The Superstar

05

Pari hasn't experienced this much happiness and peace in the last few years as much as she experienced being here, in this house with Nia and Mrs. Sharma. She had made these strangers her new home. She also felt scared of this peace...what if it was taken away from her, like all the good things in her life?

There was Nia and her constant chatter, so much so that Pari had to tell her to be quiet. She remembered how she used to fight with Kabeer all the time since he was the only one who was mischievous at her home. She laughed remembering her fight with her younger brother and the hair pulling. Her mother and aunt used to yell at her and tell her to stop fighting with Kabeer and Pari had only one reply, "I will stop fighting the day he becomes less irritating." Her mother had never thought that Pari and Kabeer would fight so much since there was an age gap between the two but they always managed to pick a bone with each other. Pari's mother always thought it was Pari's fault as Pari used to have fights with everyone at home, except her father. 

Pari's aunt always said that she was truly puzzled as to how a person like Pari was born to her parents who were so tamed and docile while Pari was like a wounded animal, always grunting and ready to pounce on people. Pari was quick to back answer her, telling her aunt that she has a  problem with her because the potential groom that came for Priya, always ended up liking Pari.

"Okay, so this time you don't come out at all. Stay in the room." Her aunt demanded.

"Why should I? Infact, I should be there to test the groom's character. You want your daughter to get married to someone who can cheat on her seeing any other girl?" Pari asked.

"Mummy, Pari is right. Let her be there." Priya said and only then her aunt agreed for Pari to be there.

Pari snapped out of this memory when Nia increased the song volume on the television. Nia was singing in her not-so-bearable melodious voice. Pari thanked God that Mrs. Sharma had gone to the neighbouring house otherwise hearing Nia's voice would surely give the old woman a heart attack.

By the end of the song, when it got unbearable, Pari finally broke her silence. "The next time you want to scare a boy who is after you, why don't you consider singing? You are unbearable!" Pari was brutal and never minces her words.

"I love him." She pointed at the screen towards the hero. "And this song is my favourite!" Nia almost screamed while grooving with the song and thankfully, few seconds later, the song came to end and so did Nia's torture. 

"Oh! I thought you love Rishabh Malhotra." Pari said remembering Nia talking about her celebrity crush Rishabh Malhotra, a young hunk in the entertainment industry.

"Yeah, yeah....but he is my forever crush, my numero uno." Nia said dreamily while Pari shook her head. If it was any other woman hearing Nia talk this about her husband, she would have fought with Nia but Nia was not the first one to talk like this about her husband, she had seen many girls before having a major crush on her husband, it comes with being the wife of a celebrity. 

Nia suddenly turned to Pari with great excitement and asked, "You are from Mumbai....have you ever seen him?" Nia knew not everyone who stays in the city would get a glimpse of a celebrity but what if Pari has seen him?!

"Yes, I have." Pari was not the one to lie, she can hide the truth but barely lie. She believed people who are scared and done wrong, lie about things.

"What?!!" Nia's jaw dropped at the information. She didn't believe Pari was lucky enough to see him, she had just asked her casually, not expecting the answer to be yes!

"You are so so so lucky!" Nia squealed excitedly. "I have heard he looks much more handsome in real life than on screen, does he?" She wiggled her brows, her eyes filled with joy!

"Ummmm...." Pari gave it a thought, making Nia intentionally impatient and finally answering Nia's question by nodding her head. Pari had to be honest, he is a handsome guy....after all, he started as a model and was ranked for being one of the most handsome faces of all time.

"Woah!! Wish I could get to see his handsome face once in my lifetime. You are so lucky." Nia squealed, again.

Pari wanted to tell her she was not lucky to meet him. If she could go back in time and undo one thing, it would be to meet him. She would hide from him, forever.

"If you ever meet him again and talk to him, tell him about me....that I am his huge fan, my name is Nia and I am waiting for the day I meet him." Pari smiled at Nia's innocent way of saying things. She could feel the pure love of a fan for her idol, an idol who didn't deserve any of this. "But mostly wish that I meet him so that I could tell him how much of a huge crush I have on him and I do not love him just for his looks or acting but for the human he is....He has a big heart to help others. So many celebrities do charity, but only he has the biggest of heart! I read all the stories of how he helped so many cancer patients for free." He was Nia's childhood crush. She could literally go on and on about him.

"Enough about your celebrity crush, now tell me about your real crush, you were going to tell me about some guy, right?" Pari had to change the topic, she couldn't listen to Nia's talks about him.

"Oh yes." Nia blushed a little and her smile grew. "I met him at the hotel I work. He is not from here, but comes here for a retreat. He has asked me out on a date next weekend." Nia worked part-time at a hotel in the main city. It was good money to sustain her college life. As it was a deluxe hotel, a lot of rich people from other states waited here and it was the main reason for Nia to work there. Maybe, a good connection with these rich people can help her get a good job in the fashion industry. She was there to network with the rich. Pari nodded at the details of how Nia met her date. She wondered if Nia's mouth ever wanted to give up? She talks so much that Pari gets exhausted just hearing her talk.

"Okay, okay, that reminds me that you have to help me choose a date outfit." Nia demanded while Pari just gave her a "ugh" look. She knew Nia would tire her out with multiple outfit choices.

"No saying no! Now that you are my friend, you have to help me out with this! You signed up for this." Pari showed two thumbs agreeing to whatever Nia is saying because honestly, who has the patience to argue with Nia? Not Pari.

Nia went on about her confusion...should she keep it casual or go all out? Would taking an effort look desperate? Or would casual outfit throw away the boy's interest in her?

"Pari? Are you even listening? Okay, tell me what did you wear for your dates? May be, it would help me." Nia asked.

Pari's face morphed into panic. She l had only one "pleasant" date experience. What was she supposed to answer about other ones? 

Pari remembered how she had gone out with a guy her parents were thinking as a groom for her. And how he had completely ruined it by interrupting it and humiliating her and threatening the poor guy.

When she had condemned him for the act, he dismissed her, not caring if she approved his act or not. He was pissed at her going out with other guys. He shut her up by raising his finger and keeping it on her lips.

"You will be sorry the next time I see you out with other guys on a "date." Make no mistakes for I do not tolerate them, my love."

"A blue dress. A blue anarkali I had worn." Pari answered still in the past daze.

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20/03/23

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