Part 85- Spin The Bottle

As narrated by Maariah:

Ratanga Junction was a total blast!! We spent the entire day there and Aunty Sawleha and Uncle Irshaad gave Zainab and Arshad their blessings on their new found happiness.

Even though we were up really early that morning helping with Arshad’s surprise, none of us were tired! We had two days left before our holiday ended and we definitely wanted to make the most of it.

The 8 of us relaxed outside on the terrace, stuffing our faces with chocolate ice cream and an array of different toppings!

Nemo: let’s play a game!

Riza: what do you have in mind bro?

Nemo: how about spin the bottle? (Looking at Aara)

Laeeka: I’m game!

Riza: buuut…with a twist…new rules…whoever’s turn it is…the person asking the question..gets to ask a maximum of 3 questions that have to be related not three different questions…you will figure out why eventually

And then the one who answers the question is the next to spin the bottle…

And within minutes we were sitting on the floor in a circle with an empty bottle of appletiser in the centre.

Riza: who’s first?

Aara: me me me!

Riza: (smiling at Aara) okay madam you go first

And Aara spun the bottle…and it pointed towards…Arshad!!

Nemo: make it interesting sweetheart( and he winked at Aara)

I shot a glance at Nemo…he could never control himself infront of Aara!

Aara: okayyy Arshoo…let’s see…describe …the colour of Zainab’s dress!!

Arshad: that’s easy Aarooo…its pink!

Zainab: this isn’t pink Arshad

Arshad: ofcourse it is

Zainab: uh uh

Aara had a grin on her face…and so did everyone else

Arshad: okay its like cerise then

Nemo: *bust*

Zai: *raising her eyebrow*

Arshad: love, its pink because its definitely not blue or red or green

Zai: its fuchsia

Arshad: what is that?

Zai: the colour of my dress!!

Arshad: that’s a colour?

Nemo: (torn with laughter) bro the moral of the story is…if she says its pink its pink if you say its pink..its fuchsia!

Zai: (throwing a pillow at Nemo) very funny

Arshad: Aara you blerry…you knew why you asked that!

Aara: ofcourse *winking at Arshad*

Arshad: my turn!

And Arshad spun the bottle and it pointed to…Nemo!

Arshad: (rubbing his hands together) so bro..my question or questions to you are…nemo the smooth talker and charmer..have you ever been in love?

Nemo: (without hesitating) yes

The expression on Aara’s face did not change…

Arshad: are you currently in love?

Nemo: (looking at Aara) yes

Finally, the reaction I was hoping for…Aara looked at him in surprise

Arshad: is it a man or a woman?

Nemo: what? (Throwing sprinkles on Arshad) woman ofcourse -im not like you hey

Zai: errr are you saying that I’m a man?

The rest of us were so ripped our tummys hurt!

Nemo: err no ofcourse not…my turn

And Nemo spun the bottle…and it pointed to Laeeka

Nemo:(grinning) how much do you like Riza’s mum?

Laeeka: (looking at Riza) ummm

Nemo:(winking at Laeeka) don’t look at him, look at me and if he says anything I’ll sort him out

Laeeka: (chuckling to herself) I love her to bits!

Nemo: ooo let’s see…swear on your life that its the truth?

Laeeka: ermmmm

Zainab and Aara were besides themselves with laughter because we all knew exactly how Laeeka felt about her mother in law!

Laeeka: errrrm

Nemo: errrrm?

Laeeka: okay its a lie! But make dua that it changes one day

Nemo: aww Laeeks it will change don’t worry, its not possible for your goodness to not reach her heart

Riza put his arm around Laeeka and kissed her on her forehead…

Laeeka spun the bottle…Zoheb’s turn!

Laeeka: okay Mr.London my question to you is…would you ever sacrifice your love for a friend?

Zoheb: (with a questioning look on his face) no

Laeeka: (taken aback) why not?

Zoheb: because sacrifice would require my “love” and I to be together and if she loves me I wouldn’t want to give her up to someone whom she doesn’t love. Its another thing entirely if she’s with me out of obligation though and I guess no one would want to be in that situation?

Laeeka: and if she is in love with someone else..someone you know…would you sacrifice your love for her and let her be with who she wants?

Zoheb: ofcourse..I’ve sort of already done that anyway…one more time will only just break me but it won’t kill me

Riza: إن شاء الله it won’t happen again Zoheb…what kind of a question is that anyway Laeeks?

Laeeka: maaf Zoheb I didn’t mean to bring back any hurtful memories…

Zoheb: it’s cool ( and he spun the bottle)

Zoheb: Zainab..is Arshad your one true love?

Zainab: he most certainly is:)

Zoheb: how do you know that for sure?

Zainab: because…(Taking Arshad’s hand in hers) he sees to the tiniest little things that I love…when he looks at me I can see only truth in his eyes..no one could ever love me more than Arshad and I couldn’t love anyone else more than I love him

Zoheb: that’s really sweet Zai

And Zainab spun the bottle…shux my turn

Zainab: what is the worst thing that you’ve ever done?

Me: (with my head down)I betrayed someone I was very close to…

Silence.

Zai: o kay..why did you do it?

Me: at the time I guess I couldn’t see beyond my actions and never thought about their consequences

Zai: do you regret it?

Me: with all my heart (and I looked at Nemo but he looked away…)

I guess. I couldn’t just expect him to forget what I did….I spun the bottle….Riza

Me: Riza what is the real reason you organized this roadtrip?

Riza: real reason? (And he laughed) this is the reason ( and he lifted his hand and pointed at all of us in a circular motion)

Me: any regrets so far?

Riza: not really…everything happens for a reason if only everyone would see it that way

And Riza gave me a stern look…

And Riza spun the bottle…..Aara

Riza smiled at Aara. One thing was for sure, Riza had a lot of time for her and she may not be his real sister but he definately cared for her like his own sister.

Riza: Aarooo what was the highlight of your trip so far?

Aara: can I give more than one?

Riza: ℓ☺ℓ! Since its you…go ahead

Aara: first…Uzair!! And second …my day out with Zoheb:)

Riza: hmmm elaborate?

Aara: Uzzi because I love him to bits and haven’t seen him for years and well…we had a good heart to heart…helped ease the tension in my head…and my day out with Zoheb because…I just really felt like my old self again on that day…carefree, happy…doing silly things…thank you Zoheb

Zoheb blinked at her with a small smile…

Aara spun the bottle…and it pointed to…

Nemo!!

I silently prayed that Nemo would keep up to what we agreed on…

Aara: (looking Nemo straight in the eye) why are you avoiding me?

Everyone fell silent…

Nemo: (head down) I’m not avoiding you

Aara: look at me and tell me that you aren’t

Nemo looked at Aara for a few seconds and spun the bottle…completely ignoring Aara’s question

Riza: that’s not fair Nemo, answer the question

Aara: its okay Reez…(And she looked at Nemo with a look that had a mixture of hurt and anger in it) let it be

But Nemo didn’t even look back at her…

Laeeka looked at me worriedly as Nemo spun the bottle…

Unbelievably it pointed to Aara!

Nemo: it’s ok I’ll pass

Arshad: what is your problem?

Nemo: I know Aara for so long I don’t have anything to ask her

Riza: it won’t kill you to ask any question will it?

Aara: it’s fine…I’m done here anyway

And Aara woke up and started walking away.

Laeeka started to get up as well, presumably to follow her.

Riza: it’s okay Laeeka…let her be

And Riza gave a cold hard stare to Nemo.

Zoheb also looked at Nemo questioningly and I somehow had a feeling that he was slowly starting to understand that there was so much more than just what met the eye…

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