Eye to Eye

“In a surprising turn of events no one saw coming,” narrated the TV anchor, a young woman wearing a blue scarf, “Ahmer Qaiser, the elder son of President Suhail Qaiser, kicked off a boycott of Shah Sarai University. According to the NoClubsNoClasses.com website, until now, more than five thousand students have pledged to the cause and are bunking classes in protest of the recent ban on clubs and suspension of many students and many students continue to join the movement.”

The channel cut to a reporter standing in front of the gates of Shah Sarai University and interviewing students.

“I always thought Ahmer was cold and distant. I didn’t know he was a real homie willing to fight for the underdogs,” said a student in a black hoodie.

“WE LOVE YOU AHMER QAISER!” A group of girls squealed.

“Ahmer Qaiser has a point. Why should we listen to the college if they won’t listen to us?” Asked a young man in blue kurta pajama.

“However, not all students are taking part in the boycott, with some students waiting to see what direction the protest will take and others fearing backlash from authorities,” the TV anchor reported.

“It’s not that I think Ahmer Qaiser is wrong, but he can get away with these kinds of stunts. We will be punished harshly if we try to pull off the same,” said a girl in a black hijab.

“I’m just seeing if my friends and classmates will take part in the mass bunk. If they do, then I will also participate,” said a young woman in a purple tracksuit.

“A separate group of students is also demanding that the administration bring back the Youth Fest and is conducting a sit-in at the campus,” the TV anchor added with the clip showing students holding various placards and posters at the campus that read “Bring Back Our Clubs,” “Bring Back Youth Fest,” and “Bring Back Our Classmates.”

“Meanwhile, the college authorities continue to deny answers about what steps they will take in response to the mass bunk,” the TV anchor said.

“We can’t make any official statements yet as we are still reviewing the situation,” said a young teacher with red hair and beard.

“Speculations from unverified sources have emerged that the website for the movement may have been designed by Ahmer Qaiser’s fiancée, Ruqsana Raees, daughter of Saad Raees, who is currently studying software engineering. The Raees Family strongly denied such a claim. The Presidential Office has also refused to issue a statement, stating that this is not a government matter. Amidst all the chaos, the question many are asking is where is Ahmer Qaiser?” the TV anchor asked.

“Right here at AniCon,” Shoaib said, pointing at Prince, who was not only in disguise but was also cosplaying, dressed in a black vest and pants with black pauldron and a big “sword” on his back. They were standing at the entrance of AniCon near an electronics store where a TV was playing the news.

“Oi! I’m trying to hide from everyone here,” Prince shushed Shoaib, who was cosplaying as a swordsman with black pants, black wifebeater and blue jeans jacket with a big “sword” on his back.

“I’m surprised at how well everything is going. I didn’t expect nearly a quarter of students to join in our mass bunk,” Salman commented as he adjusted his black kimono and big “sword” on his back.

“Can we go inside already?” Saif asked, twirling three “katanas” while wearing a white shirt and black pants, “I’d rather not miss Demolish’s performance.”

“We’re waiting for Roxy bhabhi,” Shoaib joked, getting a light smack from Prince, “besides, there’s lots of time before they start performing.”

Suddenly, Prince got a call on his phone.

“Is it Roxy?” Shoaib asked.

“Nope, my dad,” Prince cut the call.

“Are you sure it’s okay to ignore your father?” Saif asked, “He has called you like twenty times now.”

“I know Abbu is going to kill me for this, so I might as well enjoy the time I’ve left,” Prince shrugged his shoulders, “Besides, the more time we give the news to spread, the better bargaining power we will have.”

“My boy is learning to fly,” Shoaib fake cried as others chuckled.

“Prince!” Roxy called out from the metro entrance. Prince turned around to see a bewitching sight, Roxy in pink dress and red jacket with her wig tied by a pink ribbon, “Sorry I’m late!” She apologized, panting

“It’s gorgeous,” Prince muttered.

“Huh?” Roxy blushed.

“Okay, I said okay,” Prince waved his hands around.

“Oi Prince, aren’t you going to introduce us to your princess,” Shoaib teased.

“Guys, this is Roxy, Roxy this is Friend 1, 2 and 3.” Prince introduced them, making his friends grumble and Roxy chuckle.

“Haha! Funny,” Saif snarked at Prince, “I’m Saif by the way.”

“I’m Salman,” Salman introduced himself.

“Shoaib, a pleasure to meet you,” Shoaib said with a dramatic flourish, “And I see someone is matching.”

“Huh?” Roxy and Prince said.

“You two are the main characters from the same video game,” Shoaib pointed out.

“Oh! That was just a coincidence,” Roxy chuckled.

“Yeah, we didn’t plan it,” Prince scratched the back of his head.

“Alright! Enough teasing! Let’s go!” Saif urged everyone to enter the AniCon, which they did.

“You designed the website right?” Salman asked Roxy, who nodded, “It’s superb. Very professional looking, especially when you consider it was made in one night.”

“Thanks, I stayed up all night building that website,” She admitted.

