Resurrected

by Natasha Nozer Mehenty

  CHAPTER 6

  LIFE CHANGES FOR AFRIN

  The third year of college began and students got involved in their studies. Afrin started concentrating in her classes. She would even hang out with her group of friends but if she saw Zaib in that group, she would ignore the group and move away. Zaib knew that his presence was not appreciated by Afrin. Therefore, he started bunking the lectures so that Afrin would not be upset with his presence in the class, anymore.

  Looking at Zaib sitting in the house, and not going to college, his father made him join his business. Now Zaib’s visits to the college were very rare and hence, he was out of everybody’s mind.

  After six months, the annual day was to be arranged for the college and Afrin was asked to participate in the ramp walk. The practice was going to start from Saturday. Afrin and her friends reached on time, but unfortunately nobody else had come. Finally, after some time students started to arrive.

  A guy who was speaking on his cell phone while walking towards the group asked, “Are you all participants of the modelling section?”

  “No, only she is going to do the ramp walk,” a girl from the group replied pointing at Afrin.

  The guy looked at her and said, “I am in charge of modelling, so please inform the other models to come for practice in half an hour.” He went away and started speaking on his phone again.

  Afrin looked at him and said to her friend, “Oh my God! Am I going to be trained by this guy? He looks so weird.”

  One of her friend laughed on hearing this and said, “He is the most popular guy in our college. He is smart and has a very good personality. Many girls from our college are mad after him…”

  “Oh is it so? But I don’t think he is that handsome. Anyway, I just have to practice under him, so why should we discuss him so much?” Afrin replied and went for the practice.

  During the practice, Afrin noticed that the guy really had an attractive personality and was very elegant. He treated everybody with respect. Many girls were flattered by his charming ways. They spared no opportunity to expatiate to him.

  One day during the break, Afrin had to leave early. She went to speak to him about it but saw that so many girls had surrounded him that he could hardly see her. She lost her patience and went away without intimating him.

  Next day, there was a football match in college. After the lectures when she was about to leave, her friends told her to stay there and watch the match. All of them stood at the balcony and started watching the match.

  “Afrin, look at Smith, he plays football very well,” one of her friends said pointing finger at the modeling instructor.

  “Oh, our modeling instructor. I didn’t know his name was Smith,” Afrin replied with a smile.

  “No, his surname is Smith. We don’t know his name. Anyway, how does he teach you all?”

  “He teaches us well but sometimes shouts at us. He himself is a participant in the ramp walk,” Afrin replied staring at Smith.

  “He has many friends and a great life. He has won various international competitions in literature too. He is very talented,” one of her friends told Afrin.

  Soon it was time for a break in the football match and the players dispersed. Smith came near the balcony to take out a bottle of energy drink from his bag. This was when he saw Afrin. She gave him a smile. He too smiled back and asked, “Hey why did you leave the practice in between? We were searching for you during the practice.”

  Afrin grinned and replied, “Sorry Smith, I had to go out.”

  “Okay, but next time please come for the practice and by the way what is your name?” Smith asked.

  “My name is Afrin Metilda.”

  “Oh wow, nice name!”

  “What is your name?” Afrin pretended as if unaware.

  “How sad you didn’t know my name till now! Anyway, my name is Sam Smith. Got to go. See you soon,” Smith replied and went away.

  Afrin felt very happy after chatting with him. Her day went really well.

  CHAPTER 7

  WHEN LIFE IS KIND

  Next day after lectures, Afrin went for her annual day practice. She saw Smith sitting all alone at a table and playing some game on his tablet. Afrin was standing at a corner and staring at him. After sometime she walked towards the table and kept her bag on it. She sat beside Smith, but he didn’t seem to notice as he was busy with his game.

  “Hello Smith, when will our practice begin?” Afrin asked him. He looked at her and replied, “Today some students have their project submission, so the practice will start half an hour late.”

  “Hope you know that we have our exams from next month,” Afrin wanted the conversation to go on.

  “Yes, but our annual day is within the next ten days so right now I can’t study much,” said Smith.

  “Smith, you are a new comer but you have become quite popular.”

  “I was studying in Switzerland but since a few months I’ve shifted to India. I had applied for admission in this college.”

  “Smith, in spite of you being a new comer, you have been appointed to train us, that is really good.”

  Just then his phone rang and he went aside to speak. Afrin took out her mobile and pretended to be busy chatting with someone. After a few minutes Afrin noticed that Smith was surrounded by plenty of participants. They all were laughing and cracking jokes. Afrin felt all alone because she was shy and talked to only few people.

  Later, after everybody came, Smith began with the practice. He guided everybody and helped them perform better. When Afrin’s turn came he remarked, “Walk smartly, dear lady.”

  “Sam, I have a name and it is Afrin Metilda.”

  “Okay, I shall call you Afrin.”

  When the practice was about to get over, Sam went to the mike and announced, “Dear friends, since we have a continuous three days holiday in college, I am not sure whether we will be able to practice or not. I shall confirm about it and let you know. I am writing down my mobile number. Call me at night and I shall let you all know about it.”

