Chapter 3

"Anytime I see talks on women empowerment in our families, education of girls, helping them progress, finding them jobs, scholarships, I hear music playing in my head. It increases my heartbeat, causing tension in my arteries.  It increases my cortisol levels, testosterone decreases. The left hemisphere in my brain is stimulated." Rickey said going hysterical while pulling the hairs on his head.

Sania was frightened seeing his changing personality. She took several steps back from him. It wasn't usual for Rickey to behave in such a way. She had been seeing him since his diaper days and found his body language suspicious. "Rickey you are behaving like an imbecile. What are you doing at this hour in my house, Rickey? Go, get ready. Don't you have school to attend?" She scolded him in response to an older sister mustering her last drop of courage.

"When a beautiful rose like you is alone in the house, how can I go and attend the boring lecture of that English teacher? I had been attracted to you for a while. But I couldn't show it earlier since we are a family. I am now not able to control it any longer. You are so beautiful, dressed to elegance 24/7." He licked his bottom lip staring at her in lechery.

"Are you drunk because you are talking nonsense? Nobody talks to his sister like this. Go home Rickey. Otherwise I will tell your mom you are bunking the classes." Sania warned but it played no effect on him.

His eyes turned dark with lust and was about to hold her arm but Sania was on time to skip out of bed. "Stop chasing me. Do you know being a minor you are not supposed to drink. It is against the law. Your parents and you can be sent to prison if I complain."

"Stop delivering sermons, Mother Teresa. I know you are not going to complain because you are more bothered about the distress of your mom and dad more than anything. And don't worry. Not a third person will know about this. We will do it and can continue to do it as long as we want without anybody knowing." He winked.

"I have waited for this day since too long. It is time I discharge my wish. You are too sensual and slim with a perfect body." His eyes brushed down her physique from head to toe like a starved beggar.

"Rickey, I'm your sister. Please do not do this to me." Sania cried pleasingly and took the flower vase sitting on the side table about to hit him with it. Just then the front door twisted open and Nina walked in.

She walked to Sania's bedroom cheerfully. "Girl, congratulations to both of us. We got a seat in....." Her sentence died mid-way recording the position Rickey and Sania were in.

Sania and Rickey were on either side of the bed with Sania holding a glass vase about to hit on his head.

Rickey ran out of the room but not before warning Sania. "You will not speak about this to any of our parents. Otherwise I care two hoots to what my mom would feel and complete the task I started today. Mind it!"

A shiver ran down Sania's spine and her determination to grab a seat at NYU became stronger to escape Rickey.

Two months later Sania packs her bags and is all set to go to fulfill her dream. Her dad dropped her at the bus station and mom bid a tearful adieu. "Mom, please don't cry." Sania insisted and got into the car before wiping the tears of her mom.

In the morning when she landed in Manhattan, it was too cold. Her friend Nina, who had already joined the university, receives her at the airport with a warm hug. For the day she stays at Nina's parents house. Mr and Mrs Collins were a friendly couple. They treated Sania very well and loved her like their own daughter.

The next day when she went to NYU campus, Sania was immediately granted the admission but the hostel accommodation was already filled as expected. Though Nina offered to stay with her, Sania did not want to be a pain in the ass of Collins. She rented a room near her college so that she could least save on the transportation expenses. 

One year has passed since Sania joined NYU for a fashion technology course. "Hey, did you complete the sketches the lecturer told us to submit today?" Jerome, the handsome guy in her class, asked her. Girls fell flat for this hot guy but his eyes were only for Sania.

Alternatively, Sania was not attracted to Jerome and also any man in the university. Her only concentration was studies. She has to top all the subjects, only then could she retain her scholarship. Else she has to end her studies mid way which is an unacceptable option to her. "Yes I did." Sania replied and waved her hand to Nina who was standing far by.

"I was sick and did not attend the past classes. Can I borrow your designs to get an idea?" Sania was innocent but the duo were subjected to angry and jealous stares of many girls in the college who were plotting big against her.

"Sure" she lent him her notes. Sania became a darling to her professors for obtaining the best grades. The scholarship took care of her education but she had to arrange for herself regarding food and accommodation. 

Sania did not want to be dependent on her parents. Her father's salary took care of the housing expenditure and her sister's school fees while her mother's salary was used for clearing housing loans. So she took up a part time job as a waitress in 'cafe day' - a restaurant near her college from morning 6 -9. Soon after she completed her work at the restaurant she went to college to attend her classes.

Everything went on well in Sania's life until a grave evening she received a call, the call which changed her life forever.