Let’s Blow The Roof Off

Mahira Shaikh was enjoying her morning coffee in her office, surrounded by various accolades. In front of her sat Abdul Ghani, a bespectacled man with light blue hair and beard with hints of grey. He had yet to touch his coffee, concerned more with another matter

“I once again ask you to reconsider your decision to indefinitely suspend all clubs and the suspension of many students because of it,” Abdul Ghani implored Mahira.

Mahira took a sip before asking, “And why would I do that?”

“The students are extremely upset with this decision. Suspending a few of them has only silenced them but their frustration continues to grow. They think we are being cruel for the sake of cruelty. They don’t understand that we’re just trying to get them to focus on academics. Who knows what they might try to fight against the ban?”

“They don’t need to understand our reasons,” Mahira replied, “Besides, no one is idiotic enough to go against us.”

“Ma’am, there is always an idiot. You have lived long enough to know that,” Abdul Ghani smiled.

“Then we will punish such idiots accordingly,” Mahira said firmly, leaving no room for argument. “Enough about the clubs. Who do you think will win today’s election?”

Abdul Ghani sighed before answering, “Normally, I’d say Farha.”

“But?” Mahira raised an eyebrow.

“Her popularity has taken a hit due to the ban. Even though the decision was not in her hands, many still blame her.”

“It’d be sad if she didn’t win this time, she is a diligent and bright student,” Mahira lamented, “Do you think Ahmer Qaiser might win this time?”

Abdul chuckled, “The boy has no interest in winning.”

“He is rather popular among the girls.”

“Yes, but he hasn’t put in any effort to win. If he had his way, he’d ask everyone to not vote for him.”

“It would be quite amusing, though quite a waste of time and talent.”

“Yes, though his brother Ammar has become quite popular in the first year. With Farha’s popularity taking a dip, he might stand a chance.”

“He has potential, but he needs to grow out of his inferiority complex.”

“True,” Abdul Ghani stood up, “I should take my leave, my class is about to start.”

“Won’t you finish your coffee?”

Abdul sat down and finished his coffee, which had turned cold, in a few sips. Then he took his leave.

After the end of the first class, all the students and faculty were once again gathered at the sports grounds for the election speeches. First, all the candidates would give their pitch and then the students would go to the polling booths set up at the back of the sports grounds to cast their votes.

Ahmer was standing at the back of the stage with the other contestants. He took a peek from the stage to see that Shazia and Rashid were in position, ready for their tasks. Faiz had also gathered the football team in the front rows, ready to act when needed.

‘It’s all up to me then,’ Ahmer took a deep breath.

“Ahmer, Ahmer,” Ahmer turned around to see the last person he wanted to see right now.

“What is it Farha?” He asked.

“You have been avoiding me, we haven’t talked since yesterday,” Farha said.

“What’s there to talk about?”

“It was not my decision to shut the clubs, I tried asking them to reconsider but Mahira ma’am wouldn’t budge. Our overall academic performance has been dropping which affects our ranking. She thinks that banning the clubs is the only way to get students to focus on studies.”

“I don’t have time for this,” Ahmer brushed her off.

“Why?” Ammar chimed in, “Do you need to practice asking everyone to not vote for you?”

“Why don’t you worry about your own speech?” Ahmer rebutted.

“Hn, mine is ready and perfect to go,” Ammar said confidently.

“Let me guess, is it the eleven ways I’m better than Ahmer and Farha?”

Ammar huffed, “I don’t need to prove I’m better than you two, I am.”

“Guys, let’s not fight,” Farha tried to placate them, “you wouldn’t want to get disqualified before even giving the speech.”

Ahmer and Ammar huffed and turned away from each other. Farha was surprised Ahmer didn’t continue arguing to get disqualified on purpose, ‘Is he serious about the election this time?’ she wondered, ‘Maybe bade abbu warned him not to give it his best effort this time.’

Ahmer took out his notes and revised his speech. He tried not to show it but he was shaking with nervousness, ‘This has to be perfect,’ he told himself.

Meanwhile, the first contestant stepped forward on the stage. This one was Javed, a known member of the Anti-West Squad, “Our college’s morals are degrading day by day, we must ban all western clothing and turn to our traditions,” Javed said.

“BOOO!” The crowd responded.

“GET PEPPER SPRAYED!” Shoaib shouted.

Javed was shocked, his eyes watering with tears as he was led away from the stage by a teacher, “But-but I just wanted to make Aslanistan great again.” Ahmer would have felt bad for him if he wasn’t trying to force his perspective of morality upon others.

“Why do we allow these fanatics on the campus again?” Mahira asked Abdul Ghani.

“Freedom of ideas, as long as they don’t cause physical violence or mischief, we can’t take action against them,” he answered.

