Taabindagi (Sequel Of Sharar)

Four

The afternoon sun bathed the Oakridge School ground in a golden glow, the only sounds breaking the silence were the occasional chirps of birds perched on the branches. The stillness was only disturbed by the faint buzz of distant classrooms, where students were engrossed in lessons.

In one such classroom, Ishmal Zarrar sat at the backbench, her seat by the window offering a view she was hardly paying attention to. The history teacher’s voice was a constant drone in the background, but Ishmal’s mind was elsewhere. Her eyes flitted to the clock every few seconds, her fingers idly twirling a pen. She sighed, her patience waning as she silently wished for the bell to ring, marking the start of break time.

Suddenly, a slight nudge from her best friend Sobia snapped her back to the present. Startled, Ishmal glanced at her friend, who was staring at the teacher as if she was fully engrossed in the lesson.

Furrowing her brows, Ishmal discreetly opened it to the last page where a scribbled note awaited:
"Will you come to the back of the tower during the break?"

Ishmal’s eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly scribbled back:
"For what?"

Sobia's response came faster than expected:
"Arez asked me to."

Ishmal stared at the words, her heartbeat quickening. The "back of the tower" was infamous for being a secluded area where seniors often snuck off with their boyfriends or girlfriends. It was a place of whispered secrets, forbidden exchanges, and unspoken rules. No teachers ventured there, making it the perfect hideout, but also a dangerous spot for those not looking for trouble.

When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, the boys darted out while the girls gathered their belongings slowly, chattering among themselves. Sobia and Ishmal stayed behind.

“Why do you want to go there?” Ishmal whispered, her concern evident.

“Arez wants to give me something,” Sobia replied, her tone innocent, as if she was unaware of the weight behind her words.

“Sobia, tumhe pata hai waha kon jata hai. You can’t be serious. Just… don’t go,” Ishmal’s voice was firm, but there was an edge of desperation to it.

(Sobia, you know what kind of people go there.)

"Please, Ishmal! We’ll just go for a minute. No one will see us, I promise!” Sobia’s pleading eyes were hard to resist. It wasn’t something they had ever done, and maybe that’s why Sobia was so eager, trusting that Ishmal would be her anchor.

Ishmal hesitated, torn between being a protective friend and her loyalty to Sobia. Against her better judgment, she reluctantly nodded.

The area behind the tower was both eerie and quiet. It was isolated, surrounded by tall trees, casting long shadows over the large open ground. Ishmal stood with her back against the red brick wall, arms crossed, feeling a growing sense of unease. Her eyes remained fixed on the ground, the awkwardness of being in such a place making her more uncomfortable by the second.

Not far from her, Sobia stood with Arez. He handed her a large box of chocolates, and they exchanged a few words, their voices barely reaching Ishmal. She stole a glance at them, but quickly averted her eyes, feeling like an intruder.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Ishmal saw Vivek Sir walking across the other side of the ground. He wasn’t coming their way, but just his presence filled her with panic. Her heart pounded in her chest.

"Sobia!" Ishmal hissed, waving her hand frantically to get her friend's attention, but Sobia was too engrossed in her conversation with Arez to notice.

Ishmal bit her lip, then rushed over to them. “Maine Vivek sir ko jate dekha!” she whispered urgently.