Rain is me <3, Dreamer _ [freenovel24 txt] 📗

Rain is me <3

#

“Oh! You have a lovely tummy!” I giggled as she wore the outfit.

“What?” She turned towards me with a jerk.

“Your tummy...It’s lovely!” I said, enticingly.

“You, gowk! I’m going to kill you for this!” She said angrily & pulled her gown out.

“But, what have I done?” I tried to control my guffaw.

“You always do this to me…” Her angry expression soon faded & got replaced with tears.

“But...” I still tried to stop myself from laughing. I thought that she understood my taunt about her tummy.

Her plump, fat belly always used to emerge out as a three-dimensional sphere from whatever she wore & I loved to mock up with her regarding that.

“I know that I’m fat...But, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be treating me like this...” She said, wiping out her tears.

“You aren’t fat...Only your tummy is...” I tried to stretch the conversation a little more as I was feeling really entertained watching her crying, which I knew, was only a sort of drama.

“Curse you!” She uttered weeping & went into her room. The door behind her slammed hardly.

I knew this thing was not going to continue for more than sometime & she can’t be without me for much time.

In fact, even I can’t manage to be without her for much time.

I stuffed on a pair of earphones into my ears & began listening to my favorite Arabic songs.

Mom & dad had gone to my uncle’s place for a few hours.

We, I & my younger sister Feruza, loved this time as we got freedom to do anything that we were not able to do when mom & dad were around.

Listening to Arabic songs, I didn’t come to know when I slept.

After a few hours, when I woke up, I found myself partially lying on the sofa & partially on the floor.

I rubbed my eyes, took a deep yawn & moved to the kitchen to get something to eat.

Just then, I remembered about Feruza. She was still locked inside her room. I was shocked; really shocked. She never remained angry with me for this much time.

“Feruza, open the door!” I shouted, knocking on the door.

She didn’t answer.

“C’mon Feruza, don’t be childish!” I shouted, again.

There was no answer again. I was filled up with fear.

“Let mom & dad come. I’m going to tell them about this...” I said, silently.

She didn’t respond.

“Feruza, open the door or I’ll do something wrong with myself...” I said, at last.

As soon as I said this, a thin slip of paper rolled out from a small hole on the door. I read it. On it was written, ‘Promise me that you will never tease me again...’

“Promise!” I blurted, quickly.

After a few seconds, she weakly opened the door.

Her cheeks were all stained with tear-marks & she looked extremely pale.

“Oh! Sorry, Feeru...” I said, hugging her tightly.

“I love you, Feeru. I was just joking that time. Don’t ever do like this...” I said, softly & wiped her tears.

She nodded. We came to the drawing room.

“Are you hungry?” I asked Feruza. She nodded, silently.

“Okay, are there any packets of spaghetti in the house?” I asked her. Feruza knew better than me about these things.

“No...” She uttered, instantly.

“Damn! Okay, I’m going out to purchase some packets of spaghetti... I’ll return soon... Don’t open the door for anyone except for me or mom & dad. Okay?” I said.

“Yes...” She said.

I put on a pair of sandals & went out.

It was no longer twilight. Darkness had overshadowed the atmosphere.

I watched the black cloud cover over my head. I was sure that it was going to rain.

Feruza proffered me an umbrella, but I refused to take it because I wanted to enjoy the rain.

I made her lock the door & took a slightly long path to the department store as it was going to rain after a very long time & I really wanted to enjoy it.

Mom & dad never allowed me to drench myself in the rain.

I began to walk slowly to the department store.

And soon, it began sprinkling.

Little droplets of water drenched my hair, skin & dress.

I loved the smell of air before & after the rain falls from the clouds.

The water droplets began growing larger & falling frequently. The light pitter-patter of rain turned into wet thuds as the icy water raced to meet the ground. The sprinkling turned into a torrential downpour.

The coldness of water droplets seeped through my gauzy, long frock & chilled my skin.

Actually, I’m a great pluviophile. Rain has given me a lot; both bad & good experiences.

My legs were sloshing through the thick, slushy mud.

The clouds grew darker and darker.

I heard the hiss of vehicles on the wet, glistening roads.

I loved & adored the rain & the feel of it in my hair & on my skin.

The vigorous fragrance of the wet soil entered my nose, making my veins feel fresh & pleasant.

Walking through the rain was not easy for me. I had to jump from puddle to puddle that were formed in slight dips & cracks in the dark, gray road.

I rushed to the department store & purchased 3 bags of spaghetti.

I stood at a corner of the road for a moment.

Drops of water trickled down my body as I stood there frozen, my gaze fixed on the horizon, staring at the beauty of the whole scene. As the clouds continued crying, I turned & walked away.

I wanted to stay there for a little more time, but thinking about Feruza, I rushed to my home.

“Have you got them? I’m really hungry...”

“What spaghetti? Oh, yeah... I’m cooking it for you...” I said & went to the kitchen.

I kept the spaghetti in the pot on the burner to boil them.

“Hila, will you cook chicken spaghetti for me?” Feruza said.

She never called me Aapa (Big sister); rather she called me by my name, Hila.

I like my name very much. Hila means ‘Hope’ & I’m definitely full of hope.

“So, you’re back to your normal mood?” I said as she ordered me.

“Yeah...And you know what, I love eating & no matter what happens to my belly, I’ll never stop eating...Okay?” She said.

