Chapter 32

I'll do it again for her. Because no one could love her like I do.

Kiara

11th April 2018, Wednesday
18:55

I knew it. I knew they both were having a tough time. There could be no explanation for Ash's sudden disinterest in Shay other than this. The heels clicked against the floor, unmistakably Ash's attitude walking away. I looked up through the flight of stairs at Shay who was visibly boiling. Steadily, I climbed up, trying to mask the excitement bubbling out of me.

Shay threw the ball of paper in her hand across the small space. It landed right at my feet and I picked it up. The aggregate of words was Ash's writing. Happy to see you do this!

"She is crazy," Shay mumbled and grasped the handle to go back in.

"Definitely crazy," I said.

She stopped, her face going white as I looked at her with a raised eyebrow, the paper resting in my hand. Ash turned seventeen today and had a fight with Shay while I was present to witness it all. How convenient for me.

"Go and tell her what I said," Shay said.

I hid my smirk behind a frown. "I'm not her puppet." You are.

She left the door handle and sat on one of the chairs close to the elevator. "We are all just puppets for her. She snaps her fingers, we snap our necks at her order."

I folded my arms and leaned against the wall. Shay looked far from snapping her neck. "You're a rogue."

"I'm just asking for justice. How is this fair to me?" She snatched the paper from my hand and tore it. "How does this work?"

I stayed quiet, letting her violence die down and waited for the moment of breakdown, the moment when she'd lose her breaths, take a seat again and explain the entire story to me while cursing Ash. I simply hoped that there was a story strong enough to pull her strings that Ash did not hold anymore.

"How?" Shay threw the paper, aiming for the door behind which Birthday Girl was partying. It fell halfway.

She got up and jogged past me down the stairs. I followed. The hitched breaths audible could be her tears, or curses to Ash. She stopped outside in the parking lot.

"Why are you still following me?"

I gave her the only answer I knew. "Sometimes, I think she is so passionate about art that she forgets us."

"She is passionate about her art," Shay replied, "which isn't even hers to claim. The guy up there, he's the mind. Vicky came in 2017. Have you seen her skills before that? She couldn't even make something that held meaning to it. Her interpretations were always wrong, because she never tried to think. Thinking is the key, Kiara. Whatever you do, calculations are necessary. He calculated, she copied."

I wanted to correct her. There was a reason Ash was the topper. No one could manage extra curriculars with high grades and friends and parties except her. I had always been proud of Ash.

Shay stared at me and I thought again. Was I still proud of her?

"What did she do?" I asked as soon as possible the question rose in my mind.

"Do you know about the Inter State Competition?"

Of course I did. I was a Samaritan. We handled these competitions, from lists to practice hours.

"I gave my name for it," she said.

My jaw dropped.

She shook her head at my reaction. "This is where her snapping of fingers comes into play. You all believe if it's an Art thing, it has to be Ash. Ash will bring laurels to the school. Of course she will. And that's a great thing but it is not just Ash. Why can't I participate? You're a Samaritan. You tell me. Can I participate?"

I nodded. She had a point. I remembered the notice that was pasted on the notice board. It said anyone could submit. They'd choose the top three. Ash could not possibly be chosen thrice, unless there were so less names that no one but her was left to choose from.

"No one has ever participated other than her," I muttered, rubbing my head.

"Because no one thought of it. It is just seen that she, only she, would do it. I thought so too until I started enjoying the work. I don't care about winning or getting chosen. She would win over me and I'd be happy. I simply want to try it out and challenge myself. What are the other activities I could participate in? Running laps?

"She says that isn't even the problem," Shay said. "The problem is I never bothered asking her, not telling but asking. I knew the answer. I knew she'd say no. She said once to a junior right in front of me. So I drew and submitted."

I dared to ask, "Did they select you?"

"She never let them reach for it. She saw my form, tore it and returned me the painting because I needed to stick to helping her. She didn't want to stand against me." Shay looked away. "I agreed. I blamed myself for trying to put us in a position of conflict. But did you see her submission? That was mine! All mine! That woman was inspired by my mother. Today, she told me to suck it up because it was just a painting. It isn't for me. I bet you that she didn't feel what I felt while I drew that. I'm sure if she drew her mother, she'd still not feel anything."

I examined her - quivering lips, mumbles to calm herself, tight fists and glazed eyes looking up where Ash was.

Digging my hands into my pockets, I said, "I can help you."

She paused and tilted her head. I held her gaze, determined to make her agree. Her sudden silence turned my attention to the parking lot. There were three dogs standing near the end. I saw Vee's car there and his driver sitting inside. For a moment, I reconsidered my offer. Then, I shook my head. Vee didn't have to know any of this. Shay would not tell him, not after she agreed. Not after I got what I wanted. I looked up at the glass beyond which I knew Ash was standing.

"How?" she finally asked.

