*Aslesha*

"Aashi yaar uth na! Maine bola tha na tujhe, aaj party me jaana hai" Pari, my best friend, comes barging in my room like it's her own and starts pulling me off my bed.

"Ugh Pari maine pehle bhi kaha tha I don't wanna come to that stupid party" I say and bury my face in the pillow.

"Lekin mujhe pehli baar permission mili hai kisi party me jaane ki. Vo bhi isliye ke daddy out of town hai. You know na mere ghar wale kaise hai. Wapas mujhe kabhi mauka nahi milega kisi bhi party me jaane ka. I'll die without attending a single party in my life.." she whines.

At the last sentence I lift up my head and give her a what-the-hell look. She looks at me batting her eyelashes and gives me a sheepish smile.

This girl's face is just true to her name. She has beautiful grey eyes which are right now half covered with her bangs and a small nose. Her smile can make any guy go crazy. With that innocent face it's impossible to reject her and she knows it. She is doing just that with her Pari face power.

"Please Aashi.." she says and that's where she drops the bomb. How can someone say please like that.

I sigh and she knows she's got me. She hugs me and says, "Aashi, meri jaan hai tu. Chal jaldi tayyar ho ja!"

I sit up as she starts looking through my closet for a suitable dress. That's when I notice what she is wearing. A navy blue tank top with white cut offs.

I go and wash my face and wear the clothes she hands me - black jeggings and a red top.

Pari for the 1837th time since we became friends asks me if she can style my hair and I for the 1837th time say no.

Well that's because they are the only part of me that are perfect. I love them and I trust nobody enough to touch my hair, not even my best friend.

I have freckles on my cheeks and braces. So with that face, my hair is the only thing that makes me look somewhat average.

After a little make up we both look at ourselves in the mirror. Pari is smiling goofily and I am already looking tired.

"This is my first party and I already hate it" I say as we walk towards the living room with the gift wrapped chocolate box in my hand.

"Shut up Aashi! Hum Goa me rehte hai, the party capital of India. Parties matlab Goa. Goa matlab parties" she says. Her energy is contagious and I can't help but chuckle.

"Look at both of my girls looking so gorgeous" papa says when he sees us and comes to hug us. I roll my eyes while Pari giggles.

"Anil uncle you are always so sweet" she says. Yes he is actually. I've got the best papa in the whole world.

"Come on girls I'll quickly drop you now.. by what time should I come to pick you up?" he asks and leads us outside the house.

"The party is just 2 blocks away papa. We'll be fine on our own" I say and Pari nods. "Um ok. But agar aate time late hua toh waha se call karna ok.. I'll pick you up" he says. "Papa it's a simple birthday party. Not some rave party" I assure him.

"Okay fine fine.. now go it's already 7.15" he says and listening to that Pari starts pulling me and off we go.

Pari starts with her non-stop chapad-chapad and I quitely listen to her not really paying attention.

Goa is world famous for it's beaches and due to tourism it's always lively. But now that it's the start of June, people rarely come here and it seems like a quiet city by the beach. The roads are a little wet due to rain and the dark clouds forming above us promise rain.

In just a few minutes we reach Saloni's house. She is dressed in a beautiful white dress and I see many familiar faces from our school. We go and wish her and give her the present and chat with her for a while. She is a sweet girl and the maths topper of our batch.

She is known for being the digit girl in our school. Like I'm known for my hair, Pari for her being the most athletic girl in our batch.

After the cake is cut the DJ starts playing dance numbers and we start dancing. Pari is by my side the whole time.

"Meri Pari Rani" comes a voice behind us and I instantly know who it is. Rudra Rajput comes grinning widely towards us. I give him a small wave and Pari slaps my arm. "Pari tumhe pehli baar kisi party me dekh raha hu. And by the way you look beautiful" he says eyeing her up and down.

So as I was speaking of who are known for what. Rudra here is known for the huge crush he has on Pari and he is the chocolate boy of our batch.

She steps closer to me and mumbles a thank you. Rudra starts talking to us and Pari's whole demeanor changes. Like always.

She is always stiff towards him because she is scared that being nice to him will lead him on. He is sweet and I won't mind if they date in the future. If he still has a liking towards her in the future that is. You know how guys are!

"Rudra chal yaar waha chicken lollipop khatam hone wale hai" comes a voice behind me and I freeze.

