Perks of Being Indian [On Hold]

Lesson 3 - Expect the unexpected

It was a particularly good day for me today. Why, you ask? Because it's Friday! Fridays are awesome because it's the day which starts the weekend and all my of lessons are great: French, English, Media, Chemistry and Art. 

Half of the day had already past I was currently in Chemistry, listening to our 'teacher', Mrs Lambert who looked like a slug, give us instructions for our experiment.

"Right class, you are going to be given the equipment in those trays over there," she said pointing to the corner of the classroom where about a dozen trays lay, filled with various scientific appurtenances, "and you will be working in the pairs that I have chosen."

Damn it! I hope I was with someone from my awesome group because I didn't want to be stuck with a dumb brat who would stare at her manicure the whole time or someone who wouldn't even participate or help me - forget discussing the plan!

She started reading out the pairs, and soon I was left with the option of Alia but she too was paired up with someone else.

"Shay and Shanaya..."

Holy bananas, can I not have one day without having to go through the misery of communicating with that complete nincompoop!? After Mrs Lambert (our substitute for 'The Old Fart, Mr Gray) had finished calling out names, I went up to her, putting on my best innocent face.

"Um, Mrs Lambert?" I asked politely.

"Yes Shanaya."

"Um...could I not work with Shay? You see, we don't exactly get al-"

"Perhaps you didn't comprehend that a part of this investigation was that you work with people who you 'don't exactly get along with," She said, finishing my sentence, "And yes, part of this will be assessed on you teamwork."

"Damn it!" I muttered under my breath as I walked over to the area with the trays.

"What? Tried to get out of it?" Shay asked and even though I was facing away from him, I could tell he was smirking.

"Just shut up, ok? And don't try and mess with my brain because we will be assessed on our teamwork as well and I want full marks or my parents-"

"Okay okay! Chill out, feisty pants!" he laughed.

"You mess this up and I will throw a rickshaw at your face!" I warned, pointing with an accusing finger.

I set up the equipment whilst Shay went over to his friends to mess around. I was actually quiet glad, at least he wasn't near me and doing my head in. I was debating whether to start the investigation (which was partially basic since she wasn't even a science teacher) without him but then something came over my mind and convinced me to be the bigger person.

"Ahem, Shay? I'm starting the investigation, I would suggest you should come along now." I said.

And surprisingly, he did. I set Bunsen burner flame to the heating flame and I was about to amalgamate the two chemicals into the test tube when Shay held my wrist, stopping me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Let me do this. I can handle it." He said.

"Errr...no."

"Just give it to me" He said, now attempting to take the test tube and pipette out of my hands.

"Shut up! I'm the one who set this up whilst you were messing about with your friends. Why should you get to do the fun bit?"

"Then what do you expect me to do? Watch you be the teacher?"

"No, you can record the result." I said in a matter-of-factly voice.