Only Her(COMPLETED)EDITED

Secret Admirer?

AHLAM.

"Maybe it's a gift from a secret admirer of yours Hania?" I asked spontaneously but then felt silly because my name was clearly written on it. Feeling flustered, I looked around noticing mother and daughter smiling and staring at me suspiciously; trying their best to retain their laughter. While uncle Firoz openly expressed his amusement with a hearty laugh before waving his hand up in the air voicing "Allah Hafiz" (May God be your protector) before heading out for his morning jog.

"Allah Hafiz!" we all called out in sync.
W

here was Aahil? Ya Allah! What's wrong with me? Hasn't he done enough damage?

"By the way Ahlam, I don't have a secret admirer and even if I did, I wouldn't be keeping it from you and my parents" she said with morality.
"and besides..." she added jokily "Aahil would be wringing his neck if I had; out of love and protection for his little sis" she giggled sheepishly.

"But I don't have a secret admirer either!" I said baffled
"Well then, this is all very weird because we've never received a gift from an unknown person in this household before and it's only began since you've been living here with us. Someone obviously likes you and is making it publicly known" she said innocently.

Something suspicious is going on here I thought to myself "okay... okay, I will open it but I want both of you to be here with me" I said nervously. Why would someone send me a gift? I don't fully remember the incident, what if this is a threat?

"You don't need the three of us here to open a package Ahlam, why don't you two continue while I start preparing lunch eh? Wouldn't want those two men of mine to start kicking up a fuss when there's nothing on the table now would I?" she said in a motherly kind of way and then rushed towards the pantry.

"Turning my gaze away from auntie Faiza's retreating back to Hania's reaction of anticipation, I said "I'm going to need some help in opening the package I'm afraid Hania, my left hand has really been aching severely since yesterday."

"Ahlam! Why did you not tell someone?" she said looking swiftly at my hand with concern written all over her face.

"I didn't want to disturb anyone" I told her honestly "and as you know, I suffered a very distressing day yesterday" I said staring at my toes "I guess I just wanted to be left alone"
With sadness in her eyes over my sorrow and throbbing pain, she shook her head while gazing at me caringly and said "Oh Ahlam, what am I going to do with you?"

Feeling over emotional, I just shrugged my shoulders helplessly and said in a whisper that was too quiet to be heard "I'm sorry for being a burden to"

"Don't you dare! Don't you dare say it Ahlam! We're glad you're here with us and we wouldn't want it any other way. I'd like to think you'd do the same if the tables were turned" Hania said annoyingly.

"I'm sorry, I just...."
"You're not a burden Ahlam - to any of us. So please don't ever think like that again, promise me."

I attempted a half-hearted smile and nodded whilst embracing her into a warm hug "I promise... I'm sorry"
Returning the embrace, she declared.

"Just remember one thing Ahlam, you definitely not a burden to us and I think I speak on behalf of everyone in my family when I say this but within a short space of time, we have grown to love you like family and we wouldn't want it any other way" and then pushing me away at arm's length, she pleadingly asked "Now... can we pleeeease open your gift? the suspense is killing me" she giggled excitedly "and afterwards, I'll massage some of your treatment oil into your hands to help relax it. How does that sound?"
I nodded in agreement.