CHAPTER 1
The arena was thundering with claps and shouts. The crowd was filled with beaming faces and everybody was in a completely different vibe. The aura emanating from everyone was enough to make flowers bloom. The crowd was going wild with laughter and everything seemed just right. Excitement was pulsating through the air as if electricity and the hype was on an all-time high.
The backstage was no less. Everyone looked upon the center of the stage where Bebo and Kitty were performing their dance number with elegance and grace with a tint of modernity as they swayed to the music in perfectly synchronized steps.
Anokhi was beaming from the backstage at the success rate of the college fest she had worked so hard upon. She wasn’t particularly fond of the sisters but she couldn’t deny that when it came to events such as this, they could really add magic to it. Nobody could deny that while the sisters aren’t the best in academics, they are the best in everything else.
Anokhi’s eyes went over to the roaring crowd and her eyes onto the front row where the ever-so prestigious Sabherwal family was spectating upon their daughters having the time of their lives on the stage.
Her eyes fell over each of them. Everybody was watching them with a proud smile on their faces but one face stood out the most. Alok Sabherwal couldn’t help but jump in his seat while continuously clapping along to the beat of the song as he had the widest grin and the proudest glint in his eyes as he cheered for his daughters. He even whistled once before Devi asked him to maintain some decorum. Alok brushed her off as he continued to buzz with pride for his daughters.
He looked almost comical and anybody would laugh seeing him like that but as Anokhi watched him, her eyes couldn’t help but fill with tears. She watched him and got reminded of all the times she wished her father would’ve been happy for her. All the times she wished for him to acknowledge her with pride. All the times she wanted him to be proud. All the times she wished that he would come watch from the audience as she was awarded for numerous competitions on the stage. All the times she wished to see that proud glint and beaming face in the crowd directed to her. Proud of her. Happy for her.
A sudden sadness took over her as Alok shot up from his seat for a standing ovation when the performance ended. A teardrop slipped past her eyelids as she turned to run towards her dressing room. Bebo and Kitty’s performance was the last event before the award ceremony after which the fest ended. She went inside the room and shut herself in before taking in big deep breaths. She tried to calm her racing heart from the overwhelming emotions that seemingly came out of nowhere.
“Now please welcome the person because of whom all of this was possible. The ever bright, ever outstanding, our fest organizer, Ms. Anokhi Bhalla!” The announcer called out her name as she quickly wiped away the few tears that managed to escape before running up to the stage where Shaurya Sabherwal was holding out a certificate of appreciation for her with a huge smile on his face.
He was elated with how the fest turned out. It was the best one they’ve had yet. He was surrounded by compliments the entire duration of the week the fest. He couldn’t feel prouder of his college and his students. They managed to bag numerous awards in the organized competitions and managed to keep SIAC’s reputation as one of the most prestigious and leading colleges in the country in all academic and cultural events put together.
Anokhi came onto the stage with a straight face but troubled eyes which Shaurya took note of immediately. He knew he had gotten closer to Anokhi in the duration of the fest and had quite some inexplicable moments with her. Especially on Holi. Holi was a weird time for the both of them. It was confusing for the most part. They had an air of discomfort with each other after Holi but he still felt some sort of unexplained calm around her. His mixed feelings for her were driving him crazy but he felt a strange excitement coursing through him. Endearing nonetheless.
So he instantly knew something was wrong when he saw her downcast eyes and her solemn face as he handed her the certificate. She forced a smile on her face which was very evident to Shaurya as the picture was clicked. He noticed her unnaturally hurried steps to the backstage as if she was afraid of something onstage.
Was it him? Was she feeling so uncomfortable around him?
He wanted to go check on her. He could sense something was troubling her. He knew she was usually always happy. She had her moments of angst but this was different. It seemed like more than just a bad feeling.
But he couldn’t. He had responsibilities to tend to, people to entertain, stuff to get done; which honestly was the last thing he wanted todo as her sad eyes haunted his mind.
Anokhi had almost burst crying on stage. She has never had stage fright. Maybe it was the spotlight, the loud cheering, the echoing sound of her steps on the hardwood floor or the sinking feeling she was feeling thinking about her father. She knew Shaurya noticed something was wrong. He tended to do that a lot recently; pick on the smallest things she was feeling. She saw it in the way his genuine smile dropped on seeing her face and his eyebrows came together as his forehead crinkled.
She rushed to a corner of the backstage to calm herself down. She quickly composed herself and went to check on the dinner that was being served right now.
Shaurya saw her from a distance while he was talking to the director of another college. She had a huge smile on her face which he immediately knew was fake. The smile didn’t quite reach her eyes and neither did the corner of her eyes crinkle. He wondered what it was that was bothering her to such extent. As far as he knew, she had had a wonderful day. The fest went better than she planned. She should be absolutely ecstatic right now.
CONTINUED BELOW
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