I cried and cried and cried. 

I cried for what seemed like hours. My whole world didn't make sense anymore. That was when I saw him approach – Shyam. 

He had a girl with him and my heart skipped a beat when I saw her. Her eyes, her jaw, her hair... everything looked familiar, and as they kept walking towards me, closer and closer, i saw it. She looked just like Maya.

Shyam rushed towards me and held my shoulders, breaking me from whatever spell I was under, a look of worry in his eyes, but now, my eyes were on her. Is this how we form a team just like the other universe? Meet up as friends? His friends?

"Janani? Look at me! Everything's gonna be fine, okay?" He spoke, bringing me out of the daze again.

"Did you know?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

"No... no I didn't," he said, a sudden kind of protective stance going over him. He had his guard up and that broke my heart further, if that was even possible. He never kept his guard up with me. 

"Look," he spoke. "So what if you are adapted. Your parents love you. The words your father used are just out of frustration. After few days, he'll return to normal and he'll still love you."

I took in a deep breath, trying to grasp his words. His words that seemed far from real and yet quietened my heavy beating heart. Could he really love me despite all? Even if I wasn't certain of it, it wasn't like I had any other place to be. 

My eyes traveled back to the girl again, her eyes filled with concern. Shyam caught me looking at her and sighed deeply. 

"That's Maya," he said, confirming my speculations. "She's a friend of mine."

I nod. Try to give her a smile. I'm sure it came out crooked. Smiling just didn't seem natural to me right now– just another expression to hide behind. 

"She just moved here last year," he continued. "She's in our— I mean, same class as mine."

His class. Not ours. Of course. I missed an entire year, eventhough I didn't exactly miss an year, and now I have to attend a whole year with my juniors and no friends. If I decide to stay here, that is. Even so, where else do I have for me to go?

After a long gap of silence, Shyam spoke up again, his voice that of suggestion. "Let's get you back down," he said. "After everything you've been through, you need some rest."

Rest was the last thing on my mind, but the offer was a little too tempting, considering that I wouldn't have to face the world for a while if I rest. So I nodded. Shyam helped me up and I stumbled immediately once on feet. I wonder how long I've been sitting here without even a slightest movement. 

The time is a funny concept indeed. Never once had I given a thought to it, but now, I hate it.

Without any words, we made our way down. Maya still stayed with us, but didn't volunteer even a single word. I wonder what's going on in her mind. 

The minute we entered, we were faced by my parents again. My father still looked angry while my mother took a step forward, her forehead filled with worry lines. She clearly seemed like she wanted to talk, but I had no mood for it.

Forcing a smile onto my face, I gave her a curt nod and swiftly walked to my bedroom. That is more than I can give her with my state I believe. 

On my way, I found the calendar hanging on the wall. It was my birth month and only three weeks were left for my birthday, and no one marked the date. It's like, everyone accepted my disappearance and moved on. Do people really move on after a year?

I felt Shyam approach me from behind as he sensed my change in emotions. Usually, I let him, but now, it just seems too much. Especially since his sudden increase in height kept reminding me of our age difference.

I quickly walked before he could place his hands on my shoulder and I could almost imagine his hands dangling in mid air.

Don't blame me. People tend to act like complete idiots when they've gone through shit.

I went into my room and slammed the door shut, and my body immediately went limp on my bed, my face buried into the mattress. This will get better, I told myself. Hopefully. 

__________

Days passed in a blur and soon, it was my birthday. 24th March... and the worst part? It didn't seem like my birthday. I was now thirteen years old... I've placed my first foot in my teenage years and no one seemed to acknowledge it. According to the records, I was fourteen, and only I seemed to think otherwise. 

No one wished me. No one seemed to mind my presence. It was just me, roaming around, doing about my work. I'll be starting school soon, the 8th grade... while Shyam... and apparently Maya, would be attending 9th grade together. 

They seem to be in their own world these days. Just talking and talking and talking, that too in these hushed tones that made me feel like an outsider. I tried to accompany them a few times but soon realized that I was just an unwanted third wheel, so I stepped back, and sadly, Shyam didn't mind.

My parents weren't in on my life too much either. I wonder if I should start calling them my foster parents from now on. I'm practically just sn unpaid guest in their home. They feed me, give me clothes and shelter, and their actions are clear that they wish to be thanked for it.

The initial concern my mother seemed to hold vanished soon enough. Her demeanor had changed to that of complete nonchalance, making me wonder if I had just imagined my life the past twelve years.

At quiet times, my mind drifts back to the incident with the dark man– the destructor. The team told me that he wouldn't bother me for a while, but I wonder what that while is. Will he be here tomorrow? The day after? A week later? Next month? Next year? The possibilities were endless. 

The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that in my world too, there will be a team, and I'll be a part of it. But for how long? Even that, I didn't know. The fate of my reflection kept flashing in my mind too.

But for now, all I could do was sit at my desk and doodle my time away while my mind kept reminding me that everyone forgot my birthday...