Part 4

Preeti picked out one of her personal favourites that Naina loved so much, a deep midnight blue satin salwar suit adorned with white sequins embroidered on the neckline, hemline and cuffs on the wrist-length sleeves. She styled her long hair in a simple French braid and completed the look with kajal and strawberry gloss. If Naina worked hard to look a plain jane, Preeti didn't have to work hard to make her look ethereal. When she checked herself out in the only mirror attached to an age old Godrej cupboard in the corner of their humble dwelling, she couldn't believe that she was beautiful in her own simplicity. Preeti made sure to not deck her up as it was so much drilled into her by Chachiji to appear inconspicuous all the time that she had no enthusiasm left to make an effort to look pretty. What she didn't realise was that she didn't need to make that effort.

Both sisters smiled. Preeti being herself, "uff...agar main ladka hoti aur teri behen na hoti...toh paka tujhe aaj hi bhaga le jaati!"

Naina blushed hard as no one had ever complemented her except her cute little sister. "Tu toh jadugarni hai Preeti...tu ne toh mujhe bhi sundar bana diya!" Naina commended her abilities.

"Arre behen, yeh parlour ki training kab kaam aayegi?"

With least interest in studies, Preeti had negotiated her way throughout school by buttering teachers and sometimes smooth talking them into grace marks or offering free eyebrow and head massage services since class 8 in the girls school that they studied for 14 years from KG to class 12. At other times, she had befriended more than half the school in all standards with her same abilities and some more free eyebrow services so that she could easily peek in her neighbours answer sheets.

Finally, after class 12, she put forth her wish of being a stylist in front of her mother and earned a tight slap and a lot of emotional blackmail.

"Main itni mazdoori karti hoon ki raat din ka muh bhi nahi dekhti taaki meri dono betiyan achche se padh likhakar kuch ban jaaye...aur tujhe padhna nahi hai!" Bela had yelled during one of her rare outbursts.

She was a calm soul and a patient parent but at times like these, she was angry worrying about her future.

"Par Mummy, mujhse padhayi nahi hoti! Mujhe toh bachpan se hi stylist banna tha."

Before she earned another slap, Naina intervened and stood as a shield for her dear sister, "Chachiji, please gussa mat kijiye...Preeti ki baat toh sun lijiye. Shayad woh kuch aur karna chahti hai."

"Bhagwan jhooth na bulvaye beta, par padhegi nahi toh aage kya karegi? Chal maan liya ki yeh woh hmmm esti...isti...hmm" "Stylist" "haan...wahi...banna chahti hai. Par maan lo ki kal uska kaam nahi chala, toh bina padhayi likhayi ke naukri kaun dega, for meri tarah mazdoori karni padegi...beta main nahi chahti ki jo musibatein maine jheli hai apne jeevan main, tum logon ko dekhna pade..." Bela was exasperated and felt defeated with the wrath life threw at her at all times and she slumped on the chair.

"Chachiji..." Naina came forward and sat on her knees and held her hands.

"Chachiji, please royiye mat! Main aapka dukh samajhti hoon. Aur achchi tarah jaanti hoon ki hume koi takleef na ho iske liye aap din raat mehnat karti hai. Par aapko bhi samajhna hoga ki Preeti wahi sabse achcha kar paayegi jismein uska mann lagta ho. Aur aap jaanti hai ki uska mann kahan lagata hai. Mere paas ek upay hai jisse aap donon ke mann ka hoga."

Chachiji looked at her skeptically with tearing eyes and Naina provided her solution, "Dekhiye Chachiji, din mein Preeti mere saath college jayegi aur fir dopahar ko college ke baad apni parlour ki training pe. Din mein padhayi karegi aur shaam ko apna sapna poora karegi".

It got Chachiji thinking but ahe still had her doubts, "par Naina, Preeti waise hi padhayi nahi karti, dou dou cheezein karegi toh fail ho jayegi".

"Nahi Mummy, promise, main bhale hi Naina ki tarah topper nahi hoon par aajtak fail bhi nahi hui hoon aur aage bhi nahi houngi", Preeti too came rushing and kneeled in front of her mother and placed her hands on Naina's that were comforting her mother.

Bela looked on from one girl to another while both gazed at her back with eyes filled with the promise of measuring up to their mother's hopes. Finally, Bela acceded, "theek hai".

Both girls hugged Bela prematurely in over excitement, while she stated, "par meri ek shart hai!"

