SAJAN FF... A NIGHT TO REMEMBER... PART 8_Upd - Page 8

GIRLS' HOSTEL:

Gunjan was sitting alone in her room later that night... Dia had left for home to spend some time with her family... But Gunjan knew very well that she was the reason why Dia had left for home all of a sudden after the college... After what had happened few hours back in the afternoon during the lunch hours Dia had every reason to be upset with her and Samrat... All the scenes that took place in the Music room flashes in her mind...

Samrat holding back her dupatta to stop her, his sudden pull and them colliding with each other... Samrat's every word after that particular moment... Gunjan was lost in those words and Samrat was reading her every expression as if there was no end... Both of them were lost in their new found world until they were interrupted with a light sobbing sound... Turning back they had found Dia at the door witnessing their conversation with tears in her eyes...

"How could you Sammy" was the first words that escaped her lips...

"We had performed together since our school days... Like every time I thought you will want me as your partner and I was looking for you for the same to discuss about our performance this year... But seems like you don't need your Candy any more as you have found a new friend"...

She had left soon after without wasting any more time, without giving any chance to Samrat for any further explanation... Samrat was left dumbfounded at this sudden outburst of Dia and it was only Gunjan who had sensed what had happened just then and had suggested Samrat to follow her and make her calm down... But it was futile... Dia hadn't listened to a single word from Samrat... She had just left for her home...

Gunjan snapped back from her thoughts with a sigh... She had actually felt bad about the whole incidents... Anyone who had known Dia a little would clearly conclude that she has some likings towards Samrat, and here Gunjan was very well aware of the fact about Dia having a childhood crush over Samrat... But the feelings were not the same from Samrat's side or else they would have been a well known couple of Excel... That was what worrying Gunjan about the whole matter... She was worried about Dia and her feelings towards Samrat... She doesn't want to be the reason for Dia's heartbreak... She knew the effects of these feelings; she knew the consequences even better... She doesn't want history to repeat itself in the same place...

Gunjan dialled a number from her phone... There were so many things yet to be unfold, so many things that she wanted to share, so many questions that needed to be answered... And there is only one person who can answer them all... Only one person can put an end to all her queries...

As she hold the phone tightly against her ears and waited impatiently for the person to receive, all the past memories of that one fretful night drawn to her mind... That one night has changed everything in her life and she wasn't even prepared for that cyclone to come in her life and snatched everything from her... Gunjan shut her eyes in anticipation and she could visibly see the night and a ten year Gunjan...

14^th Feb, 2004...

A middle aged man around fifty was getting dressed in his best suit in white and black while an elegant woman around forty five was helping him with the tie... Even she was dressed in a gorgeous red and black designer sari... A little girl of ten years was staring at them with a pouty face, her tiny hands folded near her chest... She wanted to join them but her parents won't allow her to come with them... Reason; she was too little to go for the party and it was a party where kids are not allowed...

That's what little Gunjan was complaining about... How she can be a kid, she wondered... Wasn't she ten years old and doesn't her Papa call her a 'Big Girl'... Then how come all of a sudden they are calling her a 'Kid'...

"Mom, Dad aren't you ready yet?? I'm leaving for the party or else I will be late... See you soon at the party" said the eighteen years young man who had just entered the room to say bye to his parents before leaving... He was dressed in a royal blue suit all ready to kill with his charm and attitude...

"Bye beta" said his parents...

He was about to leave when his eyes fell on the little girl in the room and her cute annoyed expression... He walks up to the edge of the bed where she was sitting and picked her up on his lap...

"What's up Pari?? Seems like my doll is upset very much... Want a chocolate??" he asked in a soft mellowed tone...

Gunjan nodded her head in denial "I don't want chocolate, I want to get dressed like an angel and come with you" she explained her wish...

"Off course you will come Pari, once you grow up like your bhaai then you can definitely come baby" her mother explained with care caressing her cheeks while her little family was smiling at her childish wish...

Gunjan's mind came back to the present realizing her phone has been received... A stern voice answered her from the other end...

"Where you and what made you so late... I was waiting for your call"...

Gunjan: "In my room... Don't worry; no one is here except me... Dia has left for home and she will only return tomorrow morning"...

Voice: "So, how was your first day?? Did you meet Sheena and Ranvijay??"

Gunjan: "We had the Talent Parade meeting today with Tamanna Mam... And yes, both of them had arrived and I have met them but didn't get much time to talk to Ranvijay; he left early after the meeting with some boys he had befriended with... But Sheena was with me and Samrat for quite some times and we managed to find out something to know each other"...

