How to make a girl believe that you truly have feelings for her?
Just vanish for 2 weeks!

That's what Salem did. Pari didn't see him anywhere. Not in college, nor in the cafe. Once in class, she heard Aman say that he has gone away from some advertisement shoot. She shrugged away her thoughts. Why should she care if he is here or somewhere else? It doesn't matter. She repeated.

"Do you like him?" Priya asked. "If yes, then say it! Why is it so hard for you to accept it if you like him? It's normal to like a boy." Priya said to her sister who was living in denial.

"I don't. I don't like him. He knows how to play with his words. But I won't be a victim of his love trap." Pari said in an angry tone. She herself didn't know why she was so angry! Shouldn't be she happy that he was gone. Why does it matter if he proves his so called love to her or not?

Priya just smiled looking at her. Rather smiling at her. "You are just afraid. You are being a coward. You call me a coward for wanting to fall in love but being scared of Mummy. But what about you? You are scared of falling in love, itself. Your entire concern is what if he is fooling you? Which is correct but then you don't even want to face your feelings."

Pari got on her knees on the bed and stared at Priya. "I am not scared." And hit her with the pillow. "I don't want to be just a random girl to a boy. I refuse to be a plaything to a playboy! Understood, stupid Priya?" She almost yelled and slept.

"Accha? Okay, keep on lying to yourself and denying whatever you feel." She snapped back and muttered, "Kutti Pari."

***

Pari was busy checking the accounts book at the cafe when she found someone standing infront of her. She looked up and was surprised to see Salem. She hid her surprised face and looked back in the books.

"Suno" (listen) he started but she didn't look at him or acknowledge him.
"Naraz ho?" (Are you upset?), he asked quietly with innocence as he looked down, anticipating her answer.

Pari made a "klick" sound with her mouth and said, "Why would I be? Infact, it was a good relief to not see your face."

Ouch! Salem thought it was unnecessary for her to talk to him so bluntly. He didn't argue and took a seat for himself.

As Pari was going about her day, she noticed Noor, his apparent ex-girlfriend coming to the cafe. Why was she here, Pari wondered. Her gaze followed Noor who went to Salem and hugged him and they sat at the table.

Pari wanted to take the book and bang it on the table. In that moment, she realised she hated nothing more than liars. Her blood boiled and she felt an infuriating rage!

What was that confession of love and the challenge he took to stay away from girls? Here, he was hugging his ex- girlfriend and having a conversation.
For Pari, girls and boys only hugged in the movies. It was a cultural shock for her when she came to this college to see the elites hugging each other so casually. For her, even holding hands with a boy was scandalous. After spending a year in college, she was getting used to seeing boys and girls hugging, but hugging the person you had feelings for after the break up was still foreign to her. She saw them smiling and chit chatting with each other. Her nose turned red as her anger grew. A while later, Noor left the cafe.

Pari looked down to pretend that she was busy when Salem came to her.
"Ghussa mujhse ho toh pen pe kyu utar rahi ho?" (You are angry at me, what has the pen done?)
She noticed how tightly she had clutched the pen in her hand and released it instantly.

"Listen, Noor was just...." Salem was in middle of explaining himself when Pari interrupted him, "Did I ask? Why are you even explaining yourself?"

"Because you misunderstand me. Toh explain karna padta hai, madam." He said with a sass, she didn't like.

"I don't want to hear about any girls who you meet and what do you talk to them. It's none of my business." She lied. She wanted to know why was he with his ex. Pari wasn't possessive about him, just curious. He was so sure that he would stay away from girls and prove his genuine feelings to her, then what happened?

"Okay, shall I talk business?" Salem asked confusing Pari. "I want your help like the last time. You know completion of assignments and helping with studies...."

Pari knitted her brows, thinking something. "I will pay you. Extra then the last time." Pari needed the money. Extra money means she could buy herself any dress she liked! But it was Salem...she didn't want to give him any hints.

"But it's strictly business, right?" Pari asked. She didn't want any funny business. Salem confirmed and Pari agreed to complete his assignments. 

Only this time, he was more flirty and talkative whenever he showed up. But thankfully, he was serious when she explained him the lessons.

It was the last assignment she was completing when he was sitting in front of her. "You look beautiful today." In response, Pari just glared at him.

"What? Can't I just compliment you? Thank you bolna sikhaya nahi kisine?" He asked. He was irritated at her refusing his kind words, always.

"If you want to flirt, at least use some original lines. God knows, how many times you have used this on others and don't get me started how many times I have heard it." Pari rolled her eyes.

"Aaj bol hi do problem kya hai!" (What is your problem?) Salem said with anger in his voice. "Is it the insecurity that I had relationships and girls in my life before? Whenever I wish to have a decent conversation with you, you manage to spoil it. Can't you, for once, be nice? Compliment diya tha madam, thank you bol ke baat khatam bhi kar sakti thi but you...." (It was a compliment, you could have said thank you and end the conversation but you...) He sighed and rubbed his hands on his eyes, covering his face.

"Toh mat karo!" (Then don't) She screamed, but not too loud, to avoid creating a scene. "Don't talk to me or try to make conversation. I don't remember coming to you, confessing my feelings and begging for a chance. Oh wait...that was you!"

"You know what? Bhad me jao tum, tumhare paise aur tumhare assignment. Khud hi kar Lena!" (Hell with you, your money and your assignments. Do it yourself!) She threw the pen at his face and his book.

She got up to leave but he held her hand. "Say sorry." He said. She turned around and tried to get her wrist out of his hold.

"Say sorry, Pari." He repeated. It was only Pari for whom he tolerated the disrespect.

"Leave. My. Hand." She emphasized on each word.

"Not until you say sorry." Both were too stubborn.

He still had a hold on her wrist. He got up and came to face her.

"I like you but that doesn't mean I will tolerate you disrespecting me." Salem said.

Pari smirked and replied, "Sounds like a you problem. But remember, my other hand is still free...free to slap you."

This time, Salem smirked, "Oh! I would love to see you try, darling. But don't make this mistake."

She didn't pay him any heed and raised her other hand, about to slap him when he caught it and turned her around so her back was to his front.

He pulled her closer to him and whispered in her ears, "See, I just stopped you from making a grave mistake. I won't be so kind the next time. But remember, I warned you." And he left her.

This was the first time, she felt a spine chilling fear. Of him. The way he said those words, she felt pure terror. It was like the devil himself warning her.

She ran out of the place as soon as possible.

She didn't even bother to ask him about the money for the assignment and avoided him as much as possible. Aman came to the cafe with the money for the assignment. Salem also sneaked in a 'sorry' note with the money but she just threw it away.

She couldn't forget his voice and the warning.
She wanted nothing to do with him.

Years later, she still made the mistake of raising her hands at him, forgetting his warning. The consequences of which she would never forget.

---------

30th Oct.

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