Always In Your Heart

Chapter-24

Note: This chapter is divided into two parts. Another chapter 25 will be part 2 and it will have the scene of their home, which will be published soon.
In Sha Allah

Unedited .....

Part One

The hues of dawn stretched all across the sky as the trio footslogged through the dense woods, their footsteps crushing the carpet of fallen leaves making a sound. Maria with her plae face pale and weary eyes, leaned on her  brother's shoulder for support. He securely wrapped his arms around her fragile body. Shazil was few steps away from them, leading the way, his face showing signs of exhaustion.

"Maria, Thik ho?" He asked, sensing no movement behind him. Maria nodded tiredly, as she again begin to crawl towards him. (Are you alright?)

"Maria, just a little more we are just reaching," Arsh whispered, glancing
at Maria, his eyes red, reflecting the gravity of their situation.

"Yes, bhai," She murmured, trying to keep up with her brother's pace, her fear subsiding slightly in the familiarity of her brother's voice.

"We're almost here," Shazil encouraged Maria, his voice carrying a gentle reassurance. "Just a little longer, and we'll be safe."

Shazil took a sigh of relief seeing the old Masjid. There were very few countable old style village houses near masjid. They trio sat near the well, a young lady was taking out water from the well, seeing them panting and tired, she offered them water to drink. They drank the water and thanked her.

"It's all okay. You people seems new here." The young lady questioned,  taking empty jug from them.

"Yes, actually. We were going towards the city but some dacoit thugged us and snatched our everything. Somehow we managed to reach her." Arsh narrated half truth and half lie to her and the lady nodded understanding.  As they exchanged details about them, their home and family.

"Sister Malka, can you please show me the washroom?" Maria asked fidgeting with her fingers and the lady nodded showing her the way. Shazil and Arsh followed them. After getting fresh, she turned to moved towards the well when she heard very soothing voice of the water falling from the heights, maybe there was some waterfall or river nearby. She glanced at surroundings beside washroom and there she saw a glance of water hidden by the bushes and trees.

"Is that some river?" Maria asked to Malka.

"Yes, there is stream, villagers often goes there to bath themselves or their animals. When we were kids we used to play whole day in the stream and then our parents used to scold us a lot." Malka said, smiling as her thoughts went back to memories lane.

"Bhai, chalte hai na." Maria said  happily to her brother who was washing his hands and feets. Seeing Maria smiling widely after so many days, he couldn't help but agree to her. Maria excitedly step into the trees and carefully walk down the slope amd there she saw a flowing stream with fresh water.(Bhai let's go)

"It was my wish to play in the stream, but....." Maria paused, bending down a little and she dipped her hands water in the cup of her palms and threw it at the direction of Arsh but mistakenly it splashed directly in Shazil's eyes making him to shut his eyes at the sudden attack. And before he could comphrend anything he found himself slipping down, due to the slippy surface. "Maria move aside," he shouted finding no grip on himself as Maria was sitting just in the direction he was slipping down. Before Maria could react,  she along with Shazil fell in the flowing stream with a splash, spilling water on Arsh and Malka. Maria felt her breathings shallow due to the water entering in her nose. Stream was not deep, but she was just stilled due to sudden fall and she felt like she is gonna get drowned in it. Shazil was taller than her, and he also knew swimming, also he was at the corner and she was a little far in the middle, he quickly swim towards her and grabbing her by her shoulders he pulled her towards him and she collided with his chest, trying to breath normally, composing herself.