Because Princess...tujhe lantern jala kar sabke ghar jaana hai.
The words were spoken in a tone of jest, & yet...there was an earnestness in them. For Neha...her baby sister was a precious gift, the brightest ray in her life. And she would be so for everyone whose lives entwined with hers...
*******
The sudden white flash in the inky blackness momentarily blinded him. He shielded his eyes with his hands...trying to adjust them to the invading brightness. As the stage came into focus, his frown turned into his signature smirk.
Everyone knew the story of the resident womaniser. There was always one girl, who would tame him, turn his world upside down & capture the heart which would so easily move on from one to another without remorse.
To everyone...it was her for him. His gang...the only few who knew him, believed it. He hadn't been with another girl in months, he barely flirted with any, he paid no attention to any other than her. They said it was love.
"Love.", he had scoffed, pure contempt colouring his voice. Love was for the romantics who roamed around college with sappy dreams in their eyes. It was beneath him.
Ever since she had become a permanent fixture in their lives, he had developed a sort of obsession...to click her. In the beginning it had bothered her to no end...she had protested, but in vain.
There were much better models than her, willing to pose for hours if needed be, & yet...only her face on the polaroid fascinated him.
Outwardly...she had little to show of herself. She was blank, unremarkable...people often wondered how she had become a part of the ruling gang of Regent's in the first place. Everytime he looked at her through his prized lenses, the answer would look him in the eye. Whatever part of her lured him to her pictures had lured them to her in reality.
And so...he kept going back for more. Endlessly, he would capture every emotion, every fleeting thought going through her head. And it would still not be enough.
People said it was love.
He knew it was addiction. A drug more potent than anything Roy could have laid his hands.
People said it was possessiveness.
He knew it was ownership.
*******
She looked at him, standing across the auditorium. The inviting smile on her face hid the burning hatred in her heart. The only emotion which she could have for him.
The only thing which bothered her was the anger that she felt when he lifted his lens towards someone other than her. It was one which she had no answer to, much to her annoyance.
*****
He saw her hold out her hand to him, & made his way slowly towards her.
He just stood at the edge of this brightness, let her hold his hand, pull him out of the shadows, into the stage lights...
...and into the darkness...
Okay...this is super bekaar 😳. But yeah..chotu sa experiment of mine!