Voice: And what did you find out??

Gunjan: Right now I'm only sure about one thing; that she didn't like me much and that she is jealous of me...

Voice: That's weird... Why will she be jealous of you?? She hardly knows you...

Gunjan described in vivid about everything that had happened in the Music room that afternoon that Sheena had offered Samrat a duet dance proposal which he had rejected but at the same time he had offered the same proposal to Gunjan, that too before her presence... Sheena didn't take it lightly...

Voice: So, did you accept Samrat's proposal??

Gunjan this time left out an actual loud laugh hearing the question she was asked... "Out of all you're asking me this question!! Don't you know that I am a pathetic dancer??"... She enquired the person over phone...

"Off course I know that you are a pathetic dancer... How can I forget how much I have tried to make you learn some steps and every time you would end up either landing on my foot or hurting me in some other way" Came a witty reply from the other side in a much lighter tone this time and a gentle smile...

Gunjan was left awestruck for a moment... Did he just smile?? Came her thoughts... Was he really smiling?? Just like the old days when he used to laugh and tease her, cheer her up when she was upset... When he played the guitar and she used to listen to the music attentively enjoying every bit of it... Did she really hear him teasing her?? After so many days, not really days... After nine long years Gunjan hear him teasing her, she actually heard the sound of his gentle laugh over the phone when he teased her about her pathetic dance...

Gunjan could not help the tears rolled down her cheeks, how much she had wished for this day... If only she could be there with him right now only to see that smile after so many years... Her slight uncontrollable sobbing sound didn't failed to reach the person who could easily understand the reason behind her tears...

"Are you ok Gunjan" the voice asked her...

"I am fine, don't worry about me" Gunjan assured him with her short reply wiping away the tears...

"You don't need to worry about Sheena's jealousy stuff; she won't do anything stupid to spoil the perfect plan" the voice turned serious once again trying to change the light hearted subject about her dance...

"I am not worried about her" Gunjan replied, "I'm more worried about Dia"...

Dia has long been a friend of Samrat and she has a soft corner for Samrat, everyone knows that... She has always wanted to be treated as someone special by Samrat... But all her wishes went in vein when Samrat had wanted Gunjan as his partner rather than Dia who has been his dance partner since their school days... Dia was really hurt today because of Samrat and even unintentionally because of her... Gunjan explained everything what she felt about the whole incident... Jealousy, this feeling can create havoc in someone's life and he had witnessed it in personal... What if Dia felt jealous and insecure because of her and try to do something silly to get back Samrat's attention?? He could clearly understand Gunjan's thoughts and her hesitation not wanting to be Samrat's dance partner apart from being a not so good dancer...

But the Talent Parade has always been fruitful opportunity for any student in Excel, and Gunjan surely needed to perform her best in whatever she does... Gunjan was in Excel because of him, but surely he didn't want her to miss all the lively moments in her life... He definitely wants Gunjan to act like a normal teenager does and not someone who is burdened under some heavy duty...

"Why don't you sing in the Talent Parade?? My doll has a sweet voice and she can sing well" he suggested...

"Because I don't want to sing anymore" Gunjan replied directly...

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REHEARSAL ROOM:

Gunjan was watching Dia and RV from a distance practising their dance steps for the Talent Parade... After the Music Room fiasco one week ago Samrat had tried to talk to Dia... But she had left that day without giving any chance to Samrat or Gunjan to explain... And the next day after the first year audition she had announced RV as her new dance partner... This piece of news came as a complete shock for Samrat and Gunjan, as well as Mayank and Nupur... Even Uday who was famous in the whole college for his stupidity and silly antics did not favour the idea of his sister opting for RV as her dance partner... RV was Samrat and Mayank's room partner and in just one night stay in the same room both of them became aware of the fact what a spoil brat he was... As a matter of fact nobody wanted Dia whom they had known since their childhood to befriend a guy like RV... But Dia was adamant in her decision, as always... Nupur and Mayank had tried to persuade her but Dia has reassured them by calling it 'just one dance' and nothing else... Whereas Samrat's persuasion was completely ignored with her slit sarcasms...

