....Nijapa2003

Nazanin Abbas.

EIGHT YEARS LATER.

"Happy eighteen my babies! Both of you are now legally adults, I can't wait to get rid of your asses", Maasima cheers loudly hugging both of us to her chest. I grin at her language, she is a sweetheart.

That's why I love her, she is not a bore like other mothers. She is so cool, like us youngsters.

"Mama! Language", Dani says in a warning tone.

Ae lo. Athhara saal ka buddha aagaya gyan jhaadne.

After we come out of her embrace, I grin at her smacking Dani's head,"Thank you so much Maasima! I love you, for being so cool. And ignore Dan, as he gets older, he tends to lose his cool touch."

Maasima chuckles, disheveling his neatly put hair. I focus on her smiling face for a little longer, knowing it is a rare occurrence. Ever since Uncle Walid passed away, she also became like Mama. At times, she would lock herself up in her room.

Mama told me Uncle Walid knew he wasn't returning back from the airstrike he was going to be a part of, eight years ago just days after he got me married to Dani. That was the reason he got us married so young, he wanted to fulfil the promise he made to my dying father.

I don't understand why Maasima never stopped him from going if she knew he was never coming back to her. How could she just let him take such a foolish step? If Uncle Walid was still here, atleast one of my mothers would be happy and my Dani would not lose his childishness so fast.

He grew up faster than most kids, after Uncle's death he stopped playing with toys, he even stopped going with me on school trips because that would leave our mothers alone and he never wanted them to feel like they don't have any man to rely upon.

His protectiveness for me only increased ever since that happened, he wouldn't let me stay over at my friend's place or even go out after evening hours. Sometimes, I think he took over my father's role. Ugh, that's so annoying. I wish he was my previous Dani.

My reverie is broken when Dani nudged my side, indicating me to hold the knife. I nod, placing my hand on his which is already holding the knife and we cut the cake together. I feed a piece to him first, followed by mom and Maasima. After the feeding session is done, I sneak some cream from the cake and smear it on Dani's face.

He looks like I took him offguard, his dilated blue eyes scanning my face and the next moment he begins chasing after me. I sqaeal, making a dash for whatever room is available. I can hear mama and Maasima erupt into laughter as we circle the sofa initially, dropping anything that is in the way.

Knowing he is about to catch upto me anytime, I quickly run into my bedroom, trying to latch the bolt of my door behind me. But he inserts his foot in the middle, smirking at me.

Not so fast mister. I let go of the door immeidately sprinting towards the washroom. I am almost there when my feet are taken offground, with his hands on my waist he raised me up like a doll. I shriek when he throws me on my bed, "Dan, you giant leave me."

The moment we hit sixteen, his body had taken upon itself to transform completely. He went from a lean, lanky spectacle boy to a giant, muscly broody man. He grew as tall as he could possibly get, his muscles popping up and his perfect blue eyes became every girl's fantasy after being rid of those spects.

He grabs my leg, his fingers curling under my knee knowing it is my weak spot. I burst into giggles, wriggling under his hold.

"Will you put cream on me again, Niny?", I struggle under his vice grip still giggling.

"Don't call me Niny, Dan. It makes me sound like a baby. And I am an adult for God's sake", I manage to say trying to catch my breath.

He stops tickling, looking up at me with a wierd expression that I can't seem to comprehend. What happened to him? I sit up striaght, trying to gauge his reaction.

"You don't like me calling you Niny?", he asks.

I instantly nod, "I absolutely don't like that tacky nickname."

His eyebrows furrow,"But I always used that nickname on you."

"C'mon Dan, we were kids back then. Now we are grown up, why are we thinking about it anyway. Let's get our birthday gifts." I get up from the bed dragging him with me back to the living room where both the ladies are talking about something animatedly.

Dani walks to them, pecking each of thier foreheads and smiling warmuly at them, I quickly capture it in my iPhone 13 Pro which was my last birthday gift from Dani. Even though he is just eighteen, he has got some amazing business skills which landed him a job in Mir Corporation, our mothers' maiden business.

He works there part time after college. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if our mothers were not sisters, they would have to spend their whole life in solitude after their husband's death.

Mama in particular is too attached to Dani, like right now when she is smiling at him teary eyed. As if he her hero. Then her eyes fall on me and she beckons me.

I run to my family, though it's not complete, it's no less happy. I never felt the absence of my father, Dani was my father whenever needed. Sometimes I do miss Uncle Walid though, because he always played with me. And then suddenly, one day some men dressed in green that I later found was military uniform came and handed over his clothes with a watch and boom. He is gone.

I feel a warm chest hugging me, by his strawberries scent I know it's Dani, I wrap my arms around his waist burying my face more into his chest. He rubs my hair, "Baba is here Niny. Just feel him, he wouldn't want his little princess crying now, would he?"

I nod, tears still flowing from my eyes, his warm chest reminds me of Uncle Walid. He would often wrap me under his warmth, telling me I remind him of Baba. I rub my nose on his shirt, still not moving away. His smell calms me down. He again runs his fingers in my hair, placing kisses on the crown of my head.

"Dani, I miss him so much. Why did he have to leave us so early?" I sniffle, digging my head more in his chest.

"Because baba knew you have me to take care of you. I am here for you princessa, don't cry okay?", his words calm my nerves.

"Ta-da! Who wants their birthday gifts? The offer expires in twenty seconds", I turn to them excitedly any remnants of my tears now gone. I quickly grab the gift with my name on it. I tear away the cover hastily, recieving three amused chuckles.

There is a phone case. A beautiful phone case, with a very cute picture of Dani and me printed on it's back.

"Awwwww. This candid shot looks so cute, mothers. You guys are amzing. Where do you get such cool ideas from?", I ask and mom points towards Maasima.

I hug her, kissing her cheeks. Dani opens his too, a similar phone case with yet another beautiful picture of him an I. In this one, I am holding the last button of his shirt, trying to fix it. And he is keenly observing the process. In mine, both of our toddler selves are sleeping on the grass facing each other, but in opposite directions.

(This pic is on Nazanin's phone case. The one on Danish's is on the top.)

I grab his phone, quickly removing his old cover and putting this one. I do the same with mine, grinning in delight at how cute they look.

"Haaye, main sadke jawan. Ham kitne pyaare lag rahe hain. Haina Dan?"

He nods while smiling, then flicks my nose just like in that picture, " You look the princess you are, princessa!"

That only widens my smile and I pretend to adjust my crown, leaving my family chuckling.