1 My Normal Life

I entered my class. the class was already noisy and people were busy with others. no one waved at me when I entered. no one realised that I have come. but that's fine. I'm used to ignorance. people ignore me because I ignore them. the fault is in me.

I silently went towards my seat and sat. I looked out of window beside me. I could see the big ground in front. it's funny to see people move from this hight. they look so small. that's why I love this place. my bench mate and my best friend Samira, is usually late.

'Adhya, have you completed your maths homework' Divya, one of my classmate asked.

'Yes' I said

'Can you please lend it to me?' she asked.

'Yeah , you can' I said with a smile and gave her the book.

she smiled and went to her place. I continued staring out of window.

after few minutes, the place beside me was filled. she smiled and talked about her fight with her mom that happened in morning. she is normally so talkative and I'm normally silent. she's complete opposite of me.

'Hey, look at him' she said pointing towards Roshan, her crush. she normally gets crazy of him. though he's good looking, popular, and have made many girl's heart, he never attracted me. none of the boys attracted me till now though I'm in tenth grade. I don't even know what these feelings are like.

I went home after school. I live in a normal apartment . I rang the bell and my mom opened it. the lunch was already made when I came. I changed and sat for lunch as my mom watched her serial. I watched with her and went into bedroom after I finished eating.

my house has only one bedroom, once when I was young, all four of us used to sleep here. just like a family. I can now remember only bits of childhood, but all of those memories have become so precious now. I wished to be child again. I wished my would to just like it was. but it's impossible. I and my wired imaginations.

this room holds many memories. I opened my book and started to rwad it.

while I was studying my elder brother entered the house demanding money from my mom as my mom scolded at him. he had become even more thin and his eyes were dark and red. he wasn't even stable as he stood with the support of sofa.

they were arguing badly.mom was suggesting him get a job while he demanded money more rudely. though my mom compared him to my cousin who is now settled in USA , he shamelessly tend to stick to his own harsh words.

at last my mom gave up. she gave him the required amount , cursing. after he went she began to cry. I , as usual, went and consoled her. these happen normally at my house.

my brother, once a topper, has turned into a drunkard and addicted to drugs. my dad ignores them and just thinks more about money saving plans. my mom stressed between both gets irritated easily and never listenes to people.

i still remember that day in my fourth grade when my brother left home for studies. I cried that day. but I don't remember what type of brother was he. now he never felt as my brother. always roaming somewhere, fired from job. he's someone about whom I know nothing.

dad came that night. arguments started again, again for money. I ate silently as they argued and then closed myself in bedroom. I collapsed on my bed. I remembered the events that happened since morning. I found no one till now who can understand me, I had always kept my feelings to myself, never shared them. maybe that's why I'm so silent and always feel lonely.

I closed my eyes and slept. little did I know that day would my last day of being a normal girl.

I woke up by the sound next morning. my mom and dad were arguung. I can hear my mom screaming.

'I'm tired of living like this. why my life turned out to be like this? my son hadn't returned since yesterday and my husband rarely comes to his own home.' my mom scolded her life.

'it is because of you I rarely get chance to come home and meet my dear daughter ' my dad said.

'your daughter? she's mine. I gave her food and raised her. not you '

'i'm giving her money for education. how can you just say she's your daughter '

'then let's decide it in court. remember what we decided yesterday '

'yeah..... I remember. ' dad hesitated.

' then let's go today '

'why so early. we have to take appointment first and then there are so many things'

'are you afraid that maybe you have to give large sum of money after divorce.'

'no I'm not. even I'm tired of this life'

'are you planning for divorce?' I asked.

' yes Adhya, you'd choose me. l know that' my mom said.

' how can you say so surely? how can force a child like this?' my dad said.

as they argued I went into my room, closed my door. I didn't realised that I was crying till a tear drop fell on my hand.

though my parents were never best, but at least they tried to love me. they tried their best. and that's why I respect them. though my mon never came and listened to me, but still she always cared for me. even a light fever will shake her badly. though my dad thinks ten times before spending money, he never thinks a second if I ask him.

I though all those beautiful moments.

my mom suggested me to take car that day instead of bus. they were planing to go to court that day, and decided to drop me in the mid way.

my car isn't some expensive one. it's a second hand Maruti Suzuki car that my mom forced my dad to buy it for my brother when he got a job. at that time she didn't realised that he's already spoiled and that this car will again be owned by dad. she thought he'd show my dad how better he is then him.

we stopped in middle near bus stop due traffic signals. I turned towards window. we were surrounded by cars. there were few people crossing the road. it was sunny though it's moonson season. the sky was clear and the surroundings were greeny. why should such a terrible thing happen this beautiful day?

at that moment I saw my brother, lying in one of the bench of the bus stop.

'Bhai' I said.

my mom and dad turned towards me. I pointed out. my mom looked and immediately got down and ran towards him while my dad parked the car at a side.

'you sit here. I'll come right now' he said as he went out.

he ran towards my brother. my brother looked unconscious as he was lifted with one hand on my dad's shoulder and other on my mom's.

I didn't realised why but I opened my dad's phone and took a pic as the crossed the road. seeing all three together , helping each other rarely happens. and if it happens then that becomes my best memory.

they brought him and made him sit on the front seat of the car. my mom came and sat beside me. they dropped me in school and told me farewell. I looked at them and tried to fix them in my mind. this might be the last time seeing them together.

as the car went, I turned and walked towards my school. l didn't realised that moment that it'll be the last time I'd see them.

when I reached my bench I found Samira waiting for me.

' why are you late today. it's difficult to wait for you' she complained.

'well my mom and dad were going out so they planned to drop me ' I answered.

though Samira is close to me and shares everything about her life, she's still unaware of my family problems. I always tried to tell her, but her constant talking nature and my bad expressing nature never makes me feel comfortable to say.

at lunch, my class teacher called me. I was completely puzzled by the reason. she took me to the reception. I found my maternal aunt and uncle were waiting for me.

my aunt wore a normal Saree and my uncle was wearing a peon dress as if he directly came from work. my aunt had red and moist eyes as if she was crying.

'A....Adhya' my aunt said and cried silently, tears rolling out of her eyes. my uncle came and held her. I gave a look to him like what the hell is happening. he told my teacher to bring my bag.

I wanted to ask what happened but my aunt was crying continuously and my uncle was busy consoling her. I didn't felt comfortable to ask. my teacher brought my bag and my uncle signalled me to follow him.

there was an auto standing out. it took few minutes to reach home.

when I got down , I found my apartment crowded around an ambulance. my uncle held my hand and pulled into the crowd. they gave way for me. it was when I reached the centre I understood the situation.

few people brought two stretchers out, one after other. my dad was lying on the one and my brother on the other, there clothes blood stained and face expressionless.

I looked at them. they looked so different few hours ago and now so different. tears flowed out of my eyes as I saw them placed on the ground. they weren't moving, eyes closed, covered with bandages.

I cried. I cried as hard as I can. my aunt hugged me tightly and said ' you are not alone. I'm there with you.'

l looked at her and suddenly remembered,'ma, where is ma?'

'she is in hospital' my aunt said, 'but don't worry. we are with you.'

'wh....what happened?'

my uncle came to me and said, 'they had an accident.'