Bit Broken.

Mark.

We again got back to what we were doing. College. Ice-creams. Quizzes. Tuition. And again college. It was now almost the beginning of the new semester.  The end semester exams were over. Tara did quite well. Better than half of the class. I was the best. Vijay just passed with some grace marks.

"Hey!" Vijay stood in front my desk. Denim jacket, red t- shirt, baggy denim pants and a silver chain hanging from one of the pockets of his pant. I didn't understand his sense of fashion.

"What?" I had never talked to him. I never wanted to talk to him. I supposed the feeling was mutual. "I won't give tuition...if you are asking."

"No...not that!"

"Then?"

"Do you want to come to my party tonight?" He lifted his eyebrows and smiled a stupid smile. Actually his face was stupid, nothing to do with the smile. "It's my birthday...I would be happy if you could come..." He thought for a while and added. "Tara is also coming...If you.."

"Sure..I'll come." I shrugged.

"Great...Can I have your number then?"

I stared at him for a while. "We are in the same class...you can get it from the group." Actually he is stupid, not only his face.

"Right!" He giggled nervously. "I'll send the venue and time."

I had never been to any party of this sort. The only party I knew was the get together we servant kids had during festivals in the community hall nearby. I knew parties of these rich kids were quite happening and that made me nervous. In the evening I put on a shiny grey top...my only party wear that I wore around five to six times a year and paired it up with my usual ripped black skin hugging jeans. I wore my usual shoes. I waited in front of the mansion for Tara.

"Babe!" Tara startled me.  Bright red dress, off shoulder, I could stare at the diva all day long and still I would be wanting more! The wavy open hair and the small shiny crystal went perfect with her dress. I was admiring her when she hit me with a, "What are you wearing? You are not going like that!"

"I don't have anything....I..." Tara literally pulled me in and took me to her room. "What are you doing?"

"You need a makeover." She winked.

The king was out of town. Still after the incidence, Tara made sure that she asks for his permission. Vijay's dad had a talk with Tara's and he finally agreed. Tara also told him that I was going...he somehow trusted me.  Though, he shouldn't have.

She made me sit in front of the huge mirror, opposite the window. And got busy exploring her wardrobe. She pulled out a golden cowl neck dress. "This will look perfect on you!"

I had never worn something like that. There were just strips in the shoulder to support the dress. I was terrified...Would be an understatement. "But I will not be able to pull out that!" I uttered at once. Thank god! I had shaved my body hair.

She came  towards me, held my top and pulled it up. I caught her hands and pulled the top down. "Hey!"

"What?" She laughed. "Are you shy? I am a girl too...relax."

"No...I'll change in the washroom.." I mean she was a girl but she was 'the' girl. I didn't trust my hormones. I took the dress and went inside. I checked myself out in the mirror inside. I looked good but the dress was a bit tight.  I was surprised to see the sea of accessories and makeup she had put out on the bed after I came out of the washroom.

"Hey..." I said to divert her attention towards me.

She gaped. "Smoking hot!" She checked me out. Head to toe.

"But don't you think it is a bit tight in the ....the bust area. I have bigger..."

"They look gorgeous..."she uttered. Staring right at my chest area.

"Huh?" I suddenly got a bit uncomfortable. I have never been complimented like that.

She shook her head. "I mean...you look good, don't be so conscious." She turned towards the accessories. "Come sit..I'll do the makeup. We have to be quick."

I sat on the chair in front of the mirror. She did my hair to a messy bun. Her fingers running through my hair was such a divine feeling. It made me sleepy. She did my eyes, a thin liner and mascara. Then she took a maroon lip color and bent to apply it on my lips. She lifted my chin up with a hand and rested the other on my chest to apply the lipstick. My eyes were caught on her cleavage. Beautiful, just like an art work. That sneak peak had made me wild. I kept my thighs glued. Tried hard to control my breathing. My n*****s were getting hard and they had started to pain now.

"Hey! Are you cold again?" Her arm might have felt them.

"Yeah..." I replied catching my breath.

She went away and came with something in her hands. "Put these patches..."

I ears had turned red with embarrassment.  "Thanks." I didn't  look at her when I was putting them. After I had finish I looked at her. She was staring with a smile.

"You are too shy.." She giggled. "oh wait!"

"What.."

