The Strange Path
RECAP: The two continued to fight like little kids as if they were back in their childhood. After a while both calmed down and were laughing in their hearts, remembering the way they were arguing moments ago.
Chapter: 13
The first rays of sunlight hit her face, making it glow like gold. Her face was moistened just like her clothes because of the dew drops that fell last night. Some of drops were still wet, soon to be dried now by the sun's heat. She would shudder every time the cold wind passes by, touching her. Her eyes slowly opened as the strong gust of air surpassed, making her jolt out of her sleep. She tried closing her eyes again, without noticing anything around her.
Her hands trailed along different directions, searching for something to protect her from the chilly breeze. Where was her blanket? That soft, pink coloured material, which provided her the warmth every night. Where was it? She was still half asleep and therefore didn't know anything about her surroundings. Tracing her hands up and down herself from the past few minutes, hoping to find something to protect her from the sudden cold disturbing her, she still wasn't able to find anything like that. Frustration came over her and she sat up with a jerk. Only to get astonished.
"Where am I?" It was the first question Aarzo asked to herself. The surrounding looked familiar to her. All that greenery, the few trees present at every corner of this garden like place, and above all was the different kinds of colourful flowers planted along the boundaries. It looked so beautiful, especially at this moment, just like her lawn. Wait…..It WAS indeed her lawn. She tried to get up from where she was sitting, but something was not letting her as if it was pulling her towards itself. She glanced sideways to see Zohaib asleep, snoring after each now and then. Wow! He slept on the swing like a King – both feet up and hands folded around his chest.
Aarzo's gaze fell at her feet, where she saw both Shiza and Afia, clinging on to each of her legs, trying to use her lap as their pillow. An innocent smile formed at the corner of her lips, seeing her two dearest cousins. They were looking like two kids who want to cuddle up in their parent's lap for a good sleep. Aarzo wanted to stroke their hairs like she used to do. However, her left hand didn't seem to even budge. It was stuck somewhere and well, her right hand was already captured by Shiza, who had laid her head on it.
Aarzo gave a glimpse at her left hand and was surprised, seeing Ali clinging on it, with Afia's half body leaning on to him. "What is going on? How come I am here? What are they all doing here? And What time is it?", she whispered all the different kinds questions to herself which were popping in her mind. She felt herself immovable in the situation she was caught in. It seemed as if any one let go off her, she would leave them forever. She closed her eyes, laying her head back, knowing she couldn't stand up in this condition.
"Ow!!", Aarzo let out a loud squeak, whining in pain due to the hammering headache, occurred all of a sudden to her. "What happened?", Ali asked abruptly, getting up from sleep, hearing Aarzo groan. "My…my head is hurting…..ouch!!!......Papa!!", Aarzo moaned louder this time, holding her head with her left hand, freed by Ali. "Oh My God!! Aaru?......ummm…..just wait a second…….I will do something.", he replied and started moving Afia and Shiza off Aarzo. Usually when you get hurt, your mom's name comes out of your mouth, abruptly…..without thinking. However, Aarzo's case was different. Her dad's name would be the first thing, coming out of her mouth, when she is pain or any other sort of danger. Just like the way she called out for her dad, forgetting that he is not there….anymore. Well, it shows how strongly and emotionally is Aarzo attached with her father.
"Aliiiii……..I am going to die……if…..if this head ache isn't cured fast enough…", she said, holding tighter on to her head. "Shut up Aarzo! Don't dare say that again.", Ali shouted in anger. Aarzo just stared at him blankly, as if she forgot if she even has a headache or was crying out in pain, few moments ago. It was the first time ever that Ali has talked her in fury or with annoyance.
"Let's go in!", he ordered very strictly and Aarzo quietly followed him inside the house, going through the space he had made by moving Afia and Shiza to the other side of the swing.
"What do you want to eat?", he asked in a stern manner. Aarzo who was standing beside him, moved back a little, scared from his anger. "I…..I……….I don't know…", she said, her eyes lowered, sticking strictly on the ground and no where else. Ali quickly made an omelet, which Aarzo refused to eat. He then prepared some toast with Jelly and butter but unfortunately, it was also rejected by Aarzo. She constantly gave silly reasons as she refused each of the things Ali gave her to eat. Ali was frustrated now, of Aarzo acting like a kid.
"Drink this without throwing any tantrums.", Ali said handing her a glass of milk. "Milk?", she replied staring at the glass infront of her, containing a white liquid called Milk . "But….Aaliiiii..I don't like it. You know na.", she said sulking and pouting at the same time. "I said NO TANTRUMS!!", he replied, making himself comfortable on the kitchen counter. "But….you know that it….it….It is MILK!!!!!!", she blabbered, meeting Ali's gaze now, which were on something else. "Yes Ms. Aarzo. I know that It Is M-I-L-K! Now drink it or I will make you drink!", he warned her, sarcasm clearly visible in his cold voice. She looked at the glass and then to Ali who was staring her, waiting for her to finish the substance filled in the long, square shaped transparent structure. Giving a last glance to Ali, she picked up the glass and drank it, holding her nose from one hand and the glass with the other.
Aarzo was wondering what happened to Ali all of a sudden? Where was the cheerful and always to be fun with Ali? She thought to tease him a little and then maybe he will be back to his old self again.
"Here! Take this pain killer", Ali said, coming out of his room, handing her the white pills, carefully placed in his right hand. It took him exactly 30 minutes and 12 seconds to find the medicines he brought, stuffed in his suitcase, in case of any emergencies. Ali has always been the disorganized one, to an extent. "Did you have a bad dream or you are just having a bad day?", Aarzo asked, gulping down the medicines with a chilled glass of water. Ali was found dumbstruck at the moment but soon realized what Aarzo had actually asked him. It was a plain taunt from her, the beginning of war. However, this time Ali didn't looked interested enough to tease her back or even notice her running away to the kitchen. Ali was lost in his own world. The one thing she had said in the morning, unknowingly, was now keeping his mind busy…..thinking it over and over……again and again…..repeating on.
