The 3G Life: Two Buildings

Monday 5 August 2019

I walk out of the gates after college is over. Thank God, classes in 3G are off today. Electricity will not be available up to 5pm. So, Saad sir postponed his class and I am free to go home. Besides, I do not like to do classes at coaching in my school uniform. And also, I hurt my foot.

"So, you're now in AS," Maalik says the other day.

"Yeah. Can't believe I'm in college," I reply.

"You know, you don't look old enough."

"That's nothing. Just my chubbiness."

"Secret be told, boys prefer chubbiness."

That is when Jabbar sir enters so our conversation has to stop. I smile at what Maalik says. Unlike others, Jabbar sir is quite a punctual person. Of course, I give him credit for this but sometimes I feel exhausted. He can come late a few times and I can have some room to breathe.

Aamina enters just after. She looks quite charming in her green dress. It just refreshes me. She gives me her usual sweet smile and sits across. Then we both take out our books and copies and start to do math. Aamina is not very good at math but she is very hardworking. And her focus is quite visible.

"Salam didn't come today? I don't see him," asks Nawla in Biology class that day.

"Um, no. He changed batch," I reply.

"He went in the afternoon batch?"

"Yeah. His routine clashed. So, he changed."

"I guess, I can sit in peace then."

Her tone carries frustration but I do not put much heed to it. And now, come back to Aziz. This guy is actually more matured than his age. I see him every day on the ground floor. He notices me but never comes close and greets me. I wonder if he thinks I will make the first move.

Ubaidah and I meet rarely. But now we will meet regularly in college. That means I have to hear everything she has to say about Dalair for hours. But Ubaidah is a bit quiet. Her patience sort of kills me. I mean, how long will she wait around for Dalair? A lifetime?

Come back to Dalair. I do not meet him for the whole of last week. But we do text over messenger. Whenever we meet, he does greet me but always seems to be in a hurry. But his flashy smile apologizes for all the time he cannot give me. I know why Ubaidah loves his smile so much.

Pabla is not at all okay with me. One of her friends, who is in AS, I do not know his name yet, took interest in me. And trust me, I am not at all interested in him. He always tries to sit near me which feels like he tries to invade my space. That leaves me angry and the way Pabla snorts, just increases my rage.

Saad sir is actually an amazing teacher. We go as far as "Mole" chapter and we already start solving question papers. But one thing I cannot like about him is the way he encourages Pabla's friend to sit beside me. I know he does not intend to but come on, you give him an advantage.

Leave all that. Let's talk about Sabah. She is actually quite similar to me. But a more introvert and depressed version. We get along just fine. And more importantly, she is a companion in my solitude. I need friends to survive in these boring classes of 3G nowadays. Besides, Sabah is good at pinning hijab.

We go together in Mahmoud sir's class too. Mahmoud sir makes biology tolerable for us. Otherwise, surviving biology would be a nightmare. I love how he can make us laugh with merely a smile of his. And he also gives much effort on us. Especially the notes he prepares and the question papers.

Rania does not talk to me anymore. It feels like we never even met. She does not even know me. And I also cannot seem to recognize her. The Rania I met wore her hair in a bun. And this Rania always puts down her hair. Does Rania have a twin sister? I have to ask Rania about it.

Aamina is quite the opposite of Rania. She will always look up at me and though it sometimes feels like pressure, I cannot help but feel content about it. Aamina has many talents though she is timid in nature. She keeps herself hidden a lot, though I urge her to come out of it.

"I'm sorry for what I did," Saahira apologizes the other day.

"I'll not accept your apology," I reply.

"Look, don't do this. What's between you and Zara?"

"What you did doesn't involve that."

"I get confused. So, I just avoid the whole situation."

But I cannot forgive her. Zara is an imposturous female. She has mood swings. And this time I will not swing along with it. Zara can do whatever she wants. She can talk to Dalair, make out with him, none of my business. I just do not want to exist in her life anymore.

"You finished class today Amber apu?" asks Tawab.

"Yeah. The tiring day's over," I reply.

"Maybe you should jump in a swimming pool."

"I'll love to. But not in these clothes."

"You'll look like melted chocolate, just try it."

I cannot help but laugh. And then I remember Aayan. I always look back at 3G in hope to see him. But I guess, he will not come back. Those black eyes of his. I miss his black hair and black eyes. In any of his photos, those looks directly in my eyes. But 3G will not let me look at them in real life again.