I know this voice really well and never in my life can I forget it. It's none other than my arch enemy, Viraj Singhania.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath to calm my nerves. Why the hell is he here. This party was going really good and God just had to drop him somewhere near me.

He comes and stands beside Rudra and that's when his eyes fall on me and he stiffens.

"Whoa look who is here! Ass-le-sha" he says with a smirk and I shoot him a glare. "Sin-ghaan-ia" I state and smirk back at him and his eyes burn with fire.

"I'm sorry but was I meant to be offended? Cuz the only thing offending me right now is your face" he says and scoffs.

Ye harami kutta kabhi nahi sudhrega!

"I'm sorry too, I didn't get that.. I don't speak idiot!" I snap back at him and realise that a crowd has started to gather around us. He doesn't say anything and just glares at me as his hands turn into fists.

"Hm good, chup hi raho.. waise bhi jo kuch bhi muh se niklega stupid hi hoga" I say with a smile and earn some oohs and aahhs from the crowd.

He charges towards me and Rudra grabs him. "Chhod na Veer chal chicken lollipop khaate hai" he says pulling him away from me but he doesn't move an inch.

"Dekh apna muh tum band hi rakho. Tum agar ladki nahi hoti toh ab tak ek ulte haath ka laafa maar deta tumhe" he says pointing a finger at me.

"Ofcourse... Iske alawa tumhare maa baap ne tumhe kuch sikhaya bhi nahi hoga" I say before the words are registered in my mind and I know I've gone a bit too far. He suddenly takes a step forward and grabs my arm and twists it painfully and I shriek in pain.

"Kya kaha tumne wapas bolo" he says and I try to get away but he doesn't loosen his grip. "Leave me" I say and he twists my hand more forcefully.

Ok that's it.

I bend down and bite his arm with full force until I taste blood. He leaves me and takes a step back holding his hand and I give him a tight slap on his face and gasps erupt from all around us.

Viraj slowly looks at me and I see that one of his cheek has turned red. Okay I slapped him really hard, shit. He has never looked so angry before and I feel a shiver run down my spine of fear.

"You are so going to regret this Aslesha" he says each syllable clearly and I have a sudden urge to say sorry and run away.

But no I won't. And I don't. He started it. So I raise my chin up and mumble a whatever and walk away with Pari following me.

I step outside the house and breathe in the cool air trying to calm my nerves. I sit on one of the swing set and Pari sits beside me quietly. That's what I love about her, she knows when to stay quiet and when to speak.

We sit there for a few moments alone both of us saying nothing. She has been my friend since kindergarten and she knows my history with Viraj.

So as I was counting the things people are known for, let me tell you what Viraj is known for-

1. Being the most handsome guy of the school. (Ok he doesn't have pimples or any skin problems but I don't find him handsome).

2. Being the only guy in our school with blue eyes. Like sky blue. (I'll say that God has just been a little generous in making him and pfft they are just eyes so whatever).

3. Being the cricket team captain of our school. (I've never watched him play so I don't know. Pari says he's really good but she has a way of exaggerating things).

So about our hatred, it started when we were in the 3rd grade when he accidentally spoiled my favourite dress by putting chocolate syrup on it. It was accidentally​ I know.. but then he started laughing his ass off which triggered me and I then put ketchup on his shirt. And so it went on and on and on.

He putting itching powder in my uniform, me pouring a mug full of pink glitter on him, he putting glue on my chair, me sticking a 'kick me' poster on his back, he removing the chair from behind me so that I fall, me pushing him from the tree house.

6 years, 100s of pranks and we both are not ready to back down. Well I will never back down. Just because he is really famous in school and nobody takes panga with him doesn't mean that I'll stay like a darpok too.

So the second reason that some people know me is that I am the 'Viraj se bhidne wali ladki'. It's like the rule of our school to keep us both away from each other or there is always some drama and fights.

The last time we had a fight was 2 months ago on the last day of school when he had put a cockroach inside my geometry Box to which I had poured water inside his school bag ruining all his books.

After that everything was quite for a while until today. Today was the worst kind of fight in all these years.

You went too far bringing his parents into the matter and slapping him in front of your whole batch.

No! No he started it and he deserved it.

"Aashi.. Aashi?" I hear a voice and that's when I realise Pari has been talking to me.

"Huh?"

"Maine pucha ke ghar chalna hai toh chalte hai" she says giving me a small smile. She knows all about my history with Viraj and after persuading me to close his chapter for 175 times she has finally given it up.

