The 3G Life: Two Buildings

Saturday 30 November 2019

The morning is quite chilly. And of course I cannot get out of bed before 9am. Though I am awake by my mother's constant calling but somehow my body does not leave the bed before 9am. And what is the use of waking up early in a weekend day. It seems like I get a weekend once in two weeks. My days remain so occupied with college and coaching.

"I guess you're still in bed," texts Rihana.

"Nope, it's 9.04am so I'm up," I text back.

"You do know I've a crush on Del."

"Who's that? Do I know him?"

"Our biology lab assistant. My dance partner."

Owao. I should check out this Del/lab assistant out. How can Rihana have a crush on him and not me? I text back Rihana and get up to finish my morning rituals. My days are a lot busy now because exams come up on December. Why do I always have to cram for these silly exams. Why cannot we just sit back and relax and get auto passed.

Ubaidah comes by a little later to study physics with me and my father. Apparently my father is my physics tutor. Sometimes I am glad that I do not have to cram in extra two classes on my weekdays but part of me resents because I have to study first thing in the morning in my weekends. And thank God today's class does not last more than an hour.

"Good morning, I hope you're awake," text from Aali.

"Good morning to you too," I text back.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yes, I slept well, thanks."

"I slept well too though went to bed late."

Aali is a good guy, average looking and not so good at studies. But the point is I really do not like him. He has a crush on me or more specifically a crush on my profile picture, correct that, my last profile picture. And I do not want to get his hopes up and I want him to leave me alone. But he does not pick up the hint and every text from me seems to enthusiast him even more.

After sometimes I call up Aamira. It is a pretty long time since I spoke to her. We were together in biology before she drops off. She is really happy that I call and we speak for almost twenty minutes. Will would have spoken longer if her mother did not call her to do the household chores. She advises me again and again to change my chemistry teacher but I reply I will not.

Then I text Abia, another one of my classmates. I actually text her because she takes part in a huge conspiracy along with Fahima. They again try to rewind my past with Rabi sir. They say that I am in love with him and that we are involved but that is such a terrible lie. So I have to confront at least one person regarding this.

I text Aadil the other day because it is his birthday. And to my annoyance just after saying thank you he says he does not recognize me. Even sends me further two texts asking me who I am. I am infuriated and relieved at the same time. I block his number and do not unblock it till this morning. Hard to swallow that he deleted my number.

I miss Aayan a lot and do have a conversation with him recently. I call him up from Rihana's number and he picks up and asks me who I am. After hearing my voice, it takes him only a few seconds to recognize me. But that moron Ubaidah just grabs the phone from my hand and kill the call.

I meet Aalam, one of my juniors every now and then when in 3G. "How're you?" he asks.

"Alhamdulillah, how're you today Aalam?" I ask back.

"Alhamdulillah, o level kills me apu."

"Well AS is ten times harder."

"Maybe I shall end my studies here."

Then he smiles and walks away. I used to have a crush on him way back when I was in Grade 7. We used to be in debate club together. And I noticed countless times when he looked at me and not concentrating on our trainings. Whenever I caught him looking he smiled. And now he has a girlfriend.

I meet Dalair the other day when class ends and I go home. I have a feeling and when I turn we have the perfect eye contact. And then I run across the street out of sight. He has earphones on. I hardly see him wearing earphones. Of course music fills his life now. He has a girlfriend and romance is the only thing in their minds now.

I like Eisa. He knocks me every single weekend morning with a very sweet greeting. And he always asks me how I am. He reminds me of Dalair in our initial friendship. But Eisa is with me now for almost a year. And I pray to God that he stays. Because he makes my days a little better with his sweet innocent gesture. I wonder when I will see him again.

I have another confrontation with Fahima. Apparently he tells Salam, Dalair's best friend, to be afraid of me. And Salam the idiot he is actually takes her words. Whereas Fahima is all friendly and gossipy with me. For God's sake she got married a while ago. And still Salam hates me. Come on Salam get over Fahima. I am single.

"Hey sweetheart I've good news for you," Fadheelat texts.

"I wonder if your good news is bad for me."

"I found a guy for you."

"I told you I hate setups."

"Speak to him, if not, reject him."

Just then a text props up from someone named Onslow saying he is Fadheelat's friend. I know Fadheelat is good at heart and just tries to find me a lover but I have a long history with setups. And it almost ruined my friendship once. But anyhow I start to speak with him and keep him completely at a neutral zone.

Point is I meet so many people in 3G. And I have fifteen to twenty crushes per day. It hurts because none of the crushes ever see me. And my days come to an end. Maybe I am the only person who will be single for the three years I am here. And what if it is a sign I will be single for an eternity.