Atifa's pov :

The day following that day, I woke up with a terrible headache with body pain and the feeling of nausea hitting me with full force. Actually, the feeling of nausea was the reason for me to wake up at three at night and empty my stomach. I didn't know if it was because I missed our home or due to the continuous cramps or due to lack of sleep or if I overworked myself or if it was just food poisoning. Whatever the reason was, it wasn't intentional.

And even if I tried to, I couldn't sleep after that. The feeling was so prominent that I kept sitting up every once in a while, just to lay down again. And by the time I woke up ammi for fajr, I had already thrown up twice and my body seemed too tired to function properly. But choosing not to tell her about this at that time, I headed back to our room.

If I count it myself, I slept only for around five hours. When I was sure that Amira had prayed fajr before going to sleep again, I tried to snuggle back into sleep, hoping to feel better by the time I woke up again.

._._._.

"Api uthiye na! Mujhe bhook lagi hai." Amira's nagging voice woke me up in the morning as she sat beside me, shaking my shoulder.

(Wake up! I'm hungry.)

"What time is it?" Opening one of my eyes, I squinted at her.

"Naw baj rahe hai." She replied with a pout, glancing at the clock.

(It's nine.)

"Accha theek hai, mai uth rahi hu. Tum jao fresh ho jao." I told her, stifling a yawn. Thankfully, I was able to sleep for a few more hours, three to be more specific.

(Okay, I'm waking up. Go and freshen up.)

"Mai already fresh ho chuki hu api." She replied with a proud grin, making me smile slightly.

(I already freshened up.)

"Accha chalo hato, mujhe uthne do." I told her while sitting up with a yawn. "Ammi kya kar rahi hai?" I asked her with a frown.

(Okay move aside, let me wake up.)
(What is mom doing?)

"Wo bhi abhi uthi hai." She replied as she grabbed my phone and went to sit on the bed, getting lost in her own world with a smile on her face.

(She just woke up.)

Shaking my head, I stood up and started folding my blanket, the feeling of weakness still there. "Accha. Abhi naashta bana deti hu, thodi der sabr kar lo."

(Okay. Just wait for a while, I will make your breakfast.)

"Jee api, you can take your time. Mai intezaar karungi." Her absent-minded reply made me shake my head at her antics. With a breathy laugh, I left the room to freshen up and make something for breakfast.

(Yes, you can take your time. I will wait.)

Yesterday, after asr prayer, we all headed out to mow the small lawn surrounding our house. Other than grass, the lawn just had a neem tree at one corner of the border. The lawn was bordered with white fence, giving this house a cute look.

It took us around an hour to mow it and after that, we brought out the extra foldable chairs kept in the kitchen to keep them in the lawn and admire the setting sun.

After magrib, ammi went to check out this area and the grocery shops available here while we got to work on setting a few of our clothes in the cupboard. She returned with dinner and basic groceries needed to make breakfast and lunch, claiming that she would bring other stuff soon as she wasn't having enough money to buy everything all at once.

Deciding on scrambled eggs and bread for today, I quickly made it while waiting for them to come out of the rooms. Heading into the living room, I kept the packet of bread and a bottle of ketchup on the coffee table in front of the couch before heading back in the kitchen to bring out scrambled eggs.

"Ammi, Mira! The breakfast is ready!" I called out, before remembering about coffee. Shaking my head at my forgetfulness, I headed back in the kitchen to boil milk.

"Coming!" I heard Amira's reply before her running footsteps as she rushed into the kitchen to wash her hands, a grin on her face. "What did you make for breakfast?" She questioned me eagerly, but without even waiting for my reply, ran out in the living room, leaving me shaking my head with a small smile tugging my lips.

"Mira ammi ko bula lo." I told her, taking out coffee powder and sugar.

(Mira go and call mom.)

"Jee api, bula rahi hu." She replied loudly and I heard her footsteps echo as she ran to the other room.

(Okay, I'm calling her.)

._._._.

"Tumhe to bukhar hua hai. Tumne mujhe kyu nahi bataya." Ammi asked me while touching my forehead, a frown adorning her face as she looked at me, worried.

(You have fever. Why didn't you tell me?)

