At Malhotra Residence
"I just hate that girl .. If I get a chance .. will strangle her .. she is showing me attitude .. me .. Rey .. who does she think she is .. " Rey was muttering to himself in his room .. He was very p*sed off since the time he had come from college .. he had put on the headphones of his ipod .. and the music in it was blazing .. and he was dancing .. no ..not dancing .. he was just venting out his anger ' he couldn't do anything to her .. so he just wanted to dance and release all the irritation ..
His Mom heard his muttering .. because Rey thought he was just saying it to himself .. but because of the loud music in his ears .. he didn't realise that he was shouting .. his mom heard the harsh words he was uttering for some girl .. she knew that Rey was not like this .. she had single-handedly brought him up .. she was proud of him .. he always respected girls .. he would never ever say a bad word for any girl .. yes .. he had the looks .. the charm .. girls fell for him .. but he was not a guy to take advantage of anyone .. he was 20 years old ..but he hadn't found the girl whom he thought he could fall in love ..
She saw him dancing fiercely .. as if some obsession over his head .. this reminded her of only one person .. that one person whom she hadn't forgotten till date .. Rey many a times unknowingly reminded her of that person ..
Rey was a born dancer .. she knew this came to him from her genes .. but she had never told him that she herself was a dancer .. leaving dance was her choice as also many other things in life .. she knew this secret of hers would go to grave with her only..
She came in and tapped on Rey's shoulders .. and gestured with her hands asking what's wrong ..
He came to a sudden stop .. for a moment he was not sure where he was and what he was doing .. but came back to his senses .. when his Mom smiled at him .. removed his ipod ..
"Nothing Ma .. was just practising " he shrugged his shoulders .. tried to take a book and flopped on his bed to avoid any more questions from his mom ..
But his mom came and sat next to him .. touched his cheek lovingly .. "Who was that girl whom you were cursing ?"
"No .. no one Ma " he stammered ..
His mom tilted her head to her right and glared at him and raised her eyebrow ..
He threw his book on the bed .. but was quiet '
"Its your last year in college ,Rey .. almost the end .. till now I had never seen you so angry with someone .. now what happened ?"
"Ma .. there is this girl who had joined college this year .. from the first day of college ,she gets on my nerves .. I just hate her "
"Why do you hate her .. what has she done .. "
"So many things .. once she pushed me in a puddle of water .. ok .. I ignored it ' then for one of the parties she put itching powder on me .. still I ignored her .. she is friendly with all my friends but not me .. she doesn't meet an eye to eye with me .. she is always rude to me .. then she formed a dance team against mine to compete for the inter-collegiate dance competition .. both our teams were declared winners .. still she would not talk to me .. and now the college wants us to do a couple dance for an all India level competition .. its in 3 weeks time .. but she shows a lot of attitude while practising "
His mom was quiet for sometime .. some past memories were coming to the surface .. but she ignored them and concentrated on what Rey was speaking ..
She gently said "Rey .. did you play any prank on her ?"
Rey ran his fingers thru his hair .. "Nah" he tried to avoid his mom's gaze ..
"Hmm" she glared at him
"Ok .. just once .. I put a fake lizard over her top .. she jumped and ran throughout the college screaming as if she was on fire .. that was hilarious " Rey started laughing recollecting that scene ..
"Stop laughing Rey .. it was not funny "
"Yes Ma .. she was too funny" .. he winked ..
His mom glared at him .. so he shut his mouth and caught his ears with his fingers ..
"So.. you are angry with her because she formed a dance team against yours ?"
Rey was in thought.. "Yes .. actually no .. I am not sure .. she is a great dancer .. I have seen her .. " he was confused ..
His mom smiled .. "Are you jealous because she ignores you ?"
Rey was in his own thoughts .. "Yes .. " .. he realised what he said .. he snapped out of his thoughts .. "No .. of course not .. I don't care about her "
His mom teased .. "Really ?"
"Ma .. stop it .. "
"I am sure if she is a good dancer , you both would do a great couple dance .. why don't you be friendly with her during practice ?"
"I don't think she wants to be my friend .. its more of war during practice than dance .." he was a bit sad ..
His mom noticed his expression .. she smiled .. "Don't worry .. I will tell you something .. do that .. am sure she will be your friend .."she pulled his cheeks ..
