Omar Rising

In the morning, Kareem, Naveed, and Omar join Faisal for kitchen duty. They chop fruit for breakfast and prep vegetables for lunch under the guidance of the older head cook, Shuaib, and a younger cook, Basem. Omar feels comfortable there, for the camaraderie and cooking prep remind him of home. The boys discuss their favorite subjects, and Omar delivers a deadpan joke that Moiz is his favorite teacher, making the others laugh. Kareem optimistically says that things could be worse, but Omar believes that they have a right to feel unhappy sometimes. Omar is painfully aware that he is a “charity case,” as Aiden tauntingly characterized it. Omar realizes how wealthy the other boys are, and while he has always known that he is poor, at Ghalib he keenly feels his poverty. Omar and Naveed learn that they should not have folded towels after lights out, because if they had been caught by a warden, they could have been expelled. Plus, because they need a staff member to sign off on their hours, their towel folding did not count. The chefs reassure the boys, but Omar worries about jeopardizing his future at Ghalib.

Omar receives another C on an essay in Moiz’s class, and he is angry when the headmaster tells him to take the class more seriously. Omar feels that Moiz is prejudiced against him because he is a scholarship student. Unlike math problems, which have definite answers, English essays are subjective, and Moiz does not like Omar. However, Omar is improving and doing well with his other classes. In the kitchen, he shares his troubles with Shuaib, who explains that Moiz was an English teacher years ago. Omar feels hopeless, but Shuaib assures him that he is smart and will succeed like Faisal, who is about to graduate. Faisal cautions Omar that it is hard to succeed. Even Naveed, who is always the worrier, wants Omar to stop worrying. Omar picks up the breakfast trays before service and runs into Jibril, who wonders why he is working in the kitchen. Embarrassed, Omar explains that some students have community service. After this exchange, Omar feels increasingly inferior to the other students.

Omar is happy when they play soccer in gym class; the game gives him a sense of belonging. He is untouchable on the field, scores many goals, and helps his team to win. Coach Zulfi is impressed with Omar and wants him on the soccer team, even though tryouts have passed. Omar painfully refuses, explaining that he is a scholarship student. Coach Zulfi, who is new to Ghalib, thinks the rule is ridiculous and unfair, but he assures Omar that he will be on the team next year. Omar feels validated that a teacher also agrees that the restrictive rules for scholarship students are unjust. Omar hears some other students talking about his soccer skill, and two of them praise him, but Aiden brings up Omar’s “charity case” status in a backhanded compliment. Omar considers the planets in the solar system and thinks about how scientists have decided that Pluto is no longer a planet. Omar feels like Pluto: present among the other students but unequal to them.

Mr. Adeel urges the students to experiment with different art materials and see what they might create for their project and for the upcoming parent open house. Mr. Adeel tells Marwan, who is less than confident, to let go of his “imposter syndrome,” stop worrying, and do his best. Omar sometimes feels like an imposter as well. He frets that he may have to miss movie night to catch up on schoolwork.

Jibril, Humza, and Marwan—who are not scholarship students—start on a project to show their parents. Omar did not tell his mother about open house because she has no way to reach the school. Omar looks through a binder of artists for inspiration. He considers Yayoi Kusama, thinking that her dots and circles would be easy to trace, but Mr. Adeel does not want imitation. Instead, he wants students to pick an artist to whom they relate. Mr. Adeel suggests that Omar try photography or collage. Omar is drawn to collage, and to a poster by Shehzil Malik, a modern artist in nearby Lahore. The poster depicts a girl defiantly riding a bicycle—something that is culturally disapproved of. Omar likes the girl’s determination and the way she ignores onlookers’ criticism.

On the open house weekend, Omar sadly watches other students greet their families. Zamir comforts him with the thought that the December break is coming soon, but six weeks feels like a long time. Omar wonders if Kareem and his father would participate in open house events if their relationship were out in the open. Even though he has already completed his community service hours for the week, Omar offers to help Shuaib in the kitchen. Shuaib praises Omar’s side dish of raita and his prep cook skills. Omar learns that Shuaib was the head chef at a famous restaurant in Islamabad and cooked for well-known VIPs. Basem dreams of one day achieving Shuaib’s level of success. Shuaib left his prestigious position because even though he achieved his dream and was famous, he did not see his family enough. Shuaib says that dreams change. At Ghalib, he makes good money and sees his family every night. Omar cannot understand why Shuaib gave up his dream, for he himself plans to hang onto his dreams of graduating, becoming an astronomer, and purchasing a house for his mother.

Studying with good-natured Kareem in the library makes Omar feel better about not seeing his mother for the open house. When Omar, Kareem, and Naveed take a break to find food, there is a scattering of other students in the cafeteria whose parents could not attend the open house—including Aiden. Aiden accuses the boys of staring at him, but Omar says they are simply surprised to see him alone. Aiden meanly asks Kareem where his parents are and comments that he saw Kareem’s father cleaning the hall. Kareem is silent. Omar defends Kareem and his father, asserting that Zamir works hard. When Omar asks where Aiden’s parents are, Aiden declares that his father is “important” and taunts the other boys, saying that their families do not even own cars. Omar agrees but counters that even though Aiden’s father has a car, he still did not come to see Aiden. Aiden stomps off, and the other boys congratulate Omar on his jab. Omar believes that he and the other scholarship students deserve to be at Ghalib more than Aiden does.

Kareem teaches Omar the finer points of basketball. Kareem is a skilled player, and Omar urges him to try out for basketball next year, but Kareem is simply glad to be able to play in the beautiful new gym. Kareem thanks Omar for defending him in front of Aiden. Kareem was already aware that Aiden knew about his father’s position at the school. He comments that Aiden was “smirking” at him in classes and biding his time. Omar says that Kareem and his father’s relationship does not have to be a secret, particularly from Kareem’s friends. Kareem explains that at his old school where Zamir was also a janitor, the other students were cruel, and he wanted to avoid repeating that experience. Omar reassures him that things are better here and points out that the other kids laughed at Aiden, not him. Omar considers how Kareem seems happy and carefree on the outside but hides difficult emotional issues inside.

Omar, Kareem, and Naveed watch the soccer team practice outside their dorm window as they study. Omar desperately wishes to play soccer, but he is not sure whether he will even be able to attend the first game, because his English essay still needs work. Naveed proudly announces that he received a B on his last essay. This confirms to Omar that Moiz has it out for him and that he cannot succeed. When Omar notices that the mural has been painted over and the telescope is gone, he is crushed, for it represented Omar’s hope for success.

Amal phones just before lights-out while Omar is finishing an algebra assignment. Omar debates answering but ultimately takes the call, and Amal is thrilled to talk to him. Omar lies and tells her that everything is going well. As she chats, Omar works on his math homework, and Amal realizes that he is not paying attention. Omar brightly promises to see her soon, but secretly, he is glad to end the call. He tells himself that everything will be fine by the time he sees Amal in person. Omar reflects that Kareem also understands the difficulty of putting on a happy face for others.