Salma was the centre of attraction in college. Firstly there was this girl who dressed and behaved like a boy and over that she was a Muslim who are usually considered to be more conservative than people of other religions.
Salma learnt that there is a strict dress code in the college for boys and girls. Formals pants and shirts for boys and salwar kameez or saree for girls. Girls could only wears pants for labs and workshops as it was compulsory.
Salma met the Principal and explained to him about her case. The Principal was an understanding person who was also a supporter of LGBT rights. He understood Salma’s problem and granted her an exception. Salma was allowed to dress in pants and shirts much to her delight. She thanked him profusely and left from there satisfied that a huge problem was resolved with such ease.
But as an Indian proverb says “sometimes even if God agrees the priest wouldn’t agree”. The boys did not like this, especially the seniors. She was specially a soft target for ragging. Salma bit her lip and bore it without any complaints as she felt it is better to not make any enemies if she wants to spend the next 4 years in campus.
After a couple of months most of the boys got bored and left her alone but there was one senior Sathwik who never got tired mistreating Salma.
He made Salma do all sorts of errands for him like buying cigarettes or alcohol, cleaning his bike, carrying his books etc. Since he was in his final year Salma endured it knowing he will be away in less than a year.
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Another issue that Salma faced was to hide her identity whenever she visited home. She would painfully wear the salwar kameez and initially thought about wearing the hijab 24/7 to cover her hair but it would be practically impossible so on Bobby’s suggestion she used hair extensions. After shelling out a cool 10,000 bucks she was given natural hair extensions which could be worn 24/7 without being caught.
The time at home would go by awfully slowly. She would act as a dutiful daughter in front of her parents and sisters and go back to being a tomboy in Chennai.
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Salma was pretty happy she was to juggle between home and college successfully with being caught. Life in college wasn’t bad except for Sathwik’s antics which she endured.
Whenever Salma looked at herself in the mirror her physique seemed to betray her. She was short and puny much to her dislike. Bobby suggested her to join gym to put on some strength and muscle. Bobby was on the opposite path. She wanted to get rid of her macho body and possess a slim and diva like body which made her join aerobics.
So with Bobby’s help and the gym supervisor’s tutelage Salma started weight training. She was initially a bit hesitant to be the only girl amongst all the sweaty men pumping iron. But with time she slowly shed her inhibitions and started concentrating on building her muscles. Within a couple of months there seemed to be some visible changes. Firstly she shot in height by 2-3 inches and almost seemed to have gained considerable amount of strength.
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Just when everything seemed perfect and rosy. Salma had completed her 1st Semester and well into her second semester. She was happy that Sathwik had just another 2 months to pass out of college. She just wanted to bide her time without any confrontation. Sathwik’s girlfriend Veda too stayed in the same hostel as Salma and Bobby. She informed Sathwik about Salma’s dual life in Hyderabad and Chennai. Hearing which Sathwik got a vicious idea.
The next day he called Salma to meet him alone.
“Is your father’s name Shakeel Sharif?” he asked Salma.
“Yes” Salma nodded wondering why he was asking her father’s name.
“How do you think Mr. Sharif would react if he saw his daughter like this” asked Sathwik showing Salma a few pics of herself in her current avatar. Salma could not understand what hit her. She panicked as she knew the consequences of her truth being revealed.
“Ple…………….Ple………………Please don’t do it” begged Salma. Sathwik laughed victoriously as he wanted the very response from his prey.
“Well Salma, there is no free lunch in this world. What would I get by not sending these pics? I can give you 101 reasons as to what I will get by doing so” he said unflappably.
“What do you want me to do?” asked Salma as her voice trembled.
“Well there are many things that I want. For starters I want you to be my date for the farewell party at the end of this month” said Sathwik to Salma’s utter shock.
“But don’t you have a girlfriend? I heard Veda talking as to how much she is looking forward for that day.” said Salma.
“That is none of your business. You will only do as I say. You are my slave starting today” he said cruelly.
“Since you asked an unnecessary question here is my punishment for you. Starting tomorrow you will wear salwar kameez and come to college like a girl” Sathwik added.
Salma went numb hearing it. She was caught between the devil and deep blue sea. She agreed in a daze and just went to her hostel and wept her heart out.
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Bobby was enraged when she heard it. She wanted to teach Sathwik a lesson using her wrestling skills but Salma stopped her as she didn’t want to aggravate things. It was just another couple of months before Sathwik would be out of their lives. She wanted to endure it as long as it kept Sathwik from jeopardizing things.
