A Promise From My Heart

Chapter Two

My foot steps were light against the gleaming marble floor as I stepped into the dining room. The house was quiet as usual. There was a time when the dining table would boom with laughter. The angry voice of Raihan and the mocking laughter of Raihana would fill the house and vice versa. My mother would shout telling them to keep quiet. Noorie doing the house chores together with the housemaid or any of the twins as she chat and laugh with mum. Dad and I would talk about various things and laugh. Sometimes, I helped with the chores which were kind of fun but those days were gone, long gone.

Almost everybody was present for breakfast except my younger sister Noorie and father. I looked at my wife who was eating her breakfast quietly. My lips quivered up into a smile. I took heavy steps towards her but before I could get there, my younger sister Noorie was there. She came out of nowhere, took the plate away from Amatullah and hit her hand with the iron spoon making Amatullah wince like a little child.

"Can't you just get back to your right senses and be normal again?" Noorie roared.

Amatullah looked at her, confusion laced her face. Noor's eyes were bulging from their sockets, anger, hatred and resentment filled them. Hot rage vibrated from her body. She pulled Amatullah up with so much anger pushing her to the back with force. Amatullah staggered back almost falling. Everybody stood up looking at her with wide eyes and slacked jaws. Amatullah just stared at her looking more confused than ever.

"Noor, stop!" my thick voice howled across the room.

"Why should I stop? I won't stop!" she shouted throwing the plate on the wall opposite her. It shattered into pieces. Amatullah had run to me like a scared kitten hiding behind my back holding my arm tightly.

"You know her health condition" I shouted back at her. Amatullah's grip tightened on my arm. She began to shake.

"It has been eight months Brother Yusuf. She should get better. She is the only one who knows what happened to mum that night. She is the only one who knows the murderers and the whole thing. The mumu does not want to remember" she gave Amatullah a scornful look before looking back at me with furious eyes. "It is so frustrating and it is making me madder at her. Instead of her to be acting like some mad lady she should try to remember" She screams.

I clenched my hands to my side. I gritted my teeth, my breathing becoming heavy. I raised my hand in the air, moved it back a bit before hitting her on the face with so much anger. A resounding slap echoed through the room. My grandmother, Raihan and Raihana looked at me with wide eyes and dropped jaws. My father came to the dining room at that time.

"Where are your manners? Have they flown out of the windows? You should mind what you say to her. She is your sister in law and she is older than you. She is already going through a lot right now. Instead of you to support her you are acting like some fool. Are you even in your right senses? Everybody is affected by what happened eight months ago so stop acting like you are the only one affected" I roared at her. Noor's bold feline eyes burned with fury and tears threatening to fall. She had a hand on her face shaking with anger. Drops of tears ran down her spotless cheeks.

"Will you all stop this drama?" my father shouted.

Without sparing him a glance, I pulled Amatullah by her hand and walked out of the living room with heavy steps and irregular breath. She followed me without a word. I could feel her shaking in my firm grip, her pulse quickened. Releasing her from my tight grip, I walked into the room running my hand through my low hair. I let out a heavy breathe. Taking in breaths and letting them out, I tried to reduce my anger.

"Yusuf" she called my name, her voice soft, gentle and calm. I felt her tender hand on my tensed arm. I tried to calm myself down by clenching and unclenching my fist. "Yusuf" her voice was as soft as cotton then a hand went around my rigid torso.

I rubbed my temple trying to stop the headache setting in. The whole anger was too much to start my day. She appeared in front of me and removed my hand from my face and cupped it into her hands. Her eyes stared into mine. I could see the worry in her squinted eyes so I hugged her, rubbing her back. It gave me comfort. It calmed me down finally allowing me to let out a sigh.

"What ever happened down was nothing" I spoke after a while then kissed her cute nose "I need to leave for work" I told her. She pouted making her look so cute. I had the urge to pull her cheeks but I pushed it away, it would irritate her.

"Alright" she walked back a bit. She picked up my bag from the bed and handed it over to me. She looked at me trying to see if I was looking okay. "You look handsome" She said not looking at me. What seemed to tic by the side of my lips turned into a small smile.

"I know" I smirked. She looked disappointed which made me laugh.

"Stop it" she hit my hand playfully. I stopped laughing but pressed my lips together trying to suppress my laughter and she looked pleased then I turned to leave.

"Allah Hafiz" I said as I headed towards the door.

"Wait" her tiny voice stopped me. I groaned mentally and turned. She walked up to me majestically.

Every step she took closer to me felt like a thousand years. Her hair bounced up and down. The way she moved her curvy body and threw her head I loved it. The radiant smile made her face glow. She looked so innocent and beautiful.

"Take care" she gave me a quick kiss before pulling away. I let out a faint gasp because I was not expecting that from her.

"I will In Sha Allah" I pressed my lips to hers gently. Her puckered lips broke into a smile. "Allah Hafiz" I turned and left for work.