Strings Attached

~Chapter 12~

Schooldays are hectic. We have a hundred assignments to submit, the monthly tests are in two weeks, and I haven't studied a thing. I just can't bring myself to. I feel as if I've left my studious self behind too. The one who feared of 'not' getting an A on any measly test. I'm surprised of this change in me. And the worst thing is, I'm not afraid of not knowing a thing off my books. I'm not even afraid of cramming it all the night before the test, or of the effect it's gonna have on my grades. Ya Allaah (SWT)! This is pathetic. And this realization of my condition burns my throat as fresh tears start to leak out of my eyes. I am a coward and I finally admit it!

What a sob story I've become...

I'm still bawling when I hear a knock on my door. Hastily wiping my eyes, I tell them to 'come in' in a shaky voice. Nobody enters. But the rapping of the heavy door goes on. And by the time I reach it, the person has rapped it at least ten times already, making me go temporarily deaf. Height of impatience! Uff!! It can only be Hiba. I pull the door open with exaggerated force, forgetting to speak in English. 

"Kya hai?!" (What is it?!) I ask her, annoyed. "I mean, what's your problem? I told you to come in ages ago." "Oh really, you did? I'm so sorry I didn't hear you!" she ejaculates, arching her already arched-to-the-sun-and-back eyebrows. "In case you've forgotten, you sneak, this is my house, okay! And I don't need your permission to come and go into any of the rooms, least of all... yours, alright?"

"Besides, who'd want to enter it now, when you've decorated all your viruses and bacteria from your country onto the shelves? Eww!" The chudail wrinkles her nose disdainfully and walks off, as if trying to dodge 'bacteria and viruses' scattered on the floor. Great! Now she has a problem with my invisible viruses and bacteria. What beats me is why a genius like her who must've got A++++++++++ in science in high school didn't major in it. A Nobel was assured, at least...

I keep thinking of a comeback as she 'weirdly' struts her way to her own room, but I can think of none. Did she just come to show some authority? Why did she come at all?

"Oh, I almost forgot!" she suddenly says, turning, and I get to know there was actually a reason she showed herself near a virus like me. "Mum and Papa are going away tomorrow. They wanted to talk to you." I'm about to thank her for informing me, when she adds, "What that will accomplish, I don't know!" And flicking her violently yellow-dyed hair aside, she's off.

I've got used to Hiba... well almost. I'm not afraid of her threats anymore (or so I think), and nor do I find her antics weird. She's as mean as before but she hasn't been able to do much plotting these last two weeks. One thing's sure about her though. She always delivers her threats... and when I use that word, I mean it! They might get a bit lesser in degree, according to the circumstances, but they're always delivered. And I'm sorry to say this, but I am afraid of her. Literally!

She's gone to many lengths to get me out of the house. Somehow, Uncle Jabbar got to know she wasn't treating me well at school. It was like a prelim to what was gonna happen. She threatened her parents to force me to leave. But her dad was exceptionally angry that day. He told her not to be childish and try to adjust a little. And when she didn't listen, he slapped her hard. Things haven't been the same ever since. There's a strain in the relationships in this house, and I think I'm the guilty cause of it.

That was only the beginning, I knew more was to come. Two days after dad had left, fresh from her anger against me, Hiba threw my things down to the backyard while I was away. There was this photo frame Sammy had given me. I hadn't unpacked it. Poor thing went down with the bag and broke to pieces. And then there was that darned rain. I had to dry my things for four whole days until I could use them. All that was perishable to the damp... didn't survive.