"Aunty Ellyyyyyy!"

"Yesss, baby?"

"I told you not to call me that", Mimi pouts. "I'm a big big girl now! I'm three years old", she grins showing four of her little fingers at me.

I laugh politely at her, "This is four". I bend down to face her, pushing her pinky gently to her palm, "Now this is three. See, one" I point to her index finger, "two", I point to her middle finger, "and three", I point to her ring finger.

"Oh, yes! I'm three!", wiggling her three little fingers at me.

"Yes, that's right. Now, why did you call me out here?", I ask brushing back her hair from her forehead.

"I want cookies! I love your cookies, Aunty Elly. Mummy told me you were baking cookies for me today!"

"Mummy told you? It was suppose to be a surprise. Hmm, naughty mummy"

She giggles. "A surprise? Mummy says only good girls get surprises. Am I a good girl, Aunty Elly?"

"The best girl there is in this whole wide world!" I lengthen the whole, pinching her nose playfully as I do so.

Ding! Goes the sound of the oven timer.

"COOKIES", Mimi squeals, running towards the kitchen.

"I'm gonna catch you!" I say running behind her.

"Noooo, you're not! I'm faster than you", she screams back at me, giggling.

I chase her around the kitchen island, making monster noises. She laughs and sticks out her tongue at me.

She turns a corner and I stop. I squat down making as little noise as I possibly can.

"Aunty? Where are you?" I hear her whisper. I see her shadow from the corner of the kitchen island and as soon as her little feet came into view, I jump on her.

"AAAAHHHH", she screams loudly, laughing whenever I tickle her.

"Had enough?" I ask her between laughs.

"Yes" she giggles. "Yes, Aunty Elly"

I stop and ask her, "So, am I faster than you?"

She gives another giggle, "No, but I want cookies"

I just shake my head and laugh at her, "Ok, ok. You'll get your cookies. Right after you go wash your hands, alright?"

"Yaaaaay! Ok!" she jumps up from the floor and runs to the sink, climbing up her little ladder, giddy from all the playing.

I turn to the oven and take out the pan full of cookies. I suddenly remember all the times I baked for my classmates back in high school. I remember feeling so touched that they loved it and kept asking for more. I didn't have the heart to say no. Even when we've all started on our careers, they'll still ask for my baked goods whenever we have informal reunions. And I always have something to give them.

I transfer all the cookies to the drying pan and put some on a small plate.

"Come on Mimi, I have your cookies right here. Careful, it's hot ok", I hold out my hand to her.

She nods enthusiastically. "Thank you Aunty Elly!" she says taking my hand.

I lead her towards the sofa in front of the television and sit down cross-legged opposite each other. We each pick up one cookie and grin at each other.

"Yay cookie!" we both chant raising our right hand holding our cookies.

"So, Mimi", I start after we've taken a few bites of our cookie. "What do you want to do after this?

"Play! Play!"

"What do you want to play?" I ask smiling.

"IPad! I have a lot of games. Do you want to play with me, Aunty Elly?

"Of course I do. Anything for my favourite girl", I reply ruffling her hair.

She just continues chewing on her cookie.

I pick up Mimi's toys from the floor and put it in her bag. I find a few colouring books and a box of colour pencils in her already stuffed bag. I sigh; Typical M, always overpacking her kid's bag. As if she's staying a night over here. I laugh to myself.

As I was cleaning up the kitchen, the doorbell rings twice.

Must be M. I say to myself, glancing at the kitchen clock.

I walk to the front door and smile, Thought so.

"Assalammualaikum Elly!" M says as I open the gate for her.

"Waalaikummussalam" I reply.

We embrace each other as per our usual form of greeting. "I am so sorry for being late" she apologizes quickly. "There was a crowd at the doctor's. Everyone chose today to do their check ups and what not" she sighs.

"No worries. I didn't mind looking after Mimi. She was a good girl. As always", I shoo her apology away. "So, what did the doctor say?" I ask impatiently.

She grins, "I'm pregnant!"

I squeal happily for my best friend hugging her. "Oh my god, congratulations M!"

"Thanks so much Elly", returning my hug.

"Is Ramzan as ecstatic as you?"

"I think he's even happier than me. He's hoping it's a boy. And he's been rambling non-stop on all the father and son activities he's looking forward to. We're both really happy!"

