"97? It's fine, I guess," said my dad as he looked at my result on the laptop screen.
I nodded, hiding my disappointment because "fine" doesn't capture all those late nights.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMveu9QygW
"She did well. Now I can show my face at school," my brother chimed in, earning a glare from me.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzHXZGmJVZ
"Don't get too excited. Some students score 100. This is nothing," my dad remarked, pushing the laptop towards me.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUo8drnxrl
Those words shattered the last pieces of my heart. The room fell silent, but my mind was loud with questions. Isn't 97 enough? Am I not enough? Will I ever be? Yes, some students get 100, but 97 is still something, I told myself as I retreated to my room with the laptop.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzShhGpvPU5
Entering my room, I closed the door, tossed the laptop aside, tears streaming down my cheeks. I wrapped myself in a blanket, seeking comfort.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArXJLjqxMe
"How long are you gonna act like a child?" Tis asked, following me closely.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtjLubIBZe
"This is how a human acts," I replied, feeling the weight of his words.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpp5nrCqkW
"But I told you, you aren't a human anymore," he reminded me.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLyrBkz3pH
"Just tell me, when will I be enough?" I pleaded.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigtnQ37XNp
"You can't ever be enough," he answered firmly.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQC1z9z0wm
“Why? Why can’t I be enough?” I shouted, my voice breaking from tears.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf2Gu0BmlI
"Because there is no definition of enough. People play with that word," he explained.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMb10By10sP
"But... but..." I started, feeling hopeless, wrapping myself tightly in the blanket.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrCOoxRVVy
"Follow me..".as he lead me to the middle world again. I followed him.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5SsVW25hB
"What will we do here?" I asked, wiping my tears.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmU4nlayq8
"We will talk," Tis replied.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bhVpxIq6L
"What? Talk??" I asked, shocked and curious.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcUNrFg1HW
"Yes, sit here," he said in a commanding voice.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3ePIzRt5o
I sat down beside him on that green cloud. Suddenly, as I blinked, a greenish silvery pond appeared in front of us. It was like a movie scene. We sat on the shore of a silver pond, looking at the mesmerizing sight. Tis had a serious expression, his green face glowing from the light of the pond.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl8OpV2p5k
"Is it water?" I asked.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiumcbdajr
"It's not water," Tis replied.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJDkfcmSIk
"What?"71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGidCMP4SV3
"It's not the water you think it is."71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWq7qicwDx
"Then what is this?"71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡct2kmh5nXo
"It's - It's your prayers."71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPiovAXkxx
"Prayers? Like 'mannat' (prayers)?"71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ557GR1DYee
"Yes, people from your world pray every day just to let their prayers drown in this river."71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrqh6I8Da2
"Ohh... I didn't understand anything," I replied.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0WYyTeLOP
"How are you feeling now?" he asked, turning to me.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvMgTXq6B4
"I don't know, it's just so pretty here. Can I touch that water?"71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTstAqoGTRg
"Yes, you can."71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNHIzMgSqW
As I stood up and walked towards the silver pond, I hesitated just before touching the water with my left foot's toe.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU91yVExDQ
"It's fine, right?" I asked, seeking reassurance.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpRD0fVxhP
He didn't reply, just looked at me with an annoyed face. I understood what he was saying.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoUwtRBpPU
"I am touching it. I don't know, you told me it's fine, so if anything happens, it would be your fault," I said as I tentatively touched my left foot's toe to the water.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZxb4KuYUJ
As I dipped my toe, it felt warm, as if someone was gently pulling me into the river. I went further in until both my feet were submerged. The sensation was oddly familiar, like something I experienced every day but couldn't quite name. I was unsure of how any why I felt that way.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUeSIVCLGP
"At this rate, I don't think you will be able to help me find her," Tis's voice brought me back to the present as he spoke gently.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs8Y4uYRTn
"I-I know I am useless," I replied, gazing at the water which was a stark contrast to my life, BRIGHT.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDM6QFM8J2
"Listen, little human, you are not useless. You just don't know how to use yourself," Tis reassured me.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G2u3V49uR
"I messed up everything. I couldn't get the highest marks in my class even after working my butt off. I don't think I can ever be useful to you," I lamented.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt2baH0Q8Z
