The Superstar

02

Nia observed Pari over the next few days and it wasn't much since Pari didn't do anything more than cooking and staying in her room. She had not seen Pari step out of this house at all. If she required anything from outside, she used to request Mrs.Sharma for it. She wondered how someone could voluntarily stay inside and not step out at all?

Pari, on the other hand, had the fear of getting caught and being dragged into her old hell. Her plan was to hide in this house. But how long was it possible for her?

She suddenly felt the urge to puke and she ran out of her room to the basin that was shared by her and Nia. She pushed Nia, who was brushing her teeth, sideways and puked.

"What the hell!" Nia was about to say more when she saw Pari puking. Nia helped Pari by pulling her hair back.

"Thanks." Pari said and went back to her room.

Nia found this instance repeating a few more times in the morning. Whenever she was about to brush or in the middle of brushing her teeth, Pari had spoilt her morning by vomitting in the basin.

"What does she eat that she needs to puke on most mornings?" Once Nia asked Mrs.Sharma, completely irritated at Pari.

Just when Mrs. Sharma was about to speak, they saw Pari approaching them on the breakfast table. It was a first! Pari had never come to have breakfast with them. She would usually make tea for herself and go back to her room.

For Pari, it was still awkward to share a house with two strangers. All her life, she was either with her family or the house she was married into, but never with strangers who she didn't share any relationship with.

Mrs. Sharma enquired about her health and if she wants anything specific. Pari just shook her head in denial. Mrs. Sharma smiled warmly and put her hand on Pari's head assuring her that if she needs anything, she just needs to ask. Pari smiled a small smile at her warmth. Pari was the one to talk less and very few people understood that this is her nature and not her being rude to them.

Nia stared at Pari a few seconds, her eyes staring holes in Pari like a bullet. Then, she looked at Mrs. Sharma and asked, "Why didn't you let my friend stay here? My friend was ready to pay the rent, she would have looked after herself and would have never bothered you. Here, she wakes up late, doesn't buy her own groceries or cooks her own breakfast and you accept her tantrums but you are very strict with me and others who were here before." Nia couldn't control herself and let out her complaints. Usually, aunty was very strict about her rules but it seems like Pari was an exception. And due to Pari, aunty had rejected Nia's friend's application to stay here.

"Nia, this is my home. I decide who stays here and who doesn't. She needs this place more than anyone. End of the discussion." Aunty sternly spoke to Nia.
An angry Nia got up from there and left them.

To Pari, it didn't matter if Nia liked her or not. It was the last thing she needed to think about. She was not the person who needed validation from others. Having a roof over her head and a safe place was all she needed.

**

For Pari, it was hard for her to spend time in this new house. She had locked herself in the room. She was paranoid to go out and get caught. She tried to be sane for herself and the child but now, the walls of the room had started to mock her. The loneliness was driving her crazy. There was no one she could talk about what was in her mind. She already felt like a liability for Mrs.Sharma and wouldn't want to burden the old soul more with her problems. The other girl - Nia had some animosity towards her. Pari had no phone to talk to anyone back home.

Not just the house, this town was new to her. She had to leave her city - the only home she knew since her birth because of the devil. She had started to miss her city where she was born and brought up, spent her good and the worst days of her life, where she learnt that life can be good as well as cruel. She had known most routes of her city, the famous stalls and shops. She missed everything. She was homesick. But there was no one left who she could call her home. Her home was shattered. A vile and cruel, cruel man had shattered her home, her life and nobody saved her. She was going to carry this grudge towards everyone, all her life. She was supposed to be saved by someone but nobody came for help. Her cry for help was unheard. Not just by the people but by God as well.