The 3G Life: Two Buildings

Friday 5 July 2019

I go through the gate of 3G building. Nothing changed since the day I left it last year. It is quite early in the morning so the ground floor is completely empty. Memories rush back and a drop of tear slides down my cheek. I wipe it away and make myself go up the stairs of the first building.

"Did Jabbar sir arrive yet?" I ask the receptionist.

"No, but please sit in this room," the receptionist says as he guides me.

"This room is quite spacious."

"Yeah, Jabbar sir designed it himself."

"Okay, I will wait for him to arrive."

This year, I am doing math in Jabbar sir's coaching. And I also have two other coaching in this very same building. So, I hope that this year will be more eventful and I will meet a number of new people. Though I wish some of my old friends are with me. But again, I need to start afresh.

Jabbar sir enters after almost fifteen minutes. He asks me to take out my books and copies and I oblige. This year I am in AS and yeah, life gets tougher. Before I start, I ask sir to adjust my time schedule and he asks me not to worry about it. Jabbar sir is quite a nice man, calm and understanding.

"Is your class supposed to be right now?" sir asks the girl who walks in.

"Sir, I have to do the class now for today," the girl replies.

"Why? You have an emergency at home?"

"Yeah, I will leave Dhaka for two days."

"Okay, sit down, and take out your books and copies."

As she sits down, she smiles at me and I return her smile. We introduce ourselves. She says her name is Rania. She is quite tall and her hair is tied up in a strange bun. She wears glasses and is dark but smooth-skinned. She wears a simple loose shirt and matching jeans with sneakers.

We both do our classes together though we are in different curriculum. She is in Edexcel and I am in CIE. I like Rania because she is such a sweet and easy-going girl. Besides, she lives almost nearby to where I live. And of course, she is rich, but she is so humble and there is not a hint of pride in her.

Other students start to come in after forty-five minutes or so. There are a handful of girls and a couple of guys. They are all O level candidates so I prefer to remain neutral about them. I wish I can meet someone more significant but I guess I have to wait for a long time.

In the meantime, let me give you news of my old friends. Aadil will continue classes in 3G but his shift changed. I will prefer not meeting him. He asked me the other day over text to stay away from him and that too on my birthday. Out of rage, I blocked his number and of course I do not want to see his face.

Aayan is not going to continue class in 3G. At least that is what he said to me. He does not return any of my calls even once after my birthday. Nor does he return any of my texts. I knock him on messenger but he does not even see my texts. So, I guess I am over for him and he wants to start afresh.

I have no idea about Hadi. Seems like he never even existed. I never see him after the day of Mohammed sir's party and have no idea where he is now. Saeed will also not continue in 3G and will join in World Education. Zara will be in 3G but we are in completely different coaching.

Jabbar sir's class ends for the day and I wait for Rania to pack up her bag. She is a bit clumsy and continuously drops things while putting them inside. I help pick up her calculator and she thank me over and over again. We both part for the day and the grand floor and I walk up to Biology class in the second building.

Mahmoud sir is this year's Biology teacher. I tried to get in his class when I was in O levels but his batch was filled. So, this year I take admission as soon as possible. When I enter, I see the familiar faces of my classmates from Manarat. And to be honest I do not like most of them.

An unknown girl sits on the first bench. All four seats beside her is empty so I ask her to move as I want to sit beside her. She quickly moves to vacate a seat for me. I sit and let out a deep breath. I am quite exhausted climbing up all those flights of stairs. Then I look at Mahmoud sir.

Mahmoud sir asks me to introduce myself. I give him my name and the name of my school. He gives me an appreciative nod and goes back to his laptop. I return my gaze to the girl I sit beside. She is timid and she wears hijab and bourka. She wears glasses and is dark skinned.

"I think I met you before," I say to the girl.

"I am Sabah, we pass each other now and then," she replies.

"Well, I am Amber. Amber Mustafa."

"Nice meeting you. You had class today earlier?"

"Yeah. I had math. Quite a tight schedule this year."

The class soon fills up with students from Manarat and also some other unknown people. I do not meet the stare of any of my classmates but I know most of them are surprised. Most of them do not know I even go to coaching and the few that does are surprised to find me in their class.

Anyways, class ends after an hour and half. When I go out, I see the faces of the guys from Manarat whom I hate and who fears me. I pass them swiftly and get down the stairs. I am out of the gate in no times and leave frustrated. Come on 3G, why a class full of piranhas?