Perfectly Incomplete- ArSha OS

It was the grand finale of Nach Baliye 5.

"So guys, as we all know, that Charlie injured herself a few days back while rehearsing for the performance today" Gautam announced "But, but but, do not get disappointed my friends, we have something special in store for you"

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome, India's Dancing Couple Kumar Amarjeet Singh and Shakti Mohan, urf, ArSha! Karan Wahi continued and cheered.

There was a loud cheer from the crowd as their names were taken. Slowly both of them walked up to the stage and took their position at either end of the stage. Once there, they tied a black cloth around their eyes.

The lights went off, and two spot lights focussed on them each.

It was going to be a very difficult task, as one beat missed and the performance would be ruined. Everyone present there just watched both of them and gasped at the feat they were attempting. Shakti tried to focus on what Kunwar had told her. "Just try and listen to my hearbeat. And I will do the same for yours. Once we can manage this, the performance will be smooth"

"It's not that easy, Kunwar, and you know it" she protested

"Shaks, it's US Dancing. We need to raise the bar remember?" And anyway listen, you know like how in movies they say, dil ki awaz suno, just do that"

"but that is movies Kunwar" she tried to argue but then she couldn't make a strong stand. She herself wanted to attempt this, it was going to be a one of a kind dance afterall.

The song started and Shakti did a few ballerina steps to the soulful music of the violin. She stretched her hands parallel to the floor with her palms facing down and took a few steps forward. Then she held her hands above her head in a 70 degree angle and twirled around the stage. She stood at a particular spot and bent to her left, with her right hand above her head and the left hand bent from down, and the fingers of both her hands touched. She held the pose.

Tu hi meri hai saari zameen chahe kahi se chalun
Tujhpe hi aake rukun
Tere siwa main jaaun kaha koi bhi rah chunu
Tujhpe hi aake rukun

Amar lip synced the lyrics. He moved from one end of the stage to another in a smooth flow and then faced Shakti. He stretched both his hands forward and bent his right leg by the knee and lifted it slightly. He did a somersault and then sat on his knees and pushed himself till where she was. Slowly he put his right hand forward.

Tum mile to lamhe tham gaye
Tum mile to saare gum gaye
Tum mile to muskarana aa gaya

Shakti stood there for a millisecond unsure whether they were nearby or not. She took a deep breath and focussed on the dance. Yes, she felt him right where he should be. She gracefully put her hand out and he held it.
Tum mile to jadoo cha gaya
Tum mile to jeena aa gaya
Tum mile to maine paya hai khuda

He sat on his knees and she lifted her left foot and put it over his shoulder. In a swift move, he lifted her in a way that she was sitting on his left shoulder. He turned around while she did a few gracious hand movements. He then placed her down. He held her right hand with his left hand, both of them now facing the audience. She stretched out her right leg to her right and he did so with his left leg. They then bent in the same direction as their legs and their other hands went above their heads and met.

Tujh mein kinara dikhe Dil ko sahara dikhe
Aa meri dhadkan thaam le
Teri taraf hi mude Ye saans tujh se judey
Har pal ye tera naam le
Tum mile to ab kya hai kami
Tum mile to duniya mil gayi
Tum mile to mil gaya aasra

In the same pose, he lifted her from one side and placed her on the other side. She kept her legs stretched at an 80 degrre angle as he did so. Then she bent her left leg and placed it on her knee. She dropped towards her right in the same position and let her body weight fall on him.

Tum mile to jadoo cha gaya
Tum mile to jeena aa gaya
Tum mile to maine paya hai khuda

He then stood facing her and picked her up from her arms, and did a few circles. They danced facing the audience again, while they held each other's hand throughout. He moved away from her. Before moving away, he gave her hand a little squeeze assuring her that it would be ok. She reluctantly let go off his hand.

Din mere tujh se chale Raatein bhi tujh se dalein
Hai waqt tere haath mein
Hoo tu hi shehar hai mera tujh mein hi ghar hai mera
Rehta hai tere saath mein

She stood rooted to her place. She could hear his heartbeats. She wondered whether this was just her imagination. Not wasting any time, she ran in the direction and jumped high up in the air. The next second she was in his arms. Her hand went around his neck on an impulse.
Even though his eyes were closed, he could clearly feel her heart thumping loudly and he knew she now was smiling in relief. He grinned.

Tum mile to mil gaya humsafar
Tum mile to khud ki hai khabar
Tum mile to rishta sa ban gaya

He turned around with her in his arms. Then he flipped her over, with her front facing the ground. He flipped her again to bring her back to her earlier position. She then put her legs around his waist and let herself fall downwards. He twirled her around.

