The physics professor arrives, signaling the beginning of the physics lecture. The classroom is abuzz with discussions about the canteen incident, and laughter echoes as jokes are made at Arita's expense. Arita can't shake the strange feeling, as she never intended to be the center of attention for such unnecessary gossip. Sadly, this isn't a new experience for her; she's faced similar treatment in the past.
As the professor delves into the lecture, Arita finds it challenging to concentrate amidst the whispers and stifled laughter. The atmosphere is tense, and Arita becomes increasingly uncomfortable. She glances around the room, catching glimpses of her classmates exchanging sly looks.
After the last lecture concludes, Arita bids goodbye to Anda, who gives her an encouraging smile. As Arita begins her walk towards the bus stand, the earlier events replay in her mind. Thoughts swirl, and she wonders, "What will Anda think about me now? She was the only friend I made in the class, and now she might not want to be my friend."
The path to the bus stand seems longer than usual, each step accompanied by a heavy sense of self-consciousness. Arita contemplates the impact of the gossip on her budding friendship with Anda. The weight of judgment from her classmates hangs over her, making the journey home a daunting experience.
Upon reaching the bus stand, Arita witnesses the bus pulling away. "Today is going to be really tough for me... now the bus is gone too," Arita expresses her disappointment as she takes a seat at the bus stand. The weight of impending scolding from her parents hangs over her. "I am sure Mom and Dad will scold me today... I escaped in the night, but now-"
Suddenly, a car horn interrupts her thoughts, and when she looks up, she sees Anda in the car. "Arita, hop in. I'll drop you," Anda offers. Arita approaches the car and hesitates, saying, "No, it's okay. Another bus will come in about an hour."
"There won't be a bus for at least 40-60 minutes. You'll be late. It's better I drop you."
"Sit, Arita. I won't kidnap you." Arita laughs at Anda's playful remark and decides it would be wiser to avoid the prolonged wait for the bus. Reluctantly, she takes a seat in the back of Anda's car.
In the back seat, Andrew is already seated, having opened his window to let the wind play with his hair. His eyes are closed, and he's leaning on the car seat, relishing the breeze. Arita finds herself captivated by Andrew's carefree demeanor, momentarily losing herself in the sight.
"Which side is your house, Arita?" Anda inquires, attempting to redirect Arita's attention. However, Arita remains entranced by Andrew. "Arita... Arita," Anda calls out, prompting Arita to finally shift her gaze. "What happened, Anda?... Did you call my name?" Arita asks absentmindedly. "Hmm... a couple of times," Anda responds. "I was asking about the direction of your house," Anda clarifies, bringing Arita back to the present.
Then Anda followed the route as per Arita's instructions. "Stop here, Anda," Arita said. Anda brought the car to a halt. "Thank you, Anda," Arita said, stepping out of the car. "Thanks won't cut it; you'll have to treat me, okay?" Anda replied playfully, a small smile on her face. "Okay, then tomorrow's lunch is on me," Arita said, glancing at Andrew, who was still sleeping.
"Okay then... bye," Anda said. "Hm... bye," Arita responded with a big smile on her face, waving. "Aah!... it hurts," Arita exclaimed. "Take it easy, Arita.... please see a doctor once. I think you might have sprained your hand," Anda said with a touch of concern. "Hm... I will," Arita said. Anda started the car, heading towards her home, and Arita followed suit.
Upon reaching home, Arita headed straight to her room. Arita's mother noticed and asked, "What happened, Arita? Why does your face look so upset?" "Nothing, Mom... just had a lot of work in college today," Arita replied. "Okay... take some rest. We'll leave for your cousin's wedding in two hours," her mother suggested. "O... okay, Mom," Arita replied and headed straight to her room, lying down on her bed.
While lying there, Arita thought, "Today was a tough day... but I made a friend who's unlike the others. She doesn't judge me based on my looks... she is a nice person." Arita managed a smile as she reflected on the day.
"But why am I getting so attracted to Andrew... seeing him makes my heartbeat faster."
"Why?"
"Could it be that I have a crush on Andrew?"
Then, closing her eyes, Arita starts to think about how Andrew saved her from falling last night. When she was happily contemplating all of this, she suddenly remembers that her dream, where the couple put a pendant on their daughter, was the same as Andrew's. Then, she suddenly sits up in bed.
"But how can this be possible?"
"First the wolf, then Andrew, and now this... how can the same pendant be in all of them?"
"This can't be a coincidence."
"Surely there's something... even Anda was wearing the same pendant," Arita mutters to herself, pacing around her room, entangled in the web of her thoughts.
"Arita, if you've rested enough, get ready... we're leaving in half an hour." her mother interjects. "Okay, Mom," Arita replies.
"I 'll get ready first,... then I'll think about all this later " Then Arita starts getting ready. Arita takes out her clothes from the wardrobe. As she is taking them out, her gaze goes to her right hand's wrist.
"Where did the scratch mark that I got from falling go?"
"How can it disappear so suddenly?" Arita says, looking at her hand.
"Wait a minute... I just opened the wardrobe door with my right hand... but I don't feel any pain." Then she turns her right hand's wrist. Her wrist is turning smoothly, without any pain. "But how can this be... just a while ago, my wrist was in pain... and there were scratch marks all over it... so how can it be okay so quickly?"
"What's happening... there's a lot of confusion."
"One problem doesn't get solved; another one arises before it."
She wears blue jeans, a white inner, and a light pink overcoat. Arita doesn't like fancy clothes at all. She doesn't feel good about wearing fancy clothes and makeup. Arita wants to wear clothes in which she feels more comfortable, and she feels more comfortable in these clothes.
Then she goes down to her parents. "What should I do with this girl?" Arita's mother says, looking at Arita. "Do you know we're going to a wedding?" the same mother asks. "Of course, Mom, I know," Arita says. "Then how can you get ready like this? At least today, you could have worn something fancy... there will be so many relatives ," her mother insists.
"That's why I don't go to any function... you know I'm more comfortable in these clothes, yet you still want me to -" Arita says, a bit sad, then sits on the sofa.
"Forget it, honey... if she likes these clothes, let her wear them," Arita's father reassures her, patting her on the head. Arita hugs her father and says, "You're the best daddy."
"But, Arita, you need to learn to socialize a bit. Nowadays, everyone treats you based on how you talk and how you get ready according to the situation," her father explains.
"Hmm, Arita, now you are not a child anymore... you are going to be 18 tomorrow," her mother says, a bit concerned. "I try, but everyone judges me based on my looks. No one wants to talk to me because everyone thinks I'm ugly," Arita says, feeling disheartened. "Who says you're ugly... you're our beautiful princess," Arita's mother says. "It doesn't matter what others think about you... what matters is what you think about yourself. So, first accept yourself and don't care about what others say about you," Arita's father advises.
"Hmm... but the truth is that I'm not beautiful," Arita says, feeling disappointed. "First, tell me what beauty means to you - fair skin tone, an ideal body type, and so on, right?" Arita's father asks her, placing his hand on her forehead. Arita nods in agreement.
"That's your biggest mistake... real beauty is found in a person's heart and soul, in the kindness they show and the positive energy they bring into the world, not in their looks."
"While appearances may change, the beauty that comes from a good heart and a beautiful soul remains constant. That's the kind of beauty that truly matters."
Hearing all this, Arita becomes emotional, hugs her parents, and says with teary eyes, "I'm really lucky to have parents like you."
"Okay... okay... let's end this emotional drama, or we'll be late," Arita's mother interrupts. Then Arita's father brings the car to the gate and starts honking the horn. Hearing the horn, Arita and her mother come outside and get into the car.
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