"Nahi ammi, ye kuch nahi hai. Theek ho jaiyega kal tak, aap fikar mat kijiye." I told her while moving my face back and turning around to check on the lentils.

(No mom, it's nothing. I will be fine by tomorrow, don't worry.)

"Phir bhi, dawa kha lena." She replied before heading out of the kitchen, to the living room.

(Still, have medicines.)

"Api mai bohot bore ho rahi hu. Yaha to mai park bhi nahi jaa sakti, kya karu?" Amira questioned while coming in the kitchen, a bored look on her face.

(I'm getting bored. I can't even go to the park here, what should I do?)

"Tum cartoon dekh lo na." I told her, turning away from the stove to look at her.

(Watch cartoons.)

"Aapke mobile me net bhi nahi hai. Kya dekhu? Download kiye hue abhi dekhe the maine."

(We don't have net in your mobile. What should I watch? I just saw the downloaded ones.)

"Accha, to mobile me game khel lo na." I replied apologetically, thinking how bad it must be for her to come here and have nothing to do.

(I see. Then play some games.)

"Nahi, mujhe abhi nahi khelna. Aur waise bhi, aapke mobile ki battery low ho gai hai." She shook her head before gazing out of the window.

(No, I don't want to play now. And anyways, your mobile's battery is low.)

"Api, I miss Alayna and bhaijaan... Do you miss them too?" She added after a while of silence, looking at me expectantly.

I gulped at her question, my gaze travelling to the living room door where ammi was sitting as I contemplated on what to answer her. It would be a lie if I said no, I wasn't missing them, because honestly, I was thinking about him, about them, whenever I got the chance. Be it what they might be doing or how they might be doing. Be it our memories or our arguments.

And I didn't even remember how I used to, how we used to live until they came in our lives. Although the days with him, with them were numbered, but the memories made during that time, managed to overlap the cold and silent days, months, possibly a year of our life before that.

"Api?" Amira flicked her fingers in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Aapne bataya nahi." She added when she saw me looking at her.

(Sis?)
(You didn't answer me.)

"Yeah, I miss them too." I replied quickly, looking away from her.

"Then why did we come here? I want to go back..." She muttered, her voice low and upsetting and her honey brown eyes, a pool of sadness.

Even I didn't have an answer for her question, for her doubt. I just hoped that whatever reason ammi had for taking this step, should be worth it because I didn't know what I would do if it wasn't.

"Accha... Jaake kuch draw kr lo." I told her after a while of thinking and turning back to the stove. "Hum khana khane ke baad bahar jainge walking karne aur dekhenge ke aas paas koi park hai ke nahi." I added just for her sake, in hopes of changing her mood and cheering her up.

(Okay... Go and draw something.)
(After having lunch we will go out for a walk and see if there is a park around here.)

"Sacchi?" She asked me, her face lit up at the word park.

(Seriously?)

"Haa sacchi. Ab mujhe jaldi se khana pakane do taake hum bahar jaa sake." I told her with a smile. Nodding her head vigorously, she left the kitchen, skipping her steps.

(Yeah seriously. Now let me make our lunch quickly so that we can go out.)

._._._.

Amira did her lunch in a frenzy, way too excited to go out. But she had to wait for us to finish it too, making her whine about how slow we were eating even though it was our normal pace.

"Aap log bohot slow khana khate ho." She pouted, folding her arms and heading towards the door.

(You guys eat very slowly.)

"Aur tum kaha jaa rahi ho?" I questioned with a chuckle, amused at her actions.

(And where are you going?)

"Lawn me baithne. At least I won't have to see you guys still eating slowly." She replied before heading out, slamming the door shut. I just shook my head while glancing at ammi, only to watch her sitting there unattentive, without any expression on her face.

(To sit in the lawn. At least I won't have to see you guys still eating slowly.)

The small smile tugging at the corner of my lips vanished, being replaced with a look of concern. "Ammi? You alright?"

"Y- yeah, I'm fine." She replied, as if coming out of her trance. "What were you saying?" She asked me with a frown, now looking at me.

"Nothing." I shook my head, averting my gaze from her in confusion. Why couldn't she just share whatever was bothering her?

"Accha... You don't have to go out with Amira, I will take her. You are already sick." She told me, turning back to finish her food.

