Part 18

1 months ago

manjiri

@m4manju

Shyam ran his hand through his messy hair in frustration. This couldn't be happening. He took so much effort to learn every tiny bit of all those expensive and top-notch safety equipped cars that Raizadas owned. Taking help from vicious but foolish Pratap Malik's connections, he even got into the dealership as a temp employee to join the vehicle maintenance staff. So, when Raizadas send their cars there for monthly maintenance, he could tamper with the fuel lines and ensure it would the last time they ever had a car ride!

But his solid plan foiled. All thanks to that more-than-needed sharp inspector, Sameer!

Or maybe it was rani saheba's utterly strong lifeline as well as sale sahab's that was saving them from their untimely exit from planet Earth?

Whatever it was.

He got to know that Sameer had asked for ID and bio details of all the employees. He would easily get caught this way. So, cursing his luck and keeping bigger goal in mind, Shyam managed to make his first day at job his last.

But that didn't mean he accepted defeat.

Some small joys could still be his if he played his cards right.

Khushi was set to perform at an event and he could use this chance to set his other plan in action.

"Here's your entry pass to the auditorium, Jha." Pratap malik handed him the pass to the event.

Shyam smiled sinisterly as he saw it, but then his brows furrowed in confusion as he read the name, "Naagraj? Who is this?"

Pratap laughed, "You, who else? I couldn't use your real name, could I? So, we had to use an alias."

"But Naagraj? It literally means-"

"Snake. Yup. I think it suits you." he patted shyam's shoulder, "and you better finish your task this time."

--*--

It was an afternoon of the day of the event. Since it was their college's official mid-semester event, as well as the performances could add to the final grades for them, all boys and girls were very serious about their dances. And while most of the Raizada ladies were with Khushi, in the girls' side of backstage room where she was getting ready, Lavanya and Kashish were with Devesh on the boys' side of rooms. Apart from them, Aakash too was there in their mission.

"What do you mean I cannot go on the stage?" Devesh asked, exasperated. Here these two ladies and this one bespectacled man were basically telling him to spoil one of the main performances of the night, where he was going to dance with Khushi on a duet song. The fact that one of those 2 ladies was his longtime friend Lavanya, didn't help much either.

"Come on, Dev. We told you why. Khushi and Arnav need to dance together tonight. This may help her remember her past." Lavanya said.

"Besides, it's a noble work to help two lovers. It might even help you reunite you with your own lost love?" Kashish said, eyeing between him and La. Sometimes she wondered if she was sent to Delhi for a sole purpose of playing cupid between estranged couples!

Lavanya narrowed her eyes at Kashish while Dev too looked uncomfortable.

He cleared his throat, "Fine, even if I deny going there, what reason would we give? And how will Arnav go there?"

"How about a sudden sprain in your leg?" Kashish said, wickedly, making Dev look at her with horrified eyes.

"I mean a fake one, of course." She added seeing his scared face.

"And don't worry about bhai, we have that covered. Let's just say this won't be the first time he is getting pushed to go on the stage to help Khushi ji." Aakash spoke, remembering about Arnav's "selfless" acts to join Khushi on their sangeet night and then on the night of "Heer Ranjha" play.

Not seeing any other reason to deny, Dev agreed.

With that, La, Kashish and Aakash ran to get Arnav updated of this new plan and get him ready on time!

--*--

Khushi's heart thudded with nervousness and excitement as she stood with her classmates, ready to take the stage. This was the first dance of the night, featuring nearly all 30 members of her class. She knew the steps well, but the thought of performing in front of him - Arnav, made her uneasy. Closing her eyes, she silently prayed to Devi Maiyya for strength to get through this important moment.

Just then, even before she even opened her eyes, she sensed Arnav's presence nearby. Having stepped slightly away from the group to gather her thoughts, she hadn't realized he was looking for a moment alone with her before her performance.

She opened her eyes and her questioning gaze met his, and Arnav instantly worried that his unexpected appearance might make her even more anxious. But now that he was here, he had to say what he came to say. "Khushi. I just wanted to wish you all the best. You've practiced hard—remember that. You've got this, okay?"

His words offered her unexpected comfort, and a genuine smile broke through her earlier apprehension.

Soon, seated amongst audience in the first row, Arnav watched with pride and longing in equal amounts as Khushi performed one of her group dances for the night. It was an opening performance on a fusion song and with very well synchronized steps, they set the mood for the night. But to Arnav, it was seeing her, with her innocence and charm that had casted the magical spell.

He sat through another 2 dances of unknown faces until his phone beeped with a message from Aakash to urgently meet backstage. He instantly got up from his seat fearing if Khushi was alright.

.

.

Khushi was walking through the corridor to go to the room allocated for her to change and get ready for the next performance when someone called her from behind,

"Khushi ji!"

Frowning at an unfamiliar yet oddly familiar voice, she turned around.

There stood a man, wearing a cap on his head and overgrown hair. She had recently met him somewhere, right? Or before too?

"Pehchana nahi (You didn't recognize me)? We met at the mall few days ago. Waise toh, we have met many times before but now you don't remember your past itself toh kya karein (what to do)?"

