Shot#1: Desires of the Heart
Swayam shekhawat, the name which made hearts in St. Louis college melt. Heartthrob of many but taken at the moment by none other than the diva, sweetheart of many male hearts, Sara Raiprakash. The cute couple as their class named them. Sara and Swayam were together since college started, not many days since it did anyways. Freshers yes they were, yet popular already among the college crowd. Sara had a twin though, who was alike yet different. Sharon. Sharon Raiprakash, a sweet happy and cheerful girl just like her sister. Sara was prettier but Sharon still stole hearts silently. She was a touch shy at heart, a girl who needed time to get used to the people around her to talk to them. But once people knew her, they would disagree with the fact she was quiet. Same course and class, hence she knew about Swayam. Charming, funny and smart he seemed. Everything that she wanted in her guy. Agreed she liked him. Even had a crush on him. But who didn't? Almost every girl in class liked him, including her sister. He talked to them yes, but when he looked at her, his eyes had a certain something to it. Intensity, question...she didn't know. Swayam's best friend belonged to the same class as well and he hung around her. Sharon and his best friend, Kriya had to work together on a project. Whilst working on it she got to know him better. He shared her taste. His choice of music was the same; bollywood was their calling. He shared her passion for dance. Dancer by birth they both were. He even shared her hobbies, a few of them anyways. Photography was a hobby they liked, mutually. They talked about music mostly, commenting on each other's sentences whilst the three of them talked working on the project. The few times their eyes met, she felt she saw something in them, but later put it to her imagination. This was how their conversations were anyways.
Kriya: OMG! I love that song! N William just copied the tune n the English aversion sucks!
Sh: Temme about it! Its got such good...*snaps fingers*
Sw: beats and the lyrics describes guys xD *catches sharon looking at him smiling* They lock eyes for a minute, something passes. Sh: Exactly! And the conversation continued. A typical conversation. Somehow in spite of them being a little alike, they never found any words to talk directly to each other.
Sharon
There he is again, surrounded by girls, cracking jokes and laughing away. How does he do that? I wish I was there too. Laughing along. Able to talk freely like I talk to Rey. Sara is there cracking jokes as well, why me? Why can't I talk? I can talk to everyone else but him. Intimidating or charming? Both. Oh oh...he's looking...at me...*sigh* what was that? There certainly was something he tried to tell? Did he want me there? Or or was it uncertainty? Curiosity? What was it?!! Or is it just my imagination? How I wish what I saw was real.
And so it continued throught the weeks, until the day. Rey: Swayam and Sara are together. Others: What?! Rey: Haan they're dating. Simmi: Kab se? Rey: Well he sorta asked her out today...but it seems they both liked each other from the start. Sh: *after a long pause* well, that's good isn't it? I mean...they're nice ppl, sweet people..n they're going out...wow... Sim: IKR?! Sara is sweet and humble, and he's like full of energy but nice. Opposites attract? But they make a cute couple! Sh: yeah...i guess so.. Rey: the first couple of our class! *laughs* Rinni: Would be mighty awkward if they broke up though. Rey: that's when the fun will begin *thoughtfully* Sh: Maybe...
Sharon
Sara and Swayam? What? How? She is better looking...but I thought he was different! Why are guys the same? Looks over heart? But she's sweet too n pretty. Added advantage I guess. Still. This proves all of it was my imagination! There they come...they do look happy together...he's happy. But there's no difference in their behavior...oh no...he's looking here again...look away! He is taken...talk! Talk to Simmi!...is he still looking? *glances at Swayam* he's talking to Rey and Kria...probably about Sara...*eyelock*...was it guilt? Or curiosity? His eyes aren't shining like before...why? Imagination! Stop working! He is taken! He isn't mine! He never was! Hope Sara n him are happy! Be happy for your sister! Yayy!
And that was how it went everyday. They still only commented on sentences though, never spoke to each other directly unless Sharon threatened him with Sara's name playfully when he sang out of tune, her favorite songs and he gave a smile, playing havoc with her heart. The only time they spoke directly was when Sharon was using her camera, he'd stood silently behind her, watching her shoot seriously. The picture was clear. He asked her for the camera and shot a few pics, some out of focus or too bright, whence she told him, how to go about the settings. One of the only proximate times they shared. And yet her heart dwelled on those memories. He clicked a picture of her, a candid picture, and had observed it, longer than any other picture he'd clicked, before declaring it to be worth a million dollars. She'd smiled at the comment, her heart beating happily.
