Safeena

childhood jokes

" I have an idea! Alfez! Safeena! Why didn't I think of this before?!" Aseem shouted.
" What?" Both of them exclaimed.
" Safeena? Do you remember the poem I wrote for you in the letter?"
" No, my father tore it. It was something about cowboy , river mountain something."
" Where the river ends, the mountains begins stands a cowboy on his horse.
Where the winds blow in the north through the grasslands, pleasant sunsets wait for us there I stand with my love for you overflowing from my hands. Miles and miles after running, I stopped at a single sign from you, because you my dear, are my life."

Alfez smiled as he decoded his message.
" Someone tell me!" She said.
" Safeena, try to guess it , I had provided you the whole address in the poem , for you to get to me if you needed me. This was the place I had planned to escape with Alfez once we are out. "
" But where?! I am not in a mood to guess right now."
" The river that flows right from your kingdom , where does it end? "
" Wait -"
" In the northern mountains!"
" Right."
" Winds blow in the north means in the Northern direction until you find a grassland. And cowboy on a horse means the house next to a stable." She answered him.
" Correct "
" How come you have a house there?" She asked.
" It was my parents'. We used to live there before. After Aseem was born, we moved here in Hastipur because there were very limited supplies."
" Oh "
" That place was very beautiful." Alfez said.
" Are you sure no one lives there?"
" Maybe I don't know. But right now I can only think of that place."
" Alright let's get a few things and start our journey."
" No Aseem, not right now it's almost evening. It will get dark soon. We will leave tomorrow early in the morning."
" Alright "
" I should go and get things. You and safeena-"
" Wait, I will come with you. You would need help." Alfez said.

Aseem found a stick for himself for support.
" Both of us should go in, will you stay here ?" Aseem asked her.
" Of course, you both carry on, I will wait for you."
" Safeena, stay in one place. Don't go anywhere."
" I won't. "
" Don't fight with anyone."
" I won't "
" And --"
" I am not a little kid Aseem, you can go."
" I know but you --"
" I won't go anywhere. You go ahead."
" Don't forget we are on a run. Stay alert."
Saying that, Aseem and Alfez crossed the border. Both of them after some walking, reached their home, went in and started getting clothes, money and food.
" We have no women's clothing." Aseem said.
" We should go and get some." Alfez replied.
" I will go but if you are done here, go back to the carriage."
" Alright."

" Hey! you are finally back. Aseem how are you?" Two girls crossed paths with him as he was taking clothes.
" Hey, I am good how are you girls?"
" We are good now."
Aseem gave an awkward smile.
" Where were you?"
" On a vacation."
" Where are you going?"
" On vacation."
" Oh great , should I start packing too?" She laughed.
" Just joking." She added.
" Why are you buying women's clothes? Is there someone else too?"
" Yeah."
" Buy this colour, it looks good."
" She likes white."
" White? But it's so plain. Look at this yellow."
" No thanks."

He took the clothes and started walking and the girls followed him talking. He met some of his more friends on the way.
As he walked near the border, he saw Alfez had already started putting things in the carriage and she was helping him. He went towards them with the girls following him.

" I am jashna. And she is Kaya. And you?" One of them asked her.
" Safeena."
" Safeena ? As in the runaway princess?"
" Runaway princess? What kind of name is that?" Aseem said.
" Everyone knows her by this name. Is that why you are standing outside?"
" Why do you care?"
" Let's go Safeena, Alfez , get in." Aseem said.
" Oh Aseem comeon, you just came in and now you are leaving? Let's spend time together."
" No , we have to leave." Aseem said.
" We used to talk a lot before , he used to tell us so many things. safeena." She laughed.
" Just talk? Nothing else?" Safeena asked sarcastically.
" Lots of talk, just so you know. "
She looked at Aseem who was so scared of her right now. He began to nod a no.
" There isn't a part of me that he didn't touch, just so you know. "
Alfez started smiling as she said that and the girl's mouth turned shut.
" Safeena-" Aseem stood in front of her blushing.
" What? Why are you blushing? " Safeena asked him.
" Nothing lets go we are getting late." He wrapped his hand around her and walked her towards the Carriage.
As she sat down in the Carriage, Aseem whispered in Alfez's ear,
" I am so glad she is mine."
" Don't get too happy, get ready for her."
He gave Alfez a side eye.
" To be honest, I am scared for you." Alfez said.
" Don't make me too!"
" Aseem , Alfez look there." She pointed at the forest .
" What?"
" I heard some noise "
" Wait I hear them too."
" I suppose they are horses." Alfez said.
" We should leave. Aseem hurry , hop in " Alfez said immediately.
" I suppose they found us." Alfez continued.
" Alfez let's get out of here."
Alfez speeded up their carriage running away from them.
" We lost them now, we are safe."
" Good."

