Ashi is very pleased to have a little sister and loves her a lot. time goes on and both the sisters grew extremely fond of each other. Suddenly there is some problem in the joint family of three brothers and they decide to separate. Ashi's parents bought a new house in a diferent locality and shifts there.
Ashi is 5 years old now and Rup is 3 and half years old. Ashi is still a fat baby. Today is Ashi's birthday so, there is a party at Mr. Sharma's place. lots of people have gathered here. one of the relatives comes to Ashi's parents and says,"wow ur younger daughter is an angel ekdum lakshmi ka rup hai she will be married to some royal family." they are too glad to hear these compliments. little Ashi overhears it but she doesn't cares but when one by one most of the people says same kind of things she gets a bit irritated. although she is too young to understand such things, she couldn't understand why anybody is not saying any good things about her. after all its her birthday today. wat happened to all those lovable people who always showered love and affection on her. (the readers must have understood y it happened being a part of indian society).
Time passes and gradually mom's behaviour also starts changing towards Ashi. but two men still loves her like anything, her dad and the old darwan of the family. Ashi also loves them and her little sister very much but she tries to stay away from her mom. so when her dad is not at home she goes in the servant quarters to play with darwanji. both the sisters have already started going to school. both are blessed with good brains and intelligence and pick up studies very fast. but it seems all the burden of studying and doing well in the exams is on Ashi's little shoulders only. mom always pesters her to study properly and that she must get the 1st position in the class. Ashi is too young to understand the number game now and dont pays much attention to it. but one thing bugs her that why mom never asks Rup to study and all. one day when mom was scolding her as usual for playing and not studying, she gets annoyed and retorted, " Mama why do u scold me always, u never tell Rup anything?"
"shut up! no need to compare urself with Rup. u r not beautiful like her, understand?"
"so wat? wat difference does that make?"
"beautiful people don't have to do anything substantial. their beauty is enough for them. with her kind of looks she will surely be married in a rich and nice family. but wat about u? if u don't have some good qualities and knowledge nobody will take u?"
" why should i go with anyone in the first place? i'll stay with dad only".
"stop arguing. u r such a brat at this age, wat will u do later? as it is you are ugly and fat, and then u r good for nothin."
"UGLY". the word came like an arrow and struck into her little heart. God knows wat happened but tears came streaming down her cheeks. she didn't understand what kind of feeling was that. why she was feeling a pain? she was not hurt anywhere at all. then? y she is crying? why is she feeling so bad? whom should she tell about it? dad is also not at home.