(Okay...)

"Nhi ammi, it's alright. I want to go. Maybe even I will feel better." I replied with a small smile, although I doubted my own words. The only thing I felt like doing was curling up in a ball and sleeping until I was back at my old home with everything fine.

(No mom, it's alright.)

"Hmm... As you say." Taking a quick glance at me, she shrugged.

We completed our lunch in silence after that, both of us lost in our own thoughts. This silence gave me a sense of dejà vu, making me shrivel up in a ball. It was pretty obvious and apparant, ammi was shutting out herself again, she had started being cold again. And I didn't know what happened. I didn't know her reasons.

Sighing while keeping the plates in the sink and washing my hands, I headed to our room to grab my abaya. Wearing it and grabbing my hijab, I headed out to call Amira in to get ready.

"Mira!" I called her, peeking out from the door. She was sitting on one of the chairs while leaning her head back, one of her hands was supporting her face and her side profile was visible to me.

When she didn't reply, creasing my eyebrows, I stepped out onto the porch before calling her again. "Mira!" Not hearing any reply once again, I headed towards her, only to come face to face with her sleeping form. A chuckle escaped my lips when I saw a frown on her face, her lips parted slightly and her face turned up.

Shaking her shoulders lightly, I tried to wake her up once again. "Lagta hai aaj bahar jaane ka irada nahi hai kisi ka bhi." I teased, trying to hide my smile.

(It seems like no one wants to go out today.)

She jolted up hearing me, before groaning and covering her face with her hand at the sunlight coming directly on her. "Bahar jaana haina. Lekin aapne mujhe kyu nahi uthaya? Kitne baj rahe hai? Dekhiye aaplog kitna slow khana khate hai, mai to so bhi gai utni der me." She rambled all at once while standing up from the chair and heading inside with a frown.

(I want to go out. But why didn't you wake me up? What's the time? See how slow you guys eat, I even slept in that time.)

Chuckling, I shook my head before following her. "Mai tumhe bula to rahi thi, lekin tum so chuki thi. Aur abhi bhi waqt hai, jaldi se jaake taiyyar ho jao, phir hum chalenge." I replied while closing the door.

(I was calling you, but you were sleeping. And there is still time, go and get ready quickly, then we will head out.)

"Oh... Accha mai jaldi se taiyyar hoke aai, mere bina mat jaiyega." Instructing me, she rushed into the washroom while I headed back in our room to grab my niqab.

(Oh... Okay I will be back after getting ready quickly, don't leave without me.)

._._._.

"Don't run Mira!" I called out to her as I saw her taking a few steps ahead of us.

"I'm not running api!" Turning around to look at me, she replied with a mischievous grin.

"You better not." Muttering under my breath, I looked around, noticing the greenery and comfort of this area.

The streets were wide enough for three cars to go at the same time and each and every house had their own boundary, all of them white and similar to the one of our house here. The houses had a great amount of distance between them, ensuring the air to circulate and the sunlight to reach each and every house. All the houses had lawns, even if they were not too big, but just enough to give the house a... maybe neat look? And this area was definitely not congested like the resort areas where we were trying to find a room, which was a relief.

I was busy noticing my surroundings when my gaze flickered to Amira, only to find her running ahead with a laugh. My gaze flitted over to the woman coming from the opposite side as I warned Amira. "Ya Allah Mira, aaram se!"

(Oh God Mira, slow down!)

But I was too late, because the very next moment, she crashed with that woman, making her stumble as her stuff spilled on the streets and Amira fell down. I squeezed my eyes shut before rushing towards them. What would I do about this girl?

"I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" I apologised to the woman, giving Amira a hand to stand up, before bending down to pick up her stuff and keep them in the bags by her side.

"Ah, it's alright. I'm fine alhamdulillah." The woman replied before bending down to help me.

It was then I realised that the woman was Muslim too. Glancing up at her, I saw her wearing a green hijab. Quickly helping her, I stood up, extending my hand at her to help her stand up.

Looking up, she gave me a warm smile before keeping her hand in mine. I smiled back at her, although I doubted if she could tell that or not, since my niqab was a barrier between us. She was a middle aged woman, definitely older than ammi. Her hazel green eyes shone with warmth and she had a genuine smile adorning her lips. The colour of her hijab and the sunlight coming our way brought out her eyes beautifully.

