A Scar from my Past

3. Dreaded Moments

One thing is very different in this school. In my old school, there was not much difference between boys and girls. The first thing I notice after entering my class is two division of chairs.

The left side of the classroom near the entrance is filled with girls, around 20 of them and there is a 5-foot gap. After that the boy's chairs are placed.

"uh.." I mentally groan. This is not a good start. I feel comfortable sitting with guys during classes. They don't gossip a lot and them kind of worship me because I'm famous.

The first benches are filled with the geeks of all the geeks. I'm not a firstbencher anyway,never been one. So I move around these girls and go sit in the very last row of chairs. I'm the only one in this row.

The row in front of me is empty and in the one before that there is only one girl. This is going to be a rough day.

Before I settle completely in my place, the teacher enters. It took me a few seconds to realise that everyone stood up to greet her. I was the only one still sitting.

How am I ever going to be friends with these people? The teacher introduces herself as Ruby and goes on about her qualifications and teaching experience. She says she is proud to be teaching us.

"Excuse Me" I hear an arrogant voice. It's a guy waiting outside class wanting to come in.

"Come in. Can I know why you are late to your very first class?" asked teacher Ruby.

To my shock, the guy who walked in was none other than Mr. Monobrow. So we are in the same class.. great !

" Well , if it wasn't for a clumsy girl, I could have come earlier " he replied already making his way to the end of the classroom and not even looking at her.

He occupies a chair in the last row to my surprise, he is the only one in that row too. Well, atleast I have company, even though I don't like him.

The teacher pulls out a book I suppose is the Attendance Register from her bag. The most dreaded moment of my school life is here.

She announces that we have been allotted roll numbers alphabetically and asks us to memorise our numbers for all further references.

The first number is some guy Aaron. What were his parents thinking when they named him, He will be forever roll number one. The scapegoat for everything in class.

I pity him a little bit, but then what were my parents on when the named me. I mentally abuse them for like the ten-thousandth time in my life.

I was just looking at people as the number proceeds and trying to memorise their faces and names.

Number 8 was Jamil. But before I could comprehend the beauty of the name. " Here" I heard an arrogant voice to my right. Monobrow.

The next few names passed in a blur.A knot was appearing in my stomach by the time the teacher reached R.

I was anxiously waiting for my name. Roll number 27 Samuel with an e at the end I heard.

This is it, time to get embarrassed. I slowly raise my hand. But the teacher is looking towards the chairs of boys for a Samuel. "Samuel" she repeats. The entire class is searching for a Samuel in the boys.

I clear my throat loudly and sheepishly say "Here!" . A few people burst out laughing. Some people's jaws were hanging. Well, I was expecting this reaction.

" You are Samuel?" the teacher asked.

" I prefer Sammy." I answered sheepishly. The teacher moved on tho the next number. I am thankful.

" No wonder you are so clumsy. " a heard a low whisper. There is only one person whose whisper I can hear from where I am seated. Monobrow guy.

" Oh, What is your name again? Wait .. I pretend to think for a second..Jamil. What sort of a name is that? " I retort.

" Good to know that you are paying attention to me already. he smirked at me. It means Beautiful in Arabic by the way."

"Ohh.. beautiful. I thought the word beautiful is used to describe girls. " I said teasingly.

" Look who's talking, I thought Samuel was a guys name."

I just want to jump over this chair and strangle his neck and separate it from the rest of his body and play football with it. I am that angry at his remark now.

" You look as angry as a kitten with that face on." why is he speaking again? and that too about my face, HE IS DEAD NOW.

" Atleast I look cute like a kitten. Look at you" I point out. he actually looks good but how dare he rub his cockiness on my face. He will be getting a dose of the same medicine if he messes with me.

" Who was talking about a cute kitten. You look like the grumpy cat." He is laughing at his own joke now.

Before I could reply with something abusive, the teacher finished roll call and is now bothered by our banter.

" You two. Come and occupy the seats in the front. I'm about to begin my class." she said pointing at the two of us.

Wow, now this. Why are all the teachers always the same? Why do they care where I sit? Aren't they supposed to just teach and leave? This is so frustrating.

" This is all because of you" I warn him and leave my seat before I can hear his reply. I occupy a vacant chair in the third row. The teacher starts writing something on the board. I stretch my neck a bit to see what she's writing, as I sat behind a very tall girl.

Chemistry.

WOW . Just when I thought my day can't get worse, my very first class is Chemistry. The subject I hate the most in the world after History.

She is teaching something about the periodic table. I don't want to pay attention. I just start to doodle on my desk to pass the time.

I look around to find everyone one taking notes very seriously. A few students have already asked doubts regarding the syllabus, reference books, exam schedule and a lot of other things that I don't care about.

How did I even get an admission here? I wonder. This is no normal school. This a school only for the intellectuals , just like schools for the rich. You need a minimum I.Q of 130 to get an admission here.

No wonder there are so many geeks here.This is an ideal place for them. But I just want to enjoy my school life . But I also start to wonder at the same time how am I going to survive with all these people?

What I didn't know then is that the same string of thoughts were running through someone else's brain also at the same time in my class.

The bell rang and put me out of my misery.