Naila was in a hurry. She put on her knitted maroom skirt and a knitted white v neck top. She remembered to carry the maroon knitted scarf. She lookd for the white socks that would go well with her glossy maroon mary Jane shoes.
She was running late. She packed her bag. Made sure she picked the scripts and thjngs required for the celebration and placed them all on the coffee table. She rushed to the kitchen and stood at the door shocked.
"Luke, what are you doing? It's so early," she said. She looked carefully. He appeared to be cooking something. It was 7 AM.
"I woke up hungry and wanted to eat," he lied. He was aware that she would leave to school a bit earlier than usual. "I prepared soup and fixed a sandwich. Your coffee is on the table. Pour it," he added. "Do you want scrambled eggs or sunny side up?" He asked.
"No egg. No time," she said, hurrying back to the dining.
"I will drop. Don't worry. Eat peacefully," he said.
She stopped pouring the coffee to her mug. She turned around to his direction, who walked out the kitchen holding the pot of soup. She had never heard Danish aah this to her, even once. She had to always beg him, asking her to drop her off at workplace when she runs alte and misses the bus.
"Don't you know the traffic would be too high? Be practical. I don't want to be stuck on the road. Hail a cab or something. Can never get ready on time ans then come to me. I'm not your driver, " he would brush her off, after hurting her with his words..
Naila smiled. Luke sounded so kind. She sipped her coffee and settled down. She poured the sweet corn soup and then waited for Luke to bring the sandwich. "It smells good," she said.
"I grilled the chicken," he said. He brought the plate. It looked colourful. Brown bread sandwich, freshly cut cucumber and carrots with a bit of ketchup.
Naila was impressed. "I like it," she said even before she ate it.
"I'm glad," he replied, sitting across the table.
The two finished the breakfast peacefully and stepped out of the house.
"Come by, if you're free. The program starts from 5 PM. If you don't mind watching some dramas and performances, come support the kids," she said before she stepped out.
"Are you participating in anything?" Luke asked eagerly.
"I might," she replied and opened the door.
"Naila," Luke stopped Naila.
Naila looked back at him. "What is it?" She asked.
"Nothing. Wanted to see if you will stop," he teased her. Naila rolled her eyes and grntly tapped on Luke's right arm.
"Bye," she said and walked.
The time ran quickly. Naila did a final rehearsal of everything before she got the kids to start their make ups. Everything went smoothly.
Naila met with the duty assigned teachers reminding them once again what is expected. She then took her kids back to class to get the ready for dance.
"If anything, call me immediately," she kept telling everyone.
It was almost 4 PM. She got to know the the invited chief guest to inaugurate the ceremony is running late. Naila felt slightly relieved.
"Naila, remember, start the carols with your song, I hope you have prepared one or two, then let the children follow you, since we have guests from other provinces, we need the great performance tonight," Sr. Sisily who is charge of administration requested Naila.
Naila had already prepared since her coordinator informed her about it.
Exactly at 6 PM, the program started. One hour delay as the guest arrived late. The auditorium was full. Everybody has showed up.
'Will he come?' Naila wondered in the middle of all the work. 'Nah, it's fine if he doesn't. Who would want to come to a school program anyway,' she told herself.
The programs went in planned order. The drama, the dance, the prize distribution in between, everything went well and it was time for the carols.
The team arranged all the instruments and set the microphones.
Naila took the stage and touched the mic around 4 years later. She was tensed. 'Please sing well, don't mess it up,' she kept tellling herself.
And the lights went down and music started. She had two songs planned. Hark the Herald and Silent Night.
Naila started then. It felt good. She felt really good. She thoroughly enjoyed what she was doing.
Little did she know that Luke was the first one t9 arrive for the program and waited for her to show around the stage.
He was impatient and grew afraid that he would miss the programs. He roamed around the campus for some time, avoiding her, to not bother her in the middle of her job.
He was recording her performance on his phone again. The song reminded him of his college days.
"Luke come, there is a performance tonight. It's better to go sit at the auditorium than sit in this tiny dorm," one of his friends convinced him.
The first thing he heard as he walked into the auditorium was a girl in the middle of the stage surrounded by the instruments, singing the same songs: Hark the Herald and Silent Night. It was a competition and they won the grand prize that day.
It was the beginning for everything.
Naila sang beautifully that everyone ended up cheering and clapping.
She spent the evening running around which began to give her cramps and pains everywhere. Around 10.00 PM the programs got over and everybody left the school premises.
"Bye Naila ma'am, Merry Christmas," all her students wished and hugged her.
"Take care. Merry Christmas," she gave her love back. She felt satisfied with the outcome and getting all the love from her tiny ones.
Luke sat watching this as she dropped everyone off at the campus main gate.
Naila was super tired, she walked back and sat in her class, alone. She slowly rested her head on the desk and unexpectedly fell asleep.
Minites later, someone else walked in and sat next to her in total silence.