Professor's eyes were red, glaring at the figure in front of him with fury. Preeti gulped at the sight and nudged naina to stop but naina continued blurting her anger on him. The naina who used to be the discipline monitor in school, who used to be teachers favourite, who used to just nodd and obey what teachers said was shouting at a professor and that too with a furious eye contact. Maybe she had learnt to stand up for herself, for her love but was it the right way?.
Preeti almost ran from there to call out the friends for shutting up naina otherwise the consequences of this encounter would be dangerous.
The drama teacher listened to her and when she stopped "done?" he asked crossing his arms.
She gave a look of disbelief and was going to make a move to get away from this room, the room whose decor had impressed her in the morning, she now felt suffocated in that for it has witnessed the insult of her 'sameer'.
" now its my turn" the teacher blocked her way and she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
When preeti and the gang along with sameer reached the room, they witnessed a sight making their jaw drop open in shock. Tension rolled in sameer as he saw His Naina who had an hour back immediately declined the role of heroine for she was highly disappointed at the rejection and insult sameer faced, practicing her dialogues with karthik.
Preeti tried to explain to them that naina was indeed fighting for sameer but sameer just went away without waiting for anyone.
Karthik had seen him and his tensed expressions and was enjoying it thoroughly. He had not been able to forget the time when sameer faked his love with sunaina and the way they used to be close to each other. This opportunity was a means for him for taking revenge,'pure revenge'.
Sameer reached an empty classroom and taking his seat on the last bench, he tried to calm himself. He was fidgeting with his fingers, while his legs were continously shaking.
Yes he was upset, he was upset that he was not found capable of being casted as a hero against his heroine. He was upset for being treated as an inferior in front of a rival. He was upset for losing this role. But what more affected him was the words that continuously rang in his ears. The words, the reason that his mother gave for not accepting naina. She had said that we won't work out because naina was practical and he was an emotional person and it had just been proved.
This time too naina accepted the situation practically, and was practicing her role while he was just swayed away by the emotions. He treated the insult not as a means to try harder for the role, not for asking for another chance but as a punch on his ego, on his belief that no other person was as perfect as him for the role.
Hadn't he already dreamt of being the hero? Yes he had and He was just scared for naina. But she tried her level best, she worked harder for getting casted opposite him. Nd she did it. She just proved herself.
It was him, who was incapable of fulfilling her dream. It was him who didn't work hard to not to slip the role to anyone else.
He recalled the words of drama teacher "mehnat karni padti hai kisi cheez ko kamane ke liye, sab kuch itni asani se nahi mil jata, tumhe kya lagta hai hero jaisa dikhoge toh hero ka role mil jaega? Mai apko yeh btadu ki yeh jo log mehnat kar re hai na role haasil karne ke liye vo bevkoof nahi hai. Isliye apke liye yahi sahi hoga ki pehle mehnat karke inn dialogues ki practice kare fir audition dene aaye ".
Reality now dawned on him. He was always treated as the best, as a hero by his friends and family. He never felt that he could be rejected for something that requires the qualities of a hero.
His mama mami always said that he is the king, he need not do any hardwork for earning money or fame. And he never felt that he should contribute in the business. Nanu had always asked him to join the business soon, to learn the work. He had never said that all the things would come to him easily, he always encouraged him to learn, to explore and above all to work hard.
When he felt someone approaching the classroom he quitely slipped off from there and went home. He needs time with himself.
As soon as he reached home, he was greeted by his mama and bhaiya. They were engaged in the work. By some instinct, he just felt sitting with them today and tried to listen to what they were talking off. But his calmness turned to disappointment when he understood nothing.
The things being discussed were alien to him, he knew nothing of his "nanu's business".
Mama paused seeing him there. And just asked him to take rest, while they are managing the business, he need not take any tension.
But this was not the old sameer who would nodd smilingly and would go to the room.
"mamaji mai soch raha hu ki ab 3rd year start hogya hai, ek saal baad muje bi nanu ke business ko sambhalna hai toh kyu na abhi se hi mai cheeze samjhne lag jau" it was more of a resolve than a suggestion.
Mama and devang exchanged some glances before saying " arey sonu beta tuje inn sab ki tension lene ki zarurat nahi hai, mai or devang hai na, sab sambhal lenge. Abi toh teri masti karne ki umar hai. Kyu inn sab cheezo mei padd rha hai"
But sameer was admant.
