Meher's POV,
A school is a second home for children and teachers play the part of nurturing them into people that they become and get them ready for the society. Sometimes, a single word or statement from them can have a huge impact on the entire wellbeing of a student. They are someone who can make or break a student. Am I right?

That's why they need to be kind and gentle... someone who can treat all the children equally and make them feel at home. However, do all the teachers really do that?

Social status, jealousy, family problems, etc etc...can have a huge impact on a person's mind and personality. Of course, teachers are human to, so no matter what facade they try to uphold, it's normal to crumble down every once in a while.

We humans have this tendancy to take out our anger on anyone weaker or younger than us because we're well aware they won't dare to talk back and then apologizing to them later...hurts our ego and by the time we realise our faults... it's too late.

Sometimes they think inducing fear in students can make them learn efficiently but they don't realise what effect it can have on a young mind's mental health.

Something like that happened with me too. As a child, I was quite the talkative one but... wasn't that bright in studies. No one left without a smile on their faces when they met me and I had a lot of friends. Girls and boys alike. However, I guess, my teachers thought otherwise.

The way I was, they thought I was dragging down the other kids and distracting them from their studies. So they told the kids to stay away from me and told their parents to explain their kids the same. Everyone started ignoring me and watching me indifferently, except Zoya.
She was one of the toppers and she even helped me in my studies.

Mumma was very strict with me too and whenever I got less marks she used to hit me a lot and I used to cry alone many times. I felt lonely but playing with Zoya made me forget all that. Soon, I got married but my husband left me the very next day and I felt lonely again. Mumma began teaching me household chores too and I became busy in those not being able to go out and play much. I need to learn the responsibility of a married girl and be ready when my inlaws come back, she would say. Years passed slowly and I began feeling I was different from everyone. It became harder to me to talk to people and everyone started ignoring me too because they thought I was weird. A time came when I only had one friend.

My teenage was the most difficult time for me. I could hardly even make eye contact with other. When all the other students did their everything to be friendly with teachers and become their pets, I was soo timid and shy that I kept running away and soo they thought I was rude and arrogant. The problems back home about my inlaws and some money matters made it worst and I became too afraid to speak to people as it made me more anxious. There even came a point when just thinking about talking to people made me soo anxious that I couldn't breathe.

Everyone thought I was stupid yet arrogant yet, no one ever tried to talk to me to figure out why I acted like that. Whenever Zoya or any other student acted differently or was quite, the teachers would call them privately and ask them sweetly why they were soo upset but even if I went without speaking a single word in class for days, no one gave me a warm smile or tried to understand or ask me why I was like that. That's because everyone had branded me as the rude arrogant brat who was too full of herself to speak to anyone.

I couldn't even cry to show my pain so always kept a poker face and everyone started making fun of me. Along the way, I even forget how to smile and had to practice in the mirror but it still was ugly. I felt pathetic and useless and everyone else thought the same.

I began hating my teachers.... fearing them as being branded the rude girl, the teachers always picked on me. It sort of developed into a phobia since childhood. Anxious and scared that all eyes are on me, judging me, my voice used to get caught up in my throat and I got tongue tied. I lost what little confidence I had and they felt proud of themselves for doing so. They even begun insulting me in front of everyone and all the teachers' pets laughed on me to please them. At some point, I thought that was normal so I did the same when any other student was treated like me but they got mad thinking someone soo pathetic like me used to laugh at them and I got bullied. It was subtle and in little things like being left alone out of conversations, or being talked and snickered behind my back but slowly it began breaking me from inside.

The thoughts of running away or ending my life came to my mind but I brushed them off trying to be strong. However, could a person be strong alone when they're broken from the inside by the world?
Self loathing and doubting became my daily routine and even if I did one thing wrong I thought of ending myself but it was Haram so I kept going, trying my best to seal away my emotions and smiling and laughing pointlessly to hide the pain in my heart.

Until, it became too much....

####
As we heard the bell for the next period, I closed my textbook and turned to the board to erase it not wasting anymore time and boring the kids. I could hear all the students chattering loudly and it made me smile.

"No homework for tomorrow."

"Yaaaay..... thankyou miss...."

I giggled at their reactions. Yes, I became something I feared the most. A school teacher. Why? Because, I wanted to prove to myself that I'm strong enough to conquer my own fears and turn them into a happy memory instead. Also, because, I wanted to heal a breaking heart and stop more Mehers like me from being how I was....just like the shy little Sana who sat with her head down on the third bench of the middle row while everyone else was being naughty and creating a ruckus.

