Chapter 1: The Midnight Encounter 🌙👀
The cold evening rain didn’t care that her jacket was too thin, soaking right through the fabric as she watched her friends climb into a warm, dry taxi without looking back.
"Well, let's get back home," Tara said to herself.
She started walking in that heavy pour, her steps heavy against the wet ground, until she finally stopped near a faded house. Its walls were weathered and worn, with visible cracks slicing through the concrete, making it look like a poorly built relic of the past.
She unlocked the door and pushed it open. "Aghh!" she screamed, flinching as a tiny mouse scurried right in front of her.
Regaining her breath, she called out into the dark hallway. "Lily! Lily... where are you? Mama is back home."
Right on cue, a furry, beautiful cat emerged from the kitchen, letting out a soft purr before jumping straight into Tara’s arms.
"I missed you," Tara whispered, burying her face in the cat's soft fur. "Let's go to bed now. It's already 12:26 AM. Tomorrow, Mumma needs to go to college, right?"
Tara made up the bed and went to sleep.
The next morning, there was a chill breeze in the air.
"Hey, you! Ms. Ugly! Ms. Ugly... ohh, sorry, Ms. Poor! What's up?" a group of friends mocked as they walked up to her, making fun of her appearance.
"Ummm... You... You... why are you talking to me like this?" Tara stammered back.
"Who are you guys to talk to her like that, huh? Don't you guys ever criticize her! This is my last time saying it," a voice called out.
It was Avni, Tara’s best friend from college.
"Whatever..." groaned the group members.
"Come on, let's go. It's a waste of time to talk to these guys," Avni said, indirectly lowering their aura.
In the classroom, Avni turned to her. "Why did you shout at them? Don't you know they will destroy us? Those guys are some of the most influential people in town."
"So, what should I do? They were criticizing you. And I will never, ever resist a word against you. They are bullying everyone in school, but no one is saying even a word against them. Why? Because of that donkey, so-called the son of a minister," Avni said angrily.
"Okay... Okay, calm down. Have you finished the chemistry assignment?" said Tara, calming her down.
"Yes, I did."
On a bright afternoon where the sunshine was shining like a diamond... (In the cafeteria)
"I know you like chicken skewers, take it..." said Tara to Avni, who was crazy for chicken skewers.
"If you are offering this to me, then I will accept it," said a naughty Avni.
Then they heard a group of people shouting at a club to clear the table they sat on for them. They turned back and, as we predicted, it was the group of guys who bullied...
Avni lost her temper and stood up, moving towards the group.
"Avni, stop! What's your problem? Why are you getting involved in their matter? Shut up and sit down," said Tara angrily.
"How can they force anyone like this, huh?" said Avni, frustrated.
As Avni was a revenge-taking kind of person, she was always ready to fight with anyone, no matter how rich their background was.
"Promise me! You will never fight unnecessarily," said Tara, extending her hand towards her.
"Why not? I'm not promising. I can't control myself," said Avni.
"You have to control yourself. If you ever fight again unnecessarily, don't call me your best friend," said Tara angrily.
"What?! Why are you..."
"I said what I wanted to, that's it," said Tara, interrupting her.
"Okay, I'll do as you said. Sorry."
"It's okay. I just wish the best for you," said Tara.
Then, the group of guys headed towards them. They both continued having their lunch.
They stopped at their table and the so-called son of a minister, Kaif, took a bite of the chicken skewers from Tara's plate.
Avni's eyes filled with a deep red color because of her anger, but making eye contact with Tara, she realized that Tara was more precious than her anger. So, she continued eating.
"What is this behavior?" Tara asked, feeling fearful.
"Ohhh! See who is talking. Ms. Poor. Why isn't your bestie, the so-called angry bird, talking this time?" Kaif said. All the group members laughed.
Avni lost her temper and stood up. She was just about to open her mouth to give them a straightforward answer, but Tara held her hand and nodded her head, clearly saying no.
"You're crossing your limits," Tara said to them.
"Oh, really? So, Ms. Ugly and Poor is telling us our limits, huh?" Said kaif ,moving his hand towards Tara's face.
Avni hold his hand not letting him touch Tara's face.
"Please let me talk and sort the matter. Please, Tara," Avni said to Tara.
"You are allowed," Tara said, with no fear in her eyes.
The moment Tara said that she was allowed, a patch of four fingers landed right on Kaif's cheek.
Everyone remained shocked.
"I told you not to touch even a single hair of my bestie. I don't care who you are—a minister's son or the prime minister's—if you are against her, then you're going to regret it," Avni said with pure anger in her eyes.
Kaif turned back with eyes full of revenge.
The two best friends—one innocent, the other a revenge seeker—had now entangled themselves with the minister's son by slapping him.
