CHAPTER 11

I was absent for 2 whole days. I had fever. The wound didn't

hurt much but those afternoon wares and nightmares

wouldn't leave me alone. And after each dream ended, I would

feel nauseous. My teacher had called my parents inquiring

about my absence. I was sick of staying at home but I didn't

want to go to school either. I didn't want to face that murderer

and that angry interrogator of mine.

What would I say to him? Should I tell him who did it? Would

Aqsa spare me after that? Should I lie to him?

"I've been promoted to the post of senior NCO for a reason

Madaam." he had told me.

I can't lie to him. He will know it if I lie. What will I do now?

"Ughh, this shit is badly messed up."

I went to school that day. I can't run away from the

interrogation. Everyone came to ask me how I was doing.

Fouzia ma'am told me that officer Badr Al-Din was expecting

to see me in his office. "Life's dull without you." Hajera told

me when she arrived.

During lunch break I decided it was the accurate time to see

officer Badr Al- Din. His door was ajar. I could see him

standing inside speaking to someone. He looked fresh,

energetic and ready to conquer the world. And then I saw her.

She was standing near the gate staring at me. I froze and

without a second thought I scurried away like a little mouse.

It was late in the afternoon almost time for Zuhr. I wore my

Abaya; I was feeling unreasonably cold today. We didn't have

hectic classes today, like always. Rather we had dull classes

today. It was a gloomy day today, perhaps the coming days

were going to be gloomy and dull.

It was prayer time and everyone and gone to perform their

prayers. I was alone in the classroom; the other girls were

probably roaming around here and there. I was free of

performing prayers for a week.

I was sitting peacefully with my feet on my table, my head

resting against the wall when someone walked inside. It was

officer Badr Al- Din, he stood a few inches away from me. I

lifted my feet off the table, stood up out of respect and

straightened my hijab. Good thing I was wearing it.

"You didn't come.".

I look down, thinking of an excuse.

"I saw you coming but then you ran away."

"I remembered that I had some work to do, sir."

"What kind of work?"

"A homework, sir."

"Hmm, or maybe you are trying to avoid me."

At this I look at him, he wasn't looking at me.

"Why do you keep accusing me like that, sir? I didn't do

anything. I told you; I remembered that I had some work to

do so I went back. Believe me, sir."

He stared at me for a while before speaking again.

"Someone has given a statement about you, Fatima."

"What? What about me?" I asked almost stuttering.

"A classmate of Saniya has informed us that she had seen

Saniya with you a couple of times."

"Yes, sir. I knew her. I met her 3 weeks ago. And I also met her

a day before the incident. That's it, sir."

"Hmm..."

"What is it that you wanted to tell me, Fatima?"

I looked at him. He looked at me reassuringly. He nodded

gesturing me to go on.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my hands together.

"Sir, I...

The bell rang interrupting me and I heard him mutter

something under his breath.

"Come to my office after this period is over, and this time do

not run away." he stated sternly

I nodded looking at his shoes and glanced at his face for a

second. He was walking backwards, his eyes fixed on me, I

looked down again. Soon he disappeared and the girls started

rushing in. I sat down. Now no excuse would be of help, I

must go to him after this period. There was no turning back, I

couldn't back off this time. I must forget about my fear of

Aqsa. Nothing could harm me if officer Badr- Al-Din was here,

right? I looked behind to where she sits and she was already

looking at me. An old memory flashed before me.

5 years back

"Shabna ma'am is so sweet with us. Also, I've heard they are

merging our sections for the PT period tomorrow. Will you

please teach me how to hit the shuttlecock properly?" I smiled

hopefully.

"But you are never serious about it."

It was the beginning of our academic year and we were

adjusting ourselves with the new teachers and new

classmates. Every academic year we would be placed in

different sections according to our roll numbers as a result

we would be separated from our old fellows.

Our teacher wasn't present in the class and I was leaning

against the door of my class and talking to Aqsa. Her class

was adjacent to mine and apparently her teacher wasn't

present in the class too.

I was talking to her absentmindedly. My fingers were near

the hinges of the door. And suddenly someone closed the

door. I screamed. My fingers were crushed. I ran towards

my bench and rested my head against the table. I didn't even

look at my fingers, I was crying hysterically. I could hear

voices of my fellow mates. I felt someone lifting my shoulders

and made me sit properly. Only then I glanced towards my

fingers. The tips of my fingers were badly bruised. I felt

someone supporting me and taking me to the teachers. It was

her. It was Aqsa. She took me to the infirmary. Later

afterwards when I came back after bandaging my fingers, I

saw her in my class. She was there for the language class. I

sat beside her and she was trying to cheer me up. Even

though she got scolded by our teacher she didn't stop. She

kept making attempts to make me laugh the whole day.

I smiled sadly. I had forgotten about that incident but her

hurting me, slicing that knife in my arm had brought those

memories back.