Strings Attached

~Chapter 3~

"How'd you like it if we told our parents about this?" I asked her, sending a sideways glance to Sammy, who was sadly, getting ready to leave. "What?!" she cried horrified. "Don't even think about it, you two! They will take it the wrong way. Besides, if it's meant to happen, it will." "Oh! So you don't deny that you actually like my brother back," my bestie cries excited.

"Shh! Not so loud, you idiot," Raafiah snaps in a whisper, alarmed. "At least, let the guy know that you return his feelings. He deserves that much," I opine. "Things wouldn't be the same then," she replies, vehemently shaking her head. This whole liking-back business was like, a sisterly secret thingy... until now. Since she is a little shy, and a bit of a wet cat, Raafiah hadn't admitted this to anyone but me. Hence, Sammy's surprise. Oh! That not-so-glorious day, I had to punch it out of her. Anyway, I do think they're kind of cute and not-to-mention, totally perfect for each other. "Okay, you two. Stop being my 'love gurus'. And Hidayah, go serve him a glass of water," suddenly she commands.

"Ooh, is that concern I detect for his parched lungs! Oh, pitiful, pitiful fellow," I comment dramatically, as Sammy chuckles from behind me. She is tying her hijab in the mirror now. I've told her to go exceptionally slow so we can buy some time to spread mischief. Good girl. "Shut up! That's just a basic etiquette jungle queens like you don't know about. Now go." She forcedly pulls me out of the bed.

So much devotion! Ya Rab!! Somebody give me ice-cream to drown all this 'sappiness' in. "Why don't you go and serve him some?" my bestie suggests heavily. "Oh, and while you're at it, do observe his delicious lips as he eagerly laps it up, and his throaty laugh, and the way his Adam's apple bobs up and down while he talks in his melodious voice," I advise her. She sticks out her tongue at me, rolling her eyes at my dramatics.

"And yeah, don't forget to hold his hands and drop a thousand kisses on them." Sammy laughs so loudly that I'm sure her brother must've heard it downstairs. "That's a little intense, don't you think?" Raafiah glares at us, and finally, she's successful in pushing me out the door. "He's in the hall." 

"Anything I should convey for the lovebirds?" I ask her, my eyebrows raised in a drunk-in-love manner. I'm playing the cupid here guys, so I need to keep that stance while he's around. "No. And don't even dream of trying anything stupid, okay." She has suddenly switched to her stern, elder sister mode. "Too many warnings!" I click my tongue. And huffing dispassionately, I advance downstairs.

After I've tucked my dupatta securely about my face, neck and chest, I pick up the tray and get to the hall. "Assalamu alaikum, M'aroof Bhai," I greet him. He is sitting on the sofa, playing with his phone and bored stiff. Poor guy! I seriously pity him now. If only Raf had given him some company. "Wa alaikum Assalam, Hidayah. Will you tell Samira to hurry up a bit? I need to go somewhere. What's taking her so long though?!" he asks me, his brows drawn and tone agitated.

 Oops, my bad.

"Oh, she must be gathering her things. I'll surely tell her that you're in a hurry. Do you want anything else?" "No, thank you. Just call her." "Who?" I ask, feigning forgetfulness. For a minute there, he's lost it. I detect something else in his eyes besides impatience. Is that hope? But before I can confirm my suspicions, he quickly comes round. "My sister...?!" he replies in an interrogative manner, eyeing me peculiarly, and probably questioning my sanity. "Oh... yeah. I'll go call her." Just then, the clout herself comes sprinting down the stairs.