Chapter 5 (How Stupid)

• One by one those instructors started talking, congratulating and wishing best to all the students. Even my aunt Kezia was also giving her long speech of encouragement.
• I lifted my eyes at that time alone and kept it down when I felt him staring at me. What is his problem?
• I couldn’t even look at my aunt all over the time. Soon my aunt finished her speech and he arose from his seat, grabbed the mic probably to give his speech as well.
• As he stood there, he gave us all a smile which was surely a handsome one. I wanted to look down but still I looked at him, waiting for his speech.
• “Hello to all, I’m Benny one of your instructors. Hope you all are enjoying?” he asked and I can see the girls cheering for him.
• Why won’t they? He is really handsome and an instructor like this, why won’t those girls go crazy. Hmmm... his name is also cute.
• What is wrong with me?
• I looked at him with full focus but he didn’t look at me this time. He smiled again at the crowd cheering.
• “Ahh.. these future teachers are not genuine. Even I’m bored with this orientation but you all are having fun?” he said as a matter of fact and I chuckled and all the students echoed again, I looked at the principal who was throwing daggers at him.
• I chuckled again seeing that, He turned to the principal and gave a wink to which the principal snorted at him. Seriously, this guy and his winks. He casually throws them at everyone without any partiality.
• “Ok, So I’m not going to bore you all like everyone here and just welcome you all to the college.
• One thing you have to remember, be yourself. Since you have decided to be teachers, be yourself and set example to be oneself. So that we don’t get any more Xerox copies of human but unique and best people.
• And… I’m in charge of students’ welfare, so if you all need anything you can contact me and I will help you out. You can reach me anytime “he said and made an eye contact with me when he said those last words.
• I felt goosebumps all over me with a racing heart. I chewed on my lower lips anxiously as I looked at him getting down from the podium and went to sit on his chair.
• As he sat down, he looked at me and smirked. My eyes widened seeing that. So, did he make that comment just for me? How shameless? with anger, I glared and scoffed at him.
• Now, his eyes widened in disbelief, he opened his mouth slightly and soon it was turned into a smile.
• Shameless stupid man, did he think I’m one of those girls seeking his attention?
• Yea, sure he is handsome but that doesn’t mean he should be too proud about that... Man.. I already got a husband who is also handsome.
• So, I don’t need any other man to look at me or for me to look at them. I sighed and started drawing on my notebook.
• In few minutes, the orientation got over and one of the lady professors informed us that the college has arranged lunch for us all and asked each and everyone to assemble in the canteen.
• I was dragged all the way to the canteen by Anika who was excited about the feast the college is giving us. As we got there, we saw those instructors are busy setting the table and ready to serve.
• Are they going to serve these 200 students by themselves? Wow.. such a sweet gesture from the college faculties made my heart warm.
• I saw my aunt struggling with a big vessel and I didn’t think twice before jumping in to her rescue. She was startled but was happy for me to help her.
• Anika and some of the students were settled on the chairs ready to eat, I was hungry too but I decided to help these faculties because I was used to this after my marriage.
• I felt bitter thinking about that, I was never once left to eat along with them. My Sister-in-law always made me to serve her the food before I could eat, at first, I didn’t find it wrong.
• She does not finish her meal quickly and she will take at least an hour saying, if she hurries eating then she might puke everything because of the pregnancy.
• At first, I felt pity for her and didn’t mind it. I didn’t want to discomfort her in anyway.
• But if I think about that I’m mad at myself for how foolishly I have listened to her stupid reasons. She didn’t want me to eat and she just wanted to torture me.
• I felt someone tapping my shoulder and I looked at the person found it was my aunt. She looked at me worriedly.
• “Dear, I know you will be hungry too. Go and sit, you can eat first and then help us later” she said and I shook my head smiling at her.
• “Aunty, Oops.. Ma’am, I will first help and later I will eat. Controlling my hunger is not new to me.” I said and knocked my head myself seeing the sadness covering her face.
• I shouldn’t have said that, I shouldn’t have, aunt Kezia is close to my mom like a sister to her. She has seen me grow with lots of love and she knows how much I was pampered.
• After she came to know what I went through, she was all raged to make a police complaint of domestic violence on our behalf. Seeing me devastated she is the one who advised me to take this college course.
• I know she was also bothered about my wellness and I will not make her sad too. I quickly pinched her cheek and she glared at me, after looking at all the directions.
• “No one seen that, Kezia. Now stop giving me those looks it just came out of my mouth in a flow alright? I’m sorry my sweet aunt.” I said with a smile and she nodded her head but still with that sad face.
• I want to pinch her bubbly cheeks again as I always do when she is sad or angry with me, but the deal between us of not letting others no about relationship made me to be quiet.
• I sighed and picked up the serving bowl of rice to go serve my fellow students. I went and served them the rice and each and everyone started to eat and got served with mouthwatering curry, side dishes, mango pickle.