Days elapsed as Faajal and Yusuf grew nearer. They would have each other's company whenever time spared, beyond Ravinder's keen observance. As their bond aged farther, Faajal's admiration towards him only raised. His playful character brought smile on her face while his serenity soothed bruises when needed. She needed not fear to disclose her miseries and strains to him than anyone else. He would tell her unknown facts of the studio, stories of prominent movie stars, schedules of plays etc. She learned more about the directors, producers and the head of their studio and realized it was no easy task to shine among hundreds of talents. The superior figures favoured the ones with unprecedented knack, also their obedience. Yusuf sought to ascend in superstardom. Noticing the craze around Ashok Kumar, the biggest star of this decade, he couldn't suppress his envy and ambition.

"You see, I will be the biggest film star of Indian Cinema!" Yusuf smirked, making Faajal smile. The way he carried himself and delivered on stage, Faajal could foresee a rising star.

"You don't have any aim? To be a star?" He frowned.

Faajal groped for an answer. "Uhm, I don't know actually."

A wry grin shone on his face. "Maybe people will be bewitched by your beauty. When it happens, don't forget me."

She shared his chuckle and jabbed his shoulder. Month crossed by, as their companionship evolved. Both knew each other's flaws, weaknesses, aches, obstacles everything and acted each other's healer.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Current time,

Faajal browsed the comic she had purchased yesterday. Ravinder never allowed her to eye such things, but he had loosened his barrier. She excitedly flipped over the contents when someone tapped her shoulder. She snapped back, shrieking in shock to notice Yusuf winking at her. She sighed wearily, tired of his abrupt appearances.

"Oye, come with me." He whispered, seizing her wrist and almost pulling her out.

"Where? Yusuf? What-" Her squeak faded in air as he dragged her towards an untold destination. They paced along the corridors and narrow rooms, crossing stares. Their feet didn't pause until reaching a rusted gate behind the terrace. Yusuf slowly removed it and slid inside. Faajal bore a questioning look at him, unnerved of getting noticed. Yusuf shirked off her worried expression and dragged her in.

"Where have you brought me, Yusuf? Anyone can catch us." She hissed urgently.

He smirked, "Only I know this secret path. This is the shortcut I told you earlier. Come now."

They navigated through the dusted items. Broken furniture, ruined film rolls, negative prints, colour stained some places. Faajal flapped her hand to clear the dust crowding her nose.

At the very end, they jumped through a window, large enough to fit a body. Yusuf dusted off his palms as Faajal coughed loudly. "What a way to sneak out,"

He giggled and tilted her chin towards his face. Faajal felt her cheeks flushed in warmth. His blue orbs settled onto her. Their eyes interlocked, heart pounding quicker. He wiped the dirt on her forehead with his thumb, sending tingles down her stomach. A smile escaped his lips as though he sensed the reason behind the fiery blush. "Come lest we would get caught."

They galloped through the lane leading to the heart of the area. Numerous stalls lined up on the road. The sellers shouting the names of their goods. 'PANIPURI!! RASGULLA!! CHAAT!!'

Yusuf dragged her near a stall where various sweets were showcased through the glass wall beneath. A meagre crowd already surfacing. "Sufi uncle, give me and my mehbooba two rasgullas." Faajal jabbed him by elbow and hissed in mock anger as he grinned and winked at her. A minute later, their rasgullas appeared on paper plates. Wisps of smoke emanating from the velvety balls. Faajal yelped when the hot plate was handed to her and blew to cool her scorched fingertips.

"Be careful," Yusuf mumbled, shoving a piece in mouth. Faajal broke a bit and placed inside her mouth. As her teeth squeezed the mushy dough, the syrup spilled her mouth. A taste unlike the ones she mouthed before. Not too sweet nor bland. She wasted no time emptying the plate, including the syrup she used to avoid earlier.

"It's so good," She exclaimed, licking the last drops from her finger.

Yusuf smiled and discarded their plates. Tossing 2 annas to the man behind the cart, they reverted their path to the studio. They raced through the shortcut and tiptoed inside. Smoothening their clothes, they sneaked to the playrooms, promising to meet again. As Faajal speeded towards her room, bliss filled her mind, recalling the moments minutes ago. Just as sweet as the rasgulla.

