Night of 25TH

CHAP 46 : Dance of Shadows

Past:

Shubman

Walking to the centre of the room, I couldn't bring myself to meet Chucky and Ishan's eyes. Anika signalled the DJ, who announced, "To this special win, let's have a special dance with your special someone."

The room's atmosphere turned romantic, but my own emotions felt distant. Teammates gracefully paired off for the dance, and Anika took the lead, guiding my hands around her waist, her hands resting on my neck.

"Come on, the four of you, join the dance floor," the DJ called out to Ishan, Aditi, and Chucky who were glancing at me as if they had seen a ghost. Meanwhile, Jaiswal stood there awkwardly, hesitating to join the dance.

As the DJ's voice echoed through the venue, Ishan and Aditi, caught in a trance, snapped back to reality and smoothly glided onto the dance floor. Their movements seemed effortlessly synchronized with the music. On the other hand, Jaiswal and Chucky, standing on the sidelines, hesitated, contemplating whether to embrace the rhythm and join the dance or to remain observers in the dimly lit atmosphere."

"Don't you dare ask her, Jaiswal," my jealous mind whispered. As if on cue, Jaiswal extended his hand to Chucky with hopeful eyes. After a brief pause, she looked at him, her eyes crinkling into a small smile as she placed her small hands in his big ones.

My heart sank; the spot that should have been mine was now occupied by another. Swaying with Anika, my eyes remained fixed on Chucky throughout.

The melodic strains of a new song enveloped me, echoing the kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within. Each note seemed to harmonise perfectly with the symphony of feelings coursing through my being.

Kahin to... kahin to hogi woh
(There shall be some place )

Duniya jahan tu mere saath hai
(In the world where we'll be together )

Jahaan main jahaan tu aur jahaan bas tere mere jazbaat hain
(Where it's only me and You, and our emotions)

Hogi jahaan saba teri palkon ki kiranon mein
(Where there shall be a breeze in the glow from Your eyelashes )

Lori jahaan chand ki sune teri baahon mein
(Where I would be able to hear the Moon's lullaby in Your arms)

Jaane na kahaan woh duniya hai jaane na woh hai bhi ya nahin
(I don't know if there is such a place or does it exists or not )

Jahaan meri zindagi mujhse itni khafa nahin
(Where my life is not upset with me)

With every lyric, the song seemed to unravel the tapestry of my romantic misfortunes. Anika rested her head on my shoulder, and at that moment, I yearned for it to be her small head nestled against my chest. As she swayed with Jaiswal, her eyes locked onto mine, and she smiled, a subtle wink conveying a message that I was conquering my inner struggles for the sake of rekindling my relationship with Anika. Little did she know, I was ensnared by demons so profound that any attempt to confront them threatened to consume me entirely.

"I want you to be friends with Anya, but not to the extent that it affects our relationship, got it?" Anika said, hugging me tightly, her voice calm yet sinister.

"Tod do, voh bhi kyu rakhna hai," I said, my voice croaking as my eyes fixed on Jaiswal and Chucky goofing around with their terrible dancing.

"Come on, we can't just portray Anika Agnihotri as a villain; we've got to maintain the PR image," she said, pulling my face to meet her gaze, noting that my attention wasn't on her.