"Hey look , this year again this ugly girl is in our class", one girl told to her friend while looking at Diya.

"She doesn't even have shame, if I would have been in her place I would have told my parents that I am not interested in studies and would have sat at home rather then showing my ugly face to other fellow students and getting embarrassed in front of them", other girl told to her friend.

12 years old Diya was silently listening to all this but didn't reply back as it is not new to her. Wherever she goes people always talk about her dark colour and make fun of her. Though she is a child but a very strong child by heart . She is determine to study so that she can make her parents proud who always feel that she is a black vomen in there life.

Diya went and occupied her seat in the class and opened her book and start reading ,unaffected by the people who are laughing at her and making fun of her.

Soon the teacher entered the class and new year in school started. Like every year even this year no one is interested to talk to Diya or include her in their group or to make her their friend. Not even a single student in her class talked to her nor they would share their food with her.

Soon the day at school came to an end and Diya started walking towards her home which is half  kilometer away from school. It is raining heavily and this small kid is holding her umbrella in one hand and her tiffin bag in another hand with a heavy bag full of books on her back. Taking slow steps Diya reached her home after half an hour.

Her mom opened the door and allowed her to come inside. Her sister is watching t.v while sitting on the couch.

"Mom , dad left his credit cards here", Harshita said to her mom.

"Keep it in the side drawer of my cupboard", Payal screamed from the kitchen.

"Dad cane home now?",asked a confused Diya.

"Actually he came to pick me up from school , as my van uncle didn't come today", Harshita told Diya and went to her parents room.

Dad didn't come to pick me up from school which is far away from home but he went to pick Diya whose school is just 10 minutes away then she remembered today mornings discussion.

"Dad can you please come to pick me up from school as i will be having bag full of books and may be it will even rain today I think?", asked Diya.

"I won't be free and  secondly you have umbrella so take it and go. I can't come to pick you up",Laksh said and went away from there.

Diya felt bad as her father went to pick her younger sister but didn't come to pick her up. She went to her room and got changed in her casual clothes.

After having her lunch when she went to keep her dish in the sink she got confused by looking at the vessels.

"Mom today Sujata aunty ( who is maid in their house) is not coming?", asked Diya.

"I removed her from the job", Payal said looking at her.

"Why mom ? Then how will you do all this work alone?", asked Diya.

"Who said I will do all this work?", Payal said with a crooked smile on her face.

"Then who is going to do all this work ? You have kept someone else for this work?",asked a confused Diya.

"No baby ,from today onwards all this work is going to be done by you", Payal replied with a sweet but a cunning smile.

"What?",shouted Diya.

"Mom how will I do all this work? I have to go to school then how will I do this all work?", asked Diya with fear.

"Stop shouting and secondly you have to do all this work after coming back from school. After having your lunch you should sweep the floor and then wash all the clothes. After that swap the floor and then wash all the vessels and then arrange them on their place. You have to then take the previous days clothes which are dried and fold them and iron them and keep them on their place. See it is so simple", Payal said.

"Mom but...", Diya tried to speak but was cut of by her mom.

"Enough,  I don't want to hear another word from you , stop talking and start working. It's already 5 and you have to do lots of work ,so start", after saying this Payal went to her room.

Diya took the Broom and started her work. After sweeping the floor she started washing vessels and then washed the clothes. 

Until she completed her work it is already 8. Tired she sat on the couch.

"Diya , come here and give this water bottle to Harshita", Payal shouted from kitchen.

"Mom , tell her to come and take, I am tired", Diya said with her closed eyes.

"I didn't ask you your choice ,go and give this to Harshita and even I do work whole day , so don't give me this excuse that you are tired", Payal shouted on her.

Poor Diya got up and went to kitchen and after taking the water bottle went to her room to give the bottle to Harshita who is playing video games.

After having dinner Diya washed the vessels and after keeping them on their place she went to her room and after taking her bag and book covers she came to living room where her parents and younger sister are happily watching t.v.

"Mom , dad can you please help me in covering my books?", asked Diya.

"Diya your dad is tired and both of us are feeling sleepy so good night",after telling that her mom switched off the t.v and with her husband she went to her room.

Even Harshita went to her room.

"Mom , dad why you do this to me? Day before yesterday when Harshita asked you to cover her books ,you both happily did that and today you just went away from here",Diya thought in her mind.

It took Diya 2 hours to cover her books and then she went to sleep. Her parents were still awake as Diya could hear the sound of t.v.

Next day:-
Diya got up and after getting ready she went to kitchen and drank her milk. She took her tiffin box and went to leaving room were her dad is ready with his car keys to drop Harshita.  Without saying a word Diya went from there to school.

After school when she came back she saw all the work is been left for her.

"Mom ,i can't do this all work. My hands are paining mom", Diya said crying.

"Stop it Diya and start working. I don't want to hear any excuse from you", Payal said and sat on couch.

Even when her hand is panning Diya completed the household chores. She was crying but there is no one in this house to hear her sobs.

Its been a month but her daily routine is same she goes to school ,come back home by 3 and after finishing her lunch and taking rest for half an hour she start doing the household chores. She hardly gets time for herself.  Her homework and studies she does after 11 when her parents and sister are asleep and that too she has to study in a dim light so that her sisters sleep don't get affected by light.

Her mom has once shouted on her as she was studying in her room at night 12 and her sister complained to their mom that Diya is disturbing her sleep.

"Diya ,can't you see Harshita is sleeping?", Payal shouted while entering inside her kids room.

"Mom , I am just studying. I am not doing anything else", Diya said while looking at her mom.

"Why don't you do it evening when Harshita is awake?", Payal asked.

"Mom , when do I get time to study? In evening I will be doing work and I get only time to study after 10 when all the work is been done",Diya said .

"Then from tommorow onwards be bit fast in your work and if you can't work fast then study in your study tables dim light which doesn't affect my child's sleep",Payal said and went away from there.

From that day Diya is studying in the dim light even if that is creating problem for her. She has even asked her parents that whether she can study in living room but they said no. They don't want her to waste electricity.

***************************** Hellow guys....

So the first chapter is done .....

Did you like the chapter?
Do you think just because Diya is dark in colour people should treat her in this way?  

Do the kids of her age are doing good work by not talking to her or by making her feel ugly and embarrassed?

Do her parents are doing good by doing partiality between their two kids and making Diya feel inferior and unwanted?

Next chapter 🔜

And people who have not read "My Heart Belongs To You " then please read it.

Keep voting and sharing your views for letting me know what you think about this story.