I laugh, "Well, I'm glad for the both of you. Obviously! Where is he anyway?" I ask, glancing outside.

"He's waiting in the car. He has a meeting in two hours so we can't be long"

"That's fine. Fauzi should be home soon. He messaged me a while ago, saying he's on his way back. I'm sure he'll be happy with the news too", I tell her.

"Alhamdulillah, I really am happy. Sure it'll be tiring but it'll be worth it. Speaking of tiring, how was Mimi?"

"She was fine. We had a lot fun together"

"Are you sure? She can be very cheeky and that just drains your energy"

"Kids are kids. They'll always be asking us to play with them and it'll eventually tire us. But it was all good. After having cookies, she showed me her games on her iPad and we watched some TV. After a while, she just fell asleep on my lap. So I got to do some quiet cleaning"

"That sounds bearable, thank God for you. Thanks so much again for babysitting her. I wouldn't have troubled you if our usual babysitter didn't bail on us at the last minute"

"Hey, don't sweat. I love your kid you know that. I don't mind at all"

Before she can reply, a car horn was sounded outside the gate.

"Oh, that must be Fauzi now", I explain.

We watch from the front door as Ramzan reversed the car and made way for Fauzi to park. Fauzi gets out from the car and gave a salaam to Ramzan to which Ramzan replied.

After a few exchanged words, Fauzi was already giving Ramzan a brotherly hug with a thump at the back.

"I guess Ramzan told him the good news then", I say to M.

"Looks like it", she smiles. "I better get Mimi now"

As we gathered Mimi and her belongings, I wore my hijab and walked outside with M carrying Mimi to meet the men.

"Assalammualaikum, yang", I salaam my husband.

"Waalaikummussalam", he replies kissing my forehead.

I turn to M's husband, "Ramzan, congratulations! M was just telling me all about your father and son plans"

"Well, what can I say? I'm dying for some guy time in the house. I can't have that with M, Mimi or my mother in-law now can I?" he says with pretend disappointment.

"You know you can't survive without any of us", M says to him.

"Hah, yeah kinda true", he replies scratching the back of his head.

We all just laugh.

"M, we gotta make a move now", Ramzan says.

"Yeah, sure alright"

"Bro, as much as I want to stay, I can't. If this next meeting succeeds, it's official. We've sealed the deal with China"

"Now that, you must go. Just come by anytime for coffee or tea. You know we only give you the best".

"That is a fact. Ciao, Fauzi. Assalammualaikum. Take care Elly", he smiles to the both of us and takes Mimi from M.

"Waalaikummussalam", Fauzi replies.

"Thanks again Elly, you're the best, you know that?" M says hugging me.

"I know", I laugh returning her hug. "You take care now, M. Don't do anything too vigorous. Take your daily vitamins and eat healthy. Note that Ramzan! Take care of my best friend here!"

"Noted", I hear him reply from the insides of the car where he's strapping the still sleeping Mimi to the car seat.

"Yes mom", M rolls her eyes at me with fake irritation. "Assalammualaikum Elly, Fauzi. See you two soon!"

"Waalaikummussalam", I came back to Fauzi's side and he immediately clasps his hand around mine.

We wave to M and Ramzan as they drove away.

Fauzi turns to me, lifts my chin up forcing my eyes to meet his.

"Soon, insyaAllah", he says as he gives me a kiss on my forehead.

I rest my head against his chest, hugging him.

"Soon"

Author's Note

I think some translation is needed for some of the italic words.

Assalammualaikum ; Peace be upon you. It's in Arabic and Muslims say it to each other as a form of greeting.

Waalaikummussalam ; Peace be upon you too. A reply to Assalammualaikum.

Alhamdulillah ; Praise to God. Also an Arabic word.

Hijab ; Maybe some of you already know this but those who don't, its a head covering Muslim women wear in public.

InsyaAllah ; If Allah wills it.

Salaam ; Its shaking hands but usually the younger one (or wives, to show respect to the husband) brings their head to the other's hand and kiss it. Its a Malay culture.

Yang ; Is short for sayang in the Malay language. It means love so in this context, it is used as an endearment.

Hope you liked the short story. Do you guys know what Fauzi was talking about when he said "Soon"? It's actually up to your imagine what it means. But as the author, I have my own specific answer, of course. Let me know you thoughts in the comments if you like. Criticism is welcome. I really need to improve my writing.

Thanks! :)