Present

On Nia's repeated and annoying insistence, Pari agreed to be her 'muse'. A model for her final project.

These days, Pari had nothing much to do, rather she didn't prefer doing anything. Earlier, she went out for a half and hour evening walk but now, she had stopped that. She only went out to the terrace, that too in the night or early mornings. She would only stay in her room and come out at the lunch hours. Her interactions with aunty were very limited. The only person who kept her entertained was Nia.

Ever since Nia had seen Pari's panic episode, Nia grew out of her immature self. She could feel that whatever it is that Pari went through was far deeper than just a normal problem. To top it all, her own brother didn't seem to be much in Pari's support. What would be she going through?

Nia had always seen Pari act aloof and mature but that night, it shook her to see her vulnerability. Nia had never witnessed something like that. It shifted  something in her. She realised her aloof attitude was not her rudeness.
It was to mask her vulnerable and emotional side.

Nia wanted to distract Pari from her personal issue, so she always asked her to help her with her projects and assignment, which were PLENTY!

"You know after college ends, all I want to do is go on a trip, a luxurious one! Where I stay in five star hotels, have some fancy breakfast and a glass of wine. I am already so tired. Imagine how will be I able to do a job?" Nia complained with a pout on her face.

Pari just laughed and continued reading her book. "And then imagine, I meet a handsome rich man on the trip. We fall in love and then get married! How does it sound?" Nia continued her dreamy tale.

Pari lightly slapped Nia on her head and asked her to come out of her delusional world. She looked at Nia whose eyes had a sparkle and were full of dreams. They weren't hollow like Pari's. She had the same dreams about luxury hotel and trips, just like Nia. But it was much later that she realised what were the true 'good' moments and luxury.

Her and Priya used to share a bed and often, they would talk heart-to-heart about everything at night. Some days, their talks were the silliest, on most days, it was funny and few days, it were romantic and hopeful about the future.

She remembered their conversation, before the storm named Salem came in her life.

For Priya, she always envisioned a husband, a family of her own and them living through each moment. She would tell Pari of her expectations from her partner and Pari would roll her eyes and tell her it was a lot to expect this much from a man.

Priya wanted her husband to bring her different flowers everyday! She wanted the classic kitchen romance, where she cooks and he sneakily comes up from behind. Pari smiled at the kitchen romance part, it was romantic and sweet! But expecting flowers everyday was a bit much, Pari felt.

When Priya asked what she wanted, Pari was quick to answer - foreign trips. Noone in her family had been to abroad. But Pari wanted her husband to take her on foreign trips, annually.  She dreamt of those hotels they showed in movies and sitting in an aeroplane.
Now, it was Priya's turn to roll her eyes.

"Flowers is too much, foreign trips are simple. Wow!" Priya commented at the hypocrisy.

"They are men. They can't put efforts everyday." Pari rolled her eyes.

She came out of her thoughts. Those were such simple times.

Back then, if somebody said luxury she would have defined it as a five star hotel, soft beds and a vacation. Today, she believes it was the time with her sister and the fights with her brother.
The late night chats with her sister were precious. The leisure at her maternal home, the safety she felt with them, those small yet significant moments were her true luxury.

She remembered Priya's wedding day. She was one of the most beautiful bride Pari had seen. The red saree and the gold necklace complimented Priya's red blushing face.

Pari's parents were still upset with her but for the sake of the wedding, they kept away their differences. Pari, who wanted to act responsible for Priya and not ruin her day, looked after all the guests and greeted them. Pari's mother felt better seeing her talking to the guests and taking care of them. Usually whenever a guest came at their place, Priya looked after them and Pari would sit in one corner or in the kitchen, only talking to them when she felt like it. But today, she was looking after everyone. It was a first -  to see Pari take care of the guests.

Pari saw a crowd gathered towards the end of the hall and went to see what was the commotion about. There were females and kids gathered in a circle. After excusing two-three people out of her way, she saw the person for whom the crowd was gathered. It was Salem. Pari controlled herself from 'going flat' on Salem. He was looking so much more than 'handsome.' She wanted to open a dictionary and find the word to describe this beautiful and ethereal man infront of her. The black tuxedo and shades made him look like a supermodel.

He was accompanied by Wajid and another two three buffed up men whom she didn't recognise. His eyes flashed with a moment of recognition the moment he saw her amongst the crowd. He stretched his hand for her as Wajid and his bodyguards made space for Pari.

