So today is the day when the college checklist was announced, so Namrata and her friends will know if they got admission or not.
So they went to college to check their names, and as always, a blast moment happened like in a K-drama—her two friends got admission, but her name and Harshada's name??? Not even in the last row.
She felt so bad, but she was happy that at least she's not alone—Harshada was also there. So they went back to their home, and she told everything to her mom. So her mom went to Harshada's mom and asked, "Now what should we do?" Harshada's dad had some friends in Tolani College, so he said, "I will go tomorrow and talk to the principal for both of their admissions." So Namrata's mom got relaxed.
The next day came. Namrata told her mom, "You need to work, so don't come. I will go with Harshada and her dad and let you know what happens." Her mom agreed, and now Harshada and Namrata went first to college and waited for Harshada's dad to come.
He came and said, "Wait for me here. I will be back." So he went to the principal's office, and we were waiting for him for the last one hour. Finally, he came and called, "Harshada, come here," and Harshada also went to the principal's office. So Namrata was sitting on the stairs waiting for them. Finally, they both came out with happy faces. Harshada said, "My admission is done!" So Namrata was happy. She said, "Congratulations!" and asked, "What about me?"
Her dad said, "Sorry, but they only chose one person." And the tears inside Namrata's heart wanted to come out, but she controlled herself and did a fake smile and just said, "Ohhh, only one person…"
Later, they went home. Namrata's mom asked her, "What happened? Did you get admission?" She cried very hard and said, "No mom, Harshada's dad said only one person, so my chance is not there." Her mom also felt bad. "Why did they do this?" Mom said, "Wait, I will try from my side." And mom did everything, but getting admission to that college, which was a dream for Namrata, was not happening. It had been 2 months she was trying, but nothing happened.
After every trial, her brother told her, "Come on, cheer up. There are plenty of colleges. Stop dreaming about this college only. Give up already and don't waste your study for this."
So she thought, "Actually, he's right." So she decided, "I will go to a different college," and she finally got admission to St. Bugs College—not much popular, but it's okay for studies.
After this awful incident, she cut all connection with her three besties. Not because she was mad, but because they didn't even ask her how she was doing, how she got admission—they didn't even ask. So she cut all connection with them.
In St. Bugs, she got new friends—not great, but at least they stayed with her. Even though they also teased her for her height and face, now nothing harmed her because she was already broken enough from the inside. So she took it as a joke.
As she entered college, she didn't know how to dress well, how to do makeup, because her mother never applied any cosmetics on her face. Her mother was a natural beauty queen, so Namrata didn't know about makeup. But after entering college, by looking at every girl's outfit and face, she felt more uncomfortable. But gladly, she got some friends, and one of her friends named Jyoti taught her how to apply foundation on her face, how to apply eyeliner on her eyes, and how to apply lipstick on her lips. She even gifted Namrata some cosmetics. She said, "If you apply all this, your pimples will be less visible." So Namrata felt "wow" and said, "Yes, I will give it a try." The cosmetics her friend gave were cheap, so Namrata applied them on her face. She showed them to her mother, and as usual, her mother warned her not to apply them, but she still applied.
She looked more like a clown in makeup. Now in college, everyone was making fun of her like she was a joker. This broke her even more, but her friend told her, "No, you look cute. Don't listen to them." Namrata was so blind that she trusted her.
Now every boy was noticing Namrata. She felt good, but deep down she didn't know they were watching her funny face for fun. And here Namrata was thinking they were in love with her. She was flexing all this on her social media. Back in her time, Facebook was very famous, and Namrata was very active on Facebook because her filtered photos gave her relaxation and the attention of boys, which she never saw in real life.
Innocent Namrata now started bunking classes just because her friends told her it was a cool thing to do in college, otherwise no one would notice them. Without knowing her family's financial situation, she always started demanding money from her mother. Her poor mother always wanted to fulfill her children's dreams. She always gave her money without knowing why she was asking.
Now Namrata's birthday was arriving.
She told her friends, "In 2 days, my birthday is coming, so please come to my home. We will do a party." All her friends laughed: "Hahahahah, what? At home??? Are you 7 years old or what? Who celebrates birthday at home?" They laughed at her.
So she too laughed and said, "Heheheh, sorry, I was just joking…" and with a fake smile, she asked her friends, "So where should we go on my birthday?"
They said, "It's your birthday, so let's go to the club. We'll do a party!" And they said, "Whoever's birthday it is, they have to give a big party in the club with their own money."
Now Namrata was mute for 10 seconds, and without thinking, she said, "Yes."
Now she was thinking, "Going to a club with 5–6 people… what and how much money should I carry with me?"
She got so confused, and she didn't want to deny them because she thought if she didn't give them a party, they would definitely leave her alone.
And she didn't want to lose her friends.
She reached home and her mother was there cooking food. She told her mother, "On my birthday, I will go out with my friends." Her mother said, "Why? I already prepared for a cake and small party. Why do you want to go out?"
She said, "I am not a kid now to celebrate my birthday at home." Her mom's face was sad, but she smiled and said, "Okay, go out, enjoy." After 2 minutes of silence, Namrata said, "But I need $100 to go out and give them a party." Her mom was shocked and said, "What??? $100? Are you serious right now? Can't you see our financial situation?" Namrata said, "I only want it once, please give me."
Her poor mother didn't want to see her daughter cry, but she actually didn't have that much money to give her.
She said, "Sorry, my girl, but I seriously don't have that much money to give you."
Namrata cried a lot. "Please mom, give me. It's for my birthday party only." Her mom said, "Sorry, dear, but I seriously don't have that much money…"
Namrata got angry, threw things at her mom, and used very bad words…
Her mom felt so bad, she cried, thinking, "Why can't I fulfill my own children's dreams?"
Her mom didn't say anything but disappeared for 2 hours. And Namrata??
She was crying for no reason because she is really stubborn when it comes to her friends' things.
After 2 hours, her mom came and asked her, "Had food?" Namrata said, "No, I don't want to eat your food."
Her mom came and hugged her and gave her $100 and said, "Stop crying and enjoy your birthday with your friends."
After seeing this, Namrata took the money and smiled, but she never asked her mom where she got the money.
Her mom was really happy—but with a sad face.
And here Namrata was dancing like she achieved everything.
After all this, her mom and she sat together for eating lunch. They had their food, and Namrata said, "I cried a lot, so I need to go to sleep." Her mom said, "Okay, sleep well," and went to her part-time job.
After taking a small nap, Namrata woke up and texted in the group, "Tomorrow we will go to the club." All the plan was set.
Her friends were now asking her, "But did you buy new clothes???" And Namrata said, "No." Her friend said, "Come on! Who's going to wear old clothes on their birthday? Are you mad or what? Come to X Mall, we'll shop together right now." Namrata said, "Okay, I'm in," without thinking that she didn't have extra money. She had only that $100 which she needed to spend tomorrow at the club. But Namrata said yes, and they went to the mall.
Her friend told her, "Wear this black dress, it will look good on you." By seeing the price of that dress, Namrata was already shocked.
The price of that dress was $95, and boom boom, her friend said, "Shut up and buy it!" Silly Namrata used that $100 to buy the dress, and after buying it, she went home and was thinking, "Now what should I do to ask my mom for another $100?"