Chapter 70
Rahul and maanvi went to studio. Rahul asked all his today's schedule to be cancelled. To avoid raising any suspicions, maanvi said that Rahul is disturbed because of raj's health. Maanvi handled most of the rehearsals and song selection as she knew how much music meant to Rahul. Maanvi also made sure she don't leave Rahul alone for more than a couple of minutes.
Maanvi comes to Rahul after cheking up on rehearsals for the third time "Rahul... mujhe tumhari thodi si help chahiye. Wo jo abhi naye background singers aye hain... unme se ek se rehearsals me gadbad ho rahi hai. Main kya karoon?" she said.
Rahul put his thoughts aside and replies "Kya gadbad ho rahi hai?"
Maanvi~ "Auditions ke time to usne rhythm theek se pakadi thi par aaj pata nahi kyun uss se nahi ho raha hai. Maine usko samjhaya bhi par usko rhythm samajh me nahi aa rahi."
Rahul~ "Chalo main tumhare saath chalta hoon. Hum dono dekhte hain, pata chal jayega ki kahan problem hai." He got up and gets ready to check up on rehearsals with maanvi.
Maanvi hides her smile and takes Rahul to the rehearsals. Evidently, it was maanvi's idea to ask one of the background singers to mess up with rhythm when she brings Rahul. This way, if maanvi succeeds in getting Rahul to do rehearsals, it will cheer him up.
Rahul and maanvi entered the room where the rehearsals were taking place.
Rahul~ "Hello everyone. Sorry, I have been missing out on the rehearsal today due to some problem. But how about we leave it all aside and try to work our way through? Everyone agrees?"
Everyone nodded and Rahul signals for music to hear the rehearsal. As maanvi had asked, one of the background singer messes up with rhythm and Rahul asks him to try it solo once.
Rahul~ "I think you are missing the rhythm by a small mark. How about we try it solo once, ok? Once you get the rhythm, you will do great. Alright... ready?"
With rahul's signal, the music started again and the guy messes up with the rhythm again.
Rahul~ "No, no, no... you are still missing the rhythm. You need to feel the rhythm..."
Maanvi interrupts "Rahul... how about you show him once how you do it. After all you are the god of music. The songs you sing... comes to life."
Rahul remembered the time he wanted maanvi to be his lead singer. How he tried to trick maanvi into singing as lead but she outsmarted him. Rahul felt that something is off as the guy who missed the rhythm was one of the best singers he had auditioned for this album. He glanced at maanvi who kept her expressions neutral but she still had to avoid eye contact as he would see right through them.
Rahul grabs his guitar and signals for music. As the music kicks off, Rahul forgets his problems and gets indulged in the song. Maanvi joined him as well.
~~Iss qadar... tu mujhe pyaar kar
Jisey kabhi na main sakoon... Phir bhula
Zindagi... laayi humein yahaan
Koi iraada toh raha hoga bhala
Ki darkhast hai yeh, Jo aayi raat hai yeh
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de
Jo ab lamhaat hai yeh, Bade hi khaas hai yeh
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de (x2)
Raahon mein mere saath chal tu
Thaame mera haath chal tu
Waqt jitna bhi ho haasil, Saara mere naam kar tu
Waqt jitna bhi ho haasil, Saara mere naam kar tu
Ki armaan hai yeh
Guzaarish jaan hai yeh
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de
Jo ab lamhaat hai yeh... (Jo ab lamhaat hai yeh)
Bade hi khaas hai yeh... (Bade hi khaas hai yeh)
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de
Lamz jismon pe aise sajaaye
Baarishon se bhi woh dhul na paaye
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de
Ho.. naksh lamhon pe aise banaaye
Muddaton se bhi woh mit na paaye
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de
Hmm.. tujhse toh hoon main yun bohat mutassir
Par kya karoon main hoon ek musafir
Kaisi khushi hai jisme nami hai
Jaane tu ye ya jaane na, o...