"Do you know why the creator made your world?" Tis asked, looking at the pond.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpIqckSdC5
"I don't know, " I replied.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQx4htLLtM
"How would you know? I don't even know it, idiot," Tis retorted.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDa6zahLhCN
"Are you insane?Why did you asked me, if you didn't know it too," I snapped back.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPKjekzkLL
"Listen, you are a good human being, and I don't want you to focus on things that are just a distraction," Tis said, coming closer and hovering above the pond.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRN9bSgev6
"Like what things?" I asked immediately.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN0QHQxdAF
"Like your family drama, your overthinking, and all," Tis mentioned.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AosUsgIbQ
"You won't ever understand me, Tis, it's much more complicated than it looks to you," I expressed.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJEHEBEmJk
"Trust me, I don't even want to understand, but the thing is you are the MAIN CHARACTER here. The surroundings shouldn't change you; you have to change them," Tis advised.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYeUa2p5Hy
"And how do you decide I am the main character? Everyone is the main character of their story," I questioned.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbXSoyTXk9
"Exactly, everyone is the main character of their story, but it depends on the reader whose story she decides to read," Tis replied, looking into my eyes. His words struck a chord within me as I pondered my actions in my muddled mind, and I saw myself crying for a moment.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9UvZFEn5N
"But I am not sure, Tis. I am too broken to be fixed," I admitted.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSQbgG9vvy
"Or maybe it's all in your head, the cracks you are seeing are just small scratches, they don't have to break when they can still be healed," Tis replied, gazing at me and then at the pond again.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJWW1bbjeI
I stared at him, blinking my eyes in a little astonishment as I remarked, "You should open a YouTube channel and motivate people."71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TVgcgkPuU
He contemplated and then replied, "I would have if cameras could capture me."71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUdLo4VJ84
"Really? You know so much about the human world," I commented.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfcfFpr8vY
"The creator once said, 'If you are growing a wheat field, make sure the seed is not of Paddy's,'" Tis shared.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUqM0uD34X
"Huh? I am not that poetic," I asked with a humble smile.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD3c2C43Bi
"Leave it, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were crazy," he said, imitating my smile.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1kMJryM8j
"You asked me, right, why did I start hurting myself?" I inquired.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpJmoUrMRv
"Yes, I did. Do you want to tell me now?" Tis replied.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvI40qRXGA
"No, I just reminded you that you forgot it," I responded.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ykRHGK1AC
"Wow, so you won't tell me?" Tis questioned.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPlhzVUCbJ
"It's not a small story, and I don't know how to put it into words. I was bullied for liking a guy and was expected to keep shining when I was totally looking for my own light," I explained.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwl8Qr5gKX
"Did those guys bully you more? I mean, I know that much after you started hurting yourself. Ron told me that much," Tis asked.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0m1Wavvw4
"You guys have studied me? I feel so honored," I remarked.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKhkJ2reCO
"Nah, I just learned about your existence before I was going to the Mixture," Tis shared.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PEG6D0cCP
I sighed as I prepared to narrate more about my experiences.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg47BAhgfZ
After that day, I chose to keep my distance from Ayaan because he wasn't the guy I had imagined him to be. But it seemed like fate had other plans for me, as a few days after that incident, I received a message from an unknown number claiming to be Ayaan's mother, apologizing for his actions. I was stunned when I read that message; how did this issue reach his parents? I felt my heart racing as I read the message repeatedly. Knowing Ayaan, I couldn't believe he would involve his parents, so I assumed either his mother found out on her own or Arth informed her. I was so anxious that I ignored the message for hours until the calls from the same number began. Finally, after a whole day, I replied, apologizing and promising not to contact her son again. However, she insisted on meeting me. Instead of asking 'why,' I foolishly inquired 'where,' not fully understanding my own actions. I agreed to meet her at the same place where I had met Ayaan. The next day, after finishing my studies, I cycled to the meeting spot. Unlike before, I was filled with dread and shame, almost on the verge of tears. When I arrived, I saw the familiar faces of Ayaan's friends, but Ayaan and Nishkarsh were not among them. Overwhelmed, I took a step back, deciding to flee rather than confront them again. And then...71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrEnYOl9fC
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.................3 months ago..............
