It's been six months since Pari started going to St. Fernandes College.  Thankfully, after the canteen incident, she didn't cause any more embarrassment to herself. The thing which surprised Pari about herself was that she actually liked going to college, unlike school which she always tends to avoid. The freedom from uniforms and the freedom to bunk classes was what made Pari happy. For the first time she felt life was set and everything is on track. Just two more years and she will be a graduate and financially  independent. She can't wait to have a proper job, earn and spend on herself! She already had a mental list of what all she was going to buy. She kept on adding more to this mental list after seeing things her rich classmates or girls in her college have. At the top of the list were a golden ring, a walkman and a branded purse!

It was night when Priya entered their shared room. There were two small rooms in their house. One was shared by the kids and the other room was shared by Pari's parents. Priya's mother slept in the living room. Priya always helped the ladies with washing utensils after the dinner or cleaning the floor whereas Pari helped whenever she was in the mood of cleaning.

Once Priya entered the room, she looked back to check if her mom aur aunty has followed her. She quickly closed the door. Pari knew that her cousin had some gossip to share. They only locked the door when they have a gossip to share. How much ever, they fight, at the end of the day, they were sisters who stuck with each other like a glue through everything.
Pari was excited to hear the latest news from Priya. Priya sat beside Pari on their small cot.

"I....I don't know how to tell you this." Priya said and Pari lightly hit her on her shoulder for this irritating line.

Pari rolled her eyes and said,"You wanted to tell me something that's why you locked the door. Now quickly tell me!"

"A guy proposed to me in college. He has asked me to go out with him at the fair in town." Priya shyly told Pari.
Priya was a cute girl with chubby cheeks, straight hair with a hint of brown to them. And the best part about her? She was really as innocent as she looked because of which Pari was a bit protective towards Priya. Her sister was a naive fool who would believe people blindly.

"Who is this guy? What is his name? How is he in studies? What does he want to do in life?" As expected, Pari became a detective and asked everything about the guy from Priya. Even Priya didn't have answers to some of Pari's question.

"Does he own a bike or a car?" Pari asked.

"I don't know so much. I have seen him go walking often. Also, he has asked me out on a date, not to marry him. Can you give a break to your questions?" Priya was confused by this question.

"Then you are saying no to him!" Pari declared the end verdict.

"Why?" Priya was disappointed with the answer!

"As if you don't know your mother! Even she will not approve of a boy who doesn't have a car or a bike."

"That's why I am telling this to you, and not her. It is not marriage. Just a date. Silly you." Priya really wanted to go to the fair in the town but she required Pari's support. She would feel she is doing right if Pari approves it.

"If things are not going to move ahead, why waste his time and yours! Say no and find a guy who is rich, has a car, is an engineer or a doctor." Pari advised her seriously.

"Are you my mother in Pari's skin?" Priya asked dumbfounded and scared.

"Shut up, stupid. I am Pari, not your mother."

"Then why are you talking like her? See, to date or to marry, certain things are very important. First being attraction or love, then comes trust. This car, bike, doctor, engineer....to be honest, it doesn't even matter. Yes, the boy needs to be decent and good human but profession is not so important." Priya said.

"And that's why I am never letting you choose. See Priya, we already have love here but is it enough for us? Does love give you new dresses on Diwali? Does love feed you with fancy food of your choice? Does love give you a big comfortable house? No na, money gives you all this. Paisa hi pyaar hai. So, we will choose a boy with a good degree, a good house and ofcourse the one who is good and just like you want." Pari explained her. (Money is love)

Priya laughed a lot at this and Pari didn't understand the reason. She didn't crack a joke, she was serious.

"Oh Beta (child), we have to compromise in life. We can't have it all. Upar se, main koi heroine nahi hoon ki jiss ladke ke pass ye sab ho, woh mujhse shaadi kar le."
(I am not a heroine that a guy with all these qualities will agree to marry me.)

"Why not? You are a very talented and nice person. You are an amazing painter and even better mehendi artist. You know all the household chores and you are not bad at studing. So I don't see a reason as to why would a guy not want you." Pari appreciated Priya.

"I have to believe it since it is coming from you!" Saying this Priya hugged her and Pari tried to get out the hug. Priya knew her sister can never lie only to make one feel good. So whatever she said about her, is true. Priya was a hopeless filmy romantic. She hopes she finds her 'the one' soon.

"But I want to go to the fair in town." Priya stated with a sad face.

"Go with your friends and if they don't come, then we can go. And say no that boy."

Pari and Priya had often discussed boys but both their opinions were totally opposite of each other. While Priya always pushed Pari to give boys who had asked her out a chance, Pari always advised Priya to stay away from boys and not waste her time with them and only to go for a worthy guy. As Priya was a filmy girl, she dreams of a romantic guy and has a thought that love is enough and they would overcome every obstacle. Priya once had said yes to a boy who proposed her in school when she was 15 but ended the relationship in 5 days in fear of her mother and what would her mom do if she finds out.

Pari had laughed a lot that day on Priya. "You want a great love story but you fear your mother sooo much. Aise kaise hoga?"

*

The lecture was going on when a group of boys entered the class. The professor was displeased because of their unpuntuality but it's been six months he was teaching this class and not once had they come on time. But he was satisfied that atleast they attended his lectures. He had come to know from other teachers who taught this class, that these boys hardly attended other lectures.

