Heyyy all.. :) I'm here with another OS, this time a challenge one. Charu di (cscs) challenged me on this one.
Elements- Rope, slap, high heels, kiss, hug, dream, accident.
Charu di, this was really intimidating. Had to think about it.. especially when I was facing writer's block. Thank you for such an intimidating challenge. It really made me put on my thinking cap. :P
The OS, well it was challenging because, bohot research I had to do about one of the most famous fairytales.. I had read it when I was a kid.. Never knew that it would help me now. :P
Here you go with the OS!!
P.S This one is REALLY very very long!! I really don't know how this has turned out, but my gut feeling says that it's pathetic. :/ So I'm not compelling you to read it. It's completely up to you.
Sharon Rai Prakash was a very non adventurous type of person' She hated trekking but this time unfortunately she had no other choice. She had to go on this one, because her best friend Simmi was there too. Not many knew this, but she was damn scared of heights.. She was the most popular girl of the college but extremely scared of heights. The reason was best known to her.
"Are you guys ready? Should we start it??" A middle aged stout man said asserting authority, standing right in the middle of the camping area.
"I'm ready sir." Sharon said, tying one final knot of her shoe lace, although quite scared.
"So am I." Simmi, Sharon's best friend gave her a side hug.
"Simmi it's safe na?" Sharon asked turning towards her. "This is going to be the first time I'll do something like rock climbing! "
"Yes Sharon.. Chill.."
"Right...Im gonna go to coach and ask him about the safety precautions.." Sharon said and started walking towards the coach.
She was getting impatient since she completely lacked tolerance and patience..She walked hastily and didn't quite realize whom she was bumping into...
"Sorry..." she said as she almost collided with a guy who looked of her age..Was tall and had a good physique..He was lean but still well built.
"It's okay..."The guy answered. But it was too late. Sharon had moved on and was now talking to the coach. He let out a slight smile as he saw her behavior. She hadn't changed a bit..Sharon was still the same..she had been like that since the past 4 years..and before that, a complete shy girl..bookworm, geek, scared of performing on the stage etc. That one incident had completely changed her. Swayam's mind traveled back to past..precisely eight years ago..to the annual function of his school..of their school..
"What??But she's supposed to play the role of the princess! We can't do the play without her.."
"Ma'am she's down with fever and she won't be able to make it.."
"What do you expect me to do then? The show must go on!"
"I'll think of something ma'am..."
A 10 year old Swayam overheard the convo.. He was the main actor of the play "the princess and the frog" that was being held in his school on the annual day. And he came to know that the girl who was supposed to play the princess was down with fever.
"Swayam take your position...the play is about to start.." his class teacher instructed him assessing a bunch of papers.
"But ma'am, the princess?"
"We have sorted everything out Swayam. You just take your position..."
"Okay..." Swayam said and went to the stage. He wondered who his princess was..the girl who was supposed to be the princess was actually over acting so Swayam didn't really mind her absence. The play started.. It was running smooth and since there was no princess for the first five minutes, the charge was up to Swayam.. . Swayam spoke his dialogues very well. And finally it was the time of the princess's entry. Swayam crossed his fingers hoping for something good..some natural beauty to enter..
In came, from the other end of the stage, a girl of about 10 years adorned in a beautiful white gown, looking breathtakingly gorgeous..Swayam couldn't take his eyes off her. She looked extremely beautiful..But at the same time, he hadn't seen her anytime.
She began acting.. She was natural.. She was flawless..Soon, it was the time of their first scene together. Swayam, dressed up in a frog's outfit hopped towards her.
"Princess, why do you weep so bitterly?"
"My golden ball has fallen into the pond." The girl sniffled.
"I will get it for you. But will you do what I say?" He spoke his lines.
"Yes!" The princess replied.
Swayam dived into the virtual pond that was created, got out her ball and handed it to her.
The princess was over excited. Her lips carved into a gorgeous smile as she saw the ball. She was so overjoyed to have it in her hand again, that she never thought of the frog, but ran home with it as fast as she could.
Swayam continued with his line. "Stay princess! You need to help me too."
But as it was planned, the princess did not stay and ran as fast as she could. Swayam looked at her retreating figure. He didn't know what was wrong with her.. All he knew was that he was mesmerized by her beauty...
The rest of the play went on really nicely, keeping the audience hooked on to it. Half credit went to Swayam.. and half.. to the last moment princess.
She surprisingly remembered all the dialogues and spoke them fluently without making any mistake and with equal conviction as Swayam.. Swayam had to admit it..He was spellbound...by her fluency and mesmerized by her beauty..The play went on smoothly till the last scene in which the princess had to free the frog by kissing him...
"I have been cursed by a wicked witch. And you can free me from that curse." The frog said, sitting on his knees by the princess.
"Okay frog.. If what you say is true... then I'll... then I'll... " She began.. but could not continue. She literally froze on that word.. and could not speak rest of the line...She was stammering.
