The story sets in Okara's military cantonment. It's a city situated in Pakistan, in the province of Punjab where in the backyard of Colonel Tariq's house, a huge mission was being carried out. Emel, the nine year old archaeologist, well that is what she considered herself to be, was on a mission to dig out all the gold underneath their two hundred square feet garden. She went on an unending search to dig out anything but all in vain.

        "Emel!"her mom called out to her,"hurry up inside! We have to leave for dinner!"

        Emel looked up at the sunset, then she turned back to her clothes. They were a mess. Her white kurti and her trousers were all messed up. She felt guilt at the distorted silk of her shirt, she contemplated as if she should go inside and let her mom scold her for the mess she had created or just jump into the car like that.

        "Emel!"her mom called her again. She silently walked into the house through the back door and tried to run upstairs but got caught by her brother. "You're not getting away in that state,"he stopped her midstairs,"I'm calling mom and she needs to see her precious daughter all covered in mud, again." Asher grinned at his little sister.

        "I'll pay you a fortune for keeping quiet." She pleaded. He swayed his head in denial. "I don't think that's going to work on me little sis,"he grinned wider, an idea hit his devilish brain,"I might listen to you on one condition tho." Emel's eyes widened in the light of her brother's merciful negotiating aura,"What?"

        "If you give me your pocket money for the next year, I'll not tattle on you at all,"he extended his hand towards her. She thought for a moment. Well for a nine year old, Emel was always pretty smart and she knew this negotiation wasn't fair but she had already thought of getting her twelve year old, older brother into trouble through one way or another. 

        Before she shook his hand, she already created a scenario where she'd make him null the deal himself. "Deal,"she shook his hand and rushed up inside her room to change before Mrs.Tariq aka her mom came up to her room and saw her in this state.

        Colonel Tariq and his family were decent and humble people, they belonged to a Kashmiri family, based in Muzzafarabad. They were decedents of the immigrants of 1947's mass migration from India to Pakistan. Her father had joined the Pakistan Army and was deployed in Infantry as a second lieutenant, after training in the Pakistan Military Academy. 

        Currently he was serving as CO (commanding officer) of his unit and for the moment they were headed to a dinner but were getting late because Emel wasn't ready.

        "You're not allowed to dig any more pot holes in the garden anymore, young lady!"her mom scolded her. Well Asher tattled on her since he was aware of the no-deal policy with his sister. He had a feeling his little sister would make him regret his decision, he still felt the same as she glared at him through her bed's side mirror. Her mom was scolding her and helping her change, while she silently glared at her older brother who stood in the corner laughing at her misery.

        Siblings are filled with revenge, hatred and undying love. If you ask them to sell a kidney for you, they won't hesitate but it'd kill them to get you a glass of water, same was the case for these two. They were close but due to their special bond, they were often called the devils of Shahid street (their street name). 

        They drove to the officer's mess, other officers were already outside waiting to greet the CO. It was their dine out, they were getting posted to Hyderabad. Emel looked at Asher with worry in her eyes, he frowned at her. "Why are you giving me that look, butt face?"he asked her. She rolled her eyes,"I was worried if we leave, I'll have to say goodbye to Linah, Mimi, Dawood, Ramesha and Huma." She looked up at her brother again with sorrow. 

        He sighed as he gave in,"I know...I'll miss Ahmed as well."He clicked his tongue in his mouth. Emel scrunched her nose at the name mentioned. She hated her elder brother's best friend. Ahmed was another extra smart kid. He and Asher were two years above her. Asher started an year later than the usual kids of his age and Emel got into school at the age of three in KG, with some extra knowledge through her home. She was smarter than the kids in her initial grades.

        "Ahmed is so nosy,"she whispered to Asher who rolled his eyes in response. "Well he's better than the toddlers you hang with,"he snorted her way. Their dad parked his car in front of the main gate as a waiter stood by his door to open it for him. 

        "Thank you,"Coloned Tariq whispered to the waiter and headed over to be greeted by his unit mates. Mrs.Tariq went over to the housewives of the officers. They'd call each other 'Bhabhi'. A term used to address the wives of other officers. Emel and Asher rushed out of their car to their group of friends. Kids, they had bonded with the past two years. Life was the same as always in the military, you stayed at one place for two years and when your bond started to become a permanent one you'd have to leave. 

        But a unit is like a family. The people here stay together till the end. They have an unbreakable bond that keep them close without seeing each other for years.

        Emel rushed over to Ramesha and Huma. The kids immediately detached from their families and went behind the mess. "Why are you so late?"Huma asked annoyed, she was a blunt kid and didn't fear to speak her mind. "Sorry I was looking for some gold in my back yard."Emel smirked at her friends who got excited with the mention of such an unusual task. Ramesha the shy one asked in her soft tone,"You mean real gold?"

        "Obvioulsy real gold!"Emel boasted. "I'm going to find it and then I will,"her nostrils flared up in excitement,"I'll make sure to sell Asher and his mean friend Ahmed off to a trafficker!"