I plastered the best frown I could and said, "I'm a Samaritan. I'll talk to Nidhi Ma'am, get you to give the trials and if you're selected, then no one else will have any say anymore, not even Ash. Once you get a green flag, she'll only find out if you manage to win."

"And to win I'll have to defeat her," Shay said.

"Can't do that?"

She shook her head. "I just want to participate. I know what she submitted. I'll draw something that won't be at par with her."

I shrugged.

"Will we get an analysis report?" she asked.

"If you're in the top ten." I reminded her, "But you get a shiny medal only if you're the one."

"I just want the former. Why would you help me? I...I have always thought you didn't like me much."

Much? I did not like her at all.

"I don't hate you." You simply stole her. "I'm just trying to help. Maybe, this way, Ash will see what mistake she was making." Mistake of choosing you over me.

Shay's eyes lit up. "She won't get upset, will she?"

I gave her a flat look. "If someone told me not to stand in school elections, I'd break the person's face. If you want to worry about upsetting her, that's your choice, after all she holds your strings."

"She doesn't," she said. "I don't care about hurting her. She did what she felt was right. I would do what I feel is right."

Oh Shay, you'd do just right, honey. Just right.

"But, I need you to do me a favour," I said.

She replied without missing a beat, "Anything."

I straightened and folded my arms. "You need to tell everyone what she did. You need to tell that she does not allow others to participate, only herself." Shay opened her mouth and I raised my hand. "You're not the first one telling me this, neither are the last. As a Samaritan, it is my responsibility to ensure you have a fair game. I cannot do that because it didn't happen to me. You can. You'll even go anonymous. Just an interview for the school magazine."

She'd give it anonymously. I would record her saying it and show to Ash when the magazine is bound to come out. Her interview would never make it past my ears, my recorder and Ash's heart that would feel the betrayal.

"Anonymous?"

I nodded.

"And...and there are other people too?" she asked.

"I can show you the list, if you want. There's Ash and two others. Ash doesn't know. She never will. Those two, I'm afraid, are as good as her."

"Are they of the Picasso Club?"

I shook my head. Lies, all lies. There was no one.

"I...I don't know if I can do this," Shay said and shifted on her feet uncomfortably.

I replied, "It is fine. Take your time but the submissions can be submitted only till twenty second. Think about it."

Just when I thought, she would say yes, she looked over my shoulder. I followed her gaze and saw Vee come out.

"No," Shay said, staring at him, "I won't do it. Thank you for the offer but I'll try to talk to Ash. She will understand."

19th April 2018, Thursday
15:00

I dropped my pencil and picked up the phone. "Shay."

"I'll do it," she replied. "I'll do whatever you say. But I have two conditions. One, I'm not going anonymous. Two, I first want to meet the other two people."

I smiled. "Done. I'll call you after an hour."

The moment she cut the call, I dialled Rishab's number. Although I was curious why she changed her mind, I couldn't care less. Her not going anonymous did not change anything. I would still be recording it for Ash, telling how I, with so much difficulty, managed to coax Nidhi Ma'am into not publishing it. Lies, I smirked.

"Hey, Kiara."

I grinned at his voice. "It's time you returned the favour."

16:00

"Are you sure?" Rishab asked me.

I nodded, setting the camera. He held the paper in his hand and went through the words again. I peered at him. He and I both knew if he turned this down or messed it up, I'd go to Ash and tell her who he was and what he had been doing with her brother behind her back.

"You know I'm only doing this because-"

"-you owe me. I know, I know." I dismissed his words.

He shook his head. "No, because I know you mean Ash no harm. Neither to her, not to Shay."

I halted.

What was I doing? Was I going to destroy their friendship just like that? Ash. I thought about Ash and how hard it would hit her. She'd be broken.

"Yes, hello, Kiara. I'm busy...with Shay? Yes, yes."

"I understand what you're doing is because Ash needs to realize Shay will not become her enemy if she participated along with her," Rishab said.

I lifted my eyes. God, I had lied to him too. Why was I feeling guilty now? It was a long time coming. Shay made Ash ignore me.

My phone rang and I picked it up. "Hey," I said, staring at Shay.

"Is that Rishab?" she asked.

I looked over my shoulder and nodded. "He is not one of those two. They refuse to show up, those girls but he knows them. He was with Ash when she told the girls no."

Shay shook her head. "He's not giving any interview, is he? He shouldn't be. They're da-"

"I'm not," he interrupted. "But I can prove to you that you're not the only one."

I glanced at him. Such a nice liar. No wonder Ash did not know about him.

She opened her mouth but got interrupted. "Shay."

Her mouth dropped. "What are you doing here, Ash?"

My eyes widened and I hurriedly cut the call.

"Was that-"

"Yes," I muttered.

I was sure, then. By getting rid of Shay, I was doing Ash a favour. She deserved more than a girl who made DIY gifts that broke down.