Two Hearts Apart

Chapter 3: Making Headway

A couple of days had passed before Zaheer got to a chance to see, let alone speak, to Zahraa again. The pace of school was definitely picking up and everybody seemed to be settling into the new school year. Each different teacher found the necessity to lecture the two grade 11 classes on the importance of this school year and on how it was the foundation of their matric. By the time it came to the third teacher Zaheer was tired of hearing the same lecture; of how they should start working hard from now; on how Universities all judged you by grade 11 results and on how everybody needed to start working seriously towards their future. Zaheer didn't doubt for a second that they were all right, but after hearing it so many times he felt as if he'd much rather sit through one of his mother's three hour long Indian movies than hear another lecture. As if that was not enough the teachers were all piling homework on top of homework and the students were all too afraid to protest lest they receive another long lecture.

Yes, the new school year that had began slow and calm was now rushing full speed ahead and, at times, Zaheer felt as if it might all just crash right on top of him. The only relief that school provided was the constant soccer matches- the teachers couldn't make them stop even if they tried; and Zaheer's continual hope that he might run into Zahraa. It was thus with utmost joy and elation that Zaheer, whose soccer game had been cancelled due to the rain, managed to spend some time with her. As usual she was hanging out with her large group of friends but when she saw him walking pass she left her friends and followed him. "So how's school going?" she asked. "Oh, don't even get me started"; replied Zaheer in a dejected tone. "That bad huh?" she said, "Don't worry give it a while and it will ease off, the start is usually the roughest. Trust me, I've been there." Zahraa's friend Miriam was a year below her and in the other grade 11 class and she had been filling Zahraa in on all the craziness of the new year. It was thus with genuine sympathy that Zahraa questioned Zaheer, hoping that he was managing to take all in his stride.

Zaheer was enjoying this thoroughly. Here was the girl of his dreams standing and talking to him without him having to put in any effort at all. Once he got past his slight nervousness, it was so easy talking to her. It was as if the rest of the world suddenly fell still for a while and all that was left was just him and her; just talking. They spoke for a while, laughing at the all the teachers and their incessant lectures, commenting on all the happenings of the past days and Zahraa providing him with valuable insight into all the teachers and how to get by in their classes. When the bell rang signalling the end of break they both lingered for a while longer, so engaged in their conversation. Zahraa's friends, no doubt busy discussing this newest development, screamed for her to join them before they were late for class and she was forced to end the discussion and quickly join them. Zaheer, considering how happy he was after this little encounter, took his sweet old time walking to his next class, oblivious to the fact that he was already late.

Zaheer was in a good mood for the rest of the day, in fact he was in a good mood for a few days to follow. Up until this point he hadn't been sure as to whether Zahraa was interested in him. But now, after she had initiated the conversation, after she had left her friends to come and talk to him, he was beginning to think that she might indeed like him too. A few days later Zaheer was fortunate enough to be provided with yet another moment with her.

It was after school and Zaheer found her waiting outside for the bus. He didn't know what suddenly made him muster up the courage; perhaps it was his newfound confidence in the fact that Zahraa liked him too, or the fact that he was so seldom granted opportunities to interact with her; but he suddenly decided to approach her with utmost honesty and candour. She was standing with Hafsah and another girl that Zaheer hadn't met so he politely greeted them and then asked if he could have a moment to speak to Zahraa. She happily obliged, clearly looking forward to another one of their conversations, yet concerned by the strange look on Zaheer's face. "I'm going to be honest with you" he said quickly, afraid that his courage was already beginning to wane. "You're unlike any other girl I've met before and I really like you. And I was wondering if we could try to spend some time getting to know each other a little better?" For a while Zahraa was speechless. Clearly she hadn't expected this from him, but then (he thought) how could she not- she had to have known that he liked her. When she spoke she spoke in a slow and careful yet clearly troubled tone: "I'm sorry Zaheer, I really don't want to hurt your feelings but I'm not interested." "Oh come on, you have to be" replied Zaheer, slightly confused. "Think about it okay". "I don't need to think" Zahraa replied "I'm not interested". Most girls were not usually so straightforward, most girls were usually timid and shy; not Zahraa though, her tone was not cruel or unkind but just open and honest, like she was telling someone the whether. Now instead of feeling embarrassed or run down by this clear rejection, Zaheer felt invigoratingly enthused. It was as if this incident confirmed what he had known from the beginning that Zahraa was more than just ordinary; that she was a definitely going to prove to be difficult to get; but that she would undoubtedly be worth all the effort. "Give me some more time" Zaheer replied, "Then you will be mine". With that he stood up and left, leaving her alone to her thoughts.