AsYa FF -*Here We Go Again!*- Chap 2, pg 3

CHAPTER 1 :

"Its going to be a long journey" Asad muttered under his breath as he got into the first class compartment of Delhi Express. It was late evening and the moon cast a pale light over the chaotic station of Bhopal.

"Excuse me" he said as he pushed past people trying to find his compartment and his berth. Once settled, he let out a sigh, of relief, This was followed by another sigh, but this one was of frustration let out by Najma, his bratty yet lovely sister. The train started. She pouted.

"Kya hua Tamatar?"

"Bahijaan, Im sooo bored. This is just the beginning of the journey and Im choking of boredom. How am I going to survive this excrutiatingly long sadistic trip?" She breathed out in one go.

Asad looked at her and playfully pulled her cheeks. "I guess you could spend your time counting the strands of hair that have grown since you last cut your hair. Against my wish." He added and ruffled her hair endearingly.

"Bhaijaan, stop teasing me! You have accepted that I look way smarter in my new hairstyle as compared to my previous 'Rapunzel-ly long- hair- look', haven't you? Those long locks were just too much to handle. Just like the irritation Im feeling now at being stuffed into a sickening train to attend the wedding of my 'so- called' relative cousin whom I hardly even know! And most importantly, without any friends of mine!" True. There wasn't even in their compartment. Just the two of them. Or so it seemed. Najma sighed.

"Oh come on my Tamatar, didn't we just have a Mahabharat at home on precisely the same topic? Ammi would have come with us but you are aware that she is ill, aren't you? She would feel terribly bad if we, her children are not present at Rehaan's wedding to compensate for her absence. Besides you don't remember Rehaan because you were a tiny little 2-yr old lemon then before becoming my tomato! Come on Najma shoo away all your grumpiness. Im sure youll enjoy there. Now don't be so frugal and let out a smile or some tickling wouldn't hurt, would it?" Saying so, Asad gently tickled her and poked her nose. Najma burst into giggles making Asad the happiest person.

Both were unaware of a certain someone watching them from the top berth, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Love of siblings" she choked. "Oh, How I long for it!" Saying so, she dug her face under the pillow drenching it with her stream of tears.

After having dinner- some rotis and vegetable curry prepared and neatly packed by Dilshaad, Asad meticulously packed the remaining of it and kept it on the side table provided. He threw the used plates and cups in a neat stack, being the OCD that he was. Najma gave her Bhaijaan a Will-you-ever-change-look and retired to sleep. Asad tucked Najma in, locked the suitcases, spread the curtains and slopped off in the middle birth. Asad smiled as he heard a half-asleep Najma mutter an almost inaudible "Goodnight Bhaijaan."

Asad himself closed his eyes and and let sleep engulf his senses when he heard suppressed sobs coming from the berth right above his. His heart clenched at the thought of someone crying. Probably a girl by the sounds of it. He desperately wanted to rob the girl of her misery but his mind stopped him. It wasn't right. He coudnt just invade her privacy by hovering over her bed at night. She would misinterpret. So he did what he could do at the moment. Close his eyes tight shut and wait for sleep to evade him. But damn, the wretched devil of sleep wasn't obliging! He could hear her stuttering things between her sniffles.

" Allah, my family was my strength, my support, my happiness, my everything. All of it got snatched from me. I was so young then that I coudn't even understand the true implication of death. I was hoping against hope that they would someday return and re-illumine my world. I clung, with all my might to the last ray of hope only to fall into snares of delusion again. I miss you Ammi, Abbu, Zaid" She let out a flying kiss towards heaven.

"But I know, You are always with me, watching me, blessing me. I will remain strong and always keep your head help up high. I promise." She shut her eyes tightly letting the last tear cascade down her cheek. She wasn't going to cry anymore. She had endured all of it since she was a toddler and now was no different. She would be strong. She closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.

Asad, who undoubtedly had heard her solemn talk felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. He sent a silent heartfelt prayer to Allah to bless her and hoped that the wretched devil of sleep would finally shower himself upon him.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Index:

Chapter 1- Page 1

Chapter 2- Page 3