Riya hamesha class ke last bench par baithti thi.
Na zyada bolti, na zyada hasti.
Log kehte the — "attitude hai isme."
Par sach koi nahi jaanta tha.
Roz school khatam hone ke baad jab sab apne friends ke saath ghar jaate, Riya seedha hospital jaati.
Wahan bed number 17 par uski maa leti hoti… chup, kamzor, aur oxygen mask ke saath.
Uske papa kab ke chhod kar ja chuke the.
Ab ghar, padhai, fees, dawai — sab kuch Riya ke kandhon par tha.
Wo din me school karti, shaam me part-time kaam.
Raat ko maa ke paas baithkar homework karti.
Thak jaati thi, par kabhi shikayat nahi karti.
Ek din English teacher ne class me kaha,
"Kal sab apni life par ek essay likhenge."
Riya poori raat so nahi paayi.
Dil bhara hua tha, aankhen thaki hui thi…
par pen chalta raha.
Agle din jab teacher ne uska essay padha, poori class bilkul silent ho gayi.
Kisi ne hansi nahi ki.
Kisi ne mazaak nahi banaya.
Teacher ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
Essay ke last line me Riya ne likha tha:
"Main strong isliye nahi hoon kyunki mujhe shauk hai,
main strong isliye hoon kyunki mere paas koi choice nahi."
Us din ke baad sab kuch badalne laga.
Teacher ne Riya ko last bench se first bench par bula liya.
Principal ne uski fees maaf kar di.
Classmates jo use ignore karte the, ab respect karne lage.
Riya ab bhi hospital jaati thi.
Ab bhi struggle tha.
Par ab uske chehre par thodi si umeed thi.
Kyuki use samajh aa gaya tha —
uski kahani kamzori nahi, uski taqat hai.