Rivannah

Envy and Honour

But truthfully, he was good. His arguments were logical and well framed. And he delivered them with great confidence and exuberance. He might actually deserve the best speaker award, if it wasn't given to him because of his status.

" Yes, Vikram." Maitreyi said pointedly, teasing him," Stop daydreaming."

Vikram turned on his heels, and mouthed, 'Shut up!' To his agony his friend just chuckled evilly, and shook her head.

" I'm going for a walk." Riva said reluctantly (she hated moving in saris), " I don't want your mad sister to barge in and spout nonsense again."

The memory of Soha and her accusations were still fresh in her mind. She wasn't the forgiving kind, but her current situation doesn't allow her to retaliate.

But Riva could hold a grudge for a very long time.

" Soha is not my sister, but she's definitely mad." Vikram said seriously, " And I can make her apologise to you. It won't be very sincere but-"

" Vikram, she's already gone." Maitreyi nudged her friend. 

                                                                                              *

Riva thanked the canteen manager for her coffee and sat on a random table. She should have brought her Thermodynamics book along.  She took a sip of the coffee and winced. How she missed those frappes and spiced lattes. How she missed home, and her father....

" Hey! You're Riva, right?" A voice startled her.

She looked up to see a girl she had never seen before. She was wearing a peach colour sari with a low cut blouse. She was pretty but she was wearing a lot of makeup.Her dark hair framed her face nicely.

" I'm Riddha." the girl introduced herself, " Um, your friend sent me here. She needs your help with her costume!"

"Aditi needs my help?" Riva muttered to herself, but stood up anyway. 

Riddha nodded affirmatively and said, " Can you please hurry? Her event is about to start and she's panicking!"

Riva ditched the cup of coffee and followed Riddha out of the canteen. 

" Who are you?" Riva asked, curiously.

" I was helping out on the backstage. Aditi asked me to find you." Riddha said hastily. 

Riva struggled to match her rapid strides. She wondered what was wrong. It was unlikely that Aditi would need her help. She didn't even know how to pleat a sari, and Aditi was an expert. Maybe her costume got ripped or her makeup was ruined, or she wasn't wearing enough bangles-

" She's inside that room." Riddha halted abruptly and pushed a door open. 

Riva peered over her should to see a dressing room. Many of the classrooms were converted into green rooms and dressing rooms for the dancers and performers, but she had never been in this room before. 

" You should go inside." Riddha pressed. 

Riva furrowed her brows in suspicion and crossed her arms. Why would Aditi be in a room so far away from the auditorium? And besides, she had never met this girl before, so how did she find her with a name alone?

" What if I don't?" Riva challenged. Something about Riddha wasn't right. She was sure of it. 

" I'll just do it myself." Riddha snarled and pushed her towards the room. 

Riva got tangled in the folds of her sari and fell on the floor. Her head hit the ground painfully and she groaned in pain. Her vision turned bleary and she could feel something warm trickling down the side of her face.She heard the loud thud of the door being shut and punched the ground in frustration.