Ah, why is this so difficult. Gosh! tears are flowing like a river. I sniffed as I chopped the onions mum told me to chop for her.

Just then, dad entered from the main door holding few packets of fruits and vegetables with him. The kitchen was aligned with the main door.

I went to him took those packets from his hand and helped him keep them in the refrigerator. He looked at me as I was sniffing.

"Why are your eyes so red? he asked.

I sniffed again as I wiped the tears off my cheeks, "Oh, nothing much. I have been chopping onions".

He went straight into the kitchen, "Yasmeen, didn't I tell you not to make her do the chores of the kitchen?"

"When will she learn then? I had to make this curry quickly that's why I asked her!"

"I'll chop them for you, don't ask her nor Nashra. They'll do other chores but not this kitchen stuff. She isn't able to chop them, see her eyes are all red"

The next thing I knew was he took the knife from my hands and chopped the onions so fast not a tear fell from his eyes. My saviour, I admired him as I watched his back. He was a well-built man. Perfectly, lined beard covering his jaw. Rich black hair and black eyes. He loved wearing thobe and always had a cap on his head. The cap men wear while offering salah.

I went back to my room sat on my bed and looked at the prospectus given today at my High school.

The emphasis on high school is only because the day at that stupid The Indian Community School Kuwait was very annoying. Students their emphasize being in HIGH SCHOOL

After the process of my admission was done. I was admitted to my class. As it was already late that I got admission, I missed my first term. I was on my way to the block of my class. I had this long pinafore that reached till my ankle underneath which I had a white plain shirt to wear as a uniform. I used to curse the uniform I wore during my school time at Hyderabad where this was the worst case. At least I could run, jump, hop and dance wearing that salwar kameez compared to what I can do wearing this pinafore till my ankle. I can't even walk fast. Even if I did, I would find myself tripping.

Great start of the day!, I thought to myself.

I entered the block where I was told to visit the office of the head teacher. I knocked and entered.

There was a lady dressed in south Indian saree, a big braid of white and grey hair hanging across from her shoulder and a big red dot on her forehead. Sitting in front of her desk, she gestured me to come in

I quickly scanned her room. Above her PC, was a huge monitor installed, wherein several cameras were displayed.

"Good morning Ma'am. I'm Zukroof Hussain from Hyderabad. I just took admission in the 11th standard and I opted for Computer science. I was informed to come to you and hand you this chit" I said.

She nodded and smiled slightly taking the chit from my hands. It had my G.R (General Registration) Number. She typed something on her PC, wrote something on my chit and then handed it to me.

I took it from her and saw what was written, "Eleventh K"

"You may leave now"

I looked up at her, "Thank you Ma'am" I said and left.

Ya Allah, how am I supposed to know where this class is?

In front of her office were stairs and on top was a board written, "XI -XII"( meaning 11th- 12th)

I walked upstairs as per the direction. It was a two-story building, when I reached the first floor, on the entrance was a board indicating, "XI-XII" and the arrow mark given upstairs.

I got confused. Where is the "K" section then?

I asked a peon, He said me it's on the second floor. I walked upstairs, looked left and right and there was no one to be seen. There was a door on the right side and on the left side there were different classes facing each other. I checked those classes, there were of 12th standard. Then I opened that door that was on my right. I saw a guy standing and he was facing the wall. On his right, there was another door that lead to another case of stairs and on his left, there was girl's washroom.

I wondered what the guy was doing near girl's washroom. I readjusted my hijab as I walked towards him and asked, "Excuse me, can you tell me where 11th K is?"

I came towards his front only to notice he was making out with some girl.

"Oh sorry, I am so sorry," I said as I turned away. I couldn't believe my eyes. 

He moved back and started cursing, "Shit, f***" under his breath. In front of him was hiding a girl shorter than him. I gave them both a confused look.

"F*** you, don't you have some manners?" She asked. She was wearing a tight pinafore that revealed every curve of her body reaching just above her knees. Short red hair and braces on her teeth.

"Wow. Mind your language girl!"

"You calm your ----- girl!" She came towards me as I moved back.

