"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIlYoEL0mY
"She did well. Now I can show my face at school," my brother chimed in, earning a glare from me.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrRyePaXoF
"Don't get too excited. Some students score 100. This is nothing," my dad remarked, pushing the laptop towards me.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr3QTYV0Rl
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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSRi7GdxEd
Entering my room, I closed the door, tossed the laptop aside, tears streaming down my cheeks. I wrapped myself in a blanket, seeking comfort.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uJjq3Q3Yz
"How long are you gonna act like a child?" Tis asked, following me closely.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvn0x9wHkq
"This is how a human acts," I replied, feeling the weight of his words.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjLw0VUySZ
"But I told you, you aren't a human anymore," he reminded me.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wU7rdJulx
"Just tell me, when will I be enough?" I pleaded.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpFebbxZfe
"You can't ever be enough," he answered firmly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0KdLuPtSS
“Why? Why can’t I be enough?” I shouted, my voice breaking from tears.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKksAHTmar
"Because there is no definition of enough. People play with that word," he explained.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHLhIlCfZ8
"But... but..." I started, feeling hopeless, wrapping myself tightly in the blanket.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpXIKbQHcm
"Follow me..".as he lead me to the middle world again. I followed him.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3prNQL1xn
"What will we do here?" I asked, wiping my tears.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWt74h5jfIW
"We will talk," Tis replied.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH54dKldtj0
"What? Talk??" I asked, shocked and curious.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlPw0MCsma
"Yes, sit here," he said in a commanding voice.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM2NvjllsD
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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BPoHzPEMe
"Is it water?" I asked.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp22uBqoT5m
"It's not water," Tis replied.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMatUhRfK1N
"What?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaGg2F0rmY
"It's not the water you think it is."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID30U9HcDu
"Then what is this?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jocYZhfGZ
"It's - It's your prayers."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLuNVQOL6C
"Prayers? Like 'mannat' (prayers)?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCnj9powvF
"Yes, people from your world pray every day just to let their prayers drown in this river."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrgdlLXtPJ
"Ohh... I didn't understand anything," I replied.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGcnnT8iu8
"How are you feeling now?" he asked, turning to me.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvZn5lpFj6
"I don't know, it's just so pretty here. Can I touch that water?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHTG5YgQMb
"Yes, you can."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt4mT52W2I
As I stood up and walked towards the silver pond, I hesitated just before touching the water with my left foot's toe.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1RJZQ71bw
"It's fine, right?" I asked, seeking reassurance.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRizC24ELw
He didn't reply, just looked at me with an annoyed face. I understood what he was saying.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFmfkC2Mfd
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwuo0sSKBr
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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYSGQitKWW
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSMlk8oGc2
"I-I know I am useless," I replied, gazing at the water which was a stark contrast to my life, BRIGHT.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X4fmwKC98
"Listen, little human, you are not useless. You just don't know how to use yourself," Tis reassured me.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIF04gKvco
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HH90yMBNW
"Do you know why the creator made your world?" Tis asked, looking at the pond.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInItud3RIq
"I don't know, " I replied.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWvuWwXkhV
"How would you know? I don't even know it, idiot," Tis retorted.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39nPD5PaUL
"Are you insane?Why did you asked me, if you didn't know it too," I snapped back.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFOy7hhCnj
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVZN6vhrzy
"Like what things?" I asked immediately.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FKkZnZYQU
"Like your family drama, your overthinking, and all," Tis mentioned.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qdc96mxuj
"You won't ever understand me, Tis, it's much more complicated than it looks to you," I expressed.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99ssSoT9gD
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRnsWmEFXh
"And how do you decide I am the main character? Everyone is the main character of their story," I questioned.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlU2W4r2yJ
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37UDNwF86v
"But I am not sure, Tis. I am too broken to be fixed," I admitted.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZczDL6X1X
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3l5haWsPQ
I stared at him, blinking my eyes in a little astonishment as I remarked, "You should open a YouTube channel and motivate people."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkvdSTtSjp
He contemplated and then replied, "I would have if cameras could capture me."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE23F03Qgxb
"Really? You know so much about the human world," I commented.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkssfuZHF0
"The creator once said, 'If you are growing a wheat field, make sure the seed is not of Paddy's,'" Tis shared.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOozzWVsurc
"Huh? I am not that poetic," I asked with a humble smile.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPOta0Y9rs
"Leave it, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were crazy," he said, imitating my smile.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTqyAztUYz
"You asked me, right, why did I start hurting myself?" I inquired.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwdvic2dUu
"Yes, I did. Do you want to tell me now?" Tis replied.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyAOlwIH3n
"No, I just reminded you that you forgot it," I responded.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ql1XEhgMv
"Wow, so you won't tell me?" Tis questioned.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDVMV67jrX
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tyttLY8iA
"Did those guys bully you more? I mean, I know that much after you started hurting yourself. Ron told me that much," Tis asked.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDedeK5vaGY
"You guys have studied me? I feel so honored," I remarked.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM1f9PYqCx
"Nah, I just learned about your existence before I was going to the Mixture," Tis shared.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbin9a94bac
I sighed as I prepared to narrate more about my experiences.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQHkormX6k
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...51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqD1vS8i07
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0yqO0uLID
.................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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeKUgowvyr
"Excuse me?" I asked politely.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgn9imqFX06
"Where do you think you're going, stalker?" she asked with a smirk.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5lzzHoyHc
My eyes widened as I finally understood the situation.She fooled me with the message.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjcKgIRj40
"I-I-I" I stuttered.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKOQKGu48O
The boys stopped laughing and approached us. Suddenly, the girl lunged at me, grabbing my small bob hairs, causing me to scream in pain.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXAFMiZIkF
"Ouch-ouch, what are you doing ?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIccdeEo5Z
"Something those guys should have done," she replied angrily.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DGBVikYIk
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1us75eawCB
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lktDm4SG3
I just looked down as her hand was still gripping my hair.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtNB3cdfzX
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ21gtE7SXs
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pJf8BwS6H
"Let me beat you, and then we will let you go," she replied.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrqbb7hpLO
"What?" I asked to check if I heard wrong. Was she a psycho? How did I get involved in this?51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZayLC5e0id
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNbvkkwLiY
"Huh?" I was genuinely worried about her mental state as I continued to look at her with a puzzled expression in my eyes.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKPlugadky
"Do you want me to spill everything to your pita ji(dad)?" She said, laughing maniacally.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbyxHdAWeW
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."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W1rJYusgO
"Thanks," she said as she slapped me.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOydJ2AeoAX
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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPd8SSIa3g
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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r4b2T5ckQ
"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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMeDt50jKq
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksjFjIaXs1
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfK2npwQTD
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kRiPYWkBL
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHOKOd3oIb
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU9fMmXhKt
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxqC5hu84m
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFSSpNUc7U
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvlHq1wq7a
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE9IJchyjg
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGrNyUcTqS
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UypWifzpw
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvIbaevYCx
