Diya was going through both mental and physical torment, but she did not let go of her patience. They kept her breastfeeding baby for six days, but by then, the milk in Diya's body had dried up, and now the baby was deprived of her mother's milk.
The baby's grandparents, showing compassion, spoke to their son and sent her back, but now they started taking the baby away repeatedly. As a result, the baby began to stay with them for longer periods. Meanwhile, Diya completed her course and prepared for the exam with full dedication and hard work, and she emerged as the top student among nearly two hundred and fifty children in the entire centre.
After a long time, she experienced true happiness. A grand ceremony was organized for the distribution of degrees, where prominent officials from the district were present. There were also people from the media and the police department. Some prominent leaders were included as well. In honour of being the centre topper, Diya was awarded a laptop by the SDM. This ceremony was also featured in newspapers and TV news with Diya's photo.
All of this was seen by her ex-husband, and he became very jealous. In his frustration, he told a lot to Diya's cousin over the phone. He made it seem like Diya was the one who did everything wrong and is now happy after doing so. Like a madman, he kept going to Diya's relatives to express his sorrow, as if he were the most unfortunate husband.
He was upset about the fact that Diya was now excelling in her studies and he didn't get the kind of wife he wanted. Now, he was neither here nor there, and apart from regretting, he could only calm himself by speaking badly about Diya. In just a few years, he had tasted the consequences of his negativity very well.
He kept speaking ill of Diya to the little girl, but the girl liked her mother very much, so hearing bad things made her see her father in a negative light. Diya realized that one should never sacrifice oneself based on what others say because in life, whatever needs to be done, has to be done alone.
People will only keep giving advice; no one will help. Help comes only from parents and siblings, and that too if you are lucky to have good ones. She endured a lot of pain and barely survived, but at a young age, she gained so much experience that even an eighty-year-old might not have. Whether you gain anything from suffering or not, you learn something.
She realised that It also becomes clear who your true friends are and who the smiling enemies are. Until we fall into the pit, we won't learn to walk carefully. Just have faith in yourself and keep doing good deeds, even if no one treats you well. You should not sink into evil. The rewards of goodness are very good.
Diya completed her graduation and then obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science, securing a good rank in it as well. The usually silent Diya had understood the world well. Now She was like gold that had been set on fire, which could be shaped into something beautiful and shining. She did not lose courage and kept moving forward, ignoring what everyone else said.
Now, her daughter used to stay with her very little. As days passed, her visits became very less. Every two to three months, she would be kept with Diya for a week. Both the mother and daughter had gotten used to this routine. Diya was a bit relaxed because she knew that the girl's grandparents loved her very much and took good care of her. But still, whenever she came and then left, a sense of emptiness lingered in Diya's heart for many days.
She got admission for a Master of Arts because now her only goal was to stand on her own feet and inspire the other girls in the village so that, seeing this Diya, many other Diyas would try to shine and not let themselves be extinguished in any storm!
For higher education, she had to study hard, but when she had to go to a distant city to take the exam, she got infected with a virus there. It was the COVID-19 virus, which was causing a pandemic. The hospitals in the entire city were overflowing with dead bodies.
She had managed to take the exam for four out of eight papers, but then her health deteriorated severely. It got so bad that she could hardly get out of bed, let alone breathe without difficulty. Her body ached terribly. It was hard for her to swallow even a drop of water. It felt like she couldn't bear the pain any longer and that her life could end at any moment.
To be continued.....
