chapter 13

Confrontations“Who were they?” Pratham demanded once I had changed into fresh clothes. Everybody stared at him and then at me.“Don’t look down. Tell me... I saw your face when you were talking to them. Who were they and what did they want? And from where did you get this?” he raised the folder. I extended my hand to ask for it, but he pulled it back. “I am going to burn it. I am not at all interested in reading it.”“What is it?” Shiva screamed and snatched it. Pratham was about to take it back, but my expressions froze him. Shiva gaped at its content, and before anybody could say anything, she went to the kitchen and burned them herself.“Who gave this to you? And how?” Shiva asked, horrified.“What?” Sarv started, but Shiva whispered something in his ears, and he clasped his mouth in shock. As Shiva and Sarv mumbled within themselves, Pratham gave me an in-depth look. Our eyes met, and I felt he was scrutinizing me. “Make sure she doesn’t stay alone. She is too special to commit suicide,” Pratham spoke out of the blue. How did he know I was considering suicide? I was sitting on the sofa, he sat in front of me on his knees and spoke, “Not everybody considers you as an object for sex. There are a few people who genuinely love you and care for you. Don’t… please don’t ever think of ending the life you have. You have no idea what it would do to people around you,” he spoke so sincerely that another tear escaped my eyes. I didn’t know what to say. “I know what you are feeling, though I can never understand or fathom what you have gone through. But know this, from here on out, all will be well,” he finished gently holding my hands. A rush of comfort ran through me. I wanted to cry in his arms again, but instead, I fell in the arms of Shiva, who was now sitting next to me.“Dude, you are like my best friend. I want you alive,” Ankit exclaimed. I restrained my tears and tried to smile.“Was the guy in the photo punished?” Pratham demanded.“Yes, he was. He is dead,” Shiva supplied. “For real,” she added owing to the shocked expressions on Pratham’s face.“Served him right,” he sighed. After exchanging a meaningful look with Shiva, Ankit and Pratham left.When alone, I told Shiva and Sarv everything that went down today. Both my friends were angry beyond words. “We will confront that pathetic dean, don’t you worry,” Sarv assured me. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even know if the dean knew about the true intentions of Akshara and Jay.“You know Pratham was right. If he had not come when he did, I would have killed myself,” I spoke thoughtfully. A cup of steaming tea was sitting in my hands now. Its warmth comforted me. “How did he know what I was thinking?” I wondered out loud and looked at my friends. They exchanged a nervous glance. “You know when I cried in his arms, I realized I don’t have anyone now. I have you guys, but you have your own lives too. His hug was so comforting that I almost melted. Only he knows what all I howled back then.” “What?” I bellowed as they exchanged another glance. “Nothing. Just that you both were sitting like a couple, as if sharing sorrow and life’s deep meaning together,” Shiva replied in a bit weird tone.“I am not into Pratham Khatri.” I declared loudly. “If you say so,” Sarv shrugged.“You know what, you both are so full of yourself,” I was way too annoyed today to take any crap from them.“What did we do?” Shiva asked, defensively.“I literally don’t have anyone. I long to have a person in my life whom I can call my own. With whom I can share everything. Hug him. Cry on his shoulder. Kiss him. Love him. I feel so alone in this wretched world. All I have gotten are rotten bastards. But you two…” I fumed.“What about us?” Sarv gave me a pointed look.“You both love each other and are perfect for each other. Even Pratham noticed it, and he hardly meets you guys. And you both pretend ‘friendship’. You deny it to even yourself. I sometimes wish you both were not that stupid.” I barked angrily. “Ishana, I think you are way too stressed today. You should go to bed,” Shiva scolded me. Her expressions were stiff, and her body language was hostile.“If you say so!” and with a scowl, I retired to my room. “No suicide, promise?” Shiva asked from the door.“If you promise to talk about your feelings,” I snapped.“There is nothing to talk about,” she started.“That’s where you are mistaken. Falling in love is easy. But falling in love with the right person is very difficult. You are lucky to have one next door. Go and knock, you will welcome a storm of happiness.” And with that, I closed my eyes for the day.  Present Day in Ishana’s House“Those bastards!” Ravi shrieked the moment Ishana paused. She laughed at his reaction. “My sentiments exactly.” She raised her glass to him and drank.“I am glad your friends, especially Pratham, were there to support you,” Ravi started.“Yeah…” Ishana just shrugged. He knew she was hiding something but didn’t ask. He very well knew what her reaction would be.“So, sensation, huh!” Ravi mocked.“Yeah… well, she was right in a way. I became a sensation, just not in ‘their world’,” Ishana laughed sarcastically.“You know this part reminded me of the movie Lagaa Chunari me Daag, where Rani Mukherjee becomes Natasha to support her family,” Ravi spoke thoughtfully.“Well, thanks to Pratham and my friends, I stayed ‘Ishana’ and didn’t become ‘Natasha’.” Ravi stayed quiet after this statement. He had no words to convey his thoughts to her, what she had to endure throughout her life was uncomprehending. “You think she would have recognized you when you started your modeling career?” Ravi wondered after a long pause.“Don’t know, don’t care…” Ishana spoke carelessly. “I wonder how many lives this Akshara had ruined,” Ravi added.“Many, I presume. But one thing was good about her, Akshara gave me a choice to join her. She didn’t force me. Girls worked for her on their own accord,” Ishana spoke in a deep voice, and Ravi agreed. Just like Ishana, he too was thankful that people like Akshara didn’t force themselves on her. He couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if Pratham hadn’t supported her all those years ago.Â