Jo jazbaat hai yeh... (Jo jazbaat hai yeh)
Bade hi pak hai yeh... (Bade hi pak hai yeh)
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de
Jo ab lamhaat hai yeh, (Jo ab lamhaat hai yeh)
Bade hi khaas hai yeh, (Bade hi khaas hai yeh)
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de
Bhula de, bhula de
Wo.. tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de
Bhula de, bhula de, bhula de
Ki darkhaast hai yeh
Jo aayi raat hai yeh
Tu meri baahon mein duniya bhula de~~
Everyone is taken by Rahul maanvi's performance. Rahul maanvi shared an eye contact and he understood instantly that this was all a set up.
Rahul~ "How about we all take a break and meet back here after lunch?"
He kept his gaze on maanvi which froze her in her place while everyone else left. Once Rahul maanvi were left alone in the room, Rahul slowly walked towards maanvi. He grabbed her arm and pulled her close.
Rahul~ "I know what you did."
Maanvi breaks eye contact and tries to avoid the topic "What do you mean? What did I do?"
Rahul~ "You always love to outsmart me, don't you?"
Maanvi~ "Why would you think that? I would never even think of doing something like that."
Rahul~ "I still remember how you outsmarted me when you didn't want to sing as a lead with me."
Maanvi~ "Oh... back then I misunderstood you. But all those misunderstandings are a thing of the past."
Rahul~ "But you did made the attempt to outsmart me. Today also, you planned all this."
Maanvi~ "I did nothing."
Rahul~ "If that is what you wish to keep saying, but tell me something... how does a guy I auditioned, who was best among the other people... started to miss the rhythm of the song?"
Maanvi understood that Rahul had figured it out, that she had asked that guy to miss the rhythm on purpose. Feeling little uncomfortable as her act was about to be unveiled, maanvi tried to run away. But Rahul quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her in his arms.
Maanvi hasn't felt this nervous being in his arm for a long time. Rahul's eyes still had the same mesmerizing power that would make maanvi forget everything else. Staring into each other's eyes, they both stood there for next few moments.
Rahul~ "I know you did this on purpose."
Maanvi forgot for the moment what she did "What did I do?"
Rahul~ "You asked that guy to miss the rhythm on purpose, so you can get me to sing."
Maanvi~ "Why would I do that?"
Rahul~ "To cheer me up... help me move past the thoughts that were affecting me."
Maanvi~ "That doesn't seem like me... or does it? Hmm... who knows."
Rahul~ "Oh yeah? Keep up this act for just a little bit longer and we will find out what happens when you try to trick the mastermind."
Maanvi~ "Mastermind? You? (giggles) Sure if you say so."
Rahul pins maanvi to the nearest wall and they are barely an inch away. This sudden change left maanvi surprised. Without giving her any time to think, he gets even closer to her. She gives in to let him kiss her, but Rahul whispered in her ears instead.
Rahul~ "You did this all for me, didn't you?"
Maanvi replied in whisper as well "Yes."
Rahul~ "I missed your feeling nervous around me." He smiled looking at her.
Maanvi slowly opened her eyes and finds him still standing so close to her. She was breathless as her trick was caught which she played on Rahul.
Rahul~ "Now I know that you feel this way when you do something and I m about to catch you red-handed. Like the time when I tried to get you to admit that you love me."
Maanvi~ "I admitted it myself, didn't need you to play your tricks."
Rahul~ "Acha ji? It had nothing to do with you feeling jealous?"
Maanvi~ "No... no... I wasn't jealous. Why would I be jealous?" she tries to deny it.
Rahul~ "Because you feel that only you have right over me, and if anyone else tries to claim my time... you feel jealous." A shine glistened in his eyes for a moment.
Maanvi~ "And is that wrong?"
Rahul slightly shakes his head.
Maanvi smiled "So what now?"
Rahul~ "We do lunch and get back to rehearsal. But before that..." he moves closer to her to steal a gentle kiss.
That song must have worked a spell in the air as if it kept playing over an over, making their moments special. They finished lunch and returned to the rehearsals. They did few more runs of the song with their background team in the rest of the day.
Maanvi found a way for Rahul to avoid his dad. For that, she just needed to talk to Rahul about it, and if he wishes... she can make it happen.
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