“Did you catch some sleep?” Prince asked Roxy.

“Yes, don’t worry,” Roxy replied.

“It’s a shame people think it was Ruqsana Raees who built the site,” Saif pointed out.

“Yeah, I wonder why?” Roxy shrugged though she was getting shivers internally, ‘Mamma and Papa are surely looking for me right now,’ she thought, ‘Hopefully, they will believe what I have to say.”

“We could tell them that it was you,” Salman said.

“No,” Roxy spoke louder than she intended before calming down, “I’d rather not draw attention to myself, you know.” Everyone was taken aback but shrugged it off.

“Enough about websites and college, we’re here to enjoy the AniCon,” Shoaib insisted.

“Say, why isn’t Ahmer Qaiser here with you? He’s also into anime right?” Roxy asked, ‘Not that I’m complaining.’

“Yes Prince, why isn’t Ahmer Qaiser at the AniCon with us?” Shoaib asked in an innocent voice, his eyebrows twitching in mockery of Prince.

“He’s- he’s keeping a low profile,” Prince blurted out, “His father is very angry and is searching for him right now.”

“I see, I see,” Shoaib mumbled, thinking of something smart when Saif elbowed him in the ribs, “Ow!”

“Hey Shoaib, Saif, don’t we have that thing to do?” Salman asked, twitching his head to the side.

Saif and Shoaib looked blank before understanding what Salman was trying to do, “Oh yes! That thing!” Saif said.

“What thing?” Prince eyed his friends suspiciously.

“You need to go somewhere? Let’s go together,” Roxy said, not sensing anything wrong.

“Oh no,” Shoaib replied, “this thing can only be done by three people and I say dibs!”

“Dibs!” Saif and Salman said together.

“Oi! Wait!” Ahmer tried stopping them but the three of them ran away to the other side of the AniCon, “Those three are just too much,” Ahmer sighed, shaking his head.

“They’re a lively bunch, I see why you four get along so well,” Roxy complimented them.

“They're troublesome but they’re always there when I need them,” Prince smiled fondly, “Enough about them, where should we go first?”

“That stall looks interesting,” Roxy pointed to a stall where an artist was sketching guests in anime version. Prince and Roxy got their sketch made and enveloped in a nice folder. They checked out various stalls with limited anime merchandise, publications and collectibles. Prince wasn’t much of a collector but Roxy was having the time of her life collecting different merchandise.

They watched the screening of an anime film by an upcoming animator, a tragic tale about a boy with time travel powers who slowly becomes numb due to the various betrayals he faces. The story ends with him becoming the ruler of his country but losing faith in the concept of love. Roxy couldn’t stop tearing up as she held Prince’s arm tightly. Prince was also a little teary-eyed, though he would deny it to anyone who asked.

They participated in a cosplay competition but didn’t get past the first round due to stiff competition, though they didn’t mind as they had a lot of fun.

“Though I really thought we had a chance there,” Prince said.

“It’s because our costumes look rather cheap,” Roxy pointed out.

“Excuse me! Are you saying I look cheap?” Prince asked, exaggeratingly holding his chest as if struck by an arrow.

Roxy chuckled, “I did not say that, I said our costumes look rather simple, like we didn’t put in that much effort compared to others.”

“Girl, I don’t need effort, I am beautiful and I know it,” Prince said, blowing and brushing his wig in mockery.

Roxy laughed harder, “Oh ho, you big baby. If you feel bad, you can make fun of my looks too. Come on, tell me how plain and tacky I look.”

In response, Prince held her shoulders, looking directly into her eyes as if trying to transfer his true thoughts to her.

“There is nothing plain about you,” he told her, “You are the bravest and most beautiful girl I know. You make me brave, you give me the strength to fight the world.”

Roxy couldn’t help but be drawn by Prince’s eyes. They were silver like Ahmer’s but unlike Ahmer’s eyes, which were cold and distant, Prince’s eyes were bright like mirrors reflecting light. Her reflection looked even more beautiful in his eyes.

They stared into each other’s eyes for some time, without uttering a word. Though Prince felt like his eyes were doing the talking, as he felt his heart race.

“The performance by Demolish will start in five minutes,” The public announcement system blared, breaking them out of their trance, “All guests are requested to be at the Front Stage.”

Prince removed his hands from Roxy’s shoulder, who adjusted her jacket, her body suddenly feeling warmer.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me,” Prince apologized, rubbing the back of his head abashedly.

“It’s okay,” Roxy replied.

“Yo! Prince! Roxy!” Shoaib called them waving his hands, Salman and Saif right behind him.

“Where did you three run off to?” Prince asked his friends.

“Here and there,” Shoaib said nonchalantly. Had Prince and Roxy not been so engrossed in each other, they might have noticed the three of them being just around the corner throughout their tour of the AniCon.

“We’ve got no time, Demolish is about to start their performance,” Saif urged them to rush to the venue.

“Yeah, let’s go!” Roxy grabbed Prince’s arm, making him run with her, unaware of the blush he had on. Saif, Salman and Shoaib smiled at the scene before running behind them.