How to Catch a Criminal at College

Chapter1- Be careful what you wish for

Chapter 1: Be careful what you wish for

POV: Jannat Zubair Rahmani

I was six years old. And I was normal. Almost too normal.

I slipped in a pair of boots and a fluffy winter jacket and off I went to school. On my way, my sweaty little hands intertwined with my fathers as he carried my lunch-bag in his other hand.

It was a normal frosty November morning, and unlike most other cheery schoolers, I was the least excited to go to school.

I just found nothing about it interesting- going to school, sitting on a desk, talking- ugh! It all seemed so lame!

I remember that day fresh in my mind, how I had waved off my father at the gate after he gave me a peck on the forehead and left. I walked right into school and I remember the first person I bumped into- a short lean boy with straight brown hair.

"Watch where you're going!" he said,

"Well I ain't the one with my head in a book" came my snort reply.

I watched as the boy just rolled his eyes at me and left. Well that was rude, he could have least said sorry...

I didn't think of it much and found a teacher to escort me to the class. It was a class of 20 and I was the 21'st.

And as usual, the day went normal. I learned numbers and something about how to spell 'caterpillar' that I don't remember.

It was actually hometime when things started to get interesting. It's cuz that's when that short dorky boy came to me.

"Hi."

"Who're you?"

"I'm Siddharth. And I just wanted to say sorry for this morning. You wanna be friends?"

"My name is Jannat. And I don't like you (seeing his face become sad) but I think we can be friends." and I shook (overshook) his hands.

I went home in a rather happier mood since having made friends with an ugly boy. And that's when I had simply jinxed it.

While I was skipping on the way home I may have slipped on some Ice on my doorstep and wailed about it all afternoon. Anyway... I remember my mom made cheese toast for me that day- those were always my favorite.

I remember my mom used to have a particular smell to herself. Something unforgettable and comforting. Perhaps it was the soap she used or maybe the shampoo- I dunno, but that's something that I never ever forgot. Never.

I rambled away about my normal day at school while chewing on a bun and sipping the disgusting soup. I threw the carrots on the ground and pretended it was a mistake.

While watching the news that day, I remember my dad had declared that there would be a star shower that night and that got me far more than excited.

The only thing actually out of the normal!

"I'm gonna stay up all night mommy!"

"(giggling) I'm sure you will Jaan."

We spent the rest of the evening setting up chairs on the roof and I proudly set up my own mini one. I remember napping for a really long time before my mom shook me awake.

"Jannat Zubair you're gonna miss the shower if you don't wake up right now!"

"Uh- I don't wanna bathe."

"Oh not that shower! The star shower."

I immediately snapped awake and looked up at the open sky. It was dark and the stars were so very visible. Millions, Gadzillions of them, all across the sky.