The Inevitable Fate

CHAPTER 24 A Second Thought

Cold breeze gently waved Alia's hair as she came out in the balcony the next morning. Something about the day had filled Alia with positive vibes. The early morning breeze was mesmerizing.

At the breakfast table, Alia did not find Ahaan as she joined everyone else. Meanwhile, up in the room, Ahaan stood alone in the balcony talking to his friend Rahat.

"Oh Ahaan, I feel really bad for you" said Rahat "But you have taken a good decision" "I love her Rahat. I saw fierce in her eyes the other day when this topic came up. I had to send her away, if she would have been standing there, the argument would have turned around, exposing my father. Our relations would have been broken" said Ahaan. Rahat replied "But I feel that you should have said it in front of her, at least all that drama wouldn't have happened yesterday"

Ahaan said "No Rahat, I couldn't, when she was standing in front of me only truth came out of my mouth, I said what my heart wanted. I was still not sure of it. After she left I said what I would say as her brother... Argh! I am so dumb, how can I think such things about my siso. I need to get her out of mind bro". Rahat replied "Yeah! Sister zoning your own sister is such a difficult task" "It's not a joke Rahat" Ahaan was annoyed. "Okay so.... You... say a few negative things about her... you will feel good... and maybe you may start disliking her" Rahat suggested.

On the other hand, Alia was stepping up stairs, towards Ahaan's room to check on him. She opened the door and flung inside. She found no one in the room but some sound came from the balcony, so she went near the curtains. Unfortunately she overheard Ahaan talking on phone.

"Okay so listen..." started Ahaan "She is clingy, she is dumb... a cry baby. Not even mature enough to handle her own problems" 'Who is he talking about?' thought Alia. Ahaan continued "...and... yeah, she is in love with someone who is not even interested in her... and her mood swings are like wind, you never know the direction... and ... and... Alia... she... she is insane!" Alia was shocked 'who is he talking to about me?' she thought, standing near the curtain. "Rahat, I am done with her drama now, I must live my own life now" 'That's the spirit" said Rahat. "Okay I need to go and have breakfast, I'll talk to you later" said Ahaan

Alia walked away, before Ahaan saw her. She was full of rage by now. Subhaan and Niyaaz had planned to take the whole family to the oldest fort of the country which was in Pinewood. The family packed their lunch and by 11 o'clock, all were settled in the bus.

Alia was the last one to enter. She made her way to the seats in the end. Sharaya and Zeeshaan were sitting with Hishaam on the second last seat, while Ahaan sat on the seat adjacent. Alia was wearing her red stole around her neck with a white kurta and colorful shalwaar 'That red color... uff... I must not look at her' thought Ahaan turning his face away. "Bhai, I want to sit here" said Alia to Hishaam.

"Sit there with Ahaan" suggested Fahad from the seat behind. "No jiju! I don't want to sit there, I want to sit here" said Alia roughly with a fake smile. Hishaam sat next to Ahaan and Alia took her place beside Sharaya. 'What has happened to her her suddenly?' thought Ahaan.

The pinewood fort arrived. They all got down with their handbags and bag packs with juice bottles and snacks. Ladies were in hijab, the girls had a stole around their neck. With caps and hats the group proceeded.

"Amazing" said Alia as she ran inside the huge tall gate on slope, tak tak tak, came the sound of their footsteps. "When the herd of horses entered the fort, this is the kind of sound that bought vigilance to the king" said the tour guide. Inside the fort was a lavishly designed ceiling. It still had the carvings that were made years ago. Wide floors, huge doors and small windows, everything fascinated Alia, including the pillars and the wall which had pointed nails for safety. With each step, she clicked photos, with no filters, her pictures showed off the rich heritage of the fort. The sun shone bright, but as the fort was on the top of the mountain, cool breeze blew all around the place.