He glared at his mom .. "Ma .. please .. " he touched his cheeks .. then asked "What should I do ?"
She spoke something in his ears .. Rey's eyes lit up .. "Really .. you think this will work ?"
"Of course .. "
"How do you know .. " Rey was a bit curious ..
"Hmm .. experience ' " his mom said proudly ..
Rey was quiet for sometime .. "But .. mom you and Dad had arranged marriage then how come .. "
Before he could complete .. his mom cut him .. "I meant .. one of my friends told me her experience "
"Oh ok .. .. Hey Ma .. you have to come for the dance show.. I have got a pass for you .. I know you don't like dance .. but for me please .. "
"Sure .. Btw .. what is her name "
"Her name is same as .. "
Tring Tring
"Rey .. I will just take the call .. its important ' will talk later ..ok .. I will definitely come for your dance .. "
***
At Singhannia residence
"Why can't boys be like girls .. useless creatures .. " Kria muttered gritting her teeth so fiercely that her Dad was shocked to see her so angry at the dinner table ..
"Kria .. what's wrong .. "
"No .. nothing Dad " she realised what she had meant to say in her mind had come out thru her mouth .. that too infront of her Dad .. she had been cursing Rey in her mind since morning .. she had been asked to dance with him for a couple dance by their college .. from the beginning of this year they had nothing but fights .. he hated her .. she knew that in her heart .. she felt bad about it sometimes .. but she ignored it .. all her friends drooled over him .. his dance .. but not she .. she was not like them .. she loved his dance .. he was too good at it .. but she hated him because he always had this over the top attitude .. he never mis ' behaved with her .. but he got on her nerves whenever he came infront of her .. she couldn't think straight with him around .. he had this weird effect on her .. she didn't know why ..
"What are you upto .. let it out ?"
"Nothing Dad .. I just hate guys .. " she realised what she had said .. "Oops .. I mean .. I hate the guys in my college " she looked sheepishly at her Dad ..when he gave her a glare ..
"Why .. what have they done .. ?"
"Actually not all .. just this one guy .. I just can't stand him .."
"Did he ill treat you or something ?" her Dad was angry now ..
Oh No .. Kria why can't you just shut your mouth in front of your Dad ' now he is angry .. you know how possessive he gets with you .. and the guy is not that bad ..
"Dad .. I am a big girl ..you know that .. I can handle .. here this pulav is great today .. isn't it .." she tried to change the topic ..
"Don't you try to evade me .. just tell me what happened in college .. "
"No .. no .. actually '. "
Her Dad raised his eyebrow so that Kria would elaborate her point .. he was a strict Dad and she knew if he got angry then he would stop her pocket money .. or maybe he would make her home coming timeline stringent .. so she narrated everything that happened between them ..
She continued .. "Now when I was forming my dance team against his .. he came to me and gave me a piece of his mind .. saying you are going to dare me by forming a team .. its not easy to form a team .. you can't do it alone .. blah blah
But .. both our teams were winners '
Now we both have to do a couple dance ..
"
Her Dad was surprised to hear this .. his anger flew away as he remembered something and he couldn't help smiling ..
"What's happened Dad .. why are you smiling ?"
"Nothing .. just remembered something .. ok so tell me .. is he a good dancer ?"
"Yes .. very good indeed .. " she was lost in her thoughts .. a curve formed on her lips thinking about him ..
This didn't go unnoticed by her Dad .. he cleared his throat .. Kria jumped out of her thoughts ..
"So what's the problem now .. ?"
"He doesn't talk to me .. " she was sad ..
"Oh .. you concentrate on the dance .. don't be rude or play any prank on him .. ok .. am sure he will become your friend"
"Sure .. Oh .. I forgot .. I have got a pass for you .. you have to come for our dance show .. ok " she took a deep breath that she doesn't have to talk more about Rey to her Dad ..
"Yes .. I will definitely come .. so what's his name "
"His name is same as " before she could utter Rey's name ..
Tring Tring
"Kria .. I have an important call now .. but I am coming for the dance .. do your best .. you should win it .. " he went for the call ..
