Irenic Them

[Alana Grace Cabral]

“So students you see these types of myths prevailed in the City of Mesopotamia,” says our most pudgy stomach history teacher.

God! I hate him the most.

Mr Dherya was introduced to us as our new history teacher back in April. At first glance only I developed a hatred for him. But I knew that after the summer holidays, I have to face him again. This person is obnoxious like Voldemort with a weird fashion sense like professor Dolores Umbridge.

I hate him. Take him to hell Satan and feed him worms.

This is the last lecture. I wave my hand to Tanmay Garg and his bench partner Nakul Mann; they both are my friends and their bench is placed parallel to my bench. They are aware of the fact, when I wave one of my hands, it means I am utterly bored. I glance at my watch and see 10 minutes are still left before the ringing of the bell.

I still miss our previous history teacher, Mrs Priyanka ma’am. She left our school after she got married. I mean Why? Why do many women have to leave their jobs after they get married? Orthodox society is still on the trending list in India. Even though I am still in contact with her but that sense of incompleteness is still there; these history lectures are boring without her. Recalling what she taught us in 9th grade is still susceptible.

Anyway, I am just waiting for the clock to strike at 1.30 pm.

Finally, after 10 minutes of extreme torture by this villain called Mr Dherya, my class of just 32 students get vacant in a minute. Everyone hates this Buffalo. I, then, walk with Tanmay or Tanny, as sometimes we call him, towards our bus. Climbing the bus, and walking to the backseat, my two beautiful best friends Anaira and Amaira greet us. Nakul sits with Amaira; Tanmay sits with Anaira and me, on the other hand, sit alone in the second last seat of the bus. I watch these lovebirds, chatting and laughing, with the thought when am I going to do the same?

The bus begins to move. Dark clouds have covered the entire sky and well... me... I am staring at them. After a ride of 20 minutes, I reach my home. My heaven. My world. I open the front door only to be greeted by Aunt Mira who’s standing there with such vibrancy and exuberance. Sometimes I wished I had her energy. Because being Seventeen with the back of a fifty-year-old is no joke.

Aunt Mira steps forward. “How was your school, dear?” Aunt Mira questions while she hugs me. Then she steps back.

I badly needed that hug; it makes my day.

“It was good. Aunt Mira, I am really tired. Can you bring me something to eat in my room?” I say with a smile.

I sure want to relax and veer, and forget everything in the fantasy of sleep.

“Yes, of course. Go take a shower and put your dress in the laundry basket,” she says to me.

I nod in agreement and amble to my room.

My house is a 2-storey house with a big lawn, 4 bedrooms and bathrooms, one classy kitchen, an elegant living room and dining room, one library and a studio. My room is on the second floor. I walk up the stairs and open the door to heaven. The moment I open the door, chilled air makes contact with my soul. Every day before I reach home Aunt Mira switches on the AC and that makes my room no less than heaven.

My room is a luxury room. I can spend my whole life here without any regrets. In my room, I have a double bed with four cushions and with a beautiful soft blanket. A platform just beside my bed with a switchboard, two drawers and a tall mirror attached to it. A sofa set on one side with a tea table and two other chairs too. A big television. Sliding glass door that leads to a beautiful balcony just outside my room which has several elegant flowers and a climber. I also have a closet that resembles a small room. I don’t have a study table because we have a library and I study there only. I put my school bag on the sofa and walk towards the bathroom which is luxurious just like my room. Jacuzzi bathtub, elegant shower inside a glass room, sink that gives the vibe of Morocco, etc. The room is anything but a French Fantasy.

Damn! The shower is calling me. I am coming to meet my beloved shower.

I slip out of my clothes and keep them in the laundry basket, pull my hair out of the braid and make a messy bun and then, a relaxing shower. The slightly warm-cool water replenishes my soul with comfort. It feels so good.

