ArSh/KaSh OS- new OS on pg 48 - Page 8

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Shilpa locked the door behind her as she made her way to the audition. Her eyes scanned the road hoping to see a familiar face, the dazzling smile that had made her heart flip whenever directed towards her. She pushed back the strand of hair that had whipped across her face as the wind swirled around her tugging at her hair and clothes. Disappointed once again on not finding him standing there, she started towards the dance studio where the auditions were being held.

Once at the studio shilpa changed into her dance gear but her mind went back to the time when he had been here with her. Her Armaan!

Where armaan was concerned shilpa had no doubts! She loved him more than life! And for armaan she was life! He lived and breathed for her! It was as simple as that and just as that complicated!

They had planned to be together forever but her father had interfered making things difficult. Her father had posted certain conditions for armaan to fulfill if he wanted to marry shilpa. He wanted armaan to stand on his own feet till then armaan and shilpa were not to have any contact. Armaan had agreed to the conditions making shilpa protest in anger: why did you do that?

Armaan seriously: don't you trust me?

Shilpa: what has that got to do with anything?

Armaan grabbed her by the shoulders restraining her otherwise she would've turned away: everything! You don't believe in me! do you?

Shilpa looked at him aghast: no! when did I say that! Of course I believe in you! I believe in you more than I believe in myself!

Armaan smiling gently: then you should know that I'll succeed! That I'll fulfill your father conditions so that we could be together forever !

Shilpa helplessly: but…

Armaan: I know! Being separated is going to be difficult but this way we can convince your father that we are meant to be together.

Shilpa could see the determination in his eyes and felt tears gather in her eyes as she could see him leaving her: Armaan (she whispered an entreaty)

Armaan rubbed a tear away that had escaped her lashes: believe in me! (then he pressed his lips to hers, shilpa had wrapped her arms around him trying to hold on to him)

But soon the kiss ended with armaan letting go of shilpa, just before he was leaving: I'll be back!(he gave her his heart breaking smile)

He had started to walk away when shilpa called him making him stop and look in her direction, they stood there for a second without saying anything. Then shilpa smiled brilliantly through her tears: I love you! Come back soon!

Armaan had stood there humbled by her love and complete faith in him he took a step toward her but then stopped and walked out of there.

It had been a year since she last saw him, true to his word he had not kept in contact as per her father's conditions. All her friends and family member told her to forget him, that he was not coming back but shilpa was adamant in her faith in Armaan. He would come back, he promised, whatever doubts she had she had them in private, whatever tears she had to shed were in her heart. Not once did she became weave but on the contrary her love for him became stronger. All this sacrifice, the drive to become more on armaan's part was for her because he wanted to be with her always. This made her love him even more and feel his absence more but she continued to smile.

Every day her eyes scanned the crowds looking for that heart stopping smile, the eyes that twinkled with mischief and love. It was a same ordinary day, more than 15 months had passed since armaan had left. Shilpa made her way back from the dance studio hoping that she'll make it home before the rain started. She was near the gate of her house when the rain started, she dashed to the front steps and unlocked the door but instead of going in she stopped and looked back.

Giving in to impulse shilpa threw her bag inside and went out in the rain. She stood there under the open sky and let the rain beat down on her. Her simple yellow sundress was drenched within seconds, her silky long hair clung to her head and shoulders. She stood there with her arms outstretched as she lifted her face up and let the rain wash away everything.

Shilpa felt her heart lift and a smile form in her heart and on her lips and she knew, she opened her eyes and looked at the face she dreamt of every night for the last 15 months, a face she hoped to see every waking moment. She could think only one thing her armaan was back.

Armaan stood in the rain waiting for shilpa to lower her face and look at him, to see the firs flash of emotion that came to her eyes. He had waited and dreamt for this moment for the last 15 months, not once had his faith wavered. He had accomplished all that he had set out to do and more, he had thought of going to shilpa's father first but this close to her he couldn't stay away.

His feet started to move in her direction of their own will while shilpa stood looking at him as if an apparition that will fade away if she moved. Armaan stood less than foot away slowly raised his hand and lightly caressed shilpa's cheek. Shilpa closed her eyes and clasped armaan's hand holding it against her cheek.

Armaan waited for shilpa to open her eyes when she didn't: Shilpa! open your eyes!

Shilpa held his hand harder: no! I'm scared that if I opened my eyes you'll disappear!

Armaan closed the distance between them that their bodies touched and cradled her face in his hands: open your eyes shilpa! this is not a dream! Look into my eyes and see how much I love you!(when shilpa remained standing with her eyes closed)