The New Identity

" Oh ! That girl . She is mental ."- Adrija didi bursts in laughter after saying this and after a lot of effort , she finally gets  control on herself . 

" She is Sushmita das . Her age is more than us . I mean she failed three times and read in the same class for three years and now she is reading with you . The teachers have said that , if she will fail this time also , then she will be given T.C or you can say , that the teachers will not tolerate her anymore . By the way , how do you met with her . “ 

“ While I was  standing in the line of my section . I have seen , her , standing in section B's line . I asked her name . But she is afraid to tell . Then , my interest inceases about her . Do you know anything more about her ?" 

" Not that much . But I know ,that The teachers also have said that No- one should talk with that mental  girl  . Listen to my advice , do not talk with her or try to be a friend of sushmita . Otherwise you will also become mental " . 

Now , I can feel the bad side of Adrija Didi . I get down from the otto-ricksaw and ran away without a " good -bye " . 

Adrija didi and I became friends, one year ago . We had met in the otto-ricksaw only , but it happened suddenly . 

I think that  Some conversations are enough to make a friend  but it can take nine months   or even a year  to understand a person . 

I know this statement . But I also know , that I have the capability to make a difference between a bad and good person.: A person can not have all good sides , but I certainly use my power to understand , that the person is a good human being or not . My exam of judgment about a person focuses on the behaviour and the acts of kindness of a person . Not on the qualities of that person and I usually be a friend of those persons who have passed my exam .

: Adrija didi has a great sense of humour and helpfulness . I know that she has a good mentality. She always make me laugh , with her words in a conversation . But today , her words hurts me a lot . I think that she had misunderstood  Sushmita .

 I take my way to home, with a sad face . I  am really feeling bad for Sushmita . 

" the teachers have said to not talk with sushmita . But they do not want to mean that thing . The reason is different . 

In this world , where there is good things , there is also bad things . This world can never be the whole best . 

We do not have all good classmates in our school . Some can also bully her , for her incapability . The mind-set can harm her . 

But there is also a side-effect of it . If it will be done , then Sushmita will start thinking herself that she is not normal and that will maker her feeling alone and depressed . " 

I take a deep breadth . Then I decide I

thag I should think about it , after reaching home .

 , I get well dressed and washed my hands and legs properly . 

Then again , the same thing continues at my mind  . I start thinking about a solution and roam around the whole house . But I get no Idea . 

“ She is alone right ? “ I murmured .

 

“Then the only help I can do is by  becoming  a friend of her . Yes ! That is the great Idea . “ 

2

: The next day , My school starts with a hurry and the tiffin period shows up . I am delighted as "the time passed so fast . " 

, in the tiffin time , I first finish my roti and the curry . I eat so fast , that I do not get it's taste . But it is okay . 

I can feel , that a certain flower blooms in my heart , which I will give to my new friend , " Sushmita " and that  will be a bond . The friendship bond ! The equal friendship ! 

I know that it is not easy enough , but there is no problem , in trying .

 I am now ready to go to the other section. But when , I leave my bench and bring out one of my leg . 

 I heard a loud voice,  " where are you going? " 

I turn towards the voice and then re-call the students . Those are my friends . We are  group of  four friends , sitting in unspecified benches  but togethar.  

My friends are staring at me and then says , 

" You are not talking to us and also do not sharing anything " 

" Is there something wrong ?"

: I explained all the things , 

very carefully and they agreed to my conditions .

" Thank you. " - 

I say then  start running .

My legs are curious and my mind is excited , but my emotions are uncontrolled . 

With those   emotions on my face , I enter into the class .

I do not have to enter into the classroom forcefully . As a good connection is established previously , between two sections .

 I  move my head hither and thither , finding my friend . But at then , the first bell rings . Now , my head moves faster in search of her and then suddenly I find a bench half emptied. I do not know why  ? but my intellect tells that , it can be sushmita 's bench or is she .. is she  absent today ? I cried in my mind.  

my heart is freezing and I am feeling a  cold essence, for the results .

