Project: Meera

2. Not quite in vogue

Thats a popular bollywood actress Kareena as nerdy Meera.

Grandpa did not want me to go by the school bus, I went with his driver in his black AudiA8. The drive to the school was boring and I quickly scanned my Facebook. Hopefully I will find an awesome group of friends here too before I turn 16.

As the car entered the school gates the driver turned to me and told me that he cannot drop me at the foyer, "only school buses are allowed beyond this point Nia beta. I will meet you here in the afternoon and pick you up," he told me.

So much for a lift! I thought and switched my phone off before putting it in my bag. Apparently if you were caught using your phone in this school it was confiscated and your parents had to come and fetch it.

I climbed out of the car and noticed the dewy green school grounds and the brick red school building however, unlike my previous school this one had no air-conditioning and the boring facade scared me on what lies ahead.

I entered school and looked around for help I wanted to reach my classroom. Then I noticed a group of girls they reminded me of my gang of girls but not wanting to look weak or pathetic, I got my bored expression on, and waited for the next group of people to ask where 11C was.

I approached a tall girl who was busy reading her notes and walking without watching where she was going. "Excuse me," I called in my sweetest voice. "Uh-hun! How can I help you?," the bespectacled girl looked up from her book like I had disturbed her. Whatever I thought. "Can you please tell me where is 11C?," I asked agitated as I was getting late.

"Wh-who are you? And why are you asking my class," she replied quietly. Uggh I hated nerds they were always so foolish. Anyways it is my first day here and I couldn't afford to be unpopular on Day one, so I sweetly rephrased my question, "I'm new to this school and that's my appointed section. Can I come with you? I'm Nia."

"Sure come along ," she muttered before reading her notes again. Not a friendly one I thought and quickly followed her through the corridor.  I saw many students loitering around and talking the uniform giving them all a jail bird look.

"We are here," the nerdy chick said and proceeded to sit on the first desk. She definitely has to be a top scorer I thought.

I scanned the classroom, it was a huge white square room with around 30 seats and 2 walls were floor to ceiling windows with the view of the park and the flyover adjacent to the school. One wall had the chalk board, projector and the other had some basic charts displaying calculus.

Which seat should I sit on I wondered. The teacher was no where to be seen and standing in front of my new classmates made me awkward.

I quickly walked and grabbed the seat next to nerdy as she said, "that's Raunak's place." I seethed and replied calmly, "what's your name? Raunak is your boy friend?"

I saw her cheeks flush and she stammered, "n-no. He is a classmate and my name is Meera." "Nice meeting you Meera and I'm not here to sit in the front row I'm waiting for the class teacher to appoint me a seat," I replied with enough sarcasm. She reeled back and got engrossed in those bloody notes, what was she reading how to make a nuke? Surely no one could read so much early in the day.

I saw that gang of girls enter class and I so wanted to go over and know them instead. Finally at 8 am sharp the teacher entered and boy was she over-dressed! She looked dressed for a wedding in that blue and gold saree.

"Good morning class meet our new admission Nia Rathore who has come from Singapore and will be studying with you," she called out in her shrill voice. On cue I stood up and faced everyone.  And before I could get my good look and charming smile on, the teacher yelled, "why are you wearing black underneath?"

I felt my face turn hot with embarrassment and the class snickered. The girl booed and boys whispered about me being hot. Could the earth eat me up please.

I sat down on my seat and controlled my tears as I maintained a low profile for the day to end. In the end of the lesson the teacher, Mrs Bala called Meera and told her to help me in the class and all the lessons I had missed.

This was the worst day in my life. I became the class clown on the first day of school, the teacher hated me and I now had a nerd who would  has to become friends with me as the teacher wants her too. Great!