Swayam tried to encourage her by making some facial expressions. She couldn't just forget all the dialogues.
She couldn't speak ahead. What was going on in her mind was best known to her, but Swayam knew that she had to speak.
"Kiss you.." He mimed. The princess's tensed face turned into a relaxed one as soon as he did that. She heaved a sigh of relief.
"I'll kiss you.. " She finally completed the line with a smile on her face and confidently enough.
Swayam and the princess, both got up. Swayam moved towards the princess and the princess slowly kissed his cheek. The frog was transformed into a handsome young looking prince.
The play got over with the princess saying yes to the frog turned prince. Audience loved the play. Also the teachers appreciated, both Swayam and the last minute girl. Swayam wanted to talk to her and tell her that she was brilliant, but somehow, he couldn't find her.
He was sitting in the make up room day dreaming about how beautiful she looked. He closed his eyes and all he could see was her in that wonderful white gown of hers...her beautiful silk hair slowly covered her face and she shoved them off..tucking them behind her ears.
"Umm Swayam??" He heard an angelic voice taking his name.
He came out of his drooling zone and looked at the source of the voice. She stood there...the beautiful looking princess.. Thank god she was there!
"Yes?"
"Can I come in?" She spoke, hesitating.
"Yes you can..."
She walked in.. Her heels making a soft and sweet sound..
Swayam looked at her ankles..She was walking with effort...and maybe finding it difficult too.
"Are your legs paining?" He asked her as she took a seat adjacent to him.
"Yeah that's because of the high heels I'm wearing..."
"Didn't you wear them during the play as well?"
"Yes I did..."
"Then why didn't you remove them??"
"Because I wanted to talk to you."
"What??"
"I wanted to thank you...Thank you for helping me today." she said cutely.
"No problem...you need not thank me..." He shook his head.
"Not for that...For removing my stage fear?"
"Stage fear?"
"Yes..i had stage fear...couldn't speak properly on stage..i always chickened out..But today ma'am compelled me to act as I was the only one who knew the dialogues by heart... I was scared but I somehow managed to act because I tried to forget the fact that I was acting in front of a large audience. At the end...you know what happened...but because of you, I felt more confident and relaxed at the end..thanks for that."
Swayam listened to her patiently...She was damn good for a first timer. He was literally gaping at her.
"What happened??"She asked.
"No nothing...you need not say thanks.." he was not in a condition to answer.
Her hair once again covered her face.She tucked it behind her ear and let out a small giggle."You are sweet haan.."
Swayam tried not to blush in front of her. It would be insulting and gross.
"I have to leave now..my legs are hurting..have to change as well.."
"Okay..." Swayam said. Why couldn't she stay for some time more?
She got up and turned to leave when suddenly swayam stopped her.
"Hey..what's your name??"
"Sharon...Sharon Rai Prakash."
"Oh...nice to meet you...I'm Swayam..swayam shekhawat.."
"I know you..." She smiled at him.
It was actually very awkward for him to hear such things. For some reason.
"Ok.." He said. "Nice meeting you."
She smiled and left the room.
Swayam smiled as he recollected their first meet. She had changed..from a girl next door to a fashion freak...Was she the same girl who was feeling uncomfortable with heels that day??Swayam was confused.
"Mr Shekhawat.. You don't want to come for rock climbing?" He heard the coach's voice..Coach had probably seen him grinning like an idiot. Argh.
"Coming sir.." Swayam said and ran where all others were standing.
Sharon put on her harness all set for rock climbing..Swayam looked at her and thought...She was really determined.
The coach was at the top of the huge rock..Holding a rope for everyone to come turn by turn.
Everyone started climbing turn by turn. Sharon started climbing too, hoping to get rid of her height fear... Swayam was a bit skeptical of himself at first. He really wasn't into adventure and all but looking at Sharon made him forget that he was actually supposed to be scared. He was just behind her and she looked ultra confident. Sharon had that ability to put a confident face even though internally she was very scared."I have to get rid of this scared of heights thing." She said to herself. Swayam said a small prayer before beginning though, for himself.
It was January and extremely cold. Most of the people dropped the idea because they were afraid of going at such a height in such an extreme weather. Even Simmi came down midway because her hands were freezing and it was next to impossible for her to go further.
Sharon was half way through. Just adjacent to her was Swayam..Quite close to her, a bit down though.
About Sharon, she was feeling cold too.. Very very cold.. but somehow, somewhere her determination overpowered her tension.. She was somewhere very confident about not giving up. She had that "can't leave things midway" attitude. But at the same time, she was beginning to lack out of breath..
As she began going up, the altitude started increasing making her more and more fidgety with each second..And then came one point where her hands and feet completely froze and she wasn't able to go up further. She said a small prayer and closed her eyes, as if 99 % sure that it was her last day.
