---
“Class, since this is your last year here, I hope all of you will pass with good marks so you can continue your studies. Some girls and boys may stay at home after matric, while others will go to college to complete their education. So, what do you all want to do?”
The teacher asked, and all the students replied loudly,
“We will continue studying!”
“Good. It’s very nice to see your interest in studying further. I hope you all pass with good marks and make your parents proud.”
“This Friday, there will be a school party so you can make your final year more memorable,” the teacher said with a smile.
“Ma’am, do we have to come in uniform?” Asad asked.
“No, you all should come dressed nicely. The party will be in the school’s back garden,” she replied.
All the students started clapping.
---
“Will you come?” Mahnoor asked Kainat.
“Yes, I will.”
“What color dress will you wear?” Mahnoor asked while putting her notebook in her bag.
“I don’t have one yet. I’ll ask my mom, then I’ll know.”
“Hm… by the way, did Asif bother you today?” Mahnoor glanced at Asif.
“He said sorry yesterday. Maybe he’s embarrassed now. He won’t bother me again,” Kainat said, looking at Asif and then at Mahnoor.
---
“You didn’t bother Kainat today?” Rehan asked Asif, who was busy finishing homework quickly.
Asif glared at Rehan, then stood up and handed his notebook and pen to Kainat.
Kainat, who was busy talking to Mahnoor, heard him tapping on the desk and looked at him.
“Here, do my homework in my handwriting,” Asif said and went back to his seat.
Kainat glared at him angrily.
“Why don’t you do it yourself?”
“My choice. I want it done before sir comes. Hurry up.”
Rehan felt annoyed at himself for telling Asif.
Asif smirked and tilted his head toward Rehan.
“Happy now?”
Rehan turned his face toward the board.
Asif laughed.
---
(Break Time)
During the break, while students were eating and playing, Kainat was walking in the garden.
Asif, who was playing football, noticed her. After winning the match, he left the ground and ran toward her.
He untied her ponytail from behind.
Kainat turned back angrily.
“What is this behavior? Give it back!”
“Take it,” Asif said, holding it up.
When she tried to grab it, he threw it into the water fountain and walked away.
Kainat gathered her hair, covered her head with her dupatta, and went to the library in tears.
---
Back in class, Asif took out his water bottle.
As he moved, his hand hit the desk, and a pair of glasses fell and broke.
When he bent down to pick them up, he heard a voice.
“These are Sir Shazeb’s glasses,” Asad said, entering with a few boys.
“Oh no…” Asif held his head.
“Don’t you dare tell sir,” Asif grabbed Asad’s collar.
“I won’t,” Asad said.
Asif let him go and left the class.
---
“Who broke my glasses?” Sir Shazeb shouted. He was the strictest teacher, and everyone feared him.
“Sir, I know who did it,” Asad raised his hand.
Asif started sweating and nervously looked at him.
“Who did it?”
“Kainat,” Asad pointed at her.
Kainat turned in shock.
Asif opened his eyes in surprise.
“Kainat!” Sir shouted.
Her breathing became fast.
“Sir, I didn’t do it…”
“Come here.”
She walked slowly toward him.
“What punishment should I give you? Can’t you see?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Put your hand forward,” he said, raising his stick.
“Sir, I didn’t—”
“Quiet. Hand forward.”
She tremblingly stretched her hand and closed her eyes…
But instead of pain, she felt something else.
She opened her eyes — Asif was standing beside her, his hand placed over hers.
“Sir, the glasses fell because of me. It’s my fault. Kainat has nothing to do with it. Punish me.”
Kainat stared at him.
“Why? Can’t you see?” Sir said.
“It was by mistake. I didn’t do it intentionally,” Asif said, lowering his gaze and removing her hand.
Sir hit him with the stick. The sound echoed in the class.
The pain was his, but Kainat flinched.
His hand turned red.
“Now go sit down.”
Both went back to their seats.
Rehan held Asif’s hand.
“It’s nothing,” Asif pulled it away.
“What happened? Your hand is all red. Did you really break the glasses?”
“Yes.”
---
(After School)
“Why hasn’t the driver come yet?” Asif said, holding his hand.
“If your driver isn’t here, come with me,” Rehan suggested.
“No, you go. He’ll come,” Asif replied.
“Okay, bye.”
“Bye,” Asif smiled.
---
Asif walked out of school. He was sixteen, tall for his age.
As he walked ahead, a blue car stopped in front of him.
He looked at it, confused.
Two masked men stepped out.
“Hey boy, stop right there,” they said, pointing a gun at him.
Asif froze.
They started walking toward him.
He slowly stepped back…
Suddenly, someone grabbed his hand and pulled him.
It was Kainat.
“Run!” she shouted and threw dust into the men’s eyes.
She held his hand and ran fast.
Asif looked back — a third man was chasing them.
While running, Kainat threw her bag into a nearby street and took Asif’s bag and threw it too.
“Why did you throw our bags?” Asif asked.
“They were slowing us down. He would’ve caught us,” she said, covering her head with her dupatta.
They ran back to the school gate, breathing heavily.
“What about our bags?” Asif asked.
“You care more about bags than your life? If you’re alive, you’ll get them back. If they caught us, they could’ve forced us into something wrong and sold us,” she said seriously.
“How do you know?” he asked.
“My mother told me… and today I saw it myself. Thank God we’re safe.”
“But the bags?”
She glared at him.
“You didn’t go home?” he changed the topic.
“My van had already left.”
“Let’s ask someone for help,” she said.
They asked a man for help and went back to the street.
They found their bags safe.
“Be careful next time,” the man said and left.
---
“How will you go home?” Asif asked.
“I’ll manage,” she said, taking out her water bottle and handing it to him.
“Thanks.”
---
To be continued… ✨
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