CHAPTER 7

I was strolling in the garden located across my school. Currently I

was contemplating on visiting the school counselor for help or a

talk therapy as she called it.

"She probably speaks only in Arabic." I thought.

"No, but Hayat said she speaks in English too. But what if she

thinks I am just overthinking. What if everyone gets to know that

I visit the counselor? Will they think that I have a mental

disorder? Since when did I start giving a shit about what people

think of me. But what will I say to her? What will my family think

of me? They won't take me seriously; they would think of it as my

prank or joke. Ughh this shit is so frustrating." I was talking to

myself, again.

"Fatimaaaa" I heard a little scream.

I turned around and a little frame jumped on me. I hold her arms.

It was Saniya, that little girl.

"Hey, Saniya". I smiled awkwardly at her and stuffed my hands

into my pockets.

"That jacket looks so good on you and you look so cool when you

stuff your hands into your pockets." she jumped around me

excitedly.

I smiled awkwardly again.

This jacket looks good on me I thought but Hajera said I look like

a bear, uh whatever.

"So, what are you doing here as far as I know children aren't

supposed to cross the road and come to the garden" I asked her.

"I managed to sneak out when the guard was sleeping." she smiled

sheepishly.

That guard needs some lessons.

"Let's just go back, okay."

We walked back to the school gate.

"Icha uncle" I called out to him.

He woke up with a start and looked around.

"Maybe, you should pay more attention to the gate, kids these

days are very naughty".

"I was paying attention; I was here the whole time." he cried out.

"Okay, maybe I should go and inform the headmistress perhaps

she would know about it." I told him; the new HM was a scary old

lady even the teachers didn't like her.

No, please don't tell her. Perhaps I dozed off."

"Alright, but please start drinking coffee in the morning, it helps

you know." I smiled.

"You should have seen his face when you told him that you would

inform the HM." Saniya laughed beside me.

I smiled, "Go to your class Saniya" I told her and walked towards

my section.

"Students, we are going t0 conduct the play from our book."

"Teacher, which one?" Salma asked her.

"There's only one play in our book, Salma. 'The Book that saved

the earth'." I replied to her with a bored expression.

"So, who all are going to participate?" Shahira ma'am asked us

excitedly.

"Ma'am I want to be the Think-Tank." Leena shouted excitedly.

"Alright, and anyone else?"

The class was involved in whisper discussions and I was looking at

the teacher with a blank expression.

"Interested, Fatima?" the teacher looked at me.

"Huh? What? No ma'am." I shook my head

"Yes, ma'am she wants to participate. Fatima loves to act for

plays." Hajera spoke up beside me.

"What, when did I say that?" I shrieked catching everyone's

attention.

"Fatima, behave!" Miss Shahira warned me.

"Sorry, ma'am." I muttered silently and glared at Hajera who was

trying to contain her laughter.

After a few minutes the teacher decided the roles and I was given

the role of the narrator.

I turned to page no 56 and gasped.

"Hajera, the narrator has really large dialogues." I sighed and

rested my head against the table.

"So, what's wrong? Weren't you desperate to act in the play,

Fatima?"

"Why do you push me in such situations every time? You did it

before too." I groaned.

"When? I don't remember." she kept munching her sandwich.

"Of course, you don't." I threw my hands up in the air irritated.

"Stop being dramatic and admit it that you are a coward." she

mocked me.

"What? No, am not. I will show you on the day of the play."

"That's my girl."

"Shut up."

"Shut up." she imitated my voice.

I got up and left the class.

I was walking back to my class when I heard the sound of

footsteps. I glanced upstairs; this was the staircase to the third

floor. The empty floor of the building. I looked here and there and

out of curiosity ascended the stairs. It was stupid of me to go

upstairs. The last time wasn't a very pleasant experience.

I was tip toeing my way towards upstairs when I saw Aqsa enter

my sight. She was inside the classroom and the door was ajar. She

was laughing evilly at something and there was a girl inside with

her too. I couldn't see the girl's face; her back was facing me. I

frowned and then suddenly I saw Aqsa looking in my direction. I

was hiding behind the small pillars of the staircase from where I

could see them.

"Who's there?" I heard Aqsa call out.

I ran as fast as I could and finally made it inside my corridor.

There were other girls inside too. I sat down on the floor panting.

Aqsa followed suit and looked everywhere. She didn't see me

because I was sitting down and the other girls were standing in

front of me. I looked away feeling scared.

Why should I be scared? It's not like I was peeking inside her

home or something. It's better to stay away from her sight. Wait,

why did I sit down on the floor? The vision of my mother entered

my mind.

How did you get dust on your uniform girl? Didn't I wash it like

yesterday? She was questioning me angrily.

I shook my head and stood up trying to get the dust of my

uniform.

I was sitting inside the school office with curious faces around me.

A total of 6 teachers were looking at me with suspicious

expression. I looked around trying to calm my nerves when I saw

her smiling at me standing at the door. I screamed loudly and

then suddenly everything was dark.

I woke up alarmed, I looked around only to find myself in my

bedroom. 'AGAIN' I thought to myself and slumped back on the

pillows for another nap.