Responsibilities Forgotten

Chapter 2

Chapter 2
"Adiba! Oh Adihbah! Look who's here!" Dad came into my room dramatically with his arms wide open inviting me for a hug.
"Daddy! Oh Dahdday!" I yelled back, laughing and fitted myself into his arms.
This was the way we always greeted each other, ever since I started elementary school. I had not seen Dad for a couple of months, but unfortunately there was no time to catch up on each other's lives today. Today was my first day at Apalobe.
And I had fierce butterflies roaring and dancing in my stomach.
My parents were talking amongst themselves as we pulled over at the enormous gates of Apalobe while I gaped at the school.
The school was massive. It was much more beautiful than it had been portrayed in pictures I had seen. There were three heritage stone buildings, the middle one being the biggest. A stone path, surrounded by daisies and dandelions led to the vast door of the middle building.

"Our appointment with the principal is at 8 AM, we best get going unless we want to be late," my mum informed us.

We concurred and followed her into the building. The foyer was a deep shade of red, adorned with pictures and certificates of the school achievers. My mum's heels clicked on the white marble floor as we walked towards the office. The empty halls were soon to be filled by students excited to start the new year.
"Hello, my daughter's name is Adiba Faruqi. Today is her first day," my father told the secretary.
She gave him a nod and disappeared into a room with crimson doors, which I presumed to be the principal's office.

My presumption was right, we were soon seated on the soft beige couch, in that very room, across the principal, Miss Anderson.

"Good morning! Welcome to Apalobe. Ms. Faruqi, today is your first day at Apalobe, any butterflies fluttering in your tummy?" Miss Anderson inquired, her voice laced with excitement. My lips formed a shy little smile when I nodded
"Adiba, it is a rule in Apalobe to appoint an old student for a new student who is joining mid-form. Your buddy is expected any moment now," Miss Anderson said to me after informing my parents of a few rules. As if on cue, a girl in uniform knocked and entered on Miss Anderson's approval.
"Good morning Miss," she greeted, her head bowed down. She was a brunette, her short hair pushed back with the help of a headband. I stared at her glassy green eyes as she looked up at me. She noticed me staring, her thin lips curving into a smile, "Hello."
"Hi," I replied, returning the smile.
"Adiba, this is Rebecca. Rebecca, this is Adiba, our new student from India. Girls, you may now leave. Rebecca, Adiba's schedule is the same as yours. I want you to guide her at least for a few days," Miss Anderson ordered as Rebecca nodded.
"Bye mum! Bye dad!" I gave them both a tight hug and walked out with Rebecca.

Rebecca, or Becca as she asked me to call her, was much like Aqila, I learnt as I walked with her to the dormitory. The dorm was coloured crimson, over which Becca had tacked various posters on her side. The furniture was made of white wood, which went along with the décor beautifully. We both had our own desks, night tables, dressers and chest of drawers.

"Have you brought any posters or pictures? I can help you tack them up if you want," Becca offered.

I shook my head indicating a no, "In Islam, we are not allowed to sleep with any non living thing that has eyes."

She, thankfully, had no posters with eyes on them. We were soon walking towards the last building where our Math class was situated. Along the way, we spoke about various things. Becca was originally from Germany, but as her parents travelled all the time she was forced to come to Apalobe.
Becca introduced me to a bunch of her friends during lunch. They, unlike her, were not very open minded. They sneered at my headscarf and whispered among themselves, making it obvious that I was, negatively, the topic of their conversation. Noticing this, Becca asked me to follow her.
"The Middle building is where all our classes are, that is why it is called The Hub. Our dorm, and all the other seniors' dorms are in the building on the right side. The juniors occupy the left building," she told me.
I was led towards a room with a sign reading 'Leisure Room' on its door. The room was massive. There was a large screen hanging on the wall in the middle of the room. One side was filled with computers and there was a sofa set laid out on the other.
There were many more common rooms in our building itself, but we were short of time, homework time was going to begin in just a few minutes.
I was not afraid anymore. The first few days spent at Apalobe crushed the doubt I had of me not being happy here. People here did not really welcome my way of living or my religion but I knew, in my heart, that what they thought of me did not matter, what I thought of myself mattered more than anything else. This was a test from the Lord, all I could do was pray to pass it.