I was inspired by a simple wallpaper of stars. It reminded of Khushi.. which of course led to memories of IPKKND. Anyways, it's almost New Year's so I incorporated that into this too. Hope you guys like it!
He stared at the stars, wondering how they could shine so radiantly, gleam in such a way, when he felt despair seeping through his very being.
She had always loved the stars, the way they twinkled, as if winking at her in a merry way. But tonight, she was in no mood to appreciate the shimmering lights, given the cloak of loneliness she felt descending upon her.
His mind flashed back to another night, exactly one year ago, when he had been looking up at the sky, in very much the same manner as he was tonight.
It was New Year's Eve, and Lavanya had dragged her to some party, saying she needed to get out more. She had reluctantly agreed, but had drawn the line when Lavanya had pulled out the skimpiest dress she had ever laid eyes on. There was no way in hell she was putting that on. What would her mother say? And so, she had donned a peacock-green sari instead, which was alluring in its own way.
He hated such events, but there were only so many of Akash's "Please, Bhai!" and NK's "Come on Nannav!" that a sane person could endure. He had eventually caved, but now he sorely regretted his lack of firm resolve. And so he had retired to the balcony, staring at the stars as if they would answer the questions he did not even know he had.
She knew she would regret her decision as soon as she entered the party. Lavanya had immediately drawn the attention of every red-blooded male in the near vicinity, emphasizing the movement of her hips from side to side, as she sashayed onto the dance floor.
He shivered slightly, the cold of the night finally getting to him. He did not even know why he was out there. He never did such frivolous things as staring at the stars. Perhaps it was just destiny that he would meet her, under those stars.
She had been left to her own devices and so she wandered out into the night. She did not know whatever possessed her to walk towards the only other figure there, but she did. Perhaps she would not be feeling such isolation today if only she had not gone up to him that night.
"Beautiful, aren't they?"
It was not often he was startled, but the sound of her voice breaking through the quiet of the night was enough to surprise him, though his face did not betray his inner emotions with so much as a flicker of the eyebrow. Instead, he casually turned towards her, as if he had been aware of her presence all along.
Dhak-dhak. Dhak-dhak. She resisted the urge to place a hand over her racing heart, knowing he would not miss the revealing movement. She smoothed her palms over the silk of her sari, turning to face him also. They remained that way, staring at one another until he finally chose to answer her question.
"No more so than you."
He was enchanted by the rosy hue that spread across her face, darkening the porcelain skin. He should have known then, at that very moment, that he was smitten.
He was one to talk. He was the most attractive man she had ever seen. It was not his features that made him so, though they were handsome enough. It was the smolder of his chocolate-brown eyes, the proud tilt of his defined chin, the harsh planes of his high cheekbones, the confident way he carried himself. It was his very aura.
The spell was broken by applause and they both glanced towards the dance floor, her wistfully, him, with irritation. He was quick to turn back to her, while she continued to gaze in the same direction, the longing in her eyes evident even to him.
She looked at the large, tan hand he proffered her, her gaze questioning.
"Dance with me."
She placed her hand into his and he immediately closed his warm fingers over her delicate ones, leading her back inside.
They stood facing each other in the middle of the dance floor, as the opening chords of the song began to play. He slowly walked around her and took her hand, drawing her close just as the lyrics began.
Teri meri, meri teri
Prem kahani hai mushkil
Do lafzoon mein yeh
Bayaan na ho paye.
They slowly moved in a circle, her hazel-green eyes locked with his molten chocolate-brown ones. He slowly tilted her back, his hand clasped around hers, her other hand encircling his neck.
Ik ladka ik ladki ki
Hai yeh kahani nayi
Do lafzoon mein yeh
Bayaan na ho paye.
She shivered as his hand ran across the bare skin at her waist, but she did not back away. Instead, she leaned back, pressing herself closer to him.
Saara din bit jaye
Saari raat jagaye
Bus khayal tumhara
Lamha lamha tadpaye
He spun her around, picking her up as the twirl came to an end, leaning her slight form against his, closing his eyes at the intimate contact.
Yeh tadap keh rahi hai
Mit jaye faasle yeh
Tere mere darmiyaan
Joh hai saare..
She turned away from, moving away a few steps, only to come back to meet him as the opening lyrics of the song played once more.
Ik dooje se huye judaa
Jab ik dooje ke liye bane
Teri meri, meri teri
Baaton ka har lamha
Sabje anjaana
Do lafzoon mein yeh
Bayaan na ho paye.
He shadowed her movements, grasping her hand and tilting her back, not seeing the wariness now present in her doe-like eyes.
Har ehsaas mein tu hai
Har ik yaad mein tera afsaana
Do lafzoon mein yeh
Bayaan na ho paye.
As the closing strains of the song began to fade, she walked away from his outstretched hand, never looking back.
She should not have turned away that night. He had asked her to dance, and she had complied. He had done nothing wrong. But the intensity of the emotion in that pair of eyes had scared her. No one had ever looked at her that way. And so she had ran, realizing now that it had been the biggest mistake of her life.
He should not have let her go that night. If only he had asked for her number, or at least her name. But he had done neither and she had walked out the door, and out of his life. And so he was at another New Year's Eve party, staring at the stars, only there was no enigmatic woman in a peacock-green sari to stir him out of his reverie tonight.
She had not wanted to come, but Lavanya had insisted, noticing her somber mood. As if a New Year's Eve party would lift her spirits. It only served to remind her of everything she had let her fear cost her. She had shaken off Lavanya's concerned hand and stalked off towards the open sky, choosing the distant stars for company. She sighed, turning to go back inside, only then noticing the shadowy figure in the corner.
"Dance with me."
He slowly turned, not bothering to conceal his smile as he faced her. She was even more beautiful than his memory served to remember, the light breeze caressing the strands of her silky hair.
His handsome features were alight with the happiness he did not attempt to hide and she too smiled, as he placed his hand in hers.
This time, when the song ended, she did not walk away, but grasped his hand even tighter, as the countdown to New Year's began. As the shouting subsided, they turned to face each other, hands still entwined.
"What did you wish for?"
"Nothing," he simply answered.
"And why's that?" she questioned with raised eyebrows.
"Because I have everything I want, right here before me."
She smiled, her eyes sparkling as brightly as the stars under which they had met.
"Happy New Year," she whispered as she leaned into him, her arms circling his waist, her head resting against his chest.
"It is indeed," he replied, his own arms coming together to wrap around her slender figure.
*THIS IS ENTIRELY MY OWN WORK. PLEASE DO NOT COPY OR REPRODUCE.*
Please do like and comment!
For my other works, here is a link to my index:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/3339714/arshi-index-bittersweet-journeys
Anupamaa
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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