Chapter 6

With Sidra's warning ringing in her ears, Sara walked to the class without taking in any surroundings or hardly knowing where she was going. She was surprised at the turn their conversation had taken, and was surprised to hear that some guy had the guts to leave Sidra. She was the loveliest person she knew. Much more compromising and accommodating than me, she thought ruefully, and even that had not been enough for someone. She had seen it happen to two of her friends now. Guys moved on after pledging to support them through hell, never mentioning that they'll put them through hell instead. Is love really such a nuisance? Lost in her thoughts she once again sat in the second last row, and tried to focus her attention on the teacher who was trying to get everyone to calm down. She was a thin, tall woman with thick glasses and a scarf wrapped around her head, and seemed unable to control the talking boys and girls. Finally some of the students took pity on her and asked the whole class to be quiet. Peace was gained after fifteen minutes of urging the girls to stay quiet.

"Hello, my name is Dr. Khalid and I will be teaching you some basic grammar, and also how to teach grammar to your students. Most of us have been taught grammar so dryly that we have become to hate it. It is therefore important that we spare the people we teach from this torture that we call grammar," humor was evident in her voice and despite her incompetence in class management it seemed like she knew what she was doing. In no time, she had divided the class into groups and they were doing listening and speaking exercises to learn grammar instead of filling out countless worksheets.

After enjoying herself for ninety minutes, she went out in break to get a coffee from the canteen, and something to eat as well. She kept forgetting to eat when she was busy-- which was most of the time. As she entered the caf, she headed straight for the counter, mentally forming a lesson plan to teach direct and indirect speech to her classes following the same pattern as done in the class today. She ordered a big glass of coffee with a plate of pasta, and then sat down alone to eat with a novel for company. She had a twenty minute break and had to hurry but sitting alone with novel was one of the few things she thoroughly enjoyed in life.

She had absolutely no idea that a pair of thoughtful eyes were looking at her, concealed behind a pillar on her left side. The angle was such that the eyes could see her, but she couldn't see them unless she moved a little behind and then looked to her left.

Adal looked at her and wondered why she was having a strong affect on him. She wasn't overly beautiful; attractive-yes, graceful-yes, attitude-double yes, he thought with a scowl. She was the opposite of the girl he had imagined spending his life with. He wanted a housewife, whereas she was working, he wanted a simple girl who would be easy to mold according to what he wanted, she was fiery and bold, he wanted someone who covered her head and maybe wore an abaya, she was no doubt modestly dressed but was wearing jeans with a long loose kurta and dupatta in her around her neck. I should not be thinking about her, he chided himself as he looked away and then cursed himself when all he could think was how badly he wanted to play with her curly hair and kiss the slight frown she had while reading that awfully thick book of hers. After ten minutes of restlessness, he got up from his chair, excused himself and went out, deliberately passing right in front of her and watching her out of the corner of his eye to see if she would notice, but she seemed engrossed in her book and didn't even bother to glance up.

She had noticed his intense stare, it was hard not to notice when it bore holes in her side, but she did not want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that she had noticed him. Playing attention games Sara? Farah will have a field day when I tell her about it tomorrow.

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"Hmmm, so a hot guy is making you irritable, Oh Sara you have no idea how long I have waited to hear you say that!" Farah said with a wicked smile as she chewed a cheap orange candy.

Sara threw a cushion towards her, which was easily dodged by Farah. Knowing somebody for over ten years does make you predictable, Sara thought somewhat irritably. They were meeting after a month although they talked at least once a day, but Sara had been saving the story of Mr. Rude Stare for when they would meet on the weekend.

"He's intriguing sure, but I haven't even properly talked with him. What if he turns out to be total idiot?"

"He was smart enough to hit you on your one sore spot…your pride" Farah said, sounding happy for some insane reason.

"Oh! Shut up" Sara said irritably as she picked up her cup of tea.

"Forget him; let me tell you about my new bright students. There is this one kid Ali in particular who fascinates me." Farah knew Sara enough to know that she'll come to terms with the attraction she felt for Adal on her own. She would not be forced into anything; well perhaps her heart will force her into love. She thought with a smile.