Your Average Girl.

Acts of Crazy.

You could hear the sound of azan ring through the air from afar. It mingled with the clattering of cutlery and the shuffling of chairs from the line of restaurants located just within earshot of where the girls sat. High-pitched voices brimming with excitement occasionally reached their ears as children played around the rocks. A parent's sharp, warning voice would keep them at bay from time to time. There was also a chanay wala who's tin-full of masala clattered against the bucket full of nuts and beans, arranged in four quadrants that would be the envy of every OCD stricken person. Normally, you wouldn't hear a single one of these sounds. The waves crashing against the rocks drown out any other vocal distractions as they seek your attention wholly. Today,the sea was calmer. It was content with sharing the attention of its admirers with other callings. The girls sat on rocks and they were each sipping on a steaming cup of chai.

It was Haya who first suggested they escape for some time on their own, just the six of them, when they had enough time on the yacht. Rafia had suggested chai and then rocks; a series of suggestions that left her excited and hyper by the time she got to the end of her sentence. Everyone had been quick to agree although settling and then ignoring Namal's fears about the safety of the place took considerable effort.

It was a rarity. This silence enveloped the air around them. Normally, these six and silence didn't go together very well. Today, however, everyone was content to absorb it all. And how MUCH there was to think of.

Graduating is always bittersweet. But the realization that they won't have spontaneous plans like these nor the constant, undying support of each other at all times felt like... Like growing up and leaving home.

After twenty minutes or so, Minaal was quite done with the reflections that brought her no peace. She looked around and observed how Ammana dangled her foot from the rock she was seated on, eager to feel the tide but hastily withdrew it every time the wave came in from fear of getting drenched. She laughed. Everyone came out of their reverie.

"kya hua?", asked Namal

"Ammana ko dekho"

Everyone said they already had and Ammana protested at the laugh they had.

"Yaar Ammana. I can't believe you've graduated"

"Kya matlab?", asked Ammana

"I mean, look at you. I keep thinking back to Chapter and how you were", laughed Minaal

"Sab hi ka socho. We were all so different when we started out", observed Rafia

"I think.. I'm still the same", replied Haya uncertainly.

This was followed by an uproar. Everyone disagreed with Haya. Med school had proven to be challenging but it had taught her and transformed her for the best. Her genuine concern for her patients and her willingness to help set her apart and she was told of it. Better yet, Minaal drilled it into her head by citing so many examples.

'Being sensitive doesn't mean you're not strong, Haya. It has done you so much good over the years", said Minaal. She had known Haya since they were kids. She had seen all her stages and she knew her almost as well as anyone could.

Haya smiled in appreciation and nodded her head. She said "Haan.. I guess I have changed'

"Mein tou huwi hoon change. I know that.", said Namal decidedly

Minaal looked at her and smiled knowingly. Namal was a friend Minaal hadn't thought she'd be that close to, ever. Time and shared experiences in life had brought them closer more than anything. They had understood each other and related to each other when nobody else could. Minaal smacked Namal's head affectionately.

"Phir bhi pagal si hou tum tou", she said

"Thanks Minaal"

"Mahira and Rafia? What are you both talking about?", inquired Ammana