So Many Secrets

Chapter 3

_Around 5 o’clock, they all set off for Murree. By the time they reached, it had gotten quite dark. It was a night journey, which is why there was less traffic. Around 7 o’clock, they arrived at the hotel they had booked. It was Salar’s uncle’s hotel, which is why they had gotten 4 rooms booked._

_The journey from Islamabad to Murree was two hours. Because of sitting for so long, they were all quite tired. As soon as they arrived, everyone went to their own rooms. Due to exhaustion, they fell asleep quickly. Majid was in one room, Riya and Mano in the second, Hadia and Jaweriya in the third, and Zain and Salar in the fourth. The hotel wasn’t anything special where they were staying, it was just for spending one night. They had to tour Murree for the rest of the time._

_Right after having breakfast, they all left for Patriata. The journey from Murree to Patriata was one hour. Patriata is also known as "New Murree". New Murree is a very famous place that has Pakistan’s longest chairlift along with a Giant Wheel, Roller Coaster, Flying Chairs, restaurants, picnic spots, and much more._

_They had all decided before coming that they would tour all of New Murree. After leaving at 7 in the morning, they reached the gate of New Murree at 8:15. New Murree is so big that the chairlift goes 2 kilometers over the mountain. It takes 3 to 4 hours on foot to tour all of Patriata._

_They bought their entry, parking, and ride tickets right from the gate. After parking the car, they started walking. Going ahead by car was not allowed there. There are 2 paths ahead of the parking area. One goes straight to where the chairlift and cable car station is, and the other goes uphill to where the amusement park, rides, and restaurants are._

_After consulting with each other, they all took the chairlift path. After walking for 5 minutes, they reached the chairlift area. Riya, Hadia, Mano, and Jaweriya sat in one chairlift and it was sent off. Majid, Zain, and Salar sat in the second chairlift and that one was sent after them. Many chairlifts move forward and backward in one line. That chairlift was running at least 300 feet above. People below looked like ants. The view from that chairlift was very beautiful._

_After looking down, it felt like the soul would leave the body any moment._

_At first they were very happy, but after sitting in the chairlift they were screaming to go back. Among them, only Mano was silently looking at the view below._

_"If I get out of here alive, I won’t make the mistake of coming back here again," Hadia said while crying._

_"What if this breaks and falls?" Riya said, looking carefully around the swing. Everyone looked at her in shock at her words._

_"The view was such that it would always be remembered, and the fear was such that it made you touch death. Turning fear into your courage is true bravery."_

* * __

_On their way to school, both of them were very happy. After bathing and getting ready, they went to eat._

_"I will make a lot of friends at school"_

_"That’s good, Hano," her mom said while pouring juice into her glass._

_"I don’t want to eat anymore"_

_"Eat a little bit, Rano"_

_"No." She got up from there and sat on the sofa next to it._

_"Come on kids, put on your bags, the bus has arrived." Their mom said hearing the sound of the bus._

_She dropped both of them off at the house door. As soon as she came back, she started doing the rest of the housework._

_Just one day before, their mom had taken them to school to get books and to show them the class, as a result of which they didn’t need to look for the class._

_"Kids, meet the new students. Both of them are your new friends, so don't tease them and also help them with their studies." Their teacher said this while introducing both of them to everyone._

_In the very front row, there was a bench with only one girl sitting on it, so the teacher seated Rano with her. On the third bench of the second row, there was a boy sitting, so the teacher seated Hano with him. Both of them went to sit in their places..._

_"Hello, my name is Rania..."_ she said while shaking hands with her...

_"And my name is Zamal, have a seat..."_ she said while picking up her bag from the seat...

_"Thanks..."_

_"Welcome..."_ she replied....

_"Kids, pay attention here..."_ the teacher said, pointing towards the whiteboard...

_"Yes teacher...."_ everyone said, turning their attention that way....

Rano became good friends with Zamal, while the boy sitting next to Rano was completely silent. She had also tried to talk to that boy but he didn’t reply...

Hano found him quite strange......

* * __

_In the morning, she woke up and went to the washroom to get fresh. After getting fresh, she was standing in front of the mirror combing her hair when suddenly her eyes fell on the locket she was wearing around her neck, which Aryan had gifted her last night after convincing her. A smile spread across her face._

_"Get up Aryan, how long will you sleep? Aren’t you going to office?"_ she said while going towards him.

_"Let me sleep, dear..."_ he said, covering his face with the blanket.

_"What do you mean let me sleep? Aren’t you going to office?"_ she said, pulling the blanket off his face.

_"I’m not going..."_ he now sat up.

_"Why?"_ She sat down next to him.

_"Because today I will spend the whole day with you. We’ll go shopping and have lunch outside too."_

_"But why?"_ she said, looking at him in surprise.

_"What do you mean why? Don’t I even have that much right over my wife? And anyway, for the past several months I’ve been very worried due to losses in business. I used to give all day to the office, couldn’t give you time. That’s why now I will give all my time to you."_

_"Okay..."_ she said laughing.

_"Listen..."_

_"Yes?"_ She was about to get up and leave when she stopped and looked at him at his words.

_"Don’t get angry with me anymore."_

_"Okay fine. Now go get fresh."_ She said smiling and left from there. He also went to the washroom to get fresh after she left. After getting fresh, he came down the stairs into the hall. Hania was already waiting for him at the dining table.

_"Brown color looks good on you."_ She said after he sat down.

_"Thanks..."_ he said while pouring juice into his glass.

_"Actually I need to talk to you about something important."_

_"Say it..."_ he said while spreading jam on bread.

_"It’s going to be a whole year since our marriage. We haven’t even gone to any other country. Forget another country, we haven’t even gone to Footminro."_ She said, making a face.

_"Sweetheart you know I can’t leave the office and go anywhere."_ He said, taking a sip of juice.

_"The office has become my co-wife."_ She said angrily.

Suddenly juice came out of Aryan’s mouth. And he started laughing looking at her face.