My heart pricked seeing the child so I walked towards her but she flinched as she looked up at me but avoided ey contact. And to think she was only 13 years old. I saw myself in her and always seeing her made a lot of memories fresh for me. Just like me, all the teachers ignored her too and I've lost count how many times I've heard the other teachers calling her arrogant and stupid in the staffroom.

I smiled.
"Sana, would you like to help me carry those books to the staffroom please?"

She looked up at me with those big doe eyes.
"Mmmm....me?"

I nodded.
"Yes." She said without thinking but that deep nervous frown over her forehead didn't go unnoticed by me. She looked like I would eat her any moment now.

"Just to the staffroom. Come."

Another of my colleague was waiting outside so I went to her thinking Sana would follow right behind me and we walked towards the staffroom talking. But when we reached the staffroom and I turned to thank Sana, I frowned as she was nowhere to be seen and instead of her, another girl was carrying the books, smiling at me.

"Uh ... where's Sana?"

"Oh, uhm....she handed me these books and ran away. Huh! She's soo rude not wanting to even lift a finger to help her teachers." The girl pouted.

I sighed.
"Did she give you the books or did you take them from her?" To take credit and get in my good books.
I asked her gently and she became nervous.

I knew because similar things used to happen to me too when I was this age.  No worries, I'll get her to talk to me tomorrow. I need to win her trust first.

However, the next day too when I tried to get her alone, she ran away and the next day, she was absent.

Like this, weeks passed but I couldn't get through her. However, I wasn't ready to give up. I had made up my mind to save that child and I would do it no matter what!
One day, while I was teaching I noticed her watching me silently but her eyes....they had soo much in them as if it was a silent cry for help and my heart ached in my chest. Because, at that moment, sitting there in the bench, instead of Sana, I saw my younger self looking back at me. I had that look in my eyes too once but no one cared to take notice of it.

So this time, I didn't give her a chance to run away and after school, I grabbed her hand and dragged her with me to the staffroom. She was scared at my abrupt behaviour and was literally trembling when I made her stand in front of me in the empty staffroom after all the teachers left.

"M....m...miss...?" She whimpered playing with her fingers and she looked like she might just start crying any moment.

I sighed and gently took her hand in mine.

"Sana... beta look at me."
She did meekly.

"Oh.... you're such a pretty girl. I just noticed it as you always have your head low but you know what, it's a really good trait. In Islam, we're asked to lower our gazes in presence of people and you're already doing that from such a young age? MashaAllah." I smiled.

For the first time, she really looked at me but confused.

Ok, so her first insecurity confirmed.

"R... really?"

I nodded enthusiastically and a cute smile came on her lips making me smile too.

"Are you afraid of me?"

She shook her head reluctantly. I pulled a chair for her and asked her to sit.

"N...no no...how can I... it's teacher's..."

"Oh ho.... we're teachers not Queens. Sit. No one's around."

She nodded and took her seat.

"Have you ever thought about what will you be when you grow up?"

She got nervous again. Too anxious.

"It's ok. I didn't knew it either when I was this young. Infact, I didn't even know it even after passing college." I giggled.
" I was just so lost and scared that everyone my age already had a plan but I didn't. I thought I'd never be able to do anything. But, you know what I did after that....".

She was looking at me curiously.
"I took a break. I forgot everything else and just took my time to relax. I only did and learnt the things I loved and tried my best not to feel guilty about it. I didn't have many friends nor anyone to talk to much but, I had myself and Allah. I told my problems to him and I knew he would listen and guess what, after a while I decided I wanted to a teacher and here I am."

I patted her cheek.
"Sana.... It's ok to be scared, it's ok to feel lonely or guilty it's ok to hate everyone sometimes and even hate yourself. It's normal. So it's no use dragging yourself down and thinking you're not good enough. The Lord above has given every person some special traits that we just don't understand until a certain moment. We call those traits our potential! And our potential doesn't surface until the right time comes. So what do we do until then?"

"Um...."

I smiled.
"We keep trying. Doing our best. Sometimes, our best won't be enough but there's no use beating yourself up.  Failure is the stepping stone to success, right? The more you fail, the more you learn. Being different from others isn't a crime, infact, it makes you stand out because you're that special.
You have difficulty holding a conversation right? It's ok.... you're not a bad person, they have just got you wrong but it isn't your fault either. It just happened. Always remember, shyness brings nothing but goodness. And someday, you'll find someone who'll help you break out of your shell."

That bright smile on her face made my heart warm.

"Meher miss...."

"Hmm..."

"Thankyou...."

She was only able to say that one word but that one word had soo many emotions in them and I could see them right in her eyes.

"Your welcome. And if you ever need to talk, I can be your friend. You can talk to me anytime. Want my number?"

