Shuttles And Stars

Neeraj

Sunday evening had arrived, and my family and I had already made the rounds to ensure everything was perfect for the party. The venue was all set—lights twinkling, flowers perfectly arranged. But here I was, back home, standing in front of my closet, staring at a sea of suits like they were unsolvable puzzles.

I had never been this indecisive in my life. Tonight felt different—it wasn’t just another family gathering. I needed to look good. No, I needed to look my best. Why? Because Sia was coming. And I don’t know why, but it mattered.

I picked up the navy blue suit, inspecting it closely before tossing it back into the pile. Too formal. I grabbed a grey one next, holding it up, but shook my head again. No, not quite right either. I sighed, running my hands through my hair, feeling like an idiot for overthinking this. But then, almost instinctively, I reached for the black suit. Simple. Timeless. It was the one. I slid it on, straightened my tie, and looked in the mirror. Damn, I didn’t look half bad.

Just as I was adjusting the lapels, Abhimanyu barged in, that mischievous grin plastered across his face like he knew all my secrets.

"Bro, you’ve been in here forever! What's the deal?" he teased, leaning against the doorframe. "Trying to impress someone?"

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t suppress the smile creeping up. "Shut up, man. I just want to look good."

He stepped further into the room, crossing his arms, clearly enjoying himself. "Right, right. Look good for Sia, you mean?"

I shot him a glare, but he just laughed. "Come on, dude, everyone knows. You’ve been obsessing over her for weeks. Admit it."

"Cut it out, Abhi. I’m not obsessing." I lied, adjusting my collar again, feeling the heat rise to my face. "She’s a friend, okay? I just... want to look presentable."

Abhimanyu’s smirk deepened. "Yeah, and I’m just here for the food." He shook his head, chuckling as he headed toward the door. "You ready or what? Try not to trip over yourself when she walks in."

I shook my head, muttering under my breath. "You’re impossible."

We arrived at the venue just as the guests started to filter in. The place was dazzling—warm, soft lighting bathed everything in a golden glow. I greeted relatives and family friends, the usual small talk, but I wasn’t really paying attention. My mind kept wandering back to the entrance. Any second now, Sia would walk in.

"Dude, you’ve been staring at the door like a puppy waiting for its owner to come home," Abhimanyu whispered, nudging me in the ribs. "Relax. She’ll be here."

I grinned, shrugging him off, though my heart was beating faster than I wanted to admit. And then, there she was.

The moment Sia stepped through the door, everything else seemed to blur. The temperature in the room felt like it dropped a few degrees.  I felt a chill run down my spine. She was stunning. Her black and golden dress flowed around her as she moved, and her hair was done in a soft wavy ponytail that framed her face perfectly her red lip just made her more  enchanting tonight . I felt like an idiot just standing there, frozen in place, but I couldn’t help it.

Abhimanyu, of course, noticed. "Yo, Neeraj, you still with us?" he laughed, waving a hand in front of my face.

I blinked, snapping out of my daze. "Yeah, yeah, I’m fine," I muttered, trying to regain my composure. "Just... taking in the atmosphere."

He grinned. "Uh-huh. Sure you are."

A little while later, I was up on stage, thanking the guests and accepting gifts. I tried to focus, but I couldn’t help stealing glances toward Sia. She was with her group, smiling and talking, but when our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat. When she finally approached to hand me her gift—a bouquet—I felt like it was the only one that mattered. I discreetly handed it to Abhimanyu.

"Keep this safe for me, okay?" I whispered.

He grinned, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, I see. Sia’s bouquet is special, huh? Don’t worry, Romeo. I’ve got you."

I tried to ignore his teasing, but my face felt warm.

Later, after giving my speech, I spotted Sia sitting alone at a table, sipping water while everyone else indulged in drinks. She looked content, but slightly out of place. I took a deep breath, gathering my courage, and made my way over.

"Hey," I said, my voice softer than usual. She looked up, her eyes meeting mine, and I suddenly felt a rush of nerves. "You look... incredible, Sia."

She smiled, a playful glint in her eyes. "Thanks, Neeraj. You don’t look too bad yourself. Quite the handsome hunk tonight."

I chuckled, feeling more at ease. "I’m not sure I can compete with you in that dress, but I’ll take the compliment."

She shook her head slightly, her smile widening. "Always so modest."

Before I could say more, my sister’s voice cut through the room. "Alright, everyone! It’s time for the couple’s dance. Grab your partners and get ready for some music!"

I hesitated, feeling a flutter of nerves in my chest. Turning to Sia, I asked, "Would you like to dance?"

She blinked, glancing around the room. For a second, I thought she might say no, and I instantly regretted asking. But then, she smiled. "Sure, why not?"

The song started—Dekha Hazaro Dafaa. As we moved together, I couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly she followed my lead. There was something surreal about the moment, like it wasn’t just a dance but something deeper. The lyrics of the song spoke everything I felt but couldn’t say aloud.

As we swayed to the music, I leaned in slightly, my voice barely a whisper. "You know, Sia... I’ve never met anyone like you. Strong, determined... and now I see, incredibly graceful too."

She looked up at me, her expression soft but guarded. "You’re not so bad yourself, Neeraj. But..." she hesitated, her smile fading just a little. "You should stop looking at me like that. People might start to think something’s going on."

I smirked, holding her gaze. "Let them think what they want."

For a moment, it felt like the world had disappeared, and it was just the two of us. But then, a voice interrupted—Vikram’s. "Sia! We’re leaving. Time to go."

She pulled away, breaking the spell. "Duty calls," she said, giving me an apologetic smile.

I nodded, trying to keep the disappointment from showing. "Of course. Thanks for the dance."

For a second I even hated Vikram for the way he interrupted us but what could I do he was also right . The only thing I could do is just let her go for her.

As I watched her walk away with Vikram and Netra, a hundred questions flooded my mind. Where was she going? Why did she have to leave now? Was something wrong? I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story.

After the dance ended, Meera and Abhimanyu came over, and I guess my face must have given something away because Meera asked, "Neeraj, what’s up with you? You’ve been distracted all night."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It’s Sia. She left early. Vikram said something about duty, but it didn’t make sense. It’s late. What duty could she have now?"

Abhimanyu chuckled. "Man, you’re overthinking it. Maybe it’s just work."

But I couldn’t shake the unease. Later, as the night wound down and my family gathered to leave, my mother noticed my tension. "Majhya jheelak kya zhala?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

I forced a smile. "Nothing, Aai. Just tired."

But as we got home, Saraswati pulled me aside. "Something’s bothering you, isn’t it?"

I hesitated, then told her everything—the dance, Sia leaving, the questions swirling in my head. She listened carefully, then placed a hand on my shoulder. "Neeraj, if you really like her, take it slow. Be her friend first. Don’t rush things. You don’t want to ruin what you already have."

I nodded, though her words weighed on me as I lay in bed that night, unable to sleep. All I could think about was Sia and the storm of questions still raging in my mind.

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