strand of hair behind her ear, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement. Without waiting for his approval, she sprang to her feet, grabbed her black cloak, and wrapped it around herself like a curtain. She skipped to the front gate, eager for Sufiyaan to catch up.

...

"It's chilly out here tonight." Sufiyaan remarked, walking beside his sister. Amaani locked her hands behind her, relishing the whiffs of fresh air that blew through her cloak. "Yeah! the perfect weather to eat ice cream."

Sufiyaan smiled a little, his eyes glinting back at her with a hint of awe. "You're amazing, Amaani." He almost whispered, fixing his gaze on the trail of tall grass engulfing their feet. Her head snapped to him. "How so?"

"After all we've been through, how can you be so bubbly and cheerful all the time? With what happened back in our country, it was enough to leave everyone with deep sorrows and regrets. But you act as if nothing ever happened and live everyday with so much joy and happiness." Sufiyaan sighed, his shoulders slumping. A rush of old, unwanted memories hit him as he waited for her answer.

Amaani passed him a smile. It was moments like these that reminded her that he really was, after all, younger than her and a bit too tense.

"Because I think Allah chose us, Sufiyaan." She stated, his gaze shifting to her to give her a confused look. "Try to understand. If our lives weren't so special to Allah then He could have included us in those who were killed by the invaders." She tilted her head to look ahead. "But He didn't. He let us live. And I think that's because He has a plan for us. I'm not sure what it is but I have a feeling it's big. Even if not in this world, maybe in the next we'll taste the fruits of it."

Her voice was soft and held a hint of hope. It was like she had switched personalities, her more mature side coming to the surface.

"And if we're not grateful to Allah by living the precious life He gave us to its fullest, then what's the difference between those who passed and us? I've stopped feeling sad. Because I don't have the right to."