When Safeena didn't respond for a long time, Aseem called her out.

" Safeena."
" What? " Hearing her ' what ' he got scared.
" Alfez help me here."
" What can I say here? I used to warn you Aseem, you never listened. "
" I said help, don't make it worse."
" Safeena? Are you mad at me?"
" Why would I be mad ?"
" Nothing just felt like that."
There was silence for a little moment and then,
" You must be so happy that you have girls wrapped around your little finger, don't you?"
" Here it comes." He whispered in Alfez's ears.
" Talk to me "
" What can I do? I have such a great personality that girls are attracted towards me." He tried to put his hand on her shoulder.
" Do you mean flirtatious?" Alfez added.
" Alfez!"
" True." She said.
" Girls like me , they just can't resist my charms, not my problem." He smiled.
" Alfez you should learn something from me."
" No need Alfez, you are good as you are. "
" Are you both teaming against me?"
" Why? Don't you have your girl army with you ?"
" Hey, safeena , don't . I never looked at any other women after you. Ever. Not even thought about anyone. I swear." He was a little scared when she didn't reply.
" Safeena, I swear, I didn't even look at them. They just met me while I was buying clothes for you, she said that , take yellow but I said you like white, safeena--"
She started laughing loudly and then Alfez joined her too.
" Why did you stop? I was having fun safeena ." Alfez commented.
" I know but look at his face, I couldn't do it anymore." She cupped his puppy face.
" Both of you were tricking me and I was scared to death here. "
" What only you can have fun or what?! We can't?"
" I am not talking to either of you."
" Some people can't take jokes. " Alfez Said and safeena laughed. Aseem sat with his legs together with a angry face.
" Oh my little baby " she went towards him giggling and started pulling his cheeks.
" Aseem, come on don't be a kid. You should be grateful that I didn't fight with you."she said.
" Safeena, he is always going to be a kid. He holds a lot of grudges. For no reason."
" I don't hold grudges." Aseem denied.
" He was such a mischievous kid when we were little."
" He still is " safeena said.
" How rude! troubling a helpless innocent child." Aseem said
" You know safeena, when he was little he was a coward." He started laughing loudly.
" What?!" She started laughing too.
" Yes, he was so scared of everything."
" Alfez!"
" And you know, he was a lot scared of farm animals. Because he got kicked once."
" He got kicked ?!" Safeena started laughing.
" Alfez " saying that Aseem jumped on him and started punching him
" Why did you tell her that?! And to my defence I was 5 years old."
Safeena was laughing loudly.
" Hey! You know what! Once Alfez had to talk to a girl he liked. But talking involves words coming out of his mouth."
" What do you mean?" She asked.
" He was so speechless that the girl thought he was unable to speak, she thought he was dumb."
" Alfez?! Seriously?" She laughed more.
" You weren't supposed to say that! To my defence that was years ago and she said she liked guys who listen more!"
" So? " She giggled.
" That's why you should learn something from me. "
" Oh my god , you both brothers are really insane." She was laughing more than ever.
Aseem and Alfez looked at each other while they were fighting like kids.
" God I am tried of laughing now." She said.
" Should we stop somewhere? It's not good to go ahead at night. It's risky as we are reaching near the mountains." Alfez said.
" Where can we stop?" Aseem asked.
" I don't know, I can't see anything clearly here."