Ishq Inteha

pehli Nazar

Sitting on my bed, I was lost in my thoughts, my fingers gently tracing the thin golden anklets around my feet. The soft clinking of the metal was the only sound in the quiet room until a sudden shouting noise broke the silence. I smiled instantly, knowing who it was.

Before I could even turn my head, he appeared in front of me, his energy filling the room like a burst of sunlight. Vansh stood there, grinning widely, holding a letter in his hand. His eyes sparkled with excitement, a rare sight that always made me curious.

"Hmm, kya hua? Aaj itne khush kaise ?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I leaned back on the bed.

Without a word, he thrust the letter toward me. My smile faded as I hesitated, staring at the piece of paper in his hand. My voice came out softer than usual, tinged with embarrassment.

"Kya karu iska?" I said, taking the letter but not looking at it. "Mujhe toh kuch samajh hi nahi aata in sab ka."

Vansh's smile didn't waver. If anything, it grew softer. "Yuvi, pata hai aaj kya hai?" he asked, sitting beside me on the bed.

I huffed, pretending not to care, though I couldn't help but glance at his eager face. "Aaj? Kuch nahi. Kya hoga?"

"Bahut kuch hai, Yuvi didi," he said, his voice brimming with excitement. "Aaj Jodhpur mein nritye aayojan hai!"

The moment the word nritye left his lips, my eyes lit up. My lips curved into a smile, but it faltered almost as quickly. Reality weighed down on me like a heavy chain.

"Lekin bhai saa," I said, my voice dropping, "hum thodi na jaa sakte hain."

Vansh placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his determination unwavering. "Kyun nahi? Bilkul jaa sakte hain."

I shook my head, adjusting my anklet to avoid his gaze. "Bhai saa, jhoothi aasha mat dikhaiye. Hum jaane ka soch bhi nahi sakte."

He chuckled lightly, his confidence unshaken. "Kisne kaha jhooth hai? Aap jaa sakti hain. Bas bade bhai ko manana padega."

I finally looked at him, a faint hope flickering in my chest before it was extinguished by my own words. "Woh kabhi nahi maanenge. Aur maan bhi gaye, toh kya maa saa aur bapu saa maanenge?"

Vansh smiled confidently and said, "Maan jaayenge. Agar bade bhai maan gaye, toh woh maa saa aur bapu saa ko bhi apne aap mana lenge."

I looked at him, my face a mixture of fear and confusion. "Lekin..." I began, my voice hesitant.

Before I could finish, he cut me off with a playful grin. "Itna mat sochiye, Yuvi didi."

For a moment, his words lingered in the air. I found myself lost in thought, imagining the impossible. What if I get permission to perform on that grand stage? The very idea sent a ripple of excitement through me.

My heart raced as I pictured myself dancing under the glow of a hundred lights, my every movement watched by an audience captivated by my performance. These were the dreams I secretly nurtured, practising in my chamber at midnight when the world around me was fast asleep.

A sharp snap of fingers brought me back to reality. Vansh was clicking his fingers in front of my face, his mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Sochne mein hi itna accha lag raha hai, toh zara sochiye, Yuvi didi," he said, his voice teasing yet encouraging. "Mehsus kijiye woh pal... jab aap waha sabke saamne apna nritye pesh karengi."

I couldn't help but smile, my dimples deepening as I let his words sink in. "Haan," I murmured, my voice soft but full of hope. "Kitne haseen pal honge woh mere zindagi ke..."

The excitement bubbled over, and I laughed, unable to contain the joy his words had sparked within me. My laughter was light, like the sound of a soft melody filling the room. I could already see it-me, dancing with my heart and soul on that stage, my dreams coming to life.