Salem alongwith his friends walked upto the last benches and sat. His friend was trying to sit in the corner but Salem stopped him and sat in the corner. His friend didn't know why Salem always preferred this second last bench and this particular corner seat.

Salem felt peace and happiness seeing his beauty for the first time in the day. He stretched his hand, elbows on the bench and his left hand on the side of his head and sat watching her who was sitting adjacent to his vision.

He still remembers the first time he had seen her in the canteen.

A loud noise of the glass shattering was heard in the canteen. All the eyes were on the two girls where the bottle fell. A few minutes later, when everyone went back to their chatter, Salem found himself still stuck on the girl in the red kurta. Her long wavy waist length hair were alluring to say the least. She would be the perfect model for a haircare commercial. Her long hair was straight at the top and had waves towards the end. Even though she was not smiling and her face had disappointment written on it, she was looking pretty. He couldn't see traces of make up on her face, she must have applied something very light. He could only see the black kajal on her doe like eyes and a pink tint on her juicy lips, which he so wanted to kiss. He snapped out of his thoughts about the unknown girl and went back to chatting with his friends.

Salem. Salem Ahmed was a boy with the most charming looks. His big innocent eyes, silky hair and the handsome face was what made him famous amongst the girls. What made him more attractive were his biceps and abs. He made sure to have a healthy body with muscles and a lean figure, not a bulky figure.

In one week of college, he hardly attended two lectures and most of the time was found in canteen or on the grounds playing football. Salem was good at studies but was lazy about studying since the school days. He was studying in college because his father wanted him to finish a degree, otherwise Salem would have never wasted his time here. He came from a well to-do family. His father was a businessman and his mother was a housewife. He had a younger brother and younger sister whom he loved dearly, especially his sister. His sister was much younger to him and was the most precious person to him.

Salem was always the popular boy, whether it be in his society (building), his school or his college. If he was a part of any circle, the people around him always knew his name and were really fond of him. Well, the popularity was not solely because of his looks or the body, it was also because he was fun to be around and was always a supportive friend. He would never hesitate to lend money or give his share of food to others. Moreover, he never looked down at others and their financial status and that showed his character.

In the first week at St. Fernandes College, Salem managed to make friends, not just from his batch but also befriended the seniors. He loved being around people and was a total party animal.
But there was one thing about Salem. He hated being disrespected. His logic was very clear since he was taught this proverb : Give respect, Take respect. His 'chill' mode was only spoilt when he was disrespected by someone.

His focus was divided between the talks of his group and the pretty girl who sat in the corner. His gaze also followed her when she left the canteen with her friend.

As days past by, he never saw the girl in the canteen again nor anywhere on the college ground where groups of students usually hang out. It was like she was a figment of his imagination and she never existed.

Then one day, his friends told him about Mathur Sir. Mathur Sir was a strict professor and he always assigned the class assignments and home work. Additionally, his subject was also complicated. So Salem and his friends decided that they should start attending some of his lectures to get a grip. They didn't want to fail a subject, especially Salem.

The first time they attended Mathur Sir's lecture, Sir gave them a great welcome, lecturing them about how he had never seen them before. Salem listen to it all quietly, he didn't care about his image infront of the professor as long as he would pass the subject. Salem's gaze roamed around the class and its students when his gaze landed on the beauty he had been dying to see again.

His eyes twinkled and a small smile appeared on his face. What a joke destiny played! The one he was searching for in the whole college was in his own class!

"What is so funny about what I am saying?" Mathur Sir stopped his scolding when he noticed Salem smiling. Salem snapped out of his staring and looked at Sir.

"No Sir, it just reminded me of Dad. He would have scolded me the same way. We are sorry Sir." Salem was quick to cook up a lie. Neither the scolding were like his dad nor was he sorry. Mathur Sir let the students enter the class asked them to take a seat.

Salem was happy that this class not going to be a torture anymore, because of his beauty.

Since then it's been six months,  he made sure to attend most of Mathur Sir's lecture because of two reasons, one was obviously her and the other being that he really wanted to pass the subject and undeniably, Mathur Sir was a good teacher. Salem also learnt the beauty's name and it really suited her. She really was a Pari. (Angel)

He had observed her in these past months. She only stick to her group of friends. He had never seen her mingle with other groups in the class or in other extra curricular activities in college. She really seemed like a shy girl.

"Tum itna Jo usse ghur rahe ho, kya baat hai jo chipa rahe ho?" His friend, Aman laughed at Salem once the lecture ended. (You are staring at her so much, what is the secret that you are hiding?)

Salem never said about his attraction towards Pari to anyone but Aman was a smart chap who figured it out. Salem just said shut up to Aman.

"Seriously why don't you approach her?" As far as Aman knew Salem, he was never hesitant about approaching a girl, so why now?

"C'mon. Look at how shy and quiet she is. Her eyes never leave her books and the board. I am afraid that if I approach her, she will faint. Or what if she madly falls in love with me later? These girls can get clingy and I don't want it. It's better if I stay away from her." Salem looked at her again before leaving the class.

The more he looks at her, the more he wants to devour her. But why is he thinking about this girl when he has Tina with him? He went in search for Tina to quench his desires.

-------------

5th Aug 2023

Thank you for reading! Please Vote and Comment