The year was 2002. Sonali was going to be 15 in a couple of months. Her father lived in Rajasthan for work. He was a tradesman. Her parents were somewhat estranged. It was not common knowledge but there was a man who visited Sonali mother often.
So it was speculated. Nothing discussed. Scandalous in the eyes of their neighbors.
The unlabeled and unorthodox relationship she shared with her mother and 'uncle' was one she only truly knew. Her mother also sent her away to study in a convent up in the hills for all her school years. Her mother, being a mother did what she had to do to protect herself and her child. But the 11th std school year was over and Sonali had to come home for the holidays.
Around that time Kamini's family came to live in the same apartment. Her parents were in the textile business. Well-off, sophisticated and too busy to spend time with their children. In some way Kamini and Sonali were new to this place. Their souls perhaps spoke and made them meet each other.
In the 90s, teenage girls were tired adults in a child's body. Yet they had their innocence. They celebrated birthdays together, went roadside shopping together, rode rented bicycles together and started growing closer. However they never spoke openly about what was going on in their lives. Their feelings, fears, shame, secrets.
One day something happened. Sonali had gone to collect her marksheets from school and when returning in the train along with her classmates, she met a guy. Probably in his late teens or early twenties. They sat across each other two boxes away in the same coach. Their eyes had met once accidently, and both were seeking occasion to have their eyes meet again intentionally but accidently.
Infatuation, desire, passion, adoration, obsession they all work together when you hit puberty. How you act when those moments of fleeting highs find you is backed by what you saw, experienced and witnessed in your childhood. Being the fearless girl she is, Sonali signaled Lucky to meet her at the end of the coach. They chatted, exchanged landline numbers with instructions on when to call, how many rings and so.
Sonali shared her wild adventure with Kamini who listened open mouthed and wide eyed. Suddenly the phone rang twice and stopped. Both laughed boisterously and Sonali had a naughty idea. Kamini decided to play imposter with Lucky. She spoke in a sweet, exaggerated, over-the-top voice in giggly chuckles as teenagers do. The girls laughed again bringing the roof down after hanging up.
Sonali found this game of fooling Lucky more amusing and enjoyable that actually talking to him. Kamini on the other hand, having never had any opportunity or courage to meet or talk to a guy, felt like the apple had fallen on her lap. She thought of him day and night, waited for their calls, debated within herself whether to reveal her identity or maintain herself as Sonali.
Lucky liked the way Sonali looked. That's why he gave her his number. If I tell him the truth, will he feel deceived. But it was me all along. My voice, my jokes, my heart and my love.
She was too involved and too invested to let anything ruin what she had.
The new school year was about to begin.
Sonali had to leave.
Lucky wanted to meet.
Kamini was cornered.
What do you think happened next?