Wait... I had seen those eyes before... but I didn't exactly remember where...

"Once again, I'm so sorry. I hope you didn't get hurt. My sister just loves to run around, I'm sorry." Coming out of my trance, I apologised once again while looking at her apologetically before glancing at Amira. She seemed to be busy frowning while looking at her arm. I would deal with her later, I decided.

"It's alright my dear. I told you I'm fine. This is the age for kids to play and run around. If they don't do it now, will they do that at our age?" She replied with a laugh, looking down at Amira with love filled gaze. "Even I have a daughter of around her age." She added with a smile.

"Are you alright kid?" She asked Amira, bending down to look at her.

Amira looked back at her, blinking innocently, her attention turning away from her arm. "I'm fine alhamdulillah aunty. I'm sorry." She replied, biting her lips and looking away in guilt and nervousness.

"It's okay. I'm fine, you see." Smiling, she stood up just as ammi reached us.

"Assalamualikum. I'm sorry, are you alright?" Ammi asked just as her gaze landed on that woman.

The woman looked taken aback for a moment when ammi greeted her. But composing herself, she replied with a small laugh. "Walikumussalam. I'm fine alhamdulillah. I don't even remember how many times you guys asked me this."

A breathy laugh escaped my lips as I looked away, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry but I haven't seen you guys around. Are you new here?" She asked us, a curious look on her face.

"Oh yes, we moved here just yesterday. We live in that house. Please come and visit us someday." Ammi replied, pointing at our house which was just a few blocks away from us.

"Oh Ma Sha Allah that's great! In Sha Allah I will surely come to your home someday." She replied, a smile curling at the end of her lips.

As they started conversing within themselves, my gaze once again flickered to that woman's face as confusion clouded my mind. Her eyes looked familiar, just like... just like his eyes. But that wasn't possible. He didn't live here. It was just my over thinking mind, making up scenarios just because I was missing him. Why couldn't others have similar eyes too?

Shaking away my thoughts, I turned my attention to Amira, bending down to look at her injury and reprimand her just as another headache hit me with full force. Today is going to be a long day, I thought.

._._._.

Needless to say, my fever didn't go away the next day. Nor did my headache or body pain cease. It had all increased, if that was even possible. My head pounded and my body ached with every step I took. I should have listened to ammi and taken the medicines yesterday. But I didn't want to take them and we didn't even have them with us.

After making breakfast and instructing us, ammi left for an interview somewhere and I resorted to sleeping for a while longer while Amira watched something on my mobile, a packet of chips kept beside her as she sprawled on the bed, enjoying her time. At least someone was enjoying, I smiled before snuggling up, sleep overcoming me as soon as I closed my eyes.

When I woke up again, thankfully I was feeling a bit better. Deciding to take a shower since it was almost Zuhr time already, I sat up on my mattress, only to notice Amira sleeping on her bed, the mobile, although closed, still kept in front of her. Smiling, I shook my head before standing up. Covering her with a blanket, I kept the mobile on charge.

It was past our lunch time, we were just having a silly banter when the doorbell rang, interrupting us.

"Api I'm going to sleep, you can answer the door and see whoever it is." Amira told me, an annoyed look taking over her features as she stood up to go.

"Mira, what is this behaviour?" I asked her sternly as I quickly grabbed my hijab, wearing it. "You will stay here with me." I added, glancing around the room once to see if everything was in place as confusion filled my mind. Who could it be right now? We didn't even know anyone here and ammi would be coming a bit later on, as per what she told us.

"No! I'm going to our room, mai baad me aaungi agar mera mann karega to." She replied with a frown before stomping her way to our room. What was with her and her mood swings today?

(No! I'm going to our room, I will come later if I feel like it.)

The doorbell rang once again. Shaking my head, I went towards the door, scared. Reciting a few duas, with different emotions roaming in my mind, I opened the door. But I couldn't help the soft gasp escaping my lips.

Shock would be an understatement for what I saw. Or more precisely, who I saw, standing there in front of me. What was she doing here? And that too with...

._._._.

▪ Who do you think is there, at the door?

._._._.