ManeetFF Dancing Frm The Ashes link on pg146 - Page 42

amru how can you not be happy with this one/...it has been my favorite update so far...maan's realization that those eyes from his past belonged to geet was awesomely written by you...and his anguish at being so mean to geet was perfectly described...i loved his apology to geet...and i love the way he is drifting towads her more and more everyday...it was a fantastic update👏

Originally posted by: jyoti_l

awesome...

maan was wrong in what he said...but was glad to know that he regretted n apologized...

continue soon...

thnx for PM...

Chapter 33 - Jiyein Kyun ( Why should I live?)

The audience was having a good time. Studio 77 was putting up the annual show. The regulars noticed that the audience was larger and the hall seemed packed. The evening was full of surprises as the performances exceeded their expectations. It was much more than dance. Their senses had been indulged in one visual treat after another. The sets changed with every performance, and solo performances by students, were used as fillers to showcase the progress of the students. A big screen was hung halfway down the hall, for the audience right that the back.

Vicky sat astounded in the front row as he watched the show. By this time h had guessed why Maan had called him. For a change his recluse of a brother was showing off. But what was he showing off. He was accustomed to the performances that his troupe and students had put up. Or was it just out of courtesy that Maan had called him? Pushing the thought out of his mind, he dwelled on the performances that he had seen. As always Zakhir and Nida had kept the audience spell bound with their chirpy and lively performance. Farhan had displayed the best of talents, showing the stern side of the character ' it had been like the roles had been tailor made for them. So if the programme sheet said that there was only the finale left ' he wondered what Maan would perform on.

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Geet stood alone at the wings of the stage. There were 15 minutes to her performance. She felt alone and abandoned. Naanima and Paapa had no clue that the show was today. Sid and Mayank obviously couldn't come. She missed Nik. Never had she performed without him. Even if she had, he had always been there at the wings with her, till she went on. And he'd always been there to welcome her back, with a hug and a kiss. She felt alone. She missed him.

Her phone suddenly vibrated. Pulling it out of her jacket quickly, she saw Mayank's name flashing.

''Hello?? Geet?

''Hi'', she replied choking back her tears. Was it telepathy? She clung to the phone, sending a silent thanks above.

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[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6hDtYAqYmI[/YOUTUBE]

The lights suddenly went off as the auditorium went into complete darkness. A speck of light shone out from the stage as the curtains started to part. The spotlight illuminated a girl on the stage. The entire stage was in darkness, as she stood listlessly for a moment. As the song began, she paced indolently, as if waiting for someone. Her body swayed to the rhythm as she took tentative steps towards the side of the stage, anticipating the arrival of someone. She danced a little more, her pointed feet tracing patterns on the floor and then did a joyous spin.

Her eyes dropped as she realized there was nobody coming. Slouching, she clasped her hands to her heart. Disappointment clouding her movements.

The spotlight split into two illuminating a swing on the other side of the stage and highlighting the sterile white background of the set. It looked like a sheet. The crowd gasped collectively as a silhouette(shadow) of a lean, tall boy emerged behind her on the background. The girl was too lost, to notice what went on in her background. The spotlight on her, blinded her to all else. The lights turned duller, changing with her mood.

She paced sluggishly, keeping time with beats, and sat sadly on the swing. The silhouette followed echoing her movements. When the swing moved back, it appeared that the silhouette 'pushed' it back, swaying her on the swing. The song stammered out memories erratically.

She got up absently, lost in her dreams, the ghost of a smile lifting her lips, and caught an imaginary hand. The silhouette put his hand out, as if catching it and twirled her around. She leapt in the air reminiscing about a dance, while the silhouette caught her waist and lifted her. Wherever she moved, the silhouette moved in sync, helping her; guiding her. She swayed and he echoed her. If she leaped, he leapt behind her. The hand she put out was 'caught' by him, as he kept her steady.

The lights abruptly turned sepia and ghostlike. She was yanked out of her reverie as realization hit her that there was no one around her. The silhouette shuddered as he tugged at the air. Something seemed to pull him away from her and he stretched out his arms, trying to reach her. He seemed to be in pain, but he remained. She lurched agitatedly, looking around her in desperation.

