Here goes the first story if 'Zindagi Ka Safar'. The story is published with consent of sender and the names are changed as per sender's concern. 

Let's get started....

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It was a new day for Naina. But everything wasn't in place. She didn't want to get up. His words kept hurting her. "It's over", He said. And there was nothing left for her. Her first love had left her.......

2 years back..

Naina was a fresh teenager. She celebrated her 13th birthday a day before. She was an enthusiast. Celebrated each moment. She was a topper in class. A first-class singer and anchor. A brilliant writer. And a Karate champ. Down to earth girl, who never wanted bad for anyone. Wanted to feel the emotion 'Love'. Her ideas about love were different from other girls. She deeply believed that at the core of any relation is trust and friendship. She was a tomboy in school. Favorite of seniors and teachers. She was different. Her teenage started and she felt a difference in her. She was more confident of herself. She entered the class, put her bag on the bench met her girl-friends and boy-friends and went out on the ground with her bestie Prabha. Someone was ecstatic on seeing her. Raj. Her bench partner in grade 3 and one of her closest friend now. The school bell rang after sometime. It was the second day of Grade 7. All the students were in a mood to study except Raj. He was also a sportsman. An average guy of 14 years. He liked Naina. The way she laughed at every little joke, her smile, her expressive eyes...He kept looking at her until Sid (Siddharth) his best friend jerked him and made him aware that they are in between the lecture of their 'beloved' teacher. The person the school hated the most. It took no time for Raj to tear a chit, write something and throw it towards Naina. After the lecture was over, Naina picked up the chit and read it. Just three words, 'I Love You' were written on it. For 2-3 months Naina was confused. She didn't talk with Raj as well. And finally, one day she replied 'I Love You Back'. Raj's happiness knew no bounds. Within a week, the news of the new couple spread like forest fire. Both were happy in their life. Raj insisted Naina to join social media platform which she denied as her parents didn't allow such things before college. But later, she gave up to peer pressure. She opened a social media account which was unknown to her parents. In these 6-7 months, she had for the first time lied to her parents – she hadn't told them about her love and of her social media account. Everything was good. Prabha got a boyfriend. Naina was happy with Raj. Teachers were worried for her, though. But she didn't show public display of affection. She was just a friend of Raj in school and they chatted on social media. She got more friends from seniors. Until one fateful day, her another best friend Hritik died in an accident. Things took a sudden turn after that. There was tension between her relations with Raj and Prabha. At the start of 8th Grade she became close with a friend Nayan from 9th grade. The tension affected her studies. Raj distrusted her loyalty. Prabha didn't have much time for her. She had to keep her secrets away from her parents. She had to reluctantly give Raj her social media password. Nayan and she chatted on social media. They had many 'double meaning jokes'. Raj told everyone that both of them are characterless and have a B grade talk every time. But Nayan was like a close and trustful friend for her, not more than that. Due to Raj, she had to block him. Nayan and she talked in school, though. But Raj never liked it. Nayan was an understanding and true friend, so usually he avoided contact with Naina when Raj was with her. Till 9th grade, Raj had double-dated twice. Unknown to Naina. Nayan told her about all this. He had always been a flirt. She knew. But she couldn't take a stand for herself. The dashing, dynamic, confident Naina was lost in these months. Her grades clearly showed she was in stress. The straight A+ ranker fell to B+. The topper became an average. Her parents knew nothing of her inner turmoil, but still they supported her. They never scolded her for her ranks. They stood with her. But she didn't have the courage to tell them the truth. Nayan started to like Naina. He had also become a good friend of Raj. But he didn't tell about his feelings to Naina. He seldom talked with her. Naina was all alone. She lost her vibrance. She knew it was over. From her side at least. Raj was recently in a relation with the school captain Riya. One day, Raj and Naina confronted each other. And both officially broke up. Naina felt like a gush of fresh air was flowing through her veins. She deleted her social media account. Nayan was sad as he couldn't talk with her after his 10th, but was happy for her decision. In 4 months, he gave his 10th grade exam and Naina was giving her 9th grade final exam that lockdown happened. She had a lot of time to introspect. She did it. She knew where she was wrong. She was guilty. She was a formal friend with Prabha. She missed Nayan. But she heard a rumor from a senior that he got a girlfriend. She thought that it might be true and was happy for her friend. She understood that everything was just because her teenage. The age which was to love oneself not other. She was broken, but she had resolved to get up. To again believe in Love, Trust, Loyalty, Respect and Friendship. She tried to focus on her study again. Her singing and Karate. She did many things for self help in the period of lockdown. She seldom studied. It was wrong, but she was healing. After the result she talked with Raj. He broke up with Riya two weeks before and asked out Naina again. But she denied. Confidently. She forgave him and Prabha because she couldn't burn in the fire of revenge. She was slowly healing back. By herself. She felt Independent again. She felt Happy. She contacted Nayan. He didn't have any girlfriend he said. She proposed him. They entered a relationship. This time, with both pairs of parents' permissions. She didn't tell them her past secrets, but she told everything in the present. Prabha had a breakup too. Prabha and her were again the old besties. She was again the original Naina. The tomboy. The different girl of school. With Nayan, she always kept in mind the words which helped her most.

'Maana ki Ishq behisaab hai,

Par itnaa sa hisaab apne wajood ka bhi rakhna

Taki jab khudko aaine me dekho

To hum hum hi rahe aur tum tum hi raho.'

Teenage love. The love in adolescence. It's very special as it's the first time we experience the feeling. But doing anything for the first time means making many mistakes. It's okay to fall in Love but it's not okay to lose yourself in it. Because it is hard to start from zero again...

-Naina

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