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The afternoon sun hung low in the sky as I packed Ovi's bag with all her essentials-her favorite blanket, a few toys, some snacks, and extra clothes. As I zipped the bag shut, I couldn't shake the feeling of anxiety that had been gnawing at me since the morning. This would be the first time I'd leave Ovi for an entire evening, and though I trusted Aradhya's mom completely, the thought of being away from my little girl filled me with unease.
"Ready, Rashmi?" Aradhya's voice broke through my thoughts, filled with her usual excitement.
"Almost," I replied, glancing over at Ovi, who was happily playing on the floor. "I just need to make sure she's all set."
I picked up Ovi, holding her close for a moment, breathing in her baby scent. "Mommy's going out for a bit, but I'll be back soon, okay?"
Ovi giggled, oblivious to my worries, and I couldn't help but smile at her innocence. I kissed her forehead, then reluctantly handed her over to Aradhya's mom, who was waiting by the door.
"Don't worry, dear," Aradhya's mom said kindly. "She'll be just fine. We'll have a great time together."
"Thank you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I really appreciate this."
With one last wave to Ovi, I followed Aradhya out the door. The drive to the concert venue was filled with her excited chatter, but I couldn't fully engage. My mind kept drifting back to Ovi, wondering if she'd be okay without me, even just for a few hours.
By the time we arrived at the concert, the venue was already buzzing with energy. Crowds of people were streaming in, laughing and chatting, the excitement in the air almost palpable. But instead of feeling uplifted, I felt out of place.
As we found our seats, I glanced around, trying to shake off the sense of unease. Aradhya was beaming, clearly in her element, but for me, the atmosphere felt overwhelming. The music started, loud and pulsating, and the crowd erupted into cheers.
But as the beats filled the air, I found myself sinking deeper into my seat. The joy, the celebration-it all felt foreign to me. The life I lived now, with its quiet moments and small joys, was so different from this world of loud music and carefree fun. I felt disconnected, like I didn't belong.
Aradhya was singing along to every song, completely lost in the moment, while I forced myself to at least appear interested. But the truth was, I wasn't enjoying myself. The music, the lights, the energy-it was all too much.
As I tried to find some way to distract myself, something caught my attention. The singer, who had been performing with incredible intensity, suddenly seemed to focus on me. His eyes scanned the crowd, but then they locked onto mine. For a moment, I thought I was imagining it, but then it happened again. His gaze lingered on me, and I felt a chill run down my spine.
Why is he looking at me? I wondered, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. The unease I'd been feeling all night suddenly intensified. It wasn't just that the music and joy weren't my thing-there was something else, something about the way the singer looked at me that made my skin crawl.
I tried to dismiss it as a coincidence, but I couldn't shake the feeling. Every time I glanced up, there he was, his eyes fixed on me, making me feel exposed and vulnerable in a way I hadn't expected.
Aradhya didn't notice, thankfully. She was too absorbed in the music, completely unaware of the discomfort growing inside me. I wanted to tell her, to ask if she noticed it too, but I didn't want to ruin her night. So, I kept quiet, forcing myself to endure the rest of the concert in silence.
When the final song ended and the lights came up, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. The concert was over, and I could finally leave. Aradhya was still buzzing with excitement as we made our way out, chatting about how amazing the performance was.
"That was incredible, wasn't it, Rashmi?" she asked, her eyes shining.
"Yeah, it was," I replied, though my voice lacked the enthusiasm she had. I couldn't bring myself to tell her how uncomfortable I'd been, how out of place I'd felt.
As we walked back to the car, I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see the singer watching me again. But there was no sign of him, just a sea of people leaving the venue.
The drive back to Aradhya's mom's house was quieter, with Aradhya still on a high from the concert, but I was lost in my own thoughts. The unease from earlier hadn't left me-it lingered, like a shadow at the back of my mind.
When we finally reached Aradhya's mom's house, I was relieved to see Ovi fast asleep, her little face peaceful and serene. I thanked Aradhya's mom, gathered Ovi into my arms, and headed home, eager to put the strange night behind me.
As I lay down in bed that night, Ovi sleeping soundly beside me, I tried to push the evening's events out of my mind. But the image of the singer's eyes, the way they had seemed to see right through me, wouldn't leave me.
Something about tonight had unsettled me deeply, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more complicated.
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