SID

Past...

After searching the entire secluded area near the pond, panting heavily, I sat on the edge of the pond. It's been one week since I heard her melodious voice and caught her single glimpse.

A week had passed since the shocking revelations about her were made by Sushi and her mother. I was just unable to digest the fact that things like this could exist in the 21st century. And on top of that, girls like Sushi believe in all these things.

People like her, who still held the beliefs, so superstition, making the life of a person like Shehnaaz hell. Because of their stupidity, Shehnaaz was suffering, alone and living a hopeless life.

'I understood why she was running away whenever I went close to her,' because she had the fear in her mind, that her presence could hurt everyone.

I jog near the pond in the hope to get a glance at her but after that day, I never saw her. I didn't go to her place, because I knew circumstance won't be a desirable one. I would lose my calm either on Sushi's mom or Shehnaaz, and I feared of latter one taking place. I wasn't desiring to scare her. Earlier it never mattered to me, anyone's opinion about me. But I wanted to be in her good books and I didn't know the reason behind it.

And also whenever I thought about people having a stupid mentality, it only aroused anger inside me, and even if I went to meet her, she would push me away from her as always and I don't want to vent all my anger on her.

'I hope she is fine,' I sighed and looking at the time, I shook my head and with the thought 'she will not come as always'', I made my way towards home.

-

I came back and noticed Karan and Lyra, were working on the laptop while discussing something regarding the project and Sushi, who arrived a few moments ago with a breakfast tray, was ignored by them.

Like me, they were also courteous but aloof with her. As they were too shocked when they got to know about her orthodox mentality. After that day we just couldn't able to connect with her as before. Though I had some other reason as well, never expressed it loud. And then seeing our indifference towards her, finally her patience broke and she asked for the reason, very innocently as if she doesn't know anything, which only led to the big argument between us.

We had never thought that an educated girl like her could believe in that stupidity. Instead of making her mother understand about the same, she was treating her own cousin like such, just because of the bloody fu***ng reason. It's so stupid of her. 'Bloody orthodox mentality' I muttered frustrated.

Shaking my head, I went near them and grabbing the water bottle from the table, I made myself comfortable beside Karan, who sighed as soon as I sat as if he was waiting for me.

I looked at him and nodded negatively when he asked me about Shehnaaz through his eyes, making him sigh and pressed his lips tight and then blinking his eyes to assure me.

"Guys breakfast thanda ho jayega. Please have it," Sushi voice interrupted our conversation, which we were having silently.

"Sid, have it" she again spoke, preparing my plate to which I didn't reply. "Come Lyra and Karan, ab toh Sid bhi aa gya hai" giving a small smile, both of them came forward to have it as they were waiting for me.

"Ah Karan, why don't we go out in the main city. Waise bhi it's been long since we have roamed freely and chilled out," I voiced out as I wanted to distract myself. Distract me with something that always worked.

Karan gave a long stare at me as he very well knew why I wanted to go out. I wanted to come out of the environment, the environment I created for myself. The one, I landed myself into growing close to Shehnaaz. I finally realised, she had changed my habit and all I wished was to turn back to it.

"It will be fun! Even I had the same thought," spoke Sushi. I clenched my fist tightly and was about to retaliate against her when Karan gestured at me negatively to stop me.

"Ughh Sushi" spoke Karan on the behalf of me, and now he was scratching his forehead as if searching for the exact words. "Please don't mind but Sid was talking about me and himself. He..." He took a small pause before speaking further. "He doesn't want you to come with us" He sighed and looked at her, waiting for the response.

I knew that the way she was looking, her reaction would be loud. As I was not in the mood for a fight, so before she could open her mouth, I interrupted her.

"Look Sushi don't get offended but I want to spend some time alone, Away from the mess... in my world." I pressed my lips tightly and gave her a fake smile. In the darkness, where I belonged. She had dragged me to light... and all I wished at the moment was to disappear in it again.

----

"Sid stop yar. Where are you taking me on such a night? Didn't even let me eat properly" he asked, munching snacks from the container, he grabbed while coming out as he was a big foodie.

I rolled my eyes as he was asking me the question for the tenth time in the last five minutes. Doesn't he get the clue? that I am not providing him with any answers.

It was past eight in the night and I don't know why, but I was feeling strange and restless. Although the day out really worked for me, I had again walked in the same path. I had a sense of worry in Karan's eyes as he glanced at me, finishing one bottle after another. But he hadn't built up courage to halt me, as he knew I needed it at the moment. It might had confused him, how come I stayed away from it for the past few days?