"Hey beautiful." He caught Pari's hand and pulled her closer to his side.

Her breath faltered at their proximity. It was unusual to stand next to a man shoulder to shoulder. The people around her looked at them with questionable gaze and curiousity.

She answered his greeting with a small nod and tried to let go of his hold on her hand, but he didn't let go of her hand. They walked together towards the stage where her family was there.

Pari sighed relief when he left her hand to greet her family. She never thought this 'badboy' was going to join his hands and greet her parents with such humility. Her father asked Pari to take him on stage and make him meet the bride and groom.

Salem congratulated Priya and Varun for the wedding and clicked a picture with them. At first, he was beside Varun and Pari was about to stand beside Priya, but Salem called out her name and signed her to stand beside him. This was their first picture clicked together, besides each other.

In the wedding hall, the silent chatter was all about how an actor is here to attend a simple middle class wedding. Noone in Pari's lineage was connected to an actor, then it was a puzzle for others as to why a handsome young actor would come to this wedding? Pari's father informed his immediate family members that Salem was Pari's to-be husband. Their eyes popped and forehead creased....so many questions raced in their head. To all the questions, Pari's father gave an answer : Salem liked her and asked for Pari's hand. It was a love marriage.

In a corner, Salem stood with Pari, busy admiring her beauty.

"Sirf ghurte rahoge? Khali hath aye ho? Meri behen ke liye shaadi ka taufa nahi laye?" She asked.

(Will you stop staring at me? Didn't you bring a wedding gift for my sister?)

"Kya karun? Ho hi tum itni haseen ki tumhe takte reh sakta hu. Aur baat taufe ki hai, toh ek minute." Salem called Wajid and asked him to bring the gifts  from the car.

(What can I do? You are so beautiful that I can keep staring at you. And regarding the gift, then give me a minute)

Pari saw Wajid and the men come with many loads of gifts. Not just Pari, the entire hall saw the amount of gifts Salem gave the bride and the groom.

The relatives believed that it is due to Salem's money that Mr. Sharma agreed for Pari's marriage with Salem. Pari saw how some relatives were around Salem and were trying to be on his good side.

"Huh! Paise dekhe nahi ki aa gaye." Pari muttered under her breath.
(Greedy people! They saw his money and came to him.)

She took Salem aside and glared at him. "What was the need to show off?"

"Me? Show off? Madam, you asked me about the gifts." Salem answered getting annoyed at her. He held her hand and said, "show me a room and come with me."

"Why?" She asked a bit scared, not wanting to hear his answer.

"I want to change. I have a shoot to attend. Can't go in these clothes. Now, come on." Salem answered.

She asked him to go upstairs and take the first room to right. But he was insistent to make her come with him. Once, she showed him the small changing room, she was about to leave, when he pulled her inside and locked the room.

"Salem, leave me. Please. There are so many people. Anyone would see us." Pari said quietly.

"Shh. I locked it. Noone would know." He locked her in his arms, leaving her no way to escape.

"Salem. Please, please let me go." Salem heard such helplessness in her voice for the first time. Pari was just scared to get caught with him in another awkward and embarassing situation. If this time, she got caught with him, her parents would surely throw her out.

"Okay, I will let you go. Give me one kiss." Salem thought it was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of her fear.

She pecked him quickly on the cheeks.

But Salem was having his own fun teasing her. "Is this what you call a kiss? Come on, I thought you know better. Try again, baby."

Pari looked at him angrily and started hitting on his arms. Salem laughed a little and said, "This won't work. Give me a kiss and you are free to go. If I take what I want, I don't promise how long it will take."

"Salem, you bloody idiot. Let me go." She cursed at him and didn't stop hitting his arms.

"You fuc-" before she could complete the words, he kissed her lips and shut up her.

He left her with a bite on her lips and kissed her neck. He loved to stay in the crook of her neck.

"Don't curse me next time." He said and pecked her lips again. She was too stunned by his actions to say anything.

"Chalo jao. Mujhe change karne do. Ek jawan mard ke peeche hi pad gayi yaar tum toh." Salem joked as she showed Pari the door.

(You are not letting go of a young handsome man. Please leave and let me change.) 

"Pagal aadmi." (Mad man) She said at the closing door and ran away from there. Afraid if anyone had seen her.

____

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I understand the wait was too long for this one and I apologise for the same.

Next updates would be quicker :)