1 Into A New World

Tanya was wide awake… unable to sleep the whole night, twisting and turning, trying everything possible to fall asleep…it was all in vain. The room was filled with bright orange light, indicating a new day, however her mind was still replaying the scenes from yesterday.

The university was beautiful. She still couldn't believe that she made into it… you know it's one thing to go into a university in your city or the neighbouring one… but making into a university in a totally different country, and a reputed one at that with scholarship, not many can even dream about it… and here she was, conquering her dreams at the tender age of 17. Tanya was proud…

Settling into her seat she looked around, the class was filled with students… people from different backgrounds mingling together… their giggles filled her ears. Everyone is busy, getting to know each other, exchanging contacts and making friends. Tanya bit her lips, this is difficult.

Someone settled next to her… the sound of chair scraping against the floor waking Tanya up from her thoughts.

"Hello, I'm Anna… you don't mind me sitting here right?" the girl asked with a smile.

Tanya looked at the girl… pale skin, green eyes and blonde hair, the typical white girl that you see in movies and the way she spoke….

Anna raised her eyebrows, waiting for Tanya

"Yeah… I don't mind, I'm Tanya by the way… nice to meet you." She finished in a single breath.

I could hear some muffled laughs. The guy sitting in front turned back…

"God, your accent… it's been a while since I heard someone speak in such a horrible accent. This is going to be fun guys…"

Class erupted into a fit of laughter… and I couldn't say anything, I kept my head downcast, my eyes welled up. It was humiliating.

"Guys, it's the first day… You don't have to mock her like this, she…" Anna was trying to help me out… I looked at her

"Whoa, we got a cry baby here…"

It was someone else this time… I looked at him. Tears rolling down my cheeks.

He was coming towards me…

He kept his elbows on my desk, leaning towards me

"Why are you staring at me? Do you think this is some kind of movie where you are the heroine who feels humiliated and cries and some prince charming comes to help you- feeling sorry for you… tsk tsk tsk… I would expect an international student to be bold and ready to take up the challenges… "

He straightened himself up

"and here you are crying. He's right… it's going to be a long year."

He turned around…walking away

The class was silent.

Anna nudged me. "Don't take it to heart"

All I could do was nod my head.

Sitting up on her bed Tanya left out a sigh…

"He was right… I could've just said that I'm new to this country, that English isn't my mother tongue… but I just sat there, crying. Ahhh…. this is embarrassing…"

"Are you still not over it?"

Rachel came in with coffee.

"How can I? I cried in front of the whole class on the first day… Yesterday when we went to the cafeteria, people were looking at me and laughing, I'm sure the whole university knows me by now…"

"Well, not everyone can get famous in a single day" Rachel was laughing.

"Yah... Don't do this…"

"So are you going to keep fussing about it... it's a new day. Forget it."

"I wish"

I stood up from my bed. It's a new day.