I gave her a puzzled look. I couldn't understand what I did to hear such colourful words on my very first day. I was moving back until my back touched the wall.

"Don't you dare open your shitty mouth about what you saw, do you get that?" she asked.

I always admired people who have braces on their teeth. Their smile seems something unique to me and I have liked it every time. But after seeing her. I am not sure if I think the same. Behind us, that guy had already fled from the staircase.

I raised my eyebrow as a challenge. Okay, so she is up to messing with the Zukroof Hussain.

"Excuse me whoever you.." I looked at her from head to toe giving her a disgusted look. 

"are...I don't care about whatever you do here alright?" I rolled my eyes and turned to face the door.

Walked ahead a little and then turned. "And, yes. I don't mess with someone shorter than me, grow up enough and then will talk about it!" I smirked and was about to make my way out.

"Ugly bi*ch" she muttered.

I turned with my eyebrow raised, "The last time I checked, I don't think I look like a mirror, in which you checked-out yourself!" I winked at her jaw-dropped expression and walked away.

What type of a gross place is this?

And, now I was praying to get out of this school as soon as possible. I walked down to the first floor and finally got to my respective class. I knocked and there was no response. I looked through the small window the teacher was teaching, I knocked again. Still no answer.

"God. First that female and now this lady" I rolled my eyes and impatiently knocked twice and thrice in exasperation.

"Okay okay" She unlocked the door and gestured me to come.

I stepped in to notice all the eyes staring at me. My feet started trembling. It was a co-ed school and all the boys and girls were sitting in one class. My previous school was co-ed too but the boys were in separate section and girls were separate. I was having a side bag with me and when she gestured me to sit. I saw there were only 4 girls in the whole class. Rest all were boys. I sat in the front alone. And she didn't even ask my name. She continued her teaching. The subject was written on the top of the board as "C++ programming".

After a while, a girl from the back came and sat beside me. She was a brown girl, with broad eyeliner on her eyes and her pinafore; just like other girls was till her knees. After a few seconds, she asked me, "Hey, what's your name?"

"Zukroof" I smiled at her.

Within an instinct, she turned back and whispered my name to her friend sitting behind us.

"And yours?" I asked.

"Aleena", she said smiling back at me.

"And, you are from?" she asked.

"Hyderabad, Andhra-Pradesh", I said. Again, she turned around and said the other girls.

Only then I understood that her friends were just curious to know about me. I smiled to myself.

"Can you see the guy there, last second bench towards the wall?" she pointed to a guy behind us towards the wall.

"Umm yes," I said.

"He is Clifford, from Hyderabad too", she said. I turned around and saw him again. He looked at me and winked, a smirk playing across his lips.

I gave him a puzzled look and turned around looking in front. The class got over and every guy came up to my bench. Some tapping their fingers on my bench while standing in front of me. Some taking a chair and sitting beside me. I turned back to see other girls, but each one of them was giggling with other boys, speaking in a language I didn't even know.

I felt helpless and uneasy for the first time in my entire life. I just had my eyes shut and prayed for the bell to ring or any teacher or just anyone to enter.

There was this guy who leant towards my face as I moved back, "You Muslim girls look so pretty without this headscarf" he said as he reached to unpin my scarf.

"What's wrong with the  Zukroof Hussain now?" I asked myself.

I jerked his hand off with aggression and shot him a death glare.

Seeing that look, his friends and him hooted.. "oooooh"

Yet again, I guess that was not enough for his little brain to comprehend. He was still eager to see me without my hijab. I held his hand and made myself clear, "Don't mess with me!" I shot him a glare.

He and his friends laughed. "Princess, I was thinking to mess that thing on your head but I guess I need to mess that lipstick".

I think I gave him a look that must have been equivalent to being close to vomit. 

He leaned in and I moved back. "Don't you even dare!"

He held my hand and now he was crossing his limit. I rose to my feet and gave a tight slap on his cheek. A red mark got imprinted. Only then I noticed he had that big curly hair and that stubble looked like he is one mafia. I hated him now. No matter where I go, I make enemies faster than I make friends.

