Never Got to Apologize

Chapter 3

"Today, as promised, I will be giving a lecture about first aid. Everyone get in your lines, start the daily warm up!" their instructor yelled across the auditorium.

They all got in their lines, and started the warm up exercise.

Bahrawar was sitting in his chair, not paying attention to his Math teacher. He hated math, unlike Arman who could solve any problem given to him. Rahim was sitting behind him who was cracking some not-so-funny jokes about Pathans to his fellows.

Bahrawar tensed on his chair, and sent a deadly glare to Rahim, who only smirked back. Even though they were living in Peshawar, where most of the Pathans lived, still they were made fun of everyday. Pathans were the topic of funny SMS, which people send to their friends early in the morning, hoping to make them smile or laugh.

Bahrawar hated this, because people didn't acknowledge the fact that Pathans were a huge part of Pakistan's economy. He hoped to some day change the way people made jokes about them - he wanted an end of it.

Lost in his thoughts, he heard a blast. The jokes of Rahim stopped, and were replaced by screams of the students. Then they all heard the bullets firing.

Bahrawar panicked and gulped.

"Get down!" his teacher yelled, "it's nothing. It might just be a drill."

The room was quiet except the sound of guns firing outside.

Zarmeenay.

Arman.

Bahrawar's breath hitched in his throats, and he closed his eyes, letting the tears run down his cheek.

He had to go, he thought.

It was so obvious that it wasn't just a drill, as the teacher walked shakily toward the door. The teacher would have known if it was a drill, because all the teachers were notified before any drills which happened in this school.

The teacher let out a cry, and all the students watched him with panic written all over their faces. Bahrawar looked away, as the teacher gave them a look, before he spoke. Bahrawar couldn't breath, and so was everyone in the class.

"Ya Allah," the teacher cried, "be quiet or we all will be killed."

Bahrawar blinked away more tears from his eyes, he got up.
"My sister is in the elementary campus," Bahrawar couldn't speak anymore as he started to sob, "I-I have to get her out."

"Lay down everyone! On the ground now!" their teacher instructed them.

He stood still as he heard cries down the hall, and students screaming. A boy in his class pulled him down on the ground next to him. He covered his ears, and all the students silently prayed.

He then started saying his prayers, hoping his siblings made it outside.

Arman exercised for a while then their instructor started to give them lecture on first aid. They now were sitting on their chairs, taking notes as their instructor lectured. Aman was sitting next to the door which was only used for emergency exits next to Ahmed. As usual, Ahmed had devoted his attention to what the instructor was saying. He said he wanted to join the army in future, and Arman laughed at the thought, because he couldn't even hurt a fly.

Ahmed looked up, and gave a look to Arman, trying to tell him to be quiet.

Arman smiled at him, and shook his head. He could imagine Ahmed wearing army uniform, and saluting his officer. When they were kids they used to act like they were in army when they played outside in the playground.

The memory of them saluting each other was still fresh in his mind. Aman didn't remember a lot, but he kept this memory safe somewhere in his mind. Bahrawar would have watched the boys act like they were in army while the other kids played cricket.

Arman didn't wanted to be in army, but he did like playing around with Ahmed. Saluting was the best thing he liked about it, and of course the way the officers walked with their perfect pace. He had watched Ahmed stand still for minutes, and the memory bought a smile to his face.