The Second Path

Chapter 23

"Garba!" He shouted. I took a long sigh before turning around and coming back inside to stand in front of his table.

"There is this maths equation I've been trying to solve baa," He said while looking inside a notebook, "but I can't seem to solve it because the teacher didn't finish it."

He removed the lollipop from his mouth and showed me the notebook and I looked at it, wondering why my 'English' teacher was asking me for a 'Maths' problem.

'Miriam + Hamid'. That was the maths problem. In my notebook. I cringed because I had forgotten to erase it off when I was done with my class work.

"So what is the answer equal to?" He asked, knowing that I was the teacher.

"Nothing." I shook my head in embarrassment and looked away.

"No you must answer me. Are you not my pupil?" He handed me his pen, "Oya write the answer."

I hesitated but he made sure I had to do it. And I did it.

'Miriam + Hamid = like like with an extra like.' I wrote.

Mr Zamani slammed his hand on the table, causing me to jump. He took the pen from me and he inhaled before putting the lollipop back inside his mouth.

He removed the lollipop from his mouth immediately and asked, "What did your mother- sorry what did your grandmother teach you about boys?"

"Nothing." I shrugged.

"Did she teach you about the 'ripe' method?" He started, "You know girls there is a certain age you become 'ripe' to date-"

"Bye Mallam!" I said immediately and quickly started walking out of class.

"Garba I'm not finished!" He shouted from behind but I closed my ears and quickly walked out of the class door.

"God bless you sir!" I shouted as I ran away, "See you on Wednesday!"

Since Mr Zamani was like our father-teacher, nobody took him seriously. He was a nice man after all and I was grateful but I wasn't ready to spend my after-school time hearing about the 'ripe method' from a man.

Adults will be treating us girls like Mango. Boys never had their own 'ripe method'. And even if they did, the only fruit they could be compared to was Banana. You already know why.

As usual, every time school was over, I bought Gala from hawker who passed my school everyday.

After I paid the hawker by the school gate, I put the Gala in my bag and turned to see Kabir standing in front of one of the school blocks. He was with a girl. A very fair and skinny Muslim girl who didn't cover her hair.

They were holding hands and giggling at each other as if it was a legal thing to do on school compound. For some reason, I felt a hint of jealousy in my chest. I shrugged it off and went my own way, hoping the principal or a teacher catches them and gives them punishment.

The moment I got back home, Kaka was already waiting for me in the sitting room. I was already tired and ready to have my own siesta but from the look on her face, I knew it was impossible.