Strike a balance

Chapter 3: Safe Place (Sneha's POV) pt.1

While dealing with immense high expectation from my childhood, i just needed a place where someone could finally understand me. I wanted someone to listen to me without judging.Someone who does not have any expectation from me, just listens to me and understands me. I was fortunate enough to have that safe place in my life.

My parents like any other typical parents had clearly stated they always wanted the highest mark in the class from me, i always tried my best to top but i could not meet their expectation. I always stood second in my class. Many other students wanted my position, i did not want it just cause of my parents and family. Each time I scored the second highest in my class, i never thought about myself, i always used to think what my parents will be thinking of me. Mom face will be covered with sadness. Dad is not gonna speak to me for a while.

This is so pressurising.During second grade final exam, as usual i ranked second in my class, i cried so much that day. Mom and Dad lectured me so much. I got out of my house and went to the riverside. The riverside always bought peace in my mind. "18 tear drop" Someone shouted.

"What, how can you count teardrops" "Yes you can count it, i counted your tear drops it was 18". I was so angry at him...... he was my classmate. Not classmate my main competitor, always stood first in class. He was giving me a look of sympathy which i hated. " Stop looking at me like that........"

"I am counting your tear drops. its nowwwwww".  I was getting so angry i quickly stopped crying. "It's zero now" "Yeah, you stopped crying thats great" "What are you doing here.......you are so weird who counts one's tear drop"

"Zain does" Zain Ahmed Malik, first boy of my class. my competitor. He always irritate me. I always used to hate the sight of me until i saw him today........." You were sad, so i thought if i counted your tear drops you might stop crying and laugh , instead you became angry like a volcano".

I smiled. He sat down beside me. " Your parents scolded you today right ?" "Yes they did, how do you know" " Whole school knows, they screamed at you for you being second" " They always does this"

"Your parents might be so happy". i said to him. " I do not have parents, my mom died while giving birth to me, dad hates me for that, he left me with grandma" ."oo I am sorry i did not knew about that". "Sneha it's fine, do not cry cause of this, i know your parents loves you alot".

"They always scold me.....". I began ranting to him. I had really few friends in 2nd grade, cause of my competitive nature, nobody wanted to be my friend. I was really mean and bad to them. "You are speaking so fast, i did not understand anything though" "Zain, you were just listening, i thought you understood what i meant".

"Ah if you speak like a bullet train, its difficult. but i could not stop you as i did not get the chance." 'you are a stupid boy".

"Shut up !!!" Saif shouted. Along with Saif, i could see Ilma, Ruby and Sana running towards me. We studied in the same class. Saif came and said "Zain is the best, he is not stupid". "Yes, he is our best friend. He is amazing" Sana agreed. " He is ........... before i could say anything Ilma grabbed my mouth. "Don't dare to say anything about Zain". I was so scared then. Ilma grabbed my mouth so tightly, it was hurting. 

"Ima, let go of her" Zaid told. Ilma let me go in a moment. "Be careful.....". Sana warned me. Everyone's eye was filled with anger. "I'm sorry". I told them.

"If you become sad, i am gonna start counting your teardrops again" Zain smiled. I was amazed by his attitude.He was not angry that i called him stupid.He was trying to cheer me up. His humour is a bit different, but i can see he was genuinely trying to cheer me up. "And don't be sorry it's okay, though you speak faster than a bullet train, it's a bit hard for me to understand"

Other give me and Zain a puzzled look. "Jersey, she called you by a bad name, you are not saying anything" Saif was most puzzled. "She just called me stupid and said nothing. It's not a big deal Akbar " Zain said to saif.

"How dare she called our Jersey stupid !! nobody says it except for us" We all started to laugh. Sana was really serious, but the way she was speaking made us all laugh so much. "I am sorry again, i just.........

"Stop saying sorry sorry. We are friend. right ?" Zain told me. I was so shocked at that point. "NO!!,we are not friends. she is a bad girl" Sana screamed. "Bubba,it will be so much fun to make another friend".