"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlCI7ANg1v
"She did well. Now I can show my face at school," my brother chimed in, earning a glare from me.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2htM7lShr1
"Don't get too excited. Some students score 100. This is nothing," my dad remarked, pushing the laptop towards me.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5jZoHomob
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQJcysmDOb
Entering my room, I closed the door, tossed the laptop aside, tears streaming down my cheeks. I wrapped myself in a blanket, seeking comfort.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKmgVv7IWe
"How long are you gonna act like a child?" Tis asked, following me closely.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTI0mvkJYL
"This is how a human acts," I replied, feeling the weight of his words.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqOgJYhygV
"But I told you, you aren't a human anymore," he reminded me.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHft0ezHW8f
"Just tell me, when will I be enough?" I pleaded.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4GjBACMNN
"You can't ever be enough," he answered firmly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvVmiCzuRr
“Why? Why can’t I be enough?” I shouted, my voice breaking from tears.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmns1U8wKdL
"Because there is no definition of enough. People play with that word," he explained.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtu9VbhPTB
"But... but..." I started, feeling hopeless, wrapping myself tightly in the blanket.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NUbUMw6Zb
"Follow me..".as he lead me to the middle world again. I followed him.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJP36lf6wa
"What will we do here?" I asked, wiping my tears.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR7yPuiE0f
"We will talk," Tis replied.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6q002AnWEI
"What? Talk??" I asked, shocked and curious.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbropzZonL
"Yes, sit here," he said in a commanding voice.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjutYGc80rY
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4Jc8SnPIY
"Is it water?" I asked.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CLZW8Uxuy
"It's not water," Tis replied.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBx4Z29vLt
"What?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgIGPijOOA
"It's not the water you think it is."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQPuKBiExC
"Then what is this?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3FijYbZh3
"It's - It's your prayers."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXUigiVtwq
"Prayers? Like 'mannat' (prayers)?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oLlpP7z4G
"Yes, people from your world pray every day just to let their prayers drown in this river."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWumsIzqeMf
"Ohh... I didn't understand anything," I replied.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9PlK2JRB1
"How are you feeling now?" he asked, turning to me.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJNGY3owTz
"I don't know, it's just so pretty here. Can I touch that water?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHfEUjuTeA
"Yes, you can."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4nyjKJ5t2
As I stood up and walked towards the silver pond, I hesitated just before touching the water with my left foot's toe.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ581jVDLnGc
"It's fine, right?" I asked, seeking reassurance.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CE8Q6oUu3
He didn't reply, just looked at me with an annoyed face. I understood what he was saying.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OfFWpt5Hc
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUwAcHFb3D
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dCJ8RqGUV
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFB9sDnmk4
"I-I know I am useless," I replied, gazing at the water which was a stark contrast to my life, BRIGHT.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmS81hvIoA
"Listen, little human, you are not useless. You just don't know how to use yourself," Tis reassured me.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LBc1CYBnU
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8PVU4N28C
"Do you know why the creator made your world?" Tis asked, looking at the pond.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE9yK9RGXS
"I don't know, " I replied.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6czCIfQZl
"How would you know? I don't even know it, idiot," Tis retorted.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHU1tYKD15S
"Are you insane?Why did you asked me, if you didn't know it too," I snapped back.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJP7A5DUfY
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GkpovEKGx
"Like what things?" I asked immediately.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLSxDaxjoY
"Like your family drama, your overthinking, and all," Tis mentioned.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT0NpPidVv
"You won't ever understand me, Tis, it's much more complicated than it looks to you," I expressed.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dV6G34Dqt
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku9J1LPwp8
"And how do you decide I am the main character? Everyone is the main character of their story," I questioned.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEHipfGdzK
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCJyH78vYW
"But I am not sure, Tis. I am too broken to be fixed," I admitted.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlxNLcTERd
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeove6fsYo
I stared at him, blinking my eyes in a little astonishment as I remarked, "You should open a YouTube channel and motivate people."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVhH0qWT5q
He contemplated and then replied, "I would have if cameras could capture me."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZ028WDIkY
"Really? You know so much about the human world," I commented.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjbYH3Ze5i
"The creator once said, 'If you are growing a wheat field, make sure the seed is not of Paddy's,'" Tis shared.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XlZgWUty8
"Huh? I am not that poetic," I asked with a humble smile.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jvvXmpF9H
"Leave it, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were crazy," he said, imitating my smile.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo88jBAKkmt
"You asked me, right, why did I start hurting myself?" I inquired.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbehVM9gzFX
"Yes, I did. Do you want to tell me now?" Tis replied.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTOykvHlRG
"No, I just reminded you that you forgot it," I responded.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFpGGmYc3P
"Wow, so you won't tell me?" Tis questioned.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cqQ6ts3gS
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxmnop7hZ5
"Did those guys bully you more? I mean, I know that much after you started hurting yourself. Ron told me that much," Tis asked.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs7gVsCxl4
"You guys have studied me? I feel so honored," I remarked.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCz5r7h8Pr
"Nah, I just learned about your existence before I was going to the Mixture," Tis shared.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8zm42PP43
I sighed as I prepared to narrate more about my experiences.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolCU1djqbl
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...162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii69BQ7l2B
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYTVntxosN
"Excuse me?" I asked politely.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kcjpfUkI4
"Where do you think you're going, stalker?" she asked with a smirk.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCABpt9AJw3
My eyes widened as I finally understood the situation.She fooled me with the message.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MTYwQ9G0S
"I-I-I" I stuttered.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6d6X0cB3l
The boys stopped laughing and approached us. Suddenly, the girl lunged at me, grabbing my small bob hairs, causing me to scream in pain.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1G3dOWCCJ
"Ouch-ouch, what are you doing ?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpFiWeUfhf
"Something those guys should have done," she replied angrily.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cDlnYVN1K
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSjancN8Dn
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPfKg9uAk5
I just looked down as her hand was still gripping my hair.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIePXNpGB9
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RGkPi3qmH
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEv3tPls9u
"Let me beat you, and then we will let you go," she replied.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuPvyAFYJa
"What?" I asked to check if I heard wrong. Was she a psycho? How did I get involved in this?162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgVqWoftFP
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimShCHqDF3
"Huh?" I was genuinely worried about her mental state as I continued to look at her with a puzzled expression in my eyes.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK54NRfCDE4
"Do you want me to spill everything to your pita ji(dad)?" She said, laughing maniacally.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbwIDFDNlf
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."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchskJyrD75
"Thanks," she said as she slapped me.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXWIQBnNiE
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL3La7RT9q
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqNIXP9ugr
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNHtG53kv9
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