BLÙE

I was alone. Not a single person was there to sit beside me. It wasn’t that I necessarily minded - I swore that wasn’t the case. Though... The uncomfortable feeling that it prompted wasn’t promising. It was obvious that every part of me wished to be solitary - it was simply the peer pressure of being involved, and interacting in a group that pushed otherwise. The mere thought of what other people were thinking dictated my mind, but still, my very essence craved something else.

′Good morning Sir.′

Every student present in our class stood up and sang to welcome our teacher in the class, receiving a ‘thank you and sit down.’

Everyone was with their friend ‘so-called’ but for me. I was like always, was with the absence of a friend beside me.

Our teacher looked around the class, his eyes settling on the space next to mine where no one was for a few seconds and started explaining a chapter on which I was not giving any attention to.

While my mind was already debating on whether I should worry about making a friend, I did not welcome the idea of having a dull conversation with others. Regardless, it remains a constant question for me when it came to my heart with each beginning of each day. A common tug of war between clashing wishes, so to speak.

Once I think about this topic the more I get confused, I’m tired, I don’t know of what but all I want to do is just run away from this situation.

Living in a country with a vast population doesn’t help. It’s ironical that in our country there’s so much being but not a single friend of mine.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

I suddenly got snapped out from my inner debate. Taking a deep breath through my lips I calm my soul down. And instantly my nails were in my mouth releasing my nervousness I am feeling.

“Penny for your dreams?”

Our teacher repeated. Nervously I removed my nails from my teeth and nodded my head in disapproval. But, fears within me made my head turn around the room and the sight I took in was overwhelming. Every eye was upon me as Mr Dogra was yelling upon me, to not wasting any time on watching others watch me I shifted my gaze upon my book, taking the letters in.

“Oh! I forget your dreams are not worth any penny.”

Was the words came out of him without any hesitation. It was common for me to hear those synonyms but day by day it has become harder for me to take those words in. It still feels as if those words are so new, so new to me.

“Can you hear me?”

I nodded in approval still keeping my gaze towards my book. I know it’s not the end, he never ceases making me feel remorse. There is not a single day when he does not scold me, yell at me. There isn’t.

“Look at me.”

Again, praying god I let my eyes connect his dark black eyes. I tried to find emotions there like always but couldn’t. It seems as if he was a man without emotion.

How can someone be so rude?

“What do you think? I can’t understand, every time in my class you seem to be not there, it’s just your body, not your mind. Why?” he yelled.

“God! I’m tired of your absent-minded habits. What you think, ha?”

“_______” I didn’t dare to reply.

“What?” He yelled, now getting extremely annoyed.

“_______” Again, silence engulfs the class. There was a pin drop of silence until he breaks it.

“Answer me! Damn it.”

“Sorry, Sir,” I replied.

“What sorry?”

“_______”

“What?”

“I’m sorry sir; I’ll never repeat this activity.” Without knowing my lips moved.

“Is that so? You better behave yourself from now on, ok? Meet me after this class.”

“_______”

“And yes Daniel you too.” Saying these words he again started preaching our lessons, as if nothing has happened.

This time I try to understand his words, I always used to love economics so it didn’t take me much time to understand what he was explaining. Studying about production, consumption, and transfer of wealth from the beginning was fascinating to me. Maybe-

Ting-ning-ning-ning-nigh-nigh-nigh

Here the bell goes but it did nothing to keep the mouth of our teacher shut. I again let my mind wander away bu- ” You Miss, follow me to my room.”

“And Daniel you too.” Mr Dogra yelled.

Before my mind could understand everyone was running outside to attend their next class. I put my nails in between my upper and lower teeth and started picking up my nails.

“Can’t you hear? Follow me!”

A loud voice interrupts my anxiety making it cease and letting my legs travel behind this man accompanying Daniel.

“Daniel, from today’s onward you are going to help Laura in accountancy is it okay?!”