  Afrin was the first to note down his number. She was extremely happy to get the mobile number of the guy whom she had started admiring. After coming home Afrin’s mind kept repeating Smith’s words, “Call me in the night for tomorrow’s practice…”

  Afrin took out her earphones and started listening to some music. At 8 pm, she dialed Smith’s number. Her hands were shaking and her heartbeats were fast. The phone rang till the last ring, but her call wasn’t answered. She felt that it was better that he did not answer the phone, else she would have spoken to him in her shaken, scared voice. She went to the kitchen to drink water. She thought of messaging Smith instead of calling him again. She started typing a message.

  “Hello Smith! Do we have a practice tomorrow? I called you a while ago but there was no answer. - Afrin”

  She sent the message and prayed to receive some reply from him.

  To avoid further thoughts, she started watching a movie. She heard her mother telling her father, “Afrin’s behaviour seems to have changed. She stays happier nowadays. I have also noticed that she isn’t concentrating on her routine work.”

  At this her father replied, “Sometimes these teenagers have mood swings. We must let them lead their lives, give them time and space. This would help them.”

  Afrin saw that she had an unread message and a missed call on her phone. It was from Smith.

  He had messaged her, “Sorry Afrin, I couldn’t attend your call as my cell was on silent mode and yes tomorrow the practice is cancelled. We cannot use the college premises during holidays. So, our practice will start after three days, when our college reopens.”

  Afrin felt lovesick because she would not be able to meet her beloved one for the next three days, but she replied with an SMS, “Okay Sam, thanks for letting me know. Hope you remember that after three days we have our M
aths assignment submission.”

  After ten minutes, Afrin received a call and it was from Sam. She jumped to pick it up, but she made sure not to disclose her emotions to him. So, she picked up the phone and spoke in a composed voice, “Hello, Sam Smith.”

  “Hello Afrin, thanks for reminding about the Maths assignment. I had forgotten about it. Do you understand Maths well?”

  “Yes, I do. I had even topped in the class last year,” Afrin said with pride.

  “That’s really great. Could you help me to complete my Maths assignment? I don’t understand Maths at all. Please?” asked Sam.

  “I shall be happy to help you out anytime. Tell me when should I teach you?” Afrin was thrilled to teach the person whom she liked and admired.

  “Afrin, we have three days, so should I come to your place or you’ll come to my place? You can teach me whenever you’ve got time.”

  “Okay, I’ll come down to your place tomorrow,” Afrin said happily.

  “Sure Afrin. Thanks a lot. God bless you, dear lady,” said Sam and he hung up.

  CHAPTER 8

  NEW FRIENDSHIPS BLOSSOM

  The next day, Afrin woke up early and started studying the formulae and methods of her Maths assignment in order to teach it to Sam. She was very happy and was blushing with the thought of meeting Sam and his family. She later went to her classes.

  On reaching home, she asked her mother, “Is lunch ready?”

  Her mother looked at her with a surprised face and asked, “You never have your lunch so early, then why are you asking for lunch at this time?”

  Afrin started taking food in her plate and replied, “Mom, today I’ve to discuss Maths assignment with one of my friends, so I’ll leave after having my lunch.”

  “Which friend?” asked her mother with suspicion.

  “My friend, Charmy. Okay, now let me eat in peace…,” Afrin looked into her plate while eating to avoid further questions.

  Afrin ate her lunch and then dressed up with care. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She took her bag and left for Sam’s house. Afrin’s mother had observed all this as she was keeping an eye on her daughter from the time she had noticed the change in behavior. She hoped Afrin would be fine and not do anything hasty as many young children do.

  Afrin reached the colony where Sam lived. The colony was big and beautiful. She went to the third floor as he had instructed and rang the door bell. Sam opened the door, but he was busy speaking with someone on his cell. Later, he disconnected the call and told Afrin to sit in the hall.

  She kept looking at his beautiful, big house and said, “Sam, you have a very beautiful house.”

  “No, Afrin it’s not my house. It’s my father’s house,” Smith replied.

  He went to the kitchen and brought two glasses of Rasna for them. While Afrin sipped on the drink, Sam went and got the books from his room.

  Looking at Afrin he said, “Even one of my other friends is going to complete his assignment with your help.”

  “With my help?” Afrin asked with surprise.

  “He will come to my place in the evening and I shall teach him whatever you’ll be teaching me just now.”

  “Okay, that’s good.” Afrin was amused to hear that she was going to help Sam’s friend too.

  She began to teach him and made all the efforts to make him understand each and everything in detail. Sam paid full attention and grasped it well.

  After they finished their studies Afrin asked him, “Where are your parents, can I meet them?”

  “Well, my mother has gone to meet my aunt and father is in Switzerland,” Sam replied while keeping his assignments in a folder.

  “You have a beautiful garden here,” Afrin said, breathing in the cool air.

  “Thanks. Let’s go down and take a walk,” Sam replied.

  Afrin and Sam went together for a walk. In the colony, whoever met Sam greeted him with a smile and stopped to speak to him. He would pamper and play with the small kids playing in the garden.