I turned my bike when I spotted Arth, Ritwik, and Aadish. They were still laughing as I turned my cycle, but I couldn't move it as someone was holding it. I looked around and saw a tall, brown girl with a lot of kajal under her eye holding the back of my cycle. I glanced at her from top to bottom.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KK1d1fyyN
"Excuse me?" I asked politely.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRgZNYoncv
"Where do you think you're going, stalker?" she asked with a smirk.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk1bCbZ5WM
My eyes widened as I finally understood the situation.She fooled me with the message.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNmtprcaQF
"I-I-I" I stuttered.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDmfwgThhK
The boys stopped laughing and approached us. Suddenly, the girl lunged at me, grabbing my small bob hairs, causing me to scream in pain.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSNFe8agf4
"Ouch-ouch, what are you doing ?"71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmarvCbH3D
"Something those guys should have done," she replied angrily.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuI0atQwtHR
"You deserve it, you jerk," replied another girl who was also talking as they dragged me into the nearby bushes by my hair. I winced in pain, but the first girl, Pankti, muffled my screams with her hand. The boys chuckled as all three of them left. Now I was alone in the bushes with two unfamiliar girls who were glaring at me angrily, as one of them threw my bike on the ground with a thud.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOICJNKzde
"Listen here, Ayaan Mishra and I are meant to be together, and how did you even manage to get into the boys' group?" Pankti growled in anger.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmc10LsoSFk
I just looked down as her hand was still gripping my hair.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYTAp6AQ7O
"You should even look at yourself. Listen, we won't tell anyone anything if you let us vent out our anger," she continued as her friend nodded in agreement.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSBh9BfoRd
"I am sorry. I know I made a big mistake, but can you please let me go? I promise I won't do it again. I won't even look at Ayaan from now on," I pleaded, tears rolling down my cheek.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggoa6Djh8o
"Let me beat you, and then we will let you go," she replied.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIbFBLJLX4
"What?" I asked to check if I heard wrong. Was she a psycho? How did I get involved in this?71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzCqcI1ELN
"You heard me, let me just give you a little beating, and then we'll let you go. I need to show my Ayaan how super jealous I am and how much he means to me," she said with a determined tone.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KFZczgsbN
"Huh?" I was genuinely worried about her mental state as I continued to look at her with a puzzled expression in my eyes.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOjMe5ODrg
"Do you want me to spill everything to your pita ji(dad)?" She said, laughing maniacally.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaEFHjpgKp
I snapped out of my thoughts as I pleaded, "Please, no, no. I promise I won't look at him, and yo-you can hit me."71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI31EO925L2
"Thanks," she said as she slapped me.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKikkzwZvun
The next thing I knew, I was sitting there as they both slapped me, hard ,My brown cheeks still turned red as she pulled my hair, making me face her before splashing water on my face. Then she kicked me to the ground, while her friend kicked my stomach. I was on my periods, lying there with my eyes closed, gazing at the sky. My stomach was in pain, actually, my whole body was in pain as they both laughed. I kept wondering what was so amusing about seeing me lying here like a lifeless body. Was it fun? Maybe I should be dead for a day to see how people celebrates it.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnCr9WBbEd
They paused the video, chuckled, and then left me standing there as they vanished from sight. I lingered on the ground for a moment, wishing for it to open up and swallow me whole. Summoning courage akin to the protagonist of a survival film, I hoisted my bike from the ground, only to discover its chain was loose, and there was a leakage, staining my entire outfit red. With tears streaming down my face, I gazed at the dark sky, realizing it wasn't safe to remain there. I managed to make my way home, where I faced a barrage of questions from my family and the neighborhood aunties. I fabricated a story, concealing the truth once more.Retreating to my room in anguish, I changed my clothes and spiraled into deep introspection.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRAkSJHm1W
"I am at fault, always in the wrong. I brought this upon myself. What if they disclose this to my father? What if they spread gossip among my schoolmates? I'll be judged by everyone. The next two years of school will be a nightmare. I fear I won't perform well in the exams now that I've messed up," I murmured to myself.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3dBw2oOzX
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