The next contestant spoke about sound leadership and got polite applause in response,. After her was Farha’s turn, the favourite to win the election. She spoke about her experience and contributions during the two years as student council president. Most of the crowd was supportive but there were a few hecklers mad at her for the ban.

“Bring our clubs back!”

“Eat shit!” they screamed.

“Make note of those students, we need to take action against them,” Mahira ordered a teacher, who nodded in response.

Farha was somewhat sullen because of the heckling despite the applause being louder.

“Don’t worry about those idiots, Mahira ma’am will take care of them,” Ammar tried to cheer her, which worked somewhat as she smiled.

After a few more students gave their speeches before Ammar’s turn came. He spoke about the flaws in Farha’s tenure and how he would act better. He also addressed why he would be better than Ahmer, another favourite among girls.

‘It really was eleven ways I’m better than Farha and Ahmer,’ Ahmer facepalmed.

‘And here I thought he had matured,’ Farha sighed.

Ammar’s speech got him applause though not as much as Farha, which made him frown.

As other students gave their speeches, Ahmer was both glad and upset that his turn was last because of being the last to submit his form. Glad because it gave him more time to prepare. Upset because his nerves were starting to get to him. He wished he could just give his speech and be done with it. Normally, he wouldn’t be this nervous but normally he wasn’t trying to win, this time, a lot was riding on him.

His phone pinged, it was a text from Roxy.

Roxy: Tell your friend Ahmer he’s got this, show them what you’ve got.

A simple word of encouragement, but enough to remind him that he was not alone. Roxy was with him, his friends were with him. It calmed him down in time as his turn approached. He stepped up to the stage and tapped the mic, more to calm his nerves than to test it.

He took a deep breath and started speaking, “Most of you already know the drill. I’m not here to win the elections.”

The audience chuckled, while some girls waved their ‘We Love You Ahmer Qaiser’ posters.

“I mean, what’s even the point of winning?” Ahmer asked, “It’s not like there will be any clubs for the council to manage anymore.” A few students gasped at that.

“What are you doing?” Farha whispered, afraid of the direction Ahmer’s speech was taking.

“No, I want to talk about saving our clubs.”

“Cut the speakers,” Mahira ordered.

“Our clubs are not mere timepass,” Ahmer continued, “They allow us to pursue our passion, it’s where we make friends, both inside and outside the college. For many of us, it’s the only reason we bother showing up to the college.”

Mahira walked up to the students managing speakers, “What’s taking you so long? Shut the speakers already!” Mahira repeated her order.

“Sorry, we can’t hear you over bro spitting absolute fire,” said Zayan and other students managing the sound system agreed.

“We have put our blood and sweat into them,” Ahmer emphasized, “winning many awards for the college. But our respected teachers see our efforts as nothing but waste. They say college is only for studying, nothing else matters. As if cutting club funds and cancelling the Youth Fest wasn’t enough, they’ve now banned our clubs. Not only that, they’ve suspended and expelled many students for raising their voice against this tyranny.”

“Take him off stage!” Mahira ordered the teachers. They tried doing so but Fahad and the football team quickly formed a human chain around Ahmer, protecting him from interference.

“If they are not willing to listen, why should we listen to what they have to say?” Ahmer asked rhetorically, “I say until the ban on clubs is lifted and until the suspended and expelled students are allowed to return to classes with a clean chit, let us boycott the college. Let’s bunk our classes.”

“Now,” Shazia told her cousin, who hit the post button on his phone. Everyone’s phones pinged at the same time.

“My friends,” Ahmer got their attention, “I’ve just shared a link to the website on the college Macebok group explaining our cause. I won’t hold it against anyone who doesn’t join us to avoid any trouble with the college. But if you agree with me and are willing to fight, sign up for the boycott and tell our respected faculty that if there are no clubs, then there are no classes.”

For a while, no one spoke, making Ahmer nervous that he hadn’t gotten through to the audience.

“No clubs, no classes!” Salman cried out.

“NO CLUBS, NO CLASSES!” Shoaib and Saif screamed.

“NO CLUBS, NO CLASSES!” More students joined in.

“NO CLUBS, NO CLASSES!” Soon, most of the students were chanting.

“Oh no! What have you done Ahmer?” Farha asked as she watched more and more students join in on the chanting.

‘Is this the potential Abbu was talking about?’ Ammar wondered, bewildered by what his brother had started.

“Ma’am? What should we do?” A young teacher asked Mahira.

“You were right Abdul Ghani, there is always an idiot,” Mahira sighed.

“A powerful one at that,” Abdul pointed out, “Unlike other students, we can’t just suspend or expel the son of Aslanistan’s president.”

“So we let him get away with this?” Mahira asked rhetorically.

“I’m not saying that,” Abdul raised his hands, “It would be better to talk to Suhail Qaiser to see if he can pressure Ahmer to back out.”