Chapter 7
Adam’s Maths lesson with Mr Khan had just finished.
“Hey, Adam!” called Mr Khan. “How are things with your lady friend these days?”
“Oh, they’re great, sir!” Adam answered excitedly. “I’ve seen her a couple of times now,” continued Adam as he breathed inwards deeply at the thought of being with Zhara. “Sir, it’s a brilliant feeling!”
“That’s good. I’m glad you’re very happy.”
“‘Happy’ is an understatement, sir; I’m over the moon as they say!” Adam explained joyfully.
Mr Khan smiled at Adam, feeling happy inside that Adam had got his girl at last.
“If you want, I can ask Zhara to sit next to you, if you like, Adam,” Mr Khan suggested, staring straight at Adam.
Adam immediately had a confused look on his face.
“Sir?”
“Zhara. She can sit next to you if you like,” said Mr Khan.
“But Zhara’s not in my Maths class,” Adam pointed out, speaking slowly.
“B-but I thought you said you were going out with Zhara?” asked an equally confused Mr Khan.
“I am,” said Adam.
“B-but I thought you were going out with Zhara Abbas,” said Mr Khan.
“No, sir; I’m going out with Zhara Ayub,” explained Adam.
Mr Khan instantly stood up straight.
“You’re going out with Zhara Ayub?”
Adam instantly sensed that something was wrong and thought that his Maths teacher knew Zhara’s parents. Adam’s heart began to race faster and faster still as he thought of the consequences of Zhara’s parents finding out about her going out with him.
“Sir, you know her parents, don’t you!” anxiously exclaimed Adam. “Please don’t tell Zhara’s parents. Please! I beg of you!” pleaded Adam.
Mr Khan stared at Adam.
“Sir, please don’t say anything to Zhara’s parents. Please!” Adam pleaded further. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you, sir. I knew this would happen!” added Adam and then quickly picked up his bag and promptly left the classroom.
“Adam!” called Mr Khan. “Adam! Wait!”
Adam was not thinking straight; he was just worried about Zhara and in particular, her parents finding out about her going out with him.
Eventually, the bell rang loudly signalling the end of the last lesson and indeed the day.
Adam quickly went to Zhara’s classroom where she’d be having Science – although they both had Science at the same time, the lessons were with different teachers and on different floors.
Adam hurriedly rushed to Zhara’s Science class and began looking for Zhara in the classroom; she was speaking to her Science teacher.
Adam became even more extremely anxious as he watched other students leave the classroom, hoping it was Zhara but it wasn’t.
After several minutes, Adam began pacing.
Eventually, Zhara came out of the classroom.
“Hi, Adam,” Zhara greeted Adam with a strong smile across her face but instantly recognised the worried look on Adam’s face.
“What’s the matter, Adam?” asked an anxious Zhara.
“What shouldn’t have happened!” answered Adam, looking worried.
“What do you mean?” asked an equally worried Zhara.
“It’s Mr Khan,” Adam simply said.
“Mr Khan? What do you mean Mr Khan?” Zhara asked instantly.
“I mean, Mr Khan knows your parents,” explained Adam, not knowing what he was going to do. “I was afraid of this, and it’s happened.”
“What’s happened, Adam?” asked Zhara. “I’m not sure what you mean. Tell me.”
“Mr Khan – he knows that I’m going out with you and –”
“What!” exclaimed Zhara as she stared at Adam, her eyes extremely wide with a very worried look on her face. “You mean Mr Khan knows that I’m going out with you?” asked Zhara.
“That’s not what worries me; it’s the fact that he knows your parents!” said Adam.
“Adam! Does Mr Khan know you’re going out with me?” Zhara asked again impatiently, her voice rose.
Adam stared at Zhara.
“Yeah, Mr Khan knows that I’m going out with you but why are you worried Zhara about that, and not the fact that he knows your parents?” Zhara breathed in deeply. Adam noticed the deep worry in her usually excited eyes. “What’s the matter?”
Zhara swallowed hard; her throat dry like cotton. Zhara closed her eyes.
“Mr Khan …”
“Yeah, go on. Mr Khan,” prompted Adam.
“Mr Khan is …”
“Yeah. Mr Khan is?” again Adam prompted Zhara to continue.
“Mr Khan is … my father,” Zhara said eventually very quietly.
Adam stared at Zhara, his eyes now becoming wide.
Adam then started reluctantly to chuckle.
“Mr Khan is your father,” Adam said very slowly as he stared at Zhara in disbelief. “You’re joking right? Mr Khan is your father.”
Zhara stared at Adam as she shrank and then nodded very gently.
“I was never any good at it but now I’m history,” declared Adam. “I’m dead!” added Adam, his voice just about managing to come out, swallowing very hard as he then walked away like a zombie not knowing what to do, his heart hammering heavily against the walls of his chest. “I’m dead!” he repeated himself just about managing to say even the two simple words as he walked slowly over to a nearby chair. There was silence as Adam thought to himself as he turned round at the spot where he was stood now. “Better still, just kill me now,” he said. “It’ll be less painful.”
“Adam! Never say that again!” exclaimed Zhara as she instantly went over to Adam.
“Your father is going to kill me!” Adam told Zhara.
Zhara simply didn’t know what to say or do as she continued to think about the situation.
“What happens now?” asked Adam, as he stared deep in to Zhara’s eyes searching for an instant answer for their present predicament. When Zhara didn’t reply, Adam asked again. “Zhara?” he began. “What happens now?”
“He won’t,” Zhara simply said.
“He won’t what?” asked Adam.
“Kill you.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” said Adam as he sighed a huge relief.
“No, but he’s going to kill me!” added Zhara.
Adam’s eyes widened even more than before. He closed his eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Zhara,” apologised Adam.
“It’s not your fault, Adam,” said Zhara.
“But I didn’t know.”
“I know you didn’t and how could you?” said Zhara as she stared intensely at Adam. “I’m so in to you, Adam, that I forgot everything else; even the fact that I forgot to tell you that Mr Khan, your Maths teacher, is my father,” explained Zhara as she sighed slowly.
“What will you do now?” Adam asked.
“The only thing that I can do,” answered Zhara.
“Which is?”
“Which is to tell my father that I love you very much and that I now can’t live without you,” explained Zhara.
“I mean that much to you?” asked Adam.
“More than my life itself,” replied Zhara sincerely, staring affectionately back at Adam. “I’d better get home,” sighed Zhara.
Adam didn’t know what to say except, “Good luck.”
“Thanks. I think I’ll need it.”