Atifa's pov :

I was sitting in the living room, colouring in my sketch book when abbu came.

"So what is my princess doing?" He asked me while peeking at my sketch book.

"I'm colouring abbu, dekhiye, ye kitna pyaara hai. I made it." I told him happily while showing him the drawing of a house. (See, how beautiful it is.)

"Oh wow! Ma Shaa Allah. This is beautiful. Aur kya bana skti hai meri beti?" He asked me curiously with a smile playing on his lips. (What else can my daughter draw?)

"What is happening here? Kya khichdi pak rhi hai yaha?" Ammi joined, sitting beside me. (What are you both planning?)

"Ammi I was just showing abbu what I made. Isn't it cute?" I asked her while showing her the drawing.

"Yes it is, Ma Shaa Allah. And what was your abbu asking you?" She asked me curiously with a raised brow.

"I was just asking her what else can she draw." Abbu replied, sitting down beside ammi while putting his arm around her shoulder. "You know, it would be great to have myself sketched by my princess. I mean, tumne to kia nhi hai, so I was just about to ask my daughter to do the honors." Abbu informed ammi mischievously, all the while looking at her with a different kind of sparkle in his eyes. Like there was some secret between them which he was trying to remind her or maybe tease her. At that time I didn't understood why he said what he said, and till now I don't know what he was talking about. But I guess, some things are better left unspoken. They are better left as secrets. And also because I wouldn't want to interfere in my parents' personal matter. (since you haven't sketched me)

"Accha ji? Then maybe Atifa can sketch you up for yourself. What do you say Atifa?" Ammi asked me while turning to look at me. She had a mischievous smile on her face herself. (Oh yeah?)

"Jee ammi! I would love to draw abbu. I even have a pose for him. But he will have to sit like a statue for that." I told her excitedly, but in the end my excitement died down because I didn't know if abbu would agree to sit in the same position for that long. (Sure)

"Awwh don't worry sweetheart, I'm sure your abbu wouldn't mind sitting in any pose that you say. Sahi kaha na maine janab?" Ammi asked abbu sweetly. (Am I not right mister?)

"No I wouldn't mind at all princess. So tell me which pose is it?" Abbu replied after a while, turning his gaze away from ammi. It was like they were communicating with their eyes while I sat there waiting for his answer, clueless as to what was even happening here.

He stretched and stood up to show me a standing position. "Like this?"

"No, you are going to go and sit there." I told him pointing towards a chair, trying to mimic a professional stern voice.

"Oh okay. Now?" He asked after following my command.

"Now keep your hands on your lap and let me see." I told him in deep thinking voice with furrowed eyebrows.

"There is a vase behind you, we need to take it away. Ammi please remove it naa." I told her in my childish and bossy voice.

"Okay as you say Atifa." Ammi replied and all this while she was watching us amused, a beautiful smile etched on her face.

As ammi went to remove the vase I heard abbu's low voice. "She is bossy just like you." Ammi chuckled at that. "No seriously, I feel bad for her future husband. How scared would he be of her? I don't even know what will happen to him. I mean poor guy, I can understand his pain you know. We will have similar situations..." He added her making a weird face. Ammi was laughing by the end of his sentence.

A chuckle escaped my lips in between my sobs thinking about it.

In the meantime, I opened a new page and saw abbu making that weird face again. I heard him but I didn't understand what he meant at that time. "Abbu don't make that face! Your sketch won't turn out good!" I scolded sternly, him like a boss.

Ammi came back and stood beside me with a grin on her face. My finger was on my chin in a thinking position. "Abbu, keep your elbow on the arm of the chair and look towards the window." I instructed him.

He kept his elbow and looked at me like a child asking for approval. I shook my head at him in disapproval. "No no, not like this." He just looked at ammi helplessly, like a lost puppy.

Ammi laughed, "Ammi can you please help him take his correct position?" I requested, looking at her with big hopeful eyes.

Ammi nodded her head before going towards him and started moving his hands and putting them in the position accordingly. "Didn't you saw how bossy she has become? All because of you! Just because you act bossy around me even she is bossing me now." Abbu complained to ammi while glaring at her.

Ammi chuckled, "She is my daughter after all. What did you expect mister? And you only wanted her to make a sketch of your. Not my fault here. And all the best Mr. Hubby." Ammi corrected his face position with her fingers, smiled with amusement dancing in her eyes and came back to sit next to me.