At home,

Faajal pushed the comb down her tresses while her mind was lost in the mischief they had done. If anyone learns it, it would surely arouse troubles. But, now she didn't want to think of it. She peacefully elaborated her hair when the door of her room burst open. Ravinder stomped inside and pulled her up, wrenching her elbow. "Uhh, baba," she shrieked. "Outing with that bastard, huh? Where were you at noon? Tell me-" He towed her hair, increasing her screeches. "Baba, I-"

Keen eyes had already crowded at the front. Faajal's sisters eyed the incident, frightened of moving further. Seconds later, her mother and grandmother joined.

"That wench! You left your work behind that wench, you-" He tightened the twist of her hair.

Her grandmother scorned, "Girls nowadays are shameless. What can you say about her?"

"I am not!" Faajal finally snapped free of his grip and yelled. Hush thickened the air. "you are always-always controlling me and things! I didn't go anywhere! Yusuf called me to show a room. That's it!" her fingers laced around her elbow, wounded not by the physical abuse but the misbeliefs they plastered on her. Lies came easily to her untrained tongue to defend herself now.

Ravinder's eyes reddened with his nostrils flaring out. His glare met Faajal's, venomous and warning. Faajal showed no alarm to step back. Instead, she fired him a look, fiery and undaunted. She wasn't the same girl he used to abuse and reprimand. If he willed to take advantage of her knacks, he had to treat her higher.

"Tell your girl to be good, otherwise!" He spat at her mother and flounced out. Everyone left except Faajal's mother, Gurbani. She wrapped Faajal in her arms, letting the teenager rest her head on her shoulder and wet her kameez. "Why did you bicker with him?"

"He-he...always tries to control me. Even in the studio, he interferes in my acts.....ma. Some even laugh at me, seeing his constant presence. They say I am too gentle that my father has to babysit me..." She shoved her face in Gurbani's chest and sobbed openly. Gurbani caressed her head, furling her in wordless condolence. Having also endured the torture for ages, silence was the only cure she could give Faajal.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Next day,

"Oye," Yusuf jostled her arm, startling her in the midst of quietness. Before his appearance, silence accompanied her lonely spirit, despaired and tormented. She didn't turn to him, unwilling to reveal her puffy eyes. "Oyeee," He rotated her chin towards him. Their orbs linked together, diving deep as midnight pools. "Were you crying?" His tone had a note of concern.

"What will you do I even if I did?" she sniffled, nose fired in red.

"You-got caught? But, I-" he tried to explain but Faajal lifted her palm to pause him. "You don't need to be worried. It's not your fault."

"Faajal," He couldn't finish his sentence as she hastened from her seat. He dashed behind her, seeking and urgent. "Faajal, wait. Please, I-"

Faajal halted her steps. "Don't come after me, Yusuf. You will land yourself in trouble too." Her eyes cornered to detect his dazed frame casting a shadow beside hers. Her fingers fisted at her sides, crushing her garment between the fingers.

"What happened, Faajal? Tell me once." his tone almost pleading, shattering her heart into pieces.

Her voice shuddered, lastly twisting at him. "Baba, found out." Her doe eyes glistened, drops springing forth her eye ducts. "It's better you stay out of his sight, else he can do anything." She rotated back and was to escape his questions but he was swift to grip her arm. "Faajal, wait. It's my fault. I should be hearing from your father."

He dragged her forth and trod to the hall room where Ravinder was. Faajal didn't move or resist, she couldn't. Landed between daze and trepidation, her senses had no control over the situation. She dumbfoundedly followed him, not dissuading despite comprehending the consequences.

They entered the hall and advanced to Ravinder. Ravinder's eyes darted at them instantly the moment they stepped in. Yusuf stood before him, bold enough to encounter the elder's boiling reaction. Faajal gulped down the lump in her throat. She desperately jolted his hand, intending to dislodge him from the forthcoming storm.

"YOU!!" Ravinder shot up from his seat, making Faajal shriek under her breath. Even Yusuf jerked but retreated himself. "Uncle, I am sorry. Yesterday, I just wanted-"

"Enough of your nonsense! How dare you take my daughter aloof without my permission!"

