ManeetFF Dancing Frm The Ashes link on pg146 - Page 92

Originally posted by: kunataanya

i read ur story in one go... couldn't let it go till i finished reading all the updates... i'm supposed to be working in office... 😛 great story! update fast... cheers! 😊

Originally posted by: mechantefille

not long

Chapter 44 - I'll Be...

You never realize when things seem to spiral out of control. One moment, everything is going straight. The next you feel like you're just a puppet being pulled in every direction. Life had been better when she had been a rebel. It felt like the freedom she had had, was only a result of her taking it by force; not giving a S@&^ to what anybody thought or cared.

A confrontation with her grandmother had not solved anything, but had only aggravated her further. Both her , her father and her grandmother, were hell bent on getting her married. They were convinced it was the only way she'd be happy. Nothing she said or did could move them. How the hell did this happen? Never in her adult life had she faced such a situation. And never had she been at such a loss, as to not know what to do.

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Maan tried calling Geet again. Her phone was repeatedly out of coverage area. The only time he'd spoken to her, was for 2 minutes in the morning and in that she had poured the details of her impending doom to him. He knew she had faced a hell of a week, and from the report he had got from Vicky, seemed like the Studio was under a lot of pressure too. He felt, more than knew that she needed him. It was with that intention only that he drove to the Studio, ignoring the piles of work at KC. And he made it just in time too.

The tension in the air was thick enough to chop with an axe. Vicky was out, but the rest of the studio seemed full. He walked in to the trainers' lounge to find the atmosphere of a completely different variety. The factions would've been visible to any stranger. The troupe stood away from Lyla, while Geet stood facing her.

That Geet was hacked off, was plain to see, but Lyla, in her aggravating manner seemed to goad her about something. Maan stood watching the scene, unable to figure out what the tension was created over. Before he could find out, Lyla spoke again.

''...and anyway Geet, you take everything way too lightly. All the good things you have, you never value them do you. I mean...'', she paused dramatically, a disgusted expression crossing her face, ''look at Nik. You always treated him so badly. No wonder he was taken away from you.''

A fury erupted in him, one he had never felt before, and as he moved towards Lyla, he saw the same feeling mirrored on Geet's face. She was however intent on causing bodily harm; the anger having reached a point beyond sanity. He saw her jerk out of her seat towards Lyla, madness making her steps slow and noxious.

He didn't know what made him move,or when he changed his mind, but he realized that he had caught Geet before she reached Lyla and had carried her struggling form out of the studio. He didn't know how he did it, but he had managed to throw her into his car and drive away from there.

She didn't cry, neither did she speak. There was a glazed look in her face, and she gasped for air, lost in a maze of thoughts. Looking at her, a cold fear spread in his chest. He turned off the highway, pushing down on the accelerator, continuing as twilight passed them, bringing on the night.

She seemed to have realized that they had stopped, for she stepped out of the car, leaning on it for a minute, and then shutting the door. She saw that he had already taken a seat on the edge of a rock, letting her take her time to reach him. She walked towards him, when she took in the surroundings.

They were on the outskirts of the city.

It was at an elevated terrain. Despite the darkness, she noticed the boulders around them, and the lone tree at the edge of the road. She walked closer to him and the lights of the city below visible like dim beacons, far away.

Even as she sat next to him, she felt, rather than saw him sharing her pain. She didn't know how long they sat that way; the lights below receded as night air grew denser. She turned to look at Maan and saw his silhouette staring at the tree. She had to look at it too, then. At first glance, she failed to see them, but as she gazed on, she saw them shimmering, moving about like flecks of wood ash, drifting from a dying fire.

Fireflies!

Their slow lazy movement lulled her into impassiveness, something she had never thought possible. With every passing second, she felt hypnotized by the light that seemed to become stronger- like they were giving out warmth to her cold numb soul. She felt him take her hand, as if to convey that he understood her pain; she thought.

Time seemed to pass slowly, the world filling up with the sparks flying all around her, now. She only awakened from the trance when she felt him pull a shrug over her, and massage her cold hands between his. It felt like a rude shock to be reminded of all the events of the week. She slumped as it came in a barrage towards her, her insides pinching up against her, and the only comfort she found was in tears; tears - that she had been adamant she wouldn't shed.

