(Sravanti's perspective)
Why is Avanti crying?
While holding a green toy (which looked cute though)-
After looking at a girl who just glared at her?
I came outta her room. There's not even a single air conditioner here.
HOW ARE PEOPLE EVEN SURVIVING?
I am just not habituated to live here.
And on top of that? Comfort Avanti? Nah!
I looked the strand of hair Avanti gave to me… I have never seen one strand curl that much. She has 3b hair I guess? 3b curls are hard to manage though. Maybe braids look good on her- I guess. And me?
Flat, straight hair with zero volume. If I dye my hair blonde- everyone would think I am bald.
Vishal just came out of his room. I'll ask him about Avanti-
Wait.
He applied that concealer on his wrist. It's not his shade and I can see it. There's a very subtle difference…
'Hey!' I called him. He turned to me.
'You hand,' I pointed out approaching him. He is confused.
'What?'
'Your hand. That concealer didn't match your shade.' I told him.
He blinked.
I blinked.
He hid his hand behind, smiling feebly and awkwardly.
'Hehe, this is just a swatch…'
'Then why didn't you wash it away?'
'I- I like the way it is- on my hand!' He said quickly.
He likes that? Weird right?
Someone patted me from behind vigorously. I turned to respond.
'Who the f-'
'You are Sravanti right!???' a girl with wavy hair asked me. Oh- wavy hair, I want it-
'Hello?' She shrugged me.
'Yeah, yeah… I am Sravanti.'
'I need your autograph' she started searching her pockets for a paper or something for me to sign on.
And after some boring moments of giving autographs and shaking hands, I tried to divert the conversation to another topic…
'You look just like Avanti right!'
I nodded. And before I opened my mouth to speak, she dodged my words.
'Your autograph looks cool!'
Nah- this is the autograph I came up with just now because- I don't apparently remember my official autograph. But, why is Vishal trying to hide his hand from me? That concealed hand? What's so personal-
'Hey!' This girl shrugged me.
I nodded again- my gaze fixed upon Vishal. And his hand.
'Why did you come here?' She asked me.
Vishal noticed me looking at him. I looked away.
No- no- no. He's still looking at me. With a poker face.
'Harini, she came here to stay for a few days-'
'-Months!' I corrected him.
He raised his brows followed by subtle fear in his eyes. He crossed his hands back tighter.
'Avanti is crying- for some reason.' I uttered.
Harini blinked.
Vishal blinked.
And as a result, I blinked too.
'Why?' Harini asked, tilting her head.
'Someone named Bindu saw me and Avanti talking.'
'And?' They asked me curiously.
'And Bindu was angry.'
'So, she's crying?' Vishal asked me. I nodded, trying to take a glance at his hand.
He hid it completely behind himself. WHY?
'What did you say while Bindu saw you two?'
'I asked for a strand of her hair.' I said.
'Why?' I expected this question,
'Because, she could be my twin. I'll just do a test.'
'DNA test?'
I nodded. Obviously.
Their jaws dropped. And they looked at me with wide- really wide eyes.
And me? I just blinked. Laughed feebly-
'What's wrong?'
A door opened, squealing like a squirrel.
That Bindu barged out of the room. With full force. Her fists curled and eyes on fire.
And she plunged on me as if she's ready to choke me to death- WHAT'S WRONG?
'You spoiled kid!' She reached for my throat.
I choked as she lifted her hand to hit me but I stopped her.
'STOP!'
Vishal and Harini pulled her back.
But she kept shoving her hand onto me as if I am her worst nightmare.
'YOU ARE- you-' She's shouting and panting at the same time.
'Cool Bindu, cool…' Harini was patting her.
Tears are gushing out of Bindu's red eyes as she's breathing heavily. He face is red and wet.
I just stood there, shocked.
What in the world did she just do?
'YOU-' she started.
'Who the heck are you?' I shouted louder.
She looked at me, her eyes still firing.
'You are stealing my friend!' Bindu said, coughing.
Your friend? Who? Avanti? I met her just today!
'Isn't your money and fame enough? You need my friend?'
'Hello? I just met her, she could be my sis'
'You rich brats need everything! You think you deserve everything-'
What did she just say?
'You ungrateful entitled-'
Ungrateful?
'Spoilt idiot!'
'Enough!' I shouted, kicking the floor.
She looked at me, still being held by Harini and Vishal.
'Who is a brat?'
'You!' She said quickly. She doesn't even know me at all. How can she-
'You can buy this orphanage with your money but you can't buy my friend!' Bindu said.
… Should I speak?
'I am not even-'
'You'll surely suffer!'
Yeah, just because I am famous, I am immediately a spoiled brat. Thanks for the label.
'I will show everyone that you are adopted if you do that DNA test!'
'What's the proof?' Vishal uttered.
My eyes flickered to the phone she was holding. Is she recording all of this?
Wait- she was holding the same phone when she saw me talking to Avanti too-
'Bindu,'
She looked at her phone and tapped on it. A grin grew on her face…
I quickly grabbed the phone.
'Ayyyy!'
She's pulling her phone from me, but I held it tight. Now, this is called tug of war.
