The 3G Life

November 30 Friday 2018

Our days in 3G for the first year has almost come to an end. And these last few days bring both happiness and torment for me. Old fire with Aadil does not rekindle but we have a clear relationship in these last few days. Aayan comes less often each day but Saeed and Zara are my constant companions.

"Hey. How are you today?" asks Aayan as he comes in.

"Where have you been for the last days?" I ask anxiously.

"I just came to give mock test."

"Your phone was switched off and nobody could reach you."

"I just had a lot in my mind."

Aayan brushes past me and my mind is racing to grasp what is wrong. He sits beside me but soon is disturbed by the constant chatting of the senior girls. So he asks permission from Mohammed sir and goes to another room. I get frustrated and look at him with pleading eyes, but he just ignores me.

I have gifted Aadil a pen holder and in return he gifts me a soup container. The gifts are quite casual but it just means we have gotten over what happened between us. I have wrote something along with his gift but he cannot understand the meaning and I do not take the pain to explain it.

I do not see Hadi for quite a long time. Except one day when I am talking with Saeed. He comes over and asks me how I am and I inform him I am alright. He just gives his old adorable smile and I completely forget his later odd behaviors. People change for good.

Mohammed sir is quite busy these last few days. We have to give our mock tests and he is in a rush to check those copies. But one thing I notice is that he does not scold us for these last days and makes sure we are all in our best preparation. He is actually an ideal teacher.

"I am not feeling well," Zara says to me.

"You met Farhan in person. What is wrong?" I ask.

"We both decided to take a break for exam."

"That is good for both of you."

"I miss him so much. I am just crying."

With this she starts crying. I hug her but I know I am not enough. Saeed comes in a rush over to us. He tries to console Zara and promises her that he will make them meet again. And though he claims it is friendship, I know it is out of pure unselfish love.

"The first year at 3G ended for you?" asks Rihana.

"Yeah. I fell in love again," I reply, sighing.

"Aayan is not responding much, is he?"

"No. And things ended pretty well with Aadil."

"Don't worry. I think Aayan is the one."

Aadil is in pretty good terms with me for the last few days. Forgetting our fight, I lend him the few necessary items. He even buys coffee for me. I think we talk much more with each other in the last few days than we do our entire time. And breaking news, Aadil is waiting for a certain girl who is not me.

And coming back to Aayan. I love him. If I give myself to anyone, it will be him and no one else. He feels like an angel to me. And I never have a certain category for boys but after I meet Aayan, it seems that somehow I only want him. He feels like all my fantasies in reality.

And no matter what happens, I will miss Hadi. He is probably going to be our class topper. True, his mind drifts a little but now his goal is pretty much clear to him. Hadi is the only person who completes all the QPs up to 2009 and honestly, I am impressed with his record.

Mohammed sir asks me the other day if I am sad. At first I promptly deny but he offers all the absurd possibilities. So in the end I confess that I miss Aayan and Mohammed sir just looks at his laptop screen and smiles. I think even he knows that I love Aayan.

Zara remains quiet and is completely absorbed with the thought of Farhan. She seems rather serious but I will never bet on her love life. She shows me all the photos she takes with Farhan and I just look at her. If she is happy, so am I. Though I sometimes feel God has given all my happiness to her.

And Saeed. I sit with him just this last day. I tell him about all the things about Aayan. He listens to me patiently. I love this patience in Saeed which is such a rare quality in guys. But he continuously warns me not to bring my hopes too high. I think he is right but I am willing to take the risk.

"So, you are coming back next year?" asks Uncle Sahib.

"I don't know. But I will miss this place a lot," I reply.

"Yeah, and I will miss such a good girl as you."

"You had looked after me so well, uncle."

"It was my duty. And I am proud I could fulfill it."

After class ends that day we all come down together. Zara, Saeed and me. We stand together for a while at the side of the staircase. We want to say so many things but lose all words. And at last I propose a group hug and we three hug each other tight. Our hands draping the other entwine.

I cross the road and look up at 3G. That day is my last day that year. I thank 3G for giving me such an experience. It teaches me friendship is much more certain than love. But it also teaches me to never give up on love. Do not worry 3G, I will come back.