"nahi mama ji, nanu bi yahi chahte the ki mai unka business jald hi samj lu or unki madad karu. Ab vo toh nahi hai, lekin aap toh hai na. Or fir kabi na kabi toh muje sab dekhna hi hai, abi se mehnat karunga tabi toh nanu ke business ke liye kuch kar paunga ". He didn't know why but voicing out these words made him feel a certain kind of maturity and a sense of responsibility.
Mama and devang were quite surprised.
" bda hogya hai mera sonu beta" mama said caressing his face. "sameer tum kal se roz raat ko aa jana mere paas, sab samjha dunga mai, aaj thoda zyada kaam hai toh.." devang said
"han han theek hai bhaiya, mai kalse aa jaunga.. Abi chalta hu" and he went to his room.
The next day, the whole gang watched naina as she practiced with karthik. Yes sameer felt a tinge of jealousy when they conversed romantically but he was happy for naina that her hardwork paid off. She deserves this.
On the other side, naina was a bit confused. She didn't know that what she was doing was right or wrong. Not even once sameer had questioned her about continuing the role. He was rather boosting her confidence with his support.
But still she found a certain emptiness inside her, she was not enjoying doing this.
She recalled how drama teacher had explained what he is trying to do.
"naina jis tarah se tumne mujse abi baat kari,vo bilkul sahi nahi tha. Lekin mai dekh sakta hu ki sameer tumhara kafi acha dost hai" and he paused while she still frowned "lekin tum apni dosti theek se nibha nahi rahi ho."
"kya matlab?" naina immediately back questioned
"dost vo hota hai jo apne saathi ki har kami ko pehchane, use btaye or sudharne mei saath de".
"sameer mei koi kami nahi hai, usne itni achi acting kari, fir bi apne use nikal diya, use school mei bi romeo ka kirdaar mila tha" she praised with proud.
"han janta hu usne achi acting kari lekin.."
"lekin?" now naina wanted answer
"naina maine pehle dinn hi sabko btaya tha ki humari life ek natak hai or hum uske kirdaar, hume jo kuch haasil karna hota hai uske liye mehnat chahiye hoti hai, cheeze asani se ni mil jati"
"sameer ne puri mehnat kari thi, use yeh role chahiye tha"
"chahna or pana 2 alag cheeze hai naina. Chah toh hum bohat kuch sakte h lekin use pane ke liye kitni koshish karte h vo mayne rakhta hai.
Usne dialogues bole.. Ache bole.. Lekin muje usmei vo dikh gya jisse muje sakht nafrat hai" he said the last line a bit roughly
"k..kya?"
"over confidence.. Confidence hona achi baat hai lekin apne mann mei yeh maan lena ki mere siva vo role kisi or ko mil hi ni sakta yeh galat hai"
"jee nahi sameer ko over confidence nahi tha bas.."
"bas kya? Agar use zara sa bi ehsaas hota ki vo haar sakta hai, toh vo dobara audition dene ko kehta.. Lekin usne toh mujse hi sawal jawab karna start kar diya.. Usko ayna dikhana zaroori tha"
"agar usne acha kiya tha toh aap khud use dobara mauka de dete,bol dete mehnat karne ko.. Iss tarah se besati karna muje sahi ni laga"
"mai toh mauka de deta lekin life mei dobara agar aisa hota, toh zindagi toh dobara mauke ni deti"
"or han jahan tak tumhare role ka sawaal hai toh mai tumhe yaad diladu tum college ki GS ho.. Agar tum aisa vyavhar karogi toh baki bachho se toh mai kya hi expect karu. Muje majboor matt karna ki mai yeh play na karvau. I hope you would take the right decision "and he went away
Naina was in a dilema to continue or not. But it seemed to her that she had no choice so she started her practice with a mental note to explain sameer her situation.
Back to present
It was breaktime. Sameer was going towards red rose cafe when he noticed karthik discussing something about play with friends in the drama room. He halted in tracks when he heard the mention of naina.
"arey tumko kya btau.. Next scene mei muje naina ke haath par kiss karna hai.. Uski shakal toh dekhne wali hogi.." and he laughed off.. "bas thode dialogues yaad karne rehgye h tum log jao mai ata hu"
Sameer's blood boiled. How dare he? Not even in his dreams he could imagine someone else kissing his Naina's hand, forget that he can't even let someone hold her hand.
But how would he stop this. Should he talk to naina? But she don't have any say in this. Its demand of the script. And God knows for how much time this karthik would practice this scene. He had very well gauged that karthik was doing all this just to take revenge.
Oh god!
Just then sunaina dragged karthik from there to show something and as a result the script was lying just there on the table.