        Both Huma and Ramesha gasped. "You mean the ones who take humans as slaves?"Ramesha asked worried. Huma smirked at Emel,"If they do then can you sell my twin off as well?He's a real pain." She gave Emel a devilish smile and Emel returned the gesture ten folds.

        "I sure will,"she laughed. "But where is he?"she looked around. Dawood, Huma's twin was usually with these girls but today he was hanging out with Asher and Ahmed. Emel saw all of the boys grouped around the fountain and talking loudly. She had an urge to go over and listen to their conversations but her ego didn't allow her to. 

        She soon got distracted with the musical band of the army playing by the left corner of the garden. 

        They were soon called over to have dinner. She bumped into Ahmed on her way to her mom, who was waiting for her to come and collect her plater. "Ouch,"she hissed out loud. "Ah sorry I didn't see you there."He went straight ahead with his snarky remark without helping her up. She gritted her teeth. She hated this good looking boy, he always made her feel invisible. It had been going on since their first meeting since she was a three months old kid and he was nearly seventeen months old. 

        Their father had served together in Kharian Cantt and now were serving together again. Like it said, all people in one unit are a family. And somehow Emel's and Ahmed's first meeting had turned into a small battle of Emel's non-stop crying and Ahmed's undying struggle to pinch her to make her cry out louder.

        Even at the dinning table, Ahmed couldn't keep from making a remark her way.

        "Oh Emel,"Ahmed cleared his throat,"your mom made you a platter?"

        Emel turned over to him. They were sitting at the table with all of the kids. "So what?"

        "I mean you're already in fifth grade,"he laughed with his friends. "At least I don't cry to my mom about the dark at the middle of the night,"Emel broke her silence. Ahmed's face changed it's color, as if he was asking her how did she know about it. "I know it cause I heard your mom talking about it. You can't deny the truth that you cry at the age of eleven."

        "I-"Ahmed clenched his fists,"I'll see you." He glared at her. 

        "No you won't,"Emel got up from the table,"we're leaving tomorrow morning." She walked away with the attitude of a fourteen year old.

        Ahmed cursed her in his mind. It was weird how obsessed he was with teasing her but then the realization hit him. This might probably be their last meeting. This might be the last time he got to tease the mud pies girl.

        He looked for an opportunity to corner Emel and tell her something. He saw his opportunity when the sweets were being served. He asked Emel to follow him a bowl of ice cream. She told him she doesn't want to but he pleaded. To his surprise she agreed. 

        "You're leaving for real?"he asked her when they had finally cornered themselves. "Yeah...it's obvious."Emel said with her usual attitude. Ahmed gulped, he looked side ways, then he took something out of his pocket. It was a small doll. A shepherd, a small boy holding a staff in right hand and a sheep beside him, with his left hand extended but it was empty.

        "What's this?"she took the doll from him. "It's a...gift...but don't tell anyone about it!" 

        "Oh...okay." Emel hid it in her small kids goodie bag she was carrying. Ahmed brought out a little shepherdess from his other pocket and showed it to Emel. "I'll keep this one,"he smiled at the doll,"and I need you to promise me the water fight we're still pending."

        Emel didn't get him,"You think we'll meet again?"

        Ahmed nodded,"I believe so we will."

        "Okay so pinky promise?"Emel extended her pinky. Ahmed made a disgusted face. Emel forced him. "Okay okay!promise." They locked their pinkies and smiled at each other. Their promise was to have a water fight once they meet again. But life had a different story planned in store for them. 

~

        Ahmed woke up from his dream. His vision was blur, he shook his head and tightly shut his eyes to catch a hold of his surroundings. "Woah, another stupid dream...again." He walked out to the kitchen and grabbed a drink.

        He was nearly eighteen by now and had done his college from Army Public School Attock. You can get inducted through ISSB (Inter Services Selection Board) into the Pakistan military. Ahmed had applied for the forces along with some friends. He wasn't eager to join the forces as his father wanted him to. He gave the whole exam all based on luck and didn't know what was in store for him.

        He went down to the kitchen. His mom was in her room, over the phone talking to someone. Ahmed was an only child. He sighed looking at the bottle of water in his hand. "I can't believe dad's not letting me drink any cola...I don't even know if I'll get inducted or not and he's already being so strict." He mumbled to himself. He had given the exam but hadn't got the news of his induction yet.

        He was pouring the water in a glass when his mom screamed from her room out of nowhere. He hurriedly ran over to her. 

        "Amma, you okay?"he asked her. She was sobbing. "What happened?Why are you crying?"he worriedly grabbed her by the arm. 

        "I knew you could do it,"she sobbed with a smile on her face. He frowned at her,"Do what?"

        "Son...you got selected with the grace of Allah. You're going to Pakistan Military Academy on 8th November." She announced as he saw his whole life flash in his eyes. This was most probably a dream and he still hadn't woken up.

~

♡"I'll wait for you. And I'll keep on waiting for you, even if it takes forever. I'll be here, right here...till you let me be the one."♡