"Sorry Pari" I sigh, "Teri pehli real party maine kharab kar di".

She comes to my side and takes my hand. "Tere bina party me aane bhi nahi milta. My parents trust nobody but you. Aur mujhe toh bahot maza aaya. Waise bhi time ho gaya hai na.. chalo chalte hai" she says and I get up to leave with her.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

*Viraj*

Vo ladki bachpan se hi meri zindagi kharab karne pe tuli hai. Ek baar galti se chocolate sauce kya giraa diya meri life kharab kar di hai usnr. And today she crossed all her limits.

'Ofcourse... Iske alawa tumhare maa baap ne tumhe kuch sikhaya bhi nahi hoga'.

These words are ringing continuously in my head and just to make it worse she slapped me in front of the whole school. Isko toh sabak sikhaana hoga.

"Veer jaane de na yaar apan bahot bura fasenge yaar, please samajh" Rudra, my best friend, says and I glare at him.

"Tujhe pehle bhi bola mai, ab bhi bol raha hu.. Mai nahi bulaya hu tujhe yaha.. ja party me enjoy kar, mai khud usko niptaa dunga.. ja. Ja andar tu!" I tell him but then too he silently walks beside me. I don't care if it's too much... Usne jo kiya uske saamne ye kuch bhi nahi hai.

Just when I'm reaching the lawn I see Aslesha and her friend leaving.

"Not yet Aslesha Mathur" I say and they both stop as I go a few steps ahead. Did she think she'd get away so easily with this.

"Viraj just enough now. I am tired of all this stupidity" she says as she turns to look at me angrily.

"Well then lets end this stupidity for once and for all, and get even" I say coldly.

"So now you'll slap me to get even?" she says, each word dripping with disgust. Oh no you just watch what am gonna do. Worse than a slap.

"No. You hit my sensitive spot and I'm gonna do the same" I say taking a step forward and she takes a step back. Good.

"Tum tum.. kya karne wale ho?" she stutters. Yes that's better. Be scared. I'll show you now.

I take one more step forward and pull her hair and raise the scissors in my hand and.. SNAP!

Now she'll know. Say goodbye to your stupid long hair ass-le-sha.

Her eyes turn wide as saucers and she slowly looks down. A smirk forms on my face. When her eyes land on the hair that I chopped off she gasps and stumbles back.

Why is she being so over dramatic?

"Yahi hota hai Viraj Singhania ko thappad maarne ka natija. Aage se mere aas paas bhi dikhi na tum isse bhi bura hoga" I say and wait for her to snap at me or hit me.

But she doesn't.

She just stares at her hair numbly without any expression on that arrogant face of hers. Pari comes beside her and shakes her calling her name again and again. Still she doesn't react and her eyes don't move.

What have I done? I knew this was going a bit far but it's just hair. It'll grow back. No big deal right? Right?

Wrong.

Shit I've done it all wrong. She's a girl, she obviously loves her hair. And how did I forget that she has the longest and the prettiest hair in our school.

Suddenly she raises her trembling hand and touches her hair. Then her eyes travel up, briefly stopping at the scissors in my hand then to my face.

My heart sinks looking at her.

Her eyes are glassy, filled with unshed tears as she looks at me with so much hurt in them.

Aslesha can't cry. She never cries. In all these 6 years and after so many pranks she has not once cried and has always snapped back at me with double force.

"Viraj".

That one word, barely a whisper and I suddenly regret what I did. I feel scared.

She suddenly collapses on the ground and her tears start flowing freely. Heavy sobs escape her lips as she breaks down in front of me.

"How dare you Viraj. You are so dead you shitty pig. I'll make sure you are expelled from our school. Tum bass abhi aashi ke aas pass kabhi dikhna. Tumhara galaa kaat ke kutto ko khilaa dungi.. aur tum Rudra! I didn't expect ke tum isme iska saath doge. Tum..." Pari goes on and on and I fade away that voice just looking at the heart wrenching image in front of me.

I'll just become like my dad.. that unwanted thought comes in my mind and I push it away and kneel in front of Aslesha.

"Aslesha I'm really sorry.. I.. I.. mujhe nahi pata tha ke tumhe itna bura lagega.. matlab pata tha but.. maine kuch socha nahi. I am seriously a moron please sorry.. maaf kar do. I'll never trouble you again" I say and she slowly gets up clenching her fists.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

*Aslesha*

I slowly get up.. my anger rising up like a volcano just ready to burst. I dash away my tears and take a step towards him.

