Chapter- 1
Jali was holding her notebook, quietly writing something, the pages felt with small, careful notes.She kept her head down, her eyes fixed on the paper, not because she didn't want to look up, but because of everyone in the class.
The room was full of people who might laugh, Whisper or make fun of her, all because her father was involved in an unsolved case. So she stayed silent.pretending to focus on her writing, as if nothing else around her mattered.
And suddthin, she feel something sticky fall on to her head, something cold and liquid. She didn't have the college to look up, because she already new what was happening around her.Slowly she raised her hand to her hair. It was wet.When she finally look at it,it was dirty water. She wasn't surprise. It wasn't the first time this had happened to her.
Then three girls came up to her. "Oh, I am so sorry," one of them said mockingly "I didn't see you. I'll be careful next time. "
She wanted to say something, but she couldn't. She knew that if she spoke, they wouldn't leave her alone for the rest of the day. They would only make her life more miserable. So she stayed silent, convincing herself it was better this way.
The girls continued laughing. One of them, Meera, wasn't even trying to hide it. Her laughter was loud and full of mockery.No one in the class stepped in. No one helped her she felt completely alone, so frustrated that she couldn't even lift her head.
Meera smirked and said "oh my God it's so dirty. If you want, you can call your father and complain about me,"
she loved again and the other joint her not caring about what she was feeling or thinking then the girl's left laughing at that time she felt so miserable that she wanted to cry, But she had to stay strong because her father would be worried if he heard about her crying because somebody mock her father. She didn't want to make her father's life, which was already going through difficulties, even harder.
She wanted to defend herself, to fight for herself, but she didn't have the courage to do so.
Jali was not always like this. She had not always been sad, isolated from everyone, or introverted. But the circumstances of her life had changed her, forcing her to become this way
Before that, she had been careful. She had been intelligent, good in her studies, and admired by everyone. Everyone wanted to be like her, cheerful, hard working, helpful to others, and always carrying a smile.
It all started on the night when her father got into an accident and was wrongly accused of killing someone. Her father who was the teacher at High School, had been fairly respected, but after that accident, everything changed. He was arrested, and that became the turning point of her life, her journey from being cheerful, warm, and helpful to becoming someone quiet and distant.
After that day the girls who had once been friendly with her, who had admire the her, started accusing her of being a killer's daughter, someone whose father had taken a life. From that day on, she became the target of Meera and and her gang.She was the daughter of a rich Tycoon and her father invested lots of money in her school that even the principal couldn't say a single word against her because of that she could do anything she want. No one in the class would say anything to her even if she was wrong.from that day they all started bullying and abuseing her and she was completely helpless. She couldn't do anything. Even the teachers who all those things didn't say a single word in Jali's defens
At times she was locked inside the bathroom, cold water would be thrown over her without warning, sometimes her shoes were deliberately damaged, and other times her bench would be stained with inks,her table would be covered with Cruel and abusive words
--------"killer's daughter," and "bitch".
The day felt have your than usual Jelly walked quietly across the ground, her steps soft and unnoticable. As if she wish to disappear Into The Silence around her. The noise of the court echoed faintly, but she paid no attention until suddenly, a basketball came flying straight towards her.
before she could react, it struck her. The impact send her stumbling backward, and she fell to the ground her head aching as a sharp sting spread across her skin. she looks around and people were stairing at her No one came to help her and she burried her face down For a moment everything went black then through the haze, a hands stretch out towards her
she hesitated
Slowly, she lifted her gaze, suspicion flickering in her eyes. She had grown used to such movements -----used to tricks, to laughters ,to cruelty disguised as concern. She expected the same now.
But then a voice reachedher, gentle, unfamiliar in it's softness
"are you okay"
The sound lingered in her ears. It was not strange. It was a voice she had heard before, one she could never quite forget.
Her eyes widened slightly as she looked up.
Zack stood before her------ the most popular boy in school admired by everyone even by Meera and her group
and of course....she was no exception
But unlike everyone her feelings for him had never been shallow. It was not merely his appearance that had drawn her in, but a memory she had carried quietly for years. Once long ago when she had been nothing more than a Frightened child he had stood up for her against a group of bullies without hesitation.
From that moment on,
Her heat had choosenhim
and yet....he had never even known she existed.
She had been in the same class as him but he was rearly present,often skipping lessons for basketball, and still managing to rank just below her academically .....as everything came effortlessly to him
"are you okay ?"
He repeated, his voice pulling her back from her thoughts.
Startled, she quickly stood up, her Sudden movement catching him of guard
Without a word, she turned and walked away, as fast as she could heading towards the infirmary.
She thought that would be the end of it.
But it wasn't
A few moments letter, he followed her inside.
"look, I am really sorry," he said his tone sincere.
"it wasn't intentional. "
He paused for a moment before asking "what's your name?"
The question struck her harder than the ball had.
Of course he didn't know
why would he ?
She stayed silent.
He let out a small, awkward laugh. "you won't even tell me your name ?"
Still, she said nothing.
With a quite sigh, he took out a first- aid kit and carefully begin tending to her wound, applying medicine with surprising gentleness.
He kept talking, perhaps to fill the silence perhaps out of guilt----- but she barely heard him.
And then almost without thinking, she spoke
"Jali."
He paused "what? "
"My name," she said softly."It's jali . "
For a second he looks genuinely surprise "you can talk, " he said with a light laugh.
"I thought you just in want to."
she didn't respond simply lower Her head again telling herself "it didn't matter he didn't know about her past about her father about anything and maybe that was a good thing. " After finishing he step back slightly "anyway" He said,"It was nice meeting you and I am really sorry about earlier I hope you can forgive me."
She gave a small, silent nod, her eyes still lower.
He watched her for a moment, as if wanting to say more, but then simply smile faintly. "Alright I'll go now."
And just like that he turned and left. The room fell silent again.
After he was gone, she is slowly lifted her eyes towards the door.
A faint bitter thought cross her mind.
"how foolish of me...to think he would ever notice me. "
she had always known he didn't know her. But hearing, it feeling its so clearly,
....."it's still hurt."