*sigh* she heaved another painful breath, monitors beeping around her, her hands connected to tubes, her nose connected to another one, helping her breathe. Everyone from coklege had visited her, everyone, but him. Sara told her he'd come whilst she slept. But hadn't come in. Her water bottle rested on the fringe of her vision. Another memory.
She had stayback that day, as head of the cultural team. Swayam was there too but as her assistant. He'd excused himself from the meeting, and since it was the first cultural team meet, they'd nothing much to do and hence she'd dismissed the meeting early. She stayed back to complete the report of the meeting, supposing that he'd left early with the others. She'd completed her report, filed and was on her way out when she heard music coming from the rehearsal hall. The dance team didn't have stay back she knew as she was a part of the team. Curious, she went to check and maybe tell the person off for using the hall without any authorized permission. She entered the hall expecting someone to be just randomly, instead she found him, dancing his heart out to the music. Freestyling, his moves made the music come alive. And she watched as if in a trance. He was born to dance she decided. She didn't realize when the music stopped as she was that caught up in her thoughts. "Hello?" he said uncertainly snapping his fingers bringing her out of her trance. "Oh, hi.." she said, feeling a bit awkward. "Tum kab aayi?" he asked her surprised. "Uhm...sometime back...you're good...really good" she said smiling at him. "Thanks..tum bhi dance karti ho na?" he asked her, looking into her eyes. "Uhm..huh..haan haan...i do...solos zyada nahi karti" she said, guessing his next question. "Tho...may I have the opportunity of dancing n watching you dance? I promise you won't be the only one dancing" he said, in a light tone. She laughed, "Okay, just this once but." she said mock firmly. "Have I been blessed or is my past karma catching up with, that I've got the honor of dancing with you?" he said in jest, holding out his hand asking for hers. "Your past karma mostly" she said after a thought and slipped her hand into his. He gave her a serious look, as though wondering what made her reply that way. He smiled watching her blush a little, as he tugged her closer. "Just a minute" he said loosening his grip on her. "You may not get the chance again" she replied non chalant. "In that case, I would never let go" he replied equally solemn, holding her hand tightly, whilst his other hand dug into his pocket to retrieve the small remote. They stood there momentarily looking into each other's eyes, the air so intense that if they were ice, n air was fire, they would've melted then and there. The song started, the soulful music spreading through the hall. In one tug, she was back in his arms, his hand wrapped around her waist, her hand on his shoulder, both of them still gazing at each other.
<Manmarziyan - Lootera>
Yun To Solah Saavan Aaye Gaye
[Sixteen seasons of monsoon passed by]
Gaur Nahi Kiya Hamne..
.[But still I didn't notice any one of them]
Bheega Mann Ka Aangan Is Martaba
[But this time, the courtyard of my heart got drenched ]
Kya Jaane Kya Kiya Tumne..
.[Who knows what You've done? (to make this happen)]
Dil Mein Jaage... Ishq Waali... Manmarziyan... Manmarziyan
[In my heart arose... the desires of love]
Zidd Ki Maare.. Yun To solah
[They are stubborn... sixteen seasons]
Bhooli Bhaali... Saawan
[Innocent and naive... of monsoon]
Manmarziyan... Aaye Gaye
[Desires (will) of the heart... came and went]
Manmarziyan
[Desires of the heart]
Ab Talak Se... Kuchh Alag Si... Manmarziyan... Manmarziyan...
[From now on... they are a bit different... the desires of the heart]
Hum Zameen Pe... Bheega Mann KaI
[I'm on the Earth... the courtyard of the heart]
Tu Falak Se... Aangan
[You are on the horizon... got drenched]
Manmarziyan... Is Martaba
[Desires of the heart... this time]
Manmarziyan...
[Desires of the heart]
Sikkon Jaise... Hai Uchhaali... Manmarziyan... Manmarziyan..
.[They seem to be flying as if a coin is thrown up in the air... the desires of the heart]
Zidd Ki Maare... Yun To Solah
[They are stubborn... sixteen seasons]
Bhooli Bhaali... Saawan
[Innocent and naive... of monsoon]
Manmarziyan... Manmarziyan...
[Desires of the heart]
Be Adab Si... Par Gazab Si... Manmarziyan... Manmarziyan...
