I'd almost given up hope on Hindi TV serials , and then I stumbled on DivyaDrshti . I love the show , it's so different from anything I've seen on the Hindi supernatural platform . So far the plot seems good, the writing fun and the couples -amazing. DriKShit set the screen on fire , but I've always had a soft spot for the secondary-ish couples. If I HAD to pick just one character who fascinates me , it'd have to be Shikar . So, here's a tribute to the complex relationship that is ShiVya .
Prey and Predator
Shikar's always thought of himself as the predator . Now , he no longer knows.
He doesn't know quite how to explain it. The dance should have been awkward , a forced parody of the usual wedding reception performances. After all, he's worked hard during all of the practice sessions . Making sure it's a strained , graceless, unwieldy thing , a reflection of their relationship , a mirror of who they are . It's a carefully plotted , if cruel game of running hot and cold. And yet , despite all the preparation ,his and Psachinis , it's transformed into something Shikar doubts any of them saw coming .
Perhaps it's because of D's outfit , a slinky , long column of a dress . It had looked harmless , dull in fact when he'd picked it out of the pile his mother had sent . How was he to know it would fit her like a second skin ? or that the leather belt would cinch a tiny waist ,even further in . Worst of all , he hadn't paid attention to the slit , and now her mile long legs played peek a boo with the satiny fabric.
It takes everything Shikar has , to fight to chain the rage , calm the urge to punch every man who looks at her , to push back the need to knock the air out of the soft whistles that follow her . In the dim light, with the outfit and her fall of mahogany hair, she truly looks like an ethereal creature , a being who's escaped from worlds he knows not of. He has to force himself to remember , the plan was for to Divya to be crazy in love with him, not the other way.
He copes with the jumble of emotions the best way he knows , by ignoring them, and in turn , her. Shikar circles the room exchanging pleasant , inane conversations , carefully avoiding her . He even goes as far as flirting with the half wit , Lavanya . "What a waste the gift is on the idiot , the universe must have a wry sense of humour", he muses . Despite his best efforts, there are moments when they're pushed together . There , he works doubly hard to appear cool , uninterested and indifferent to her. Shikar watches as warm brown eyes look up at him questions and confusion dancing in them. It's obvious to him, she's not half the badass she pretends she is , and " really Divya should know better than to leave herself so vulnerable." He grits his teeth and forces himself to turn away from her , and instead press a kiss into the palm of the twit in front of him. He can feel D's fury , the icy disdain , and almost sense the shutters drop behind her eyes.
Shikar watches as she slips effortlessly into a circle of admirers , her voice joining in their shared laughter. The sound of the idiots surrounding her, vying for her attention grates his nerves , scrapes them raw. He forces himself to spin Lavanya , twirl and hold her in a dip. All the time wishing it was D instead. It's when a particular moron thinks it's a good idea to wrap his arms around D , that his thinly veiled temper snaps. In one smooth move , Shikar's priced the idiot's arms off her waist with enough force to leave the man wincing , before tugging her into his own. Through clenched teeth , he manages to bite out " So sorry Mr Mehra , I need my wife back . We've got a performance you see". She tugs on his arm, forcing them to a halt , hissing "What the hell Shikar ?" His own response is just as sharp " We've a dance princess , the public is waiting. You can go back to flirting later."
Her voice is soft , the barest hint of nerves , "Do we have to.." ,in an anxious gesture her hand swipes across her lips. In that moment he wants to hold her close , erase the worry peering at him from nut brown eyes. But that's not the plan, and he'd do well to remember she's rejected him time and again. His voice is harsh, and grip sharper , "Scared after all D?" he taunts . Her eyes turn cold, flat and she wrenches her hand from his , stalking to the centre of the hall. "Good , it's a good thing. Divya's anger has made it easier , clearing any doubts he has about the plan."
A dry grin crosses his face ,as Shikar strolls forward . It'll be easy , a few minutes of awkward dancing , before he'll drop to the floor during a lift ,taking her down with him. And then , then... blame it all on the pain from the stab wound , leaving D ,if he's calculated right , drowning in guilt. Easy.
Except , it's anything but.The lights dim, and he can hear the start of the song , see D swaying in front. In the space of a heartbeat , everything's changed . It's like a switch has flipped somewhere inside him. When he reaches for her , her eyes register some of his own surprise and confusion . This was not the plan.
Initially, their steps are a strange mixture of the practiced steps , and impulsive moves . The music swells , the rest of the world fades out.
It's as if she's just as spell bound as he is , following blindly as he leads . With each beat they're moving further away from the choreographed steps . And yet, she moves smoothly, pliant in his arms , as if they've done this a hundred , if not a thousand times before . Gone are the stiff , uncoordinated moves , instead they dance as if one body , seamlessly in sync . Moving intuitively with each other. It's as is she can read his mind , moving in tandem with him , even before he dances out of one move, and into the next.
Her scent swirls around him, drawing him in deep, while she spins out . It's a heady mix - tart and almost cuttingly sharp, with a surprising underlying sweetness . Like lemon or a citrus of some kind , it's a scent he'll forever associate with D.
"Drop down now , fall now" his brain screams , the strains of the music drown it out . Her arms lock around his hands, and heavy lidded eyes of dark caramel look into his own with trust . Her head tips back, and the sweep of hair slides down his back.He can't drop her anymore than he can stop breathing .
Even as the music begins to fade , his hooded eyes meet her own , a storm of emotions in both ; desire swirling to the top. She shifts, infinitesimal closer , and his hands move of their own accord , cradling her face. Her eyes flutter close , his own droop.
In a blinding flash, the lights come up, and the thunderous applause jerks them apart.