Some paths are so beautiful that one feels like walking on them for the rest of their life, I used to heard this sometimes that you will find that sometimes the journey or the road to go there will be so much captivating that you will be enchanted with it, for forever.
....
Next day as per the instructions I reach university on time, well, not exactly at time but I reach there ten minutes early and for this all of the credit goes to father because according to him, one should be punctual and reaching some minutes early, is something which he usually does plus force us to do the same too.
Well, reaching early wasn't this much beneficial for me because at first there is no sun in the cloud so, I am feeling cold and secondly, there are only few people in the university in front of me. In short, I am not just getting bored plus I am feeling cold too and to pass my time I started playing township game in my phone, while keeping my bags close to me.
Initially, I was unable to focus on the game but after likely five minutes I got so occupied while playing it that, I stop playing it when I felt a tap on my shoulder and hear out someone calling my name. Out of curiosity, I look up at the person and found Asher standing there with a smile on her face, seeing her I immediately switch of my phone screen then follow her actions i.e. seeing her sitting down on a seat in front of me.
The moment she settled down, she initiated the conversation....
Asher: (Smiling) Hey.
Me: Hey.
Asher: So, are you excited for a week camp?
Me: (Feeling bored and nervous at same time but I pretended like I don't care) I think so.
Asher: (Sighed frustrated) Huhhh how can you sound so, boring always? Don't you feel emotions like, excitement, happiness?
Me: (Feeling a little hesitant) Umm now its nothing like that but... umm I think this week will be normal because we have to follow the rule and regulations there too so, what's there to get excited.
Asher: Ohhh hmmm got it.
Me: Well, shall we move out, rest of the students must be there.
Asher: Yeah right, even when I was coming here.. I found many students entering inside the university.
Me: Ohhh okay.
After this we move outside of the cafeteria, with our trolley bags in one of our hand and one bag pack on our shoulders, we move towards where our bus is parked. Soon all of the students arrived plus another two buses parked too, within ten minutes three of the lecturers that are going with us completed all of the formalities i.e. taking attendance, doing head count and sorting out, who will go in which bus. And by this time more people had also come, our remaining three friends had also come too.
The moment lecturers give us the signal, we all started settling down in the buses and like a one of habit mine, I decided to settle down on the last seat of it that is close to window. One by one Asher, Savannah & Carissa, come and take seat in the front, while on the other hand Michiko does the same like me i.e. sitting beside me close to other side window. After almost fifteen minutes the lecturer, who is going to travel with us speak up....
Ms. Hai: All of you settled in here? Check your friends or the person you know, who is going to come with us but still not here.
We all look beside or in front of us once, to know is everyone inside or not and when we come to know that everyone is here then we shout out in chorus to let her know that all are here. After two minutes bus started to move and I started feeling a little excited, my mind take it as a good opportunity to talk...
Mind: Guess what, this is what excitements feels like. The moment when you finally come to know that this event is definitely going to take place.
Me: Yeah exactly or else every time a fear hangers in air telling us, what if it doesn't happen? What if something wrong happen?
Mind: Same here bro, I don't know where this hope get lost of expecting that something good can actually take place.
Me: You know long gone are those days, when happiness, excitement used to stay with us like a forever thing.
Mind: And I miss those days and those friends, do you remember how we used to enjoy roaming outside, eating food and football practices together?
Me: Yes, how can I forgot those days.
Out of sudden hearing a voice calling my name, I come out of my trance state. I look up the person calling my name...
Asher: Siya!!!
Me: Yes, what happened?
Asher: (With raised eyebrows) Where you were lost, I called you many times but you seems to be lost somewhere and you were smiling. Is everything alright?
Me: Yeah yeah everything is fine, no need to worry. Just some random good memory.
Asher: (From where she is sitting i.e. in front of my seat) Okay, umm would you like to have some rolls?
Me: (Lied and pretend to yawn) Umm no its fine, I am not hungry. I guess I would like to sleep for some time.
Asher: Ohhh okay but you have to eat it because my mom especially packed some for you too.
Me: Okay.
After this, she turn back and start looking at front again, well, she is not sitting alone like me and Michiko, in fact she is sitting with Carissa. Honestly, I am still doubtful how she is adjusting because I won't be able to do so. And without wasting any other second, my mind started speaking again...
Mind: I am feeling damn hungry but taking food from her doesn't seems right.
Me: Yeah I know plus why to take food from her because I also have packed sandwich from home, which mother kept for us. On the other hand, it will not be fair to share one lunch box among five of us.
Mind: Exactly bro, lets wait for some ten minute then we will eat those sandwich.
Me: Okay but why to wait for so long, you are feeling hungry right?
Mind: (Rolling his eyes at me) Huhhh don't you have brain? Just few minutes back you told Asher, you are not feeling hungry and you want to sleep but now what will happen, if you start eating food now? Don't you think that she will feel bad.
