***

"I had a better offer from Dior. I could have worked as an Executive Designer with them", I reiterated my point, not that the other party was even willing to listen.

"You're my costume designer and photographer for now. Why? You don't like it? Don't you love me?" She asked walking closer and holding my face between her hands.

"I do love you but-", she pressed her lips against mine cutting off my words. This was a constant happening. It has been 2 years we had been dating. Everytime there was something important to discuss, she'd divert my attention. And everytime, I'd let it go. 

Not this time.

I grabbed her hands which she had slid under my shirt and stepped back, pulling away from the kiss.

"I don't want to; you didn't even ask me before-", I said.

"Is that so?" She said looking down and running her fingers across her lips.

"What about I go around and tell everyone what you did to me?" A smirk appeared on her face as she leaned back on the kitchen counter. I stood shocked at the change of tone in her voice; the threatening words that she uttered.

"A photographer assaulting an actress and a model. People would be even more interested since you're a woman, don't you think?"

I looked at her in disgust as she came closer and held my chin, "So be a good girl and do as I say", she said leaning in before I pushed her away with all my might. I ran to the door panicking as I put on my shoes.

"You'll regret this. I'll make you come back to me-" I heard her shouting from behind as I ran out the door with not even the phone in my hand.

It was an hour after wandering around the beach that I realized, in this city where I was almost worshipped for my work, there literally was not one soul I could go to in times of need. I sat down on a bench in a quiet part of the beach with no lighting.

...

I watched as the sun rose up, the shimmering waters almost still, it was like the calm that I lacked in my mind manifested in the view in front on me.

I had spent an entire night without sleep on a random bench on a beach.

She would be looking for me right? She would be better to me and regret what she said yesterday right?

I decided I should head back, firstly since people could recognize me in daylight and secondly because I had nowhere else to go. I sighed and got up, heading to a small tea shop along the way. I fished out the 1000 note from my wallet which was thankfully still in my back pocket as I had stormed out of the apartment yesterday. The shopkeeper looked at me like I was stupid and accepted it after a few seconds. He scrambled through the drawer taking out my change after shouting "one tea" to the kitchen right behind the counter.

I turned around to face the road, people walked by, some stared upon recognising me while some whispered to the ones they were walking with. Some passed by without a care in the world, while some sat on benches aimlessly, tired of existing probably.

I turned upon hearing my name on the radio, "...Anjali Shenoy. The anonymous user had posted the allegation online on twitter which trended almost overnight. The Mumbai Police have registered a case...".

"Impossible", I whispered to myself as I finally made sense of the weird stares I got from passers by.

"Keep the change", I told the shopkeeper who looked pissed and opened his mouth to say something but I walked away. I ran halfway and slowed down at the sight of a police jeep parked outside the apartment building. She stood staring with a masked smile as I walked closer to the officers.

...

"I said I did it for clout. Did you see the amount of cameras outside taking my pictures? Insane publicity", she chuckled as she spoke. The officers looked at me with sympathy as I sat twiddling my thumb.

She didn't do this right?

The words the teenage girl beside me spoke were gibberish to me. The anonymous post was traced back to her and she had been caught, all within the night. Someone had to pull a few strings and I fought against the possibility of it being her.

"...As a client of hers I find it necessary to correct this misunderstanding. I'm grateful that you understand. Anjali is my costume designer and photographer and further such allegations will be dealt with in court. She has my full support in that..." I listened as I walked outside surrounded by officers who pushed away reporters.

She wrapped her hands around my shoulders and pulled me closer as the cameras clicked away. The cameras flashed in our faces, I stood still as my mind went blank.

...

Her driver had dropped us both home. The entire ride being silent as I tried to make sense of all that just happened. I walked into the house, and flinched as she put her hand on my shoulder.
"Sanya, I-", I trembled as I spoke.

"Shh, you just gotta stay with me, I'll take care of everything", she said as she leaned in closer wrapping her arms around me. It wasn't the same familiar warmth as before, I shivered at her touch. I came to fear the person who meant everything to me.

I held on for 4 years that way; 4 years that bought me even more fame and wealth. 4 years where my sense of right and wrong had disappeared. 4 years where I forgot what it was like to be a person with opinions or rights. Not until recently had I realized that I had dug a grave for myself and that I should have stopped it in the beginning even if it meant going to jail over a fake accusation.

***

I sat on the couch watching netflix as I downed the second glass of Malbec. I poured a third glass. The door beeped as the key card was swiped. I watched as she walked in, the same girl that accused me back then. This had become a repititive event since then, Sanya had stopped being discreet after the first year. She wrapped her arms around the girl, kissing and pecking as they waddled in together. Sanya picked the girl up putting her on the kitchen counter and taking off her crop top. She proceeded to lick every inch of her exposed skin.

"Can you please take it to the room?" I shouted. Sanya pulled away and looked at me.

"Oh! Look! My girlfriend is pissed. Anjali come here", she said laughing as she made her way to me.

"Sanya don't", I shouted as she pushed me back, pinning me on the couch, leaving no room to wriggle out of her grip. She proceeded to run her tongue along my jawline, tracing kisses along my skin.

"Sanya, stop", I tried resisting but in vain. She aggressively undid a few buttons of my shirt before pulling away.

"You now know why I bring her home. You are no fun anymore", she said as she got up and walked to the girl, grabbing her by the wrists and walking away, slamming the door behind them.

I pushed myself up, quivering and buttoning my shirt. 

***

I jolted up as the memories that played in my mind, way too vivid, like I'd sat at a theatre watching it play. I sat up breathing and bringing myself back from the torture. Yesterday night brought back feelings I thought I'd never again have to deal with. 

I pushed Ashwathy to accept me when she had every right not to. How will I face her anymore? I expected her to reciprocate something she isn't obliged to feel. I wanted to be accepted and where has that led me...