Unmasking

It was a bright day at the Capital Garden, as the cool breeze swayed the chrysanthemums, asters and salvias planted in intricate patterns. Birds chirped, grateful for yet another beautiful day. Squirrels and monkeys made merry among the trees that lost reddish-yellow leaves every now and then.

All this was lost on Prince and Roxy as they strolled through the once royal garden. Unlike past days when they spent much of their time talking and connecting with one another, silence seemed to be their companion today.

Prince, though determined to share his feelings, kept being wracked by fear of anything and everything that could go wrong. On the other hand, Roxy was already anxious about her last day with Prince, not quite ready to say goodbye, but it had to be done, ‘It’s for the best,’ she told herself.

“So you’ll leave Shah Sarai tomorrow,“ Prince spoke, mustering the courage to break the unwelcome silence that surrounded them.

“Hmm…” Roxy hummed.

“So how was your time in this fine city?” he asked.

“It was great, I had lots of fun,” Roxy replied, her smile not reaching her eyes.

“Is everything alright?” Prince asked.

“Yeah, everything is fine,” Roxy said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m just a little tired today. I was packing my stuff.”

“Oh, are you all packed?”

“Yeah, I’m almost ready to go any time.”

“That’s good to know.”

Silence enveloped them again as they walked near the pond, watching ducks waddle over the surface.

“How’s the mass bunk going?” Roxy asked, trying to break the unusual awkwardness that had built up between them like a wall.

“Strong, last I checked, we had almost seven thousand sign-ups. I think we’ll really pressure the college to give up the club ban,” Prince grinned.

“That’s good to know,” Roxy smiled.

Silence intruded upon them once again as they crossed the bridge over the pond.

“Wow! This is awkward or what?” Prince chuckled, “Alright! I’m just going to say it.”

‘Oh no,’ Roxy pleaded internally.

“I know it’s only been a week since we met, but this week has been the most amazing one in my life,” Prince started.

‘Don’t say it,’ Roxy wanted to say.

“And I’m not just saying this because of all the misadventures we’ve been through,” Prince said.

‘I can’t be with you,’ Roxy wanted to cry.

“Being with you makes everything feel perfect. It’s like we were meant to be.”

‘I don’t want to break your heart,’ Roxy wanted to scream.

“What I’m trying to say is that I love you. I know we haven’t known each other for long but I can’t imagine my life without you anymore. Do you feel the same for me?”

Roxy couldn’t stop her tears from flowing, joy and sorrow streaking down her cheeks.

“Roxy?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t feel the same,” she felt a stab in her chest as she forced that lie out, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

A simple rejection that pierced through his heart. For a moment, Prince felt like he was hearing Roxy talk but couldn’t make out her words. But seeing Roxy’s tears brought him back to reality.

“Hey, it’s okay, I mean that was dumb of me,” Prince assured her, his voice cracking, “We’ve known each other for only a week.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Roxy kept repeating.

“Why are you crying? I’m the one who got dumped?” Prince asked to try to lighten the mood. Roxy flinched, making him realize it was the wrong thing to say.

Not sure how to console her, Prince raised his arms. Roxy responded by walking into his arms and embracing him.

“The person you love may not always love you back,” Prince said, “That’s just how life is.”

“Can we still be friends?” Roxy asked.

“I don’t know, you’re more than just a friend to me,” Prince admitted.

“Maybe after you’ve had some time to yourself,” Roxy advised.

“Yeah, maybe then it won’t hurt so much.”

They held each other for some time until Prince pulled away.

“I’m sorry,” Prince apologized, “This was your last day in Shah Sarai, it was supposed to be special and I ruined it.”

“No, I am glad you shared your feelings,” Roxy said, wiping her tears.

“I will never forget you, even if you don’t feel the same way, I will always love you,” Prince declared.

“I must go, I’m glad I met you,” Roxy turned around, ‘I will always love you too,’ those words remained hidden in her mind along with the ache in her heart. She went back to the public toilet where she changed into her scarf and sunglasses. She then took a taxi to the hotel, staring distantly through the window, teary-eyed over what could have been.

Prince strolled through the gardens for some time, trying but failing to hold back tears. He took his bike to the Shahi Qila, riding like the wind as if nothing mattered anymore. Once he reached the hill fort, he went to the top.

“AAAARGH!” He screamed.

“AAAARGH!” and the hills echoed back. He kept screaming until his voice turned hoarse and even then, he wanted to scream more to let off the ache in his heart. Unable to scream anymore, he broke into sobs instead, uncaring of how he looked to the tourists around.

Meanwhile, when Roxy reached the hotel, she was startled to see a crowd of reporters outside the hotel. Even more alarmingly, some of them broke from the crowd to rush to her.

“You are Ms Ruqsana Raees, aren’t you?” One of the reporters asked.

“You have the wrong person,” Ruqsana replied.

“Is it true that you are seeing the Pepper Spray Man?” Another reporter asked.

“How long have you been seeing the Pepper Spray Man?” Another one asked.

Still heartbroken, Ruqsana was feeling disoriented by the onslaught of questions the reporters were asking as more and more gathered around her.

“That’s enough!” Tabrez Khan, along with some guards, shoved some of the reporters away, putting themselves between Ruqsana and the crowd.

“Tabrez uncle, what’s going on?” Ruqsana asked the head guard.

“Your parents will explain it ma’am, please come inside,” Tabrez urged her. She nodded and followed the guards into the hotel. They quickly led her to her parents’ room and stopped outside, “Your parents are waiting, miss.” Tabrez said.

Ruqsana stepped inside to see her mother pacing around the living room and her father staring at the television. The moment Sania saw Ruqsana, she walked up to her and slapped her.

“What was that for?” Ruqsana asked her mother, holding her cheek, which stung.

“Why don’t you tell us?” Saad said in an icy tone before increasing the volume of the television.

Ruqsana was shocked by what she was seeing. It was a footage of her changing into her disguise, followed by her walk, then her hug with Prince. The footage hadn’t captured what they had said but the visuals were incriminating.

“It’s unclear how long Ruqsana Raees has been in an affair with the Pepper Spray Man, whose identity remains unknown. It is unknown whether this affair started before or after the engagement with Ahmer Qaiser. What’s clear is that Ruqsana Raees is in fact the same girl from the Anti-West Squad incident at Fateh Beach,” the news anchor said.

“Oh no,” Ruqsana whispered.