CHAPTER 09 - Friends and Enemies.

A new day of the week had begun. All the girls were busy walking to their classes and meet their friends. Raisha had not seen Milee since last Monday and she could not get any news from anybody. She knew that her class teacher was informed about her absence by her parents, but Raisha was not courageous enough to asked about it. So Raisha had to bear her anxiety by herself and had to keep on waiting until her friend to return herself.

Hi Raisha!!! Milee's voice astonished her friend who was peeping out of the window.

Raisha turned her face to look at Milee.

By the scene she saw Raisha was shocked.

Milee had cut her thick straight hair up to her shoulders and she had become fairer. Milee's face can be compared to a pretty doll.

Milee had become so beautiful, and she had changed a lot thought Raisha.

Hey Milee, why didn't you come to school. I was so worried and left alone.... You would have told me earlier about the reason for your absence. I really missed you.... Raisha couldn't resist her words and talked continuously.

Milee who was listening to her friend wearing a cute smile on her face with a shy notion began talking.

Raisha please stop complaining dear... I know how you missed me. I missed you as well darling.

Tell me what happened to you said Raisha impatiently.

Milee again gave a shy smile and lowered her eyes to the ground.

I had my monthlies and happened to stay in my room for four days. Then I was bathed into an auspicious time and my parents arranged a party on Sunday. Here I brought cake for all in the class to celebrate my "big girl party".

Now only Raisha understood that her friend had got attended and started her monthlies.

It is a custom in Raisha's country to celebrate the very first time of starting monthlies of a girl. She must stay in her room and no males should see her until she gets bathed at an auspicious time. Then in the early morning the girl is bathed by her mother with a clay pot full of water and white flowers in it. When she gets bathed and wear a new dress her face and body must be covered with a white piece of cloth. The colour of the dress is also decided by the astronomical person who prepares the auspicious times. Then she is brought back to her home by her mother from the front door and let her light a lamp and then the white piece of cloth is removed by her mother. Then the girl worships her father, and she is given a gold chain and other jewellery by her father and mother. Then a party is arranged to inform all the relatives that now those parents have a matured girl, and she must be protected by the whole society with love and care.

Raisha and her classmates had tasted Milee's delicious ribbon cake. Raisha decided to buy a present for Milee and bring it on the next day.

Meghan, one of the girls sat in front of Raisha and Milee in the class turned to them and thanked Milee for giving them the treat.

Hey... Milee your cake is so tasty and thank you...dear...

See Raisha your friend has changed a lot know....Milee looks like a beautiful rose. Just like the ones in the teacher's vase.

Hearing these words Milee's face bloomed like a real red rose. Raisha felt so jealous and thought so down about herself.

I don't look beautiful as Milee and lot of boys ask for her hand too. Now my classmates praise her beauty too. I look so ugly when compared to Milee. Even I am not matured as Milee and look like a small girl.... Even she is not afraid to speak with boys and she is very talkative. What would happen if Yohan happened to see Milee's beauty? He will fall for her.

No... No.... I cannot let it happen. I must be careful about this... thought Raisha and left in great sorrow and envy.

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Raisha was so excited about her new crush and dreamt about Yohan so often. She liked him so much but never thought of talking to him. Raisha's thoughts were so different and hard to be understood. She always wanted him to look at her and smile but not talk and be friendly. As Raisha is so shy and reserved she never thought to share her ideas with Yohan.

But Yohan himself was fond of her and wanted to talk to Raisha as a friend and he had a crush on Raisha too. Although Yohan wanted to talk to Raisha, he was not confident enough about Raisha's impression on himself. When time passed by Raisha had a habit of looking at him while getting in and out of the school van and while travelling, she glimpsed on him to check whether he is doing the same. At first, he was happy with this and enjoyed this game and satisfied by it. But as time passes Yohan was bored by this "spy game" and happened to understand that it is hard to understand Raisha and her behavior.

So, Yohan oved his attention out of Raisha and gradually his interest on her washed away from him. Raisha happened to understand this, and she slumped in deep dejection.

Raisha now thirteen years of age was an attractive girl in looks but her personality is so differently developed. she was so shy to share ideas with her opposite sex. When a boy comes near her she happened to tremble and shiver with fear and her whole body was covered with sweat. This was a great disturbance to Raisha but she had no idea to deal with that problem.

It was a personality disorder, and this might be happened to Raisha because of attending to a single sex school and having only female siblings. Raisha was so depressed and there was no body for her to tell this problem. Raisha was so jealous of Milee because she talked to many boys and many of the boys asked for her hand. But as Milee was still too young she did not say "yes" to any of them.

But when the two girls are compared, they both had good looks. But Raisha looked smarter than Milee. But Milee looked so cute for the school uniform. Raisha when worn casual wear, looked more attractive than Milee. But Raisha did not understand this and always thought that she is not as pretty as Milee.

Raisha passed all her school examinations better than Milee. The two friends were lucky enough to stay together until they moved to advanced level class.

Raisha got attended two years later than Milee and Raisha became taller and more attractive. So many boys asked for her hand, and she refused them all because she was so bashful even to be friendly with them. At this time Milee had male friends and both Milee and Raisha did not have boyfriends.

Both the friends decided not to have boyfriends until they finish schooling. before they were moved to the advanced level class, they had to choose the subject stream they like to do further studies and their future carrier was determined by that.

Raisha decided to select the commerce stream and Milee as usual happened to choose the same subject stream that Raisha has selected. During the whole period Raisha saw that Milee is always selecting the same thing herself chooses and Raisha was not a bit fond of this. She wanted a new friend who bore a better educational ability than herself. Then Raisha can get her friend's help to do better in studies. But what was happening was what she expected to be happened. Milee was following her as a shadow and disturbing her.

How can I get rid of this...? thought Raisha every time. but she could not find any answer for this problem and made it worse when she moved to the advanced level commerce class, Milee too entered the same class.

Now Milee, once Raisha 's best friend had become a barrier for her life. Raisha who was unable find any answer lay silent outside but inside she was fighting a battle with the negative thoughts disturbed her about her own future.