***
Host : "Now we are presenting the couple from St. Thomas college .. They would be performing on the most beautiful love song 'Inn Lamhon ke daaman pe ' .. this song is one of the classics .. this was released when these kids were not even born .. a real gem of a song .. am amazed that this song was chosen by the kids of this generation .. please give them a huge round of applause to Kria Singhannia and Reyaansh Malhotra"
Rey and Kria danced as if 2 bodies and one soul .. the song was just apt for them .. the way they moved to the rhythm .. the way they held on to each other .. Kria was delicate .. Rey was her saviour .. she trusted him with all the lifts .. he securely held her in his arms .. their closeness .. they way they looked in each other's eyes .. the smile which was continuously playing on their lips .. all showed their charismatic chemistry .. it was as if they were not dancing for the audience but just for each other .. they were transformed in their own world .. oblivious to the eyes which were looking at them ..
When they finished their dance .. the whole auditorium stood up to give them a standing ovation .. the auditorium just echoed with their names .. the clapping just didn't die ..
Amidst the whole audience .. there were 2 pair of eyes which had tears flowing down their cheeks .. they had no control over their emotions .. they were the 2 people who just couldn't stand and clap for the dancing couple .. they were not in the present .. they were lost in their memories .. their past .. they just couldn't control their hearts which was crying out for the other ..
***
Rey's mom rushed out of auditorium to go to the washroom to stop herself from crying and get a control over herself ' She came out and thought of having a coffee ..
She took her coffee cup and sat on a table alone and was lost in thoughts .. She didn't realise when a person came and took the chair in front of her .. he kept his hand over hers ..
When she felt his touch .. she looked up at him .. those same loving eyes .. that smile .. she had missed so much .. that touch she had missed so much .. her breath was caught in her throat .. when she felt a pang of guilt in her heart .. she hurriedly pulled her hand back and was about to stand .. but he caught her hand .. and made her sit ..
"When I was seeing the dance .. I felt in my heart that I would find you .. I came out in search for you and here you are .. " he smiled .. her heart skipped a beat even today .. when she saw that smile ..
He looked so handsome even today .. the same light brown eyes .. the wavy hair .. a bit on the gray side .. a bit of wrinkles near his lips .. the spectacles made him look smarter ..
She sighed ..
She had to sit and face him now .. no running away .. wow .. of course she had been running away from him .. his thoughts .. for years .. to be precise .. it was 23 years .. but not now .. now she is gonna let out everything she had bottled up for all these years '
Her tears were just not stopping .. she caught his hand tightly ..with all her might .. with all the courage she had .. she needed the courage to open her heart to him ..
They kept looking in each other's eyes for a long time .. finally ..
"Rey .. " she said softly ..
"Kria " his voice softer than hers .. audible only to her .. He could just utter her name .. a name etched in his mind for years ..
Today she looked so different , clad in a cotton crisp saree .. hair tied in a bun .. but her eyes .. they were the same .. so deep .. that even today he could drown in them ..
"Rey .. I am sorry for what I had done to you .. "
"Kria .. please .. its past .. forget that "
"No .. Rey .. I can't .. I couldn't .. "
"Kria .. I don't want to hear anything .. I have met you that's more than enough for me "
"No .. .. no .. let me tell you everything "
"But .. why .. "
"Aren't you angry with me " Kria was shocked ..
"Of course not .. Kria .. do you think I am such kind of a person who would be angry and hate you even after these many years .. do you really think so .. why ?"
"For what I did .. I broke your heart .." she started sobbing ..
"Shh .. Kria .. please stop crying .. please .. look here " he touched her cheek .. to make her look into his eyes '
She saw love .. trust .. respect ..an understanding .. she was not sure .. how can this be ..
"Do you think if I hated you .. I would name my daughter as Kria ?" he asked softly .. trying to convey to her that he doesn't hate her at all ..
This thought hadn't crossed her mind right away .. now when she thought .. she smiled .. how she had named her own son also Reyaansh ..
Still she was quiet.. so Rey continued .. "Kria .. I loved you with all my heart .. you were the first girl who knew me in and out .. the real Rey .. when you said all that on our last meeting .. yes of course I was angry .. hurt and devastated .. I cried for months .. I couldn't understand why this happened with me .. but later as time passed .. I thought about you .. about us .. the moments we cherished .. the moments when I was attracted to you .. the things I loved about you .. one quality which I always admired about you was that you think about others before yourself .. you are a fighter and would do anything for your friends .. that thought just kept lingering in my mind .. My heart was not ready to believe that you used me .. if that was the case then why did you leave Mumbai and go .. wouldn't you wait and see my defeat .. my humiliation infront of all others .. but you didn't ..
