Healing Him | ✓

02.

Going to school was something that Shivaay dreaded. Not because he hates school or anything. It was because the school was equivalent to hell for him. Nobody in the school liked him, well scratch that, everyone despised him. And he knew the reason very well.

Like everyday he woke up early, prepared the breakfast for his family. Before getting ready for school. He was mentally preparing himself for what he may face as the day went on.

He walked into the empty class taking his seat by the window. The sky was cloudy today. And it was quite windy. He put the stopper in the midway so that the window stays open without disturbing him. Since no one has reached yet, he took out his textbook and carried on reading where he had left last night. The class has started arriving. The chatter increased. Shivaay too wanted to hear and engage in the fun talks of his classmates. But he didn't have such privilege. He was the outcast after all. The freak, as the school has termed him.

He didn't blame them. Sometimes he himself believed that it was true. He was a freak that should be the reason why no one liked to talk to him. His class hated his presence. He was never invited to any of the games his class participated in. He wasn't even allowed to watch. They said that they may lose if he comes.

'We don't want to lose. My mum says you're a bad omen."

Shivaay used to pretend that the words didn't hurt. He used to pretend that he didn't care that he had no one to share his lunch with. He didn't care that there was no one he could play pranks with. That no one was there to study with him. He didn't care. He was past that phase. There was a time when he used to cry himself to sleep every night. But not anymore he was numb now. Numb to the cruelty he faced everyday, he has lost all hopes that one day it'll be all okay. He now was ready to take everything that came to him, every kick, every slur, every blame, every taunt, he simply took it all.

Today was the usual day. Well, kind of. Until the homeroom teacher announced the joining of the new student. He heard the introduction. He didn't look away from the window. There was no point. Soon enough the new student will join the class with their taunts.

He was surprised when he saw the girl approaching the seat beside him. It always remained empty. But before she could sit down the girl named Mallika pulled her towards her own. She joined the school last year. She was not anything less than cruel to him. In no time she had become class's favourite and he became her favourite target. He avoided her as much as he could.

"You wouldn't want to associate yourself with him."

"They say the boy's freak."

His face turned ashen. Well what had he been expecting he turned back to the window barely registering the teacher's words as she continued her explanation of the chapter. The day went on. His routine continued. But he was confused by the glances the girl sent his way, he didn't know what to make of it. He recognised the emotion after a while. Pity. He didn't want someone's pity. Their science teacher assigned them a project. A group project. He knew like always he had to prepare it alone. But this time the group was selected by the teacher. Shivaay didn't like the idea because the person would already dislike being in the same group as him. He got paired up with the new girl. He heard her complain to her friend about how she didn't like the pairings.

He felt bad. She had tried to engage in a small talk but he couldn't bring himself to answer as the class was observing them. He waited till everybody left.

"Mrs. Kulkarni? I wanted to propose something." Shivaay said looking at the ground.

"Yes my child, speak up."

"Ma'am, it would be better if we let students choose their partners. They'll work more diligently." He said his eyes fixated on the ground. Mrs. Kulkarni regarded him carefully before she nodded. "That may work. I'll inform the class the next morning. Now hop on to your home." She said giving him a warm smile and a pat on his head.