In a similar way, time had passed.
I had completed my tenth grade.
On the day of my tenth grade board results, Raj was also present in our house.
'Oho Su, you only managed to score 60% marks,' Raj said, mocking me.
I didn't reply.
'Oh how poor! How disappointed! I didn't expect this from you, Su,' Raj expressed, as he was upset with my percentage.
He continued…
'And why not? Only wandering here and there; hanging out with boys and playing games like little kids. Never concentrating on studies.'
Raj delivered his long lectures like an adult.
I could not hear anything about my humiliation in front of my family members. I was out of patience.
I got angry.
"IT'S ENOUGH! You've crossed the limit. Just stop your disgusting lectures."
In the middle of the entire family, I reacted rudely.
Raj became stunned silent.
"Did you ever witness me hanging out with boys and wandering here and there, huh?"
He was shocked.
He didn't expect that I would react to him in such a manner.
"SUMAN, what are you saying, huh? What is this manner?" my mother scolded me.
"Okay, okay," Raj said. "Su, I—I am just kidding. I—I am so sorry." Raj apologized. His voice was shaking.
I wept and ran into my bedroom.
I was emotionally hurt.
I was expecting distinctions or letter marks in my subjects, but I didn't get any in my subjects.
I had toiled hard, burning the midnight oil for every subject, day and night.
My friends got distinctions and letter marks in their subjects, and I just managed sixty percent.
I could not believe my own results.
Raj also followed me and entered my bedroom.
I was weeping in my bedroom, collapsed on my bed and holding a pillow as my rescue.
'I am so, so sorry, Su,' Raj apologized to me once again. 'I shouldn't speak like this.'
For the first time, Raj apologized to me.
'How dare you step inside my bedroom?' I said angrily.
'I am extremely sorry, Su,' Raj apologized again.
'Leave me alone.'
'I said sorry, Su.'
'I don't want to talk to you. I hate you. You never talk to me again.'
'GET OUT OF MY BEDROOM,' I screamed at the top of my voice.
'Okay, okay,' Raj said coldly. 'I am leaving.'
From that day onwards, Raj didn't visit our house again.
Later, I realized how I had behaved with Raj.