Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 6
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I was very confident at first when I
woke up this morning to go to college,
but as soon as I stepped in my Business
Communication class, all of my
confidence melted away and some sort
of fear took over. I didn’t know what I
was so scared about, it’s not like I did
anything wrong but I couldn’t help
myself from thinking about what Sobia
said to me after I slapped Farid couple of
days back.
I took a deep breath and opened up my
textbook to go over some of the key
concepts we’ll be discussing in class
today . I had my assignments ready to
be handed in and now I was just
waiting like everyone in my class for my
professor to come in. There was no sign
of Farid so far which really helped me to
calm my nerves. After waiting for
an extra couple of minutes, my
professor finally stepped inside and
started the lecture on presentation skills
and reports. I was very much involved in
the class, and then all of a sudden our
classroom door filliped open and Farid
entered the classroom. He was with a
girl and both of them took a seat right in
front of me.
The class kept going and both of them
paid no attention to the class, instead
kept flirting with other openly. Was she
the same girl from the birthday party ?
Who knows. Guys like him change girls
like clothes. He was acting so normal
though, he didn’t turn around to look at
once or even said anyhing to me even
after he saw me. Maybe he got over that
accident. I was glad that he was over it;
at least now we can both move in our
own separate ways without killing each
other.
The rest of the class went pretty well
and the professor asked everyone to
hand in their assignment. I packed up
my stuff pretty quickly and was the first
one to hand in the assignment.
Mr.Charlie was very impressed with my
assignment, I could tell. After looking at
my assignment, he told me to stay back
because he wanted to discuss
something with me, so I went back to
my seat and waited until everyone
handed in their assignment.
After everyone else left the classroom, he
called me up to his desk and told me to
have a seat.
‘Look Laila, I was looking over your
assignment and also read your
discussion online on courses website
and I am very impressed’. Mr.Charlie said
happily.
‘Thank you sir, I really like this course so
it doesn’t really feel like work’
‘I am glad you are enjoying the course
so far. The reason why I called you here
is because I wanted to discuss an
opportunity with you that I thought
might interest you. We just started
launched a new tutoring program in our
business school and we are looking for
students who are doing well
academically to help out students who
are struggling to keep up with their
grades.’
I really liked where this was going, any
type of opportunity where I can use my
skills, earn experience and help out
other students reach their full potential
would be a great step toward my career
goal.
‘I checked your grades in your other
classes and also talked to your other
professors to see how you are doing in
their classes and I have heard positive
feedback from them. This opportunity
will be paid and timings will be flexible.
Is it something that interests you?’ He
asked me.
‘Sir I am very much interested.’ I said
instantly.
‘I am glad to hear that, well just fill out
the forms here and I will send you the
list of students you will be helping out
this semester. Once you receive their
contact information you can just fill out
the authorization form and get them to
sign it, and you all of your funds from
your tuition classes will be directly
deposited to your account.’
Mr. Charlie passed down the documents
and I read all the papers before signing
it off. I handed back him the documents
and he photocopied it so I can have an
extra copy. When I stepped out of the
class, I was extremely overjoyed. This is
something that happened so
unexpectedly, but I was so excited. By
having my own money coming in, I will
be able to take care of my own expenses
without relying on Ammi’s income. In
high school Ammi didn’t let me work
because she really wanted me to focus
so I could get a scholarship, but now
since I had less course load and plenty
of time, it will work out wonderfully.
I quickly got home so I could tell the
news to Ammi and Sabir.
Ammi and Sabir were both in the living
room. Ammi was helping Sabir with his
homework. I placed my bag and jacket
onthe sofa and walked towards the
center table where both of them were
sitting on the floor and all of Sabir’s
book and papers were scattered around
the table. I joined both of them and sat
in an Indian style position on the
carpeted floor.
‘Assalam O Alikum Ammi’
‘Walikum Asalam meri jaan, how was
your day?’ How did she still manage to
look so calm and happy after working
endlessly all day? Something I could
never understand. Whenever I asked her
this question she always told me
patience and faith in God helped her
keep calm and collected during times of
despair and hardship.
‘It was good, how was your day?’
‘Oh you know how it is in the cleaning
business, work work work.’
‘Ammi made some biryani, we were
really hungry so we already ate lunch. Go
heat up the food and come back here, I
need your help with my project baji’
Sabir said, looking very busy while trying
to solve his math problems.
‘Okay, give me a minute’ I quickly ran to
the kitchen and start heating a full plate
of biryani in the microwave, and my god
it smelled divine. While the food was
heating up, I ran to my room, took off
my scarf and tied my hair in a messy bun
and changed into my purple floral PJs set
that I got from Primark.
‘Guess what happened today ammi?’ I
sat beside her and took a spoon full of
biryani in my mouth. It tasted even
better than it smelled.