She nodded shyly and I giggled as she grinned a but excited.

Ah! That felt nice! I actually helped someone to change their life.
I felt proud of me.....and it wasn't the last time.

####
"Yasmin....your daughter is very pretty. How old is she? You know, my sister in law's brother's bhabhi's son is looking for a girl for marriage. He's a very handsome lad too and that to a doctor."

This aunty had literally captured my Mumma as we sat in the guest area at the reception of a relative's wedding.

"No no, I told you na my daughter is engaged to someone else?" Mumma laughed it off.

"Huh? What engaged? There wasn't even a ceremony and no one even knows about it. Where is that boy anyways. Listen to me Yasmin, don't waste her beauty and youth like that and let me set a meeting with this guy. I won't charge too much commision. I promise!"

Mumma laughed and began subtly hiding me behind her that's when, my phone rang bringing a huge smile on my face.

"Hello."

"Did you miss me?" His voice dripping like honey.

I bit my cheeks to control my smile.
"Nope....not it particular."

"Ouch...that hurt me. I've been missing you all day."

"Actually, I was just being talked into a marriage proposal and I think I'm going to consider it. The guys a handsome Doctor."

"A marriage what?! Meher, did you forget you and I are already engaged?" The panic in his voice was soo.... adorable.

I tried soo hard not to burst out laughing.
"When was that?"

"Huh?! I sent you a ring too last month!" Imraan almost screamed across the phone.

"What ring? Oh that? You didn't put it on yourself. So I thought it was a sign of your friendship!" I cooed.

He chuckled mockingly.
"Friendship?! Are you kidding me! It's the sign of my love to you Meher and a promise of marriage."

"Um.... I don't think so. However, ohh....now that I look at the picture of this guy, he's really hot. I think I might change my mind and say yes to this doctor." I teased.

"Huh! A Doctor won't have time for you."

"As if you do!" I retorted rather heatedly. It's been a year since I saw him last.

"Forget about him Meher, this boy is better than my good for nothing son. Just meet him instead." Shaziya aunty was purposely leaning on the phone and I brought the phone close to her mouth so that Imraan could hear. 

"Ehhh? Ammi? How can you even say that about your own son?! Don't you want Meher to be your daughter in law?"

Shaziya aunty scoffed.
"It's been 5 years and you've just kept my child hanging with just your words and that stupid ring. Even if my Meher marries someone else she'll still be my daughter. You can do whatever you want."

Poor Imraan!!!

"You have all gone mad! You know I came to Banglore to build a better future for us all."

"Who asked you to leave my precious sister behind and do that huh? You think my sister is a burden on you?"
Mazhar bhai came from behind me with Arham in his arms as that two year old was too complaining in his cute gibberish language.

"Not you too Mazhar bhai!!! You're the one who told me to settle down first if I wanted to marry your sister....no scratch that! You literally threatened me."

Mazhar bhai grinned.
"Ok, so now I'm threatening you that if you don't come back and marry my sister.... I'll really get her married to this doctor."

"NO! I'm coming ok! I'm catching the next train and coming back. Meher....wait for me." He hung up.

My heart was pounding. We could finally see eachother again.

"Look at our Meher blushing soo hard." Arsha bhabhi, bhai's wife teased me making me blush harder and Arham too jumped down from bhai's arms and climbed on my lap watching me curiously.

"Pi....pi....led...." (Phupi is red)
(phupi= paternal aunt)
  He giggled pinching my cheeks with his tiny fingers but they sure hurted.

Everyone was laughing.

####
I wore the prettiest dress I could find and bhabhi even put on a bit of makeup in me. We were going to see eachother after an entire year and this time we won't be seperating again.... infact, we were going to be one forever as Ammi and Abbu and their few relatives were coming with Imraan too with an official marriage proposal.

My heart was thumping and I was kinda scared.

"Bhabhi....would they like me?"

She smiled.
"What's there too hate about you huh? You're beautiful, sweet, kind and brave Meher. There is no reason anyone would ever not like you and even if they don't.... Imraan is already madly in love."

I blushed covering my face.

"All ready?" Bhai walked in and subtly slid his arm around bhabhi's waist thinking I didn't noticed....but I did. Oops and bhabhi was blushing shoving off his hand while giving him an angry look at which he was only grinning shamelessly.

"Ahem!"

"Oh right. You look pretty too shona."

"Yeah yeah....sure." I mocked and he was mimicking me badly.

"Now come out. Everyone's here."

My heart skipped.

"Assalamualaikum." I said meekly as bhabhi brought me out with the dupatta on my head.