It was not a question but rather a statement in itself. Mr Dogra has the wonderful magic which could turn any question into a statement. What the poor boy beside of mine could do instead of nodding his head in acceptance.

“Is there any question?“Mr Dogra asked.

The room was like always in absence of any type of noise expect the hubbub which was coming from outside of the room. Not a single noise escape from our mouth for the question Mr Dogra had asked. We better knew to not said anything against him, he was not only our class teacher but the most known respected teacher, very strict, who could by no means tolerate any rough behaviour against him.

Instead of answering him, we both nodded our head in acknowledgement.

“And yes. Laura, you better try to understand it, for this is the only last thing I could do for you to pass this grade. I don’t get it why are you so weak at this subject while you score the highest marks on the other ones? Why?” The pressure in his why was smooth, there was no anger anymore rather concern. This sort of tone sir used was new to me even Daniels mouth was open for Mr Dogras sincerity; we have only seen Mr Dogra as a very strict person and this voice seemed so unknown as if the words were spoken by someone else. Something seems not right.

"Laura?!” Mr Dogra called.

Something is wrong.. few minutes before he was barking at us and now so concerned. Mr Dogra’s nature didn’t suit him, his face.

“Sorry, Sir! It won’t happen again.”

Without thinking twice I answered the most reasonable response I could think although my answer was different from what sir has asked.

Shaking the head from side to side from disapproval Mr Dogra sighed.

“You both may leave now.”

It didn’t take us a second to move out of our teacher’s chamber. My accountancy’s teacher is also not as concerned with my studies as my class- teacher; Mr Dogra is.

Daniel was one of the most known boys in our school. He was not only good at studies but was also good at sports. Not only that but he was also the leader of our school’s Basketball team. Besides, he was also known for his beautiful features.

It didn’t amaze me when his whole group of friends were waiting for him outside.

Students were roaming around here, some of them were going in their classes other’s following their teacher in their room holding which seems as if project files of a whole grade while others having a conversation with their mates.

Daniel suddenly turned towards me and as if he knew me from my childhood and asked: “Laura, today at my place is it okay to you?”

Me being as always nod in approval. That was all for him to take out his iPhone and handed it to me. “put your phone no.” just as his words I put my number in his phone and without any saying handed it back to him.

“DAN!” With his left hand, he waves to his friends who were growing impatient but still waiting for him in the other end of this corridor where his right hand was typing on his phone.

“See you at five in the evening.” With that saying, he sent a wave towards me and headed toward his peer group.

It was recessed break when Laura, as usual, was having her tiffin.

She never sits in the canteen during recess rather she goes to the children’s park.

Just like any other day she was having her sandwich while sitting in the fields.

She has always loved being close to nature. The wind was gently touching her skin, reassuring her that she will be fine, telling her that they always be there with her; always. No matter what: for it is immortal.

when she suddenly heard her phone rang as a sign of notification. She felt annoyed since it was never in use; for she calls nobody, she texts nobody: rarely, only when her stepmother calls her just because of her stepsister who gets annoyed of Laura.

And once every week with her grandmother.

It was her grandmother who bought Laura a phone to use a few years back. For her mother thought the cell phone was of no use for her since she has not a single person to talk which Laura knew was right.

So her grandmother gifted her a cell phone so that Laura could talk with her.

She didn’t need to check her phone to know that like always it was a spamming text from a call centre. Again her phone vibrated with a bell noise. For blocking that number she pulls out her phone from her pocket of the hoodie but when she opened the phone she gets surprised for it was not a four-digit number from an advertisement company but a ten-digit number.

It was unusual for her to receive a text as she has no friend to talk to. To share her thought: the only person she had ever in her life was her father who is no more there to talk with her. The only person she shares views, her mind was gone and her step-mother didn’t call as long as her step-sister didn’t create a problem for her.

Must be a wrong number she thought but still being curious as a cat she opened the text.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

House number 12, macaroni street.

See you there!

XX

-D.