The Sun also Shines In Pakistan.

Chapter 1, part 1: Summer of a million years

It had been a long summer of a million years. The children would call it small yet. They had been packing their bags all night preparing for school the day before the first day. It had taken a lot of will to finish their homework in one night, each parent had hovered over their child's head along with occasional stares when they wrote the answers. As Umeed woke up the following morning to head out the door, his Ammi fed him some sugar with a spoonful of curd. "It's good luck", his mother said smiling as he made a face.

After a walk of five minutes, he opened the door which read "Sixth grade", a frown appeared on his face. They were in sixth grade now, a grade which would include "More exams, more annoying teachers, more rubbish about stars and more.." his gaze shifted to Nadia perched up in her seat with the Sun dancing on her curls as she scribbled something in her book. "Girls.", he finished himself and a smile crept up his dim face. As he made his way inside, Nadia and Umeed ran up to hug him. They all had been best friends since long before they could remember. It was always Salim, Umeed and Nadia who shared the same lunch table, laughed at the same jokes and were beaten up by the same teachers.

"I'm glad we're in the same class.", Umeed teased Nadia.

She laughed and playfully punched him on his arm because this phrase was only an old joke in the school. The school was situated in the middle of a tiny town called Kohat in Pakistan. Being a small town, it was one of the few schools in the residence and therefore whoever could afford to pay for three meals for themselves and a little more,

they were a student.

As the teacher once again took her place in front of the board, she announced with a booming voice, "Welcome to sixth grade, everyone. I really hope that this year you'll all learn a bit more about the real world". They had grown up, Nadia realized. And as much of a big deal, their parents had made about, it really wasn't.

She was still with her two best friends and still sitting on rusty old chairs with creaking tables with the only difference of a half rubbed out "Sixth-grade" board hanging by her door.

"We'll learn about the most important topic in the world, kids. We're going to learn about stars.", the teacher went on with the voice of a storyteller.

Umeed groaned, his parents had already told him tales and legends about stars. Everyone knew it already.

We were all connected to one star both biologically and mentally and the Sun was our ruler.

"How many more years of this torture?" Umeed wrote on a piece of paper to Salim.

However, Salim seemed engrossed in what Ms. Carol had to say. He had always been a bit of an enthusiast when it came to stars.

"You know the Sun has always been American.", Salim had announced one play date. Nadia had looked up at him in shock. "So we have no chance.", she frowned. "I would've loved to be..". She then threw her hands in the position of a camera-like scene. "The Sun.", she finished.

Salim started again, "Yeah, but Nadia the Sun is more than just a high post, it's the.."

"..god-like figure on Earth.", the class chanted. Everyone knew it, it was almost a mantra by now.

"Children, each and everyone is connected to a star. Both biologically and mentally. The second your star has light when it's burning, you will be born. The star controls your health, your mood and each part of you that keeps you alive. When your star is in an area where it's experiencing clash with other stars, your mood will, therefore, be negative or your attitude will be one of fighting with someone. There could also appear rashes on your skin or irritation in your eyes.