Paying for unknown sins

"You look pretty in bright colors." a text popped up on Nia's phone. Today Nia is wearing orange T- shirt and she surely was looking different. But who was it complementing her this way.

" Umm....I am sorry but do we know each other."

"Ahh...it's a pity. I never thought I was this easy to forget about."

"I am sorry about that...and thankyou for complement."

"I am hoping to see you more often in such colors."

With this the conversation ended but the complement Nia recieved today she was thinking about it the whole day. Nia had a vibrant personality but her looks were average and the way she used to carry herself was less than average. Yet she had her own style that defined her actually. She looked good the way she was. She mostly wears earthly colors. But subtle changes like today gives her a nice feminine look.

Nia was happy thinking about the complement on the other hand she was curious about the person who was texting her. Nia was a very private and ambivert kind of girl she was very particular about with whom she can share her personal information. So it would be weird if we say some random guy got the number and texted her.

Next day when Nia was waiting for her friends outside her class a text again popped on her phone...."I thought I have asked you to wear bright clothes more often. And here you are again."

Nia looked at herself, today she was wearing a grey oversized top and black trousers. She has been never one of those who were concerned about their clothes or something. "If you wear it with confidence it is a style statement." It was her style Mantra. But today for the first time in ages she felt like something is wrong with her outfit. She rushed to washroom she looked herself in mirror. It was a clumsy girl in front of her with messy hair tied in a bun, baggy clothes and average face.

"Well I can't do anything about this face but I feel I should look more put together."

Just like slowly and steadily Nia started to change herself. And those texts...they became like a part of Nia's daily routine.

One fine day...Nia was sitting on a bench in a her beautiful pink dress...the message popped..

"You are looking as pretty as always I wonder how you lost all that weight."

This left Nia thinking nobody here, in college knew she was fat. Nia went through hell because of her weight and she even compromised her health to get in a good shape. Hearing this right now made Nia a bit uncomfortable.

"I liked Nia's chubby version more." one more message popped.

This was the first time she was hearing this. Everyone was complementing Nia and her new body...this was the first time she felt there is someone who is appreciating her true self. She wanted to know this person now. Who is this? After all this time she had developed a soft corner for him.

"Can we meet?" Nia asked

"Am afraid you would not like me after meeting me in person. I like you and that's why I approached you. But am not sure after recognizing me you would let me hit on you." she read the reply.

" Umm even to know this we should meet first right."

"Fine...wait for me in basketball court I will be there in 5 minutes."

Nia turned right and sat on the stairs near the court. Suddenly a hand tapped her shoulder. As she turned around the smile on her face was replaced by shocked expressions.

" Nitin...."

Thats all she could say at that time.

It was her cousin's ex-boyfriend. She asked him how did he get her number and stuff but soon she realized she was lazy enough to buy a new number for herself so she was using her cousins number till now. Nitin and Nia's cousin were a couple few years ago. Even Nitin cried a lot after their break up but the was unknown to Nia. Nia's cousin and Nia used to have same physique but Nia slimmed down a bit. Biggest difference between both was the softness and femininity. Nia's cousin was way more soft, bright and feminine than her. Her cousin had a creative side whereas our Nia was a bookworm. So they were 2 opposite poles of magnet.

"Why did you approached me you used to like my sister didn't you?"

"That was all in the past I was kid back than. It was nothing serious."

Nitin somehow convinced Nia to go out with him. He did everything right. When they used to meet Nitin would walk on the road's side, clean up the dirty chair for Nia...even waiting for her for hours in front of her classroom. Nia was feeling warmth and love for the first time. And one day she decided to confess her feelings "You asked me something few months age. I think we should get in a relationship."

"I don't think am ready yet please don't get me wrong but my past relationships were not easy I need some time...let's try things for few months and if we find it comfortable we will think about it"

Nia agreed even though for a moment she thought why would he approach me if he was not ready yet. But still she liked him enough to believe him. Soon after Nitin got few problems in his job. Nia was there for him, but Nitin started to make distance. Nia thought it is due to work pressure. One day when she was going out of her college gate she was in utter shock watching Nitin with some other girl. He didn't ignored her though , but he left with that girls without giving any explanation . Nia was standing there looking him with teary eyes hoping that he would turn back but he didn't. When Nia confronted him he refused everything."Your mind is filled with garbage you should see what you are saying."

"If it is rubbish than why didn't you introduced me there."

"You had seen yourself back there right. If I had introduced you there she would have made fun of me."

"About dating me?"

"Well you know about what....and yes please learn how to smile the look on your face back there was annoying as hell."

Nia was shocked, he was not the person she thought he was. But still she thought it was her fault to react dramatically. She practiced smiling in front the of mirror whole night with her sad eyes. Next day she visited his room to give him a surprise and to apologize as well. Nitin was not that happy to see her there. Nia noticed few paintings on the wall as she went closer, her sisters name was written on each of them. This is when she came to know Nitin was never in love with her he was always obsessed with her cousin. Those bright clothes were a part of her personality not Nia. If he liked her he should have liked her baggy and boring style. Nia was thinking everything that was happening with her since few months. Suddenly her eyes fell on a mirror, she got scared as she looked at it. It was not Nia...it...it was someone else. Her legs were shaking...her heart was scattered on the floor in pieces. She didn't knew what to say or do. She barged out of that room.

What was her mistake to deserve all this? Would she be able to forgive someone who never apologized? Was it some kind of revenge game? Nia was left on that rainy night with all these questions....and Nitin? Well...he tried to find her a bit but after a while he didn't bothered to check on her as he thought she left for her room.