The Superstar

19

Pari, Priya and Kabeer were tired after having a fun time at the fair. Although in the beginning, Pari was miffed that Kabeer will be accompanying them because her parents insisted to take him along but in the end, they all had a great time.

"One day, I will own all these fancy stuff we just saw." Pari commented as they exited the fair. She was in awe of all the things she saw at the fair which were on sale but they didn't have enough money to buy them, so they settled for the cheap candies.

But Priya was more tensed about the fact that they had broken the curfew time. It was too late now. She knew her mom would scold her and Pari. "Tch... It is soo late. Mummy will kill me." Priya whined.

"No one will say anything. Just blame it all on this loser." Pari pointed towards Kabeer and hit him lightly on his head. Priya's mom adored Kabeer because he was the only boy. She was conservative in her thinking and valued a son more than a daughter. She loved Priya and Pari but never gave them a concession on any mistake whereas she hardly scolded Kabeer. They knew if they say it was Kabeer who wanted to stay longer at the fair, Priya's mom won't say a word.

Kabeer hit Pari back on her hand and their banter continued until a group of rowdy boys approached them. At first, they walked closely behind them. Pari and Priya sensed it and started walking faster but the boys still followed them. When they saw the quiet road, with no man and car around, they stopped Pari, Priya and Kabeer and started teasing them.

Priya was very scared but held Kabeer's hand as he was too young. Pari was used to this. Some men were just disgusting, filthy and the scum of the earth.

The city in the day was chaotic with everyone running off to work and minding their own business but at night, some of these disgusting creatures come out. Pari was used to the glances men throw at her. First, they look at her face, then the long hair, then the chest and so the gaze wanders. It didn't matter that she was completely covered. The men would still ogle at her. At first, she used to be scared of these demons but she learnt that the more she gets scared, the more they will scare her. The first time she gave it back, she trembled for a few minutes, her heart pounding louder than ever. Then, she started to love the Uno reverse on them, the fear in their eyes when they realise that this little angle-like looking doll will really hurt them without hesitance.

Pari always took advantage of any weapons around her and used it against them, whether it be a stick, a rock or sometimes, she even carried a small knife with her. The goons and good-for-nothing perverts in her area knew not to mess with Pari after an incident where she thrashed a man who was trying to harass her with a stick. Pari was scary because she never hesitated before hurting others.

This time as well, Pari picked up the rock and swinged it, hurting the men in process. She was so angered that Priya had to stop her. After the men left, Kabeer held Priya's hand and calmed her down. To him, his Priya di was the most innocent one who'd get scared easily whereas Pari would scare others, if she was triggered.

Priya requested Kabeer not to utter a word at home while Pari threatened him that if he uttered what just happened, she would hit him with the same rocks.

**

A week later, it was Rose Day in their college. Red roses were all around. Some gave it to their crushes, some celebrated the day amongst friends.
Salem was surprised when a lot of girls from his class gave him roses. He was surprised because he hardly sat any classes, yet they noticed him. He accepted them all with a sweet smile and said a small thank you the girls. He loved it when girls gave him attention and he was used to it but this time, it made me feel shy because he hardly knew any of their names.

He looked for the one girl he wanted to see in the class. Ever since that night, he used to think of her often. However, he never saw that side of hers in college. In college, he was used to seeing her innocent, closed off self. Who would have thought she has a wild side to her? Strangely, he liked to see the fire in her eyes when she threatened those boys. But, there was no trace of the fierce girl he saw that night. She was the quiet girl in the class like before, only sticking to her few friends and uttering words only when asked. He thought a lot....is it that she doesn't like to talk? But all girls he knew loved to talk. Is she not comfortable with people around her? But it's been months since their college started....he concluded that may be she is not talkative.