He slowly went inside and started reading the script. It was a romantic scene. It had some dialogues, an eye lock and then... He clutched the script tighlty, his eyes red.
He so wished to be the hero. Not that he wanted to kiss Naina's hand but because he knows how uncomfortable it would be for her to enact this.
He started reading those dialogues and rehearsing it as if naina was present just in front of him. At least he could do this much, just to fulfill his wish.
He worked on his posture, voice modulation, and expressions. And the dialogues were now on his finger tips.
As the bell rang, he wiped off the tears that had trickled down without his permission and left the room.
"chalo na naina ki practice dekhte h. Vaise bi yeh lecture free hai" preeti insisited
"nahi preeti aaj nahi" sameer immediately declined
"par kyu? Pta nahi naina bi itni chup chup si thi. Keh rahi thi ki agla scene uske liye sabse muskhil hone wala hai.. Aisa lag rha tha abi ro padegi".
He knew this. He had already sensed this. He tried hard to control his emotions in front of them.
"han sameer chal na.. Bhabhi ka confidence badhega" mundit insisted too.
Oh god.. How would he tell them. But they are right. If he would be there then maybe naina would get some support.
They went to the drama room and looked at the scene in front of them through the window.
Pandit chuckled a bit as the drama teacher was scolding karthik for not delivering the emotions properly.
He was saying his lines with plain emotions and was also stammering.
"karthik abi yeh doosra scene hai. Aage ke scenes mei tum kya karoge"
"sir.. Nahi.. Mai karta hu na dobara" and he saw the gang. Seeing sameer he was admant that he would complete this scene and then the expressions of sameer would be a treat to watch.
He started with his lines, while naina looked onn helplessly. She just wished that karthik stammers again and the drama teacher calls off the scene. So that she could run to sameer and share her emotions.
"nahi.. Nahi karthik.. Tum sahi ni kar re ho"
The drama teacher again interupted much to the relief of sameer and naina.
"aisa karo tum next scene try karo jismei tumhe naina ka haath pakadna hai". The relief didn't last for much time
"haath pakadna hai?" munna exclaimed in shock and as he turned to look at sameer he was not there.
"may i come in sir" sameer asked, standing at the threshold of room.
Naina's eyes immediately sparked seeing him.
"yes?" the teacher eyed him. He had very well expected his interference.
"sir agar aap bura na maane toh kya mai yeh scene try kar sakta hu?"
"kya.. Kya matlb hai tumhara.. Sir ne itni besati kari fir bi tum aagye.. Yeh mera scene hai.. Mai karunga" karthik immediately interupted.
Sameer ignored him "sir muje pichle scene ke bi dialogues yaad hai, aap chahe toh mai vo bi karke dikha sakta hu.. Bas ek mauka please?" and he eyed hopefully while naina too looked at her sir with hope.
Mr. Poonawala smirked. He had seen him rehearing the scene. He was actually trying.
" theek hai .. Kar sakte ho try "he agreed.
The gang cheered him up from the window.
Sameer smiled and started with the scene.
Not even once he forgot the lines, the expressions, the emotions were too perfectly portrayed that for once even the teacher was surprised. Even sameer felt as if the practice he had done, has improved his performance to manifolds.
With flow, he shifted to the next scene. Karthik felt like losing the grip on the role.
He shared an eyelock with naina. There eyes spoke volumes of what had been unsaid these days. But the love and respect for each other had not declined even by 0.1%. Yes there were some unasked questions. But it would be asked and answered at the right time.
Without breaking the eye contact he bends on his knees and involuntary naina's hand slips in his hand.
He finished his lines and paused. He knew the surroundings and didn't want to make naina uncomfortable so he just looked onn. Naina blinked her eyes in assurance, sameer's smile widened and he gave a soft peck on her hand.
She felt shivers run down her spine.
A round of applause brought them back and mr.poonawala's eyes shone with happiness.
He patted sameer's back.
"maine kaha tha na mehnat karoge toh tum kuch bi kar sakte ho. I am impressed."
"thankyou sir."
Naina's eyes brims with tears, tears that reflected how proud she felt when he is praised for his work.
"or karthik tum, seekho kuch sameer se. Tumhe ab koi orr role dena padega. Sameer tum ab iss natak ke hero ho.. Naina ke hero" he said with a bit teasing.
Naina blushed while sameer felt overwhelming enotions surging through him. They looked at each other and felt as if they have crossed another difficult level of their love story.
PS: i felt sameer should realise it by himself but if you didn't feel right, then apologies. 😳
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