Tum mile to jadoo cha gaya
Tum mile to jeena aa gaya
Tum mile to maine paya hai khuda

Then she hopped down on the stage. They ended the performance with a few ballroom dance steps mixed with a little bit of slow salsa.. As the music came to a halt, on an impulse they both hugged each other, without opening the blind folds. The lights came back. They tried to gain composure over their breathing.
Amar: You did it Shaks, I told you, you would!
He whispered into her ears, grinning
Shakti: We did it Kuwar!
She almost breathed the words in his ears.
Then they parted and removed their blindfolds. They looked at the audience, which was silent till now. And then they saw Terence Sir, walking up the stage, with teary eyes. He stood before them and clapped for them. The very next moment, the audience too erupted in a huge round of applause. Almost everyone present there stood up from their seats. Shakti jumped in glee and held his hand
Terence Sir: I have never seen something like this guys. And i am sure, this cannot be done by anybody else. The goosebumps i felt..the chemistry..so much trust over each other, especially that jump shakti..
He fell short of words and just pulled both of them into a bear hug.

***

Post the dance, they both sat in the rehearsal room in sheer silence. Perhaps they both knew what they were thinking. Shakti contemplated talking to him about it, but shrugged off the thought. She picked up her cellphone and began fidgeting with it. She tried not to read the message conversation she had with Charlie. Yet, she read it again.

"hey Shakti, free for some talk? It's a little important."
She'd received the message last morning. She'd frowned when she read that.

"sure. What's up? J " she'd replied.

"Uhm, I know this is awkward. I have dumped Amar. Before you begin calling me just read the message. I do not know how to say this. The other day when we all had gathered at his place, I saw something which I chose to ignore all this time. I saw how happy he was when he was with you. I may sound kiddish, but trust me, I realised how wrong it was on my part to come in between both of you"

"Charlie..No..there is absolutely nothing in between us! Gosh, Charlie, please, hear me out"

"Kab tak Shakti? Till whenwill you hide your feelings for him? I know how you feel about him, everybody does. That's not the point. What I realised is that Amar and I, we were just not, you know meant to be. I mean, I don't even know if I loved him. I like him. but this is not what I had imagined we would be"

"Charlie, not everything goes as per our wishes, right?"

"Sure it doesn't. But listen, as of now, just handle Amar. Please? And yes, I am faking a leg injury so that he asks you to dance with him tomorrow at the finale. I know it's too short a time to prepare. But you both will manage. And yes, I hope you understand. I am breaking away from all of you. Just need some time? Please take care of him, I know you will. And if possible, tell him you love him someday."

Shakti hadn't replied. She didn't know what to reply.

"hey, kya soch rahi ho?" his voice broke her thoughts.

"uhm, nothing. So tell me, what's up?" she faked a smile.

He lowered his lashes. So she knew about it. He could read it in her eyes. He didn't know if she was hurt that he didn't tell her about it.

"I am sorry, I should have told you.." his voice trailed off.

"It's alright Kunwar, whenever you feel like" she squeezed his shoulder. He shut his eyes and spoke, choking.

"Shakti, Can I get a hug?"

She didn't have to think about it. Her best friend needed her. She knew the emotional turmoil his heart was facing. She sat up on her knees facing him and pulled him into a hug. He hugged her tight, and just kept quiet for a while. She very slowly began ruffling his hear, saying stuff like "It happens, I am there for you" etc. in his ears. She felt him whimper a little. She rubbed his back, surprised now at his behaviour. Never had he cried in front of her.

Slowly he broke the hug.

"Kunwar, calm down, Please?" she pleaded him.

"I feel like a big loser shaks. Is it really that easy to walk out on me? Did I not mean anything to her? At all? And she took this decision for both of us. No explanations? Nothing? Do I not deserve anything? Am I that bad Shakti?

His pout made her want to hug him. she wiped off his tears with her hands.

"no, Kunwar, that's not the case."

"I know that we both were never meant to be. But I tried. I tried a lot."

"I am sure she did too. And isn't it better that it ended now, than much later? Perhaps it would be too late then."

He looked at her, half convinced.

"And listen, Kunwar. You are no fool. You are way too special. To each of us. And we all love you, a lot. And no, it's not at all easy to forget you. Coz you know what? You are one gem of a person. Like a prized possession. And anyone would be lucky to have you in their life. And you know, sometimes, it's just better to let things shape their own way. I know I am not supposed to be this philosophical, but destiny has something in store for each of us. We just need to be patient. And wait. And hope, for the best." She cupped his face as she spoke. He simply nodded.

"Thanks" he smiled finally, and she too smiled back.

"Thanks and all? Huh! Keep it with yourself" she said dramatically and laughed. He joined her and hugged her again. This time the tears she had been fighting trickled down her face. It felt so right to be in his arms. But yet, something was always missing. And she just hoped, that she would tell him someday. Just, she didn't know when. But she would wait.

* End*

If you were expecting a Happy ending, I am sorry. I am just a total sadist and a big sucker for sad stuff😊. Well, not dat happy doesnt make me happy, but my stupid birthday coming up and I am in no mood to look forward to it, so mood is bad. Plus, I miss them, ArSha, I mean!

Anyway, Like it or Hated it? Leme Know. Comment, and plz review😳

Pm's Maybe now, maybe tomorrow. Let's see who reserves first to bear the torture 😆