*Beep* *beep* *beep*

"Natasha, time to wake up. You start school today" called Natasha's mother. "I'm up mom I'm up" said Natasha. "Get ready and come down for breakfast. Dad is going to drop you at school" "Yes, mom"

Natasha turned 16 this year. She had a small party at her house in which her family members and friends were invited. By friends it means her parents colleagues or friends children or the relatives children. Natasha doesn't have any close friends whom she can invite to her house. And now that she is start school in a new town it is even more so impossible for her to have close friends.

Natasha has strict parents. She has grown up under strict supervision from her parents. Growing up, she had limited access to tv, no computer at home and definitely no smartphone. Her parents were pretty old fashioned. They never let Natasha do things that people nowadays do.

Her family is pretty conservative. Always thinking about what people will say, how the society will think, how will people react etc. So Natasha had a caged life while growing up.

She turned 16 this year but still has no close friends because her parents always pressured her for her studies no matter how god of a student she was. Natasha was always ranked 1-5 in her class. She never bunked classes or skipped school. She has no bad habits either. How would she have any bad habits she never got the time.

"Good morning, mom and dad." "morning" said dad. Natasha didn't care about the lack of enthusiasm of her dad cause he was always like that. She finished her breakfast by eating a sandwich, an apple and a glass of milk. She said "bye mom" and left with her dad. Her parents weren't like other parents who would kiss each other or give a hug before leaving for office. Her dad has a job whereas her mom is a housewife. She has a little sister whom she loves and hates at the same time.

Getting out of the house, she got in the car with her dad and left for school. "listen Natasha, no need to pay attention to what the other students are gossiping about. Just focus on your studies. There is no only girls' school here, that's why we had to get your admission in a coed school. But never talk to any of the boys unless absolutely necessary. No need to have any close friends. It's just a waste of time. Your mom will pick you up after school finishes. She might be a little late because she will be picking up your sister too. Do not go anywhere alone and don't talk to strangers. Don't give anyone our address unless mandatory. You understand what I'm saying right?" "Yes dad" said Natasha. 'making close friends? I don't even know how to make friends let alone close friends. I get awkward while talking to people. That's why I had no friends in the previous school. And leave the boys. I NEVER talked to boys before unless they are my cousins. Why will I talk to unknown boys?'

"Are you listening to what I'm saying Natasha?" "Yes, dad" actually she wasn't listening. She was thinking what her new school would be like. She did not know how this new school would be. She heard her parents talking to each other last night saying that this school is the best in this town. But her sister told her that her mom said this school has a lot of couples. The girls from her previous school were all from rich families. They would talk about makeup, accessories, gems, shopping, movies they went to watch with their friends or family.

The girls always went somewhere for a trip during summer and winter. The only time Natasha went somewhere was when she visited her aunt who lived a little far from them. And that was only once when she was 5 or 6. Since then she has never gone anywhere except when she goes for shopping with her family or attends any family function.

She wants to know how it feels going out with friends, hanging out, going to movies, going on trips, having fun. She wishes that someday she would get to do all those things her classmates did. She always saw her classmates chatting on the phone, talking about boys, giggling about which male celebrity is more attractive, which songs are trending. what color dress would suit whom, how to style your hair etc. She never got to participate in those conversations because she didn't have any experience to share.