Chapter 34 - Here we go, then.
The absolute quiet was what came to her attention, first. Despite the hard surface beneath her, she was way too comfortable to want to move. Some heavy material lay on top of her, snuggling her. She dozed off again. She woke up again to that dead calm - after how long; she didn't know.
It was warmer now. She stretched and opened her eyes. The mirror of the studio reflected her image to her. She was sleeping on the floor, again. She shifted about, taking stock of her surroundings. Nik's blanket was clasped in her arms, and her bag was under her head forming a pillow. The big heavy thing seemed like ... a curtain??? Seemed like it. It explained the dim light streaming through the room. She sat up and stretched. That was when she realized that she wasn't alone in the studio.
She almost jumped out of her skin and looked at the sleeping figure. His hands rested on his knees and his head hung low, as he slept. A flood of memories of the night before, rushed to her mind. She almost flushed in embarrassment as she thought of it. But, the feeling changed as she thought of it. There had been something that had made her cry. What had it been? Like, she didn't worry that he'd seen her cry and it was ok that she had done it in front of him.
He was fast asleep and he seemed to have been there all night. Gratitude filled her up as she looked at the things enveloping her. He must have made her comfortable for the night. And here he was in deep sleep in the most uncomfortable posture.
Hesitantly she moved towards him.
''Maan'', she almost whispered. He didn't stir.
She cleared her throat. ''Maan', she said, this time louder.
Not a blip.
She nudged his shoulder, and again a little harder.
He stirred, blinking, trying to open his eyes. He looked up blearily in her face, trying to adjust to the light of the room.
He finally focused on her face. She looked conscious of herself.
''Good morning''
Rubbing his eyes, he shook the sleep out of them and wished her back.
There was an awkward silence. They looked around, thinking of what to say.
He broke the silence first.
''Errm...so did u sleep well?''
''Y-yes, ermm... thanks... for the...curtain, I mean, the cover...'' she stopped in mid sentence, wondering how to say it as sanely as possible.
''It's ok, Geet,'' he said calmly, looking at her. ''It really is ok. ''
She nodded her head, tightly. She noticed him rubbing his neck. The odd posture must've strained it.
''A hot shower will help,'' she blurted out.
He looked surprised. ''Sorry?''
''For your neck, I mean ...A hot shower will help. ''
''Thanks. Err, why don't you go and take one, then I'll use it.'' He offered.
''Never showered here, have you. There's a separate room for guys and girls. Relax.''
He nodded, and they both walked off to shower. Each pondered over the events of the previous night. It had been so emotional and confusing. Maan was a bit apprehensive about how she'd react over the performance. He decided not to say anything until she asked him about it.
He walked back out to see her packing her things up.
''Going home to change?'', he asked.
''Yes'', she said quietly. ''What about you?''
I'll stay put. Have to see to the cleaning up and stuff, from last night's show. Didn't manage to do it yesterday. ''
A shadow passed over her face, as he mentioned the previous night. He noticed it, but he continued. ''Am hungry though. Have you had anything to eat? '' He looked at her, and then a thought struck him. Bet you haven't eaten since lunch yesterday, too. ''
She nodded, weakly, wondering where this was going.
''Then, let's grab breakfast and I'll drop you back.''
She nodded, not wanting to disappoint him. He had missed out on his work thanks to her.
They drove in silence. As expected Maan took her to the closest 5 Star hotel.
They ate in silence for awhile.
'So Geet, why don't you go home and take the day off. Don't come back. Only Farhan's coming today and half the batches are cancelled''.
''Ummm...ok , I don't mind. What about you? Are you going in?''
''I might have to. Have to finish up with the newer entries for enrolment, and also have to start more batches.''
''New batches? Why?''
''Haven't you heard. We have a hep new troupe vying for attention, and if not nipped in the bud, it could prove to be serious trouble.''
''But, we've gained good ground. What could go wrong.''
Maan was surprised. She had gathered all this information? She wasn't as lost as he'd thought her to be.
''The problem is, Geet, that I don't know the troupe as well as I should. Vicky is more of a friend with you guys, But I need to know exactly what all you are capable of...so that we can allocate all our resources to the right place at the right time. You know what I mean?''
She nodded, chewing thoughtfully. ''So what is stopping you?, '' she replied after swallowing.