Hence the equation among them was Mayank and Nupur would be hosting the event, Dia performing with RV, Samrat and Sheena both were doing their individual solo performance with back up dancers... And Gunjan even after some flirty and many serious pleadings from Samrat's side have stuck on to her decision of being just a helping hand at the backstage along with Benji and Uday... Finally Nupur had supported her saying they should not force her if she wasn't willing to perform on stage...

So, for the next one week she was there in the rehearsal room helping everyone with their needs and music stuffs... And now she was observing Dia and RV as they were busy practising... RV had formed a close bond with Dia in just one day; he himself was a great dancer and a flamboyant in nature... It wasn't that hard for him to win Dia's trust and convincing her for the dance... Gunjan could clearly see the change in Dia's behaviour towards her and even towards Samrat... She had been cold toward her in their room and most of the time she remained on phone, in conversation with RV...

"You are worried for Dia" said Nupur taking a seat beside Gunjan... She had noticed Gunjan observing Dia keenly and her growing closeness with RV... Nupur herself didn't like the cunning guy befriending with Dia... She had known her for long... Yes, Dia has always been a bit arrogant and pampered child that too because of Indira Shergill, but still she is a friend and a dear one...

Gunjan just smiled quietly approving at what she said... "She is doing all these because of me, isn't she??" Gunjan asked Nupur who she thought would know better...

"Sam told me whatever had happened in the Music room that day" Nupur replied to her queries... "Don't blame yourself Gunjan; you have nothing to do with this... I admit that Sam and Dia had performed together before every time but there is a vast difference between dance partner and life partner and Sam is not committed towards her"...

"But Dia likes Samrat and that is why she is hurt" Gunjan explained her thought which was in other way the actual reason behind her cold behaviour...

Nupur knew this, in fact the whole college knows... But the other fact which only she had figured out recently is that after Gunjan's entry in the college and in their life that her brother has changed too... But the change in Samrat was not vivid and it was noticeable to only her and Mayank... The reason of that change was Gunjan... Whereas he remained the same cool dude and the killer champ for the whole college, Nupur could sense that deep down his heart her brother has a genuine concern and willingness for this shy, introvert bur sharp new girl in his life... Nupur had a clear notion that Sam would flirt with Sheena after seeing her but to her wonder Sam had by each passing day stayed closed to Gunjan, talked about her to Nupur and even secretly tried to slick out all sorts of information about Gunjan from the student data sheet from the college computer... Being a member of the student council it wasn't that difficult for Samrat only to be caught by Nupur during the act...

"Is it always necessary to possess the same feelings for any person who likes you??" Nupur asked her at a time justifying Samrat's feelings towards Dia... "Unwilling love can destroy so many lives Gunjan and I don't want it for my brother"... Nupur expressed herself remembering the unsuccessful marriage of her parents which was a result of their unwilling love...

"Sam has always been alone in spite of having so many friends around" Nupur continued... "He had never shared his grief with anybody and neither he had ever been caring for anyone ever as he is with me... We just had each other for all these years and had hold on to each other... So, you see Gunjan; as his sister I want him to be happy"... Nupur's explained her every reason for not wanting Samrat to be with Dia...

For the next one hour Gunjan could only think of those words said by Nupur... All her words keep echoing in her mind...

He had never shared his grief with anybody...

We just had each other for all these years and had hold on to each other...

As his sister I want him to be happy...

All her thoughts sound so similar to Gunjan... She too had known someone who had never shared his grief with anyone but had never let Gunjan feel aloof... She too had hold on to him and he was her only family... And as a sister Gunjan too wanted him to be happy...

My doll has a sweet voice and she can sing well... His words, his little wish came across Gunjan's mind... Yes, she would do that, Gunjan make up her mind... She has really a melodious voice and her singing has always been his favourite... Only one week ago she had turned down his idea with her rude words that she does not want to sing anymore... But now Gunjan exactly knows why he had urged her to sing in the Talent Parade... Even after being surrounded by so many unwanted situations he wants his doll to be happy at the end of the day... And Gunjan too wants the same for him... She will do whatever he had wished for...

But besides him, there was yet another person for whom Gunjan wanted to sing in the event... Samrat... Both of them have always loved music, both of them wanted her to perform in the event... And Gunjan had started to realise within one week that Samrat too had become an integral part in her life... She will definitely try her best to make the two important people in her life happy who wants her to perform her best for the event...

"I will definitely perform in the Talent Parade, for you" Gunjan made up her mind remembering both of them...

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So, I guess the identity of the mysterious caller has been cleared partial... Hope you have liked it... Looking forward for your feedback...