Inevitable Destiny- Mayi Ri

(47)

Aini zipped up her suitcase and then went over the small bag, checking over the essentials once again. She was leaving the house in next twenty minutes or so... Fakhir would be dropping her to the college premises from where everyone would be going ahead with the faculty.

"Aini, meri jaan" Aayesha came huffing and puffing "Ye lo... yeh tiffin rakho aur yeh bag hai, iss me tumhare bahar ki cheeze... chips, toffee aur pata nahi kya kya hai" she said, handling Aini a medium sized food bag

("Aini, dear... here, keep this tiffin and this bag as well. It has all your snacks in it")

"Amma" looking at the items, Aini said "This is too much... in sab ka kya karoon gi. Picnic pe thodi ja rahi hoon"

("This is too much... what will I do with all this. It's not like I am going on a picnic")

Aayesha smacked her head, "Khane ke liye hai... aur kis liye. If you want to go na, then take these or I am not letting you step out of the house" she warned

("For you to eat, what else...")

Aini looked at her mother dumbfounded

"Wahan pata nahi kesa khana ho, waise toh tum sab kha leti ho... lekin phir bhi. Bhooki mat sona, aur sab cheezon ka dhayan rakhna... phone off na ho tumhara... mein karoon gi call, aur teachers ke sath hi rehna. Kisi ladki ke kehne me mat ajana... yahan chale, wahan chale... aur..."

("Don't know what type of food there will be, although you are not a picky eater, but still. Just don't sleep empty stomach, take care of your things... don't switch off your phone, I would be checking up on you. And, yes... stay with teachers only, and don't listen to anyone or go here and there... and...")

"Amma..." Aini hurriedly said, stopping her mother for giving the same instructions for the tenth time, now "Amma... bas kar de. Hum samajh gaye hai, kyun aap itni tension le rahi hai"

(Amma... please stop. I got it, why are you getting so tensed?")

Aayesha sighed and took her daughter in a hug who returned it in no time... "Meri jaan" she dropped kisses on Aini's forehead, at the verge of crying.

"Accha Amma, aap chale... hum arahe hai" Aini said, clearing her throat and shifted back. Aayesha nodded and left the room.

("Okay, Amma... you go, I am coming")

Taking hold of the extra bags, she kept them properly and sat on the bed.

Playing with the ends of her hair, tugging her lips between her teeth and the constant shaking of her leg, gave away her nervousness. She was excited for this field trip, but that doesn't mean that she was not a little scared and nervous of going alone... that too for the first time.

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"Aini, are you done..." Fakhir asked, as he entered the room. But, seeing her condition his words died down

She instantly stood up stumbling over her dupatta... "Ah... haan. I am ready. Let's go" she hastily replied, rubbing her empty wrists.

He sighed and stepped towards her, whose whole attention was on the bags...

Taking hold of her shoulder, he made her turn towards him... "Look here" he whispered

"Aini" he repeated "Look at me"

She reluctantly peered up at him, her eyes glistening a bit...

A chuckle left his mouth, "Kya ho yarr tum..." he said

("What are you...")

"This is the reason, I used to say... to leave those boring books for some time and go out and mingle with people... play and socialize a bit. But, obviously... who could have made you understand that. In your whole school life, you made just one friend.. and don't know if you have any in college or not..."