She looked up and as she did, her right leg slipped and the grip of her hand around the rope loosened. Her breath started getting heavier and the grip around the rope loosened. She was attached to the belay device, but was stagnant at one position. She didn't have the guts to climb ahead. Her heartbeats started increasing as she thought of negative things.
Just below her was Swayam and this change in her did not go unnoticed by him. He didn't know what was wrong with her. Her grip kept loosening and she was unable to hold the rope tightly. Her shoes weren't protecting her from the cold wind that was blowing. Unknowingly, her grip around the rope completely loosened, detaching her from it completely.
Sharon closed her eyes in anticipation, preparing herself for what was going to happen ahead. She started going down, it was completely impossible for her to reach to the top in such a windy weather.
She was caught by Swayam at the right time though. Swayam caught her by her waist, not leaving her. She turned to face him, tension evident on her face. She was freezing. Her hand was completely closed. Swayam's one hand was on the rope and other, around her waist. She hugged him, as if she was scared' of falling. He was not going to let her fall... Never' Especially after what he felt for her' .Love'
She closed her eyes'feeling comfortable that way' Her hands were enveloped around his' She wrapped her hands tightly, not willing to leave him.
This fall had not even occurred had she been a bit more confident. She was scared somehow..
"Sharon' it's okay... You are fine now'" He said, rubbing his hands around her back.
Swayam rested his head on the bedstead, reliving the moments to cherish. He had somehow brought her down and managed to keep her safe... She didn't say thanks to him and somehow he didn't even expect her to say thanks. She was too preoccupied.. With the fear haunting her mind constantly. Simmi thanked Swayam though. And Swayam being Swayam just laughed it off and said that it wasn't a big deal.
He closed his eyes and was only thinking about what had happened'. The look on her face..the tension.. was something that he had seen after a long time.. She looked beautiful though.
It was a fact. Swayam had fallen in love with Sharon.. He didn't know how it happened.. All he knew was that he was madly in love with her and he had managed to hide this fact.
"Can I come in?" He heard an angelic voice' the same that was calling out to him the other day, when he was 10 years old, just after the play.
He opened his eyes only to see a very overwhelmed Sharon looking at him.
"Yes'" he said.
"Oh freak." Swayam thought." Sharon the diva, coming towards me'. I hope she doesn't slap me. " Sharon had that "don't you dare mess with me" attitude and she hated it when guys touched her totally contrary to her wishes. Swayam had seen her slapping one or two of them two. He hoped that this time it wasn't his turn to get a slap from her.
Sharon came towards him and sat adjacent to him on the bed.
"I want to say thanks' For helping me today."
"You need not say thanks to me.. It's okay."
"No'not many people know this.. But I'm actually very scared of heights. Today I did a very stupid thing which could have almost killed me.. Had you not been there..So thanks' for saving my life."
"Actually'" Swayam giggled. "The harness doesn't let you fall...So you should be thankful about the harness'not me.."
"Yes.. but it's not really a pleasing experience to go down with the harness around you, is it?"
"No it isn't. Anyway, I would have helped you otherwise too'"
Sharon smiled at him. "Thanks. Such kinds of accidents are very rare with me' I wish it hadn't happened today as I really wanted to get rid of my height fear."
"It's okay Sharon'everyone has a fear of something'it's normal' and maybe it isn't supposed to go'you are good at so many other things'"
"We haven't spoken before much have we?"
"We have spoken once' but I guess you don't remember it'" He mumbled under his breath.
"You said something?"
"No' We haven't spoken much before."
"Oh okay' Anyway, I have to go. I lied to Simmi.. I didn't tell her that I'm coming here. She must be wondering where I am." She got up and turned to leave.
"Are you sure we haven't spoken before?" She asked him one last time.
Swayam shook his head. "No."
"Okay' Bye'" Sharon said and left his tent.
"I wish you had remembered about our first meet Sharon'." Swayam said to himself and laid back.
Sharon reached her tent, and as she entered it, she realized that a stupid smile was playing on her face' maybe because of him'. Where had she spoken to him?? She was positive that she had spoken to him before' Otherwise how could she know his name??
"Sharon where the hell were you??" Simmi walked towards her. "I panicked dude."
"Sorry'I was just roaming about'"
"Sharon.. This isn't Mumbai.. This is a mountainous place.. There must be ugly creatures like frog and all here."
"Frog?"
"Well not frog really.. But.."
"No no Simmi.. The princess and the frog. Oh my god now I remember it' I remember all of it' We met before.. He was the one who gave me confidence' To perform on stage' How on earth could I forget him?" Sharon said excitedly.
"What are you talking about Sharon?" Simmi asked, bewildered.
"Nothing." Her excitement lowered down a bit. "Just recollecting some moments spent with the person who gave me confidence." She said as her lips carved into a sweet smile.
How was it? You feel like puking after reading this OS??? Sorry for that! I know it wasn't up to the mark..but please feel free to tell me about your opinions!! If you liked it, please do hit the like tab and do leave ur valuable comments!!!
P.S Kindly scroll down for a note.
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