Chapter 5: Now What?

Anees started a conversation with the most obvious sentence "Now What?." Ahmad said, "Thanks to Mariam, we found enough supplies for a week." Ahmad sighed because they knew they have to do risky stuff in the future, "Well it's better than Nothing." Saad leaned over to Mariam and said while Ashad also listened closely "How much do you guys eat, To be honest, we have enough food for a week and we are 31 in total." Ashad tossed him back and said, "Don't you tease her, she is not in a good mood!." Saad said in retaliation "Well I tried to make her happy." they both looked at Mariam who was smiling, "I made her day a bit better by telling my wholesome joke." Saad said to Ashad while pointing at Ashad, "No Saad you're jokes are better." Said Mariam which made Saad proud, "Dad Jokes." mocks Ashad but Saad didn't give a damn because his jokes were approved by a Girl just think about it a Girl if any girl says anything in praise of a Guy, boys lose thier limits, anyway back to the Story,

Ashad tossed Saad who moved his hand in the air feeling blessed, "Fuck off." Saad turned around and looked at him and said with just moving his lips "Fuck you too." they turned around and saw that all the Elders were staring at them, "You can continue." said both of the boys together, Ahmad said "We should plan what should we do next." he further added, "As I'm the Oldest I should be the leader." Haseeb, Hasan and Anees got up and said "No we are old too, we should be the leader." before the quarrel got out of hand, "Ashad went up and said, "Let's do voting." they all agreed and the stood opposite side and Ashad said, "Who wants to Vote Mamo sit in his lane and who wants to Vote Uncle Haseeb sit on his land and do the same with Brother Mama Hasan!".

They voted Begain and it turned out as,

Out of 31

Votes Received

Hasan 1

Haseeb 12

Ahmed 18

Ashad giggled at the Votes of Hasan Mamo because the votes cast on Hasan supporters were his Wife only, but he stopped after seeing the frightening stare of his mother, "Even if I had won I would have given the Leadership to Ahmed brother because I'm too young for this."

"I'm beginning to like Him," Saad said to Ashad in a low tune so only he could hear him,

"So Ahmed Mamo wins." announces Ashad, "Fair enough," said Haseeb as he shook hands with Ahmed.

"So here's my Plan, there is a supermarket nearby, we could go there and gather Supplies at the first sunlight of tomorrow, as the Chaos is now silent," Ahmad told his plan to the People,

"We should be careful because humans are now against each other, they will fight us if they see us looting the supermarket," told Haseeb

"And the market is a risky place, everyone will be there or already have taken control of it!." Said Ashad as everyone finished, "We should execute Mamo's plan tomorrow because we don't have to take the risk of our Supplies running out." Saad backed Ahmad's plans, and they all were in deep thought, just then Ahmed said, "Let execute this plan tomorrow, Shall we?." They all agreed to Ahmad, Now it was rest time and Ashad, Saad and Areeb were selected, It was 2 pm and they were told to wake them up by 5 pm, it is a good amount of little Nap, Ashad went to the Roof, Saad and Areeb were downstairs providing Pillows and extra beds to everyone, Ashad who was on the rooftop reached out to his pocket and took a pack of cigarettes, he places one in his mouth and lighted it up, and after the first drink, he relaxed after a long God damn hectic day, Then Saad and Areeb came up, Areeb took out his pack of cigarettes and started to smoke, Saad said, "Well, I'm the only one with A1 quality Lungs!."

Ashad laughed while Areeb said "Stupid jokes of yours." he sighed, and suddenly he heard someone coming up, Saad and saw Mariam, "It's Marium throw it!." Saad said to Ashad who quickly threw his cigarette out of the roof, "Were you smoking?." Marium asked when she came closer and her hand at her back, "No." Ashad gasped and said waiting for the disaster,

"How many times I have to tell you to stop smoking." they made her sit down and Ashad said comforting her "I'll do it soon as we marry."

Mariam eyes were flaming, it was sure she didn't like it, "Do it before our marriage or you are doomed, Mr Siddique." Ashad happily replied "Yes Boss." as he gave a salute to her,

Areeb said, "You sure are angry, Mariam?."

Mariam looked at him and said "Why are you still smoking, throw." as she pointed her finger out of the roof Areeb threw his cigarette, "Why me." he said innocently, Mariam said, "If I again see both of you smoking I'll kill you, I'm clear."

They both replied "Yes, Sir." she finally relaxed, and took a deep breath and finally felt calm but then suddenly remembered her family and began to Cry, the three were calming her, "I miss them so much." Saad who said after giving her a glass of water, "Drink the H2O, it will help to be calm!." she refused at first but Ashad handed her the water and said calmly "Drink it."

she took the glass and took few sips and took a deep breath and relaxed again, "Everything will be okay soon." Ashad said to calm her, Areeb said "Well I have something that could chill us up!." he said and rushed down and came a few minutes later with four bottles of cold drinks, "There you go." they took one for each other and Ashad asked, "Where did you get these, didn't it got finished?." Areeb said down and took a sip and it felt great, then he replied "Oh yeah I hid four bottles so we could stay here and enjoy while staying on guard." Mariam said to Areeb "Thank God you installed a roof here or otherwise the sun could have killed us."

Areeb replied "No thanks required!." he further asked "What's the time?" to which Ashad looked at his watch and said, "Five minutes more it will be 5 pm." Areeb stood up and said "Let us start waking everyone up then." all of them stood up and Mariam said, "Yes we should." They went downstairs and began to wake everyone up so they could pray the Asr prayer, they woke them all and all of them performed Wudu (Ablution) and as always Ashad recited the Adhaan and everyone stood beside each other, shoulder to shoulder if more precisely, then Ahmad lead the prayer.

After the prayer, they recited the Dua which Ahmad prayed on Dhur prayer, and then duties were given to the people.

Ashad, Saad and Mariam were given the duty of Guard from 12 pm to Asr prayer.

Anees and Karim were given the night duty which is from night Isha prayer to morning Fajr prayer.

Anees was assigned to train all of the people because he was a Martial-Arts champion.

Tania and Mariam were assigned to teach the kids because education is very important.

Mother and Aunt Farah were given the Kitchen duty.

As they duty of them were over Ashad, Areeb, Saad and Mariam went to sleep because they were tired after all, The boys slept in Saad's room while Mariam slept in Mahnoor's room with Tania.

They again woke up at 6:15 pm, half an hour before Maghrib prayer, Ashad woke up ten minutes early because he had to deliver the Adhaan and then the usual prayer was held and after the prayer the Ashad, Areeb, Saad and Mariam went straight to bed again.

They again woke up at 8:15 and prayed the Isha prayer and then gathered at the Hall to discuss tomorrow's plan.

"So who is coming?." Ahmad said and as soon as he finished Ashad got up following his friends Saad and Areeb, Anees also got up, Omar got up Ahsan and Khaleel as well, A total of Eight people volunteered for the plan and rest who wanted to volunteer but we're given the task to protect the house while they are gone.

Ahmad said "Now listen to the brilliant plan I made,

So I, Ashad and Ahsan will gather Medicine.

Saad, Areeb and Anees will gather Food.

While Omar and Khaleel will stand on guard, as soon as we gather required stuff we will return."

it was a simple and effective plan, all of them left but Ahmad called all the volunteers and said very slowly so no one could hear "Now listen, if we lose someone, we have to retreat don't even try to get with you, just retreat and come back to safety." they were hard word but we're for there own protection.