My Cinderella

PART - 1

"what the hell u people are doing..." my voice roared in the background making the dancers jump out of their skins. "we have been through this routine for the umpthieth time now... get going u people or i will throw u all out of here..." i barked again making them shiver.

How much i hate to see that fear in their eyes... but among these days which are very imp to me... their small mistakes are taking a toll over this grand event. I need them to be perfect for tomorrow... it is a big day for me... for us.

"hey k... how's the practice going" i groaned at the voice and turned to my sly friend who was mocking me with her smile "one my name is kabir... two u too need to practice kirti, if anything went wrong then i swear i will strangle u right there...". "ok... ok... i got the hint..." she clicked her heels and went to change. A deep sigh escaped from my chest before my notice and my eyes scanned their surroundings. This place is going to be mine soon... i thought while eyeing my surrounding i.e. this auditorium which is decorated to its best... n why not it will be... tomorrow is the biggest event in the history of "FEET ON FIRE" aka my academy... my baby it is. Ahh... this event is so imp for me, it will show our potential to those investors who are going to fund us so that i can solely own this academy and also to those who still doubt my decision of rebuilding it after my mentor. I will show them that they were wrong and i was right. "calling k to earth..." sing sang voice of my friend slash dance partner brought me back from my thoughts. "yeah what... why aren't u practicing kirti..." i scowled at the young lady. "because my prince is in some other world u know... n this poor cinderella is waiting for his attention..." she kept a hand on her chest sighing dreamily...this drama queen i tell u. "ok fine... let's start..." she beamed at me and we started our routine.

"kirti u ok?" i asked as her body hit the ground for 5th time in our one hour practice. "yeah yeah i ' m..." she stood up and started spinning again but again it went all wrong. I don't know what have been happening with her, she is my best dancer in the crowd and here she just can't follow some simple steps of this routine. Ok fine... the steps are one of the hardest kind but still she can do it, i don't know why she is so out of place right now. "kirti... what is it girl... why are u not doing it properly" i sighed, m in no mood to thrash her, i even don't have enough energy to do it. "m trying k... m trying" she said truthfully. I know she is but she is not doing justice to this role, i fear if tomorrow my lead dancer failed i will be back to square one i.e. penniless. "pls kirti... u r the princess... princess can't go wrong..." i urged and the poor thing nodded. We kept practicing till midnight to get her steps coordinated with the back dancers. At last when everyone started giving me deadly looks i decided to call it a night. " ok team... i want all of u to take rest for the whole day tomorrow... so yes no practice n we will meet right here in this hall for our performance at sharp 10. But u all are invited to enjoy the event beforehand" so encouraging... i chided myself. "ok bye k... i will meet u at 10 tomorrow" kirti waved her hand at me like a star... such a chic she is. But i can't help with it since she is my friend. Likewise all the others bid their byes and left me alone. I took a last look at the decorated stage... yes very own stage of my academy and locked the door from outside.

"are beta itni raat ko yha kya kar rhe ho..." i turned to see my old watchman. "kuch nhi kaka... bus ghar jaa rha hu..." i smiled back to the old man. "itni raat ko yha mat ruka karo beta... tmhe pta nhi h yha is academy mai raat m pta nhi kaisi kaisi aawaje aati h..." he sounded so scared. I couldn't help but smile at him. "achha kaka... abhi chalta hu..." i so wanted to argue with him over that thing but was too tired for that. I will talk to him later... he need to stop thinking such things moreover telling it to people, it can bring damage to this academy. I sighed and left for my cosy room. "i miss u my bed" those were the last words i mumbled before falling in a deep slumber.

