Chapter 51

chapter 44 (a)

         

                    "What the hell is wrong with both of you?" yelled Sharon while the two helpers in front of her quivered with fear like a leaf caught in the storm. "Tum donon se ek simple task nahin hota? Maine tum donon ko ye report finish karne ke liye 2 hafton ka time diya tha. And tum donon empty-handed aagaye! Agar mujhe idea hota ki main itne irresponsible aur incompetent logon ke saath kaam kar rahi hoon, toh main sab kuch khud manage karleti! Main akeli hi tum sabka kaam handle kar leti!"

 

          "Sorry...ma'am!" the poor boy stammered out an apology. "I was not well..."

          "I don't want your excuses", Sharon cut him off. I wanted the work done. She began walking down the stairs while both the students dutifully followed her with bowed heads still stammering out apologies. She was about to dish out a very cutting reply when she noticed two unlikely people walking side by side towards the Rehearsal Hall. So shocked was she at the sight unfolding before her very eyes that she completely forgot not only what she was about to say, but also the world around her. And as if that wasn't enough, she saw Swayam moments away from spotting the pair. Oh my God! This was not going to be good, she thought. The two helpers initially felt relieved at the respite from their boss's furious onslaught, but when they realised that she wasn't going to unleash her wrath or dismiss them anytime soon, the boy timidly harrumphed effectively bringing Sharon out of her panicked thoughts.

          "Ma'am, kal tak har haal mein ye report aapko mil jaayegi. We both promise", the boy pleaded while the girl agreed vehemently and chimed in, "We are really very sorry to disappoint you ma'am. We will never repeat such behavior in future". Since Sharon was thoroughly distracted by the scene she witnessed mere moments ago, she let the helpers go with just a warning of dire consequences should they fail at their task a second time. Once they were dismissed, Sharon rushed towards the Rehearsal Hall, fearing an apocalypse would befall them if Swayam and Parth had a stand-off again.

          As she neared the Hall, she could not find either of the two boys, nor could she hear a shouting match she expected. Instead she could hear music issuing from within. She heaved a sigh of relief. But the relief was short-lived as the next moment her brows furrowed in confusion. Is time kaun Rehearsal Hall use kar raha hai? Hamari toh class hai. These juniors! she fumed. Irresponsible and completely manner-less brats! Inhe lesson sikhana hi padega. She thundered into the hall and for a few seconds failed to comprehend the scene in front of her. It wasn't a junior or any one from her friends.

          It was Swayam.

          But at the same time, it wasn't Swayam at all. He was dancing, but there was more to the dance than just following the beat. It was as if he was channeling all his anguish, fear, desperation and loneliness out through his blithe movements. Sharon had never seen anything so beautiful yet heartbreaking at the same time. She was transfixed to the spot, unable to blink or move a muscle. She couldn't even make a sound scared lest she would alert him and shatter the alternate universe he had just created. She continued watching him in fascination, pour his feelings out. Until the music stopped.

 

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                    Swayam flung his bag away in sheer frustration. All the way up to the Rehearsal Hall, he had to fight the urge to not cave in to the intense desire of turning around and beating the living daylights out of the boy who once unfortunately, had been his best friend. As soon as the thought materialized in his mind, Swayam froze. It was as if someone had doused him with ice-cold water. Main kab se itna violent hogaya? he wondered. If there was something Swayam and his father had disagreements upon other than his career choice, it was his temperament. Swayam's father always wanted him to be more aggressive and a go-getter, while he preferred the more laid-back attitude. It seemed like Parth was finally able to achieve where his father had failed. In order to take his mind off, he plugged his phone in the system and began to dance.

         

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuvyGX_XaxA ( This was something I imagined Swayam could do, Check it out!!)

         It took a while after Swayam finished to realize that he was being watched. He groaned as he saw Sharon standing a short distance away. He was already having a bad day and he really didn't have the patience or energy to deal with whatever telling off Sharon had in store for him. Before she could get a word out, he replied irritated, "Yes I know Hall use karne se pehle permission leni chahiye thi. Lecture dene ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Main jaa raha hoon."

          "Tum mujhse hamesha aise baat kyun karte ho?"

          "Kaise baat karta hoon?" Swayam replied distractedly, busy looking around for his things.

          "Hamesha itne rude. Itne cutting", came the reply in a small voice.

          Swayam paused and turned to look at her. After what seemed like eternity, a tight smile made an appearance as he shot back, "Usi tarah, jis tarah tum hamesha baat karti ho. Hai na?"

          That momentarily stumped the diva inside of her allowing reason to catch up. As she deliberated, she realized Swayam wasn't very far from the truth. She had been nothing short of cruel and brash with him in the past. She always expected him to be gentle and understanding when he dealt with her while she was free to be as obnoxious as she wanted. Quashing down the wave of indignation that coursed through her she tried again.

          "Yahan Rehearsal Hall mein kya kar rahe the?"

          This enquiry made him pause for a second before he continued without losing a beat. "Kabaddi khel raha tha." Sharon rolled her eyes. It seemed like she wasn't going to get a straight answer out of him today. On receiving complete silence, Swayam thought Sharon had either run out of stream or was thinking of a more acerbic response. So he was actually quite surprised when she asked in a small, quiet voice.

           

          "Pareshan ho?"

 

To be contd...

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]