"MashaAllah.... pretty....how nice!..."
Everyone was saying and my cheeks were hurting with all the blushing.

I looked around from under my lashes but I couldn't find Imraan. That made me sad but I still managed a smile for everyone.

After asking me a few questions and all I was walking back to my room with bhabhi but bhai stopped me and gestured me towards the terrace.

"Go, your Prince Charming is waiting."

I gasped and a huge smile came on my lips. So, without thinking I lifted my palazzo a bit and ran up the stairs.

"Don't run....uff this girl." I could heart Mumma grunt but I couldn't care less. My Imraan was here!!!

The door was already open and there he was standing with his back faced towards me. My heart was heavy turning into warm tears swimming in my eyes as I took a breath to call his name.

"Imraan!"

He turned towards me and I could see his eyes getting wide. Giggling, I ran towards him and he opened his arms closing me into a warm embrace. I held onto him like he was my oxygen burring my face in his chest.

"Meher." He breathed my name hugging me tighter. When I looked up at him, he caressed my face blinking at me soo cutely.
"Beautiful!"

I giggled.
"It's makeup."

He shook his head.
"No, it's your noor. MashaAllah...you're glowing Meher. Soo happy to see me huh?"

"Aren't you?" I pouted.

"Meher, I'm soo happy that forget about these formalities, I just want to say Qubool hai and just make you mine right here and now." He said while gazing soo deeply into my eyes and Wallahi! We were just lost in eachother.

3 years later when me and my family came back to Mumbai after graduation, Imraan and I both cried seeing eachother. Then he told me he was going to go to Banglore by campus placement giving him a wonderful job opportunity. That one year he used to come back often and and we could meet occasionally but then this year, he was away for an entire year and I missed him soo badly.

"Ok ok that's enough. Save something for after your marriage too. Hands off eachother now!" Bhai ordered.

"Not again!" Imraan groaned.
"Assalamualaikum Mazhar bhai."

Imraan went and both the men shared a friendly hug.

"This time we won't let you run away. You didn't show your face for an entire year huh. Are you two timing my sister or something?"

"No no Mazhar bhai! How can you even say that! I love Meher soo much.... I could never even imagine such a thing!" Imraan exclaimed horrified.

"Don't mind him Imraan, he's just kidding." Bhabhi consoled him.

"Oh, thankyou bhabhi. How are you?"

"Alhamdulillah." She smiled.

"What were you going to do with my innocent sister if we didn't got here on time you pervert?" Bhai was teasing him mercilessly.

"What kind of guy do you think I am!" Imraan retorted.

"One who gets very touchy with my baby sister if I'm not around. I doubt your intentions boy."

Imraan shook his head.
"My intentions about your sister are quite pure."

"Only until marriage....after that?" Bhai cooed making us both turn red like apples.

"Now, where is the little packet of masti." Imraan changed the topic and bhabhi giggled

Arham was peeking at Imraan hiding behind his mother.

"Arhaaaam! Come here, come here!" He lifted him off the floor and up in the air hearing him scream and giggle as he played with him and kissing his chubby cheeks.
"Look at what a big boy you've become. You were soo tiny when I last saw you."

I love seeing Imraan playing soo heartily with Arham. It makes me wonder what an amazing father he would become of our children.

####
"So 25th of May. How does that sound?" Daddy proposed as the elders all nodded in agreement.

"May?! That's two months away!!!! Can't we just hold the wedding next week." Imraan interupted among the elders enthusiastically only to be smacked by his older sister at the back of his head.

"Next week! Are you mad?! Do you know how many preparation are needed to be done for a wedding?! Setting the venue, decor, inviting the guests and most importantly shopping! You two waited for 5 years, sure you can wait another 2 months!"

"Didi." He frowned like a kid.

"And our sweet Meher needs to buy the most beautiful lehenga. Right Meher?" She said hugging me from the side and I  smiled.

Two months really felt like a long drag but what the elders argued wasn't wrong either.

Imraan looked at me apologitically and I just gave him a it's ok look.

####
Imraan's POV,
Meher's hands flew to her mouth as I showed her around our new home.

"It's on EMI still but within a few years, I'll pay it all off and we'll be the real owners of this house.

It was a surprise for her and I'd even asked my parents to keep it from her too.

"It's beautiful....our haven."

"Yes."

"We'll all live together here. You, me, Ammi and Abbu..."

"And our grandchildren too." Ammi added making us both blush.

This is what I'd been working soo hard for. To provide my Meher and my parents with everything they ever wanted. I had finally fulfilled my dream so now, I was truly ready to take the most important step in my life.....

_______________________________

Epilogue part 2
Coming tomorrow.