Expectations. (2nd position)

 Expectations

Shehrebanu Zohair Bhai Punawala

4A

   There was an eerie silence. Even the clock's tick-tock felt like noisy drum beats, creating a distressing tension in the room. Suddenly, the receptionist announced Mr. Khan’s name. He stood up - tensed - and stepped inside the teacher's cabin. His son Harris, who was hiding behind his mother, eventually froze in terror, when he heard his father's name being called out. His pleading eyes, filled with tsunamis of tears, appealed like a prisoner, begging for the sake of his life. He tightened his legs, refusing to go with his father, but a tight grab from his mother's sharp claws pulled him off from his chair. Desperately, he strode inside the master's room. 

   It was a huge room with perfect VIP comforts. Mr. Khan got engrossed while gazing at the hanging certificates, which had occupied one-third of the room's wall. He was regretting his spoilt childhood, as the certified degrees reminded him of his never-ending struggles for acquiring high-level education but his financial situation didn't allow him to approach his desires. 

    On the other hand, his son who was glancing upon his entire surrounding with his frightened eyes, assumed as if the room was covered by tiny, ghastly cockroaches, wandering on the white, milky walls. “Where on earth should I run, if these creatures jumped on me for enjoying their suppers” he fearfully thought. “Or maybe, they are the mischievous kids who have been turned in creepy insects by the curse of their headmaster! And in a few minutes, I feel like I’m going to accompany them”. These dreadful thoughts were sucking his blood as the headmaster arrived in the cabin. “Oh hello! Mr. Khan, please have a seat” he offered. 

   With a war of emotions, taking place in Mr. Khan's head, he daringly asked for his son's report card. He was facing complex feelings which made him sweat. He was quite aware of his son's mischievousness, and how annoyingly was he like a bee - buzzing in everyone's nose. Harris had repeated the 2nd standard more than once, and now he had attempted for his third and last chance. “I’m running short of money in paying his fees and this boy doesn’t even care. If this year he is detained, I'll take all of his gadgets” he thought angrily. Though he felt quite disappointed, he still had a little hope in some corner of his heart. 

    He always wanted his son to fulfill his dreams and become a great man, as he wished for himself. Mr. Khan was lost in his thoughts, as he usually did whenever he thought about Harris and his future. He imagined him “wearing a black, sophisticated suit with a matching tie, perfectly knotted as a sign of a true professional, emerging from his car and entering his company building. All his employees would stand in his honor, while he would walk towards his office, having a prideful expression on his face. He wished that he would work hard and his day and night efforts would make him a well-known businessman around the globe. Even the renowned names of the market would want to deal with him. People would admire his personality and business skills, though I would be so proud of my son.....

    "Ahem! Ahem!" the headmaster interrupted. Mr. Khan turned towards his son and threw a piercing glance, enough to cut through his chest. He started thinking of all the possible punishments which he would have to endure if he is not promoted. "I will have to sleep in that sinister store, where the crawling rats will become a part of my nightmares. I think I'm going to have an encounter with the dreadful ghosts, which I guess, lives in the old, mysterious cupboard. Besides, there are going be massive changes in my routine, like I will be forced to eat those bland veggies instead of my delectable treats, and the worst of all I will be served with a bowl of stinky, tasteless porridge every day for breakfast. My toys, especially the shooting gun which my grandma gifted on my birthday and my gadgets will be taken away from me right after we reach our home. Oh!.... My life will be like my old, half-broken pencil box, which is packed with my sharpener’s debris. Hence, it has become black with dark lead marks on it. I have emptied it because it did not seem of my use anymore, and so my mother has thrown it in the dustbin. Likewise, without my toys, gadgets, candies... I will become exactly like my helpless pencil box!" he thought while a drop of tear rolled down from his cheeks. 

    Twenty minutes have passed since the headmaster was busy in his phone call, while Mr. Khan and Harris were lost in their futuristic thoughts. Finally, the headmaster, with a wide grin on his wrinkled face, spoke with great suspense…

"Congratulations Mr. Khan! Your son has been promoted to the next standard".