"Abbu your eyes! Don't look like that. It's your sketch that I'm making." I exclaimed in frustration. When he finally softened his gaze and turned his face as I had asked him to do so, I started making his sketch.

And after 1 hour I was finally done with it. Of course, with interruptions in the middle for him to not move and his groans of being tired sitting in the same way. I smiled in victory and clapped my hands. "I'm done! I made it finally!" I showed it to ammi excitedly, abbu stood up, stretched his arms and sighed in relief before coming and sitting beside ammi with his sore body, still heaving a sigh of relief. It was clearly visible on his face how much he was thankful that this was finally over.

"See I made your sketch! Isn't it just like you?" I asked him happily. I was so proud of myself for completing that task. For doing what my parents wanted me to do.

Abbu took the sketch from me and started examining it. Ammi bursted into peals of laughter watching the sketch and abbu's mortified face.

"I look like this?" He asked me incredulously with a horrified expression on his face.

"Yeah you look like this. You looked more good in person but in drawing you look this way." I had replied happily. I didn't realise at that time that abbu was mortified and tongue tied by my answer and didn't know what to say. And ammi, she just kept laughing at us. Her sweet melodies laughter echoing in the room bringing it to life. Now that I think about it, I feel sorry for abbu. He had to sit that way for hours only for me to draw that childish drawing.

I laughed remembering that day and wiped my tears away. Standing up, I moved towards my cupboard. Opening it I took out a box from behind my clothes. I store all of my special memories there and it is very precious to me.

I took it with me to my bed and sat there contemplating whether I should open it or not. In the end, I decided to open it and suddenly, nostalgia hit me like a strong wave crashing against a rock. Tears stung my eyes again but this time I held them back and took a deep breath. Composing myself, I took out the file which contained my old drawings. Turning the pages, I finally found the drawing which I was looking for. I ran my fingers on it and smiled. The drawing actually looked cute for a 6 years old girl. I mean, they don't know how to draw much but this was quite impressive if I do say so myself.

My mobile rang breaking me from my trance. Picking up my phone, I checked the caller and it was my best friend Emaan. I cleared my throat before accepting the call.

"Assalamualikum Atifa!" Her cheerful voice rang from the other end making me smile slightly.

"Walikumussalam, how are you?" I kept the file inside and closed the box.

"I'm fine Alhamdulillah. What about you?" She asked me excitedly.

"Even I'm fine Alhamdulillah. But what's up with you? What happened? Everything is alright?" I asked her while keeping the box back in the cupboard.

"Yeah everything's good. Guess what? Guess what? I will be coming to your house tomorrow. We can finally have a sleepover! My mom allowed me and I'm so happy! I can't believe it! We will have so much fun. Just keep my share of the cake ready. Don't eat it or let that little thief Ameera steal it. Understood?" She asked me sternly. Wow, I just realised everyone has a bossy side.

I chuckled. "Ok miss. Anything else? And I'm so happy that you are coming." I replied happily.

"Naah, nothing much. I will get going now, I want to get my stuff ready." She told me hurriedly.

"What stuff? What's special tomorrow?" I asked her confused.

"Don't worry, you will get to know about that tomorrow. Now take care, byee." She replied mischievously.

"Uh, ok? U too take care. Allah Hafiz." I replied still confused as to what she was talking about.

"Allah Hafiz." And she hung up the call. I kept my mobile aside still thinking about her weird behaviour.

I caught my reflection in the mirror and saw my puffy face. I can't go like this in front of Amira or Alayna. There will be thousands of questions to which I have no answer. So I went to the washroom to wash my face. After that, I rimmed my eyes with khol to reduce the redness. The redness won't go away but at least it won't be that visible.

I scanned my reflection in the mirror. My eyes still looked a bit red, my nose was also red and my cheeks, they looked like I have used some blush. Like I was doing my makeup here. I laughed at that thought, yeah natural makeup. My lips were chapped, so I put on some lip balm and that was it.

I was wearing a black long frock which reached my ankles. It was plain except for the embroidered work on the neck and wide golden lace on the border of the dress and on the sleeves. I paired it with black leggings. It also had a heavy dupatta which I wasn't wearing currently because I had to go in the kitchen to make food. This was one of my favorite dresses as it was long, it was black and it fits me perfectly. Overall I looked good, I mean, I'm not as pretty as some model but Alhamdulillah I'm beautiful as I'm.

