What A Beautiful Face She Has

Secrets - 1

June 30th, 2015

Today, she body-shamed me. My classmate, Mumtaz, body-shamed me in front of everyone. Everyone laughed at me, and I didn’t know what to do except cry.

July 10th, 2015

It was culturals at our school, and I was dancing since my favourite song was playing. Mumtaz and her friends saw this and made fun of me.
They laughed and said, “Look how that fatty is dancing. Fat people don’t have any place on the dance floor.”
After hearing that, I became sad and stopped dancing. I cried silently.

September 22nd, 2015

I went to Daisy Aunty’s house and was watching TV. I was watching my favourite movie, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai.
Just then, Juno came and grabbed the remote from me. He changed the channel to Discovery Channel.

“Enna padam parthutu iruka nee, indha vayasula? Watch Discovery Channel and increase your knowledge. My daughter watches it, and look how brave she is. Ava kita irundhu kathuko.”
(What movie are you watching at this age? Watch Discovery Channel and gain some knowledge. Learn from my daughter, see how brave she is.)

What did I do wrong? I was just 13 years old watching a classic like Kadhalukku Mariyadhai. It didn’t even have adult content.
Why did he scold me for watching that? I don’t even like Discovery Channel, but he forced me to watch it.

September 23rd, 2015

Daisy told me she was making my favourite pizza. I nodded in happiness.
Later, I went to the terrace to enjoy the fresh air. That’s when my cousin, Daisy’s daughter, came with a plate in her hand.

“Edhuku ma nee vara? Solli irundha naan vandhu irupenla keezha?”
(Why did you come? You could’ve called me down.)

“Illa, akka. Amma neraya vaati kuptanga, neenga varala.”
(No, sister. Mom called you so many times, but you didn’t come.)

I didn’t hear anything. Epo kuptanga? (When did she call?) I thought.

“Adhanala en kita kuduthu amchanga. Indha idha poi andha saniyan kita kuduthu vaa nu.”
(So she gave it to me and told me to give this to that wretched girl.)

I stepped back, shocked. I still asked to confirm.

“Unga amma enna dhan saniyanu sonnagala?”
(Did your mom really call me a 'wretched unlucky girl'?)

“Ama, akka. Idha poi andha Stella saniyan kita kuduthutu vaa nu sonnaga.”
(Yes, she told me to give this to that wretched, unlucky Stella.)

Tears welled up in my eyes.

I hid my tears and said, “Stella akka ku pasikala, neeye saptuduriya?”
(Stella sister isn’t hungry, you eat it.)

“Yen akka? Ennaku keezha senjutu irukanga. Neenga sapdunga.”
(Why, sister? She is making food for me, downstairs. You eat.)

“Vendam, da. Pasikala, nee saptudu.”
(No, I’m not hungry, you eat.)

She nodded and took the plate back.

I felt awful after hearing the word “saniyan”.(Wretched girl)
Naan enna pannen? (What did I do?)
They were the ones who said they’d make pizza. I didn’t even ask.

Later, I went inside. I heard Daisy Aunty from the kitchen.

“Andha naai ku pizza panni kudutha venamnu solludhu paaru. Thimiru adhigam ayiduchu adhukku. Varatum Jhansi, Ava kita pottu kudukuren ivala.”
(That little brat says she doesn’t want the pizza I made. She’s become too arrogant. Let Jhansi come, I’ll set her straight.)