"Run away," said Zara, "I shall take your place." A girl of around 19 years with determination and fear in her eyes , told the person to run away as she pushed her towards the portal , while looking at her wrist. * I hope you stay safe ■■■■*
ZAP a loud spark .
Hayaat:
A girl around 24 years old lying on her bed wrapped in blanket picks up the call and answers, " Hello; assalamu alaikum.. ji,ji.." with her eyes barely open. "Yes, I have woken up .. yes ..yes .. I will get ready."
She pushes the blanket aside to get up, ".. no .. I haven't yet .. ok .. ok .. allah hafiz." She checks the time and thinks: 'Okayyy. So I can sleep for around 15-30 mins more and still won't be late: I am going back to sleep.'
She snuggles back into the blanket with the phone laying on the table waiting to display yet another alarm.
AKRITI:
Hayaat's roommate and around the same age as her. She moves to her side and tells her, "Behen, wake up!" Fretting over the fact that they are late she tries again, "Behen, come on get up quickly; do you want to be late?"
She sighs with exasperation at the lack of response and speaks, "Jaldi karo behen; we will be late..." She rushes around the room in her saree while trying her best to stay calm. Meanwhile, Hayaat has this ominous feeling that something is wrong, so in a final desperate attempt , to avoid this ominous feeling, * SHUT UP *, she harshly exhales out.
"Akriti help me get ready pleaseeee "she says while siting on the bed. There's different scarfs spread on the bed. "Aaakritiiii , choose a color " she stands up while looking at different colored scarfs having different textures.
Akriti looking concerned asks, "Behen, is everything alright? You look tired..." She usually doesn't look this exhausted and the fact that she is being so indecisive is kinda odd. Repeating herself again, she asks, "Are you okay?"
Hayaat responds, " Yeah I just feel like something is wrong.. I can't shake of this feeling of something not being right. Anyway, can you decide a color for me? I wanna match with you guys."
Akriti responds, "uh, okay well I am wearing cherry red and black... Did you forget?" She answers while giving her a bombastic side eye. " Wellll.. AnyWayyy. .. Come on behen or we will be late. Come on, wear the one which you showed me , the one with sequins."
Hayaat wears a black abaya with sequins: the abaya had a delicate floral embroidery with silver thread , making it shimmer under light .
"Hm.. Okay.. Do you mind if I ask Aqsa- ", she speaks in a monotone voice. Akriti cuts her off, "NO not at all!" Hayaat calls Aqsa but she doesn't answer the call. "I guess this is fine ,right Akriti? I don't want to wear a saree and Aqsa won't be wearing one either." She wears a dusky rose sequins scarf. " Can you do the eyeliner for me? If you are done with yours that is."
Akriti responds, " I am done with mine, here let me help." She applies the eyeliner for Hayaat. " There, done. Lipstick?" She asks while offering a plum coloured one.
AQSA:
"Hi , assalamu alaikum, behen.. Are we late?! Kitna baje tak pohuchna tha ? Ma'am ne message mai 9 baje bola tha but i guess 10 ko, the program will start . So ,we are on time." Aakriti speaks, "Call Pankti and ask if she is there."
PANKTI:
"Hi guys!", she waves her hand, while smiling, "Oh , you guys were calling? Sorry, I did not check my phone.. Toh Chale?"
Everyone agreed in unisonance , one after the other they meet different people including other graduates and teachers .
The feeling of bittersweetness and mix of intense pride, relief, and nostalgia, accompanied by anxiety about the future was felt by many , no doubts there ;now , do we readers ;) I shall rob you of the graduation program (°○°) Oh.. no..he he ..
Everyone the graduates, teachers, staff the juniors all dressed to celebrate the graduation of pham d students, finally getting a DR before their name , the long awaited moment for many.
Hayaat along with Akriti and her friends, took their seats in the front center .The program began with the opening dance , prayer , lamp lighting, speeches , continuing with music and dance performances prepared by the juniors and graduates.
Some time passed and everyone begins leaving for lunch, as people began seating themselves ; chatting while having food .
After filling themselves, an announcement is made the program shall commence soon ,the guests are requested to take their seats .
Hayaat and the others take their seat , sitting besides each other. The program resumes with more dances and speeches. Hayaat notices that beside her ,Aqsa's smile stayed, but her energy didn't.
Hayaat asks her while looking concerned, " Would you like to step outside for a bit?" Aqsa responds, "YES" She starts frantically explaining. "I am just ... uh. I don't like..." she trails off, "Huh .. never-mind, let's go."
Hayaat and aqsa both step out of the hall and Hayaat feels a slight discomfort. Then
■■■ takes control of Hayaat' s body. Aqsa notices something amiss but does not question anything.
'There is a change in Hayaat's behavior', Aqsa thinks to herself. 'May be she is tired' ,asks her in a concerned tone " Is everything okay? We can leave, the graduation ceremony has ended so has the program, after taking some pictures we can also leave , today was tiring, after all." Says this as she picks on the skin .
" Alright" Hayaat responds way too quick , that made it look suspicious. * No way , may be I am just assuming things Aqsa thinks to herself. *
Akriti and Pankti join in the conversation, " Yeah, we are about to leave . Pankti suggests " We should meet sometime, how about next week " Hayaat responds " yeah , we should , though I will be meeting with my childhood friend so , I will be busy next week."
Everyone bids farewell to one another, ready to start a new chapter of their life .