Laila My Love - S01 E06

Story 3 years ago

Laila My Love - S01 E06

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 6

.

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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