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NOT AGAIN! A SHORT STORY.
"Hi sweetie, looking for branded cosmetics and purses!" asked Indira. Hearing her voice Swati turned around and said with a smile, "Yes, I am looking for a pink shade in
lip-gloss and lipstick as well and a matching purse well suited for my dress."

Finally, after a lot of searching Swati purchased 'L'Oreal' dark pink lip-gloss and lipstick and a 'Gucci' purse. Swati cleared the payment with her credit card and then both besties walked out from an expensive shop in a reputed mall in Mumbai.

Swati's lifestyle was plush and she came from a rich business class. Fair complexion, height five feet six inches, sleek figure, and gorgeous. Indira was her bestie since school. She too inherited from a rich business class but she was not at all stylish as Swati. She was five feet tall, slightly plum, slightly dark, and had a baby round face with cute dimples.

Unlike Swati, Indira was not much of a party-goer but she used to always accompany her best friend.

"Indu, let's eat something, I am starving." Swati requested. "Sure dear, I am too starving, let's have pizza". Both of them went to California Pizza to have a grub. Before having pizza, Swati insisted to have beer but Indira rejected her offer. "No, beer now, tonight we are going to party and as usual you will get high. So, no beer dear," said Indira. Swati made faces like a child and then agreed to have only pizza.

The two of them had pizza and finally reached home. It was 4 pm and so both of them had a quick short nap so they can enjoy their evening to the fullest.

It was 8 pm and both of them dressed like Bollywood actresses and looked gorgeous. Swati in her blue single piece and Indira in her brown single piece. The party started late and all the young girls and boys of the second year were having fun as it was Varun's birthday, the hot hunk from the management college. Swati had a crush on Varun, but he was a playboy. Indira was aware of Swati's feelings for Varun so she used to always guard and protect her. But today, Swati was adamant and very high so she ignored Indira's warnings and started getting close to Varun. Varun got mesmerized by her beauty and both flowed away in drinking, dancing, and even smoking.

Indira left dejected and worried for her best friend. Karan her classmate arrived and started chatting with her. Though she was talking with him her eyes were on Swati. After a while, she just turned around as Karan pulled her hand to dance on the floor. Meanwhile, Varun and Swati disappeared and headed toward a room.

After a while, Indira noticed Swati's and Varun's disappearance from the bar counter. She got worried and scared too. She started running here and there searching for her friend. After a long time, Swati arrived with Varun laughing. Indira got mad at her, pulled her hand, and pushed her into the car. In the car, Swati continued with her non-sensible behavior and blurted out everything.

The next morning, Indira offered her lime juice and shouted at her. Swati couldn’t remember her last night's meeting with Varun and how she slept with Varun. She apologized to Indira and promised that she won't do this again and requested not to disclose this incident to her parents. After a long discussion between the two, finally Indira agreed to her request. But of course with a condition. "Okay, fine...but if you do next time the same thing I am not going to support you and will inform uncle and aunty," Indira warned.

After a few days, Swati again arrived home in a drunken state. Indira as usual both for her friend and her parents kept quiet. But Swati's behavior and addiction to alcohol kept increasing, finally, for their friend's sake, she decided to reveal Swati's destructive lifestyle to her parents.

One fine evening, as usual, Swati informed her parents that she will be out with Indira for a party.

"Beta, Indu is not going to party. She called a while ago. So, if she is not going with you then you also don't go to the party. I will not allow you to go alone." said her mom.

On this Swati got frowned and called Indira and started abusing her. Indira too got angry and disconnected her call.

Swati’s mom was aghast by her daughter's rude and arrogant behavior She slapped her and started scolding her for her misbehavior.

Without wasting time, Indira reached Swati's house and revealed everything about Swati to her mom. About Swati's boozing habits, affair with Varun, and smoking.

"Despite warnings and making her understand that this lifestyle is bad for you, you carried on. And today, you abused me over the phone. This is not done, Swati! This kind of behavior is not at all acceptable to me." Indira removed her anger.

She continued, " Sorry, Aunty I should have informed you earlier but my love for my friend stopped me, she promised me that she won't do it again but she continued and today she abused me for taking care of her, I can't take this anymore, aunty I am extremely sorry for not informing you earlier, please forgive me. I did it for my best friend but it was of no avail."

“Beta, it’s okay, I understand why you couldn’t tell me before but how Swati has behaved today, is not at all right. She should apologize to you," said Swati’s mom.

Indira was crying and she spoke her last words to Swati. "Swati, I always cared for you and tried to protect you from these destructive vices, but it seems that you don't want to change yourself. It's okay with me, after all it is your life, live the way you want. But I am not with you to support you. No, Not Again !"

After saying this Indira walked away from Swati's house and life leaving her astonished, guilty, shameful, and alone. Her mother also left the room sadly, leaving her alone.

© Jyotsana Rajadhyaksha
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