CHAPTER 3 - Tiara
To Sana’s relief, the sun was finally up. She could now lose her pretence on sleep and get up. She was still confused whether what she had seen the previous day was real, or was it just a dream. “Hey Sana! Good thing you’re up!” Pack your stuff, we’re going down for breakfast. We’re going to a factory remember?” Sana needed a distraction to get back to normal. Aksha was very careful while taking to her, she didn’t want her to be scared again, so she asked her softly “Are you feeling ok Sana?” Sana snapped her head so forcefully that it scared Aksha. “How many times should I repeat?” Aksha had never seen Sana so angry. “Aksha, you need not tell me what I should do, and what not to. Let me live my own life.” With that note, Sana banged the bathroom door and went in for a bath. Aksha was left horrified. She had never seen Sana like that. So rude, so angry, talking so disrespectfully. Tears welled in both their eyes. Aksha was standing right where she was, when Sana came out after her bath. Even Sana looked miserable. “I’m sorry Aksha, I don’t know what happened…” They both gave each other a friendly hug, crying this time. “I guess I’m just so scared after yesterday, my head’s not straight”. “Your head was never straight!!” Aksha giggled through her tears. She was happy their friendship was strong enough to survive silly fights.
They went downstairs for breakfast and joined their friends. “I’m excited to go to this village, Phargadh with you Sana” John exclaimed. As he realized the “ahem-ahem” sounds and stares that everyone was giving him, he added, “I mean I’m excited to go with everyone!” Sana couldn’t resist the small playful smile. The breakfast was so different in taste. “I didn’t know rural food tastes different!” Hemant said, “Oh what did you expect? A McDonald’s burger??” Khushi was always all about teasing and sarcasm. With all their witty comments and gossips, they boarded the bus. Sana and Aksha sat together as usual. John wanted to sit with Sana today. So he made up a plan. Instead of sitting with Adhiraj, he secretly texted Aksha, “Hey… Adhiraj is sitting alone. Wanna join him? Ya, ya I know you like him and all! I’ve seen the way you look at him. An exchange of seats is all I want. You keep it mum, so will I”. Immediately after he texted her, he started looking at her for her reactions. But Aksha was so busy talking to Sana, she didn’t even realize her cell vibrating. “Uhm Aksha?” John interrupted, “Can you please give me your cell? My balance is over, and I need to call home.” John hoped that this trick would work, and it did. Finally she read his text and nodded in agreement. She was horrified though that John knew the truth, but she made a quick excuse and went to sit beside Adhiraj.
“Hey Adhiraj” Aksha greeted him. He was a little startled at first, but then welcomed her with the cutest smile Aksha had ever seen him wear. Her heart was literally floating in the air, when she turned back and winked at Sana. Sana was laughing at Aksha’s expressions already. That’s when John broke their eye-to-eye girl gossip. “You look really tired Sana, is everything alright?” It reminded Sana about that damn night trip again. Her mood instantly fell as she replied with “No, nothing. Just didn’t sleep well last night.” That part was true. However, John was successful in bringing her mood back to normal in just two minutes. Sana liked the fact that he’d chosen to sit with her today.
Their bus passed the jungle in a few minutes. It sent chills through Sana. But she avoided seeing outside so that it didn’t bother her much. She was talking with John when she suddenly heard Dravya’s voice. The same rich guy who she’d met in the jungle. She looked everywhere, but couldn’t anticipate the direction of his voice. Since she was passing the jungle, she guessed that he’d seen her through the window or something. But she ignored the thought successfully. Sana was feeling better now with the daylight, friends and excitement.
After some time, the bus reached the village. They got down and were supposed to visit rural houses and a cotton factory. They started off with small houses. It fascinated them as to how cute the small huts were. Though they were small, they were comfortable. The students had questionnaires which they had to fill. The kids of the village were pretty excited too. All students were playing with the kids, enjoying themselves. Sana and Aksha were playful as it is. They were the first ones to join the kids. As they were about to move to the next house, Sana spotted a small girl looking intently at her.
SANA’ S POV:
The little girl was staring at all of us, especially me. She was such a cute little doll. Just about 6-7 years old. I walked towards her. “Hi sweetie, what’s your name?” I expected her to give me an innocent smile and tell me her name in her amazingly cute voice. Instead, she said, “I don’t talk to strangers” and looked the other way with her chin up. She looked so cute as she showed me some attitude, I felt like adopting her! “Okay, but tell me your name at least… Where’s you mom?” As soon as I said that, she turned back with something in her eyes. I couldn’t make out what it was. Agony? Plead? Tears? Hope? A mixture of something like that. It made me want to hug her. This little stranger was making me feel so attached to her.
Just then Kumar sir called, “Come on guys. We need to visit the factory.” I got up, extremely unwilling to go. As I turned back, I heard her voice, “My name is Tiara.” I looked back and smiled, “Bye Tiara.” I said before leaving. Such a perfect name. Tiara meant a crown and she did look like a princess fit to wear her name. I joined the others to the factory and told them all about Tiara. John said sheepishly, “I saw you with her, she was really cute. But not as much as…” he left the sentence trailing, incomplete, but I knew what he would say. “Not as much as me…”. Every time he did something stupid, I smiled. I couldn’t believe I was falling for him. He wasn’t my type but still special to me. We proceeded to the cotton mill, walking! That was too much! But there wasn’t a road wherein a bus could enter. So that was the only option left.
We realized we’d almost reached there when we could see buds of cotton hover above us. Occasionally one of us would catch it in the air, and blow it on the other. I hadn’t thought this factory thing would be cool, but here we were, enjoying ourselves thoroughly! We went inside the mill. After a long interview on pillow and sofa making, we left the mill. Aksha was so happy here. She liked spending time with Adhiraj. And for a change, he was enjoying her company too. I was happy for her. And for me too! A little space from Aksha let me spend time with John. Khushi was eying us with suspicion. I think she’d guessed the whole thing. Moreover, we were going to tell her sooner or later.
We were about to get in the bus when I saw her. Tiara. Had she followed us? She came to me and I automatically smiled. She surprised me by saying, “Don’t be so happy, I’ve not come here for you. I stay nearby. I only came here to tell you that… that… you look like my mom, that’s why I told you my name. Please don’t tell it to anyone else. I don’t want anyone coming and pulling my cheeks saying ‘Tiara is soo cute!’” My God! I was just in the final years of my teens and here was a kid telling me I looked like her mother! Although I loved her cutely annoyed expression! I promised her what she asked for. I saw her until she walked away. As she approached the wall, I saw a hand pulling her mercilessly dragging her away. This, I couldn’t bear. And I started following her and the stranger…
