ARSH SS: IT NEVER GOES AWAY NOTE PG6 - Page 3

Cpt 2

At the concert

Shilpa, armaan and riddhima made their way through the entrance of central park. Shilpa looked around in awe of the beauty. The usually littered park lived up to its potential. Tables and chairs covered in white and adorned in red claimed their spots in perfect sequence, with arrangements of roses as centerpieces and balloons to the side. Drapings of red and white hang from trees embracing nature's beauty. She looked at the stage. Drapings, balloons and cut out hearts adorned it. It was clich. It was simple. And it was just as she loved it. Memories came flooding back. It was in a setting like this that armaan proposed to her. Her expression of enjoyment changed to sorrow which she tried, but failed to hide. She turned and walked away, wiping a lone tear that managed to escape unaware that her actions were seen by the one person she was supposedly destined' to spend the rest of her life with.

Every time she'd walk away, armaan would remember their breakup. Mainly because every time she walked away from them, from him, she would never be happy, and he knew he was the reason why and like every time before, flashes of their breakup, consumed him. Hot tears formed in his eyes and threatened to escape. Their breakup was not pretty. It wasn't one of those:

"babe, I'm sorry."

"I love you, but not the same way."

"we're drifting apart".

It was one of those screaming, tearful, heart wrenching breakups. Like those you would see on a lifetime movie. Except in those lifetime movies, you would usually have a happy ending. For both of them, a true happy ending was far from reality. A true happy ending existed in a fantasy world where arguments never took place, eternal world peace existed, and people were never judged. They'd just have to settle for a happy ending. One where they weren't with the person they truly loved, but with someone that 'loved' or loved them. One where someone treated them like a trophy or prize to be won, and they'd go along with the charade just to maintain some level of sanity. One where fake smiles were the norm, and they were professionals at showing them.

Looking at the source of the tugging on arm, armaan tried to maintain his calm.

"armaan lets go sit." Riddhima insisted.

Armaan wasn't a fan of riddhima. But since she helped, or 'helped' I should say, him out of a sticky situation, he felt obligated to her. And since then, they've been a couple', branded by the she-devil herself.

30 minutes later: 7:55 pm

Most of the tables were filled. Shilpa, armaan and riddhima sat at one. Shilpa was looking around for her manager, hoping he'd come to her rescue. Armaan tried making conversation with her but she kept on ignoring him, he like was ignoring riddhima.

"shilpa they're ready for you, " her manager came to her.

"thank you god," she thought and proceeded to get up but felt a hand on her wrist; a touch she knew too well and and didn't want to forget even though she should.

"you're performing tonight?" his voice was soft. he continued when she said nothing, "and you said nothing?"

"I didn't think it would have mattered if I did." She didn't look at him when she spoke, and her tone was cold, like she didn't care, but he knew better. He knew she was holding back tears. With her false words spoken, she removed her hand from his grip and made her way to the stage.

Plastering a fake smile on her lips, she looked at the audience.

"hi everyone. I want to say," she looked at armaan involuntary, who never took his eyes off her, and fought her tears "I want to say happy Valentine's Day," she looked back at the rest audience, "and I hope you all enjoy your evening," she ended with a smile.

"happy valentine's day shona," armaan whispered.

The music began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC8Zqe2Dcds

har taraf rawa aapka hi nasha

your intoxication is all around me

(shilpa hears a male voice singing from her left and she looks shocked (she's supposed to be doing a solo) and does a double take. Shahid comes towards her singing smiling)

chu gayi dil ko aapki har ada

your charm has touched a chord in me

(he takes her hand and kisses it) (she gives him a small hug)

ban jaaiye is dil ke mehmaan

become my heart's guest

(they break the hug and an angry armaan is shown in the middle)

(ban jaaiye is dil ke mehmaan, mehmaan ban jaiye

become my heart's guest

(she looks at shahid smiling but shocked)

ban jaaiye in saanson ke armaan,armaan ban jaiye) -

become the longings inn my breath

(shahid looks at her with a smile and shrugs) (she looks at the audience while he continues looking at her)

Small instrumental: they exchange a few words.

ban jaaiye is dil ke mehmaan, mehmaan ban jaiye

become my heart's guest

(they go to separate sides of the stage), (she stops and faces the audiences and sings her part)

ban jaaiye in saanson ke armaan,armaan ban jaiye)

become the longings inn my breath

(she begins moving to the beat)

ban jaaiye is dil ke mehmaan, mehmaan ban jaiye

become my heart's guest

instrumental: shahid looks at shilpa with a smile, and an unknown emotion behind his eyes, unknown to her. Armaan from a side view looks irriatated)

bheeni bheeni pyaasi rawani rehti hain

there's a dewy thirst in me

(they make their way to the center of the stage, towards each other, moving to the beat)

palkon main teri kahani rehti hain

my eyes contain your story

qaid nazron main teri tasveer hain

your picture traps my eyes

((she sings for her) (he leans towards he with a smile)

tere lafso ka fasana padhta hu

I read the story on your lips

(they face the audience and move from left to right)

bas tera hi chehra rozana padhta hu

your face is the only thing I read everyday

padhta hu padhta hu

I read, I read

ban jaaiye meri chahat ka nagma, nagma ban jaiye

become the song of my desires

(they stop moving and he leans into her) (she moves towards the audience smiling with him looking at her)

ban jaaiye is dil ke mehmaan, mehmaan ban jaiye

become my heart's guest

instrumental: shilpa goes to the ground and start pulling up couples to dance

drop in tone: she reaches armaan, who was watching her intently, and riddhima and reluctantly pulls them to dance and leaves them)

teri hi tamanna rago main bhar li hain

it's your desire that runs through my veins

(she began singing to nothing in particular, more like in a daze)

zindagi bhi tere hawale kar di hain

my life is also yours now

(armaan kept looking at her)

chal rahi dhadkan sirf tere liye

my heart beats only for you

(shahid comes and places his arm on her shoulder playfully)

ohh khamoshi se teri hi baatein karti hu

I talk about you to the silence (around me)

