"No"

The word reverberated in the empty hallway and in my empty ears. With my books in hand, half turned, I watched transfixed as he walked further and further away. From me.

For the first time in ages, his retreating back made something move in my stone cold heart.

I watched till he moved out of my line of sight. Maybe even more than that, before I finally moved my feet.

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"Come come", Tammy encouraged me with her outstretched hand. The speakers blared halfway during lunch, asking us to flock into the main hall. I was on a call with Affan uncle and by the time I finished it, the main hall was too crammed for me to locate a place to sit.

Thankfully Tammy and Indiana managed to save me a seat and when I finally reached them, they somehow managed to wedge me in between.

The main hall buzzed with all the chatter. It was unusual for the headboard to call a meeting this abruptly. Every where my head turned, people were discussing what could be this important. I was in the mood to do nothing but scowl in the general direction.

"Test one, test one".

My eyes snapped to look at the platform in front. There were several heads there. But I only recognised two. Shezaad and the Dean.

Well I noticed them both talking. So technically I recognised only one. The black spiky haired head.

SIGH!!!!

"Please be seated".

Three decades later.

The Dean's fatherly voice boomed. He smiled to the crowd and raked his eyes all over it until they stopped at something I didn't expect it to stop at.

Me

Yes that's right. Dear old, innocently by standing me.

Innocent my ass!!!

Whatever!

His eyes rested on me as if he was looking for me the moment he walked in. Once he found me, he didn't even bother to rake the hall with his eyes any more.

In no time, silence enveloped the hall. Everyone was way too curious to know what all this was about.

"I'm very much sure that you are all on the edge of your seats wanting to know why I called this sudden meeting".

Yes we have long since established that. Now move on!

"So you all know that the annual listings this year was a huge shock to us all".

Move on, move on.

"For the first time in history since established, Empire was ranked fourth. That's three places behind where we should have been".

PAUSE

He let that sink in. As if this was some hot steaming peice of news.

"The Management, including myself have gone over several.... Well you could call them damage controlling strategies or something like that..."

BRIEF ICE BREAKING GIGGLE

A part of me wanted to make a snarky comment. And the other part asked her to shut the fuck up!

"...However what we have agreed on......", he deliberated for a second, "is what I came to tell you.

And ended up not saying it. Probably drag it for a while longer.

Dramatic effect

Something Rona would quite understand.

" The whole head board, after much debate has finally said yes to this. Now this might be quite unusual and you guys......well some of you might object to it", he turned to look at Shezaad.

The blue brat looked clueless. I never saw that expression on him before.

"But I want you to know that it's a done deal already".

He paused again, letting his words sink.

"So, it is decided, that our student body will be headed by two people, instead of one. And the new President that the board has decided on is ZOYA ZAFAR!!!!!!"

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Zoya Zafar!!!!

That was all I heard. I felt two hands clutch my shoulders from both sides. They, I mean the shoulder clutches patted me on the back and helped me to my feet mi didn't know what I was supposed to do.

I remember looking around dazed. Everyone gawked at me. Like I was badly burnt inedible thing to eat.

"Go go".

Two pairs of hands pushed me towards the steps of the platform. I looked around confused. The only thing I kept telling myself is to not trip. That seems like what mattered the most.

Not a single round of applause was heard. It's as if I received capital punishment. Everyone stared. Stared and glared. And if looks could kill, I'd already be a pile of ashes.

But the Dean, oh the dear sweet daddy like human, totally oblivious to the crowds absolute dismay, patted me on my shoulder and gestured me to stand next to Shezaad. The ice block.

He really was frozen. I don't know what else I saw. I remember his hands inside his pocket. The strain in them. He was fisting it.

I don't remember anything else. But I remember his eyes. Those electric blue eyes were shooting sparks. I've never seen him looking at me with such....such hostile eyes

Oh boy!!!!!

"Well...kids?"

And to appease the dear old chap, the room broke into a very wane and watery round of applause.

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"Oh my God Zoya!!!! We totally need to celebrate this".

"Well duh!!! Where shall we go? The Chefs??? Or The Lodge?? They both are top quality. Plus they serve halaal food too".

"Well we could hit a bar....but then you don't drink. You can still buy us though".

"Shut it big boy!"

"Whaaaat".

I wanted everyone to stop talking. Someone please rattle me hard.

What the fuck even!!!!!

And as if the angels said Aameen, the buzz around me paused. It was out of nowhere very silent. I let out a gratified sigh of relief. However the next words spoken from a voice that wasn't around me sent my gratitude bolting out of the continent.

"Let's have a word Zoya".

Enjoy the cliffhanger and do not kill me.

YET!!!

LOVE,
SANFARA😘😍