Chapter 52

2019.04.21

By this time Mr. J. J. Fortune was almost every day absent. We did not know why. I took my journey down the stairs to give back the books that I borrowed from the library. ON my way there I heard two teachers talking. They were in the science stream. "Mr. Fortune would not get the position." one of them said and the next replied, "He has no qualities to become a principal. The children will suffer." I did not stop to listen more to the conversation in detail but I understood that Mr. J. J. Fortune was applying for the principal position. No wonder he was so eager to get the file I made.

Let us go back to date,

2019.04.02

In-charge teacher and Mr. J. J. Fortune suggested an idea to do the science day as a project so that I can show it to the university entrance that I did a great job. I spent around 15 to 18 US dollars for the file and the pages and photos within. My mother too agreed with the idea and helped me with it. It took me around three to four days to complete the file.

I bought he file today to get the signature and to check with them if the arrangement was okay. Mr. J. J. Fortune said after looking at my file, "Do you even know how to do one? You do not add CDs into it." May be, may be not but I wanted to add them because it had my speech, some of the events too. Afterwards I slowly removed the CDs and started completing the file by pasting the photos. Sam was next to me helping me out with the alignment. Sally was absent today.

It was physics period and I was still pasting the photos. There is about seventy photos. Mr. Fortune was watching us pasting with glue. He was teaching and I was doing two works at once. I was writing the notes as well as completing the file. After writing down the note on the board, which I copied fast. He came towards me and Sam. I looked up and Sam was cutting the last few photos. "What are you going to do with the file?" He spoke. I was a bit dumbfounded. He is the one who gave the idea in the first place. I had no intention of doing so. I calculated my words and replied, "Like you said sir, I will be showing it to the university entrance." "Okay. But I think it is absolutely useless for you. I suggest you keep in the school library." What the heck?! Sam stopped cutting and watched me and sir back and forth. "No sir." I gave a short reply and went back to pasting and writing under each and every photo. Sam looked at me and sighed. We did not speak about what he said.

After the third note he came back to our table. "After you show it to the university it will just stay on your book self. So it is better giving it to the library." "And?" I questioned him further. "So other children will learn from this." And he pointed at the file. I did not reply. A classmate called out to sir and asked a question. He went to address it and Sam spoke after he moved. "What is his problem?" "I am not really sure. He will come again wait." Like I said he came back at us for the third time and spoke out, "What do you think? And also I am not sure that Principal Madam would not sign the file." I was half way to slap him. He is the one who suggested and he is the one who said me to do and he is the one who said that he will get the Principal Madam's signature and now he is going back on his words. "Sir, you are the one who told me to do it in the first place. So I am here doing it and I spent thirty US Dollars on it. (I lied) I have done enough for the school. I will keep it at my home and I do not mind it rotting." He nodded and he was taken aback by my sudden confession. Like come on mate, who would not be mad at such behavior?

Even they lost some of the medals and retrieved back except for one of them. It was in Mr. J. J. Fortune's cupboard and no one has the key except for him. Now come to think of it, I do not know if he misplaced it or took it for his principal examination. He later asked me if I had a spare one and I replied no even though I had one for memory. But with time I regretted with the memory.

Every night the memory slowly started eating me alive. I was always occupied thinking about the day and going through ifs. I was losing focus on my studies and at least four days in a week I cried to bed remaining myself of the failure. Sometimes I felt smiles on my back. I also had failed to give a treat to my fellow members. I ran out of days and time. My exam was nearer than ever. I talked to myself in the mirror. I listened to high volume songs which resulted me from ear ache that lasted for 2 months and then there is my eye that inflamed once in a while. In conclusion I was torturing myself to death. I even tried committing suicide thrice but retrieved from it because I cared for my family and I would not be able to see them suffer.

2019.06.18

Today was Sally's birthday and it was study holidays. We had no class too. So I took a drive to her house with my dad. I bought two gifts and a cake. She was happy with the surprise and moreover the boarders, Sally's ex-friends joined the celebration. I did not wait more than twenty minutes because I had to go home. And it was slightly awkward with them being around.

2019.06.20

Sam was mad that I did not inform her that I was giving her a surprise. It was wrong of me not telling but then again I was not thinking far ahead. And then there is Zarina she came and wished Sally and bought her lavish bags containing gifts. She was clearly wanting to get me jealous. She was insisting Sally to open the gifts in front me but she kept on refusing because she knew.

Later that day Sally messaged me in stargram. It read, 'Zarina insisted me to open her presents after the class. She also asked to call you. I asked her why. Then she said nothing.' I replied, 'After that?' She typed, 'She said that she wanted to make you jealous and she was like showing off in front of the boys that she was a cool friend.' I sent laughing emoji and texted, 'That was her ultimate plan from the beginning. Pleasing the boys and getting their favor.' I and Sally was quite famous among the boys. Specially me. My cousin brother had mentioned about it a lot. She continued with her text, 'Even during your birthday she always said that we should make the boys see how great friends Anna had. Because of me persuading we did not keep in the class, if not she wanted to keep in the class.' I replied, 'I would be shocked if she did it for me. Lair!' I was pretty sure even Sally had secrets of her own. I could tell from her eyes but the difference from Sally and Zarina was that Sally meant no harm at all. If she was at fault she will accept it and tell before anyone told me about it. But on the other hand Zarina always denied and gives reasons upon reasons. After all I do not have to force myself to like her anymore.

2019.07.25

The exams are near. We got our admissions. I was trying my best to study. I went to all the classes till the last day and we had no classes this month and next month in the second week we are having our exams. I was expecting a miracle.