Omar Rising

Humza and Marwan ask Omar, Kareem, and Naveed to play soccer and go to movie night, but Omar refuses because the scholarship students all need to catch up on schoolwork. Marwan and Humza cannot persuade them, and Marwan dubs them the “number one nerds club” (109). Omar knows that Marwan does not understand why they need to study so hard, because he is not a scholarship student. Naveed joins Kareem and Omar in their room to study, though it is difficult to concentrate with the movie playing outside and Aiden blasting loud music next door. Omar has started his art project, a collage of the solar system. He studied Shehzil Malik and appreciates a comment that she made in an article about how one can always get through difficulties by being “stubbornly optimistic” (110). Omar, Kareem, and Naveed are stubborn and hopeful in their efforts to succeed and stay at Ghalib. Omar knows that they are studying harder than anyone. The boys joke about how Moiz will react when their grades improve.

After a game of volleyball in PE, Omar, Humza, and Marwan chat about their vacation plans for winter break. Humza and Marwan are both going to Spain. Omar recognizes that although the boys share a love for soccer and have other things in common, their economic backgrounds make them very different. Omar is going home for his break. Marwan invites him to his family’s beach house in Indonesia for the summer. Omar knows if Marwan saw that he and his mother live in a shed, Marwan would pity him, but Omar is excited to go home and be with his mother and friends. Coach Zulfi takes Omar aside and asks if he is all right, for he has not seen Omar playing soccer recently. Omar explains his need to study. Coach suggests that Omar attend the home game and join the team on the bench so that he can get used to the dynamics, because next year, Omar will be on the soccer team for sure. However, Omar knows that he must survive this year first.

Omar, Kareem, and Naveed violate the lights-out rule and stay up past midnight to study. Their hard work is paying off; their grades are improving. Mr. Nawaz, acting as warden, catches them, but Omar explains that they are studying. Mr. Nawaz is surprised but insists that sleep is important and so is the lights-out rule. The boys apologize, and Mr. Nawaz excuses their transgression this time. Kareem is glad that his father did not catch them, and Omar is glad that Kareem can now talk openly about his father with his friends. Kareem wonders if studying all the time and missing out on all the fun will be worth it, but Omar declares that achieving an education will enable them to control their lives. Kareem wants to be a “disease detective” and cure his younger sister of her undiagnosed illness. Omar shares his dream of being an astronomer and reflects that staying true to his dreams is helping him through this difficult time.

Winter break arrives, and Kareem must stay at the school with his father because it is too difficult a trip to go home to see his mother. Kareem puts a positive spin on his situation, saying that he’ll have the gym to himself. Headmaster Moiz wants to talk to Omar after school. Filled with dread, Omar goes to Moiz’s office, which he finds to be uncharacteristically pleasant; it is filled with plants and a photo of Moiz and two boys. Moiz tells Omar that he is improving, and Omar explains that he had not written many essays before Ghalib and is studying all the time. Moiz counters that Coach Zulfi has seen Omar playing soccer and has commented on his skill. While playing soccer is not against the rules, Moiz believes that Omar should work hard over break and not waste his opportunity at Ghalib. Omar leaves, feeling threatened.

As Omar rides back to his village with Malik Uncle, he worries about Moiz’s words. The village looks the same. Omar’s friends, Fuad and Zaki, run to meet him and ask excited questions about Ghalib and its amenities. They want to attend but think that anyone who goes to Ghalib must be a “genius” like Omar in order to be accepted. In their eyes, Omar is “lucky,” but he does not feel that he is either lucky or a genius. He is glad when Uncle ushers him into Amal’s familiar, comfortable house for a celebratory dinner. Omar’s mother greets him with tears of joy, and Omar realizes that he has grown as tall as she is. Although cultural norms do not allow Amal to talk to Omar alone or to hug him, Amal is very excited to see him. She asks what books he has brought her, and Omar realizes that he forgot to bring them. Omar knows that Amal is disappointed and feels like he disappoints people wherever he goes.

Omar has trouble sleeping and gets up early to study. His mother tells him to relax and spend time with family and friends, but Omar wants to get ahead for the next semester. At breakfast, Omar, his mother, and Amal’s family chat about Ghalib. Omar likes math best but admits that he also enjoys art. Uncle thinks Amal might like studying art at Iqra. Omar is embarrassed that he was not paying attention when Amal told him she had applied to the girls’ school. Amal hopes to get a scholarship as well, and Omar privately hopes that Iqra does not have the same restrictive scholarship rules that he must endure at Ghalib. Amal asks which clubs Omar has joined and is shocked when he says none; he claims that he wanted to focus completely on his classes. Omar wishes that he could enjoy his visit more, but he worries about Moiz and fears becoming a “ghost boy.” Amal taps her spoon three times, signaling that she wants to meet Omar by the stream to talk privately. Omar wants to see her, but he does not want to talk about how he really feels about school. He knows that she will wait for him by the stream, but he ignores her signal. He resolves to tell her everything when things improve.

Omar is startled to find Amal waiting for him by the chicken coop early the next morning. She is upset because she waited for him by the stream for an hour yesterday. She knows something is bothering him and urges him to tell her what is wrong. Omar feels that he cannot tell Amal the truth because he does not want her or anyone else in the village to know that he is failing them all. He tells her that he needs to study. Amal does not understand why he cannot take a break and enjoy his visit and why he acts like he does not care about his friends and family. Omar apologizes for not bringing her books, assuming that is why she is upset. This statement hurts Amal because she is less concerned about the books than she is about spending time with Omar himself. Omar tersely says that his life is at Ghalib now, not in the village. This also hurts Amal, and she leaves silently. Omar immediately feels remorseful.

Omar regrets losing his temper with Amal and worries that their friendship might be over. Omar’s mother knows that something is wrong, but Omar does not want to tell her about his school problems, so he explains that he argued with Amal. She urges him to apologize. Omar signals Amal with his bike horn and waits for her by the stream. Amal is late to arrive, and at first Omar thinks that she will not come. When she does arrive, he rushes to apologize. Amal is worried about him and suggests that he talk about his problems. Omar tells her about everything that is troubling him at Ghalib: the workload, the chores, and the discriminatory standards. His friends are the only highlight to his life there. Omar feels better after he shares his experiences. Amal suggests that Omar ask Moiz to tutor him, reasoning that at the very worst, the headmaster might refuse. Omar shoots her idea down, but Amal encourages him to have courage and try, so he promises to consider it. Returning to Ghalib, he is glad that Amal has confidence in him; her support makes him feel more confident.