"Aliiiii……..I am going to die……if…..if this head ache isn't cured fast enough…"
Only the highlighted words got all his attention. He knew that Aarzo hasn't meant it. It was just very unintentional. "But why did she say that? How can she allow herself to say such a thing? NO. She would NOT die. She has to live. She won't die. She won't.", he reminded himself. He has never taken something like it with such seriousness. He would have laughed it off if someone else had said it, in a manner of joke. Ali was not aware of even what the name Aarzo meant to him. He wasn't aware, yet. However, he did knew that she is his best friend. A friend whose smile was the only thing he wanted on her face, ever.
He still remembered that day, which was flashing in his mind at this moment. As fresh as it could ever be as if it had taken place just now, moments ago.
"Hey Aaru!", a tall figure said opening the closed room. "Alii!!! You silly boy! I have just told you all not to disturb me. I have an exam to write, tomorrow. I have lots of revision left. Now, it's time for you get lost, mister!", the girl replied, still dressed in her night suit, her long black hairs tied back in a messy bun. The books were scattered all over the carpeted floor and she sat there with her head buried in one of them. Aarzo hasn't looked up yet. She knew it clearly from his voice that it was Ali.
"Bad manners Aalu! Reallyyyy baaddd.", he said as he jumped on her bed, grabbing one of the books from the floor. "How many times have I told you? Don't and that means DO NOT call me AALU!" She lifted her head atlast, fury in her eyes and annoyance written on her face. "The more times you tell, the more times I call you that", he replied lying down on her bed, relaxing himself. "Mister Ali! Attention please!", she sarcastically said. "Go on my maid!" He winked at her and rolled on the bed with laughter. His light brown eyes twinkled, in enjoyment on the faces Aarzo was making. "Ali, you fool! Get out of my room or else I will call papa!", she tried her little threat but knew that it wasn't going to work quite well on that adamant creature lying infront of her. "Ali, you idiot. Get lost out of my sight now!" She continued with her warning, trying her best as she pointed to the door, giving him an angry glance. But he was not ready to even move the tip of his finger from that place.
Fifteen minutes passed by. Ali stubbornly sat in the same place and Aarzo at the corner of her bed. Suddenly she began to cry, tears rolled down from her innocent eyes. Ali was taken a back seeing her like that. He was just kidding with her. It was all for fun right? Then why was she crying?
Ali placed his hands on Aarzo's shoulder, trying to turn her around towards him but before he could do that she jerked it away and stood up. "Why do you always fight with me? Please leave me alone. I have a really important exam. I don't want to fail. Please!!!! You can bother me as much as you want after tomorrow…….but……but I want to study now. Please Ali let me. Go away!! Go away!!", she pleaded sobbing loudly now. Ali never expected that she would break down like this, that she was rather annoyed of his little fights with her. He never knew it as he always thought she might also enjoy it like he does.
"Aarzo! I….I………I………." The words seemed to stuck in his throat. He gave it another try, "I………..I am sorry! I never meant to start all those silly fights but…I….I don't know why I enjoy it. Please forgive me!" He was sitting on his knees now, hands folded out to her. He had seen it in a movie when the girl got angry on the mischievous boy. Then that particular boy stood up on his knees and apologized. She stared at him strangely. Her tears stopped flowing as well. A smile was coming along its way….about to reach her lips.
"Aaluu!!! Ooops!! I mean AARU!", he said biting his tongue. Aarzo gave him an assuring smile, saying that it's okay. She has forgiven him. "So, Aaru! I wanted to tell you that I came here just to wish you Good Luck for your exam tomorrow. And I know you can never fail! I have something for you." He took out a frame out of the jeans jacket he was wearing. It was a picture frame with his and Aarzo's picture in it, taken in her room when they were about to go for amusement park as a treat for all the kids from Aarzo's dad. The frame was so elegant and yet cute, setting it apart from everything Aarzo possess. It had something engraved on the top of its border. It read "BEST FRIENDS FOREVER". Aarzo traveled her hand over it, feeling its meanings in her heart. She muttered a light "thanks!" but knew it was nothing compared to the gift he has given her.
This certain memory left a wide, bright smile on Ali's lips. It felt to him as he has just relived that certain moment. He remembered how childish their behaviour was. Well, why wouldn't it be? They were still kids at that time. He was only fourteen and she was just twelve. He remembered that he had come on a little vacation with his parents, that time. It was a particular holiday whose memory might never fade away, neither from his mind, nor from his heart.
"Oh God! Please keep her happy, always. Give her the strength to deal with all the pain she is going through. Give her all the happiness she deserves.", he quietly whispered the little prayer, for his dearest friend.
So, here is the end of Chapter 13. I know this part might not be long enough, like the parts I am used to post. Sorry to keep you all waiting for so long. This part is dedicated to all my readers 😳 and a special dedication to ~ Nature099 ~ It's her birthday today. So it's a little gift from me to you nature!! Wish you a very very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!! 😳 😃 😛
Now, I am back with my questions for the next part. So as you all know Aarzo is feeling a little well now. This part was a special Aarzo-Ali part. Well mostly Ali. But still you get to see what kind of relationship they share. A little flashback! This time I will just ask you one question to give your prediction: What will happen to Aarzo when it will be time for Bade pa and her cousins to return back to London, their home??
I just want your comments on how you all liked the part. So, keep reading/suggesting/criticizing (if you want to) and most importantly COMMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!
TC
ania 😊
Edited by ania_91 - 17 years ago
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