Slowly, her movements became frantic as she struck out wretchedly, trying to hold her pain in. She clawed in grief and she struck out her hands calling out to the person to come back. Her hands pulled at her clothes, at her hair, tears gushing out of her eyes. She gazed out to the heavens as she pleaded respite from the grief.

The silhouette stood helpless, with his head hung. She slumped half way down as the silhouette 'caught' her. The grief increased as she mimed at trying to plunge a knife into her heart, while the silhouette struggled to pull it away. The silhouette of the knife appeared as he threw it away. She lashed out in pain, a silent scream of pain emitting her as she clutched herself trying to hold herself together. The silhouette's outlined blurred and shimmered. She slumped to the ground, debilitated and crippled of any life. Finally, she broke down in earnest tears, falling to her knees. The silhouette slowly moved behind her as he unfurled his wings behind him and covered her protectively with them. Her crying stopped as she leaned back onto him.

Sorry that's the best I could do for pics!

The music faded out and the spotlights dimmed until they went out, saving the one focussing on the girl. She sat immobile and motionless. The curtains pulled forward as they closed.

There was complete silence in the auditorium. A few sniffles were heard. Nobody spoke neither did anybody move out of their seats. All of them too overwhelmed and choked up by what they had seen. Slowly the applause began and kept going.

Vicky sat rigid. Tears running down his face. He had never missed Nik so much. He got up quickly and made his way to the wings.

Geet saw him waiting for her, as she walked out of the stage. Tears were pouring down her face too. As one, their feet moved towards each other and they embraced each other, crying out their pain. They never saw the man staring at them from behind the white sheet, empathizing with them.

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Maan walked away from Vicky and Geet. Over the last few weeks, certain things had been clarified to him. They had either dawned on to him or just hit him out of the blue. He couldn't watch his brother and Geet cry. It was too private a grief.

He walked towards the stage to delivered the vote of thanks. Backstage the party was already in full swing. Champagne seemed to be flowing and Zakhir had managed to decorate one of the smaller studios. As the auditorium emptied, the troupe pulled out all stops of enjoyment. Maan got a congratulatory text message from Vicky , also informing him that he had some urgent work he had to take care of. So then where was Geet? He walked out of the building looking for her jeep, but it was still parked. Where was she then? He knew that she hadn't realized what had gone on behind her in the shadow. He had known that the performance would make her eject her pain and lose herself in it. And she had. Zakhir and Nida who had watched from the wings only confirmed it.

He walked hurriedly now, in search of her. She was nowhere to be found. Even though he had been behind the curtain, he had somehow felt her pain reach him. He understood the pain she must feel. Keeping it repressed was difficult, but letting it flow and then cope with it, face it was tougher!

He walked faster, looking through different rehearsal rooms and changing rooms. He looked into the smallest studio as a last resort. She was there - sitting on the floor hugging what looked like a blanket, rocking back and forth, weeping all the time.

His shoulders slumped in despair. He felt guilty. His guilt led him unconsciously towards her, as he laid his hand on her shoulder.

She looked surprised to see him, and she tried to hide the tears - but the knowing look in his eyes negated the need for that. His arms were around her before she knew it, soothing her, hugging her, giving her relief in his arms. She shed more tears, not finding the need to hide them anymore.

The pictures were the only thing I managed to get my hands on..

For those who dont know what dancing in silhouettes is like - here's a video on YT

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpaCahFmruM&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]

I hope you liked it - please let me know exactly what your mental picture was. Am very very curious.

Also, the next update shall be a while ok!

I hope I've done justice to this bit ppl - the shadow that is dancing is none other than Maan. From the crowd's point of view it looks like the shadow is dancing hand in hand with Geet - but she's clueless that he's there...gawshhh...nobody's saying much. Did i not explain/write clearly enough??

p.s.: did I pm u the wrong link?? so sorry bout that!!

Chapter 34 Here We Go, Then - Page 74