EXAMINATION

Chapter Two

okay , this is chapter two , its not as long as chapter one but i hope you still do enjoy it , please comment or message me privately  what you think about this book and whether i should carry on or scrap it , hope you all have an amazing day,Thank You

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"Ok. Let's head out." Khizar turned all of their attention to himself. They looked at each other one more time, and started on the red paved road Mahad had pointed to. As far as the eye could see, this road went on straight without turning anywhere, and disappeared onto the distance. The road was wide enough so that they could walk by two's comfortably. First, Mah-Rukh and Sehr, then Khizar walked alone and Shad and Asbar brought up the rear.

After walking a few minutes in silence, Asbar elbowed Shad.

"Hey Shad?"

"Yeah?"

"How old are you?"

"17...why?"

"Oh cool! I'm 17 too!"

At his answer, Shad grinned at Asbar.

"Hey, Khizar!" Shad called out to Khizar who was walking with his head bent down.

"Hmm? What?" He replied, looking over his shoulder at them.

"How old are you?"

"18." He replied in one word.

"And you Mah-Rukh?"

"17." Mah-Rukh, who was listening in to their conversation, replied immediately.

Then they turned to Sehr. She looked away. Mah-Rukh looked at Sehr then Shad questioningly. He shrugged his shoulders. They didn't know why Sehr didn't answer.

"How old are you Sehr?" Mah-Rukh asked her directly.

Sehr looked like a deer caught in headlights. But the rest were confused. Why didn't she want to tell them?

"Ummm..I...Uhh.." She hesitated.

"Why are you hesitating?" Asbar voiced his confusion.

"I'm 16." She replied suddenly as if it had burst out of her.

"Ahhh, now I see. You were hesitating because you're the youngest. Oh brother-" Shad, who was talking fluently till now stopped, suddenly flustered. "Uh, I mean Oh sister, why should you hesitate because of that? I mean aren't girls supposed to purposely be glad and proud of their young age?" The rest including Sehr started laughing, and Sehr got comfortable again. Even Khizar seemed to be losing his aloof demeanor and becoming more comfortable. Asbar saw that, so he pounced.

"And, that means that Khizar is the oldest, so we should all respect him. No one dare call him by his first name only understand? He is Mr. Khizar to all you youngsters!" He said, looking at all of them with a mock stern expression on his face.

Khizar whirled around glaring at Asbar, who grinned and then started laughing with the rest of them.

"Don't you dare call me that! Mr. Khizar makes me sound like I'm 50 or something!"

And he started laughing with the rest of them. After fooling around like this for another hour or so, Asbar said: "Aww c'mon, I thought we were supposed to get to a jungle? This is just desert everywhere!"

"Remember what Mahad said? The desert comes first, then the jungle." Mah-Rukh replied.

"Oh yeah...!"

"Ugh, I'm so thirsty! I need water." Mah-Rukh said, licking her dry lips. "Oh! Look! An oasis! Water!!" She exclaimed suddenly. The rest looked towards where she was pointing. Sure enough, there was a small thicket of trees a little way off. A sparkle in the center of the trees showed clear water. Mah-Rukh took a step towards it.

"No! Wait, stop!!" Khizar exclaimed.

"What's wrong?" She asked with wide eyes.

"Here's water. Drink this." He replied handing her a water bottle.

She took it from him and finished off half of it on one breath. "Thanks."

Khizar nodded. "Now look." He addressed all of them and pointed towards the oasis. But there was no oasis there. All of them turned to Khizar, the same question in each of their eyes. "That means that was .." Mah-Rukh said. Khizar nodded. "The first test." All of them looked where just a moment ago there had been trees and a pool. "So that's how it'll be." Asbar said, thinking out loud.

"Now, all the water and food is in your packs remember that. And be careful now. The tests have started. And don't get off the road." Khizar started to give them instructions.

"Yes, of course sir." Shad said in a I'm-so-innocent tone.

Khizar turned around and raised his hand to strike Shad, but Shad dodged it at the last moment, laughing and Khizar's hand met only air. Everyone including Khizar started laughing, and the shock of the first test disappeared.