"I am sorry. I know it was my fault but don't scold Faajal, please." Yusuf pleaded.

Ravinder pointed his fingertip at Yusuf's face. "You are not to tell me whether to scold my daughter or not. I know how to raise her!" Yusuf shifted his gaze below without further claims but his hands were congealed into fists, the veins floating clear in his white skin.

"You better stay away from her!" Ravinder growled and gestured Yusuf to leave. Yusuf lifted his face to fire a revolting glare one last time and dashed out. Faajal didn't dare go after and apologize under Ravinder's infumed watch. But, she comprehended the vile impact of his utterances on Yusuf's gentleness. Her stomach sank at the thought of losing him. It would be no marvel if he severed all ties with her after this incident. Yusuf....... No apology can erase the lash hurled at you, but I am obliged to stay silent. What do I do? The pit of her stomach churned, gloom flooded over her spirit, blackening the once-bright stars. The gap of solitude retreating to her life.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

The violet of night had replaced the light of day. The sun had drowned and now the prime presence in the sky was the moon. Its lustre radiating across the opaque canvas, accompanied by sprinkles of stars. Faajal had been staring at this artwork of nature for hours now. Her pupil pulsating as the sparkling dots above. A bitter smile hung on her lips. When their plays were delayed, she and Yusuf would sit by the auditorium window and watch smokey clouds cross the moon. Silently, they would delight the enchantment of night, unbothered of all the skirmishes. Tonight, she was alone below the vast sphere.

She wiped a tear off her cheek. Cool breeze streamed through her curls, flapping them in air. The lamp post beside their apartment flicked, struggling for light. She sighed, losing all hope and joy. The weight of the dim sky throbbed her head, relapsing into aching memories.

Suddenly, she caught a rustle behind the railings. She squinted her eyes to detect the source. Someone's leg swung over the concrete bars, then his hands clasped to tug himself up on the railing. Yusuf huffed, dripped in sweat. Faajal shrieked in shock, her hand covering her mouth to smother the squeaks. Yusuf gazed back at her and the same mischievous smirk spread on his face. "I am not so easy with my dear ones. You thought I would leave?"

Faajal, flabbergasted by the incident that occurred within a few seconds, couldn't reply. Instead, she scoured their surroundings to confirm no detection. Yusuf wandered near and brushed her cheeks. "I would have met you in the studio but you disappeared before dawn. So, I had to come here."

She yanked his fingers off in mock rage, enlarging her eyes. "How did you know my address?"

He blew up the lock of hair nudging his brows. "Nothing is impossible in friendship and war. By the way," He fetched something from his pocket and unfurled his hand to reveal an ivory paper lotus. A line emerged between Faajal's brows. She glanced at him in question when he pulled out a folded piece of paper from the centre of the lotus and shoved it back. "It's my telephone number- I mean the number of my chawl. Call this and ask of me, okay?" He handed her the lotus, ruffling her hair and winked. Only she did was blink at the paper and watch him clamber down three stories. Though absurd, she found him quite muscular to mount three stories up.

Faajal returned to her clamshell of an apartment and plopped on her bed, sharing it with 3 of her sisters. Everyone had slipped into slumber except her, struggling to grasp at any trace of sleep. Her pulse quickened with each gaze at the lotus. A sprout of joy nestled in her heart again, dispelling the murk and welcoming light. Suddenly, the door of the bathroom creaked open and a line of lamp protruded out on Faajal's face. Her 2 year younger sister and best friend apart from Yusuf, Chanchal peeked on her, giggling constantly.

"Chanchal!" she furrowed as the younger jumped at her side. "What, didi? I already knew this." she cooed.

Faajal gasped, "Wait, you, what?"

"Don't worry I won't tell anyone. But, don't call him at night. Call him at dusk. Badi amma (Grandma) sometimes does her prayer at night." Chanchal mumbled and grabbed her coil of blanket. "Good night, didi." she peered her head over the blanket as she slipped beneath it.

Faajal sighed, half-heartedly. Both thrill and unease occupied her mind, fearing the unseen accidents while bubbling in mirth. Seconds later, she unfolded on her bed, thrusting all ponders away and dropped her eyelids, wishing for a bright tomorrow.