Irreversible

⚜♚77. Rehan Boys♚⚜

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Arsalan

FLASHBACK

I was playing the role of a scarecrow in a school play in year four.  I remember that I had only one line to say: "I'm a scarecrow, and I protect the crops!"

I remembered that I froze when it was my turn to say that line. I stared wide eyed at the crowd, and pursed my lips, refusing to speak. The teachers were well prepared for such a scenario, I suppose, because when the spotlight came on me and I didn't speak, someone in the background spoke on the microphone on my behalf. 

I felt true terror that day, and with hindsight, I realise that it might have been my first taste of anxiety.

I was nine then, and I remember how much I cried that day, my head resting in Mama's lap, after we'd gotten home from the play. 

Needless to say, the bullies had picked on me even harder after that day.

One morning, a week after the school play, I was heading to school. Mama was on a morning shift, and Papa had gone to work earlier as well, and so the Tariq family driver had taken us all to our respective schools- me and Ro in Primary School, and the twins at Secondary School. The twins were dropped off first, and then me and Ro.

When we got out of the car, Ro instantly found his friends and walked away with them. I got out of the car and waved to the driver. He drove off without making sure that I'd gone inside the school- something which he got fired by Dado for later. 

I ran away.

It wasn't hard to find a way to get to Heathrow from any part of the city, and I took the Tube there. 

I found Uncle Raj, Mama's colleague, when I entered the terminal. "Hi, Uncle Raj. Is my Mama here?" 

He looked surprised to see me. "Arsalan? What are you doing here, buddy? Shouldn't you be at school?"

"I need Mama. Please."

"Okay, I'll get her. It'll take a while though. She's airside, where the planes are." He spoke in a reassuring tone. "Why don't you take a seat in the café there? You want hot chocolate?" 

"No, thank you." I shook my head. "I'll just sit there." 

It took over twenty minutes for my mother to get there. She strode towards me in her smart uniform, walking confidently and speedily in her high heels as she stared at me with anxiety. "Arsal! What are you doing here?! Why aren't you at school?" 

"I don't want to go there." 

"Why not?" She took a seat opposite me, placing a hand over mine. 

"People are mean to me there." I spoke timidly.

"Oh, honey." She sighed. She took her phone out of. "Let me call the school before they call me or your father." She dialled the number and held the phone against her ear, while running her other hand through my hair. "Good morning, this is Anabia Rehan, mother of Arsalan Rehan. He's in 4A. I'm just calling to let you know that he won't be coming in today as he's not feeling well."  

When the call ended, she went and bought a croissant and hot chocolate for me, before coming to take a seat in front of me. "Now, tell me everything, okay?" 

"Well, the bullies have always been mean to me... but since the school play." My lower lip wobbled. "They've been extra nasty."

"Oh, Arsal, I already went to speak to your teachers. Has it still not stopped?"