The stage was slightly lit up with low light as she walked in and took her position standing ahead of Swayam and then they started dancing as the soulful voice of Kailash Kher filled the auditorium. They danced on Saiyyan, a song which she felt perfect as it described what she felt for Swayam word by word. Their bodies gyrated and swayed in awed companionship and sync on the song their movements smooth. Her eyes seeked for his throughout the performance but he refused to meet her eyes and only in the end did he give in and look straight into her eyes. The intensity and passion of his gaze disoriented her completely and maybe only for a couple of seconds but the love Swayam had for Sharon was reflected in his orbs but the moment was gone as fast as it had come and he walked away leaving Sharon alone on the stage.
Infuriated she walked away too after bowing down to the audience. Swayam walked away towards the changing room and sat down on the bench. He sat down with his head in his hands, the dance with her had brought back old memories and made him weak again. He had avoided eye contact with Sharon throughout the performance as he did not want to reveal his emotions in front of her but he slipped in the end and locked eyes with her and what he saw there was nothing but pure, unadulterated love for him. He lost himself there for a moment but he regained composure and walked away. He sat there contemplating until Sharon walked in the room spitting fire.
"How dare you Swayam how dare you leave me alone on the stage and walk away. You asked for professional behaviour on my part so what do I have to say when you behave unprofessional?" Sharon said.
Swayam-"Mujhe tumse abhi koi baat nahi karni Sharon leave me alone please."
Sharon-"Kyun jau Swayam you cannot always snub me & avoid answering my questions. I want an answer to all my questions. (Softening a bit) Kyun behave kar rahe ho iss tarah mujhse kya kiya hai maine.?"
Swayam turned his back on her and spoke with rage evident in his voice,"You want answers right Sharon so you get it. Tum ek selfish aur shallow ladki ho Sharon. I feel I was a fool to find that innocent and simple person inside you & love you for the person you aren't and can never be try as you might. You failed Sharon, not me. You failed in understanding my love and being worthy of it. You failed in loving me Sharon. But you know something there is one thing you're good at & succeeded in doing & that is faking something be it love or be it friendship. Bahut achhe tareeke se ye fake karti ho tum ke tum kissi se pyaar kar sakti ho ya kissi ki dost ban sakti ho. You became Kriya's friend & supported her only so that you could get me back right yahi kaha na tumne Simmi se??. And main pagalon ki tarah ye samajhta raha ke tum finally change ho gayi ho and for good this time & I again started trusting you. Get this straight Sharon and I say this for the last time everything between us is over from my side tum aur main kabhi hum nahi honge. I'm done getting hurt by you and loving you. I don't want you Sharon please chali jao yaha se iske pehle main aur kuch aisa bolu jo mujhe nahi bolna chahiye."
All this while Sharon stood there facing his back listening to every word he spoke, the venom of his words burying deep down in her heart and shocking her. Her eyes shedding a thousand tears as he ruthlessly continued speaking. He thought her love was fake? She was selfish & shallow? Yes, she did extend a hand of friendship to Kriya with a purpose before but now she genuinely liked her & considered her as a friend but he had heard only half the conversation. She failed him and failed in loving him?. This was what he thought about her. Her shoulders slumped all the zing to fight for her love lost.
She wiped fresh tears before saying in a small voice,"Aur kya bacha hai bolne ke liye sab toh tum bol chuke ho Swayam kuch bacha hai jisse tum mujhe aur hurt kar sako?". At that precise moment Swayam turned around and looked at Sharon, her face pale & tear tracks under her eyes. She again wiped her tears.
"No Sharon I did'nt mean-" Swayam started instantly regretting what he said but Sharon stopped him & continued
"No Swayam I get it now, I completely get it ab mujhe pata chala what is wrong. Jab wahi person jise main itna pyaar karti hoon use mera love ek jhooth aur fake lagta hai so what is the whole point in trying.? I agree Swayam maine tumhaara pyaar sabke saamne thukra ke badi galti ke but main uss mistake ke liye guilty bhi feel karti hoon. I did everything in my capacity to get you back in my life. Tumhaare liye apne aap ko badla, tum jaisa mujhe dekhna chahte the waisi bani, har ek cheez ki jise tumhe mana sakoon but when I saw nothing working maine ye step liya and Kriya se friendship ki, thinking agar main uski help karoon toh shayad tumhaare opinions badle but ye sab maine kyun kiya Swayam pata hai tumhe because I was desperate, desperate for you and for your love.
Maine kabhi ye step tumhe hurt karne ke irade se nahi liya. I extended a hand of friendship to Kriya because I wanted you in my life, only because I had loved you and loved you truly. Main ek cheez bolna chahti hoon Swayam though maine friendship purpose ke liye ki but I genuinely like kriya now and consider her as my friend no underlying intentions there. Tumne sahi kaha Swayam main selfish hoon kyunki har koi tumhaari tarah achha aur selfless nahi hota. I am selfish because I cannot share the love of my life. Aur kya kaha tha tumne Swayam main fail ho gayi in loving you, I agree with you because the person I love considers it a lie so maybe I failed to give my 100% to make you believe that my love is true. I only have one thing left to make you believe that I love you truly & that is to let you go & move on with someone else maybe that will suffice to make you belive I truly love you. You can move on but I will keep loving you & aaj se main tumhe aur tumhaare paths so kabhi cross nahi karungi. You did'nt want me so you won't have me now . Goodbye Swayam.
