"Yes, Miss Nisha, I had to come. Shreya and Lavanya refused to compete without me cheering for them. Why are you still up... It's kind of late, isn't it?" Viraj replied with a sad smile.
Nisha smiled back politely. "I guess so. I couldn't sleep. So I thought I'd try to tire myself out. Why are you still up?... I'm happy to see you here though."
Viraj looked a little surprised at the last few words. "You are?" He then realized what he had just blurted out. He hurriedly tried to correct himself. "... Right. You are right. It's a little difficult to sleep in a new timezone. Still, I think you shouldn't exert yourself this much right now."
"I was just leaving Sir. How are Shreya and Lavanya doing? All set?" Nisha asked him. She hadn't missed his expression but she didn't want to push it.
"Yes, Miss Nisha. They're all set. They've worked really hard. You've been a real inspiration to them.These two 17 year olds are carrying forward your legacy. Maybe you could come and talk to them before the competition starts. They'll be thrilled." Viraj said.
"Sure." Nisha replied as she put on her sweatshirt.
Viraj casually mentioned, "You've changed a lot Miss Nisha. Just look at you." He regretted saying it immediately.
"Sir, I've learnt how to act like a student. You should stick to acting like my coach too." Nisha replied with a hard face. Before the hurt in Viraj's eyes could affect her, she said, "Good night." And she walked away...Leaving Viraj alone.
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A party had been organized by the hosts, a day before the actual competition started, to promote friendly relations between the different contingents. Nisha, of course, hated parties. Still she had to go as she was the most prominent participant from India.
She wore a plain dark high waist green maxi skirt and a simple white chequered midi top to complement it. Tying up her hair into a loose side-braid, she told herself, "Just go there, show your face, come back. You can do this. "
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At the party, Viraj stood quietly in a corner, wanting to leave. He wished to return to the comfort of his penthouse and his drums. Coming here was a bad idea. Some part of him had hoped that Nisha would have forgotten those bitter moments... Maybe he was expecting a little too much.
Soon Nisha entered. Viraj instantly brightened up. Even if she didn't consider him her friend, one look at her was enough to remind him of the happiest moments in his life. She wore a plain skirt and top, yet she looked anything but plain. She caught his eye and nodded in acknowledgement. He returned the curtsy.
Technically, Nisha was the most modestly and plainly dressed, yet all eyes were on her. Viraj smiled, her marked awkwardness gave him a glimpse of the old Nisha... his Nisha.
Again he shook his head. Not his. He'd made sure.
Nisha's discomfort grew with every passing moment. All her teammates were enjoying themselves. Dancing, interacting with all other participants. Nisha just stood awkwardly, politely refusing every guy for a dance.
Lavanya and Shreya were chatting happily in a corner. When the 30th guy asked Nisha to dance(and she refused for the 30 time) Viraj walked up to them and said: "Hey, have you met Nisha di yet? I thought you were really excited about meeting her. "
Lavanya spoke up: "Oh! She came. We thought she wouldn't come. Parties were never her cup of tea."
Shreya excitedly said:"Look, there she is! Wow, she she looks amazing! Let's go Lavanya. Thank you Sir!"
With that they walked to Nisha. Soon, the three were involved in really animated discussions that drew disapproving stares from onlookers. Viraj smiled. Nisha was herself with these two...she treated them like her own cousins.
Nisha was relieved to have them to talk to. She'd been feeling extremely uneasy all evening. A guy had been staring at her creepily. What was more disturbing was that he looked familiar...
Nisha pushed that thought away. She knew Viraj had sent Shreya and Lavanya. Maybe she'd been a little too harsh the other day. She made a mental note to apologize to him.
Soon Lavanya and Shreya moved away to speak to other participants. Nisha decided that she'd stayed long enough. She turned to leave.
Viraj noticed her leaving and decided to leave as well.
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Outside the hall Nisha was lazily walking back to her room when someone spoke: "If I knew that you'd grow up to be this sexy, I'd never have let you go in Pilani. Do you have any idea how hard I've worked so that I could meet you honey? "
Nisha's eyes widened in terror. She tried to hide her fear. Calmly she turned to look at him. Yes, he was the same guy who had been ogling at her all evening. The same guy who'd tried to... More than 11 years ago.
Before she could process anything, he'd pinned her against a wall. He stunk of burnt tobacco. Nisha kicked frantically and tried to shout. Just when she'd let out her first yelp, he held out a burning lighter centimetres away from her eyes. "Be a good girl and I won't hurt you. "
Nisha felt paralyzed. She tried telling herself that this wasn't the time for a panic attack... Yet she was wheezing and trying to move away at the same time.
Suddenly, she was released. Viraj had the guy pinned down against the floor.
"HOW DARE YOU! YOU B*****D! " Viraj was incessantly throwing punches at him. He spoke to Nisha without turning away, "don't worry Miss Nisha. I've already called the police. Relax."
Nisha didn't answer. She was rubbing her chest, trying to breathe.
Soon, the police arrived and took down the details from Viraj. Clearly, Nisha was not in a state to talk. The assaulter was taken away.
Viraj turned to Nisha. She was hugging herself hard and rocking back and forth... Trembling. "Miss Nisha?" Viraj said softly, not wanting to frighten her. She did not register. "Miss Nisha!" He said, slightly louder this time. He knelt down beside her. He couldn't let her go into shock right now. Not before the most important game of her life. He wasn't letting her quit again.
She continued trembling with a blank look in her eye as if she had lost all consciousness of her surrounding. "Nisha!" Viraj almost shouted shaking her by the shoulders.
This had an immediate effect. She slapped him hard. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" Viraj was stunned for a moment. "Nisha it's me. Please..." His voice was choked.
Nisha eyed him in disbelief and then stared at her hand.
"I hit you..." she said weakly. "I'm sorry." She broke down. She was finally back to her senses. She wasn't sure that she wanted to be in her senses though.
Viraj wanted to hold her and tell her that she was safe... But he knew he couldn't. He took off his jacket and covered her with it. "Miss Nisha, let's get you to your room. Please." He got up and stretched out his hand to her.
Nisha wasn't sure she could move. Still, she tried getting up... And faltered. Viraj put out a hand to stop her from falling, but she'd caught her footing before he could catch her. She hugged Viraj's jacket tighter around herself and started walking towards the hotel without a word.
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