HURDLES AND THEM

Chapter 02

oh Damn it! she was just boring. I never thought that my first lesson here would be boring....

soon after the bell rang....I ran to the cafeteria with Aafiya.
"Aafi, what are you gonna have" I asked while she was staring the park opposite to the cafeteria.
"me? a burger and a milkshake. that's all. what about you?" she asked me back

"that's all....how could you eat something more than that?" I asked and we both laughed out. "me too the same" I said.

"hey girls, can I join you" told a  familiar voice.I turned to see who it was. it was none other than Aashad.
"yeah sure" I spoke while Aafiya was staring at me. I understood that she did not know who he was.
I tried to introduce but Aashad sat beside Aafiya and said "Hi, I am Aashad and you...." and Aafiya introduced herself "Hi Aashad, I am Aafiya"

Aashad kept staring at her and I hoped that he would not tell her that he has seen her somewhere. this time his approach was different which was really surprising. he said "you are so cute and beautiful and I feel like looking at you always"

I and Aafiya gave a look with our mouths open. "what?" Aafiya asked this time with an angry tone although she couldn't control blushing.

"just kidding" he said but his eyes still on her.

I was too quick to ask him "Aashad, you are too friendly and sociable. I suppose. because you leave your old friends and hang out with new ones"

"oh....no man...I have to make friends. I joined school last Friday. today is the my second day. first day, I thought of just remaining silent.....and Making friends today......and I you are my first friend in this school..." he told with a naughty look

"oh, but you seem like you are used to this school and the familiar looks and smiles you give to everybody......made me feel so" I said thinking that he seems to be a good friend...
I turned to tell him that he was friendly but he was staring at Aafiya. I understood that he had a crush on her and I felt that Aafiya was feeling disturbed too.

just to bring him to sense I sneezed.....that was too loud I suppose because he shook up and gave a funny smile and said "hippo...?"

"why chimpanzee?" I asked and thought to myself how did I become so friendly.

"how come you call me by your name?" he asked and they both laughed out.

I gave a frown and joined them too. but suddenly I turned to see the park I saw two gangs of boys fighting. one was at the front shouting and suddenly he gave a slap to one from the other gang and told something and left. he seemed like a prominent one in that gang. 'maybe the gang leader' I thought to myself and turned to see them. this time they were taking.  I took a bite from my burger and heard some loud voices. it was that gang and his leader....
that leader was too fast because of which he pushed a chair from the table. he did not pick it up but of his gang member said "sorry" and picked it up.

"somebody is putting it down and somebody is picking it up and saying sorry" I said and I lifted my head up, he was standing a few feets apart and staring at me. my heart started to beat. will he give me a hard slap like he gave that fellow.....I kept staring with a lot of imagination In my mind about how's that slap going to be.... but surprisingly he gave a smile and a smile flushed in my face but I controlled and looked down to have another bite from my burger.

"Zan, shall we go? I have to call my mom" Aafiya asked me and I told her "you leave, I will be back in a few minutes...." I said her feeling that it is not good to make her stay because I felt that she had some urgency in calling her mom and Aashad too left with her.

after a second, I felt nervous. I was alone. I turned my head to the right, I saw that gang leader staring.
I turned to my burger and took swift bites in an uncomfortable way. I gulped my milkshake and got up to leave.
when I got up, I heard a roar of laughter and a name continuously repeated and heard it like "shazan"

I felt like It was not for me but I was in a hurry to leave that place. it was bad time, I had to go to the place where they were sitting to wash my hands. I could have neglected washing but there was mayonnaise in my hand. I just made my up and walked towards the sink and that horrible gang leader stood up and walked towards the sink while others remained talking. he was the first one to reach it and that horrible creature in earth was washing his hands so long. I stood there and as I could not st and so long "excuse me, can I wash my hands please"

but he stood there as if he did not here me. I walked closer to tell but suddenly he turned to my side. I could not move. he kept looking at my eyes....I felt like punching his nose...I moved to my right to let him go but he gave me flirty smile and left to his seat.
I washed as fast as I could and ran back to the class recollecting all those stupid moments.

I ran out to the class and saw Aashad standing by the door. he pulled to a corner and asked "can I have your place and will you please sit in my place" he asked.

"okay....but what for?" I asked him even though I knew the reason but just to make fun of him..

he gave an innocent look that anybody on earth would feel pity and said "please please"

"okay okay....but I want a dairy milk chocolate" I replied teasingly..

"okay....deal" he told me with a big smile as if he has won a lottery.

I went and I saw that Aashad has already kept my bag in his place and his in my place. I gave a smile and went to the place where my bag was. I turned out to see Aafiya and I saw her already looking at me. she signaled through her expressions and asked why. I gave a smile and showed Aashad who was standing by the door. she kept her hand on her head and gave a smile showing irritation. I smiled back and saw that gang leader coming in to the class. once again my heart started to beat and he came straight towards me and I felt like my hands and legs started to shiver.  he came straight but sat in the seat next to me. once again my heart beat increased..."why God???" I thought and saw Aashad coming towards me. he came straight to me and said "thank you cutie pie and my chocolate lover" and I was not in a good mood to at least give him a smile. he hit my head with a book which was on my table and sat in that place and still I feel uncomfortable.

we had mathematics. teacher gave us some sums....I finished it quickly and showed her.
"very good girl" she said and returned the book.
but I gave a look at the gang leader's book..
he has done it in a different method and he seems to have started the next exercise too. "he seemed Intelligent which does not really match his horrible character" I thought. teacher gave a small explanation and requested us to do the new exercise. I was a bit confused there. I shook my pencil and I started to scribble and work it out.

"excuse me" I heard somebody say. it was the gang leader. "yeah" I said looking at him slightly.
"shall I help you with that sum? I know an easy method"  with a positive look of helping.

I was really in need of a help. "yeah. sure...that would be a great help" I said to him passing my book in his side. he explained in a great flow like a teacher and I understood and it seemed so easy. he gave me the book but forgot to give me the pencil.
to work out the multiplication, I wanted my pencil. but I did not know how to ask it..how can I? I thought to myself and finally turned and I saw him looking down at his shoes and checking whether the laces were properly tied.
"excuse me...can I......have my pencil?" I asked him and he was too casual in returning the pencil and he told "sorry".

everybody looked at him with their eyes open wide except Aafiya and Aashad and a guy from the last bench shouted "was that Shazan who told sorry?" while this gang leader gave a smile and the bell rang. all of them gathered around him and was looking at me and talking. they all came towards me while the gang leader tried to stop them all. but they came to me and said "what magic did you do for him. this is the first time in life he has said sorry..." while one among them told "he is trapped" and others laughed.

Shazan got up and left the class and everybody left while I was confused and I could not understand what these people are talking.