This is mostly Sharon, as I'm and will always be biased towards her, and also because it's much more fun dismantling the inner workings of her brain and analysing, as she shows so little of what's actually inside.
Chapter 3
As We Put on New Faces
1
Sharon, Simmi and Rinni walked towards the classroom from the locker room. Sharon was visibly irritated. She had no plans of attending this class as she still didn't figure out how to face Swayam. What was confusing her more was why she even bothered about how Swayam felt about her insulting him in public? She had always insulted Swayam and slept with a clear conscience afterwards. So why was she concerned now? And she was irritated with herself for going out with Shivam. He was an annoying prick. His flattery had given her a headache. She'll hit the spa right after class. And yes, it's decided, she will never go out with him, ever again. Just then she gets a text message from Shivam the creep. It was a happy face smiley. W*F! Thought she. Doesn't this guy get bored of himself, ever?
Simmi strikes a conversation. "So how was your lunch? And how is Shivam?" She and Rinni had a naughty smile on their faces. "Loser!" Sharon said loudly, more to herself than replying to Simmi.
"Sharon, hum Swayam nahi Shivam ke bare mein puchh rahe hai," said Rinni with a smile. Sharon was immediately reminded of how she called Swayam a loser the previous day in the canteen and felt guilty ever since and was completely pissed off. "Shut up Rinni!" She yelled. "I know that. And what do you mean by how is Shivam? Shivam is just another boy. What more?"
Simmi wasn't expecting this kind of a backlash and tried reasoning with her. "No we meant how was your lunch date? Shivam is kinda cool nah?"
Sharon snapped, as if scandalized: "It was NOT a date. And if you find Shivam cool then I'll pass on his number to both of you. You can both go out with him. I don't think he'll mind."
Rinni and Simmi were thoroughly confused now. Simmi sadly retorted, "Sharon, why would we have any interest in Shivam... we were only curious to know what you feel about..."
"Well I feel nothing." Sharon gave a mock smile and walked forward.
Simmi says to Rinni: "What is wrong with her?" Rinni frowning: "No idea. She has been like this ever since RDX Sir's party. Actually... where was she that night?" Rinni's face lit up as if she had an epiphany.
"Sharon," Rinni shouted from behind, and before Simmi could stop her, she blurted, "Tum RDX Sir ki party mein kahan gayab ho gayi thi? We looked everywhere for you. Aur tum calls bhi nai le rahi thi..."
Sharon stopped walking as the memories of the time she spent with Swayam by the poolside, that night, came to her in a lightning bolt. Her confusion, denial and guilt had reached an agonizing point. The changing colours of her face and her big beautiful eyes gave away her inner turmoil. She quickly composed herself before anyone saw her and turned to speak.
"Main gayab ho gayi thi? Main? Aur tum dono bimbos kahan the? Allow me to ask, kiske saath the? Aur kya kar rahe the?" Sharon retorted in the true Diva style. "And btw we had planned to get all the Weaklings high. So how is it that we drank the spiked drinks ourselves? Any explanation there? And about the calls, I had some 3 missed calls from Rey and 2 from Vicky. My phone never flashed your numbers."
Simmi and Rinni looked guilty as their eyes drooped, as if they were caught red handed committing a crime. Simmi remembered how she slept hugging Nilesh and Rinni remembered Amar sleeping on her lap. She couldn't help but blush a bit. "Woh Sharon... hum..." Simmi tried to speak, but Sharon stopped her gesturing with her palm.
"Look girls," Sharon spoke, "I don't wanna know tum dono kahaan the, kya kar rahe the, cuz I know jahaan bhi the, you were enjoying yourselves, and trust me, I don't wanna know with who as it's your personal life. And you're free to make your choices. And Simmi, I just wanted to tell you one thing; there was no need of all the drama in the canteen yesterday."
Simmi protesting, "but Sharon, that Kriya was yelling at you..."
Sharon interrupting, "I know I know, aur maine usse uski jagah dikha di. But what I'm trying to say is, why even begin it? There was no need for you to pour juice on that Weakling boy... umm... what's his name..."
"Amar," said Rinni. "yeah Simmi, you shouldn't have done that. Uski shirt puri kharab ho gayi thi and he doesn't even have a washing machine at home..." Rinni continued. Sharon and Simmi both stared at Rinni.
Simmi sadly protested, "but... but... fight to tum dono bhi kar rahe the na... aur boys bhi... and Sharon I thought our agenda was to look down upon these weaklings and prove our superiority... to phir..."
Sharon had reached her wit's end by now but she tried to retain some patience and explained: "Simmi Simmi Simmi... we are the Dazzlers, humein kissiko kuchh bhi prove karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. And about looking down upon the Weaklings, well frankly I'm bored of this game. Aur Dance Fest aa raha hai, and this time Rey GS hai aur main CS . Aur wo Kriya aur S... Swayam AGS aur ACS hain. And even if we don't wanna... kaam to humein saath mein hi karna hai, as we, Dazzlers and the Weaklings are the two dancing teams representing this college. Aur iss tarah lagatar ladna is only gonna affect our work. So I say, let's lay low till the Dance Fest is over. Aur Footloose mein to hum unhe dikha hi denge, where they truly belong." spoke Sharon, the St. Louis Diva, pointing at her feet. "Right girls?"