‘Kya hua?’ What is it with moms, they
just can’t keep themselves from
worrying.
‘Aray, nothing bad happened, first listen
to me na Ammi.
So Mr.Charlie my
business communication professor
offered me a job. My college started their
own tuition program and he offered me
a position.’
‘What that’s awesome baji’ Sabir looked
just as excited as I did when I heard
about this offer earlier today.
‘Yes its great Laila, but you don’t have to
do this. I can take care of all the
expenses, just focus on your studies.’
‘Ammi, I already said yes and filled out all
the paperwork. I don’t have difficult
courses, my work load isn’t a lot and I
have plenty of free time. I am doing well
in all of my courses and it’s time I should
start working and start earning.’ I took
her hand in mine and she blessed me.
‘May Allah bless you Laila, I am so proud
of you and you too Sabir.’ She took Sabir
hands as well. ‘Both of you are my
foundation’.
After finishing my plate of biryani and
helping Sabir with his math problems, I
went to my room while Ammi went to
see her friend next door.
I prayed Asr and opened up my laptop
to see if I got any email from Mr.Charlie
and there was one. I clicked on it and
here is what it said:
Good evening Laila,
You have been assigned with two
students this semester to tutor.
First is Rafay Khan, you will be assisting
him with his Advertising course.
Second is Farid Ibrahim, you will be
assisting him with Project Management
course.
Make sure you contact them by end of
this week and have all the paperwork
signed, email me the copy of it so I can
add it in my file.
If you have any other questions, let me
know.
Charlie Jones,
Business Program Head/ Tutor Program
Coordinator.
I kept refreshing my email to see if there
was some type of an error in the email,
but there was no error. I was assigned
to tutor Farid. He was one of my
students. What did I ever do to someone
to deserve this?
I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed
Mr.Charlies extension line hoping he
would pick up, and he did thankfully.
‘Good evening, Charlie Jones speaking.’
He said from the other end of the line.
‘Yes good morning, I mean
evening…Good evening sir, its Laila from
Business Communication class’
‘Ah yes, did you receive my email Laila?’
Yes, that’s why I am calling you…
‘Yes I did, I just had a quick question?
The thing is I am not too sure if it’s a
good idea for me to tutor Farid Ibrahim.
We know each other and we don’t get
along so I don’t think it’s going to work
out.’ My heart was racing so fast, I really
hope he understands and exchange him
with a different student; I’ll take anyone,
just not him.
‘Hmm, that’s strange. I did have a word
with him and he said its fine if you teach
him. He said you are a bright student
and you will help him a lot.’ I didn’t
believe what I was hearing. Either I have
gone made or the world seems a little
crazier than before.
‘You told him about me and he is fine
with me being his tutor?’ I asked again
just to confirm.
‘Yes.’
‘Okay, but I still think it’s not going to
work out. We don’t get along.’ I tried my
luck one more time to see if he can do
something to help me get out of this
mess.
‘Unfortunately, I can’t help you at this
moment. Unless he tells me himself that
he doesn’t want you to tutor him. Since
he doesn’t have any problem, we can’t
really make any changes from your end.’
So basically he said no.
‘Okay, that’s fine. Thank you’
‘I have talked to Farid couple of times
before, he is a handful but hardworking.
Give this a shot, talk to him and see what
happens.’
‘Will do sir, I will submit the forms by the
end of this week.’ After hanging up the
phone, I printed the email along with
the authorization forms with all the
contact details of both of my ‘students’.
Eh.
First off, it was Rafay Khan who had
exceptional grades in Stats, Data
Management and other Accounting
courses. I think his problem area was
simply advertising, just how mine was
art in middle school. This shouldn’t be
hard. I typed up an email asking if he
would like to meet up sometime his
week to get the paperwork signed and
everything.
Second off, it was Farid who was not
too good in any of his courses. He had
average marks in all of his classes, but
was really involved in social activities
around the campus. His problem area
was Project Management. Instead of
typing up an email, I just decided to text
him. It’s not like he checks his college
email anyways.
I grabbed my phone from the side table
and wrote a short simple message,
keeping it professional.
L: Hello its Laila Barakat, I will be your
Project Management tutor this semester.
Can we meet this week so we can sign
all the paperwork?
I hit send and after couple of seconds, I
got his instant reply.
F: Yh meet me at the library in
downtown area tomorrow at 4.
Library in downtown would take me an
hour in the bus. There is no way I am
going all the way down there to get his
stupid signature.
L: It’s too far, can you meet me in college
instead.
F: No, I am busy all week. Come there if
you want the papers signed.
ALLLAHHHH! Why? I am not going to go
and feed his ego this time around. But
who am I kidding, it’s me who is broke
and needs this job. I will go tomorrow
to get this paperwork done and if tries
to pull any trick he will get a payback on
spot. I promise.
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