FADED PETALS (On Hold)

10.

6th January, 2016.
Delhi, India.

Shehnaaz

Small drain.
Big drain.
Water flows in.
Water flows out.
Life seeped in.
Life sped out.

Pitch dark, a bit slimy and maybe rough round the corners. Slurry water gushed out from drains into the larger drains which moved towards bodies or homes. Shehnaaz walked side by side, her one hand pressed against her nose trying to block out the smell of the garbage lying everywhere while the other remained clasped with sitaara's. She probably chose the wrong attire, her crystal violet patterned dress turned out to not fit the scorching weather. Sitaara wandered in her light frock, she was gleaming to be out in the sun exploring places. They were in Junera with Rayan and his team as planned. Rayan had spent most of his life in Norway and exploring something like this intrigued him whereas to Shehnaaz it was all different. She used to sneak out from homes to see the masses,  the crowd, the majority of the population living their unblemished lives but today while walking down the streets she felt more trapped.

People were passing by, humans, all flesh and bone with wide smiles and bare faces. Some of the people knew her, his father was a respected man over here and they knew she was going to be his successor. They knew they will be voting for her party in about two weeks.

"You need protection. You won't move around unarmed", his father had stated in a matter of fact tone and he sent two of his men veiled as Rayan's team member with her.

Rayan set the camera at different angles capturing the colourful stacks of buildings heaving on each other and the streets that ran across meandering into dark heaps.

You should have told me beforehand. It's not good for Sitara to be here. What if she gets ill?
Shehnaaz asks Rayan pulling him away from others.

"She should know the diversity we hold and it's not that bad. You need to let her breathe", he says looking at Sitara who is busy with one of the camera persons. "She's happy", he finally adds.

His team was planning to interrogate a few civilians, ask them about how they were grateful for the help being bestowed on them. The film should always end glossy.

They moved towards one of the house, storeyed and oblique.
A middle-aged woman, her eyes black and skin brown welcomed them inside. Her son was small, about Sitara's age moving around with a packet of biscuits in his hand.

"My husband died many years back..." the woman started telling the team members as they filmed her. Shehnaaz looked around the house, it was a quarter of her bedroom. The kitchen, bedroom, living room all merged in one. She turned around to spot the kid offering sitara a biscuit and she happily obliging it.

"Sitaara don't!" Shehnaaz moved forward pulling sitaara towards her. "Don't eat that". She whispered taking the biscuit from her hand.

She didn't want to make it that obvious but watching her eat right infront of her eyes, she couldn't control.

The boy looked at both of them, retreating aware of the mishap he has created. The whole crew turned towards them and shehnaaz couldn't help but feel ashamed. She took deep breaths. She felt embarrassed and the family infront of her was embarrassed. Their shining eyes which were looking at them with respect started somewhere looking down while somewhere seething rage.

The little boy's mother pulled him on her side, apologizing for his son's audacity. Rayan tried to diffuse the situation by changing the topic and telling them sitaara is under medical supervision.

After the shooting was done and they had to leave Shehnaaz moved towards the boy who was clinging to his mother's saree. The door of their house was greem and they were almost on the streets.

"What's your name?", she asked.

"Raja", he replied getting excited.

"His grandmother named him", his mother added ruffling the boy's hair and kissing his forehead.

"Does he go to school?" Shehnaaz looked at them content.

"Haan. There's this public school down the corner." Both looked at each other. The boy felt happy that he made his mother proud was shying trying to cover his face with the corner of her saree.

"He is bright, studious. Not like his brother. That boy only knows how to waste money. A chain-smoker he is, turned out to be just like his father. I sacrificed so much for him, had to work but he only sits with his friends at that nukkad."

"And what does Raja likes reading?", shehnaaz asks bending down to his level. She felt sad for what she did earlier, wanted to cover up.

"Maths. I will grow up to be like him", he said pointing towards an old man wearing shoes crossing their house.

"He owns a shop. Motilal ji sends his son to private school. Does not even let him play with Raja", his mother spoke on his behalf.

"So you also want to own a shop" , shehnaaz asks.

"No his shoes". Raja smiles.

The sun was moving south and they passed through streets clicking pictures of tumbled lives and missing teeth.

"Will the funds reach them?" Shehnaaz asked Rayaan when they sat in his car. The rest of the crew were following them.

"I think you know that better." Rayan replied his eyes glued to the traffic ahead.

"And I guess you still have some control left." He adds after a pause.

When they were halfway done through their journey, Rayaan looks at shehnaaz who's lost looking at the sprinting trees, leaving them.

What are you thinking about?, he asks rotating the steering wheel.

"Just how fast the night changes", she looks at Sitaara from the rear view mirror dozing.

"And you like that change?"

"I wish I knew." She sighs. "Will you stop by the cafe? I haven't eaten outside in a while" She yawns.

"There's this really nice place I wanted to show you", Rayaan says reversing the car and changing directions.

The car halts infront of a gigantic yet secluded cafe and they help themselves out of the car.
"Let me wake Sitara," shehnaaz starts walking towards the backseat when she is held back by Rayaans voice.

"Is he Sidharth?"

Shehnaaz spins around to see his eyes stuck on her. As always.

Does it ever drive you crazy
Just how fast the night changes?
Everything that you've ever dreamed of
Disappearing when you wake up

~Night changes (One Direction)

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

10/06/2021.

Do you guys face any issue like while scrolling down the story the header video stops playing?

Next update on Tuesday.
Tc.
Ahsmir🌸