Aleena Batool sat in her classroom, lost in these thoughts. The teacher's voice had faded into the background, replaced by the quiet hum of her mind. She stared outside the window, watching the trees sway gently in the wind. There was something peaceful about their movement, yet something unsettling about how easily they bent under pressure.
A loud bell rang, snapping her back to reality. The period was over.
The teacher gathered her books and stood up. "Tomorrow, there will be a test on the full chapter. Make sure you all prepare well."
As soon as the teacher left, Aleena turned to her friends, Fatima Noor Malik and Manahil, with a confused expression. "Wait… what is the test about?" she asked in an exaggeratedly serious tone.
Fatima sighed dramatically. "The full chapter, Aleena. The one we were supposed to study. The one you were supposed to listen to instead of daydreaming about the meaning of life!"
Manahil laughed. "She's probably thinking about deep things again. Aleena, are you secretly a philosopher?"
Aleena grinned. "Maybe I am. Maybe I should write a book titled The Secrets of Aleena Batool—a masterpiece on life, exams, and avoiding homework."
Fatima smirked. "More like The Secrets of Aleena Batool: How to Daydream Through an Entire Lecture and Still Be Surprised About a Test."
The three of them burst into laughter, their voices filling the classroom. For now, life was simple. Just friends, laughter, and a few tests to worry about. But deep inside, Aleena knew—one day, the answers to her questions would come, and they might not be as easy to understand as today's lesson.