The 3G Life

July 15 Sunday 2018

I feel tired to the bones. After an entire two months of vacation waking up early in the morning seems to be a fairytale. But suddenly it becomes a reality today and trust me, it is awful. And when I am walking towards the 3G building with my heavy bag in my school uniform, I feel myself like a hippopotamus.

I somehow reach class and lay back on my chair. Mohammed sir has gone to take his lunch and will be back after a few minutes, or if he wishes, for an hour. I am thinking of taking a nap but I know I cannot wake up so I just abandon the idea.

I see Aadil's bag on the desk beside me but I cannot see him anywhere. I come out and ask Uncle Sahib if he has seen him. He tells me that he saw him going downstairs but does not know where he is. I am thinking of going to look for him but instead I go back to my classroom because it will seem I am making myself too available.

I do not have to wait long for Aadil. He comes back carrying two cups of coffee and places one in front of me. He is seriously damaging my habit of staying away from any sort of addictive caffeine. But I am grateful for it at the moment because I need an energizing drink.

"So, this is your school dress?" Aadil looks at me from head to toe and says in a mockery but not insulting tone. I cannot argue because I am wearing white trousers and sewn scarf with a loose, long, bottle green apron.

"Yeah, it is. What is wrong with it?"

"Nothing, you look different. It's the first time I saw you in a uniform."

"There is nothing special to be surprised about it."

"I think you look younger in this look."

"Of course I do. I am wearing a "school-dress"."

He does not argue anymore. But just keeps looking at me in imploring eyes. Gosh, he actually has such beautiful eyes. Forget about it! What am I thinking? Such thought should not come to my mind. I look at my hands and that is the end of our brilliant eye-contact. But I know, it is going to happen plenty of times again.

I am getting out of my chair to throw the paper cup in the dustbin when I bump into Hadi and am thrown back at my chair.

"I am so sorry. I did not mean it." He says in an apologizing tone.

"I am perfectly fine. No worries." I say in an assuring tone.

"I am getting so clumsy this last few days."

I again stand up and glance once at Aadil and know that he is not okay with this. A seriousness has come in his playful expression. Or is it jealousy? Either way I know that he is going to talk about this with Hadi later on. I really do not want things to become awkward between us.

I throw the paper cup and hurry back to class before they can get into a conversation of this sudden occurrence. But I am proved wrong and see that both are in silence at their respected seats. I silently take my seat and take out my phone to read "Fifty Shades".

I cannot concentrate thinking about what just happened. I rarely bump into boys and do not want Hadi to be one of them. I am wondering what Hadi is thinking about this but his expression gives nothing away. Gosh! What is Aadil thinking about it?

My thoughts are interrupted as Mohammed sir enters the class. Luckily all of us have done our homework and he cannot fuss about it much. But sir also notices that something is wrong in the air today. Why a bump does has such an effect on every one of our moods?

I cannot do one of Algebra problems and find it a brilliant chance to talk with Aadil.

"Hey, Exercise 4, question 5, how did you do it?"

He just silently passes his copy to me which is totally unusual because he always taunts me saying I am the "Wise Woman".

I silently copy the math and return his copy. He is not looking up so accidentally catches my hand while receiving the copy. We both shoot our eyes toward each other and in our hurry to take back our hands, drop the copy on the floor. When we bow to pick it up, our heads bump.

"Just let me pick it up, okay?" I say in a disturbed voice.

"It was not my fault", Aadil replies in a defensive voice.

"It was neither of our fault", I assure him.

"What is happening today?"

"I am actually wondering the same thing."

We both laugh a little and the air becomes lighter again. We are in the same room, things like this are usual to happen. The only problem is that we are opposite genders. We can never take these things as lightly as we can if we are of the same gender or siblings.

I can still feel the firmness and warmth of Aadil's hand. Why am I thinking about his hands? He actually has beautiful hands, with long fingers. My hands are almost chubby and childish compared to his. But that feeling, I am sure that Aadil feels the same emotions too.

The class comes to an end and we pack our bags. Mine is quite heavy and I have to bend

Down with the weight of it. I am already short and this just makes me look like a dwarf. But it does not matter, all I want is to get home, have lunch, and take a long shower.

Aadil does not talk much on the way downstairs. I am yearning to touch his hands again but I know it will never be possible. Why am I yearning to touch him, it is so unlike me. What are this strange but mildly familiar emotions that are coming in my mind?

I am thinking all this while heading back home. I somehow sense that I have to face this emotions sooner or later.