Chapter 22

Chapter 21 (a)

 

                    The D-Day had finally arrived. The moment they had all worked so hard for was here. Everyone had toiled hard to make this event a successful one without sparing a single thought to the fact that this was probably the last time they ever got to do that. There would be time later to delve into those morose thoughts later.

                              The entire gang was on the venue since early morning, making preparations, supervising the work and guiding wherever necessary. As the evening drew closer and the workload became relatively less, Niyati said, "aap sab log ab ready hone chale jayiye. Almost poora kaam hogaya hai. Baaki ka second years aur hum helpers dekh lenge."

"Kuch der mein chale jayenge Neeti."

"Bhai! Situation under control hai. Besides, aap sab jaldi ready hojaana aur wapas aakar kaam supervise karlena agar zaroorat padi toh. Kam se kam tayyar hone ki tension toh nahin rahegi na! you all can go up and perform at a moment's notice. Ab jayiye."

This girl has a way with words thought Rey before following everyone to the changing rooms.

 

                                                                                                              *********

 

                    Rey had just finished putting his costume on when there was a knock at his door. On opening it, he found Kria on the other side.

"Kria? Aao na! Baitho." He pulled out a chair for her to sit.

"Thanks."

He smiled and turned around setting his hair. That's when he saw the dejected expression on Kria's face.

Turning around in alarm he asked her, "Kya hua Kria? Tumhari tabiyat toh thik hai na? what's wrong?"

"Rey! Please calm down! Mujhe kuch nahin hua hai. I'm fine", she said plastering a smile on her face. "Tayyar ho gaye aap?"

"Woh sab chodo. Kuch toh hua hai. Please batao Kria."

Seeing the concern and worry so clearly on his face, Kria gave in. "Kuch nahin Rey. It's just that aap sabko is tarah ready hota dekh kar bohot left out sa feel kar rahi hoon. Rehearsals ke time par bhi, there were a lot of moments jab mujhe khud ko control karna pad raha tha. Jab kisi ko koi step nahin aata tha, I so badly wanted to do it myself unhe dikhane ke liye. It feels very strange to be left behind."

Hey! Tumhare mind mein ye sab thoughts aate kahan se hain?", Rey scolded her. "Kisne kaha tumse ye sab?"

"Kisi ne kaha nahin hai Rey..."

"Phir kyun sochti ho ye sab tum? Tumne hum sabko unite kiya hai. Pehle bhi aur ab bhi. Hum sab aaj Dazzlers aur Weaklings ke instead Team D3 hain toh who sirf tumhare efforts ki wajah se. So never think that you are left behind."

Saying this, he turned his back on her, supporting himself on the dressing table in front of him.

"Rey, please apna mood mat kharab kijiye. Dekha? Isliye main aapko kuch nahin batana chah rahi thi. Mujhe pata tha aap aise hi react karenge."

"Bohot bada favour kiya mujhe bata kar phir", he replied sarcastically.

"Rey? Please naraaz mat hoyiye."

"Kria, tumhe idea bhi hai us raat hum sab par, mujh par kya guzri thi?" Rey began slowly. It was an unspoken agreement between the two to never speak about that night again. It was too painful for both. This was the first time in 6 months that Rey had alluded to the night when Kria fell. "Do you even know? mujhe kitni baar ye thought khaaye jaati thi ke kaash maine tumhe us raat girne se bacha liya hota."

"If I had been a little more careful, agar main thoda zyada attention pay kar raha hota toh shayad; shayad tumhare saath ye sab nahin hota. How many times I wish mere paas koi time machine hoti aur main past mein jakar sab change kar deta."

"Rey! Aap ye kya sochte rehte hain? Is mein aapki koi galti nahin hai. Agar kisi mistake hai, toh meri hai. Mujhe apni limits pata hone chahiye the. I kept pushing myself. Jo hua who ek na ek din toh hona hi tha. Aap kyun guilty feel kar rahe hain?"

Turning around he said, "Exactly Kria. Agar galti tumhari nahin hai. Meri bhi nahin hai, toh hum donon guilt mein kyun jee rahe hain?"

"Pichle 6 mahinon se, na tum khush ho aur na main. Aise hi chal raha hai sab."

"It's not that ke main khush nahin hoon..."

"Phir tumhe khush hona chahiye", Rey interrupted her. Taking both her hands in his, he continued, "tum wahan thi nahin jab doctors ne kaha tha tumhari recovery mushkil hai. Tumhara dance toh door, chalna bhi doubtful tha. Hum sabko jo shock laga... what we went through... there are no words. Now look at you! Tum chal phir rahi ho and bohot jald dobara dance karne lagogi. Always count your blessings Kria."

 

"Rey, you are up in 10 minutes", Niyati came barging in. seeing Rey's hands clasped around Kria's, a weird expression flitted over her face that could only be described as a cross between pain and anger. "Sorry", she apologized stiffly. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything." Saying that she turned around and exited just as quickly as she entered.

Oh Gosh! Is ko bhi isi moment entry maarni thi!! Pata nahin ab ye kya sochegi!

                                                                                                    ********

Backstage, Rini was scared senseless. She had agreed to host the Freshers' with Nil on Simmi's insistence. It seemed a very good idea at that time. But seeing the huge crowd and important dignitaries sitting right in the front, she was doubting her ability to make right decisions.

"Dalne ki koi daloolat nahin hai", Amar said appearing out of thin air almost making Rini scream. "Tum bohot atha kalogi."

"Tum itne confidence ke saath kaise keh sakte ho?"

"Tunki main tumhe jaanta hoon". Rini rolled her eyes at that. "Tumne mithtaketh ki hai pehle,pal tumne unthe bohot theeka hai." ( tumne mistakes ki hai pehle, par tumne unse bohot seekha hai)

"Ye tumhala lath chance hai theekhne ka. College ki galti thab bhool jaate hain. Life mein koi galti kalo toh koi bhoolne nahin deta."

Rini pondered over Amar's words. He hadn't said anything wrong. There were a lot of times she made mistakes, most notably her Dance Camp fiasco, but nobody had ever blamed her for it. Well, if you count Shivam out. Everybody had behaved normally with her and life carried on.

"Jab tak tum khud pal bhalosa nahin kalogi, toh koi aul kaithe kalega? Agal humein itna tha bhi doubt hota na tum pal, toh hum thab tumhe ye kabhi nahin kalne dete" (Agar humein itna sab hi doubt hota na tum par, toh hum sab tumhe ye kabhi nahin karne dete)

Rini was moved by Amar's presence of mind and thoughtfulness. Her throat felt tight and instead of saying anything, she hugged him tight. Taking a deep breath, she smiled at him and was about to go when he produced a water bottle and signaled her to take a sip from it. Again moved, she did as she was told and smiling brightly with renewed confidence stepped on the stage with Nil.

 

Precap: Rey's performance and Nil and Simmi's quickstep

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]