Both girls looked at her in confusion. "Agar Preeti fail hui toh yeh sab chodna paadega aur sirf padhayi pe dhyaan lagana hoga", Bela put forth her condition. Both girls looked at each other and smiled animatedly and in chorus, "manzoor hai!" Naina was sure about Peeeti's dedication to her work, so just to not let it go, she would put every effort to pass, and Preeti had full faith in her sister who would help her get by and not let her pass up on this hard-earned opportunity. So, had begun Preeti's hardwork towards establishing herself as a stylist.

With increasing expenses due to Preeti's additional requirements, Naina had also started helping out Chachiji with private maths and science tuitions to the neighbouring kids. Soon her fame spread and she started tutoring the rich kids in the posh localities of Bombay.

Finally, after 3 years, Preeti was a B.A pass and a diploma certificate holder in hair styling and make-up and trainee experience and had landed herself a job as a stylist in one of the newly opened salons of the chain of "Enchanted" around Bombay.

Naina put on her glasses and was ready to head to the University campus to kind of celebrate her birthday for the first time openly.

"Off ho Behen, aaj bhi chashma pehnegi kya? Kyon meri mehnat waste karke Maniben banne pe tuli hui hai. She removed her glasses and placed it in its case". Though exasperated since she had never taken such a bold step before against Chachiji's wishes, Naina placed the case in her bag and left with her.

"Preeti, behen maine pehle aisa kabhi nahi kiya". Naina was still worried while getting in the scooty.

"Koi baat nahi. Sab kuch kabhi na kabhi pehli baar hi hota hai". Preeti assured her while starting the scooty.

Preeti dropped her to the University on her modest second-hand scooty that the sisters had purchased with their meager savings from the earnings of the salon and Naina's tuitions.

Naina entered her class last, almost making an entry, and the class of 20 consisting of 12 boys and 7 other girls, gave her a look over. Something was definitely different about her and while she hadn't spoken to anyone yet, everyone knew everyone by names.

Naina wasn't used to such attention, she felt embarrassed. She made her way slowly to her discreet last bench and Swati coming out of her awed expression, immediately jumped her, "Naina tu toh badi mast lag rahi hai! Kuch khaas hai kya aaj?"

Before they could carry on the conversation, the history teacher entered and announced that they would be discussing about the mythical cities of ancient world. Naina put on her glasses and was trying to focus, Swati pestered her tirelessly. Finally, just to be able to focus in the class, she revealed, "Woh...aaj mera birthday hai".

"Kya...." Swati exclaimed so loudly that it disturbed the class that everyone turned around to look at her , including the strict teacher who peered ar her with a stern expression. Swati apologized meekly and pretended to appear contrite.

Just as teacher's attention diverted back to teaching, books and blackboard, Swati held Naina's a forearm in the uncontained excitement. "Yaar, tera birthday hai! Pehle batana chahiye tha na! Maine koi gift bhi nahi laaya". Naina shushed her, but she didn't let go.

So, Naina was forced to reply. "Koi baat nahi, waise bhi main apna birthday nahi manati".

"Lekin kyon? Birthday kaun nahi manata yaar?" Swati was shocked as unwillingness to celebrate one's own birthday was beyond her comprehension.

The teacher boomed at their whispers, "Girls, if I catch you talking one more time, you will be out of my class for the whole semester".

Swati wasn't perturbed at all, but Naina placed a finger on her lips and asked her to be quiet. "Main baad mein bataungi. Abhi class mein dhyaan de".

That expression and Swati huffed. She knew that now she could Naina get talking only after all the classes of the day were over. She couldn't get Naina free even in the break time as she went to gather information about the field trips and their dates and expenses for the semester. Naina munched on the aloo parathas in between the classes and happily shared with her newest friend.

Finally, at the end of the day, Naina was rushing towards the gate as Preeti had promised to pick her up and they might venture out for a quick chaat stop as celebration before heading home and pretending it to be a normal day.

Swati was a 200 m running champion in school and according to her parents, that was the only thing she did best amongst a plethora of her tomboy characteristics. She caught up with Naina in a sprint, "Naina ruk...kahan bhaag rahi hai?"

"Yaar Swati, mujhe jaana padega. Meri behen aa hi rahi hogi mujhe lene!"

As if on cue, Preeti made an appearance and halted her white scooty near the the gate of the campus where Naina waited. They both smiled at each other and Naina made the introductions, "Preeti, yeh meri classmate aur dost Swati. Swati. Yeh meri behen aur sabse achchi dost Preeti".

