Chapter 4 Chapter 4- You're Okay

Abdullah

Aminat hugs her baba tightly, while crying into his chest. 

"It's his fault. I told him not to eat any sugary things, but he won't listen to me... now see," her mom says as she slaps her husband's 's shoulder. 

He chuckles and so do dad and mom. They came over to her house too, so did Rahul and bhabhi Zara, Sahil, Aisha, and my two nephews, Ismaeel and Yusuf. They're just running around the place, filling the room with laughter. 

"Yusuf, Ismaeel, stop yelling at each other sit down," bhabhi yells at them, but they don't listen. 

They yell even louder, which of course, makes babhi more angry. Before she can storm over to them, I scoop the two up in my arms. They burst out laughing and kiss my cheek. 

"Oii you are gonna am gonna turn into a tomato from all the attention your giving me." I fake gasp. 

The two giggle, while everyone else laughs at my stupid remark, including Aminat. I love hearing her laugh. It lightens up my mood. 

But because of me, she hasn't been herself, and it's all my fault. I've put work in front of her, which hurts me too but at the same time I got some time to think about my life. And I'm glad she asked me about my past relationship and I'm more glad I confessed to her. She took it well, surprisingly, which made me get attracted to her more. 

"Hey, jiju, stare any harder and there'd be two tomatoes in this room," Daneen speaks up. Sahil and Rahul burst into laughter after she made her comment with a wink my way. 

I look down embarrassedly, then look at Aminat, whose face is as red as a tomato right now. She quickly looked down while biting her lip. Oh how I wish I can hold her close to me right now and kiss her like my li-- I discard my thoughts and clear my throat.

I take a seat beside Rahil, who wiggles his eyebrows at me. I slap his back, then roll my eyes. 

"Daneen, why don't you make them something to eat and drink?" her dad says tiredly. 

"Why can't didi make it? I just came back from school I'm tired," Daneen groans. 

"Daneen," Aminat scolds. 

"But, sis," Daneen groans. 

"Daneen, now," Aminat says sternly. 

Daneen gets up with no further questions, then sulks all the way to the kitchen. 

"And you." Aminat turns to her baba with her hands on her hips angrily. 

"What did I do?" he asks in confusion. Her mom just chuckles. "How many times have we told you not to eat sweets, you don't listen to anyone. It's that Daneen, I know she sneaks you sweets behind our back," she scolds uncle, whose eyes widens in shock. 

We all can't help but laugh. 

"Sis, how do you know? Unless you spy on us," Daneen hums suspiciously as she walks out with a tray of many cups of tea and plates of biscuits. 

"I did not, you just suck at sneaking." Aminat shrugs. 

"Did too," Daneen fights back. 

"Did not."

"Did too." 

"Did not." 

"Did--"

"Hey, girls, we get it. You're both childish and still immature but can you keep it down?" Sahil groans loudly. 

The girls gasp loudly. They turn towards him with hands on their hips. 

"I'm sorry, you were saying?" Daneen presses on while glaring at him.

"I don't like you," she spat angrily but he just smirks. 

"I'm sure you don't," he says. Her eyes widen, then her face goes red. 

"I just realized I have so much homework, sis can you please serve?" she rambles, then runs up the stairs to her room. 

"Dane--" Aminat stops when Daneen slams the door of her room. 

I look at an amused Sahil. "Don't tell me there's something going on between you all," Rahul whispers to him. 

"What? No, of course, not. I don't like her she's so annoying." He scoffs. 

"Mm," Aminat hums. 

"She heard it... crap," Sahil whispers looking mortified as Aminat serves tea to everyone. 

She came to Sahil, who nervously looks at her. She hands him his cup with no words. She hands me my tea while looking down. She always looks down whenever it comes to me. Why hide her beautiful face from me?

"Daneen," Aminat calls. 

"Yes, sis?" Daneen runs down the stairs with a totally different attitude. 

"Why are you dressed?" Aminat asks her. 

"Oh, I'm going out with the girls." She smiles as she grabs her purse. 

"Out where?" her mom asks. 

"Mama, I told you last night," Daneen groans. 

"Me, Samara, and Zaynab are going ice skating and Zaynab's introducing her fiance to us." She smiles with excitement. 

"Zaynab's engaged?" Aminat gasps in shock. "Yes, sis, oh I totally forgot to tell you, ah sis he's such a cutie you should see--"

Sahil and I clear our throats, abruptly causing her to stop talking. Wait, why did Sahil clear his throat? 

"I get jiju, but, Sahil why do you care?" Daneen raises an eyebrow. 

"Because I don't wanna hear about it." Sahil shrugs. 

"Well, door's that way," was all she said. 

"Daneen," Aminat whispers. 

"Ouch, sis why be so violent towards me? Just cuz he's your brother-in-law law, I'm your sister you should be supporting me." Daneen frowns. 

"I'm not supporting anyone, Daneen why don't you take Sahil with you?" Aminat suggests. 

"Yah, good idea I don't want you alone with a guy Zaynab's marrying, if you have Sahil there it'd be okay," her mom says. 

"Him? Mama no way," Daneen yells. 

"Like I'm dying to follow you." Sahil rolls his eyes. 

"I'm sure you are not." Daneen scoffs. 

"You both fight like married couples," Aisha says. 

My eyes widen and Sahil starts coughing the tea he's drinking. 

"Yeah he'd suck as my husband," Daneen hisses. 

"I'll let you know I'm amazing and you'd be a pain to wake up to every morning as a wife," Sahil snaps. 

"Hey, hey, stop," Mama yells. 

They look at her, then each other, and fold their arms. 

"I can see beautiful kids being made by you two," Aisha squeals. 

"I'm out." Daneen covers her ears as Aisha speaks.

"Second thought, Sahil you stay here, Aisha you follow Daneen," mom says. 

"Okay." Aisha smiles. 

Sahil's face falls with disappointment. I could've sworn it was the same for Daneen. 

"We'll take your leave now, I'm glad you are okay." Dad hugs Aminat's dad. 

"Allah Hafiz," they all mutter amongst each other. 

"Allah Hafiz."

"Beta, you have to go, you are married now, your place is with your in-laws not here, no matter how much I want you here, I can't," her dad tells her. 

"But, baba." Aminat frowns. A few tears slide down her cheeks, then she hugs him tight. "I'll call you every time, I  promise," she whispers. 

"I know." He chuckles, then kisses her forehead. 

"Allah hafiz." 

"Allah hafiz," she replies and kisses his cheek and her mom's. They smile and wipe her tears away. 

"Take care, beta," her mom whispers. She gives a small smile and turns to me. 

Just then Aisha and Daneen come in screaming like maniacs. 

"That was amazing thanks, Daneen, best day ever." Aisha hugs Daneen. 

"I know right and you are welcome." Daneen smiles. 

"Aw you are leaving so soon?" She fake frowns at Sahil, who glares at her. 

"It's a good thing I don't have to see your face again, at least I'd get a good night sleep," he says. 

"You wish," she snorts and then hugs Aminat. "It's a shame you are married in his family," she whispers. 

"Daneen!" Her parents gasp. 

"No, I love everyone in it except him... that's what I mean," Daneen says quickly. Mom and dad just chuckle at her childishness. 

"I'll miss you, sis." She kisses Aminat a few times before sighing deeply. 

"I already miss you." Aminat smiles sadly.

We take their leave and get in our separate cars. Sahil and Aisha ride with me and Aminat.