Love Me

27

"Roshni, change your clothes. You are not wearing that," Daksh said firmly, his eyes narrowing.

"Daksh, I'm wearing this only," Roshni replied stubbornly, taking a big bite of her bread omelette as it was to end the argument.

Daksh's jaw tightened. "Roshni, what's with this, huh? You used to wear kurtas. Then you started wearing jeans I had no problem with that. Then crop tops. But now this? A skirt no, not just a skirt. A mini skirt. Change your clothes. You're not going to college like this. Can you imagine how uncomfortable it will be for you? How will you sit, walk or even climb up the stairs? Your undergarments will start showing easily."

"I will go wearing this only. And also, I have an appointment at the parlour today. I'll meet you at night. Bye," she said dramatically, as if she were in a play.

"Roshni." His voice dropped low as he stepped closer. His hand rested against her bare thigh, his eyes darkening at the sight of so much skin not just that but also his mind run how this little skirt can easily show everything with just a slow wind.

"Oh God, it's too short. Baby, baccha, jaan, sona, love change this. Go wear your jeans or pants, anything other than this."

"I like it, Daksh. Are you actually going to control what I wear now?" she said, her voice hiccupping slightly as she tried to sound emotional, though her playful smile betrayed her.

"But it's too short, Roshni. How will you sit comfortably? What if your pen or something falls how will you bend down and pick it up? Think about it," he argued, trying to stay calm.

She raised her arms dramatically toward the ceiling. "In this world, only men have the right to do whatever they want, and poor girls like me can't even choose what to wear. Why, God, why only make men..."

"Okay, enough now." Daksh cut her off sharply. "Go. Wear it. But if I get a view of something else then no one will be worse than me." His voice carried a warning that made her blink. But his hand placement made her suddenly feel hot all over. She pushed his hand away from her inner things.

"Bye-bye... wait! Fare money. Why don't you give me enough so I don't have to ask every single day?" she said, holding out her hand.

"Here, take it," he muttered, but his eyes kept drifting back to her skirt.

"I've never seen any girl wearing such a short skirt," he admitted, closing his eyes for a moment, trying not to picture the stares she would attract. The thought of other men's eyes on his Roshni burned him inside.

At college, Roshni sat in the corner seat when classes began. But by the last period, she had to sat on the front bench because the specific sitting arrangements was made by the professor.

Daksh entered the classroom. Immediately, the students rose and greeted him. Without wasting a minute, he asked, "Assignments?"

Roshni's eyes widened. "Oh no... assignment? Is he pranking us? No other teacher asked for it, then why him?" She muttered. Her heart thudded faster as one by one, her classmates submitted their work.

"I totally forgot about the assignment... Ayaan was staying over, we just had fun after college. God save me. He was already angry this morning because of this dress." She bit her nails nervously, muttering under her breath.

"Roshni!" someone whispered, shaking her from her thoughts. She looked up to find the whole class staring.

"What?" she snapped.

"It's your roll number. Submit your assignment."

She gulped, then stood nervously. "Professor... actually, I forgot it at home."

"Very well, please keep standing for a minute," Daksh said curtly.

Her cheeks burned. She remained standing. After student submitted their Assignment Daksh pointed at the girl.

"Write down the name of students who still has to submit their assignment." After the name was written he continued the class. At the end, he said firmly,

"Whoever did not submit the assignment, come to my office after this class. I already have your names. So don't try to escape."

Roshni groaned inwardly. "What's he going to do in his office? This isn't school... he can't just punish like that. Only he has problems with me." She kept mumbling as she followed the other student silently looking down in shame.

In his office, everyone stands side by side to each other silently. Roshni pulled the hem of her skirt a little down because whenever she moved a little it would lift up from its place. Suddenly, a boy beside her leaned closer.

"You're looking beautiful," he said with a smirk. "If you'd like to share your number, we can be good friends."

Before she could even react, another voice cut in icy and sharp. "You can continue chatting outside my office." Daksh's glare pinned the boy, who immediately becomes silent. Then his eyes shifted to her, making her squirm.

When everyone else was called one by one and dismissed, only Roshni remained. She tapped her foot impatiently. "Why are you making me stand here? Just send the e-mail yourself. I'm going to the parlour. I'll miss my appointment."

"Miss Roshni," Daksh said, his tone dangerous. "First you don't do your assignment. Now you're arguing. One more word, and you won't attend my class for a week. I could extend it to the whole semester if I wish. And I can easily fail you in your internal exam. Do you want that? "

Her lips curved into a playful smile. "Wow. You look so cool like this. Let me go, Daksh. I'll miss my appointment," she said in a singsong voice, trying to melt him, ignoring his threat.

His eyes narrowed. "Do you want to taste my hand right now? We'll talk at home about this assignment." He shoved some papers and money into her hand.

"Thanks for this!" she chirped, leaning forward to kiss his cheek before running out of his office toward her lovely destination.

"Waxing, manicure, shorten the length of my hair, and nail art," she rattled off excitedly to the parlour worker.

"How much length, ma'am?"

"Shoulder length," she said, showing with her hand.

"Ma'am, you have waist-length hair. Are you sure?"

"Yeah, just cut it. And can you mix red color into it, curl it lightly? Like this picture," she said, showing her phone with a bright grin.

"Okay," the woman nodded.

Roshni smiled to herself as the workers began. "I can't wait to see Daksh's reaction."

Just when the worker started cutting her hair she made a cross. Suddenly her mother's word started ringing in her ear.

"My Roshni's hair is so beautiful. And if you try to cut it down then I will never talk to you."

Roshni's eyes snapped open. She turn her face immediately making the worker stop.

"Don't...."