“This is such a simple sum; you don’t know how to solve it? You silly girl!” Eshal was laughing at her class fellow Ayesha for not being able to solve a maths sum.

Miss Maria was about to come in when she heard Eshal laughing at Ayesha. Ayesha felt heartbroken and left the classroom, crying. She didn’t see Miss Maria standing there.

“Eshal, you shouldn’t have treated Ayesha like that, you know her situation. Please don’t make her feel miserable and unsupported like that,” Rabia said, to make Eshal understand the pain she inflicted on others.

Eshal was clearly unable to get the point, “I just pointed out the fact that it was a simple sum and she couldn’t even do it. What’s wrong with that?”

Rabia was disappointed, “This constant criticism of yours can destroy her confidence. Please try to understand, give her some space to learn, she needs more time to grab concepts”

Eshal was the bully of the class and she didn’t ever realise it. She used to criticise people all the time, unable to understand the damage she caused by laughing and criticising them.

One day, when Rabia fell outside the class, Eshal started laughing at her rather than helping her. “You can’t even walk properly. Ridiculous!”

Miss Maria thought to make Eshal understand the pain she gave others. The next day, while delivering the lecture, Miss Maria called Eshal, “Eshal! Come and please solve this question, please.”

Eshal was devastated, she didn’t know the solution and started panicking.

Miss Maria teased her, “Eshal, it’s such a simple question. How can you not know it?

She started crying. Miss Maria went to her and wiped her tears and said, “You understand now my dear? That’s how everyone else felt when you laughed at them. My child, instead of laughing, you can help the other person to get out of the uncomfortable situation, it will make you feel much better.”

Eshal realised how bad she made everyone else feel, she apologised to everyone, especially Ayesha. “Ayesha, I am sorry, I didn’t know you were hurt this much, it was not my intention.”

“I understand, I forgive you. You realised your mistake, that’s enough for me, as long as you don’t do the same thing again,” Ayesha replied.

“No! I have learned my lesson. From now on, I’ll help people in trouble rather than laugh at them for being stuck or unable to figure out the answer.”

Afterwards, Eshal and Ayesha became friends and helped each other out when in trouble.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 19th, 2021