Nervousness ran over every contestant present backstage whether a guy or a girl. Dance India Dance Mega Auditions which would choose top 18 for the competition. Some rehearsed their moves, some were chanting god's name, and I stood quietly near the stage being the 1st contestant to perform. "Nervous?" someone whispered near my ear. "Kunwar... Hi... a bit nervous" He passed the water bottle to me, I took few sips from his bottle. "Relax... don't be nervous. I know you'll nail it." He kept his hand on my shoulder, his words gave me consolation that I can do it. "The first contestant from Terence ki toli... Shaki Mohan." My name was announced from the stage. "All the best... Shakastooo" He gave a good luck hug.
I walked on to the stage with trembling feet. The journey till here wasn't easy and the journey ahead won't be easy either all I could do was have faith in myself. On being in center stage just few seconds before my performance I looked at the left of the stage on the pathway through which I entered the stage. Kunwar stood there smiling and waving at me the good luck sign.
Music was on for Shakti's performance. I ran from backstage to the audience seat not because my brain reminded me that all the contestants will be seated as audience. The simple reason behind it was that I didn't want to miss the amazing performance by Shakti. Every other contestant was seated except me. Running over the couches, jumping from one seat to another to reach my seat I stepped on other constants who in return said "Kunwar Kya kar raha hai? Pagla gaya hai kya? dekh ke chal Kunwar." I was just two steps away from my seat when my foot tucked in Kruti's dupatta and I fell on Dharmesh Sir. "Kunwar andha ho gaya hai?" Kruti said untangling her dupatta from my foot. "Sorry Kruti."
I quickly adjusted myself on the seat. Shakti began performing on the song buttons', by the name of the song I was sure it would be a sensuous performance. She did few moves and the people around were hooting for her even I hooted her name louder and louder with whistling. She walked few steps back with face front towards the other side, and I was aware of the fact that she would do an awesome move. The song came to its first line, "I'm telling you loosen up my buttons baby." She faced the crowd and opened the zip of her green jacket. My mouth fell open and eyes were almost out the place where they are situated. The hoots became louder especially from guys, boys were gawking at her. I looked at Jack and Parvez who also had their mouth open. I kept my hands on their eyes, "Aankhen band karo kamino"
"Accha beta tum whistling karo to bhi theek hai n hum sirf dekhen to character dheela" They removed my hand from their eyes, "Kunwar pakka mat. Dekhne de, she is so h..." I kept my hand on Parvez's mouth. The next word had to hot but still I didn't want it to come out of his mouth. Shakti performance came to end. Judges, contestants, everyone there was so impressed by her that only WOW was heard but she herself was feeling a bit shy after her performance especially by the comments she received from Grandmaster and Geeta Maa. When Grandmaster said No words... Kya baat kya baat kya baat... WOW' she was hiding her face behind her hands and Geeta Maa's words If I was a boy I would have doubled my wow's dude, I would wanna make a wow with her' made her blush more.
My performance was over and I felt so much light. Appreciation received was more then I had ever expected. The rest of the girls from toli were all set to perform. I came to the audience and sat next to Kunwar. "You were flawless" he said. I smiled at him, "Thank uh" but it was his habit from day one to tease me. "Shakti... ahm ahm... WOW" I covered my face with my hands, "Kunwar stop teasing" I was actually trying to hide my blush behind my hands. "Accha okay I'll not tease at least ab to jacket ki zip band kar lo plz. You're making the heads turn." I quickly zipped up my jacket and hit him on his head with the water bottle.
Girls were selected for top 18 and my name was there in it. The next day was the selection of boys, I just wished for Kunwar to be in the top 18. Keeping my fingers crossed I sat in audience waiting him to perform. He came on the in his hip-hopper outfit and did an outstanding performance. One by one all the boys were over with their performance and results were about to be announced when my cell rang. I went to attend the call outside the hall.
When I returned results were already announced, Kunwar stood backstage with his head facing the ground. "Hey rock star kya hua? Selected?" I said in a friendly voice. He raised his eyes and sounded as if he wasn't there with me in the journey ahead. I simply tried to accept the fact and in the mean time he took out the feathered hat from behind. I screamed and hugged him tight, he too joined me deafening the people around. We jumped and screamed like mentally retards.
