My final examinations were near and I was in Grade 6. Unfortunately for me, my mathematics was weak. I had many friends but Hakeem was my best friend in class. He was the best to me out of everyone.
Once a math teacher entered in class and gave a question, after few minutes, he called me to come and solve the question I went but could not solve the question. The math teacher face was red and wailed at me. Because of him, my all classmates made fun of me and laughed at me, just leave Hakeem, he was showing love and humanity for me.
School time got finished, I and Hakeem were going to home, on way my other friends challenged me, and one of them said “Hey you, final exam is too near and there is a challenge for you.” I did not reply them, but Hakeem replied “Which kind of challenge?” They answered and said, “Hakeem your lovely friend will not score 65 marks in math paper.” This was the challenge of my other friends, I smiled and said nothing, directly, Hakeem accepted their challenge and said “Listen if he will score then?” ‘Then what,” they replied. “If he will score 65 marks, then you all will promise that you will never laugh on others” said Hakeem. They accepted and went.
I said to Hakeem,” Hakeem why did you accept their challenge and you know that I am very weak in math if I will not score 65 marks then.” Hakeem replied, “Why can’t you do it, you can, just believe in yourself and nothing is impossible in this world and think about those students and others that they have made fun of you and they cannot respect others, for them you must score .” While I listened Hakeem’s words then I thought about those, who have been the hunt of it, for them I must score, then I replied “Why can’t I, dear I can do it”.
In front of Hakeem I said, but my heart was beating that how can I do? After Some minutes, I arrived at home and directly I went in my room and thought about the final exam. After that I stopped playing and watching T.V, I just prepared about math and other subjects and I didn’t talk with anyone.
At the end, the day, I have awaited, has come. I was getting ready for school and I took my breakfast, firstly, I went to my mom for informing her for going to school. And my mom said something very special “My cute son, best of luck for today’s paper and Allah blessed you, you will achieve your goal.” I became very happy while I listened to these words, I thanked mom and went to school.
On entering the school, I immediately started sweating and shivering. Hakeem saw me and came near to me. “Dear don’t worry, I hope that you will solve the paper without any tension,” Hakeem said. Before replying the bell rung and all students ran toward their classes, I and Hakeem went in the hall where the exam was to be conducted. While papers were distributed, before seeing I started with the name of Allah and saw the paper. I have taken much time with it, my all classmates have ended their papers, but I was still writing. Time up, said the teacher. I handed the teacher my paper and went home. I silently went towards my room and thought about my paper.
While my family members involved in the hall of the home for taking the dinner, then I was silent and eating. “What happened to you, dear?” asked grandpa. I replied, “Nothing grandpa, today my math paper was there and I am thinking of that.
“Then you are worried. Was it bad,” my father asked. “No dad it was good,” I replied. “Then still you are worried”, grandpa said. No grandpa the main thing is that my all friends challenged me that I could not score 65 marks in math paper, said by me, “You have done the hard work, dear and we hope you will get more than 65 just believe in yourself” said mother. “My cute mom you know that I was weak in math,” I replied. “Allah helps those persons who do hard work and he will not waste her/his hard work and wait for the result “Said by father.
These words showed how much my family loved me. I flashed them a big smile and went back to room.
And then, finally, the day I had waited for arrived. I had my breakfast quickly and went to school. Every student was talking about the results and so was I. Just thinking about my math paper made my heart skip a beat. One by one, every student went in to take his result. When my turn came, after what it felt like hours of waiting, the man behind the desk congratulated me for securing third position in class. I asked him for my math result and he showed it to me. I took it and ran towards Hakeem. I had gotten 75 marks.
Hakeem seemed more overjoyed than I was. He gathered all those who bullied me and showed them my result, telling them what a good student I was. Everyone hugged me and congratulated me. I can never forget that day.
The writer is a student at Government Boys High School and DELTA. He can be reached at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, February 11th 2019.