Also in between Aunt Mira must have visited my room. After then, I wrap my towel around myself and walk towards my closet. Changing into a white T-shirt and grey shorts. No bra because I am at home. I comb my hair and leave them open. Applying a bit of body lotion and I sit on the vanity chair and stare at myself in the mirror,

Oh, Al! You are such a beauty, I mumble, swinging my hair.

Before making my way towards the bed, I eat aloo paratha that Aunt Mira made. I jump on my bed and pull up the blanket. I take my phone out of the drawer that’s in the platform which is just beside my bed and check my notifications. Keeping my phone back on the platform, snuggling back into my blanket, I close my eyes.

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Someone is caressing my cheeks and saying me to wake up. The voice sounds melodious as if an angel is saying me to visit heaven. I open my eyes and see my maa sitting in front of me. Still, in her work clothes, she smiles at me.

Of course, the angel resides in my home.

“Muffin, wake up and drink your milk,” she says softly while caressing my hair.

I sit on my bed and manage my hair. She picks up the glass and hands it over to me. I gulp down my delicious almond milk and give the glass to mama. She keeps it on the dressing table and wipes the milk moustache on the top of my lip with her thumb.

I love her the most.

“Maa, you know that I hate my current history teacher,” I sigh, ruing.

She lets out a soft chuckle. “I know. Do you have a choice? You have to accept him but don’t worry. Just two years more,” she says with an assuring smile.

2 insane years with him will send me to the insane asylum.

Cara Cabral, my momma, is in her mid 40′s but still beautiful. Her brown-black hair is perfectly accentuating her doe-brown eyes like melted chocolate. She gets up and kisses me on my head. “Come downstairs and meet your papa.”

I nod in agreement and she leaves my room. I get out of my bed and go to the bathroom to refresh. After coming out of the bathroom, I turn off my AC, wear my flip-flops and head downstairs.

My papa, Jason John Cabral, is also in his mid 40′s. I approach him with a smile, sitting beside him, I observe the file he is observing. Must be his new case. “Hey Bella,” he kisses my forehead.

“Working on a new case, I assume?” I ask.

“No,” he replies. “This file is of your mama’s case she is working on. Just checking the affidavits.”

“...and so everything seems fine,” I speak.

“Yeah, it does.” He smiles. He begins to explain the case to me since I will be continuing the legacy of this family by being the next advocate. “One thing for sure is that the defendant has a cunning mind but your mother has the brains of the devil.”

I laugh at papa’s words. “She sure doesn’t”

“Are you guys saying bad words about me?” Maa’s voice appears out of the kitchen.

I quickly get up from the sofa, “It was papa. My right hand to god!” I frantically walk away from the word-homicidal scene.

I go back to my room, take my books and make my way to the library. I sit in papa’s chair and open the History book. Flipping the pages, I look through the chapters I have studied till now. Opening the copy of the notes, I begin to make notes while reading the chapter. After studying enough for more than 2 hours with a break of an extended 30mins, scrolling Instagram, I leave the room to head to my room. Packing my bag for tomorrow, I assemble it according to the timetable.

Walking downstairs, I go for a walk in the lawn area. Shorts time later, Maa calls for dinner. During dinner, we talk and laugh. My parents try to give their precious time to me as much as they can. Many of the holidays that we get are also filled with work for them. Still, they try to amend the ways and spend their leisure time with me.

After having dinner, I walk back to my room. I switch on my TV and AC and go back to my bed. I switch on Netflix and also take my phone and check my social media accounts. I don’t do snap streaks but I do send them.

Currently, The Big Bang Theory is occupying my nighttime.

After some time, maa and papa come to my room and wish me goodnight and give me a goodnight kiss. They switch off my room’s light before heading back to their room which is downstairs. My eyelids gradually become heavy around 11. I switch off my phone and TV and snuggle back into my blanket. I need at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep to function properly the next day, also that I have to do yoga with maa every day for 20 to 30 minutes and for that I must wake up at 6 am.

I sleep hoping that good dreams will come.

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