Overreaction

Jia smiles more often when she is with Raju and Kiran. It was late in the evening and the kids were setting random newspapers on fire below the park slide. The corners of her mouth turned skywards- as the other two guffawed and snorted at each other. She had a strong urge to throw in her math test into their tiny blaze as well.

'How long is this going to last?' a sudden cold and tired voice inquired from behind her. A shiver ran through her spine.

Her mother had just returned from her work.

'Five more minutes?' Jia pleaded meekly. 'Is this why we send you to school? Her mother snapped.                                                                                                                     'So that you ignore your studies and spend your evenings dawdling with these brats?                                                                                                                                            Do you know the amount we spend on your education, Jia?'                                                                                                                                                                                   'You know what?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                From tomorrow, you don't have to go to school. You know that maid we have in our house? She sits down on the floor and drinks from that plastic cup?                                     You can just follow her footsteps.'                                             

Tears stung the back of her eyes. She knew that the back of her throat will start hurting in some time. Then her eyes will burn as a drop of tear slowly formulates and makes its way down her dainty chin.

6th September

Dear diary,                                           

Did you know that tear drops taste salty? Just a fun fact :)                                                                                                                                                                                   My day wasn't bad today. I just took few hits for overreacting. I couldn't stop my tears fast enough.

Today is my brother's 7th birthday! He came home crying though. Someone stole all his birthday chocolates. He can't fully explain how it happened. My parents think he is negligent and dense.

He too overreacts. My brother hasn't learnt how to make his tears stop yet.                                                                                                                                                          Toodles :)

Jia's father thinks her handwriting is too big. She has to be taught a lesson.

'Please, I'm sorry. Please.' She keeps wailing                                                                                                                                                                                                   'Please' -she chants as her father unbuckles his belt.

Her father locks her bedroom door. Jia starts panicking.

No matter how hard she screams her apologies, the leather keeps striking her back, her arms, wrapping them in streaks of vibrant Rosie-red.

'Your own fault' her mother mutters the next morning.

'Your notebooks are shabby; you are distracted all the time. No matter how much we scold you, your performance never does change, does it?                                                What is it- that distracts you Jia?' she said as she covered Jia's candy cane arms with sweaters and jackets.

10th September

Dear diary,

Today was a beautifully sad day. Guess what? I'm transferred to Kiran's class! :)

My teacher thinks my voice is too feeble. I sure don't radiate confidence :D.

I'm a bit sad because no one wants to sit beside me, or talk to me and stuff, but that's okay.

Even Kiran ignores me in class. Everyone thinks I'm strange because I'm always covered in jackets and coats.

Guess I do look like a rectangle in it!

toodles.