Society, Family and Me

What Happened?

3rd September 2019;

Priyanshi and Anisha sat in front of each other while eating their food. "Then I asked Shanaya why she was crying in the deserted corridor---Gelhi are you OK?", Anisha asked Priyanshi, looking worried. "I don't know Anu, my stomach suddenly started to hurt", Priyanshi replied. "You don't look that well though", Anisha said skeptically. "I'm probably allergic to your cooking", Priyanshi joked. "Gelhi, if you don't want to eat my fried rice then don't. I cooked the fried rice for myself. Why are you eating it?", Anisha questioned sternly. Priyanshi laughed sheepishly at Anisha's question. "Why are you threatening me over something so useless? Let's quickly finish our tiffins before the teacher comes and screams at us", Priyanshi replied. The bell rang signaling the end of break time. Both of them prepared for the next period. The school routine continued like usual. However, Priyanshi's stomach ache continued to worsen till the end of school hours. Priyanshi was extremely relieved as the school ended. The unbearing pain in her stomach made her want to curl up into a ball and light her fire. Her relief was temporary as she had to return home by the school bus. She dreaded the bus journey.

It was extremely difficult for Priyanshi to travel home from the school bus. She was one of the shortest girls in her class and being short came with a lot of disadvantages. Worst of all was unable to find an empty seat on the bus as the people ahead blocked her view. The huge bag full of books, her projects, and the added stomach ache made everything worse. This time again couldn't find a seat to sit in. So, she stood there holding all of her stuff in the middle of a very crowded school bus filled with girls from 1st-12th standard. This tormention lasted for 20 minutes till she reached home. She quickly got off the bus stop and rushed home. She thought to herself about how Anu doesn't suffer the pain of traveling by bus to go to school. Anisha's father had given her a gear cycle as her family lives closer to the school than Priyanshi's family. In this way, Anisha cycles to school, which takes around 10-15 minutes, while Priyanshi has to wake up early to catch the school bus.

"Mama, my stomach hurts a lot ", Priyanshi complained to her mother the moment she got home. "It's all because of the junk food you eat every day. Your father has spoiled you so much that you can't live a day without junk food. Now that the junk you ate hurt your stomach, You come and nag me about it." Asha, Priyanshi's mother, lectured her. Priyanshi didn't like her mother lecturing her for the smallest of things. Feeling irritated Priyanshi sulked and stomped into her room. Priyanshi felt that her mother doesn't love her. Her Baba spoiled her endlessly. He gave her everything she ever wanted and never raised his voice at her. But on the other hand, Priyanshi's mother always scolded her for no reason. And now that her stomach was hurting a lot, Asha still blamed her father for it. Priyanshi changed her clothes and lay down on her bed clutching her stomach. She thought about why she had to be cursed to have such a mother. She knew that if her father was here he would have consoled her not scolded her. But her father will not reach home till half an hour when his morning shift ends. After some time she heard her father's arrival and got up from her bed. Pratyush, Priyanshi's father, entered her room. "Gelhi, Asu said that your stomach's hurting. We'll go to the hospital in the evening. Let's go and have lunch now, OK?", Pratyush asked, kindly. "Yes, Baba", Priyanshi replied as both of them went into the living have lunch.

Lunch and dinner were Priyanshi's least favorite time of the day. Sitting at the dining table and listening to her mother complaining about how she isn't good at this, isn't good at that. Or that she doesn't eat anything her mother cooks. Or how Rajesh and Anisha are now top-grade students even though they used to score way less than what Priyanshi used to score in lower standards. Priyanshi didn't like how her mother always compared her to Anisha. Yes, Priyanshi agreed that Anisha is extremely good at sports studying and even looks good but that doesn't mean that she has to be compared to every other child who isn't at her level. Pratyush always tried to resonate with Asha and tried to make her understand that competition and comparison don't lead to success or top grades. Her father's words were the only reason why Priyanshi sat with her mother during lunch and dinner. Yet, Pratyush's words were of no effect. Asha regularly nagged and nit-picked Priyanshi every chance she got.