Wounds of the Heart (दिल के घाव)💔

82

The backstage area buzzed with pre-show jitters. Manik, dressed in his rockstar attire, bounced on his toes, channeling his nervous energy into a focused intensity. Rohit, ever the organized manager, checked his phone for the hundredth time, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

"Looks like the rockstar's all set to take the stage," Rohit teased, a playful smile gracing his lips as he approached Manik.

Manik grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Just gotta make sure I don't blow the roof off the place, right, manager Rohit?"

Rohit chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Just don't worry about anything except nailing those notes, and I'll take care of the rest."

With a final pat on the back, Rohit turned his attention to the other Fab 5 members, ensuring everyone was prepped and ready. As the energy in the room crackled with anticipation, Rohit found himself drawn to the stage, his gaze fixed on Manik's captivating performance.

Manik, fueled by the success of their Rajasthan trip, poured his heart and soul into his music. His voice soared through the venue, captivating the audience with its raw emotion. Rohit couldn't help but swell with pride, the memory of their journey warming his heart. Their time in Rajasthan had been a turning point, a chance for Manik to chase his dream and for Rohit to finally embrace his love and support him wholeheartedly.

Suddenly, a movement in the VIP section caught Rohit's eye. A familiar figure sent a jolt through him. He squinted, his heart pounding in his chest. Could it be…?

Unable to contain his curiosity, Rohit excused himself and made his way towards the VIP area. The security guard, recognizing him as Manik's manager, readily allowed him entry.

As the door swung open, the sight that greeted Rohit stole the breath from his lungs. Standing there, a wide grin plastered on his face, was Kunj. Relief and joy washed over Rohit in a tidal wave as he rushed forward, engulfing his best friend in a tight hug.

"Kunj! Oh my God, I can't believe you guys are here!" Rohit exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief and excitement.

Kunj chuckled, returning the hug with equal enthusiasm. "Surprise!" he declared. "Actually, we had a business conference in London. After the conference, I found out Manik was performing in Chicago, so I decided to plan this little surprise. Dragged these two lovebirds all the way here."

Rohit looked at Abhimanyu, who joined the hug with a warm smile. His gaze then landed on the third figure standing awkwardly behind Kunj. A gasp escaped his lips. It was Rudra.

"There's one more," Kunj continued, his voice laced with amusement. "He wasn't too keen on coming, this one. Had to threaten him a bit! After all, he missed our reunion, man. Scold him!"

Seeing Kunj and Abhimanyu head towards the stage to enjoy the concert, Rohit found himself alone with Rudra.

An awkward silence descended upon them. Rohit's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Happiness bubbled within him at seeing Rudra after so long, but a layer of nervousness clung to him, unsure of how to navigate this unexpected encounter.

Rudra, sensing the awkwardness, took the initiative. "How are you, Rohit?" he asked, his voice a touch hesitant.

Rohit's lips curved into a shy smile. "I'm good," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… I missed you."

The words tumbled out unexpectedly, catching him off guard. A blush crept up his neck as he realized what he'd just admitted. His mind was a battleground – one part of him yearning to engulf Rudra in a hug, the other desperately trying to maintain composure.