Next night came in a blink of eye. All other performances were good actually brilliant but as the time was drawing near i can feel my heart pounding with nervousness. "nothing will go wrong" i chanted multiple times before entering the stage. All my dancers were in their exact positions as we started performing the ball. After a stretch of a minute, as decided i went to the edge of the stage with the glass heels in my hand, waiting for my princess, on my knees. The music has halted and silence was at its peak... it was the cue for kirti to come up dressed in her costume but she didn't. Anxiety started growing in me and my dancers as there were whispers all over the auditorium. "this shouldn't be happening... no blunder is needed..." i thought. "oh my princess where are u" i whispered. Just then a soft beautifully carved foot came in front of my view making me hypnotised to its milkiness. "here i m my prince..." an unfamiliar voice answered me back and i knew that wasn't kirti. That's when my gaze travelled up to see the most beautiful face i have ever seen in the world. Her long silky hair flowing with the wind were complimenting her heart shaped face while her serene smile on those pink plump lips were enchanting, her eyes hidden behind that decorative mask. My eyes raked over the gorgeous figure of this mysterious princess. Such perfect curves she owned. I was lost in her when she slowly slipped her foot in heels. "let's get going prince..." she bend to my side and whispered in low voice while my hand automatically made her wear the other shoe. I held my hand out for her and she gladly accepted it. We started spinning in slow circles moving towards the center of the stage while music resumed and so as the back dancers.

She knew every single damn step of my choreography just like her air. So fluent and so graceful she was. "how do u know to dance like that... where is kirti" i asked against her ear as we swayed in each others arm. "she is backstage my prince" her melodious voice is my favourite now. "how do u know this dance..." i asked again, this time from her behind while she pulled my neck to her shoulder. "m ur other half prince..." her breath tickled my earlobe sending a shiver in me. " u know what's coming... arent u" i said as she backed her way to the group of boys who were ready to pick her. "i trust u prince..." she mouthed and jumped from their hold to my cage as i spinned on my feet cradling her in my arms. She traced my face with her delicate fingers and i missed her warmth suddenly when she jumped out of my hold and started spinning on her heels circling me at the same time. A step i adapted from the sun and the earth. It looked like i was her sun, her reason to live giving her her life. She was so breathtakingly mesmerizing while she danced every difficult step with such an ease. She flip flopped from her position and landed straight in my inviting arms as i danced with her while her standing on my toes.

"who are u...." i breathed still trying to catch my breath with the last spin. She threw a heart melting smile at me and we ended our dance as she bend herself from waist in my arms her hands hanging out. What a sight to see... her feel was so delectable as her chest rose and fall with her uneven breaths, her hair swaying with the wind. I want her in my arms always from now on. The hall broke out in a loud applause... so loud that i haven't heard before. And in that instance i know... i know it was because of this beautiful lady in my arms. I pulled her back and asked again "who are u".

She broke apart from me, started walking backward with a grin. " m ur cinderella... my prince charming... find me soon darling" she blew a kiss at me and walked away. "hey cinderella... stop" i cried behind her as the dancers took the last loop and she vanished. I had to stood in middle perplexed and that was exactly my condition at the moment. Somebody nudged me and brought me back to the reality. We bowed down as people cheered and congratulated us. But i had something else in my mind and i knew who can help me. As i made my way to the backstage ,people keep wishing me for my successful event. Once i reached the changing room, i barged in without knocking. "kirti... kirti..." i searched her everywhere but she was nowhere to be seen that's when i heard a whimper from the store room. I opened it and was greeted by my sly friend who was sitting with her hands and feet tied while she was blindfolded too. I let out a chuckle as i saw a bouquet and a gift lying beside her with an apology written on it. "u ok?" i asked when i freed her from the ropes. "yeah..." she replied trying to adjust to the light. "who did this... did u saw her... tell me kirti do u know her... are bol na" i asked with all my patience that was wearing out. "k... i was the one who was actually held... not u... and by the way why are u concerned about my abductor and not me..." she raised her eyebrows. "because ur abductor performed with me in ur place and made it a hit tonight... and plus left u this sorry gift too" i forwarded the things to her while she gaped at me astonished. "are u serious" she asked. I nodded and asked her my previous questions again. "i don't know k... i was getting ready and was applying my perfume but then everything went black and i woke up when u were screaming my names a minute ago..." she shrugged her shoulders breaking my hopes. "alright... lets move" we stood up and called it a night.

Now here i m lying in my bed still wondering about my princess... my cinderella. I have to have her and i will have her. Its just that i have to find her... soon.

From that day i had made it my mission to find her... my mysterious cinderella.

"WHERE ARE U MY PRINCESS..."