  A car was parked at the entrance of the garden. A small handicapped boy was sitting in the car. He kept gazing at everybody entering the garden.

  Sam went near the car and asked the boy, “Hey little champ, why don’t you come inside and play?”

  The boy looked at his maid. The maid said, “He is physically challenged and he feels that nobody will play with him.”

  Sam looked at the boy and said, “Come with me, I shall play with you.”

  He helped the boy to walk in the garden. He made the boy sit on a bench in the garden.

  Sam went near the kids who were playing in the garden and told them pointing a finger towards that physically challenged boy, “Hey friends, come and meet the new member of our garden.”

  All the children surrounded the boy and started talking to him. He looked very happy. While they were busy chatting, Sam and Afrin started walking ahead.

  Afrin looked at Sam and said, “You have a kind heart.”

  “Everybody has a tender heart. Even you have it because of which you helped me in my assignment,” Sam replied looking at Afrin.

  “Okay Sam, I should leave now. It’s getting late. I’ve to be home before it gets dark,” Afrin said looking at her watch.

  “Come, I shall drop you home in my car.”

  “Sure. Thanks,” Afrin replied and sat in his car. When the car started and they were passing the colony, Sam looked towards the road and said, “This place is very beautiful. Do you want to go for a drive around this place?”

  Afrin looked at her watch and said, “Not now, I am already late.”

  Afrin kept looking outside the window of the car. Just then a small boy came selling flowers. The car had stopped at the traffic signal and she bought a red rose from the small boy.

  When the boy left, she looked at her new friend and said, “Sam, accept this rose from me.”

  Sam smiled and took the flower from Afrin. Later, the small boy selling flowers came near Sam’s window but he didn’t buy any rose from him. Afrin expected him to buy a rose and give it to her, but it didn’t happen. She started biting her nails and felt that she was wrong in giving him a red rose which was a sign of love.

  They reached Afrin’s house and she said bye to Sam. He stopped her, took out a big bar of chocolate and gave it to Afrin.

  He said, “Thank you very much for helping me out.”

  “But there was no need to waste money on any expensive chocolate,” said Afrin after looking at the expensive Dark Belgian Single Origin Bar of Chocolate.

  “Then what about you, wasting your precious time for me?”

  Afrin blushed. She kept staring at Sam but his car went out of sight by that time.

  Afrin entered her house with a cheerful look. Looking at the chocolate, her mother asked, “Afrin, why did you buy such an expensive chocolate? We are not that wealthy to waste money on such expenses.”

  Afrin looked at her mother. She smiled at her and said, “Mother, my friend Charmy gave it to me for teaching her Maths.”

  At night, before going off to sleep, Afrin sent a message to Sam, “The chocolate was yummy. Thank you, Sam.”

  She received a message back from Smith, “Afrin, thank you for helping me in completing my assignment and for the beautiful red rose.”

  Afrin replied back, “That’s very sweet of you. My birthday is coming soon. Then, we shall go out for lunch. I will give you a treat.”

  Afrin then took her books and started studying. She received a reply from Smith saying, “Okay, Afrin I will surely come. When is your birthday?”

  Afrin kept her books aside and replied smiling, “It’s next month. When will our fashion show practice start?”

  After sending the message, Afrin noticed that her mother was watching her smiling and sending the message with books closed and kept at the s
ide.

  Mother came near her. Seeing her mother coming, Afrin kept her phone aside and picked up her books. At that very moment there was a beep on her phone indicating a new message.

  Her mother looked at her and said, “Afrin, this is the age to study and make a good career. Focus on your studies and not on your heart.” Saying this she left the room and Afrin kept staring at her books.

  CHAPTER 9

  HEARTBREAK

  A month later, on her birthday, Afrin invited all her friends for lunch at a restaurant. Sam too had come to join them for lunch. Afrin introduced him to her group of friends and said, “He is Sam Smith from our class. Though he is hardly seen in the class, he is busy with the outdoor work of our college. He has a heart of gold and a very talented mind. The fragrance of his personality has no limits. He is one of the best persons I’ve ever….”

  But before she could praise him anymore, Sam stopped her and said, “Afrin, I really don’t like anybody praising me so much. Instead, I would be glad if you could point out my negative side in front of everyone, so that I can improve upon it.”

  Afrin looked at him and slowly said, “But Sam, you don’t have any negative traits. At least, as far as I know you, you are the most perfect person.”

  Sam laughed at this and said, “Afrin if you are saying that I don’t have any bad qualities, then it only means that you don’t know me well. Every person has some good qualities as well as some bad ones. We are humans who are neither perfect nor always correct like God.”

  “You are right,” Afrin replied with regret on her face and continued eating without any further conversation.

  After the lunch, she ordered an egg-custard chocolate cake. The cake was placed on the table.

  Afrin looked at everybody and said, “Friends, I need to tell you all something important. For the first time in my life, my heart has beaten for a guy and that guy is nobody else but S…S…Sam Smith…”

  Everybody kept staring at Sam who was busy eating the cake. After eating the cake, he went to the basin to wash his face.