Splinters Of Ice | Pranbir

05| A Glimpse and Conversation

"And the time we met the second time, a glimpse of what you conceal was revealed. A second step in our battle did we take. If only you could understand, my defeat too meant my victory!"
-Ranbir Kohli

He kept looking at her who still had her eyes closed. This time too she was dressed in a very unconventional attire which barely provided any warmth from the biting cold outside. But it seemed like she did not care at all!

The same very emotions he had felt the first time returned as he felt them engulf him. As if on their own accord, his fingers strummed the guitar. The entire ambience reverberated with the soft melody of the guitar and his own voice humming along.

Hmm.....
Aankhien teri shabnami
Chehra tera aaina
Tu hain udaasi bhari koi Haseen daastan
Dil me hain kya
Kuch toh bata
Kyun hain bhala
Khudse khafa?

Tu hi meri shab hain subah hain...
Tu hi din hain mera
Tu hi mera rab hain jahan hain...
Tu hi meri duniya....

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Her eyes snapped open at the lyrics of the song! And as soon as she opened her eyes, it met his! The lyrics, the way he was looking at her, the fact that it was him and that she had been affected, all of it made her get extremely angry. She had taken years to become what she is now and this person just walks in one day and gets her to do and feel all of which she hasn't since years! She couldn't let that happen! She couldn't let that happen at any cost.

Such was the irony. When she wanted someone to understand her pain, her hurt, her sorrow - there was no one. When she craved for love and respect, she did not get any from anyone. And now that she had let go of it all, she was getting all of it! Strange that what was her need back in time has now become what she detests!

Circumstances and personal situations have different effects on different people. And she chose to become what she is now with a resolve never to change! If only she knew what lay ahead!

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He was yet again puzzled by what he saw in her eyes after she snapped her eyes open. It was similar to their first meeting but this time he could also see the transition to this! Deciding to ponder over it later, he redirected his focus on concluding the song.

Just as he finished, the room yet again reverberated with claps and happy smiles appreciating his talent. He smiled and bowing his head, left the elevated platform.

She still stood at her place, furiously looking at him while he held her gaze without his own emotions and thoughts manifesting on his handsome face.
Without dropping his gaze, he slowly moved past her when he heard

"Audacity once done might be pardoned but twice done will be punished!"

"And the very first time the ice maiden speaks a proper sentence to me, it's a threat is it?" he replied back.

"The ice maiden dosen't give a threat or warning. She announces her decision"

"Well then, I don't accept her decision. What does she know about me and with what right does she punish me?"

"What right did you have when you dared do what you did?"

"And what exactly did I do? As far as I remember, there's nothing I have done which can be intended as offensive"

"What is offensive to me, I get to decide that, not you!"

He remained silent making her smirk.

"Cat got your tongue is it?"

"What are trying to conceal?" he asked suddenly wiping the smirk off her face. A brief wave of emotion passed through her eyes which then shifted back to their usual hollowness.

"What the hell are you asking?" she asked gritting her teeth.

"So I'm right. There is something isn't it? There is something which makes this ice maiden who she is."

"Just. Shut. Up!" she bit out the words.

"Khud na chup sake khudke naqab me
Qusoor hamari thehrate hain
Dupatta jo sarka chupi ruh se
Bewajah humko qusoorvar thehrate   hain!" he said and walked away.

She stood rooted to her place just like he had during their first meeting.

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After such a long day, Ranbir was truly exhausted, emotionally so more than physically. But it did not deter him from thinking about her.

In the silence of the night, he pondered on the transition of emotions he had seen in her. And her reaction to his words and his song too added to it.

He had to find out about her!

___________________________________________

A cold shower followed by shattered vases and shelves was what happened after Prachi returned home! Just as she sat down on the sofa, trying to calm down, a ping on her phone attracted her attention.

Ranbir Kohli
Musician by passion and profession
Orphaned when young
Has no one in this world -a complete loner.

So she was right! Both were the same!

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The next evening

Ranbir was hurriedly walking on the footpath. His thoughts about the ice maiden had made him forget he had a programme to give at a restaurant in the evening. He was hurriedly walking with his guitar bag wrapped around his shoulders when his eyes met a familiar sight.

"The Ice maiden! Here too? What is she doing?" he thought but did not get any answer.

He looked at her who was just walking by the footpath at the opposite side. She abruptly stopped walking and turned making him frown in confusion.

"Why are all her actions and reactions always the opposite of what it's meant to be?"

He decided to follow her. That he had to give a programme was completely forgotten and he followed her

"Ranbir! What the hell are you doing? Are you a stalker or something?" his mind asked

"If I don't follow her, how the hell do I find out about her? So keep your mouths zipped and let me follow her"

Keeping his distance, he followed her until they reached a white- grey house. He saw her step in leaving the door open.

"Are you planning to go in there Ranbir?" his mind questioned.

"I can find out about her only if I do it!"

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Hey guys,

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Love,
Pratyusha