Unexpected Promises

Chapter 21 ✓

Saad's pov :

When I woke up the next day, she wasn't there in the room. Instead, a sleeping Alayna greeted me the first thing in the morning during fajr. She was sleeping beside me in her place. And that was odd. Alayna used to sleep with Amira in her room so what happened suddenly?

Confused, I decided to pray first. Maybe she was in ammi's room or downstairs. Maybe Alayna wanted to sleep beside me.

But when she didn't come even after my prayer, I decided to check up on her. Only when I left the room, did I realise how silent it was. The house seemed eerily quiet, maybe because I wasn't used to watching it so quiet. It was usually filled with chatters or giggles. Or at least, it felt warm unlike how it was giving cold vibes.

My footsteps echoed as I made my way to Amira's room first, only to find it empty. Where did she go? Furrowing my brows, I knocked on ammi's door a few times. Not getting any reply, I opened the door slowly, expecting her to be sleeping for not answering the knocks.

But to my surprise, no one was there either. Maybe shock would be a better word. "Atifa?" Confused and worried, I quickly made my way downstairs.

"Atifa!?" Maybe they were all in the kitchen or the living room. Or in the drawing room or the guest room perhaps. Trying to keep myself calm, I checked all the rooms, hoping to find them, any of them. But to my utter horror, no one was there. In any of the rooms. They seemed as empty as they could look.

The hollowness of the house suddenly seemed too much. Like it would even swallow me in its depth. And it scared me, the thought of actually losing them all. I never even imagined getting close or attached to them so soon, but, unknowingly, I had grown attached to them. And suddenly, life seemed empty and incomplete without them. Shaking my head, I tried to get rid of these thoughts. It wasn't the time to think about all these things.

God! What was even happening? Where did they all disappear? Where did they all even go? I desperately hoped that it was some kind of a prank which they were pulling up on me, because I really didn't know what to do if it wasn't.

"Atifa? Amira? Ammi?" I rushed around in panic, trying to look for them. "Anyone?" I asked loudly, getting frustrated and annoyed. For God's sake, this wasn't funny in any way! I didn't even know what to feel or how to react!

Sighing loudly, I ran a hand through my hair before heading back up. Maybe they went for a walk or something and would be back soon. I could only wait for them. Maybe I was over thinking too much. I knew she wouldn't do anything this reckless. Yes, I could expect something like this from ammi but not from her.

._._._.

I woke up with a jerk due to the continuous ringing of my phone. Scanning my surroundings with a frown, I remembered falling asleep while waiting for them to return. My neck and back ached due to the position in which I slept. Alayna was still sleeping beside me.

Sitting up straight, I rubbed my neck in hopes of reducing the pain. With a sigh, I looked at the source of my disturbance with annoyance. "Assalamualikum."

Suddenly, I noticed something else on the bedside table. I picked it up with a frown. Why didn't I notice it before? Someone was saying something on call but I couldn't make it out. My mind was too busy comprehending what I just found.

'Sorry.'

Flipping it, I tried to see if something else was written on the paper as well, but it was plain. There was nothing else written on it. What did it mean? And who left it here? I was not sure, but at the same time I had an idea that maybe she left it here. But it didn't make any sense. Why would she leave this note here? Was everything alright? What did this note even mean?