A girl with short hairs and  blue spectacles,  is sitting in the very corner of the bench and eating her tiffin . 

Her face and all things are related to her. 

“ sushmita ?” - I cried out loud .

The whole class stopped doing their stuffs and stared staring at me strangely . But , I take no  notice on them.

 the sweats again  scrolled down from my face , which is normal in June. 

: Sushmita is not ready for the sudden surprise . She  stares at me strangely. The expression of her eyes , questions me , " Who are you ?" But I do not reply . I sit beside of her . Her facial expression , shows that she has not  escaped from her emotions of fear . I know , I have to take actions with patience . 

" Hello ! I am Priyanka . Can we be friends !" 

I get no reply from her . 

So , I wait for a while . 

The classroom again starts doing their works . They are all preparing for the next class . I realise , I have very less time. 

" Sushmita "- I call her name  calmly and then says , " Please talk to me ". - 

She stares at me for a while with no emotions. I guess that it is her first reaction . She again turns her head to her tiffin . Within a while , she again turns back to me . I see her shinning  face with a bright smile .

: I smiled also , but my smile is nothing in-front of her smile.  I want to have a conversation with her . .But before  My lips ,move and my voice could sound , The second bell rings faster . 

I hurry for my class but I forget to tell her " bye" and I also do not have any choice . So I run faster .

3

The next day has gone better , in the school . The classes are always good on Tuesday and also my mood always remain fresh . As  I do not have any tutions on the Tuesdays . 

The tiffin period shows up. I know that what I have to do .  I say " good - bye " to my friends and walk slowly towards my new friend's room . I do not know , how she will have felt yesterday . But , today I will have the conversation with her .

I reach to room no. 20 , section B's room . Everything is fine today . I look to the same bench , where I looked before.  

Sushmita is there , smiling and having her tiffin . 

I go near to her and she offers me to sit beside her .

.: I take my seat .

  

“ Hi “ 

“ Hi “- susmita says . 

  Her voice is very sweet.  . 

She starts speaking . But I am not happy with the words. At the first only , I understand that , she is depressed .  

" see , see " - she says . Then she opens her shoes and then she shows  me her toes and then she points at her 6th finger in both of her legs .  

" I am not normal . See , see , here are 6 fingers in both of my legs ." 

I stare  at her .

 She again says , " You know , my sister is in class 8 and also me . It is very ..  you know , how much .." - she can not say more words and looks down to the earth . 

I know that , She is showing her imperfections . I want to tell something , so that she will not feel bad . 

But, I get no idea. 

I remember her words , " one extra finger is there in my ..." 

These words strike my mind . 

" Sushmita" 

She stares at me for a while  and says," Yes " . 

"  You are different from all others . That means, You are unique . You are having one more finger , that is your uniquity . " 

 

She stares at me and says nothing . After sometimes , she catches , that what I intend to say .

 She smiles at me . 

" And about the grades , you are saying?" 

I smile and then say," I have also low grades in maths . I have just passed in maths , by two or three marks" 

" Then also , you have passed . I have not passed also ".  

" That Does not matter in friendship. By the way, tell me , what is your favourite subject ?" 

" Maths ." 

" And most disguisting subject ?" 

" English " 

" Really ?" 

" Yes . " 

We both laughed out and then again start talking . 

" She has some issues . But at now, She is in depression . If she gets out from the  depression, then she will prosper in her way . She is also a human and so I . As she has some issues , that does not distinguish us from our race and I will prove this .  But how ? " 

While , I am thinking about it , I remember some words , " She is reading in class 8 for three times " 

" My sister and I am in the same class " 

"Oh! Okay " - I cried out . 