Journey of in Dance India Dance had begun. It was our first day in top 18 and Terence sir informed that we were paired together for the first performance on Khuda Jaane. The song was based on romance so our performance had to romantic. Terence sir explained us the situation of the couple we had to depict through our dance, "So Kunwar and Shakti look into each other's eyes and feel the love" I looked at his face and he looked at mine, for the last 20 minutes we were staring at each other as if someone had forced us to that. "Guys yeh kya kar rahe ho kaise bandaron ki tarah dekh rahe ho. Feel the love" Sir repeated and Kunwar yawned.
Sir was in a mood to hit both of us as it was difficult for us to feel the love especially for me. The bond we shared was of friendship, fun and masti. It wasn't easy to feel something that we actually didn't feel. "Kunwar what is this? Tum ek ladki ko dekh ke yawn kaise kar sakte ho?" Kunwar didn't understand he was actually taunting him. "Hehe sir iski shakal dekh ke neend aati hai" After listening to that even I wanted to hit him right on his nose with a punch. Do I look so boring? Sir was getting irritated as we weren't able to follow what he wanted instead we cracked joke and made fun of each other. "Aah leave it, Kunwar what did you notice in past half an hour in Shakti?" he asked.
"Sir, I noticed ki Shakti ka upper lip is quite small" he cracked another joke. We gave each other a hi-5 but later I realized he was actually making fun of me. "That's it... both of you... Err... Tum dono aaj sham ko date pe jaa rahe ho" I had a small doubt in my mind which needed to be clarified. "Sir hum dono kiske saath date pe jaa rahe hain?" it was undoubtedly a silly question I thought later. "Of course, ek doosre ke saath Shakti" we both looked at each other. "Sir mujhe iske date pe nahi jaana" I cribbed which was a fake one actually I wanted to go. It was always fun to be around him. "I'm also not dying to go on a date with you. Tumhari shakal dekh ke hi I'll sleep." He replied back.
"Well and good sir hum dono ko nahi jana, to plan cancel?" I said giving fake expression which made Sir believe that I wanna back out from date but in actual I was willing to go. Shakti and I shared a great bond, spending some more time together would be fun. "Main tum dono se pooch nahi raha hun, I'm telling you. Get ready by 7:30pm, now leave." He said. There wasn't much time for us to prepare ourselves so in hurry I (his look) walked one place to another in my room to adjust my clothes, hair or to throw some more deodorant.
It was my first date with someone so was a bit nervous actually more than I was for auditions. "Kunwar chill... it's a date not a LOC mission." Dharmesh said to calm down my level of nervousness. The clock struck 7:30pm I ran out of my room to the hall, Shakti (her look) was already down there. She smiled, "Hi, nervous?" I tried to push away this weird feeling. "Huh No... Not at all" she laughed out loud I don't know why, "Haha... tumhari heartbeat yahan tak sunai de rahi hai"
"Let's go" I said. Our date was arranged in a famous restaurant of Mumbai, I pulled out a chair for her. "Wow... formal n all hmm nyc" she took the seat. I sat in front pondering my eyes over the menu, "Shakti tum kya khaogi?" She threw the napkin on my face, her face had few lines of anger. "Tera sar khaungi... Kunwar main boar ho rahi hun. Let's do time pass, kuch toofani karte karte hain" Whenever she said of doing toofani either we got a scolding for crossing the limits of madness or were locked up in our rooms to control the crazy stuff we did. "Aye Shakti main teri baton main nahi aane waala iss baar. Terence sir se daant nahi khaani... vaise tu kya karne ka soch rahi hai?"
She raised her eyes brows with a wicked smile, "Chal tulli hote hain" I literally got up to run and escape from that idea. I guess this time she had a plan of getting a nice one from the hotel owners. "Oye main bhaag raha hun. Hum to pure hosh main toofan khada kar dete hai, tulli hokar to pura reaturant sar pe utha lengey. Tornado aah jaega, Shaku meri baat maan shanti se dinner karte hain." As if she would would agree with what I said. She made a sulky face to make me agree with her. "Phatoo" I don't know why I couldn't say no to this girl.
