The Class of '18

Tanya Sharma

All her teenage years, a single question bothered her - Why she didn't have big breasts like other girls at school did? She would spend hours in front of the mirror naked, touching and squeezing her breasts, hoping for a magic to happen. But then there was nothing but a bare chest.

Though she never heard it herself, she knew boys made fun of her, calling her 'Breastless' and 'Son of the physical education teacher'. Girls however on the other hand, showed no mercy and would sing 'Bade Achhe Lagte Hain'- a famous retro Hindi song, whenever she would pass them in the hall or corridors. 

Tanya spent hours in the school washroom sobbing. 

Born to Santosh Sharma, an electronics businessman and Reeta Sharma, a simple Hindu housewife, Tanya grew up in an upper middle class family.

She was unattractive. Her hairline slightly above normal made her look old, her dusky complexion, her big pointy nose that would always make her feel very much conscious, the mark on her eyebrows when she fell from the swing in the third grade, made her the least favourite among the sexual gossips in groups of boys at school.

From an early age, she accepted life as it was given to her, had agreed she would never find a suitable opposite sex or even a good friend let alone a best friend. Tanya in her school life talked only to a few girls. Introvert, unsocial, not gossipy, were enough reasons why she was never invited to parties. Even if she was and if she did come, which together happened very rarely, she would sit in one corner for those three hours all by herself, staring at people, their drinks and plates. She would give an occasional smile to one or the other waitress. 

"I hate crowds" she said - the reason why she didn't like to go near canteen and liked to sit alone on galleries. She wouldn't sit on the ground as it made her feel vulnerable, for eyes could spot her from all directions. Galleries ruled out these possibilities to a greater extent. 

Tanya Sharma, with no certain friends, no fun filled memories, no adventures entered high school. 

Average in studies, average in sports, below average in co-curricular activities, satisfactory at behaviour, poor in social skills, Tanya Sharma ended her terrible school life.

A new world was waiting for her. A world where no one knew of her past. A world where she could be a whole new personality. A world where she could choose to be, whatever she wanted to.