''I don't know. I'm not big on people skills and no one knows that better then you. I need to know how to go about it and I need someone to guide me...'' He stopped mid-sentence.'' And I think I've found the perfect person to do so.'' He said pointedly.
''Me?? '', she asked incredulously?
''Yeahhh!!, '' he emphasised. ''You've known them for a while now. And I need just a heads up on how each person's behaviour is and how I can reach them. ''
She looked sceptical, thinking about it.
'Look, please. I need a break for this. Please, Geet, will you help me?''
She looked at him and said, ''Ok, but there's not much I can help you with, in the first place. ''
''Ok just tell me what they are like.''
She took a deep breath and then started.
''OK Nida, she's by far the most intelligent of the lot. She's independent and astute. You can't lie to her. Maybe it's the Mute thing ;she can read people like this..''.she snapped her fingers to emphasize it. '' She's been seeing Zaakhir for ages now and they're inseparable. She'll like it if you take an interest in the techniques of teaching, cuz she's big on evolving dance methods. ''
''Zaakhir is a teddy bear. He's easily the most jovial and happy guy I've met. Nida is his life so don't mess with him about her. He's good at dancing and he'll always put in his 100%, but he's quite a prankster too. He and Farhan are buddies.''
Maan absorbed all of it, quietly, nodding his head. ''What about Farhan. Does he ever speak?''
''No!! He's the quiet kind and he talks only if necessary. You can say he's the most passionate of the troupe. He'll stay back and practice, rehearse and do whatever it takes to ensure that stellar performance. So he's the guy I'd bank on for perfect work. He hangs out with Zakhir the most, but he can be a loner too...Yeah that's about it?!! ''
''Perfect. I think I can work with this for the time being. Thanks. ''
She jumped on the opportunity to get to the topic...however thin.
''Maan, if anything I should thank you,... for last night. You didn't need to. But, thanks anyway. ''
He turned red in the face, and couldn't say much. But he nodded, as acknowledgement.
They returned to the studio and Geet left him to go home.
It was a new experience. She didn't know what she felt and she didn't want to analyse. Shouldn't one be more awkward when you've unwittingly spent the night with someone? Maybe she had misjudged him. He seemed like a nice guy. He was after all Vicky's brother.
She lay back in bed and pondered over the events of the previous day and night.
Naani came to her room and sat quietly with her. She didn't say much, cuz for a change she didn't seem unhappy, just lost in thought.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone. It was Zakhir. He'd emailed her the videos and pictures of last night. She switched on her laptop.
''Naanima, see this, I had a performance last night, Zakhir has sent the videos.''
She waited for the video to download. And opened the pictures till then.
The first one astounded her. She was in it , but behind her was the shadow of a guy, and he seemed to be dancing with her.
''Who is that beta?''
'Naanima, I think it's...Maan??, she almost whispered. Were her eyes playing tricks on her?
''Savitri's grandson? Let me see.''
''It had to be him naani, what is he doing in my performance?''
She was getting angry.
The video had download and she eagerly switched it on.
She saw him. It looked like he was dancing along with her throughout. She had never realized. How could he?? He must've seen the space and the movements all along, when she was rehearsing. It had been done well, but she had thought he's understood her sentiments and the theme of her song. How dare he? To think she had thought of him as a nice guy.
The video ended and she saw him unfurl wings and wrap them protectively around her. They didn't help. He felt as if she had been betrayed.
''Shahbash beta, look Maan has shown Nik like an angel, '' Nanima said wiping her tears. She came close to Geet and hugged her. ''It was very sweet of him to give this twist to you performance. In a way, I always thought Nik would be around you. And this was very poetic. ''
She walked away sniffing. Geet swallowed a lump in her throat.
Nik, An angel? - Of course he had been. Why didn't she see it that way?
How could she not see it, but waited till it was pointed out? Was she that angry or blind, that she had to misinterpret everything people did around her? Tears splashed down her eyes.
So so so sorry guys, for the wait n the short update. I took some time cuz I wanted to make that picture, but that too has come - well the lesser said the better. I know I know, Maan's shadow/silhouette looks like that of an ape's , par main kya karoon - I wasn't able to edit it, much. That's the best I could do to draw, but I tried, alright. And couldn't resize it either. So, no jootis plz.
Chapter35 Unexpected - Page 80
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