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The plan that flopped
During my winter vacations while I was in class ten, I decided to spend the first week doing something unique, interesting and useful. After some thinking I decided to give tuitions to my neighbourhood children.
“Great! At present I will teach them for a week. I will give them regular tuitions after school. This will also be reputable for me,” I thought.
The next morning I called my closest friend, Shafaq, and told her about my plan.
“Children? You mean you will teach the children of your area?” She asked totally surprised.
“Obviously stupid! Who else you think I am talking about?” I giggled.
“See Rid! I think you must give this plan a second thought. I have visited you many times and mostly have seen those kids spoiling plants, cars and houses and teasing people. In other words they are really intolerable. I don’t really think this is a good idea,” she said.
“Oh come on! They are just little kids. You can’t teach them manners all the time. Shaf, they are only five innocent children.” I tried to be as sweet as I could though I felt like breaking her head.
“They are five ill mannered kids and not innocent at all. No, very bad idea Rid. Just drop it.”
This time I really got angry. “Listen Shafaq Sayeed; if you will not come tomorrow I am really going to ban your entry into my house. Bye.”
And I knew that my warning will work. The next day I was only worried about my mama. “Dad is at work but what to do with mom?” In the afternoon I was in my room when mom came in. “Why are you so quiet?” She asked with a smile.
“Nothing mom. I was just taking some rest after lunch.”
“Mmm… okay. Rida I am going for shopping with my friends. Don’t worry if I get late,” she said.
“Oh! Okay mom. It’s just fine with me. You don’t worry.” I said whereas my heart was pounding. (“I am so happy mom. You are the greatest. Please go. Bye bye.”
“Do take care of the house as well as yourself darling.” She gave some instructions and left.
I locked the main door, came inside and rushed towards my telephone set. I called all the aunties in the neighbourhood and told them that since I am free nowadays they could send their children to me for tuitions during the week. They were all elated by the offer; their enthusiasm put me in some doubt. After putting the phone down I went to the kitchen and poured some guava juice in a glass. But before I could take a sip I heard the door bell ring.
“Who can this be?” I thought. I left the juice there and went to open the door. There I saw five children of my area standing with seven unknown faces. “Huh! Who sent you now? You were supposed to come after an hour?” I asked.
“My mom said that she wants to sleep undisturbed for once so she sent me now.” One boy said.
“What?” I was shocked. “And what about the others?” I looked at the group of twelve children.
“Our mom wanted peace as well.” I got a reply in chorus. “Alright… come inside.” I showed them to the drawing room. They sat very quietly on the sofa. They looked very obedient.
“Parents are so thankless.” I thought. Then I came to know that five children of my area actually had brought their cousins and friends with them. “Okay. Nice to meet you all.” I said after getting introduced to each of them.
“And now...” suddenly the door bell rang.
“Take out you homework diaries I’ll come back and see them.” I went out and opened the door. It was Shafaq.
“Here you are. Come in.” I gave her a welcoming smile.
“Where are your crazy devils?” She asked in a mood that seemed really bad.
“Oh… they are so cute.” I brought her to the drawing room. “Twelve children?” she cried. “You told me that they were five?”
“They brought along their cousins and friends. They just came, I didn’t call them, I swear,” I tried to explain. “And I think twelve are even not difficult, trust me.” I tried to clear my stance.
“Okay Hira, now give me your school diary.” I turned towards the little girl. Suddenly I felt some panic behind me.
“What happened Fahad?” I asked one boy.
“Fayz hit me with a pencil.” he said aloud.
“Because he was teasing me.” Fayz replied.
“Fayz show me your homework diary?” I ignored the issue.
“Teacher I want to go to the washroom.” Sara came to me.
“Teacher! What a lovely word.” I thought gladly then turned towards Shafaq, “Hey please take her to the washroom.”
“What? Me? Have you gone mad?” She blew her top.
“Please Shaf for my sake only.” I begged.
“Okay.” she reluctantly agreed.
As they went Hira stood up.
“I want to drink some water.”
