Zahi Lectures Novels & Stories

Zahi would be very surprised that no news came here from the city at all. "Always the opaque type, aren't you Mr. Claire, but I won't let that stop me..." Mr. Zahi dwadled on about trends, parties and galas over much of the appetizers until a shift in the conversation caught her attention, the once endless focus of art and literature returning to a place of her depth.

"You've been staring at that timetable for the last five minutes." I looked up to find my best friend, Zara, lowering herself into the seat beside me with an iced latte in one hand and a laptop tucked under the other arm. "I've been thinking," I replied. "About?" "See..." I pointed. Zara glanced towards the projector at the front of the lecture theatre. Advanced Protein Biochemistry – Week One Her sympathetic smile appeared immediately. "Oh. You've got Dr Cole first thing on a Monday." I nodded. "You'll survive."

Digital kiosks blinked to life as students walked by, and a giant interactive LED board scrolled through the day's events in glowing white text: Welcome Week | Guest Lectures | LitSoc Mixer | Open Rec Night "Is that a hologram map?" Alexis blinked, eyes wide. Clarisse, standing beside her with sunglasses on and her phone in hand, grinned like a proud local. She donned her black inner blouse with her white outer blazer—her signature uniform when it comes to her Health Education Lectures for Saint Catherine's Academy. "You're going to love this," she said. "Auburn has its own app—ANUCLA." She turned her mobile phone to show the interface.

Poppi, Clara, and Jackson found the lecture so boring, they could not wait to bunk the next class. Hazel was unaware of their plans and was listening to the lecture with great interest. They all were back after the spring break. Hazel spent the week with Ivy, Tyler, and Chris. She was still writing her notes when her class was over. “Come on Hazel! Enough of this shit. I am about to fall after Mr. Economics lullaby lecture” Clara started closing her notebooks.

Harriet's voice was calm and patient, but there was a hint of hope in her eyes. Liam and Zaha almost sighed at the same time. Liam had been trying to recover for approximately 70 years. His research was by no means lacking. After comparing it to Zaha's medical knowledge, Zaha realized there wasn't much he could try. Liam tried to smile reassuringly at Harriet, and opened his mouth, “Nothing yet–” "I'm planning to break new ground for Duke's treatment," Zaha explained flatly, cutting off Liam's words.

"Assalammualaikum, how are you home? Can we meet? I'm in Sigli too." When she finished taking notes on the menu, Haziya opened the chat from Zaweel. He just remembered last night's appointment to meet Miska's brother. Talking about his hand house case. Haziya considered telling her position, while Anis was there so she wasn't alone with Zaweel. However, Haziya hesitated because it would involve Anis. The household dipper will be known by others, they only know today. "Ziya, I'm going to the bathroom for a bit, are you okay leaving first?" goodbye Anis wanted to defecate.

Inna complimented, and Zeenah smiled brightly once more. "Really?" She asked, looking at herself once again. "Na hadu koh? (I look cute, right?)" "Yes, you do. When will you be done with lectures today?" "By two. If I don't get any fixed lectures. Is everything okay?" "No... Armm.. yes." Inna stammered, ducking her face down to continue reading the Hadith in her hand. "What is it, Inna?" Zeenah asked again. "Nothing. Just be home in time please."

“Oh, that unfortunate footage. There’s really no way of getting rid of it, is there?” “Quite the opposite.” Zahir’s smile widened, genuine enthusiasm lighting his face. “I liked it. Watched it a handful of times. The expressions. The intensity. The twist.” He listed them off like he was reviewing a favorite film. Then his eyes landed on Lizzie and me. “I found it fascinating. I found you both fascinating—”

The lecture hall felt smaller than usual, the air thick with anticipation. I arrived early and chose my usual seat in the third row, my legs already trembling. The plug had been active intermittently all morning, a low, teasing hum that kept me on edge without ever letting me fall over it. Professor Hale entered precisely at nine. His eyes found mine immediately, holding my gaze for one long, charged second before he began his lecture on forbidden desires in literature. Ten minutes in, the vibrations increased.

Every girl in the front three rows visibly reassembled herself. Casey grabbed Zara's arm without looking away from the front. "That," she whispered, "is our new lecturer." He set his folder on the desk, looked out at the hall with a calm that suggested three hundred staring students was not particularly new information to him, and introduced himself in a voice that was so not unhurried. I was not paying attention to his name. I was paying attention to the fact that this course, this specific course, was the one where my grade situation was, to put it gently, not ideal. Haines had been a solution to that problem and that solution had just been permanently removed.