41- The First- Part I

                                        

                                              
Several years ago...
(3rd POV) 
It was the second garba night at a small city of Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. Natasha along with her family arrived there to celebrate Dusshera with their close relatives. Chhindwara was Natasha's favourite place to visit. Not because the place was extraordinary. She simply got a chance to not be alone with her parents. She could breathe peacefully for a while. 
It was the first day of the dandiya night. Like many other chicks, Natasha also opted for a traditional Chaniya Choli in the colors of yellow and red. A traditional Gujarati attire having a blouse, long skirt and a dupatta draped over it. The streets were lit with colorful lights and music. Natasha joined her cousins for a dandiya dance, immersing into the festivities. After sometime, her cousin brother Vedant called her. 
“Your mother is looking for you. Go!” Vedant said, yelling over the loud drums playing in the background. 
“O- okay,” Natasha replied hesitantly. She raised her long skirt slightly as she exited the short flight of stairs and swiveled her head around to spot her mother. As she neared the houses, she spotted her mother in a green saree. Natasha tensed as she noticed her face— her furrowed brows, bulging red eyes, flushed cheeks. She knew that face too well. It was when she was aggravated about something and was eager to lash out.
No fucking way Natasha was going to be that bitch's punching bag tonight. So she only did what she thought was best. 
She fled. 
The whole locality was filled with privately owned three storeyed homes. Families of farmers, factory owners and businessmen lived here. She recognized one house. It was Divya's— one of the girls she played around the neighbourhood. The door was ajar so Natasha entered and found Divya. She begged Divya to let her hide in her house and abide from telling anyone where she was. Nine year old Divya sensed the panic in Natasha's voice and instantly said yes, instructing her to go to the terrace. Natasha thanked her before dashing upstairs. 
Natasha heaved a sigh of relief when she closed the worn out terrace door after herself. Finally, she was safe. 
She raised her head towards the sky that was painted with several twinkling stars. The residents were sure lucky to be blessed with such a bombastic scene every night. Her gaze swiveled towards the surroundings, searching for a space to sit. She walked towards the backside of the terrace, only to squeal in surprise. 
She wasn't alone. 
A dark figure crouched down to the mat with his back against the wall and a burning cigarette dangling between his fingers. The boy stared into the distance, bringing the tip of the cigarette to his lips and exhaled a thin stream of grey smoke through his gritted teeth. The smoke faded into thin air. The bulb was turned on, giving the figure a visible face.
“Kunal?” 
The teenage boy in question seemed to be unfazed as ever as he stole a quick glance towards Natasha and scowled. “Oh. It's you.” 
“What are you doing at Divya's house?” Natasha asked, curious but received a cold response as Kunal continued smoking. She sat down wordlessly, watching him in his blue color kurta and jeans. Her curiosity got the better of her as she added. “Can I have one? Cigarette I mean.” 
“You fuckin' kidding me?” Kunal turned to her slightly, his brows furrowed. He immediately turned away, taking a long drag, the smoke filling the air around them. Natasha coughed. “Go, play with your Barbie dolls or something.” 
Natasha snorted. “I ain't ten, boy. I'm fifteen! Soon to be sixteen.” 
“Same thing.” 
Was Kunal always this grumpy? She wondered. Then again, she barely interacted with him alone. Come to think of it, she hadn't seen Kunal for the past two times when she visited Chhindwara. Where has he been? Vedant said Kunal was sick or something. Was he fine now? She mumbled something incoherent that made him turn to her direction again. Her eyes widened.