30

A week passed, it was her graduation day. She put on the black gown and kept the hat. The past whole week, the university had been preparing for various events and ceremonies for the graduates and give them the farewell party. As Dariya stood on the line waiting for her name to be called, her eyes still searched for Lu Han in the audience. The whole of her family and Edgar's were there. The phone ringed and excitedly she took it to see who it was. It was Edgar. She picked up anyway and looked at his direction. He was waving.

"I have a surprise for you." He said.

"What?" she asked back annoyed and disinterested.

"Wait and see." He said and hung up. She wondered what it would. She had no idea it was the mountain of trouble that he had arranged for her.

In the alphabetical order, they began to call the names. Since her name starts with D, she didn't have to wait that long. She was called in her turn and Dariya went to the stage. The whole college, of course, knew who she was. Everyone clapped but the host didn't seem to stop.

"She is a proud student of Our university to have found a career on her own and established at a very young age independently without any support from her family." Dariya was shocked still having no idea about what she was talking about. The auditorium fell silent and whispering sounds coming up. In the screen, her beautiful photographs were running. One among them was she painting alone behind the botanical garden. 'who the hell took them.' She wondered still unaware that Edgar had dug up seriously about her. Then came the picture of her works in the museum. She looked at the family's direction. Devon's expressions changed. It only then occurred him that what he had brought from Mary was his own sister's piece of work.. Her parents also looked alarmed. Edgar's parents looked normal though. He was sitting there smiling wide.

"Dariya's work has been personally picked out by the Art Museum Director himself…" and she went own detailing every single painting that had been done in them. The whole place applauded. "Give a big round of applause for this young artist among us." She finished her speech there. 'Bitch' she thought, smiling, uneasily and looking at her. The chief guest, minister of education congratulated her the best and she got down the stage. She went with her class to take the group photos and for the lunch. The media crowded around her like bees. She still searched around for Lu Han.

Things were already on the news on social media. Devon got the call to go home fast. Nara's dad was already waiting there. Devon dragged Dariya inside. Dariya fell down spraining her ankle wearing the high heels. Nara didn't know what to do. Devon pulled her up making her stand and slapped hard across the face. Dariya felt her left side of the face go numb. The wedding ring on Devon's hand made a cut on her cheek where blood appeared on her face from the cut.