She came ahead & placed a light peck on his forehead tears overflowing from her eyes and turned to walk away leaving Swayam behind crying equally hard, regretting every word he spoke in his blind rage & hurting her beyond measure. But this is what happened when he was around Sharon he would lose control, she brought the best and worst out of him. He collapsed on the floor crying for hours. The next day the entire team was rehearsing in the rehearsal hall Swayam was already there waiting for Sharon wishing to talk to her & he saw her enter then her eyes downcast, looking pale & weak. She mumbled a quick hi to everyone and turned to rehearse not meeting Swayam's eye or looking in his direction. From that day on she kept her promise of not crossing paths with Swayam, avoiding meeting him and only talking to him regarding work.
The firebrand that Swayam had loved was lost. Sharon had turned into someone else completely . Being quiet and lost had become secondary nature and a routine. She never retorted to people or lost her temper keeping unnaturally cool all the time & Swayam was'nt liking this one bit he was missing his old Siren firebrand Sharon who was though a lil crazy and impulsive but loving & caring too. Her behaviour irked him & now he wanted her to pursue him like before because he missed it & her cute and loving gestures above all he missed HIS sharon. It was then that he realised that he had dragged it too long & he had to put an end to his miseries and her's too.
He wanted her back in his life, back in his arms where she belonged. He finally realized the intensity of not only Sharon's love but also his love which had grown with time. He proceeded towards the announcement room where he had seen Sharon going. He entered the room and locked the door behind him startling Sharon who was standing next to the switch of the mic and which she mistakenly switched on in her startled state & she turned only to find Swayam there.
"Mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai Sharon"
"Is it something related to work?" Sharon said
"No it is about us" Swayam said
"Us?? Which us are you talking about Swayam, the us which you denied that day when I came asking for answers to my questions & to profess my love for you yet again? Then I fear there is no us to speak about." The entire college suffered a wave of shock on hearing that Sharon the diva loved Swayam the person they had called desperate loser and stalker on the day of the announcement room fiasco.
Sharon began to leave turning her back towards Swayam but Swayam caught hold of her wrist and spun her around pulling her close to himself. Sharon averted her gaze from his face not looking into his eyes as Swayam spoke tears leaking out of both their eyes,"Please listen to me Sharon warna pagal ho jaunga main. The guilt of hurting you that day Is eating me from within & seeing you become someone who you're not only adds to the burden because I know it is only my fault. I'm sorry for whatever I said that day. I swear on the love I have for you I did not mean a single word I said that day. Jab bhi tum paas aati ho mera khud pe koi control nahi hota. I become someone else. You and only you bring out the best and worst in me."
"I know I should have clarified things with you par main bahut upset tha Sharon thinking you had not yet changed." At that Sharon turned her face to look him in the eye and said anger building in her orbs and said," The Swayam I love did not want any change in me, he loved me for the person I am and not a changed person and tum mujh main change chahte ho. You said you don't want me Swayam and I give you that I kept my promise & I will keep that intact. I don't want to fail in this since I failed in loving you."
Her words hit him like a whiplash and it was then he realized how much it must have hurt Sharon to hear all that coming from him. He went down on his knees catching her hand in his and resting his forehead on their intertwined hands he spoke," I'm very sorry for everything I have said to you in a fit of rage. I only now realize hearing this from you what you must have undergone that day when I said all those things to you. I'm sorry for wanting to change you and making you someone else. I'm sorry for snubbing you everytime you professed you love for me. Please Sharon come back in my life. It feels meaningless without your presence. Mar jaunga tumhaare bina." Unshed tears fell out of Swayam's eyes as he spoke.
Sharon went down on her knees and held his face in her palms,"Shhh don't cry Swayam please I can't see you cry. I love you Swayam. Can we please get back together? I can't bear this distance. I want you as much as you want me." Both of them stood up & swayam engulfed Sharon in a tight & passionate hug," I love you Sharon, I love you too too too much."
"No I love three much" Sharon said smiling wide.
Both of them laughed at the sheer beauty of the moment and tears of happiness leaked out of their eyes when they parted away.
They were lost in each other when they heard a knock on the door. Sharon intertwined her fingers with Swayam's & walked ahead to open the door. Opening the door they saw the entire gang waiting for them with shocked expressions on their faces when finally Nil broke the silence,"You love Swayam Sharon?" His eyes fixed at their intertwined hands. Sharon looked at the direction of his gaze and chuckling softly she proudly proclaimed,"Yes I love Swayam Shekhawat he is the love of my life which I so stupidly denied that day in front of everyone. And no one calls my love a desperate loser or stalker am I clear" the firebrand diva made a comeback with her statement.
"Matlab tu aur Sharon ek saath ho Swayam?" Bharat asked him to which he shyly nodded with a huge smile playing on his lips.
"Banta mere bhai ko uski item mil gayi party party party ab toh Sharon tere se kam jhagdegi." He said jokingly and he started dancing along with the guys. All the guys raised their hands in the signature chemistry gesture and the girls looked at Swayam and Sharon in awe.
As the gang rejoiced for their togetherness Sharon went up on her toes and kissed Swayam's cheek as Swayam kissed her cheek at the same time and picked Sharon up in his arms so that she would'nt have to stretch herself and hugged her holding her in his arms for an eternity..
The END.đ.
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