Prem Kahaniyaan

3.

The palace grounds were alive with color and sound as the sangeet began. The evening air was filled with the rhythm of traditional dhol beats and the hum of laughter and excitement from family and friends gathered for the night of dancing and celebration. Aditi and Kabir’s families were mingling, guests dressed in their finest, eager to witness the evening’s entertainment.

Arjun stood at the edge of the crowd, trying his best to blend in. He wasn’t particularly looking forward to the sangeet, but Aditi had convinced him to perform, reminding him that it was a tradition for the bride’s side to put on a show. Despite his earlier reluctance, he knew he couldn’t let her down.

“Why do I feel like this is going to be a disaster?” Arjun muttered to himself as he watched the stage being set up.

Just then, Meera appeared beside him, looking as composed as ever. She wore a stunning dark blue lehenga that shimmered under the soft lights, her hair cascading in loose waves. The sight of her took Arjun by surprise, though he quickly masked it with a casual smile.

“Nervous?” she asked, sensing his unease.

He chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “Not nervous. Just not sure I’m ready to make a fool of myself in front of everyone.”

Meera smirked. “I seem to remember you having no problem dancing at our college parties.”

Arjun’s grin widened. “That was different. No aunties and uncles were watching back then.”

“Just go with the flow,” she said, softening a little. “It’s not about being perfect. It’s about having fun.”

Her words hung in the air between them, carrying more meaning than either was willing to acknowledge. Arjun found himself staring at her a moment longer than necessary, wondering if they could ever go back to that carefree place where they’d once been.

Before he could respond, Kabir appeared, clapping Arjun on the shoulder. “Ready for your performance, man? We’ve been practicing for weeks!”

Arjun let out a mock groan. “I don’t know why I agreed to this.”

“Because you love your sister,” Meera quipped, shooting him a teasing look before walking off to check on the sound system.

---

As the night wore on, the performances kicked off. Aditi’s cousins and friends put on an elaborate Bollywood dance sequence, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd. Kabir’s side responded with a mix of traditional Rajasthani folk dance and a surprise flash mob that had the audience laughing and clapping along.

Then it was Arjun’s turn.

He took a deep breath as he stepped onto the stage with his friends, the spotlight bright on his face. He glanced over at Aditi, who was watching with a wide grin, her eyes sparkling with excitement. No pressure, he thought to himself as the music began.

The familiar beat of a popular Bollywood track filled the air, and Arjun launched into the routine he had spent the last few weeks rehearsing. Despite his earlier reservations, he quickly found his rhythm, his body moving with ease as the crowd cheered him on.

As the performance came to a close, Arjun felt a rush of adrenaline. He’d actually enjoyed it more than he expected, and the enthusiastic applause from the guests only added to the moment. He glanced towards Meera, who stood by the edge of the stage, her arms crossed but a smile tugging at her lips.

Arjun walked off the stage, still catching his breath. “So? Not bad for someone who’s ‘improvising,’ right?”

Meera arched an eyebrow. “I’ll admit, you surprised me. But don’t let it get to your head.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “No promises.”

The playful banter felt oddly familiar, almost like old times. But before either of them could dwell on it, the DJ switched the music to a slow, romantic tune, and couples began to pair up for a dance. The lights dimmed, and a soft glow filled the courtyard, creating a magical, intimate atmosphere.

Arjun hesitated for a moment, feeling the shift in the air. He turned to Meera, who was watching the couple with a distant look in her eyes. Without thinking, he extended his hand.

“Dance with me?”

Meera blinked, startled by the sudden question. She opened her mouth to refuse, but something in Arjun’s expression made her pause. It wasn’t just a casual offer; there was a vulnerability there, a truce being offered in the form of a dance.

After a moment’s hesitation, she placed her hand in his. “Just one dance.”

Arjun smiled, leading her to the dance floor. They moved in sync to the soft melody, the world around them fading as they swayed together. For the first time in years, the tension between them seemed to dissolve, replaced by something far more tender. The old bitterness, the misunderstandings, the hurt—they all felt distant in that moment.

“You’re still a terrible dancer,” Meera teased, though there was no bite in her words.

Arjun chuckled. “I thought you said it’s not about being perfect. Just having fun, remember?”

She shook her head, her smile soft. “I guess I did.”

They danced in silence for a few more moments, the warmth of their shared history wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. Arjun’s heart beat a little faster as he looked at Meera, wondering if maybe—just maybe—there was a chance for them to start over.

But just as the thought crossed his mind, Meera pulled back slightly, her expression turning serious.

“Arjun, we can’t…we can’t do this.”

His smile faltered. “What do you mean?”

She stepped out of his hold, creating distance between them. “We’ve been down this road before. It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.”

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. “That was a long time ago, Meera. People change.”

Meera shook her head, her eyes filled with something close to regret. “Some things don’t change, Arjun. We had our chance, and we blew it.”

Arjun felt the weight of her words sink in. He wanted to argue, to tell her that they could make it work this time, but something in her expression stopped him. She was right, in a way. Their past was littered with too much hurt and too many unresolved issues.

“I thought…maybe things could be different now,” Arjun said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Meera looked away, her face a mix of sadness and determination. “I don’t want to risk getting hurt again.”

Before he could say anything more, Meera turned and walked away, leaving Arjun standing alone on the dance floor. The music continued to play, but the magic of the moment had vanished, replaced by the cold reality of their situation.

As he watched her disappear into the crowd, Arjun felt a familiar ache settle in his chest. He had always known that working with Meera would stir up old emotions, but he hadn’t expected the wounds to feel so fresh.

The sangeet carried on, the laughter and celebration ringing in the night air, but for Arjun, the evening had taken on a bittersweet tone. Meera had drawn a line between them, and he wasn’t sure if there was any way to cross it.