Aathiya always thought of life as living hell but what she firmly believed was in fairytale love that one day her one and only will come who will protect her from whole world, with whom she will live happily ever after. But all her dreams shattered...
As we approached the Garba pandal, the explosion of colors and lights drew me in. The vibrant reds, yellows, and greens, adorned with intricate patterns and sparkling mirrors, were unlike anything I had seen before. Inside, the rhythmic beats of Gujarati music and joyful laughter filled the air. People in swirling ghagras and cholis moved in perfect harmony, their steps a beautiful echo of traditions new to me. The central stage pulsed with energy, guiding the graceful circles. The scent of incense mingled with the cool night air, adding to the magic. Faces glowed with happiness and unity, the spirit of Navratri filling the pandal with warmth. It felt like a piece of India brought to life, and I was part of this beautiful celebration.
"Let's go, Aathiii. My friend should be inside," Aarohi said, taking my hand and leading me inside. We soon met her college mate, Riya, who was enthusiastically showing us how to do garba because she was a Guajarati herself. As a non-dancer, I struggled to keep up, while Aaru moved gracefully, mastering the steps with ease. Just as I was about to record her, she stopped and came over to inform me she had to take an urgent call. She headed towards the exit of the Pandal, leaving me standing in a corner, observing the crowd in an attempt to learn the dance steps that everyone seemed to perform so effortlessly.
Riya tried to include me, but her pace was too fast, seamlessly blending in with the other people. I stood there waiting for Aaru when I heard a voice behind me.
"Hi."
I turned around to find a guy—no, a man—a handsome man standing before me. He was tall, almost 6'3", with a body like a fitness trainer. The shape of his abs was visible through his body-hugging sherwani. He had coal-black eyes framed by long lashes that any girl would crave for. He wore a pastel pink sherwani adorned with white floral patterns.
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"Hey," I replied.
We exchanged greetings, and he asked why I was standing alone. I explained that I was waiting for my friend. When he asked me to dance, I was taken aback. I couldn't tell if he was flirting or genuinely wanted to help learn it. Initially, I hesitated, but then I remembered Aaru's words: we were here to have fun, and nobody knew us, so we could enjoy ourselves. Standing in the corner wasn't doing me any good, so I nodded in agreement.
As we stood opposite each other, I noticed the significant height difference between us. He was so tall, making me feel timid. But I wanted to make the most of the night, so I pushed aside my pathetic thoughts and focused on the dance. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. I felt happy, and it seemed like he was a genuine man. However, when he said, "It's my pleasure to bring a smile to your face," I realized he might just be like every other man, trying his luck with a random girl. I hate such men. How do I always end up in these awkward situations?
I danced with him and didn't even know his name—how idiotic was that?
His name was Reyansh. Cool. I asked where he was from, believe me, I don't know what should I even ask, I was at a loss for words. Fortunately, Aaru returned, and I felt relieved. Bythe end, I felt even though he flirted a little bit, he is a gentleman. He clicked pictures of us and even took a video of Aaru and me. Everything was going fine until he requested a picture of just the two of us. Why did he want a photo with just me? He could take a group picture . I wanted to say no but refusing might seem rude.
