8. A Picnic

 8. A Picnic

        Picnics, whether held within a family, at a school, college or university, serve to create cooperation and love-bestowing environment among the members of the group. "Women," says Russell, "are more frustrated than the past because now they get less opportunities of freeing themselves from the drudgery of household routine." Thus, picnics removing a man away the web of every day troubles and worries do decrease this frustration if not cure it fully. Healthful, playful and enjoyable respites of picnic provide us with new zest for life as sleeping at night rubs out fatigue and refreshes us for the whole day's work.

Last Sunday, Anwar, Iqbal, Abuzar, Hamza, Ahmad, Muneeb, many of my cousins and I thought of having a picnic party. It was unanimously decided to go to the Lal Suhanra National Park. So, we went to the bazaar and bought some fruit, sweets, cakes, milk packs, potatoes and meat. We arranged all the required utensils and packed them in the basket. All the other things were packed in bags. Thereafter, a cart was hired and all the articles were loaded on it. Muneeb was requested by all of us to accompany it. It was very amusing to see him sitting on the cart among the heap of articles. He looked like a person who had quite recently vacated his house and was in search of a new one. After one and half an hour's march, we reached the park and felt ourselves landed in the lap of Nature. The spacious lawns welcomed us when we were in search of a safe place to set up our headquarters. We were no less than Wordsworth when he says:

"Oh, there is a blessing in this gentle breeze

That blows from the green fields and from the clouds

And seems half-conscious of the joy it gives."

At last, we set up our headquarters under the grove of pine trees, took rest for a few minutes, appointed a watchman to guard our things and set out to visit the park. The sky was overcast but not heavily. It was an ideal day for a picnic. Gusts of cool, fresh air welcomed us again and again. A number of people were already there. A large number of children were running about, shouting and laughing holding multi-coloured balloons in their hands. The park was so beautiful that we could not find words to express our admiration. The well-kept lawns, the typical fountains and the different flower-beds cast a spell over us and hence Hamza was tongue tied with delight because he had never seen anything like it in his life.

Then we went to watch the wild life set in the natural surrounding. All of us were greatly frightened to watch the tiger which seemed rushing to us from a distance. We entered the maze without a guide as we were much confident of our wisdom but had to repent when we were lost in it and came out only when the guide took pity on us. Then we took off our clothes and began to have a bath in the swimming pool. A few of us began to row the boats and sing songs in delight. The lulling water of the waves and the strong wind drew our boats far away. We were so lost in merry making that we forgot everything.

After boating and bathing, we were feeling hungry. So, our cooking started. We had taken no cook with us . Everyone was to perform his duty. Two of us started peeling potatoes which slipped from their hands and caused great enjoyment. The other two began to knead the flour. They were boxing the flour, fighting with it and panting and gasping. Abuzar went to wash the meat in the running water and lost more than half in it. We put more salt than required and the curry turned bitter. Then we put a lot of water in it and it became worth-tasting. Chapaties refused to be round and took different interesting shapes. We could learn the geography of the world from them. Then we had the meals cooked by ourselves and enjoyed it more than ever before.

In the meantime, black clouds appeared in the sky. Seeing it, the other people began to collect their things and return. Soon, it began to rain cats and dogs. Showers of rain and a basket of mangoes provided us a pure delight when there was great fighting and snatching. Then we gathered again, made tea, ate sweets and took tea. Now, it was the close of the afternoon and the inception of evening. So, we hired a Tonga and started back to our homes singing and clapping hands and enjoying to our fill. It was a very pleasant ride home. Thus, a memorable day ended.