" If she will pass class 8 , and will be promoted to class 9 without any hesitation . Then all will never think that , she is different from us . But , before that I have to take her from the depression . She has talk with everyone and also she has to play with others , by getting out from the class ! Then she will get out of her frustration. “

4

The sunday has passed like a boring holiday . My whole day has gone in doing maths and other subjects . At the night , I have a little time about thinking and arrenging my plans for my journey with Sushmita .

I have not alarmed anyone about this thing . 

They will not encourage me , for this . They will obviosly say that , what will I get from it ? I would answer mental peace . 

There is nothing supreme like the mental peace is ! 

I know that I can not change his mental issues by birth , but I can destroy the depression that have given so much pain to my best friend ! 

She has some issues . Every humen have facaulties in them or in their lives . Some shows it and some hide it . 

But , does that mean , to get away from those persons  who shows it ? ,  . They also have unique abilities and They are also the part of our diversity . 

They do not need any type of special treatment , they just need a good enviromet . Where they are being taken as the part of the enviroment by the people. Instead of saying , a person mental patient , if we talk to them and create a enviromemt where , they will find themselves as the part of the people , then there will be no such powers , which can stop her/ him in her prosperity . 

They will know their faculty as their strength and this will also help them to get an identity in this society . 

These all,  I intend to do in my school but no one is understanding the things or they do not want to listen to me  .

But I will give my best friend , the best enviroment ,in her class only . So , that she can prosper in her life and be the pride of our society. 

The next day , I go to my school and I just focus on my aim of today . After the Classes , I rush to section B . 

Today , I share my tiffin and so also she . 

“ Today , we have much more time . Let's go to outside .” 

While standing up , I feel a hand is stopping me hardly . I turn to her . She is murmering her lips and her face is paled . Her eyes become full of tears . 

“ what happened to you .Sushmita ?” 

“ I can not go . I can not go . Please let be here “ 

She is so strong , that I can not escape from her hands . I take my seat on the bench , with a sudden . 

“  Let's go , there will be nothing “ . 

“ No , no priyanka , please “ 

I have to agree to her . The day passed in gossiping with each other only . I know , it will take time , so I have to keep patience. 

But this thing takes more time , than I have thought . The next day , She just look outwards and starts crying . The day after that day , also passwd like this . It happened over and over , and this gradually take the whole month . But no progress is noticed  . 

One day , I decide to tell her that , then how she comes to school and returns to home , alone , if she can not go out in the tiffin . It can sound hard , but I have asked her politely  . 

“ At those times , one of my sister comes to my class and then she again comes to me , when I am about to return back to my home . She is kind and she also reads in this school only . When there is less students , I get into the school and when the school is about to  emptied ,  the whole , I return back to my school .  “ 

“ I am your best friend . Am I not kind dear ?” 

“ You are kind , but others are not , of the outside . I want to be in a safe place. I have made a habit by coming to school and returning to home  ,but since I have taken admissoon , I….I.. I had not gone outside in the luch time . 

I feel bad for her , but I know this habit should have to be changed . 

I tell my brain again , for an Idea , and that she has answered me . There is a large temple , in our school. As this is a Mission school , many temples are  being built here . To a strange indeed, if anyone , sits in any region of the temple or a foot aside of the temple ,  the sounds of the outwards get slower. 

I request Sushmita , for this . At first , she disagrees over and over , but at the last , she agrees for my plan .I  catch her hand strongly , and also guards her so , that she will feel that she is safe and when we reach the temple . I and she sits on the benches that has been placed just beside of the temple  , within 1 foot . 

We open  our shoes and keep it about some centimeters away from us . 

She is seeing the little trees of flowers , like she has never touch them . A small yellowish butterfly , always went through this garden , infront of the temple , but she has never noticed it. 

Not many ones , comes to play here . As , the headmistress's office is there ,a little far . 

But sometimes , some  of two or three girls are passing by here . 

  

Suddenly , I see three girls coming towards me . I think they are known to me . “ oh ! No “ 

Indrani , kiran and Oindrilla ,my three friends are coming to me . 