Allah Subhanahu Wa Taàla has made us all beautiful in our own way. We should never compare ourselves to others. We all are different, unique in our own way. He doesn't make any mistakes. He knows best how we would do our best and how we would look our best. We should never complain about how we look or how we are made. We are made by the creator of the universe who can never make any mistakes or go wrong anywhere. This was one of the things which my parents taught me and I can never forget that.

After I was done examining myself, I went downstairs in the kitchen. I decided to make chicken kebabs, lentils with tortilla's and plain rice. I started my work while my mind wandered to my old memories. Although I tried my best to keep it all together, I did lose my control a few times resulting in the tears rolling down my face once in a while. In about one hour, I was done with the food. Only salad was remaining on which I started working after checking the time. It was about three in the afternoon and ammi will be back anytime soon.

After making the salad, I kept it in the fridge and went back to my room. I washed my face once again since I was feeling hot and sweaty before rimming my eyes with kohl again. The redness was still there. I shook my head and took out a plain black hijab and pinned it in its place. After that I pinned the heavy dupatta on my shoulder. Being satisfied with my look, I decided to go and check up on Amira and Alayna.

Grabbing my mobile I went towards Amira's room and saw them playing with her dolls now.

"Api, would you like to join us too?" Amira asked me excitedly when she saw me entering her room. Alayna turned to look at me, her eyes filled with surprise. (Big sister)

"No, you both continue, I will just sit here and watch you both play." I told her with a smile while sitting on her bed.

"Okay." She shrugged her shoulders as they continued to play. I turned my mobile on silent mode and opened the camera. A smile tugging at the corner of my lips. I love taking pictures but only the kind in which the face isn't showing. So as Amira and Alayna's backs were turned towards me I took this chance to take a few pictures of them.

I tried different angles and when I was happy with the results I smiled in triumph. I checked the time and realised that Ammi wasn't back yet and it was past her usual time of returning back home. And also, Alayna's brother might be trying to find her, if he even remembers about her, that is. I grittered my teeth while thinking about his carelessness.

Not wanting to think much about it, I turned my attention back to ammi. I hope she is alright. I thought of waiting for a while before calling her. Maybe she has some extra work in her office. To pass the time and divert my attention from my overthinking mind, I started reading a story on wattpad.

"Api, will you please catch us? Please? We are the thieves and you are the police. Okay?" Amira's voice bought me out of my world. And I couldn't resist their innocent puppy eyes. I internally awed at them. They are soo cute. Ma Shaa Allah.

"Alright but don't run too fast or else you guys might fall. And also, Alayna is already hurt so be careful. Got it?" I warned them sternly. Closing my mobile I stood up to play with them.

"Okay api!" They chorused happily. They went towards the door and started counting from 1 to 3.

"Let's run!" Amira shouted before they started running in the hallways. I ran behind them, a smile playing on my lips. I have to say that they were pretty fast. Their laughter rang in the house and it felt - even if it was just for a moment - complete. Just like how it used to be.

"Woah girls, slow down a bit! I can't run that fast." I exclaimed with a laugh.

"No api, it will be cheating that way." Amira replied as they exchanged a mischievous smile before running downstairs while laughing.

"Careful girls!" I shouted at them while shaking my head.

"Catch us if you can!" Alayna shouted happily and ran in the living room. I was running downstairs trying not to fall face first in this dress. They are definitely taking advantage of me wearing this dress.

"Come fast api, or else you won't be able to catch us." Amira chimed in with a laugh.

I glared at them playfully and chased them. Just wait and watch kids, how I catch you. My mind started making a plan just for them to escape from the living room and run towards the drawing room.

"God, these kids! Let me just catch them once!" I muttered under my breath and huffed. I ran after them to the drawing room only to see Alayna hugging a man?

Stopping dead in my tracks I realised a man was in my home. Huh, Where did he come from? And that too in my house. Without my permission. And wait a minute, why is she hugging him? And how come I'm here infront of him? I mean oh God! My hijab! I mean my niqab! I didn't realise that I was staring at him with confusion clearly visible in my eyes. As soon as I realised that, I turned my gaze away only to see Amira standing in the corner, looking confused. Just like me.

This is soo messed up! Who is he? And how did he even come here?

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GLOSSARY :

- Api - Used to call big sister in urdu/hindi.

- dekhiye - See

- Ammi - Mom/Mother

- Abbu - Dad/Father

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