18

Chapter 1

Everyone was gathered together to celebrate a special event. All close relatives were gathered there. It was an honour for the Sharma family because Rohan, the son of Nikhil Sharma, was appointed as a software engineer at Google.  Everyone was celebrating this news with snacks and cold drinks but there was a person who was not interested in this celebration.

Nisha, Nisha Sharma. 

She was 2nd child of Akhil Sharma and is currently completely disappointed in the family because she couldn't clear the cutoff of JEE mains. In their family, some are lawyers, some are doctors or business people and besides these careers most of the members are engineers. Nisha truly wanted to do a career in the space industry, decided to learn Aerospace engineering at IIT. However, she didn't clear the cutoff of JEE mains and her board's percentage was not near 75% which is the criteria for being eligible for JEE ADVANCE. It was clear that even if she decided to take 2nd attempt, she would never be eligible for IIT.

Nisha's older brother Aarva who was studying Computer Science at IIT Bombay was also there. It was the perfect time for showing Nisha, her failures. She was also aware of that.

While everyone was discussing his success, one of the rich aunts said while looking at Aarva, "We also have the next engineer here. But it would have been better if Nisha didn't fail in JEE mains."She looked at Nisha and then proceeded," It's so sad that she failed an easy exam." 

She then continued and said," Like when Arava gave the JEE, he never denied participating in any function and he never yelled back at his parents and here Nisha, she was like a ticking time bomb." 

One aunt said to Nisha's mom," You should have stopped her obsession with foreign music."

Everyone agreed and they came back to their original topic quickly.

Nisha didn't give a response to this.

(Notification ring!)

Nisha looked at her phone. She got a message from her friends in their group called "3 Musketeers". Qukily happiness was reflecting across her face.

[POV*Group Chat*]

(1st Friend) Anvi: Guys, the Amusement Date is confirmed right?

(2nd Friend) Mira: Yes, from my side. What about you @Nisha?

Nisha: ummmmmmmmm.......Yes.

Mira: What do you mean by umm?

Avni: Any family issues?

Nisah: Yes I am🙂.

Avni: What did they start again targeting you?

Mira: In a family gathering?

Nisha: Not mom and dad. My aunt🙂.

Mira and Avni reacted 😤 using this emoji.

Mira: So you are not coming?

Avni: 🤔

Nisha: I will come.

Mira: What if they say no?

Nisha: hmm....I hope they won't and if they allow me they will give me some restrictions.

Avni: ikik 

Mira(Replyed to Nisha): Ohk.

[ POV:- Nisha's family going back to their house by car.]

Nisha was silent because she was listening to music and was crying silently because she needed a real break. Her mom and dad started discussing about their insult at a family gathering. When they realized that Nisha was not listening to them, her mom called her name in a loud voice. 

Nisha came back to reality. She switched off the music and put her earphones away. 

Her mom yelled at her and said, "If you ever put earphones again, I am going to throw them."

"Sorry, Mom."

"Sorry?" Her dad yelled at her and then said," Have you realized what you have done? When on earth you will stop listening to music? And about your friends? Did they even care about you?  We gave you birth and you are behaving like this. We should have never let do what you want. You are behaving like this because we gave you freedom. If I decided today, you would never listen to music and would never see those friends."

Nisha was on the edge of crying but she somehow managed it. 

In this conversation, Arava said," They are only telling you for your better, listen to them."

Nisha didn't even reply on this as she wanted. She just said," Sorry." And opened the door of the car because they reached to the home.

She went to her bedroom after saying good night to her Mom. Her dad was normal now and showed as if nothing happened some minutes ago.

Nisha closed the door and let out a sad sigh which she was holding from so much time. She knew that everyone would sleep soon. She went towards her bathroom to get changed. 

[She entered]

The lights were still off. She looked everywhere and somehow made her way towards the washbasin and opened the tap of hot water. That hot water started pouring on her hands. 

She felt that sensation but her heart was about to cry and she started crying. It was becoming a habit now that whenever she used to get anxity attacks, she used to wash her hands with hot water because her OCD used to get on her, especially her hands and to burn that sensation she used to use hot water.

Nisha was still crying. She sat on the bathroom floor with teary eyes. She was hurt not because her father yelled at her but because he said hurtful things to those things, those people and that art that kept her alive and which kept her hope alive at that time when she was constantly studying for her exams, to score good marks, to get academic and family validation and to be happy.

[Notification ring!]

(POV: ON GROUP)(Mira is offline)

Avni: You okay @Nisha?

Nisha: Yes.

Nisha: Good night everyone. See you soon.😁

Avni:😊

Nisha's eyes were fixed on a bright mobile screen. Her eyes and tears were visible due to brightness.

Nisha asked herself," Why I am like this? Is everyone right? Am I really okay?