"Viraj Singhania.. ab tum dekho mai kaise tumhari zindgi barbaad karti hu. Mai complain.."

"Nahi nahi nahi Aslesha please" he suddenly cuts me off and grabs both my hands.

He looks scared. Frightened. But why is he so scared? It's not like the first time someone has complained against him.

"Dekho mere ghar me.. kuch.. listen I can't tell you everything. Par bass ye sunn lo ke agar mere ghar tak ye baat pahochi toh mujhe boarding me bhej diya jaayega aur mere ghar pe... Meri Mumma.." he suddenly closes his eyes in pain and I just look at him.

This is surely something serious. This is the first time in 6 years that he has actually said sorry and I have a feeling he is being serious.

But does he deserve my forgiveness. Should I forgive him after all that has happened between us. Especially after today. I gaze down at my half cut hair on the ground and gulp.

"Please Aslesha. I beg of you. Please". This time he says it slowly and his clear blue eyes are fully desperate.

"Okay" the words leave my mouth before I have a chance to register them.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

He sighs and takes a step back giving me a sad smile and rubbing his forehead with his hand.

Pari takes my hand and drags me out onto the road.

"Are you crazy Aashi. You can't just forgive him like that!" she says as soon as we are out on the main road. "I know okay but.. I don't know. I guess it's time that all this ends. And this is the only way to end it" I say.

"Tum pagal ho gayi ho! I think you should definitely complain to his parents directly. Sab kuch iss baar hadd se jyada ho gaya" she says.

"I know I should but I won't. And please tum bhi kisi ko batana mat. Please. I think there is something going on in his personal life and it will make it worse" I explain and after a moment she agrees and nods.

She asks if I'd want her to come inside but I deny and tell her to go home. My hair is half open by now and I know I won't be able to hide it. Sorry papa par aaj pehli baar aapse jhut bolna hoga.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

"Kisne kiya ye Aslesha! And don't tell me ke tumne baal kaate hai because I won't buy such a stupid excuse. Ye toh ragging hai. Police complain ho sakti hai iske against. It's assault" papa says with anger when I reach home.

"Papa vo truth and dare ke game me dare mila tha sachhi" I say again and he looks at me with a do-you-think-I'm-dumb look. Sorry papa.

"Thik hai mat bataao. Bolo apne papa se jhut" he says turning away and sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.

"Papa mai aapse jhut boli bhi toh usme koi wajah hogi. I just can't tell you now please trust me" I say as I sit beside him.

"Jisne ye kiya usne bola hai na nahi batane.. Mai toh usko..."

"Nahi papa aisa kuch nahi hai. Jo bhi hua usme meri bhi galti thi. Please papa I'll tell you when the time is right. You know I'm stronger than this right?" I say kneeling in front of him.

He sighs and gives me a nod. "Just tell me whatever it is as soon as you feel like it. I don't want you getting hurt. And I don't want you to face anything alone okay?"

"Yes papa. Mai ab so jaati hu am tired" I say and he kisses my hair before I go to sleep.

After mom left us, he took care of me and played the role of my mom and dad together. I've never had friends in school because everyone used to think I'm gross.

Papa being my only family, could not dress me up like the mothers of other girls did, or comb my hair properly during school or pack me the tastiest lunch. That's why I had no friends but only Pari. Eventually I learnt to take care of myself and papa too.

Earlier nobody used to even come near me thinking that I'm really unhygienic. Except Pari and Viraj, both for very different reasons.

Dekha jaaye toh Viraj actually made an identity for me. He too was irritated by me and hated me, I mean hates me but he was never grossed out. Or maybe he was. Ugh, who cares.

Papa will be angry for the next few days but eventually it'll be okay. He loves me just as much as I do.

I change and look at myself in my mirror. My waist length hair is no more. My hair is now just below my shoulders. My whole identity is gone. I don't even like my face anymore. I look so bad. The best part of me is gone. I'm gone.

I slide under my covers and switch off the lights and again my tears start flowing uncontrollably. I bury my face in the pillow and cry myself to sleep.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

First chapter... Not chapter but prologue. The first chapter will begin after 3 years of this incident, when they start college. Did you like the start btw? Please vote and comment if you did! :)