"Chal theek hai lekin 2 glass se zada nahi" she nodded like a five year old kid. We ordered stuff of getting tulli, when I said 2 glasses she had the whole bottle but I couldn't say anything as I myself had half the bottle. Shakti did some silly things which made me giggle finally she jumped on the table, "Duniya waalo meri awaaz suno" People around stared at our table. "Shakti neeche utar" I myself jumped on the table to get her down. "Kunwar yeh table mera hai, my area, my property, tu neeche utar"
I got down from the table, "dekh main neeche aah gaya ab tu bhi aah ja maate" She crossed over the plates in which we had food and the empty bottles then jumped on my laps. "Shakti apni chair pe baith yeh meri chair hai, mere laps hain, meri property." She kept her finger on my lips. "Chup... jo tera hai wo mera hai. We are frns na..." But that wasn't fair. "Shakti this is cheating and you are a cheater. Main table pe aya to tune mujhe neeche bhej diya but tu meri chair pe ayi to dosti yaad aah gayi."
"Uhhu uhhu... Duniya waalo Kunwar is bad boy use dosti se zaada kursi(chair) pyari hai" I think before coming here I should have taken more tips from Dharmesh especially on how to handle a tulli friend. "Hayee shakti baby don't cry, le... aaja baith mere upar." I pulled her back. She stared me intensely, "Tu aise kya dekh rahi?" she pulled my nose. "Tu kitnaa sweet hai... dekh ab hum date pe aye hain to date to kiss bina adhuri hoti haina?" I moved my head saying yes. "Hmm, adhuri to hoti hai" Her next words unexpected but still expected. "Main tumko kissi karun?"Well I don't mind as this date was to enhance our chemistry but gawd meri izzat khatrey main hai. "Shakti tujhe chadd gayi hai... mujhe darr lag raha hai"
"Chup... Aise cute expressions mat bana Kunwar hehehe feelings aati hai agar apna balatkar nahi karwana hai to chup reh." I thought of leaving, it was the best option left and time was almost 11:30pm. We came back to the ZEE bungalow. It was all quite, everyone was asleep. Tip-toeing we walked inside, "Shakti chup karke apne room main ja aur koi awaz nahi." She nodded and walked to her room but fell in between. "Kunwar muje room main chod ke aah. Andhera hai, muje darr lagta hai. Tu apni friend wo girl waali friend jo ladki hai usse raat ke time akela chod ke jayega?"
Firstly I tried to understand her words which meant she is my friend who is a girl but girl and ladki to same hote hain na? Err let it be, Shaku bai is tulli n kuch bhi boli rahi hai but I myself was tulli how could say anything to her. I lifted her in my arms and dropped her to her room.
Next morning my head was spinning around after effects of being Tulli. Mera yeh haal tha I wondered about Kunwar. I looked at my cell phone for time, LATE. Quickly taking a bath, I dressed up in whatever I found near and rushed to the hall where Terence Sir and Kunwar were already there. "How did the date went date hmm Shakti and Kunwar?" Kunwar was already looking at me and when my eyes met with his we both laughed endlessly. "Sir it was hilarious" though we tell much about what we did exactly but a rough estimation.
Sir was right that date was meant to bloom our chemistry and our first performance was remarkable in the history of Dance India Dance. After that we did many performances together and were known to be the best duo, undoubtedly we had something in us which created magic oops *MEJIC* together. We began as friends moved on to good friends and then became BFFs... best friends forever. In DID our journey continue together till top 5, he was eliminated before the finale leaving me alone to win the title for Toli.
It was the finale, just few seconds before the announcement of the winner. I was standing near Terence sir waiting for the moment. Kunwar smiled from the audience. My name was announced, I jumped and screamed around. Everyone congratulated me on the victory, toli jumped on the stage to hugging and congratulating. Terence sir lifted me up on his shoulders, but due to imbalance we were about to fall. Kunwar held my hand. He shifted me on his shoulders and twirled around.
After DID I thought that be the end of our togetherness but that was just the beginning a year later we got a new name KriYaansh.
Maybe were destined to be together... forever... n ever....
Congratulations KriYaanshians/Arshains...
for 200 AT... <3
Anupamaa
