The 3G Life

July 10 Tuesday 2018

I come to class exactly at 10:15 and as usual no one is in class. I am surprised because Aadil is always early. I do not even see Uncle Sahib at the front desk. I get a bit afraid and decide to wait downstairs. I am turning towards the door when Hadi burst in.

He is comparatively early. He is never early. He asks me where sir is.

"You came earlier than sir today."

"Oh, I did, that's news."

"Yeah, it actually is. I am surprised."

He gives a mysterious smile and sits down. I know nothing about Hadi and do not even have the proper chance to get to know him. It is my natural inclination to try to know about people. So I start interrogating him.

"Where do you live? Far from here?"

"No, I live in Banani."

"You come by jogging, I suppose?"

"No, by rickshaw, too far for my health."

"You live in a joint family?"

"No, mother and father, I am their only son."

"The love and apple of their life and eyes."

"Did you just copy it from somewhere?"

"No, I made it up."

"Creative mind. I should write it down somewhere."

I smile. Hadi is just too sweet. I wish I have a younger brother like him. He writes down the line at the last page of his notebook and my interrogation resumes.

"Which school are you in?"

"I was in Capstone but now I am going to give in private."

"Why did you leave school?"

"I had more freedom in private."

"Do you miss school? You sure do."

"No, not made many friends."

I think about it. He is such a charming guy. How can he not have any friends? This is a bit depressing to hear. I have two amazing best friends who are more like sisters. I feel that I am actually lucky. How can a person be even alive without friends?

"Aadil is your friend, right?"

"We became friends when we came to coaching."

"But he was also in Capstone."

"We saw each other but never talked."

"Who was more inclined to talk?"

"Aadil, he had friends who are all footballers."

"You don't like sport much, I presume."

"I don't hate it, but I just can't play."

"What are you good at?"

"He is good in Maths and Physics," says Aadil in a loud voice as he enters the class. He dumps his bag in the front desk of Hadi. Hadi gives a shy but disappointed smile.

"He had always been the best in class," says Aadil.

"You participated in any Olympiad?" I ask.

"Yeah, once but could not go further than the semi-finals," says Hadi.

"You went much far. I could not even dream of participating," replies Aadil in a proud voice. As if "not participating" is the heroic thing to do.

"What made you so late?" I ask.

"Why? You missed me? Bro?" he says making a face.

"Of course I did, dear Aadil," I reply in a fake coy voice.

"I did not know you had such feelings for me."

"Oh I do, dear Aadil."

We both laugh at our play along. Mohammed sir enters the class and we have to bring out our books and copies. The class goes fine with a few jokes and laughing. And Mohammed sir telling us once or twice to shut up and do our math.

I like Aadil, though he is the naughtiest guy I ever met. But somehow he is surrounded by an

Innocence of his own. And though he tries to cover it but I know that he is in some sort of unshakeable pain. He tries to cover it up with his sense of humor, but it is too exposed to me.

I am looking at Aadil when suddenly Mohammed sir taps his pen on my copy.

"Your attention seem to lie somewhere else."

"No sir, I have finished doing these."

Aadil looks at me and a pleasing smile reflects on his lips. He knows that he is distracting me. Boys are like aliens to me because I have studied in Manarat Dhaka International School and College for my entire life. Boys are like foreigners to me.

But somehow Aadil and Hadi seems really close. It feels like I have known them for my entire life. Moreover they accepts me in just the way I am. I mean all my traditional and religious ways. I have a free and liberal mind but still cannot cope up with all their ultra-modern ways.

Our class comes to an end a bit earlier than any other day. We decide to wait for Aadil's driver because he will be late.

"When are you going to finish the book?" asks Aadil.

"It would take me another whole week."

"You are enjoying it, aren't you?" he says in a playful voice.

"Yes. I am enjoying it very much, thank you." I say in my most serene tone.

"Don't let it change you," Aadil replies rather sincerely.

This rather hangs to my mind. I am not planning to change but I can sense that something is changing inside me. I am getting to know the real world. Where boys and girls have to take each other's help and just have to get along. And they will feel attracted and love will happen.

Aadil's driver arrives and he walks out but not before he gives me a hat's off. I reciprocate his gesture and we part for the day. Hadi says goodbye to me too and walks in the opposite direction. I stand for another moment and realize that I am going to be a long time around here.

Then I start walking home. Another day at thecoaching ends.