All the girls came beside him and gave me a look as if I have denied a throne offered by a majesty.

I rolled my eyes at them. "You bi*ch, wait and watch!" some girl said.

"Do I look like I care?" I scoffed folding my hands over my chest.

Just then, a lady entered. Holding few registers in her hand with curly oily hair. The girl who was sitting beside me came and sat again.

"She is the class teacher", she whispered to me

The teacher examined me, "Ahan, a new girl in our class. Would you like to introduce yourself?" she asked.

After such a bad day, do I look like I'm ready to give an introduction about myself that I have been practicing since morning? No way. 

"I am talking to you, you are the new one here or is there anyone else too?" she asked again.

"Um I'm sorry," I said as I stood up, my pen and book fell making a nice sound in a silent class and everybody laughed.

Insane humans. What's there to laugh?

"My name is Zukroof Hussain, I'm from Hyderabad, I have studied the first standard in this school and took  readmission after completing my 10th in India," I said suppressing a fake smile.

"What is your G.P.A? and why did you opt for Computer science?", she asked.

"It's 10.0 and I opted for computer science because I was not interested in biology and other streams, the sections were full. I didn't choose computer science. It chose me" I said shrugging my shoulders.

She nodded and after that, the day went horribly soon. Since I joined school two days before summer holidays, I had to get notes for the first term. But, my goodness. No humanity was seen. No one helped me and by the course of time, I found all the people in my school and class are Malayali (People who talk Malayalam language) and how proudly they say, "I'm a mallu". Not even knowing that mallu is referred to a stupid in Hyderabad.

I came home so exhausted. I removed my shoes and socks near the door and ran to my bed plopping down and feeling relieved by the coziness of my bed.

"Remove your uniform atleasttt! You are such a dirty girl Zukroof, ewww" Nashra came in giving me a disgusting look.

I sat upright and laughed, "How does not removing my uniform makes me a 'Dirty' girl?" I asked her air quoting the word dirty.

"Because look at your uniform. So dusty. And you are resting on OUR bed with such dirty clothes!" she said.

"Did you play in the mud or what?" she asked.

"I didn't play in the mud or anything. The way to my block is muddy and this pinafore makes me hell difficult to walk" I said unzipping my pinafore, removing my shirt and getting comfortable in my pyjamas. Then I landed on my bed.

Resting on my stomach and my feet up in the air. I was dozing off to sleep.

"Yes Zukro, offered your salah?" dad came in.

His broad voice was enough for my sleep to disappear and I sat upright right then jerking my sleep off.

"Offer your salah, eat your meal and then sleep Zukro," He said.

I nodded. And then he walked away saying, "Yalla Shabab (come on guys) come in already"

"Sure thing! Abbu" Me and Nashra said.

I refreshed myself and did my ablution. I went to the hall where dad was already seated reading his Quran. I unfolded a prayer mat, wore my jilbab and started my prayer.

After I was done with my namaz and dua. I stood up and kept my prayer mat and jilbab at one place.

"This is how you offer namaz?" He asked.

"Umm.. yea," I said slightly disturbed by his tone.

"Sujood and Ruku are  so fast. You know you should bow down properly. You are in front of the Lord of the universe and the whole mankind. What do you do when you stand before any king? Don't you stand with respect, your eyes looking down? when you bow down, you should bow down with correct posture and when you are in sujood, that's when you are the closest to Allah, You should not only recite the dua that you have to recite during sujood, but also pray for your Aakhirah. There should be no rush when it comes to offering your salah. How much time does it even take? 5- 10 mins? Bas? Why hurry then?" He asked.

"Hmm. I'll make sure that for the next time" I managed to say with embarrassment . After that, He went out for some work and Mum caught me with her chores. So that's how I'm again back to my bed after doing the hazardous job of chopping onions. And all thanks to my savior for saving me from that torture. God bless people who do that and make it look so effortless.

I bought a calling card with the money, dad gave me. Only so that I could call Nouman. Direct call to India took a lot of money and you can't even talk properly. Whereas, calling card gives you 150 mins to India. I was happy with that. The previous day I checked my Facebook, I had notifications flooding and messages from Nouman saying how much he missed me.