The next day she was the topic of discussion when she went to college dressed femininely. The Principal called her and asked her what the matter was as he sensed there was something troubling her.
“Sir, I wouldn’t lie to you. Yes there is a problem but I always knew I would face a lot of challenges. Please let me deal with this and overcome it myself” Salma pleaded which made the Principal like Salma more her courage.
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Sathwik on the other hand was delighted with the way things were going. Though he was in a relationship with Veda the only reason for asking Salma to a date was to show her as his trophy. He wanted to show everybody how he tamed a wild horse, thereby proving how macho he was.
A few days later on a Friday he had his next instruction for Salma.
“I want you to go on a date with me tomorrow. Nothing much, we can watch a movie and have dinner. I want you to be all dolled up for the occasion” informed Sathwik and left without even listening to her reply.
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Though Bobby was against it she was helpless as Salma wanted to endure it. The next evening Salma was ready wearing a pink salwar kameez with matching earrings, bangles and other jewellery. As she left the hostel all the other girls looked amazed as they never realized Salma was so beautiful.
Salma met Sathwik a little distance from the hostel so that they aren’t caught by Veda.
“Wow…………..you look stunning. Really……..I mean you are so beautiful. I don’t understand why you dress so horribly like a boy” Sathwik praised his date genuinely. Salma did not react in any way.
They left for the movie. Salma had no interest whatsoever and just went through the motions like a robot with no emotions whatsoever.
Halfway through the movie Sathwik started by first touching her hand. Then he kissed Salma’s hand. Seeing that she was not resisting he slowly put his hands on her breast and started squeezing it. Salma was initially shocked and stayed like a statue. But noticed that she hardly had any reaction even when Sathwik was caressing her breasts or kissing her hand. Rather it felt awkward like how a boy would feel if another approached him.
Luckily for Salma Sathwik did not proceed further that night. Next they went to have dinner. Sathwik was very happy and excited while Salma sat there emotionless. She was still wondering about her sexual feelings. Finally after the date Sathwik dropped her and genuinely thanked her for the date and left leaving Salma pondering on her sexuality.
Salma didn’t tell Bobby about the caressing of the breasts but told about everything else and her lack of interest. The weekend passed without much action.
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On Monday morning when Salma was in class Veda walked up to her and slapped her hard across her face garnering everybody’s attention.
“You bitch, you acted like a tomboy and stole my boyfriend. Did you think if you secretly went on a date with him no one else would know? Swetha saw you both in a movie theatre on Saturday. Moreover, Sathwik tells me that he wants to take you as his date for the farewell party” shouted Veda angrily which caused a huge commotion.
Bobby argued that the mistake was Sathwik’s if he cheated on Veda. The class was divided on the issue and they were forcibly dispersed due to the arrival of the lecturer.
That evening Sathvik once again caught hold of Salma who was seething with anger due to the situation he had caused.
“Here is my next proposal. But the onus is on you to accept it or reject it. I don’t want to be seen as a villain” he said.
“Well, I had a great time on Saturday and I am sure you too did. This time I want to go the whole nine yards” he said with a wicked smile as Salma had a puzzled look as Sathwik continued.
“I want to break the seal of your virginity. But there is no force. You can decide what is more important, your freedom or your virginity. The choice is completely yours as I don’t want to sound like I am coercing you” Sathwik pretended to be innocent.
Salma felt like 100 volcanos erupt inside her.
“If you feel its wrong to have sex without getting married I can tied this around your neck whenever we have sex. So that you will feel like a married woman” he said holding a mangalsutra in his hand.
“You don’t need to answer rightaway. You can let me know by tomorrow morning. If you are okay we can meet in our apartment on Saturday night” proposed Sathwik and left victoriously leaving a shell-shocked Salma.
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“Bobby, enough is enough. I can’t take it anymore. This is unacceptable” yelled Salma as she informed Bobby about what happened. Bobby too was furious.
But she was a fighter by nature and used to catching the bull by the horn. Slowly Bobby’s expression changed from anger to happy. She revealed her plan to Salma who listened with her jaw dropped on the floor. Finally the two friends hugged each other happily.
Salma immediately texted Sathwik about her decision. While Sathwik was eagerly waiting for Friday Bobby and Salma started to plan meticulously.
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