Khushi didn't like the way this man was talking and looking at her. It was very- intimidating.

"Who are you? What I can help you with?" she asked, slightly annoyed, "Look, I am getting late, so-"

"No, Khushi ji, there is nothing you can help me. At least not right now." Shyam shamelessly said with hidden meanings, "but I am here to help YOU!"

"Me? How?" her frown deepened.

"To tell you about a little secret from your past."

A natural feeling of curiosity arose in her hearing those words. What secret did he know? Should she trust a stranger?

"Why would I believe you? My family is there to tell me about my past, so if I want to ask, I will ask them." she said, trying to compose herself.

Shyam heard it and laughed wholeheartedly, as if she told him a joke, "Khushi ji! Still same naïve, eh? Your family is telling you lies, they are fooling you. In fact-"

That did it for her. Her family was everything to her, she trusted them, and she knew whatever they had not told her was for her reluctance. Not because they were lying to her! Khushi felt anger rise within her hearing his words and she started turning around, saying, "I don't want to listen to your nonsense."

"Not even if it is about Arnav?" he asked, hitting bull's eyes.

Because that effectively made her freeze.

Shyam walked around to once again stand in front of her, "What did they tell you about him, huh? Did they tell you that Arnav is your contract husband? That your marriage was a mere deal?"

NO! It can't be true! Khushi felt someone pulled the carpet beneath her feet, felt her heartbeat stop for a second as she heard those bizarre, blasphemous words!

"That's not true!" she barely whispered.

Shyam's lips turned upwards in a victorious smile, "How about you ask for yourself and confirm? And if I am telling you the truth, you do as I say?"

Khushi didn't know what to do anymore. Whatever this man told her was beyond imagination, and most importantly it would forever change Arnav's image in her mind. He told her he was her husband. He never mentioned any contract. What does that even mean?

She walked away in daze while Shyam's eyes danced in merriment. Let's see how you manage to make Khushi ji ever trust you again, sale sahab? It will make my job easier to win her once I've finished you and your entire khaandan (family)!

.

.

Payal and Anjali exchanged worried looks as they helped Khushi get ready for her next dance. It was a duet one and as Kashish's plan, Arnav was going to replace Devesh on last minute. But Khushi had been so distracted that they didn't know if it was a good idea anymore.

Maybe she was just experiencing the typical pre-performance jitters any artist faces; they tried to reassure themselves with that.

Soon, the prompter came there informing Khushi that she and Devesh were up next and had 5 minutes to go. Khushi nodded and started looking for Devesh. Where was he?

But instead, she saw Kashish and Lavanya come there with worried faces.

And with them, was Arnav.

Khushi stiffened.

"There's a problem, Khushi. Devesh sir had a trip and fell, his leg is injured. He can't dance." Lavanya informed, making Khushi's heart sink.

"What are you saying, Lavanya? Is he ok?" Khushi asked despite feeling her heart break at that information.

"He is ok, but he can't dance." Lavanya said.

Khushi solemnly nodded. Dev sir can't dance. This means she would be automatically disqualified from one of the dance categories. She had prepared so hard for this night. Losing this opportunity was so frustrating! Could this night be any worse?

"But don't you worry Khushi; you are still going to perform." Kashish excitedly said but her words further rubbed salt on Khushi's wounds.

"I can't, Kashish, it is a duet dance." She said, trying to keep her irritation in check. She didn't need to direct her anger, her annoyance on Kashish.

"I know. But Arnav will be your dance partner. We already got the required permission." kashish gently told.

Surprised, Khushi looked at Arnav and found him already looking at her. His gaze soft, as if her were caressing her troubled mind! Who was he really? A man she liked to the point of irrationality, a man she recently got to know as her husband or a man who made a contract deal with her in the past. Khushi's mind swirled. What was she supposed to believe?

Her mind was in haze.

And that was when she felt Arnav hold her hand, "Shh. Don't think about anything else, Khushi." he said, as if knowing what she was going through, "Just be in this moment. Just focus on what you're feeling right now. Can you do that for me?" Arnav asked, his voice soft and convincing, got her nearly hypnotized.

Khushi dazedly nodded.

She could totally do this. Her heart said she could follow his lead.

Arnav's lips curved in a smile at the small victory. Taking her hand in his, he led them towards the stage as the prompter announced their names.

The cool breeze from the giant fans around the stage, the spotlights, and the anticipation in the air hit them instantly. This night was so much different than the one they had experienced 3 years ago. And yet it was eerily similar. It was intimately similar!

And as Arnav snaked his one arm around her petite waist, he realized, perhaps Kashish was always right. He did not need recreate old moments, he could create new moments with Khushi, which would be equally precious...

On the other hand, as Arnav's fingertips grazed her skin, Khushi felt her breath hitch in her throat, yet she trustingly held onto his shoulder as the song started playing...

To be continued.

--*--

A/N - Sorry, I had to break it down in two parts as the dance scene needs a separate chapter but the next one will be up soon-ish. Don't forget to vote & comment :)

p.s. so snakewa aka naagraj ji ain't a kidnapper, hope you're happy :P