I called him after lunch when everybody was well asleep. I dialed his number as I knew it by heart. I was so excited to hear his voice within the first bell but to my disappointment, there was no answer. I called once again. No answer. I tried five times at least there was still no answer. I huffed in annoyance as I kept listening to the voice, "The number you are trying to call isn't available to pick your call right now, please try later!". I went back to my room. It's literally so annoying when someone has been saying you how much they have been missing you but when you call them despite the miles. There's no priority of answering the call. I lay on my bed and checked Facebook.

"Nouman changed his profile picture"

I tapped the notification and adored his picture. Maybe not in real, but at least I could live in peace seeing his pictures. He was wearing the same shirt he wore during the picnic, dark blue. He looked so cute. I was about to comment when I already saw a comment made by some female whom I didn't know. "Awww <3 <3"

The point second that took me to analyze those red hearts were nothing compared to the rage hitting my eyes. Jealousy on my nerves. I am so damn possessive of everything I love. And, I was already very annoyed by the events of the day.

Who is this female? The first question that came in my head.

But I had to stay calm and not look like a narrow-minded person. I texted Noor since she had been in a relationship for 2 years. She might know what to do when you feel so jealous that even if that lady because of whom you feel jealous, breathes you wish you could just kill her right away. Chetan Bhagat said it right, "Jealousy is a cute emotion to watch but not to feel"

I texted Noor about it.

Me: I swear if I were in India, you and I would have burying a body right now!!!!

Noor: Calm down man! Why is my Zuki so angry? How was your first day at high school? which lady are you talking about?

Me: It's was so horrible, don't even ask. I miss you guys so much, I reminisce every moment spent with you guys, This lady you see, named Mehvish commented on Nouman's picture. Want to shoot those red hearts straight into her.

Noor: Oh my-my-my.. Posssesssiiivvvee?? :P :P :P Waait, she is not even from India, she is a Paki. Listen, dude, you need to understand such females exist that have no other work to do than to comment such flirty stuff on our guy's pictures. Just take a deep breathe and get in your head that you are his princess and no one else can take that place! :) Get that?

Now that I think about it, that wasn't a correct way to address any girl. But we were young and not very educated about these things then. 

Me: Princess? Man, I am the cup of his cake. :D The icing to his muffin. The laces to his shoes. I laughed trying to annoy her. Nauseating much? :P

Noor: Aww nah! You guys remind me of us when we were in the beginning of the relationship. All those timeline posts and tagging each other in our status' :P ;)

Me: Hahaha yeah :P Okay, I got to sleep, I'll catch ya later!

I said as I logged out. I didn't want Nouman's notifications popping on my mobile at any situation.

I felt somewhat better with what she explained.

I am his and he is mine. No female can ever take that away. I said to myself as I slept.

A few minutes later, when I got up nearly around Maghrib.

I logged in Facebook, to see if there's any message from Nouman.

When I clicked inbox, my messages were already seen but no reply and he was online.

I messaged him again, "Who is that female? I don't know any girl from our school with such name!"

Seen.

After few minutes, I messaged him again. "Helllooo? This is how much are you missing me when you don't even have time to pick my call and reply me?"

I huffed in annoyance. When finally his reply came.

"What happen Zuki? I was busy that's why I couldn't pick, you can call me now :P and she is just my internet friend"

"Nothing much. My day went so horrible and the only thing that could make my day is your voice. You are free now that doesn't mean I'm free enough to call you back. There is 2 hr and 30 mins time difference for god sake. Oh. okay." I rolled my eyes as I tapped enter.

Internet friend it seems. I scoffed to myself.

Again. Seen.

Gosh. I got so impatient second by second seeing that seen and no reply.  Doesn't he feel the same butterflies like me when I get his message? Why does he have to do that? Okay I understand he is busy but, when he has time enough to read and see then He has time enough to type a mini statement like, "I'm busy"

I'll never get enough of rolling my eyes at things like these.