“That’s what I wanted to listen, sweetie...Okay; I’m cooking it for you...” I laughed & gave a pat on her back.

She went out of the kitchen with a smile.

I kept some frozen chicken to boil too in the same pot in which spaghettis were getting boiled.

After some time, when the chicken & the spaghettis were boiled, I began frying vegetables in a saucepan.

I fried some spring onions, carrots, French-beans, bell-peppers, chilies, fresh tomatoes, mustard seeds & eventually the pieces of frozen chicken.

The sizzling sound produced by these scrumptious objects tempted me a lot as I watched the rainfall from the little window in the kitchen.

The feeling of warmth inside the kitchen & the essence of cool rain which I got was superb.

I then added the boiled spaghetti & all the spices including salt & sauces inside the pan.

I sprinkled a few drops of vinegar over the almost-ready spaghetti & then I gave it a final toss.

I did the seasoning of spaghetti with lots of freshly chopped herbs, black-pepper, celery & coriander.

After this, I switched off the fire & served the chicken spaghetti steaming hot with garlic & tomato sauces to Feruza.

I prepared a warm cup of green tea for myself & went into my room along with my plate of spaghetti.

I sat on the bed near the open window, watching the pleasing rain falling.

I began remembering those jolly days when rain accompanied us in everything that we did.

 

 

 

#

Zoufishan, my best buddy, was majestically gorgeous. ‘Zoufishan’ means Moonlight. And yes, she was as beautiful as the light of the Moon.

Her face always looked tranquil, her skin was mellow-colored, and her bonny body was aesthetic & lithe.

As all the girls in our mighty group were Muslim, including me, our group was the most fabulous.

We all were the most beautiful girls but Zoufishan was something more than that.

She was very simple & pious & often she used to wear ‘Hijab’ to college. Zoufishan always wore elegant Pakistani Salwar & Kameez & her hair were always tied in a graceful ponytail. She had obsidian-black hair.

But, her beauty reflected in her simplicity.

I’ve never seen a more cute, innocent & faithful person than her in all my life.

Being best friends, we shared everything with each other.

I clearly remember the way she used to talk, making cute faces & smiling.

I considered her as the prettiest girl but no one other than me called her beautiful.

Perhaps this was because of her clothes, because we all wore modern clothes like the other non-Muslim girls of the college but she doesn’t.

Rather, our large group considered ‘me’ as the most beautiful girl.

I very clearly remember an essay which Fadila wrote on me.

She mostly wrote about my frank, bubbly, joyous, rambunctious & easy-going nature & about my beauty.

She wrote that I have saccharine-sweet lips & they are lilac soft. I have vermilion-red hair that plunge over my shoulders, rapture-blue eyes, and dainty nose & glossy skin. She also wrote that I wore trendy clothes in an offbeat way.

I very well remember how much happy I was that day & I also remember Zoufishan standing in a nook & smiling while Fadila was reading the essay loudly in front of everyone.

She never envied me rather she always appreciated me.

Perhaps, she didn’t knew that how much beautiful & bright she was because no one ever made her feel that.

Laiha always said that Zoufishan never deserved to be a part of our ‘Fabulous’ group.

While I was remembering all these things, rainfall had ceased. But big drops of water were shaken from the dark & high trees.

I saw mom & dad’s car approaching towards the house. Quickly, I ran downstairs to open the house’s gate for them.

When I was out, Feruza knew what she had to do. Yes, quickly, she had to clean the entire house.

Feruza kept all the things: the clothes, the earphones, the utensils & the pillows at their correct places & sat down on the sofa pretending that we had not messed the house even a bit.

Finally, when mom & dad entered inside the house, I felt safe to find the entire house clean.

I laughed silently looking at Feruza. She laughed too.

You know, that always happens with us.

“Hila, Feruza, your uncle has sent butter-chicken for you...” Mom said taking out a greasy, pink-colored large lunchbox from her bag.

“Yes...” Feruza ran from the bedroom to the dining table. She was amazingly excited to eat auntie’s butter chicken.

“C’mon, Hila!” Mom shouted.

“Eh! Mum, I’m not hungry...” I said, slowly.

“Have you eaten anything?” She asked.

“No, no! Nothing...But, still I’m not hungry...” I said, pretending that we’ve not eaten anything in her absence.

“Oh! C’mon, Hila... It’s very delicious...” Feruza said.

“Is it? Okay, I’m coming...” I hurried to the table. I couldn’t resist eating it.

In reality, I love chicken. Vegetarians are really unlucky that they have never tasted the mouth-watering, scrumptious taste of non-veg.

“It’s very tasty... Mum, you should take its recipe from auntie...” I said, licking my fingers.

“Sure!” She said with a smile.

I love mom & daddy; they have always supported me.

They have never restricted me from doing anything; but yeah, they have never allowed me to get wet in the rain.

After having our dinner, I & Feruza went upstairs in our room to sleep.

I was feeling quite calm & pleasant.

“What’s the reason behind your happiness, Hila?” Feruza said, drifting off to bed. “Can’t you see me happy?” I said, silently. “Actually, not at all...” She giggled. “So, it’s a bit bad time for you, because I’m really happy today!” I pinched her, laughing. “Oh, C’mon! I was just mocking up with you...” Feruza said. “I know... Now, go to sleep!” I said, gently.

She nodded.

I looked outside the window. All the things were still wet with icy drops of rainwater.

Feruza was tired & so she