So I thought there has to be something deep than the words you said to me .. you would have a strong reason for doing that .. I don't blame you at all .. maybe I didn't match upto your expectations or maybe you didn't trust me fully to let out everything ' or you thought I might not be able to handle it ..
So I just put a stop to my thinking about you at that point ... I believed in my love for you .. I believed in you .. I didn't go to find you .. that's what you would ask .. but I knew if you were written in my destiny by Universeji then you will come to me ' else I was more than happy with your memories ..
I didn't want to end my life .. I wanted to live .. I wanted to live with our loving moments .. they were the ones which made be believe in love .. so I just treasured them ..
After a few years .. I met this beautiful person .. I fell in love with her .. I had told her everything about us .. Believe me .. I never cheated her nor our love .. I loved her truly as I had felt for you .. its shocking isn't it ? loving 2 persons .. even I am amazed .. but believe me ..
I feel it was just because of you .. you made me understand what love is .. Love is a beautiful feeling .. so why should I spoil my life thinking ill about you .. Its better I think all the smiling moments we shared ..
I feel blessed that you and my wife both came in my life .. She expired 5 years back due to chronic illness .. but she gave me the best gift .. my daughter ..
Everyday I prayed to your universeji for your well being and happiness for my family "
Kria was totally mesmerised by what Rey said to her .. she had never imagined this side of Rey .. she had always thought that he would not even see her face .. she had loved him but now she felt respect for him '
She choked .. she just couldn't utter anything .. "I am sorry "
"Not again .. universeji .. please take away Kria's tears and bring some rain where there is none " he said with a straight face
Kria's eyes widened and then she burst out laughing .."Rey .. your jokes are getting pathetic with age "
Even he started laughing ..
"Keep laughing this way .. it suits you .. " he smiled ..
She was touched .. "Rey .. I am thankful to my universeji that I met you in my life .. "
They both sat there with their hands on each others and looked in each others eyes ..
"Hey .. Kria .. your son Reyaansh .. he is such a good dancer .. am sure you are his inspiration .. or its just the name effect " he winked ..
She had to smile .. "I think it's the name effect .. "
Rey looked surprised '
"I haven't told him till now that I know dance .. because I left dancing the day I left you " she was sad ..
She narrated everything what had happened between her mother and she .. why she left him .. why she left dance .. why she just danced for the footloose elims .. and then left Mumbai '
Even she cried and mourned for months and months .. once or twice she thought about ending her life .. but she didn't do it .. after all she was a fighter .. she would never give up so easily .. and whenever she thought of Rey .. her resolution to live became more strong .. she knew she had hurt him .. so she can't run away from that .. she was guilty .. she was hurt .. she was shattered too .. but for her mom and for Rey .. she thought she must live her life .. she will not be a coward and give up ..
Her mother was diagnosed with cancer after 3 years when they left from Mumbai .. she insisted that Kria get married .. so Kria got married to her mother's friend's son .. Karan Malhotra .. he was an airforce pilot ..
Kria couldn't believe her destiny .. Karan was such a good natured person .. so honest .. so loving .. he just thought the world of her .. his love was pure .. he loved her without expecting anything in return .. Initially Kria felt a bit withdrawn from him .. she had thought she could never love again .. never give happiness to anyone nor be happy herself .. but it was his love that just filled her heart again .. she loved Karan with all the love she felt was left within her .. she started living for Karan and their son ..she named him Reyaansh ' because she somewhere felt in her heart that she was lucky to have Karan's love in her life .. even after she broke someone's heart .. it has to be that Rey has forgiven her ..
Karan expired when Reyaansh was just 10 during a practice flight .. so then she brought him up alone .. but she never felt alone in her life .. she had the love of 3 amazing men in her life .. Rey .. Karan and now her son Reyaansh ..
Rey was overwhelmed with emotions for this strong woman .. he had fallen in love with her .. but now he admired her .. he respected her for her decisions .. for her will power .. life made her take tough decisions .. decisions which were against what she wanted .. but she still overcame everything and lived her life to the fullest ..
