चकमक

The jibes and comments still came sporadically. Some girls passed comments that she was turning into a boy, the way her arms rippled with muscles. But they didn’t bother Fatima at all now. She was proud of her muscles. They were won after a lot of sweat and pain and effort. Gradually, seeing her go from one success to another, the comments turned to grudging admiration. From a passing fancy now, the mystical javelin became an obsession with Fatima, now fourteen and bulging with biceps. And Fatima too became an obsession with her games teacher. They would train two or three times a day and sometimes the girl would pack in an extra session by herself. She had learned, with her mentor’s help, not to let anyone’s comments about her, or her unfeminine appearance bother her. She loved the javelin and for that she needed those muscles. She wore them like a badge of honor. One night, when Mrs. Whitbread couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice about Fatima’s unparalleled tale...