A Glimpse of me
"Mahab... Mahab... Get up! Silly girl, Why don't you understand? Everyday I've to shout at you like this. Take off your ear bags."
My Mother, shouts at me in an exasperated tone.
"Mahab; it's already 6.15 you're going to be late for school. Get up or I'll call your father."
My mornings start like this. My mother shouting at my stubborn self. I don't know why the relationship between me and my bed is so strong. No matter how hard I try to get up, it doesn't let me go.
Okay. I have to be quick. I just have 15 minutes to reach the bus stop.
Planning this in my head. I reply to my mother, "Mommy spare me please.I'm up."
It takes plain five minutes for me to get a shower,put on a uniform and do my hair in a plain ponytail. Leaving my breakfast
unfinished, I bid goodbye to my mother and leave for the bus stop increasing my pace. Although I am a bit turdy, I am pro at getting ready in a few minutes. Give me five minutes and I'll be dressed as a Queen. Believe me I'm not exaggerating ask my best friend Sonia.
She knows everything about me. She is my human diary.
I breath out a sigh of relief as I arrive at bus stop, wiping out beads of perspiration from my forehead. I wait for my school bus to show up.
After two minutes sharp at 6.28 a.m. my school bus arrives.
I begin to climb aboard and a smile appears on my face looking at my best friend Sonia.
I take my seat next to her as usual. We engage in a deep conversation almost discussing everything since we last met.
Our conversation breaks, when the bus driver pulls up.
We got off the bus in front of us is a beautiful edifice, Our School.
Ellamore High, one of the most reputable Elite private Schools in Jersey City.
Its not just a school, It is more a territory ruled over by soccer team, cheerleaders, Science freaks and the Editor's Club. To be popular you have to choose either of the four.
My group "the terrific trio" doesn't belong to any of the four groups but still we are quite popular for our mischiefs.
I hurry to my class, retrieving my English drama book from my locker, as the first period is of Mr. Fitzpatrick, who asked us to write a report on " What does Antonio get out of Portia and Bassanio 's relationship?" which was pretty difficult to write."No wonder I wasted my weekend over this stupid assignment
", I mumble under my breath.
"Hello!" I exclaim, touching Janet's head lightly to draw her attention.
"Bee! Where were you?", She begins to enquire. "To the lockers room", I reply.
Chewing on her nails Janet says,"I want to tell you about Jeremy, he wants to take me on a date."
I pull my eyebrows in confusion, "Who is this Jeremy? Last week it was some Jason you were interested in."
She says, "Oh! dummy. Last week is history now.
New week , new focus. Jeremy is someone for whom my heart beats."
She puts her hand over her heart and blinks her eyes, pretending to be lovestruck.
Sonia chides Janet,"Only you are able to love and leave this quickly."
"Good morning! Class". Mr. Fitzpatrick greets in a stern tone and everyone rushes to their seats. "Good Morning.. Mr. Fitzpatrick" the whole class sings in unison.
Mr. Fitzpatrick begins to explain the reason behind Antonio's melancholy but to be honest, I am not even a bit interested to know it.
Because centre of all my interest is playing soccer, whom I am observing very keenly through the window in my classroom which gives a vivid view of our school's playground.
Ethan Craft quarter back of our soccer team very handsome, tall, chestnut blonde hair, hazel eyes. He is a perfect picture of a romantic hero of high school romance movies. He throws the ball and breaks into a carefree smile.
"Miss Malik! Miss Malik!"
Mr. Fitzpatrick's stern voice brings me back from my flight of fancy.
"What so good you're smiling at?", He questions, looking annoyed.
I was so busy gazing at Ethan, I didn't realize I am smiling.
I am not to blame the sight of this beautiful boy really brings smile on my face.
"Umm..A..Mr. Fitzpatrick, It's..It's such a wonderful weather today. Get to see this beautiful sun after so long. Isn't it?"
He huffs angrily, "Look Miss.Malik you better be attentive in the class. Otherwise you'll be facing detention like last Friday."
"I'm pretty sure. You don't want to spoil your weekend."
"Okay". I murmur and sit back on my seat.
"Bee...Bee.."Sonia, whispers.
"Don't worry I have a plan if you stick to it. Ethan would be yours before the year ends."
"Always you have a plan ready for my every problem. None of your plans regarding Ethan and me work. I don't want to fail for a zillionth time" I grumble.
"He is dating our biggest rival Veronica Smith. Miss so called perfect queen. My path is full of hurdles. I say as I hang my head in my hands."
Janet states,"Oh! Silly Billy. Why do you fear, When Janet , the flirting queen is here. I can get him to like you with flying colours. I have a solid plan. Just leave this up to me."