"Don't you miss dance ?" Rey asked ..
"Yes .. sometimes I really do .. but when I see Reyaansh ..he is so serious about it .. its his passion .. I feel its just me dancing in his shoes .. you know .. he has got admission in the NY Dance academy also .. its all his hard work .. calibre and sincerity "
"Are you serious .. he is joining NY dance academy .. ?" Rey was shocked ..
"Ya .. so what " Kria was confused ..
"Kria is also going "
They both looked at each other for a moment and then burst out laughing ..
It had been so long hearing that laughter of each other .. they were lost again in each other for sometime ..
"Lets meet again Kria .. just to relive old memories .. ?" Rey asked softly ..
Kria was sober "I would love to meet you as Kria Singhannia 's father and not Reyaansh Singhannia .. "
Rey was confused .. "It's the same thing rite ?"
"No .. there is lot of difference .. may be you didn't realise .. "
"I am not getting what you want to say ?"
"When I last talked to my son .. he was talking about your daughter but I never knew her name that time .. he did have feelings for her .. but he was unsure .. but seeing their chemistry today .. my belief is confirmed .. the feelings are mutual .. even your daughter feels for him .. when will they realise is a matter of time .. "
"WHAT .. my daughter in love " Rey almost jumped out of his skin ..
Kria's eyes danced and she smiled '
"How can that be possible .. she is so young ..she doesn't know anything .. she is so nave .. she doesn't know what love is .. she can't " Rey was getting hyper ..
"Rey .. she is 20 .. " Kria replied quietly ..
"Ok .. but she doesn't even know how guys behave .. he might be a flirt .. he might take advantage of her .. he might be a Casanova .. he might .. "
"Rey .. Rey .. Rey .. " she was trying hard to stop him .. but he kept on blabbering .. so she kept her elbow on the table and her palm rested on her chin and looked at him with an amused look ..
When he stopped to take in a breath .. she spoke "You know all that what you said just now was about my son .. and for your kind information he is not like that "
"What do you mean he is not like that .. he is a guy rite ?"
"Of course he is a guy .. "
"You might know your son very well .. but I know how a guy is .. because I am guy too "
Now Kria was miffed .. "You mean you were also like that when you met me .. "
"We are not talking about me .. its about your son .."
"My son is different .."
"He is young blood ..so he is like others "
"No"
"Yes"
"I said no"
"I am saying yes .."
Kria pointed her index finger to Rey .. he did the same to her ..
They both were looking angrily at each other .. then suddenly .. Kria entangled her index finger with Rey's .. "Don't behave like a possessive father .. Rey .. "
Rey pulled back his finger .. "I am not " he looked annoyed '
"Ok .. listen .. why I think they have feelings for each other is that .. a few weeks back my son told me that your daughter was not talking to him during practice and was rude to him .. so I just told him an old trick which you played on me .. told him to give more importance to some other girl or the lady instructor and compare her dance with that other lady .. that's it .. today I could see in Kria's eyes feelings for my son "
Rey was quiet for sometime ..
"You knew I was praising Nicole Maam just to make you jealous ?"
"Not at that time .. but later I realised "
"I think maybe you are right about them" .. he was sober ' he thought about his talk with his daughter .. how she was blushing ..
"Rey .. maybe we are just not destined to be together .. we came in each other's lives for a purpose.. maybe to make us realise what love is .. what its capable of ..to make us strong .. to take it to a level no one can take it .. we understood the true meaning of love when we fell for each other .." again tears had formed in her eyes .. she blinked them away ..
"If our kids want to be together .. we have no right to come in their way " he spoke solemnly ..
Kria thanked him inwardly for understanding her even today '
She took her purse to leave .. he stood up too .. extended his hand .. "One last time ' it was one of the best moments in my life to have met you .. Kria Ghai .. "
She shook his hand .. gulped to control her tears and turned and left ...
*** The End ***
Just a thought which I had got when I was seeing D3 the other day .. if D3 takes a leap of 20 years .. how will it be .. this is as per me ..
:-)
Please do let me know how you feel about this OS .. Comments are the best medium of communication .. so pour out your heart to me ...
Love reading them ...
Regards,
Amy
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