[They are ill-mannered... but still they are wonderful... the desires of the heart]
Hosh Khoya... Par Sambhaali... Manmarziyan... Manmarziyan...
[I lost my consciousness... but then I controlled(regained) myself... the desires of the heart]
Zid Ki Maare.. Yun To Solah
[They are stubborn... sixteen seasons]
Bhooli Bhaali... Saawan
[Innocent and naive... of monsoon]
Manmarziyan... Manmarziyan...
[Desires of the heart]
They waltzed slowly, on the spot, their eyes never wavering from each other, twirling in the middle and lifting her and spinning slowly, never breaking eye contact. They spun along to the tune, the song enveloping them in a trance. A soulful one, epiphanical even. It was a time where what mattered was them. What existed was them and nothing else. Just them and the music.
The song finished, but they didn't loosen their hold or gaze on each other. Time had frozen. Slowly their minds wheezed awake, taking in every moment of their dance slowly. As it sunk in, they came out of their revelries, trying to think back, come to their senses. "Uhm..." he said, tussling his hair, looking away. She looked away, her heart racing, her cheeks red. "Uh do you have water? I'm thirsty n mine is over..." he said, before he could finish, her bottle was out and was in his hand. He drank his fill and gave it back. "Thanks..." he said gruffly. "For what?" she asked, a bit softly. "For the dance..." she looked up at him and he added hastily "and the water..." he said nervously. "Anytime" she replied and turned to leave. But she couldn't, her hand was still in his, and he tugged at it lightly, hoping she'd come. "I think I should leave" she said. "But why?" he asked, his voice burning with sad intensity. "Because I have to...otherwise I can't" she replied, her eyes filling up at the thought of hurting her sister. "You don't have to" he replied earnestly. "Gimme one last chance?" he asked her. "No...I'm sorry" she'd said, her eyes brimming up as the guilt and want ravaged her. Pulling her hand out, she fled the place. Not looking back to see him stand, his hand still extended towards her, his face distraught and confused.
Sharon
Him. Me. Together. Him. Her. Together. Him happy. Him sad. Him. Love. Him. Dance. Us. Dance. Them. Couple. Us. Imagination. Him. Happy. Me. Happy. Am I in love? But Sara? Him? I can't hurt her. But do I really love him?
*beep beep beep* the monitors echoed her breath and heartbeat. A knock later, he entered. His eyes downcast like his head. "Hey..." she greeted him weakly. "I'm so sorry..." he said his voice breaking in between. "For what?" she asked him, her throat getting heavier. "For everything" he replied looking up at her, his eyes red, guilt piercing through them as intense as ever. "You will never let her know, you will not hurt her" she stated. He shook his head and whispered, "Never". "Thank you" she replied and closed her eyes. "Gimme one last chance?" he asked her meekly extending his hand towards her. She looked at him as she kept her hand in his. "Thank you" he said quietly, bending down to kiss her hand. "Anytime" she said, tears escaping down the sides of her eyes. She slowly rose, using all the strength she had, combined with his. He helped her out of the tubes connected to her skin and onto her feet, gently. Wrapping her arms around his neck, he held her waist. They slowly moved on the spot, their gaze on each other. Eyes never wavering. She briefly sighed a laboured sigh. And leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. "Hmmm" she said. He said nothing, he only kept moving, his eyes brimming up with regret. He twirled her slowly and leaned over her, before pulling her against his chest. Finally he could no longer keep up the pretense. He hugged her close to him, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I love you Swayam, I really do." she said, simply. "Since the first day" she replied. "You knew?" he asked her pulling apart. "I doubted if you did" she said meekly. "And I doubted if you knew" he said. "And now we both know" she said, smiling, tears escalating down her cheeks. "At the end" he said, his voice breaking as the tears fell faster. He pulled her back into a hug, gently but with lots of passion. She smiled serenely against his chest. "I love you Sharon" he said his voice a mixture of emotions, intense enough to set the world on fire. "That's all I want to hear" she said, and smiled as she closed her eyes against his chest. A tear escaping from her eye as she melted away into his arms. Minutes or hours later, they stopped moving. He scooped her into his arms and laid her into the bed. "Goodnight sweetheart" he said, to her serene smiling face and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Now we both know" he chuckled quietly and left the room tears streaming down his cheeks.
Sharon
*smiled serene and unearthly*
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