"Our school will celebrate literature festival this month. Those who are interested to become a part of this great play, "The Merchant of Venice" one of phenomenal works of Shakespeare,
Kindly give your name to our head girl Veronica Smith." Mr.Fitzpatrick announces and leaves the class.
Veronica rises from her seat with a smirk on her face, she flips her hair and announces haughtily, "Don't give names for Portia's role as Portia is already chosen."
Janet cuts in "Wait. What? Mr. Patrick has just announced about it. How could Portia be already chosen."
Her heels clicking and echoing Veronica comes to us and says, "Oh the dumb terrific trio."
Janet you, she points a long, perfectly groomed finger towards Janet and says, "So you want to play Portia? Look at yourself, Why don't you help yourself to the gym."
Veronica snaps,"Portia should be someone who has a perfect figure, beautiful face and above all gracefulness not some curvy vamp like you. You're not capable of playing Portia."
"But I am very much capable of breaking your jaw" Sonia says in Janet's defence, she balls her hand into fist and rushes towards Veronica. I stop Sonia telling her to calm down.
Veronica rolls her eyes in exasperation."Yeah, you better cage your ferocious friend or I'll crush her."
Crossing my arms across my chest, I come face to face with her. "Ronnie, Janet got an amazing figure by the way."
She gives a dry laugh" Um hum. I see that."
"Yeah, She shouldn't be too skinny like you, one blow of wind and you would be nowhere to be seen." Sonia quickly adds.
We burst into giggles.
"And I have a surprise for you Veronica", I state.
Fishing out my cellphone from my pocket, I show her a picture in which she is sitting in the dressing room, helping herself to a big burger and there lies on a plate another burger with a cola kept next to it.
Her eyes flares in surprise looking at the picture, the blood from her face drains, she looks at me dumbfounded.
"W-W-What is this? From where you g-g-get this?", She stutters.
I stifle my laugh and don't utter a single word.
After standing dumbfounded momentarily, she comes back to her senses.
"Don't fool me Bee", She snaps venomously and her confident look is back. "In the world of Photoshop who would believe that this is me."
"They may believe, they may not", I reply. "But they would surely believe this."
I raise my hand to show her the video clip in which she is eating like an elephant.
Her cheeks reddens in embarrassment and she looks mortified.
She tries to snatch away my cellphone. Sonia and Janet keeps her from doing that.
"I am pretty sure you don't want this picture to go to the editor's club and want it printed on the front page of students paper."
"Do you? Huh! Veronica."
"Everybody would be looking at it. The whole school would be pretty aware of your big appetite. (I laid more emphasis on the words the whole school). What would you do then, Honey?"
As I make her think that, an expression of horror paints on her face. She cringes with fear.
She quickly holds my hand and beg me not to do it.
"Since I am such a good girl and I care for your very well maintained reputation, I won't give it to the Editor's club" I say in a sarcastic tone.
But I have a condition. She raises a questioning eyebrow at me.
"What is it"? She enquires.
"Nothing much, just take your name out and pass this role to Janet. Do you get that, Veronica. I can picture Janet in the beautiful outfit of Portia. She would look absolutely gorgeous." I hiss.
Her jaw clenches, She huffs dramatically and says "Fine."
She turns on her heels and I stop her again.
"Veronica; Listen!"
"Don't ever mess with the Terrific Trio."
She glares at me furiously and marches out of the class without uttering a single word.
The three of us share a glance and burst into laughter.
"How did you get it?" Bee. Janet asks, her eyes alight with curiosity.
"I have my ways." I reply with a smile playing on my lips.
"Oh spill the beans" Sonia asserts desperately.
"Remember, last Friday Mr. Fitzpatrick gave me detention for not completing my English Assignment.
You know I couldn't stay to attend detention class, because if my father ever got to know about this detention thing than nothing could save me from suffering his wrath."
"I pleaded with Mr. Fitzpatrick to excuse me for this one last time but he was adamant and won't listen to me."
"So, I started water works which were really crocodile tears."
"Being a sensitive guy, he was easily melted.
I talked him into helping him on Saturday in art class, if he excuses me.
So, he agreed."
"It is on Saturday when I went to the vanity room to fetch some costumes. I came across Veronica and quickly hid behind a mannequin as soon as I saw her. She was sitting legs crossed and eating in an awkward manner.
At first I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing, Graceful Veronica had gone, in front of me was a greedy eater.
I was thrilled by the whole side-splitting scene and instantly filmed it to use it against her later."
"I was unaware of the fact that this would prove itself useful this soon."
Sonia states, "No wonder her figure is a result of plastic surgery."
"Screw that botox barbie" Janet says and hugs me hard.
"Oh.. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Bee; for making this possible I really want to play Portia." Janet smiles at me in gratitude.
I smile back at her warmly and reply,
"There is no one in this school who could play Portia better than you Jan; and to me that is the only thing that matters."
