"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFZNVreoH4
"She did well. Now I can show my face at school," my brother chimed in, earning a glare from me.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONEf5ZKz2M
"Don't get too excited. Some students score 100. This is nothing," my dad remarked, pushing the laptop towards me.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaC666kCy9f
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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYgzsnM32k
Entering my room, I closed the door, tossed the laptop aside, tears streaming down my cheeks. I wrapped myself in a blanket, seeking comfort.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6Lq1ZhDhc
"How long are you gonna act like a child?" Tis asked, following me closely.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ilBgz3ZNw
"This is how a human acts," I replied, feeling the weight of his words.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFSg25tJjw
"But I told you, you aren't a human anymore," he reminded me.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq1FdCC3PR
"Just tell me, when will I be enough?" I pleaded.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VXBNkabwU
"You can't ever be enough," he answered firmly.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wHGyaSrBk
“Why? Why can’t I be enough?” I shouted, my voice breaking from tears.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlfpCDlhXH
"Because there is no definition of enough. People play with that word," he explained.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aDA2aLNcN
"But... but..." I started, feeling hopeless, wrapping myself tightly in the blanket.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJeQVlsjWP
"Follow me..".as he lead me to the middle world again. I followed him.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0KxJPQFRM
"What will we do here?" I asked, wiping my tears.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaYXU4yzF2
"We will talk," Tis replied.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qExWSKG8t
"What? Talk??" I asked, shocked and curious.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelXB7EBnwB
"Yes, sit here," he said in a commanding voice.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Se4DUy3lM
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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5NkXtmTV1
"Is it water?" I asked.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ARloFLPqh
"It's not water," Tis replied.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGG0fGWUCa
"What?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH6Zs3c53k
"It's not the water you think it is."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeMrEUgsqK
"Then what is this?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCSvj4ltdr
"It's - It's your prayers."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CD8l8GzXD
"Prayers? Like 'mannat' (prayers)?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4d9s4SsgF
"Yes, people from your world pray every day just to let their prayers drown in this river."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iWBfkHXwC
"Ohh... I didn't understand anything," I replied.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GToc18efK
"How are you feeling now?" he asked, turning to me.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ952AJGflAY
"I don't know, it's just so pretty here. Can I touch that water?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKe7KZ17LuC
"Yes, you can."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EI4KEQv4o
As I stood up and walked towards the silver pond, I hesitated just before touching the water with my left foot's toe.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSwzbrICHt
"It's fine, right?" I asked, seeking reassurance.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C9W83KDjo
He didn't reply, just looked at me with an annoyed face. I understood what he was saying.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYETU5r3XyB
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOrcSpp6Jf
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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme1amk9pBu
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh4Tu5sm0i
"I-I know I am useless," I replied, gazing at the water which was a stark contrast to my life, BRIGHT.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OlCOH2595
"Listen, little human, you are not useless. You just don't know how to use yourself," Tis reassured me.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrQB6p3LSJ
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg8ummaShL
"Do you know why the creator made your world?" Tis asked, looking at the pond.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQKE7lbaoT
"I don't know, " I replied.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuVDSfrA7d
"How would you know? I don't even know it, idiot," Tis retorted.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6mOfJPprB
"Are you insane?Why did you asked me, if you didn't know it too," I snapped back.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteXqsTqwg5
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV8HsaFwEE
"Like what things?" I asked immediately.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzhSF0r9Fz
"Like your family drama, your overthinking, and all," Tis mentioned.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaGIRMyldJ
"You won't ever understand me, Tis, it's much more complicated than it looks to you," I expressed.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTD5j5X4iuA
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIgCxeUFlx
"And how do you decide I am the main character? Everyone is the main character of their story," I questioned.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9f1ZKaxj9x
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92eJ6HSHKk
"But I am not sure, Tis. I am too broken to be fixed," I admitted.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAAgHRp8F5
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnROkUKxun
I stared at him, blinking my eyes in a little astonishment as I remarked, "You should open a YouTube channel and motivate people."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnQfaQS2OV
He contemplated and then replied, "I would have if cameras could capture me."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMwldrgSgN
"Really? You know so much about the human world," I commented.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItWFYh77uX
"The creator once said, 'If you are growing a wheat field, make sure the seed is not of Paddy's,'" Tis shared.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2h0zYE87d
"Huh? I am not that poetic," I asked with a humble smile.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVXBzfsebY
"Leave it, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were crazy," he said, imitating my smile.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujUjJKJv1S
"You asked me, right, why did I start hurting myself?" I inquired.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGcmIoFnAx
"Yes, I did. Do you want to tell me now?" Tis replied.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRhQyJdQi1
"No, I just reminded you that you forgot it," I responded.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQVzRuO43N
"Wow, so you won't tell me?" Tis questioned.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEVVWOUK4C
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrAqTkmBbd
"Did those guys bully you more? I mean, I know that much after you started hurting yourself. Ron told me that much," Tis asked.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bvIrzSEvM
"You guys have studied me? I feel so honored," I remarked.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVCA6fOSek
"Nah, I just learned about your existence before I was going to the Mixture," Tis shared.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzcu39yRp0
I sighed as I prepared to narrate more about my experiences.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveRi9BPDBl
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...117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo14vQNHywC
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimvndyuX1x
"Excuse me?" I asked politely.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2moc27jxVd
"Where do you think you're going, stalker?" she asked with a smirk.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCpcy3kQIa
My eyes widened as I finally understood the situation.She fooled me with the message.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OgY6owOq0
"I-I-I" I stuttered.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMmE8xUPO4
The boys stopped laughing and approached us. Suddenly, the girl lunged at me, grabbing my small bob hairs, causing me to scream in pain.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEn9wxGowP
"Ouch-ouch, what are you doing ?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzHznd0UTy
"Something those guys should have done," she replied angrily.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlAiPOXwlx
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk434QJBrrN
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jGyF6oWJk
I just looked down as her hand was still gripping my hair.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ8dNUrbz0
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD5SsqddwF
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFnv3wLBVi
"Let me beat you, and then we will let you go," she replied.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry9XTcIOwX
"What?" I asked to check if I heard wrong. Was she a psycho? How did I get involved in this?117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu8Qjqhsqh
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGEFgjlbpp
"Huh?" I was genuinely worried about her mental state as I continued to look at her with a puzzled expression in my eyes.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYL6REjsQ0
"Do you want me to spill everything to your pita ji(dad)?" She said, laughing maniacally.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyzfXATcoa
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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDr8Ik274j
"Thanks," she said as she slapped me.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1fQQflxxW
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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjV6PZ5VyA
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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiRMkJoSdE
"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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbA9xF5M6e
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