Simmi and Rinni smile: "You're always right Sharon."
The three Dazzler girls walk inside the classroom.
2
Classroom
Sharon walks inside the classroom and the first person her eyes find is none other than Swayam. Swayam and Kriya sat together, arm in arm, laughing about something. He looked so happy, uninhibited, just living in that moment, free from all the troubles that otherwise plagued him. In other words, he looked adorable. Two dimples were automatically formed on his cheeks as his grin broadened and how he felt the need to brush his right hand through his hair every time the breeze swayed his tousled hair that was on his forehead almost covering those brilliant bright eyes... Sharon smiled at herself. (pehla nasha in bg along with soap bubbles, just like earlier times when Swayam used to be lost in Sharon) The only time she had seen Swayam let go off his inhibitions and be really happy was at RDX Sir's party, when both of them were drunk. She wished she was in Kriya's place, she wasn't jealous though. She just wished to be a part of one happy moment of his life. She knew that around her, he was mostly stressed, conscious or hurt, and most of the times, she herself and her scathing words were the reasons. She remembered her own words: "A Dazzler can never be with a Weakling." How she wished she wasn't a Dazzler, she wasn't the Diva everyone worships... how she wished to be a very ordinary, middle class girl, whom nobody would notice, except Swayam, of course.
Her spell was broken by Rey. "Hey Sharon... you're back! I thought you're not gonna attend the class?", said Rey. Sharon settled down in the seat next to Rey and said, "Hey Rey, yeah that was the plan, but I got a headache so decided to return."
Swayam heard Rey and though he had resolved not to pay attention to Sharon, his eyes involuntarily decided to meet those of Sharon's. This time she too was looking at him. (a short LLHH ensues with SwaRon tune in bg) Kriya and Rey notice it and smile at each other. Swayam quickly looked away breaking the eye lock, surprising and disappointing Sharon. "How... how dare he look away? Does he not want to look at me anymore? Does he not... what the hell Sharon! Ok clearly your mind is behaving in a ridiculous fashion so STOP thinking!"
"Aur batao tumhara lunch kaisa raha?" asked Rey. "It was cool" replied Sharon without expanding further. Rey understood that Sharon wasn't interested in talking about lunch or Shivam, and he smiled at himself. He didn't ask her anymore questions.
"Listen Rey, mujhe tumse important baat karni thi, regarding this year's Dance fest. Kuchh socha kya tumne, regarding theme and stuff?" asked Sharon.
"Not really. I was waiting for RDX Sir to make the official announcement. But Kriya told me she has some ideas... listen Sharon, mujhe bhi tumse baat karni thi about something," said Rey seriously.
"What is more important than dance fest right now Rey?" asked an impatient Sharon.
Rey speaks: "Look Sharon, I know Dance Fest is a very serious responsibility and that's why it's important for each and every person to coordinate and work. And by each and every person, I don't mean the Dazzlers only. This time there's another team, the Weaklings, and we have to coordinate with them...I know that you aren't particularly fond of them, but..."
"But this isn't about me, Rey, this is about St. Louis," says Sharon, interrupting Rey, "aur main pehle St. Louis ki cultural secretary hoon and then a Dazzler. I know what you are talking about. I just spoke to Simmi and Rinni about the same. Don't worry, we'll try our best to avoid any friction, at least till the fest is over."
Rey smiled. "Kya baat hai, I'm impressed. Sharon Raiprakash, itni calm, itni jaldi maan gayi... aur upar se itne mahaan anubhav, not bad Sharon."
Sharon complains, "anu what? Aur tumhe aisa kyun lagta hai ki main un Weaklings se ladne mein interested hoon? They are NOT important!" said Sharon, looking away.
Rey teasingly replies, "I know... par kuchh aur baat bhi hai... there's something different about you. In fact, RDX ki party ki baad se tum badli badli si lag rahi ho." Rey smirked. "And btw tum kiske saath thi?" he asked in a matter of factly way. Sharon gave him an angry look. "Nai matlab I was just curious..." Rey added.
Sharon almost on the verge of pulling her own hair, blasted Rey: "Exactly kya kehna chahte ho tum? And I don't understand why the f**k am I being constantly questioned about that one godforsaken party? What is with everyone?"
"Ok ok calm down... calm down... main mazak kar raha tha...Chill!" Rey tried to pacify Sharon who was hyperventilating. He knew Sharanjeet, his best friend very well, and also knew that Sharon always acts hyper when she is in denial or her heart rebels against her head. He understood he had hit the bull's eye and decided not to provoke Sharon further.
The professor entered, and all settled down for the class.
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