Even if they adopted me, they raised me… I mean, they let me live in their house. I can't let this get leaked. That would ruin their reputation.
'Sravanti stop'
The phone slipped from my hands and I jerked back. Bindu fell down with the phone.
A crack. Very big one.
That phone is on the floor.
Oh no- did I just break it?
'Sorry!' I uttered immediately- but why should I?
Bindu looked at the broken phone. Her eyes and face red, and head titled down and gaze fixed upon the broken phone-
She didn't move.
She didn't talk.
She is looking at the phone.
'I'll buy you another one'
She smirked as if what I said was a joke I should be embarrassed of.
And she scoffed.
'Yeah, you will.'
What?
'You will. Because that's how you grew. With money.'
With money? Does she even know how I lived?
'Will you'
'Your parents didn't raise you! The money did!' She shouted.
Wait… My parents didn't raise me? Actually that's-
I punched her in her stomach and ran away from there. Vishal came after me while Harini was with that Bindu.
I grew with money… Money raised me. Not those people who actually adopted me. I grew with maids who got paid and toys that are expensive. I grew up in a luxurious house where I don't even know how it's like without A.C. I grew up in a house full of money. Is that all that I needed?
'Sravanti-' someone called me. But I ignored them. Maybe, they want me to apologize.
But still, I tried to make friends… But they mocked me for having too much money. I might've enjoyed or achieved a lot of things. But there's no one who'd support me- sorry, my money does right? It's not even MY money, it's my parents'.
Is it my mistake that I was adopted by them? If Avanti is my twin sister, at least I would have someone… But she can't come with me. She doesn't like me. Because I am entitled.
They say money can solve everything. And again they say that everyone deserves care. Can money care or love me? Or should I pay for the actors to love me? Nope. I can't stay here anymore.
Because I am a shameless brat. Yeah, used to it by now.
'Are you okay?' Vishal asked softly. I sat down near his room as he sat beside me.
'I,' my words died on my tongue. Should I be honest or play along?
Wait- his hand. I glanced at his hand again. He hid that concealer area. Anyways, his hand doesn't matter when I'm leaving.
'I'm sorry for what Bindu said.' He said.
But what Bindu said was… right. I am a parentless child. I am the arrogant one. I am the spoiled one. I don't deserve care- well I guess that explains why those "parents" leave me always. Because I am spoiled.
It's been just a few hours since I came here and I can't live here without AC.
Yeah, I am spoiled.
'Are you okay?' Vishal asked me again, placing a hand on my shoulder.
'I'm,' I stopped again.
Maybe I shouldn't expect someone else to comfort me. I shouldn't.
'Bindu didn't mean to hurt you.' He said.
Yeah. Because she said the truth.
'She always hated every rich person…'
What do you mean by "rich"? One who is spoiled? Because "being rich" doesn't mean you always have stable money… But she was right. My parents didn't raise me.
'But that doesn't mean she hates you.'
She doesn't have to. Because I already hate myself.
'She has a bad past with those "rich" people. So, she hates every rich person with passion.'
Why do people think all "rich" people are same? Stupid.
'And on top of that, you are growing closer to Avanti- her unofficial sister.'
'So?'
'So, she's jealous.' He said quickly.
'You all don't know me.' I uttered.
He stayed quiet. He opened his mouth to say something. But then he stopped.
'I'm a rich brat.'
'No.' He said.
What?
'You're not. I saw you in your car. I can see what you're going through.' He said.
What? I looked him. He nodded gently, looking at me. This isn't possible. He's the first person who said this… Maybe he's just being nice. But the truth is always the same. I am parentless. I am lonely.
'Okay- I don't wanna talk about this-'
He looked at me, confused.
'Just don't wanna-'
'Okay. I won't. But know that you're not alone.' He said.
I have to be alone. I don't need anyone to comfort me. I am already a bad person.
He stood up and left.
What could've been Bindu's past? But still, she doesn't have the right to- um, nope…
She's right. I need to apologize.
I went to Bindu's room to meet her. I knocked the door.
The door squealed again.
'I'm sorry.' We both said it at the same time.
'I don't wanna ruin the friendship between you both. I won't do the DNA test.' I said.
'Um… No- it's okay.' She said, rolling her eyes. Her expression doesn't match what she's saying.
'I will buy a new phone,'
She glared at me.
'Or just repair your broken phone! Maybe you like your phone. I'm sorry.'
'Okay. Just don't talk too much with Avanti.'
I showed thumbs up, smiling.
'Alright…'
I came back to my room- I mean, Avanti's room. Avanti slept on her bed, holding her plushie.
Wow… Their friendship is so good.
Wish I had a friend like that. But I don't deserve such friendship.
I am not supposed to be hurt now. Who cares by the way?
I will just go to our school's hostel. That's better-
My scar started pulsing with brightness, like a tiny star. It's in a color I couldn't describe and it's weird.
I texted my "mom" and she said she'd book a flight for me to go with my "dad"; so I packed my bags.
I came out of that orphanage when Avanti is still sleeping.
I reached the airport and boarded.
And I won't meet her anymore.
Bye Avanti…
At least I am peaceful when I am lonely.