"There a thread sticking out from the back..." She turned the chair. I felt her lips touching my back. It was electrifying. "Here..." She lifted a golden thread in between her index finger and thumb. "Now we are good to go."

She made me wear  big golden hoops and a golden bracelet with diamonds. I hoped the diamonds were fake. I noticed the letters 'TM' engraved on the bracelet...her initials. They were definitely not fake. I was looking like a f*****g bomb!

"I know, I should be a makeover artist." Tara complimented herself. "Now finish the look with the golden heels."

"I doubt they will fit."

"They will. I measured our feet that night...."She stopped.

"Huh?" I shook my head. "What did you say?"

"Nothing. Let's go..."

It was a pub. I had never been to a pub before. I might have tasted alcohol before...I stole it from Papa sometimes but very little. He kept the bottles hidden but I am a good retriever. As we entered, the boys stared at us. I kept pulling the dress down. I don't think I ever stood straight.  The music was loud and the lights were wild. The place reeked alcohol. Vijay in a purple shiny shirt, the first three buttons unbuttoned. A beer bottle in his hand and he grooved to the music.

"Happy birthday dude!" Tara hugged him, rubbing his back up and down.

I stood there for a moment awkwardly. "Happy birthday.." I uttered. No hugs....eww. No handshakes....ugghh. I faked a smile.

"You look different!" He winked, gulping the beer. "Thanks for coming."

"Doesn't  she look..." Tara started.

"Hot!" Vijay completed. "Hey pick up a bottle. Let the cake arrive." He still grooved to the music. I continued to feel awkward.' May be I shouldn't have come' was my constant thought as my jaws hurt from the fake smile. But I wanted to be with Tara. We sat down in a circular couch. Tara and Vijay at the middle, Vijay's friends on his side. I on Tara's side, at the edge.

"Why don't you drink?"  Vijay kept insisting me to drink.

"No...I am alright."

"Do you want a coke or something?"

My throat was actually really dry with all the nervousness. "That would be better."

"I'll get it...wait." Vijay stood up.

"No...I'll get the coke. You enjoy. It's your birthday after all."  Tara said smiling to the moron.

"I'll come with you..." I at once uttered. I didn't want to be alone with them.

"No...It's alright. You chill."

She went away. My eyes followed her until she got lost in the crowd. I tossed my gaze from the boys, to the drinks, to the DJ, to the deck where people were dancing like crazy. I suddenly felt a touch on my legs. One of the boys had come and sat beside me. He might have been in our class but I didn't notice him earlier. Brushing his fingers on my legs, his fingers coming up, reaching my thighs. I looked around. Vijay still grooving to the music. Tara nowhere to be seen. Everybody doing their own s**t and this creep kept touching me. I held his hand tight and gave a look. I could have slapped him then and there but that would have made a scene. I threw his hands to his side and got up. Jostling through the crowd, searching for Tara. I finally went to the restroom. She was not there too. I again felt someone holding me from behind. I turned around. The creep had followed me.

"Hey...What is wrong with you?" I shouted at him.

"Nothing. I am just being a man!" And that was his f*****g answer. He pushed me to the  wall and put his whole weight on me. Grinding....bringing his face near mine...his disgusting face...the disgusting smell. The dress made it difficult for me to move. I tried slapping him but he held on hands. Terror...that's what I felt.

He was about to forcibly kiss me when  his grip loosened. I focused through my teary eyes. Vijay held him by his collar and with a single punch the creep was on the ground. The boy didn't get up, he kept moaning with pain, probably too drunk to lift himself up.

"Are you alright?" He came to me. We both were panting. "Did he do something to you?  Are you hurt?" He checked my arms and palms for cuts and brushed me.

I was too shook to answer. I just got' I'm okay' out of my mouth after sometime of crying. I didn't want to cry but I couldn't stop my tears. I tried.

"Hey...it's okay...you are fine...I am here..." He consoled me."What's that?" Vijay pointed to my back. "There's a lipstick mark. Did any girl approach you?"

"No..." I thought  for a while. "No..."

"I am so sorry...The girls here are wild too..."

"Where is Tara? I came to find her and..."

"She might be busy finding girls..." he chuckled.

"What?" Did I hear that right. "What do you mean?"

"Didn't you know she is into girls?"

I remembered, she picked the thread out from the dress. She might have left the lipstick mark there. The world around me was becoming dizzy. Tara was into girls!