Unexpected Promises

Chapter 11 ✓

Atifa's pov :

I was brought out of my thoughts as someone stood in front of me and kept their hand on my head.

Abbu? Was it abbu? Was he here? Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked up, only to find mamu there. But it seemed for a moment that abbu was back. That he was here for my special day. But I was wrong. How could he even come back? How could he when he...

"Assalamualikum Atifa, how are you beta?" Mamu passed me a warm smile, breaking me off from my thoughts.

"Walikumussalam mamu, I'm fine alhamdulillah. How are you? I missed you." I stood up to engulf him in a hug.

His arms came around me, wrapping me in his warm embrace. It felt like abbu was hugging me. Sniffing, I hugged him tighter. "Alhamdulillah, even I'm fine." He patted my head lovingly.

Releasing him from my hug, I looked at him with tears in my eyes. "I really missed you all. Why didn't you guys come earlier to meet us?" Wiping my nose, I complained.

He smiled, patting my head. "We missed you too beta. But you know how work keeps us all busy. Although now I really wish that we should have met earlier too. I never thought that the next time we would meet would be like this. But tell me, are you happy with this? Or do I need to pull Safiya’s ears?" There was seriousness in his gaze, wanting to know if I was happy and this was what I wanted.

I smiled, "I don't know mamu. I really don't know. But if this is what Allah wants then this is what will happen and I don't mind. I have done istikhara and I think this is the right thing to do."

Nodding his head, he smiled slightly. "You have grown up so soon. I never thought you would be getting married this early, or else I would have warned that poor boy about you. But it's too late now. Poor boy!" Keeping his hand on his heart, he shook his head dramatically.

"Mamu!" I whined quietly, realising that we weren't alone. My gaze roamed around again, lingering behind mamu for a while longer than necessary as I made out the figure sitting in front of me, most probably my future husband.

Reciting astagfirullah and snapping myself out of my thoughts, I turned my attention back at mamu, only to find him smirking at me. I raised my brow before realising he might have caught me looking around. Embarrassed, I looked away and my gaze landed on an unknown lady. Furrowing my brows, I turned to him again. "Who is she?" My gaze traveled back to that beautiful lady who seemed to be busy talking to Emaan.

"She is your soon to be husband's bhabi. You will meet her soon enough." He winked as a chuckle escaped his lips. "Now don't just keep staring anywhere and sit down like a shy bride. Which you aren't but try to act like one for today at least." He muttered the last sentence in an i-cant-do-anything-about-you way, making me glare at him.

(Sister-in-law)

"Did you just say that I'm not shy?" Muttering angrily, I glanced around to see if anyone was listening to our conversation before returning back to glaring at him.

"No no, when did I say that?" Innocence laced his voice as he looked at me with wide twinkling eyes.

Huffing, I sat down, annoyed. "You said that and I'm shy." Adjusting my dress, I ignored his amused gaze.

"Okay as you say Miss Sharmili Dhulhan." Chuckling, he pecked my forehead before sitting on the middle couch while I looked down to hide my burning cheeks.

(Miss Shy Bride)

Soon enough, Emaan joined me and started telling me about his bhabi. I could see Ammar, one of mamu's sons, coming to make our video from the corner of my eyes. He gestured for me to stand up as he approached me. Adjusting my hijab, Emaan moved aside, letting him take in my attire. "Although he is my cousin, he is just like you." I murmured, smiling at the camera.