Anurakti

63: New Friend

Sahaj noticed how Samidha's face absolutely shrunk when she looked at women in the mall.

It wasn't rocket science to not understand. She was hating herself. A big bandage on her forehead, an excessively tanned body, dry lips, faded old clothes and the worst thing according to her, short hair.

"She's wearing makeup."

"She isn't."
Samidha shot back when Sahaj tried to console her.

"I'm a woman. I know the difference."
She mumbled and started walking ahead, with her lips in a frown and brows furrowed.

"Let's go home. My old clothes are enough."

She stated, sighing and rolling up the sleeves of her shirt to reveal some scars and taking a deep breath in.

Sahaj's breath hitched. She hated herself. So much that she didn't even care that her scars were showing. She never rolled up her sleeves in the house, let alone in a public place.

"Let's go somewhere I know."

"Where?"
She asked but he didn't reply, instead held her wrist and pulled her with him.

____________________________________

"No. Absolutely not!"

"Why not? It's the best. Celebrities come here. Actresses, models-"

"And I'm not one of them! My face hasn't fully healed and neither have the wounds on my body. I can't possibly get a massage or anything."

"Nobody's getting you a high pressure, reddening massage. Gentle massage helps reduce inflammation and scar tissue formation and you are getting this done."

"You can't force me!"
She seethed and got out of the car, slamming the door and folding her hands in anger, only to loosen herself because she felt that the wounds on her back would open up anytime soon.

"I'm not forcing you!"

"Yes you are!"
She shouted at him, as he got out of the car himself.

They were standing in front of the biggest salon in India, with the best beauty artists. That's where actresses and models used to come to get their things done.

Sahaj didn't know much, but he knew that Samidha didn't like the way she looked. So there they were.

He sighed and walked towards her as she seethed in anger.

"You don't like my face? Well that's too bad! I don't care if you like me or not! I'm happy ugly! I-"

"Samidha I-"

"You what huh? YOU WHAT?"
She shouted and stepped dangerously close to him, had she been taller, she would've been in his face.

"Listen here you little piece of shit. I don't fucking care what you or anybody else thinks about me. You people sleep peacefully because of people like m-"

"Stop."
He interrupted her threatening session by keeping a mouth on her hand and pulling her towards him. Holding her waist he reduced every inch of space between them.

"Now listen to me. It's not me who doesn't like you, it's you. For me you were the most beautiful woman in that mall, but you thought you looked the worst. And your feelings are absolutely fair. You don't look your best, you wear god knows how much old clothes, never style your hair and if I'm not wrong, you don't even moisturize because you've caused such damage to yourself that you think it's irreversible. I know you used to love your hair, but your hair length doesn't define you. You can't stay stuck on the hair you had years ago. You need to move on. And if you come with me, I'll make sure you start cherishing yourself."