Strings Attached

~Chapter 1~

I've been a straight A student, even if I say so myself, and I belong to the scanty population of Muslims in my school. I've a best friend named Samira, and when the three of us, that is, me, my sister and my bestie get together, we're a force to reckon with. It's hard to believe, but my sis can be a great comrade sometimes. And then, none can stop us from bringing the house down, and that's just the prelude to the disaster we cause!

Nah. We aren't that bad. We've had some face-offs with wrong things at the wrong time, so we've been dubbed as disasters waiting to happen, but there's nothing to be scared about, really. We wouldn't harm a fly! You just try us!

Thank god, I'm on time. A minute more, and the teacher would've been snarling at me like a wolf. I hope Sir Mathews hasn't reached the class before me to announce the roll call. But, oddly, when I reach my classroom, there's no sign, either of Sir Mathews, or of the horsy woman who teaches us English. God forbid! When did I begin calling my teachers names?!

I'm pondering over the puzzle in my mind when I see my best friend wave to me from her seat at the back. A few boys throw snide comments at my attire when I pass by their seats. The thing is that both of us wear abaya and naqab (veil) in class since it is a co-ed institution. And that makes people (including teachers) become rude from nice in a jiffy. But fortunately for us, it's a free country.

We are the only two Muslims in our class and I'm extremely thankful to Samira for being with me here. I tried to convince dad to get me out of this institution, but unfortunately, no other school takes students directly in class twelve. So, I'm stuck here, I guess. Thinking this way, I run towards my bestie thanking the Lord that Sir Mathews hasn't reached it before me, and begun to take the roll call.

"Assalamu alaikum love, why are you staring into space?" Samira greets me, tucking a question along with it. "Wa alaikum as Salam honey, I'm thinking of ways to get back at the 'lovely' scumbag of my sister! She's pissing me off since the last few days," I tell her, my tone heavy with scorn. 

"Oh no, what did you do now? I swear if you tackled her without waiting for me to join, I'll have a go at you with prongs in my hands. When did you have a fight though?" she asks me, very much amused with my answer. "Just this morning. My brain has finally caught up with the fact that even when I do nothing, I'm marked as the mischief-maker of my family."

"So, what did you two fight upon now? By the way, it really wasn't fair of you guys to fight without me." Ugh, I live among crazy people! "Well, we were having a fight over who acts more mature, her or me. You tell!" She has this shocked expression on her face, and then, she laughs loudly. "Really?! Don't you think it was a bit shaky topic which the two of you were arguing over? Because you two are the worst hypocrites I've ever come across in my whole life!" 

"If I know anything about you, then it's the fact that neither of you act your age," she states, rolling her eyes exaggeratedly. "No need to use so many superlatives, honey. You are no better than either of us," I retort acidly.

"At least, I don't try showing off how less mature I am by fighting upon who is more mature, with my elder sister. I mean, who does that??!! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"Didn't your mom roar above you to break it off? The fight, I mean, not the head? Oh, how I'd have loved to witness the scene when you two must've groped each other by your necks in a not-so-fondling manner, and your mother had come up with a bucket load of water and splashed it on you to break the fight!" she says, and her eyes have a dreamy look in them. I'm clearly incensed here, people!

"Shut up, you skunk! If there's anyone in the need to be splashed with water, it's you. Stinking like hell!" I mumble the last part. "I heard that! Stupid hypocrite." "Well then, if you didn't want me to insult you, why did you make fun of me? We weren't groping each other's necks, for your kind information. And mum didn't splash water on us. I went downstairs like a civilized person that I am, unlike you two, and had my breakfast in peace, and came here straight away," I counter disparagingly.