His hands found her face again.

''Don't cry'', he whispered. Then, 'Actually, go ahead and cry, if it makes u feel better. I'm right here''.

It was that more than anything else, that made her tears subside. As always, the very fact that he understood her pain and shared it. She wondered how it was that whenever she was sad and people around her told her not to cry, she felt like crying more. But the very fact, that Maan acknowledged her pain , stopped her from shedding it more. He had always done that.

She shifted up then, wiping her eyes and nose.

''Feeling better?'', he asked gently, like asking a child.

''Why do you do so much for me, Maan?'', she asked in return.

''Hey...'', he replied teasingly, ''...you're my best friend''.

A smile lit her face then, as she leant against him.

''Thanks'', she whispered. He only gave her a one-handed squeeze in response.

''Do you want to tell me what that was all about?''

She was silent for a while and then answered, "Just the usual Lyla crap...I can't believe I have the capacity to hate somebody that much. Even Nik disliked her...I think she was the one person on his radar that he stayed away from.'' She lapsed in thought for a while, but he sensed she was about to say more. "I remember when it had begun. Lyla had locked Nida up in the storeroom, assuming she wouldn't be able to call out. She had forgotten that Nida being smart had banged the door loud enough to break the walls. ...it had still taken us half an hour to miss her, and Nik had found her... I had never seen him angrier ...I hadn't known he could be in such a rage... I still miss him so much...sometimes -- I j-j-jjust ccan't breathe...", her voice breaking up in sobs again.

Maan had heard enough and he pulled her into his arms, trying to quieten her. ''H-h-ow could she say something like that?'', she sobbed into his neck.

Maan's hand stroked her head unconsciously. It was time he took things into his hands.

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Vicky held Meera closely. She didn't cry, but he felt the sadness pump through her, conveying it to him through her unsteady heartbeats. He wanted to fix things. He wanted to hear her rant and yell and look at him with that uncertain look on her face. Anything but that closed expression. It was killing him; but he held her still, till she broke away.

She didn't face him, until she had walked away a few feet. ''Would you like some coffee?'' she asked, her face only partially visible through her hair. He wished she'd turn so he could read what was on her face, but he did not want to push her.

So he backed up and whispered. ''No. I'll come back when you need me. Take as much time as you need''.

He saw her turn fully then, her expressions ranging from shock to surprise to gratitude. She nodded; half a smile lifting her face.

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That had been a week ago. Vicky had purposely tried to keep distance...just enough to know if she'd ever need him. He had sent her texts and she had replied cordially. Her mood seemed to be better. Work at the Studio had taken care of itself and try as he might, he couldn't use that as an excuse to stay away. Unlike all the other times he'd dated girls, he'd never had this urge to know everything about her. He had almost started for her flat absentmindedly, a couple of times. The idea that he might be going berserk came to him again. 'She hasn't replied to your insane love declaration yet...one side of his mind argued. 'She hasn't rejected me either'', said the other half, triumphantly. 'She seems to be going through personal problems. It's immature to go and add to her troubles'. His mind seemed convinced at that... but despite all the wisdom of the irritatingly sane part of his mind, he found himself at her doorstep, ringing the bell.

But the door was opened by a middle aged lady. He stared at her for a few moments and then looked at the door to check if he had got the right flat. He had indeed. He panicked wondering if Meera had left the flat. But then the lady began speaking...

''Can I help you?''

''Errr...no..I mean yes, I was looking for Meera...Shergill.''

''Yes. I'm Mrs. Shergill, her mother'', she said, in a clipped voice, extending a hand to him. 'For what purpose do you have to meet her?''

Sorry you guys - had been bogged down with work. Hope this update was ok. Do let me know what you thought. Missed you all a lot. Hope I'll still get to see you despite GHSP's end.

I know I haven't replied to ur last comments - but I loved reading everyone of them. Thanks a bunch, you guys. They meant a lot. Muuah

A song I remembered after ages and named this chapter after..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMiVeK5zGz8

Love