Whispered Promises of Love

Chapter 5: FunCity

I all but ran towards her and carried her in my arms. I kissed all over her face and recited Ayat-ul-kursi.

"Where did you go Erum ? Ma was so worried." I cried.

"I am sorry ma." She looked guilty and wiped my tears with her little fingers.

"Never leave you, promise." She held her pinky to me.

"Uncle said, never leave your ma behind or else she will get scared." She said kissing my cheeks. I absolutely forgot about the man who got her here and looked up to him and thank him but it was- drum rolls please- it was Subhan. Why God why ?

"Uncle was right. Look you were scared." She continued talking not feeling the tension.

"Thank you uncle." She wriggled out of my hold and hugged his legs. He bent down to her level and kissed her forehead, his eyes glistening.

"Never leave your mom alone, ok?" He said sweetly. I rolled my eyes at his drama.

"Come Erum, let's go home now. It's late." I said pulling her hand towards me, not bothering to say a thank you to the 'kind man'.

"Maaaa i want to play, please." She said pouting. Subhan was still standing there looking at us.

"We'll come back again baby, I feel very tired now." I tried reasoning with her.

"Just one game ma, please." Her lips started wobbling. And I gave in.

"Fine, just one game."

I started walking away when she said:

"Won't you say thanks to uncle who brought me here ?"

"I think he is gone. We will thank the next time we see him. She turned around to see if what i said was true.

"No mamma, he is standing." She started pulling my hands, talking me towards him.

And every step I took, was a pierce to my heart. Lubna would have slapped him again just for being in the same mall as me.

"Ma forgot to say thank you." Erum said as if she couldn't believe it.

"It's okay, butterfly, I think I owe your mother this one." He softly replied.

"No, you don't owe me anything. So, Thank you for keeping my daughter safe and bringing her back to me." I said and walked away from him.

"Aayra.." He started calling, but I didn't dare to turn.

"You know that uncle ?"
"No."
"Then how does he know your name ?"
"I don't know. Maybe he guessed."
"Wow, that's so cool."

And all the way till FunCity, she guessed peoples name.

"Come Erum, you said one game. It's been two now." I whined.

"Last now."

"You said the same thing before the last game." She smiled sheepishly. After she was done playing 2 more games, she herself got tired and said she wanted to go home. But she saw the Claw machine on the way, and I saw Subhan behind us. Just to get away from him, I went to the other side and hid behind a game machine. There was a lot of rush so we lost him. I peeked from where I stood to see him nowhere.