The girls said hi to each other, "Naina, tune bataya nahi ki tune dost bhi banayi", Preeti teased her as Naina had no friend except her.

"Kaise batayegi, abhi toh main classmate aur dost hoon! Best friend toh tum ho!" Swati made a remark, and both sisters were surprised but before they construed it as sarcasm, Swati burst out laughing.

"Baap re shaklein dekho dono ki. Arre mein toh mazaak kar rahi thi. Waise bhi agar tum behen ho toh zahir baat hai, first friend toh tum hi rahogi, par haan...Swati bhi dosti mein peeche nahi rehti... yeh apne baare mein zyaada kuch batati nahi...aaj pehli baar iske gharwalon ke baare mein pataa chala toh achcha laga. Friends?" She addressed and extended her hand to Preeti.

Preeti smiled wide and accepted the extended hand of warm friendship. "Ab tum
hamari dost ho toh chalo chaat party pe", Peeeti invited her.

Swati nodded, but then looked at the scooty. "Par hum teen ek hi scooty pe jayenge kaise?"

"Jaise ladke jaate hai!" Explained Preeti and winked. She and Swati were wearing jeans and Naina salwar, so she made both girls sit cross-legged and the three slim girls adjusted comfortably and headed off to the khau galli not far away from the campus.

"Yaar iske baad movie chalte hai, Naina ka birthday hai toh celebrate toh karna chahiye na," Swati suggested while they were parking the scooty closest to their favourite stall.

Preeti was surprised that she knew. "Nahi yaar Swati, iske baad ghar jana hoga. Chachiji ko pataa chal gaya ki main bahar ghum rahi thi toh bahut gussa karengi." Naina declined the suggestion.

When Swati didn't understand, Preeti explained how they were never allowed to celebrate her birthday, nor was Naina allowed to deck up anytime. She was not allowed to talk to strangers at all and never share her details with anyone. Bela had never revealed the true reason and everytime when asked, she only made one statement, "Beta jitna bola hai utna kar...zyaada sawal mat kar. Jo bhi karne ke liye keh rahi hoon, tere bhale ke liye hi hai".

Shrugging it off for the moment, they ordered their chaats and Preeti talked about herself and her dreams. Naina didn't contribute much to the conversation but filled and chipped in when needed. She was lost in the taste of her favourite pani pruis, which were a rare pleasure. After they each had their fill, and were about to pay, Swati announced "aaj ki treat meri taraf se. Waise bhi main Naina ke liye koi gift nahi la paayi...aur tumne use itna achcha taiyyar karke apne gift de diya. Toh yeh chaat party meri taraf se".

Before Naina could refuse, she paid already and started tugging her hand "aur kala khatta wala gola bhi meri taraf se. Please Naina, aaj kuch nahi bolna..."

She made a pleading face and seeing Preeti's excitement, Naina gave in. She was glad that both girls had hit it off instantly and were comfortable around each other.

After staining their tongues indigo and green with kachchi kairi and kala khatta ice globes, it was time to head home.

"Chalo, kal milte hai Naina. Mera ghar uss taraf hai na toh main wahan se bus le loongi". Swati announced.

"Theek hai." Naina and Preeti hugged her individually and said their byes.

After she left, "achchi ladki hai", Preeti commented.

Naina was glad that her sister approved of her new friend, and hoped her friend too genuinely liked her sister-cum-friend.

She smiled at her and rode pillion but Preeti remembered something, "Arre Naina, main na tujhe bridge tak chod deti hoon. Wahan se rickshaw le le please, mujhe fir se salon jana padega. Woh ek Mrs. Tiwari hai, special client, aajka appointment hai aur meri demand ki hai toh mujhe jana padega".

"Hmmm, theek hai".

Preeti dropped her and was already on her way. It was a light traffic area and ahe waited and waited for auto for 20 min. She was irritated that if she had started walking already, she might have been almost home.

Finally, a passing-by lady, seeing her look in all directions, asked "tum rickshaw dhoondh rahi ho?" When Naina only nodded , "par aaj suburb mein rickshaw ki strike hai!" She provided a valuable piece of information, which surprised Naina.

The lady left and Naina was left with no choice but to walk home indeed.

Finally, praying to the God to help and guide her, she started her hike as the narrow road after leaving the main road was quite deserted as it was considered as the back part of the region's slum.

She clutched her bag and started brisk walking. A few meters ahead on the road, she felt someone following her. She stopped and checked but didn't spot anyone. But after a few minutes, the hair at the back of her neck rose and she could sense trouble. Her psychic ability was screaming to run!