It stunned me as well, I hadn't realised it a few hours back. As I was growing so addicted to the mystery girl, that my addiction to alcohol had left my senses. Spending enough time in my favourite place, bar... I had walked back to the village, dwelling myself to sleep. But suddenly, I started feeling suffocated and badly in need of fresh air, I came out of the cottage, but not before pulling Karan along with, who was enjoying his meal. I was walking where my steps were taking me. I had no clue about the destination.

"Sid hum yaha kyu aaye hain?" (Why are we here?), I came back from my thoughts with Karan's voice and I looked at him, he was looking confused. And then upon looking at the surroundings, I realized that we reached near the hut, where that mystery girl lives.

I was wondering to myself and was going to tell him the same, when my gaze went on her aunt and uncle, arguing over something outside the hut.

"What's the matter, Sid?" He asked again to which I shrugged my shoulders because I didn't know about it myself. But as soon as the thought of Shehnaaz crossed my mind, I asked him to check if everything was alright.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ganga was staring at her husband, Pritam furiously, who was giving her a stern yet helpless look.

"Tumhe bilkul bhi taras nahi aata uss bachi pe? Subah se woh bechari bachi bhookhi baithi hai andar" Pritam spoke with helplessness. Ganga had a plate filled with food, the one Pritam trying to grab. I knitted my brow in confusion same was the case of Karan.

"Koi bechari nahi hai woh" she spoke with a hatred filled voice.

"Usne aisa bhi kya kar diya, jo use saza de rahi ho. Kabhi kabhi toh lgta hai, tumhare seene mein dil hai bhi ya nahi. Arre aur kitni hadd tak girogi?" He was feeling disgusted, I felt maybe he cared about Shehnaaz. Earlier too, he had introduced her to us with pride. One seen in parents eyes towards their child, the one which I never experienced.

"Oh ji tusi mainu hadd sikhan ton pehla uss manhus nu hadd vich rehna sikhayo" (Before teaching me about limits, teach that wretched to stay within limits)

"Main tere agge hath jodta hoon. Usko khana dene de, beemar padh jayegi bechari." he pleaded, folding his hands before her.

"Ek din khana nahi khyegi toh mar nahi jayegi woh" her hate was growing each passing second, not allowing food was something insane. Why was she so cruel? "Iss manhus ki wajah se meri bachi ne jo ro ro ke apna jo haal bnaya, uska kya?" About whom was she speaking? Was it about Sushi?

"If her friends don't talk to her properly, what is Shehnaaz's fault? If her friends didn't take her along, what is her fault? If her friends...." Pritam's words came to a halt when caught us there.

"What?" Whatever I heard, shocked me to the core. Shehnaaz wasn't given the food due to my decision of not tolerating Sushi. I had started growing hate towards that lady, because of the way she treated Shehnaaz.

"We didn't take Sushi out with us, so you will punish Shehnaaz by not giving her food? Like seriously aunty?" I shook my head in disbelief.

"She deserves this," came her straight reply, there was no guilt visible.

"For your kind information, she is a human too. You can't treat her like this." I greeted my teeth, pointing my fingers towards her.

"Aur aunty hum Sushi ko apne sath nahi leke gaye isme Shehnaaz ki koi galti nahi hai. Galti hai toh aapki iss soch ki. Aapki isi soch ki wajah se, we are not able to reconnect with her." Karan spoke in between, giving a disgusting looking Ganga.

"Leave it, Karan, there is no use arguing with her." I looked at Karan, who was busy glaring at Ganga. And then turning towards her, I spoke further, looking at the plate, she was holding. "Give me the plate."

"Tumse ache to bahar wale hain, jinhe sahi aur galat saf saf dikhta hai." Pritam spoke, seeing the way we were taking a stand for Shehnaaz.

I forwarded my hand to take the plate from her but uncle's statement made her even more furious and she stepped back and adamantly said "Nahi"

"Kya mil raha hai aapko yeh karke aunty. Layie dijiye khana" Karan, in disbelief, stepped towards her, to which she took a step back again. It made her stumble a bit, causing the plate in her hand, fell down.

Seeing the food scattered all over the ground, a smirk of satisfaction played on her lips. "Sukoon milta hai" saying, she left from there, making us frown.

Pritam uncle shook his head helplessly and without meeting his eyes with us, he also left from there, leaving the two of us behind.

I looked at Karan, who was already looking at me and we kept staring at each other silently with a lot of questions in our minds. 'How can one be so cruel?'

____

AN: Another part of the past coming after this, full chapter. Showing Shehnaaz suffering is necessary. To understand her pain, and her belief in the superstition she holds. Sometimes you see it happening before your eyes, and when others force you to believe it. You make it your reality.