From Past to Present

Monday Morning Breakfast Aliza woke at 7 AM sharp, just as she did every day. Stretching slightly, she called out to the household staff. "Finish your work quickly," she instructed, her voice calm but firm. "I want everything sorted before I leave." With that, she walked briskly toward Aaliya's room. Inside, Aaliya was still nestled under the covers, completely unbothered by the passing time. Aliza stood by the bed, hands on her hips, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Get up, Aaliya. It's morning, and we need to be ready soon. My friends will arrive on time." Aaliya groaned and shifted slightly, eyes still closed. "Just five more minutes, Aapi." Aliza's smile vanished. With a playful yet menacing look, she grabbed the water bottle from the side table. "Aaliya, if you don't get up this second, I swear I'll pour this water on you. And remember, Mom isn't home to defend you this time." Aaliya shot up like lightning, rubbing her eyes frantically. "I'm up! I'm up!" she exclaimed, stumbling off the bed, her feet barely touching the floor. "Good," Aliza smirked, tossing the bottle back onto the table. "Now go wash up and get ready for breakfast." Aaliya groaned but obeyed, trudging off toward the bathroom with exaggerated reluctance. Aliza shook her head, muttering, "Little sisters..." before leaving the room to check on the rest of the preparations. Yet, Aaliya's mischievous streak hadn't left her. As soon as Aliza disappeared, she collapsed back onto the bed with a satisfied sigh. "Just fifteen more minutes," she whispered to herself. Exactly fifteen minutes later, Aliza returned—and found Aaliya still in bed, snoring softly. Without a word, Aliza picked up the water bottle again. She unscrewed the cap slowly, a mischievous grin spreading across her face, and poured the cold water right over Aaliya's head. Aaliya jumped out of bed, gasping and flailing. "Water! Water! What—why?" she yelped, her heart racing. Aliza couldn't help but laugh. "Drama queen. Now get dressed, or I'll leave you behind." Grumbling under her breath, Aaliya hurried to the bathroom for real this time. --- The Journey Begins After breakfast, the girls carried their luggage to the lounge. Aliza's friends—Ayeza, Adil, and Fahad—arrived shortly afterward. "Where's Maria?" Aliza asked, scanning the car as they exchanged greetings. Ayeza shrugged. "Her parents didn't let her come. She tried, though." Aliza sighed. "It's okay. We'll have fun anyway." She handed her and Aaliya's bags to Adil. "Can you load these into the car?" "On it," Adil replied with a grin, taking the bags. Aliza turned to Feroz, the family's head servant. "Uncle Feroz, I've locked all the doors and windows. The staff will wrap up soon. Please double-check everything and head home afterward." "Don't worry, ma'am. Everything will be taken care of. Travel safely." With a final nod, Aliza joined her friends in the car. They pulled away from the house, driving through Lahore's morning traffic. As they traveled along the N5 Highway, they passed familiar landmarks: Shahdara, Muridke, Gujranwala, and finally reached Jhelum. "Let's stop here for the night," Adil suggested. "We can leave early tomorrow morning for Azad Kashmir." Everyone agreed, and Adil drove to the PTC Hotel, where he had made reservations. However, at the reception desk, they were met with disappointing news. "I'm sorry, sir," the receptionist said politely. "We had to cancel your booking. We tried to contact you, but we didn't receive a response." Adil's face darkened. "What do you mean? I confirmed this booking myself!" The receptionist remained apologetic. "We truly regret the inconvenience, sir. If you'd like, you can check Malik Hotel nearby." Aliza placed a hand on Adil's shoulder. "It's okay, Adil. Let's just go to the other hotel." --- An Evening of Fun After securing rooms at Malik Hotel, the group freshened up, had lunch, and took a well-deserved nap. By evening, they gathered for tea and decided to explore. They strolled around Tarbela Dam, taking pictures and enjoying the cool evening breeze. Back at the hotel dining hall later that night, the group settled into lively conversation. Adil nudged Fahad with a mischievous grin. "Fahad, why were you standing behind Aaliya the whole time? Afraid of something?" Fahad smirked. "What's to be afraid of?" "Come on, man. You stuck to her like glue," Adil teased. Aliza shot them a warning look. "Watch it. If anyone says anything stupid about my sister, they'll regret it." Ayeza laughed. "Oh no, now the big sister's stepping in." Adil leaned toward Fahad, whispering, "Perfect chance to ask for Aaliya's hand, dude." Fahad blanched. "Are you insane? Aliza would kill me." "Or at least hit you with a sandal," Adil quipped loudly. Aliza raised her sandal playfully. "Anyone want a demonstration?" Everyone burst into laughter, the tension easing instantly. --- The Road to Azad Kashmir The following morning, the group continued their journey. Despite a minor detour into Rawalpindi, they found their way back to the highway toward Azad Kashmir, thanks to a friendly local's directions. After several more hours on the road, they reached Rawalakot, where they checked into the Valley Inn Guest House. The group spent the day exploring scenic locations, including Nairyan Sharif, where they visited the shrine of Hazrat Pir Muhammad Allauddin and recited Fateha together. Their travels took them through picturesque valleys and bustling markets, where they purchased local handicrafts, dried fruits, and shawls. Each moment felt like a beautiful memory in the making. --- Trouble on the Way Back The final leg of the trip arrived sooner than expected. They planned to head home via Muzaffarabad, but heavy rain made the roads treacherous. Adil gripped the steering wheel tightly as they wound through the slippery, narrow roads near Laswa Neelam Valley. Mountains loomed on one side, steep drops on the other. The rain hammered down relentlessly. Suddenly, on a sharp turn, another car came speeding toward them from the opposite direction. Adil swerved, trying to avoid a collision. The tires skidded on the wet pavement. "Hold on!" Adil shouted as the car spun toward the edge of the slope. The group screamed in unison. Just as the car seemed destined to plunge down the steep incline, Adil managed to regain control at the last second, bringing the vehicle to a screeching halt. Everyone sat in stunned silence, their hearts pounding in their chests. Fahad broke the silence with a nervous chuckle. "That... was close." Adil let out a shaky breath. "Too close." Aliza closed her eyes briefly, offering a silent prayer of gratitude. "Let's just get back safely." --- A Journey to Remember The rest of the drive back to Lahore was uneventful, though the group remained quiet, still shaken by the near accident. When they finally arrived home, they knew one thing for sure: this trip was one they would never forget—not just for the sights they had seen but for the memories they had made together. As they parted ways, Aliza gave Aaliya a playful nudge. "Next time, you're getting up on the first try." Aaliya grinned. "We'll see about that, Aapi." And with that, their adventure ended—at least for now.

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