(she turns around and places her hand on his chest and begins walking towards him while he walks back; both smiling and moving to the beat)

teri arzooo mein main jeeti marti hu

my desire for you is what keeps me alive

(her smile begins to disappear locking eyes armaan; as if singing this for him)(she stops moving)

ban jaaiye meri jazbo ka toofan, toofan ban jaiye

become the storm of my feelings

(she breaks the eye lock)(she turns away releasing a breath, looking all over the place)

ban jaaiye is dil ke mehmaan, mehmaan ban jaiye

become my heart's guest

(shahid taps her shoulder and signal for a dance. She gives him her hand)

ban jaaiye in saanson ke armaan,armaan ban jaiye

become the longings inn my breath

(every body begins dancing including shahid and shilpa)

ban jaaiye is dil ke mehmaan, mehmaan ban jaiye

become my heart's guest

instrumental: the guys are spinning the ladies and partners are exchanged.

Drop in tune: shilpa goes to armaan. they are in dancing position but don't dance. They keep looking at each other; pain hidden in the gaze.)

After performance

Off stage

"what are you doing here?" shilpa asked excitedly in complete shock.

Shahid looked at her suppressing a smile, "didn't I mention that I had to perform at central park, at eight, for a valentine's day concert today, when I spoke to you yesterday?" he asked feigning innocence.

"I think you forgot to mention that small detail,"

"yeah, well-"

"o my gosh!!!" they looked to the direction where the voice came from. I lady, dressed in red, of course, was looking at them excitedly. A man, her husband, stood a feet or two away smiling at the scene. They looked like a newlywed couple.

"what could have been," shilpa thought to herself. She smiled at the lady, "what can I help you with hun?"

"can I get a picture of the two of you please?"

Shilpa was a bit shocked but shahid was quick in response, "yea no problem."

Placing his hand on shilpa's waist, they posed for the picture.

She felt something when he held her close, but she wasn't sure what it was. When armaan held, touched her, even looked at her she used to feel a large current flowing through her. He always had that effect on her and even though she didn't want to admit it, he still did. After the picture and the fan thanking them she looked at shahid.

"you were saying?" her tone light.

"I wanted to know if-"

"Gonna introduce us?" his voice was rough.

It reminded her of their breakup. Anger pulsed through her veins. She looked at armaan and the person following behind. Shahid expression: confused.

"am I supposed to?" her tone matched his as she glared at him.

"it would be nice."

She glared at him for a moment longer then looked at shahid who was baffled by Shilpa's change in mood.

"shahid this is riddhima," she nodded to a grinning riddhima, " and this sweetheart of a person," her voice laced in sarcasm as she looked at armaan, "is armaan."

"is he your boyfriend?" shahid asked trying to clear the situation in his head.

Shilpa looked at armaan, "no," then looked away.

Armaan felt shattered but failed in hiding it. Shahid paid attention to this and realized that armaan and shilpa did have a past but figured it would be best not to ask. He tore his gaze from armaan who was staring at shilpa as she spoke.

"you were saying?"

"I, uh, I wanted to know if you're free Saturday,"

Armaan: no

Shilpa: yes

They looked at each other.

"I'm not?" shilpa asked in anger.

"no you're not,"

When he said no more, she prompted, "care to explain why?"

"we're going hiking?"

"I told you before I wasn't going," she turned to shahid without giving armaan another glance, "yea, I'm free Saturday,"

"you sure?" shahid asked carefully.

"positive."

"then how about I carry you somewhere for dinner."

She said what armaan didn't want to hear, "uh, sure." And with that, armaan left, his attachment, running behind him.

Shahid looked at armaan storming away, "you sure it'll be ok?" she ended by looking at her.

"yes, I'm sure."

"is there something I'm missing?"

She laughed a painful one, " we just have some history, that's all."

"so he's in the past?"

She sighed, "yea,"

"and I'm in the future?" he asked playfully

"we'll see."

"I hope we do, because I've had a celebrity crush on you when I saw your first YouTube video,"

She gaped; shocked.

"I'm serious. I've been trying to meet a long time now and it was either, we had concerts on the same days, fans weren't giving us privacy, management couldn't fix a meeting, so when I met you yesterday and you had to leave, I had to meet to today."

"wow," she was in complete shock.

"yea, wow." He laughed.

"good thing I didn't though, that guy,"

"armaan," why did she correct him? She thought

"armaan, would have killed me,"

She laughed, "he probably would have. You should be safe now."

"ahh I don't think so. Death for a starling." He held his chest dramatically.

She laughed and he looked at her mesmerized by the sound.

"ok, song star, enough with the drama,"

His phone began ringing.

"hold on." He said to shilpa on answering, "hello. Now? Right now? Ok. Bye,"

"everything ok?"

"uh, yea. I need to leave. Sorry"

"No problem. bye"

He took her hand, kissed it and gently let it down "bye"

he began walking backwards "so Saturday?"

"Saturday"

"6:30?"

"I'll be ready by that time."

"good," he flashed her a smile before leaving.

Ok. So maybe she won't have a true happy ending, but she'd have a happy ending.

ArSh SS SILENT WORDS