Me: (Rubbing the back of my neck) O yeah right.
Mind: (Getting annoyed) Yeah okay, bye.
Well, mind goes silent after this, I start enjoying the views of the nature by looking outside the window. As per our discussion I take out my sandwiches after ten minutes then start having it, but I choose to do it secretly so, that no one can see it and especially Asher. After some time when I finish eating, I take out my earphone from the bag pack then start watching Guardian of Galaxy vol. 1 movie to pass the time.
My movie ended and bus journey finish at the same time, after keeping my earphones back in the bag pocket and phone in my jeans pocket I look around in the bus, only to find almost all of them are sleeping. Soon the bus driver parked the bus, just outside the camp area and aske our lecture to step down because this is our destination. One by one she wakes up everyone, when she come to wake me up then seeing me already up, she smiled widely up at me and ask me to wake Michiko up.
I got up from my seats, then step beside Michiko and seeing her sleeping like a baby, I couldn't bring myself to wake her up but hearing lecturer calling us down from the bus, I tired to wake her up...
Me: (Lightly shaking her shoulder) Hey, Michiko wake up bro.
Michiko: (Not waking up, humming) Hmmm
Me: (Shake her shoulder little harder this time and speak a little loud too) Michiko, come on bro wake up.
Finally, after a minute she wake up, look at me with those sleepy eyes and I smile at her widely..
Me: Good morning, now come on pick up your bag we have to walk out of the bus, everyone is already down there.
Michiko: (Now on fully alert mode) O shit, yeah I am coming.
Together, we get down from the bus with our bags, there we found Asher and Savannah waiting for us. We walk towards them and from there we all walk towards where, some lines are formed and students standing there patiently waiting for the military coaches to give us list of rules which we are going to follow for a week.
Once all of the students, reached there then the coach come in front and after basic greeting he start telling us the rules or things we have to do for the whole week.. i.e. to wake up early, get fresh up, take shower, be ready for morning walk at seven, marching practice, breakfast at nine, one adventure sports on daily basis, classes on military related things, dinner at seven in the evening and then we will be retired to tents. And all of this will start from tomorrow as today its already four in the evening, so for now we have to get ourselves well adjusted in our tents.
Once the listing of rules finished, they showed our tents which will be shared by eight students. The moment we reached there I got a little bit shocked and surprised because we are literally going to stay there like how an military man stay, everything has been arranged in that way only. Hearing, Asher voice I come out of my shock...
Asher: (Speaking slowly, only for me to hear) Close your mouth Siya, otherwise fly will enter inside.
Hearing her, I close my mouths then see her walking ahead me, laughing out a little at me and in reply to this, I rolled my eyes at her. By the time we are settling in the tent other four students plus Michiko and Carissa enter inside the tent too and seeing them there I come to a conclusion, that these are my tent members.
It took us almost twenty minutes to get settled in the, time and once done with it then the other other four students start introducing themselves and in return we too also introduce ourselves. Well, with the little of talking, I come to know that...
the girl with curly hairs and cat eye specks is Tia, the girl with slim body and beautiful features is Amber, the girl with short hair and teddy look alike is Kat and the last moody one is Lara.
and the most important thing is, all of them are topper of our batch and none of us knew about it.
Well, rest of our evening passed smoothly in talking and trying to know them, as usual me and Michiko majorly listened to all of them. Around six fifty five in the evening we hear a siren like voice, telling us to come for dinner so, after wearing our jackets we move out of the ten towards the canteen area. While walking, I realized how much cold the air is and I internally appreciate myself for packing few jackets.
After reaching there, we have our food in military style only and once dinner got over, all of the students get a glass of hot milk. As soon as milk got finished, one by one everyone was asked to clean their utensils off and take them back to the tent where you are staying. In short, for a week we have to eat food in them and take care of them too because if any thing you lost then, you will be punished.
Once our utensils got cleaned, me & Asher were the first one to enter inside the tent. After keeping our utensils safely at one side we settle down out beddings and start checking our phone for any kind notifications from friends or family but we found no networks on it so, we keep them aside. We sit in peaceful silence for few minutes but soon it got disturbed....
Asher: (In calm tone but little hesitantly) Siya, can you tell me what happened in your past that affected you so much?
Me: (Trying to lie) It was nothing.
Asher: Hmmm I thought we are now comfortable enough that you can share your problems but its okay I will wait. I can understand that everyone needs time and space.
Mind: Its okay bro lets share all of this, how much more long we will keep these things inside us.
Me: Are you sure? I mean she won't be hurting me right?
Mind: Bro, till now she hasn't hurt you so, I don't think it will be going to happen in near future.
Me: Okay, I will be doing it.
Me: (A little hesitantly) Are you up for the long story?
Asher: (Look at me with shocked and surprise look but later smile widely) Always.
Me: Okay.
TO BE CONTINUED....