The Superstar

18

Salem came out of a dingy looking cheap bar. His steps stumbled but he managed to hold the wall. Aman, his friend held Salem's shoulder to support himself. Sudarshan was a bar they often visited at the month's end when they had almost exhausted all their money. Sudharshan's owner was a buff looking scary guy but he adored these two college kids and often gave them a discount on drinks. Salem had tipped his workers generously whenever he had money, so he didn't mind them being short of money sometimes. Tipping staff and waiters was not so common, only the wealthy men did it at big bars. 

"Even I want to be a big man. Toh aadatein bhi vaisi daalni padengi." Salem had said to the owner. (Poor Translation : My habits should align my goal)

The owner smirked at the young man's conviction. He had the spark in his eyes and the owner was convinced that this young man would do something in life. 

"What happened? Why are you so quiet today?" Aman asked sensing Salem's quiet demeanor. Usually after they come out of Sudarshan, Salem insists Aman on going to other places to hang out like the beach but today, he didn't say word. 

"Nothing, just felt like a wasted day." Salem answered. 

"Waah Bhai" (Great Brother) Aman said sarcastically, "I didn't know that even on days you get 'action', it is a wasted day." Aman said. Salem had spent yesterday night at Tina's place and even today, they left college early and went to her place. Everyone in the group knew what these two were upto. 

Tina Desai, the 'it' girl of St. Fernandes College. The definition of 'pretty and hot'. She was extremely proud that she had won numerous pageants. She was  an aspiring model.

Tina was a final year student at St. Fernandes and she had been recently in talks for dating a first year student.
Even Tina never thought she would date a guy two years her junior but Salem was different. But why not? He had the looks and the charm.

Salem found her too hot to not date. He was after her for two weeks when she finally agreed to become his girlfriend. And now, it's been four months to their relationship. Salem initially thought of as just a 'hot' girl who he could be with for some time but as he talked to her, he found their similar interests in fashion and movies. Also, he loved that attention he got for dating the hottest senior girl.

"You can come home later, I am all alone." Tina whispered in his ear after their quickie in the empty classroom.  

There was no denying that their relationship was more physical than emotional and Salem liked it that way. He was not looking for an emotional bonding anyway. For him, attraction and looks were all that matters.

"You won't understand. Just getting 'action' isn't everything. I was feeling so lazy that I didn't go to gym or to college. Hell, I even skipped work but I am here, getting wasted." Salem loved to drink, especially on weekends but he loved working out more. He didn't like being lazy. One of the things that his father ingrained in his mind was to work constantly, whether it be on himself or professionally. Being lazy and idle was never appreciated by his father. What made him irritated  was that he didn't get a single glance of her today. 

"Relax dude! Chal, let's go to your favourite place," When Salem gave him a confused look, Aman added, "no, not the bar. I am talking about the beach." Salem and Aman walked towards Salem's car - a Maruti Suzuki Esteem, and drove towards the beach through the silent roads of the city. It was night time and there were no people on the road and very few cars and that's the reason Salem liked to drive at night time.

At the Y- intersection, as the car was about to turn right, they both noticed  commotion behind them on the road . They both sensed something was not right and stepped down from the car.
A group of people were fighting with each other. As Salem and Aman went closer, they understood that the group of 4 boys were harrassing the two girls and a very young boy was along with the girls. As the boys were getting closer to one of the girls and teasing her, Salem and Aman moved forward to interrupt them but the next thing that happened shocked them both.

The other girl ran to the sidewalk and had picked up a big stone. She walked towards the man harassing the other girl and smashed the rock on his head.

The man who was teasing the girl was jolted from the impact and fell down while the other three guys surrounded  the girl with the stone who attacked their friend.

The girl had a murderous look in her eyes. "Come closer and I will kill you." She screamed with the big rock in her hand.

The young boy and the other girl also picked up the rocks from the sidewalk.

"No! Are you crazy? We won't do anything. Keep the rock down." The boys who were harassing them earlier pleaded and started backing away.

But she was not a soft-hearted.

She smirked and said, "Unlike you losers, I don't threaten. I do it." And she hit the three of them with the pointed edge of the rock, causing them to bleed.

"Bitch! You are crazy!" A guy yelled as he covered the injured part with his other hand.

"Yes, I am." And this time, the crazy girl was about to attack them again when the other girl held her back and asked the guys to leave quickly.

Salem and Aman were too stunned and were rooted to their place. Suddenly, they were in all their senses and had sobered up.

The crazy girl who attacked the boys with the rock was Pari. She didn't care about the boys being injured or bleeding. She was ferocious and would have attacked them again if not for that other girl.

Even in this serious situation, Salem was happy to see her before the day ended.

"She is the girl from our classroom, right?" Aman asked to confirm his doubts and Salem said a small yes.

"Haa, vaise badi shant aur shy kisam ki hai na?" Aman commented sarcastically recalling Salem's previous words about Pari.
(Hmm, she is very quiet and shy, right?)

Salem gave him a pointed look to shut up. "Kya? Kal se usse ghoorna band kar!  Varna Teri khair nahi." (What? Stop staring at her from tomorrow, otherwise she will kill you.)

Salem paid no heed to his friend's advice and continued staring at her even now. She was looking so different from what she looked in college. She had wore an anarkali and not her usual straight kurta from college. Her hair was side partitioned and in a lose braid. The anger on her face also reddened her cheeks. Her dark brown eyes had roaring anger in them. He could tell she was still murderous and was not safe to approach.

She was so different from the college personality. Not shy, not quiet, not tamed.

He found a similarity between them. Even his anger was lethal.

"So you are not such a goody two shoes, love."

________

15th Aug 2023

Hope you enjoyed this update. Please like, vote and comment :)