Fire's Onstage (On Hold)

Nine

Once again they were standing in the dim hallway lights, facing each other with empty eyes and empty thoughts.

There was only one thing that kept Ian from breaking and that was Sanya's brave face.

She kept standing there for a long time, maybe waiting for a word or some action. She kept standing until Ian moved forward to thrust her to himself, pulling her closer till it was hard to breathe.

There were so many emotions hurling inside him. He was scared she would walk away, he was sorry for leaving her before all those months; apologetic for not tried harder to be in touch or made an effort to see her. He was angry at himself for letting her go that easily and he was feeling stupid for not knowing how he felt for all those months until he saw her again. He felt reluctant to let her go even when a thudding sound echoed in the hallway and even when her image vanished from his arms.

He wasn't ready to let her go even though she was nowhere to be seen.

Nikhil's pace slowed on it's own when he saw Ian standing like a fool midway.

Sanya had just went outside and by the look on Ian's face, Nikhil somehow guessed that they've bumped into each other but Sanya must've ran away from Ian, something she should have done last year as well, it would have saved her from heartbreak.

Ian treaded toward him slowly, "I need to talk--"

"Don't you dare! " Nikhil growled and left the hallway, leaving Ian alone in darkness.

***

Ian was unable to keep his eyes or mind from going her way and she knew that feeling because she too, had witnessed such things happening more than once.
There was a different air between them whenever they were near, dancing or talking, and neither of them ignored that fact.

The things they weren't able to ignore though was that - Sanya was still a minor and Ian was a respected gentleman.
So he kept himself to smiles and nods towards her, some tense hugs he used to give after a good act and of course, lots and lots of stolen glances.

But the thing that changed the course of his mind happened before the week they were to announce the top four teams..

Every now and then, the show organisers managed to call the families of participants to surprise and boost them.
And those were the only time when Ian saw her getting upset, either crying or trying to control her emotions by shallow smiles. These were the times he wanted to embrace and comfort her, and tell her that she was not alone, that he was ready to be her family or make her his. These were the times when he despised the differences between them.
Those were the times when he felt closer to her, when he realised how much he wanted her to be happy and smile and feel satisfied and he wanted to be the one to give her all that, and his broken piece to complete her.

And it was one of those times when he risked his image to give her happiness and he was more happier than her for that courage.

***

"Mom! For how many times do I have to tell you that we are just friends. There's nothing going on between us." Nikhil was screaming now.

At first, Sanya was amused at the bickering between mother and son. But now the temperature of the room was going higher and she felt the one crushing between high tides. Although, the both of them were talking about her as if she was an invisible ghost.

It all started on dinner table.. actually, it all started when Nikhil's mother was invited on the show and everyone joked about them being too good for each other that they seemed like a real couple.

She didn't show her disappointment then but like a mother that she was, she took it otherwise and to the heart.
Sanya knew that any mother in that case, would never want someone with such a background as Sanya's, to be related to their family or even being talked as one.

So when before the semis, when everyone was to go to meet their family and friends for campaigning and whatnot, Sanya had nowhere to go and when Nikhil asked her to go with him she readily relented.

But the moment his mother saw her beside Nikhil, her face turned sour as if Sanya and Nikhil were back not from a TV show but as a runaway couple after secretly marrying without her consent.

The cold wind turned into tornado when Nikhil's elder brother, Akhil worded out their suitability for each other. "It's like you are destined to be together, don't you think?" he nudged Nikhil in jest.
And before Nikhil could reciprocate, their mother snapped, "Don't put stupid thoughts in his mind. I would never allow this girl to move forward to his direction. They are but a pair, not couple."

Sanya saw her fuming with bulging eyes.
"Mom,I was just kidding." Akhil laughed in embarrassment.

"You are not a kid anymore", she turned her deathly glares to Nikhil, "But you are still my child and I am to decide whom I want as your wife because a mother knows better."

Nikhil who was still in shock over his mother's sudden outburst, came back to senses. "I am not marrying her or anyone in that case! Don't be foolish.."

"You are calling me fool in front of her! See how you've changed already." Nikhil's mom started wailing now.

Sanya sat there like a fool, trying to grab a moment to intervene and erase the misunderstanding.
She wasn't sure if she should feel angry or embarrassed? Or pathetic, even amused at the foolishness of the scene.

So, she excused herself even though nobody was acknowledging her presence. She stayed out of the dining room, still close enough to hear all the bantering.

Why should she feel guilty? It wasn't her who asked Nikhil for a stay at his home. she was about to stay at dance house and relax instead of this. She grabbed her backpack from drawing room when Nikhil emerged from dining, a bit embarrassed.

He moved towards Sanya with a sheepish smile. "You know?..mom-"

"No, I don't know. I don't have any." she said more sheepishly, "for the first time in my life, I am happy I don't have a mom."

Before Nikhil could decide how to react to her sarcasm, she hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek before smiling, "Thanks for dinner. I'll miss you.. See you on Monday."

Nikhil stood there, awestruck by her behaviour until she waved someone behind him. He closed his eyes in agony by knowing who could have witnessed that 'cute scene' that was deliberately shown off as he could feel the furious breathes coming from behind him.

Sanya turned to give him a quick wink while he mouthed, "I will kill you."

Her laughter could be heard from outside the door.