'Beyond the Horizon': There's more to it...

Chapter - 26

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"Siyappa...!" Shehnaaz shrieked as soon as she heard someone calling her, on her way ascending the stairs sneakily, hiding the 'gift' in her fist covered in one corner of her dupatta.

Eyes tight shut, in contemplation of what will she be answering when asked about the gift, she heard another call by her mother who had just got in, to take some homemade snacks for their gathering cum kitty party in the neighborhood, which she has been recently introduced to by her sister-in-law.

"Aayi Amaa...! Mehar kari rabba...bacha layi..." Praying inwardly, she kept mumbling all the way to the kitchen where her mother has been calling her from. The gift securely hidden in her hands wrapped with cloth material.

"Hh...haan ji!?" She stuttered entering the kitchen, nervousness kicking in.

"Appa saare kirtan de baad, naal vali bhen ji de ghr ja rahe ne...hun tu aagayi h tan tu vi chal..." Her mother proposed, packing some snacks in a plastic container for them to later savor as they will spend their noon talking over or playing Housie. Shehnaaz was standing at the door sheepishly, facing her mother's back.

"Huh? Na...nahi...tussi jaao...me thakk gi..." She made an excuse avoiding joining them.

Having the moment of her life a while ago, she wanted some time alone to appreciate the feelings she was undergoing. She wanted to relish the sensations for some more time, on her own with no interference or whatsoever. Was it wrong? She wasn't thinking about it though. For the very first time she wasn't calculating the rights and wrongs before deciding it for herself. For now, the cherished remembrances from him to her, were enough to engage her 'amateur at love' intellect.

"Saare puchde si swere...'Shifa aayi hai, Sana ko kyun nahi le aye'...acha chal koi na...mann nahi hai ta rehn de..." Her mother stated turning to her, asking to come along but dropping the appeal soon for she didn't want to force her if she wasn't ready. It was fine with her if she wanted to stay home or take rest for some more time.

People around their neighborhood were looking forward to meeting both Shifa and Shehnaaz mainly because they had reached their legal as well as suitable (according to societal norms) age for marriage. Their mother, though much ahead of her time, belonged very much to the society and had a belief that daughters are to be wedded, to start their journey of growing up as women, gradually learning through the different phases of life.

"Amma...vo...vo...mere sar me dard hai..." She defended in pretext of avoiding the offer. She sure was feeling a slight heaviness in her head, probably because it was almost the lunch time and she only had had a half paratha roll for breakfast for how excited as well as anxious she was before the meet.

"Idhar la..." Her mother moved forward placing her hands over her forehead to check if she had a temperature. She looked exhausted and red at her face indicating a sheer tiredness.

"Bas thoda dard hi hai..." She reacted quick not wanting to trouble her.

"Vo agli vaari pakka chalungi...please?" Hands reaching to hold her mother's which was gently placed on her forehand.

"Changa pher...ja araam kar le...acha ruk...Uthho kuch kha ke aayi hai?" A mother that she was, enquiry about food and meal was natural to roll out of her tongue. Also, it was common to have some snacks if you have been invited at a friend's house, hence the query.

"mm-hmm" Shehnaaz replied, nodding her head side to side indicating a 'no'.

"Rasna! Rasna Jaljeera piya tha!! Bas...!" She exclaimed avoiding any further enquiry, lying white. Not able to meet her eyes, she quickly picked up a piece of 'Khasta' from the box that her mother had just loaded to take along.