“Oh… okay…you wait here I’ll get you some.” I tapped her head with a smile and went to the kitchen. I was just opening the fridge when I heard a loud sound. I ran to the drawing room. There the whole scene had changed. Four children were shouting and jumping on a sofa. Two boys were sitting on the centre glass table. Four boys were fighting and hitting each other. One girl was jumping on a side sofa and was screaming aloud. And on the floor a glass vase was lying, broken into pieces.
“Stop it!” I separated the four of them. “Who did this?” I asked them pointing my finger towards the vase. Before anyone could answer I heard a voice behind me. I turned around and saw a girl crying on the floor.
“What happened to you Maham?” I asked gently.
“He pushed me from the sofa.” She sobbed and looked at a humpty dumpty like boy. Meanwhile Shafaq came back.
“Now what did I miss?” she asked in astonishment.
Suddenly all the children started jumping, shouting and fighting with cushions.
“Stop it!” Shafaq and I tried to stop them but in vain. Suddenly four girls ran inside.
“Oh No ... come back.” I ran after them but my timing was really bad.
Two girls already had mom’s lipsticks in their hands. One attacked my guava juice. One was checking my music set in my room.
First I took the two girls from mom’s room and sent to the lounge. Then pulled a girl out of my room. Suddenly the girl with juice in her hands came in running and the glass fell on the carpet. Light pink carpet got red.
“God! The carpet?” This time I really got cranky. All the four girls ran back to my bedroom and locked it from inside.
“God! What have I done?” I got really tense.
“But first I must make the boys get out of here.” I ran to the drawing room. There I saw that Shafaq was sitting on a sofa. Her palm was bleeding and she was badly hurt.
“Shafaq? What happened?” I sat near her and asked.
“These boys were throwing broken glass pieces on each other I tried to stop them but one of them hit me with one piece and ran out.” Shafaq cried. I looked at the boys now they were throwing ink on each other. One boy was jumping and was throwing chips on the carpet and sofa, which probably he brought with him as an attacking weapon. I stepped forward and slapped his face.
“Get out of here now.” I shouted.
They all took their bags and ran out. I turned towards Shafaq and tried to hold her hand.
“Shafaq! Just wait I’ll bandage your hand.”
“No.” she said aloud and stood up.” I came just because of you but I was mistaken. Now I am going. My driver is waiting outside. You stay here and clean up the mess. Bye.” She said and walked out angrily.
I looked around. The drawing room was looking horrible. “How am I going to face mom and dad.” I thought and suddenly I realized the girls were still here. I went to my bedroom it was locked and music was being played at high volume. I went to mom’s room, took out the duplicate keys from her drawer and unlocked my bedroom door. “Oh!” I felt disgusted enough.
My jewellery was lying on the floor the shoes were scattered around. The girls were jumping on my bed. I turned off the music and pulled each one of them down. I snatched my bangles, earrings and necklaces and slapped the two girls. I took them out of my bedroom. They were crying but I paid no attention. “Take your bags and get out at once.” And they went out as if they were waiting to do just that. I took a deep breath. I went out to lock the door when I heard the door bell.
“Mom?” I thought and froze with fright.
But when I opened the door I saw my neighbour with a boy whom I had slapped. “Don’t you know how to deal with small children? You asked me to send my kids to you to study and you started torturing them. Shame on you.” She was shouting without listening to a word of mine.
Meanwhile another neighbour came with the two girls I had slapped. “Rida! You are very bad. You hit my girl and her friend.” Strangers and other neighbours were looking at us but they were shouting in high tone, suddenly a white car stopped at my gate. “Mom!” I saw her and wiped my tears.
She came to us, surprised. Now both the neighbours turned towards her. She had a difficult time making them go. Now it was time for another blast. As she entered she saw the drawing room in its worst condition. Then the kitchen, lounge, bedrooms. “What did you do Rida?” She looked at me angrily.” I thought you were a very sensible girl. But No. you are really very stupid.”
“Actually mom…” I tried to say something.
“Not a word from you. I am very upset. Now you go and clean the whole house before your dad comes back.” She declared my punishment and went to her room.
Now I was left alone with my messy house and my plan that flopped. Sad, isn’t it?
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