CHAPTER 3

It's been a week since that incident, no one spoke about it much

probably because it was horrifying. Teachers told us that Sara

wouldn't say anything when she was asked what actually

happened, she would just start crying, when they asked her

parents, they said that it was an accident but I had an instinct that

it wasn't an accident and there was more to the story. I couldn't

voice out my suspicion, no one would listen. It wasn't an accident,

it couldn't be. Sara wasn't attending school since that incident and

we were told that she had taken a Transfer Certificate. I was pretty

much sure that Aqsa had something to do with this or maybe she

knew something about it because she was the only person present

in the washroom at the time this incident happened.

It was 12pm in the afternoon and it was time for the afternoon

prayer. We were given a break to perform our prayers. I went

inside the prayer room; we had 2 prayer rooms one downstairs

and one upstairs. I never saw her pray; I am not here to judge

anyone but I remember Aqsa being punctual about her prayers

when we were little. She wouldn't be inside the class during prayer

break either. We were given strict orders that if we didn't have to

pray, we should sit inside the classroom. I finished my prayer and

glanced at my wristwatch there were 3 minutes left for the break

to be over. I stood up and walked outside to wear my shoes only to

find that my shoes were gone. I knew whose doing it was.

Hajera, do you not have any other work to do? I groaned irritated.

I started looking around for them, this was another prank that

Hajera pulled repeatedly on me, she would hide my shoes when I

would be praying. I looked like a fool walking around with only

my socks on. After looking around for 5 mins I finally found them

behind the shelves in our corridor.

I walked inside my class and saw the culprit sitting peacefully. I

walked up to her and smacked her arm; she smacked me back. I

groaned in pain, Hajera was stronger than me whenever I would

beat her, she would beat me back with 10x force.

"You shouldn't fight with someone stronger than you Fatima." she

spoke between her laughter.

"Shut up, I am stronger than you think" I replied whilst rubbing

my arm to soothe the pain.

"That's what you always say, you don't have to pretend to be

strong it's okay to admit that it hurts."

'Whatever' I mumbled irritated.

I took a look in her direction and find it empty.

"Settle down class, we shall continue with our lesson from

yesterday. Why are some students missing? How many times do I

have to tell you to finish your prayers quickly and comes back to

the class when the bell rings? This will waste my time. Hajera go

and look for them."

Ladies and Gentlemen, Hajera was the class prefect.

"Ma'am can I take Fatima along with me, this way we can save

time."

"Fine, but be quick both of you."

"I will go look for the Arab girls and you go look for the rest."

Hajera instructed me.

I know who I must look for first. I descended the stairs and

walked into the ground. I saw her sitting on the stairs. I walked up

to her.

"The next period has started; the teacher is calling you to the

class." I spoke in a calm voice.

She got up and started walking without sparing me a glance. She

always creeps me out but I didn't want her to know that. I took a

deep breath and ask her the question that was eating me from the

past few days.

"Aqsa do you know something about that incident that happened

in the washroom?"

She stopped in her tracks but started walking again. I frowned but

I wasn't letting her go that easily. My instincts told me to zip my

mouth but I don't always listen to my instincts.

"Aqsa I am talking to you; I know you are hiding something and

believe me I won't let you dodge this topic."

"You shouldn't get involved in such matters Fatima."

I froze, it was the first time after so long that's she talked to me.

And her statement sounded like a threat.

"And who are you to tell me that." I questioned her angrily.

"Oh, trust me you wouldn't want to know who I am." she smirked.

I was feeling angry all of a sudden, I was done with her behaving

so rude and terrible to me.

"I know there's something you know and that you are hiding it. I

can see it."

She didn't say anything and simply turned around and ascended

the stairs, leaving me standing alone with my unanswered

questions. I didn't want to get involved but something was pulling

me.

I rolled my neck from the left to the right in a circular motion to

fix my stiff neck. It was a long and tiring day today. We had a

session with the school counselor today.

"Psychotherapy also called talk therapy can help you with your

mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. If you are not

comfortable with speaking to a stranger you should talk to a

closed one." the school counselor was explaining the importance

of talk therapy.

"Anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, personality

disorders, PTSD, psychotic disorders including paranoid

schizophrenia are all some types of serious mental disorders that

need immediate help and attention. Hallucinations, Extreme

mood swings, loss of appetite, low grade depression, unusual

emotional outbursts are all some common symptoms that tells

you to seek help immediately."

"I don't get it; I feel that therapists and physiatrists can't help you

if the problem is in your head."

"No, dear talking and voicing out your problems can help to stop

major damages." the counselor advised me in a calm voice.

After a long session with the counselor, we were escorted to the

ground due to power outage.

I sat on one of the benches in the school ground. I had not

forgotten about the incident. It was like a movie that was playing

in my mind on repeat. As far as I remember I was the only person

who noticed that Aqsa was the only person present in the

washroom during that incident. Everyone else were too busy to

notice. A question kept nagging me all the time ever since that

incident, it sounded simple but it wasn't. Should I tell the school

authorities that Aqsa was the only person present in the

washroom at the time of the incident. A part of my brain told me

that it wasn't my place to do so or that it was too late to inform

them as Sara had already taken TC. I was confused as to why she

hadn't said a word about it, if it was an accident how did it

happen. I thought of letting it go there was nothing we could do

about it anyway.

"Overthinking only complicates your life. Think less, limit stress."

I was startled at the sudden sharp voice that came from behind

me. I stood up knowing very well who it belonged to.

"We need to talk Aqsa. You can't dodge this topic."

"I think I asked you to stay away from it."

"We both know it very well that you were the only person present

inside at the time of this incident and that you know something

about it."

"Didn't the girl disclose the details?" she asked with a creepy

smile.

"She wouldn't say anything."

"Of course." This time she was laughing, as if she knew it would

happen and she enjoyed it.

"What do you know about this Aqsa?" Even though her presence

creeped me out I managed to keep my voice and my expression

calm.

She reached forward and gripped my arm tightly, it hurt but I

wasn't letting her know that. She looked straight in my eyes with

so much anger and venom.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from it?" she spat bitterly.

"Don't tell me what to do and what not to do Aqsa." I took hold of

her hand and freed my arm from the tight grip calmly. I stepped

back and without sparing her another glance made my way inside

the building.

To say that I was scared was an understatement, I was terrified. I

knew something was very wrong with her and that I should stay

away from it. I made a decision to not tell anyone about it zip my

mouth and stay away from these matters like she asked me to. I

wasn't nuts to get involved in matters that messes with your

sanity.

I roamed around several corridors, climbed several steps, went

from floor to floor in search of exit. I was lost inside an underconstruction building. I couldn't find the way to get out, it was like

a never-ending search, a big maze from which I couldn't escape.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw someone walking, it was a tall

person dressed in white. I turned and shouted for help. I see that

person again this time walking with me at a distance. I stopped

and turned around to see, but that person wasn't there. Suddenly

someone grabbed my legs and the next thing I knew I was hanging

with my legs held up in the air. I was screaming loudly and trying

hard to recite my prayers but I couldn't. There was no voice

coming out of my voice box.

I woke up screaming loudly and realized I was safe and sound

inside my home. It was quarter to 4 in the afternoon. My mom

was standing in front of me with a scared look plastered on her

face. My sister wide awake staring at me, her face pale. This was

the third time I had an afternoon ware I thought and slumped

back on the pillows.