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This sto...
It was a bright sunny day and the team was getting ready to go to the wedding. Zaid and Shehzad were wearing kurta shalwar and Nadia wore traditional clothes. The professor wore shalwar kameez with a coat on top and was waiting outside talking to the driver. Shehzad and Nadia were taking pictures with their phone while Zaid was playing Tetris on his phone.
Professor came inside and talked to them, "So I just talked to the driver. The village is an hour long drive from the substation. The wedding festivities will start at around noon and will go on throughout the day. We'll get there at around 2 and leave at sunset. It might take a while we'll be back home by midnight". "Ok!", said Shehzad and Nadia. Zaid was busy beating his high score of 762. Shehzad smacked him on the back of his head. "Ow! Hey, what the- Oh hi Professor!", said Zaid massaging his neck. "Anyways", said the professor rolling his eyes, "We better hurry up if we have to get there on time."
The team then headed out. It took them about 6 hours to get there. It was a small village having about 50-60 houses of fishermen near the shoreline with a few shops in between them. There were several boats parked along the coast and you could see the Astola Island in the distance. The locals were very friendly and greeted them with open arms. They took them to a large tent where the ceremony was going to take place.
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"Assalaam Alaikum Sir", Nadir Bhai came and greeted them. "Thank you all so much for coming. Abdul Karim is gonna be very pleased!" he said as he led them all in the tent where they were all to be seated. "Abdul Karim, these are the guests I was talking about", Abdul Karim come down and greeted them all. "Assalaam Alaikum Sir. Thank you so much for coming. It is an honour for the entire village to have you all here." "It's our pleasure. How can we ever say no to Nadir!", the professor replied. "This is my team. Shehzad, Nadia and Zaid", the professor introduced them. "Assalaam Alaikum", they all said in unison. The professor gave him the gifts they had brought with them. The village girls started playing with Nadia as she was wearing traditional clothes. Nadia also played along with them. She then went and sit in the women section. Shehzad looked a bit sad seeing her go. Zaid smacked him at the back of his head. "Hey, what was that for?", Shehzad asked. "There was a mosquito on my neck. I took care care of it", Zaid said while looking in the other direction and laughed.
After a while, the sounds of drums and flutes could be heard from a distance. The baraat had arrived. The villagers gathered out to greet them. The groom walked in the centre wearing a traditional white turban and walking proudly, surrounded by his family members. People were dancing and singing their hearts out. The procession came in the tent and moved towards the central stage. The nikkah was done shortly after and everybody was overjoyed. The bride came afterwards and sat with the groom on the stage. It was followed by a series of traditions of the wedding. The men were dancing around in circles, the women were singing folk songs and children were just running just enjoying themselves.
Zaid sat with the others and was looking around. He'd never been to a village wedding before. It was an amazing new experience for him. As much as he hated social gatherings, it felt nice to be there. Shehzad was sitting next to him, brooding. Zaid seized the chance to get back at him. "Oh hi Nadia, where've you been?", he called. Shehzad looked up hopefully and then caught Zain smirking. "Go to hell!", Shehzad replied annoyingly while Zaid bursted out laughing. The food was served and they all ate graciously. Shehzad was still upset with Zaid so he sat on the opposite end of the table.
The professor was engaged in a conversation with the village elders. They were talking about the disappearances that happened last month. Zaid leaned in to listen. "We don't know what happened to them", said one of them. "They disappeared without a trace. The other sailors said that they might have been drunk but I assure you that none of them drink". "It's true", said another. "The ones who have gone are our most respectable men. They were of great character and moral. "It could be a trick by India", said the third. "Oh for God sake Imam Buksh! Give it a rest already. India's border is on the opposite end, not here", retorted the first one back. "Hey, I am telling you. Do you really think there might miss a chance to attack us?", Imam Buksh replied with confidence. The professor gave his opinion on the matter. "Do you think perhaps it could be because of the red tide?". He then proceeded to explain them about the algae bloom and how its noxious smell may cause respiratory problems and unconsciousness. The elders said that no such event had happened recently as they would have felt it too on land.
The villagers kept coming and going and the food keeps getting served to them as was the tradition of a village wedding. The sun was setting and it was getting dark. The festivities and the dance continued along. The professor said it was time to go now and asked to call back Nadia. Shehzad called her to come back. Abdul Karim and Nadir came down to bid them farewell. "Thank you sir. Thank you so much for coming. It was an honor for all of us here", said Abdul Karim. "You all are more than welcome to visit us anytime". Nadia come back shortly and they all then left.
Nadir Bhai accompanied them to the car. Shehzad was in a better mood now that Nadia was back. She was talking about how much fun she had with the villagers. "Look, they even gave me a traditional shawl!", she flaunted the new white and brown shawl. "Yes it's great!", replied Zaid. "What do you think, Shehzad?". Shehzad looked at him grimly. "Yeah, its okay". "What's with you? Didn't eat much?", Nadia asked. "As if? He ate everything in sight! Might have eaten the plates too!", interjected Zaid and then they bursted out laughing. Shehzad blushed and looked away.
On their way back to the car, they encountered a beggar who was chanting loudly. "Its the devils of the sea! They're coming to get us all! Then nobody will survive! I am telling you, they're after us!" "Go away!", shouted Nadir Bhai and then he left. "What was that about?", asked Zaid. "Oh its the village beggar", said Nadir Bhai. "Always chanting nonsense about the devils of the sea. He used to be sane but then something happened to him while he was out fishing and then he's been like that ever since. The elders tried to get him treated but nothing worked for him. So he just wanders around just chanting to himself".
They got to their ride. Nadir Bhai explained the driver about the route back to the city. They bid farewell and then drove back to the city
