The Inevitable Fate

CHAPTER 16 Farm Rituals

It was a breezy morning, with white clouds floating in the blue sky of Kroonwar that made more Alia lazy. She woke up opened her eyes and "Aah! Why are you two staring at me?" she asked, as she was shocked to see Sharaya and Zeeshaan frowning at her. She got up and sat straight. "What!?" she asked again. "How did you end up getting locked in the store room with AHAAN bhai?" asked Sharaya.

"Amm..." Alia couldn't remember anything properly "I went down to bring the bottle... then..." suddenly the whole scene of last night flashed in front of her, she continued "I just...." Zeeshaan interrupted "You said you were not interested in him, then what happened suddenly?" "Look, I can explain... last night, when I took the bottle, I felt someone's cold touch on my back. The door was open so I thought maybe it's a stranger. So I ran quickly into the nearest room and locked... myself" "...and fortunately Ahaan bhai was there" completed Sharaya. "Unfortunately" corrected Alia

"Look guys, believe me or not, but this is all that happened." Alia assured. "So you mean nothing happened...you did nothing" asked Sharaya again "NO!" answered Alia. "So that means nothing was planned?" asked Sharaya again. "No No No!" confirmed Alia. Zeeshaan said "Don't you think your Mr. Stranger is visiting you too often. That day during the sangeet and yesterday..." "Look all was a pure coincidence, now make me some way I want to going down"

She got up and went near the window first. "Why are trucks parked here?" she asked, pointing at two trucks that were parked in front of the entrance. "Don't you know? We are all going to the farm today" said Sharaya. Alia was still clueless. "The farm rituals!" said Zeeshaan, trying to remind her everything. "Oh yes!" said Alia, and then walked away to the washroom.

They all went down, had their breakfast, all men had already left for the farm, Zeeshaan along with Sharaya and Alia left on his bike. The farm was only one kilometer away.

In a one way road, trees were filled on either side. With the sun shining bright and a blue hazy sky, Alia was busy capturing some pictures, some memories. Many thoughts were racing in her mind, when suddenly, Ahaan and Zayn appeared, coming from the farm in an empty truck.

"Where?" shouted Zeeshaan. "To pick others" yelled Ahaan as he gazed at Alia while they crossed each other. Alia too couldn't take her eyes off him. "Is everything fine?" asked Sharaya. "Why are you asking so?" asked Alia. "Look Alia, we are your friends, lemme warn you... my mom..." started Zeeshaan and Alia continued "... has no clean intentions for me. I know." Sharaya said "I don't want to create misconceptions, but maybe Ahaan bhai..." "What do you mean?" asked Alia "You very well know what she means" said Zeeshaan.

Alia was confused. She did not know what to say or how to react. This was the least thing that she had expected, Ahaan was falling for her.

They reached the farm, to see all the men build a shade for the ladies to sit. They arranged the gas stove and the utensils, in no time before the ladies had arrived. After relaxing for few minutes, ladies started with the preparation of lunch, While Subhaan, Niyaaz, Shadid and Waqqar were lost in some deep conversation regarding politics. All of them were sitting under the big king size shade, fixed with bamboo sticks, plastic cover, leaves and other materials.

Mango, Guava, Jack fruit, coconut and etc., many trees were planted and taken care of, in Ali's farm but the main crop was, rice and peanut. While the ladies were busy in cooking, all the cousins had laid down, under the shade and were having a fruit party.

"I need some more salt" said Alia, as Zaheen passed her a piece of raw mango. "Raw mangoes!" interrupted Suhaana as she joined the cousins "Be careful dear, you get pimples after eating them" but Alia was more concerted on the mango piece, "That isn't a... plch... issue bhabhi... lemme just... mmmmm" said Alia as she enjoyed the sour taste and everyone started to laugh at her expressions.