“ Hey , how the journey is going on?” 

“ why are you here ?” - I whisperred . 

“ We are just here , to know about..” 

“ No go away “- I push a little on of my friend . 

“ But why ? “ 

“ If she will see ,that you all are and you are my friends , then she will feel bad ?” 

“ what had happened ?” 

“ Nothing “- I smile and then tell my friends , to go away from here theough gestures . 

My friends go away and then I say to Sushmita , “ Nothing , they are just telling me , the room no. of section A as they want to meet with one of their friends “ 

Shumita stares at me for sometimes and then says , “ Okay .” 

“ okay , then come ,  the time is there . One bell had rang sometimes before , the second bell will ring after sometimes only . Let's go to your class and then I will reach my class after yours . Okay ?” 

She again takes time and says, “ Yes . Okay “ . I know that this is the main problem of her . She takes time to understand everything and  this should not be mocked . 

5

Gradually , two weeks passed , Sushmita becomes passionate about going outside . But , I am somewhere unhappy , though , I have taken the actions for this only . 

I am not a good student nor I have many friends . But I am famous in the school. , as I used to take part in the school competitions and festivels . So , many who knows me , comes to me to have a conversation . But , as my best friend will feel bad for it . 

But One day , I realised that I was wrong . 

On that day also , a girl has came to meet , with me and I am telling her to go awayv. At that time , sushmita sees all of the incident , and understands the things , whether it takes time . 

After the girl has gone , when I look towards her , I see , her face. Her lips are curved and the disturbed eyes tell me all things . I get to know that , this thing is disturbing her . Before telling anything , the  bell rings and then starts our suffers . We have to rush to go to the classes , which at the last , we accomplish it . 

But that does not give me any mental piece . Sitting on the bench , I just recall her face and that hurts me a lot . 

In anger, I say to myself , “ I am compassionate about her dreams and about her prosperity and she is …” 

Suddenly , I realised what I have done . 

Not let her to meet with others and do not let to mix with them , is actually what ? 

That means , I have done the something like the others do . I have not mocked her  , but indirectly I have done the same . I do it , , for the good results   , but I have done wrong . My acts  have indirectly proved that she is not fit for them , as she has issues ! 

These two weeks , she can not understand it  . But now , she is able to understand it. What thing I have done ? 

Tears are willing to scroll down from my eyes . But I have  not allowed it . I need to change this thing  . 

6

After that shockind day , I let all my friends to play with us and to have a conversation with us . All things gone exactly opposite of my strange thoughts . 

My friends and others are good to her and she is also happy , that she has got friends . I know , sometimes , Sushmita does not to talk much . Whenever  , she feels that , we leave her alone . As we know , that , this is an issue of her . We can not solve this problem , but we can provide a free place for her , where she can feel , she is one of the part of us . 

Now , The students in her class also , gossips with her and play indoor games with her , in the class . Her bench does not remain half emptied now , it is full . 

The progress is made very faster , within only 4 months . After that , I just focus on my studies , for the annual exams and I believe that on this time , my best friend will pass . 

The time flew very fast and the time of the results shows up . 

“ Don't worry , you will pass “ - I say .

“ Yes sushmita . You will “- an another girl says . 

“ my hands are cold . Uff “ - sushmita says . 

“ Dont worry  . You have done it . Trust me !” - I whisper to her . 

“ Today , is the day of results out . I will be delivering a very little messege to the girls. But before that , I want to express my delightnes to a girl . The girl is sushmita . Finally she has passed and  promoted to class 9 . “ 

The whole section B , clap loud , when they heard the name of Sushmita , before the speech can finish . 

At the first , Sushmita can not understand, what has been announced . But when everybody clap , she understands it and hugs me tightly. 

Today , she has got a new identity , she is not a mental girl , she is a girl among us . She is the successful girl .