Where Have We Come Up To?

Chapter 31:- Now or Never

Sorry for the one day delay in updating......which is why I have written a longer update than usual to compensate.....hope you all like it! :)

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The crowd erupted into cheers as Vishal announced our names. My heart thudded as I tried to calm my racing heart. I couldn't silence the audience who were yelling out our ship name in anticipation.

"Everything will be fine...don't worry." Faisal reassured, avoiding any physical contact. I simply nodded, unconvinced.

"Roshni, trust me, nothing will go wrong." He tried once more.

"I don't trust you anymore! You have lost my trust on you a long time ago!" I lashed out at him, surprised at my own anger.

"I'm sorry...I don't know...what happened there...." I immediately apologized and looked away.

"I deserve this, it's not your fault." His sudden statement grabbed my attention.

"Sorry?" I spoke meekly, taken aback at what my ex co-star just said. I knew I was waiting for this moment, I wanted him to apologize....for what he did to me. However, amidst all this anxiousness regarding this sudden dance performance, frankly, I wasn't prepared for this confession. Not now.

"Never mind, it's too late now." Faisal attempted, hoping for a successful one. But I wouldn't let anything come in between....not when he finally got the courage to. I knew he wanted to ask for forgiveness; I could read it in his eyes. Swiftly, I took my phone out, opened Whatsapp and messaged,

'Give us 10 minutes.....please....its urgent.' I sent my best buddy and immediately received blue ticks and a thumbs up emoji. My life savior!

"Come with me." I ordered and was greeted by a frown by Faisal.

"Roshni....we have a performance." He reminded.

"Everything is under control, everything is perfect....except one." I stated, grabbing his arm.

"But—"

"It can't be dealt with later..." I answered his incomplete question, flabbergasted at my thoughts despite the no longer existent camaraderie between us. How could I know him inside out within a span of just few months? It's the quality that matters, not quantity. I reprimanded myself. But I no longer trusted him....or did I?

I dragged him to our 'Practice Room' and finally stood in front of him, face to face.

"It's not late....it's never late." I commented at our abruptly ended conversation.

"What?" He asked, confused. I wasn't sure if he was acting....but I was pretty sure he was.

"Stop this pretense, Faisal. Stop fooling yourself and me. Cause I'm not sure about you, but I am definitely not a fool here."

"Roshni....you actually forcefully dragged me into this absurd room to discuss something which is legitimately very unimportant? You know, you just force me to doubt your intelligence at times." He brought hysteria to our 'should-be-serious' conversation, infuriating me. He approached towards the door when I held him back by his arm.

"At least respect the courageous Maharana Pratap if not Faisal Khan." My statement made him turn.

"Don't forget," I continued, "that you have two identities. Don't insult the valiant Maharana Pratap with your Faisal Khan cowardice." I provoked him. Such a statement would hurt him, his ego. But this was necessary, we had to hurt the artificially healed wounds to live in peace. We had to close a chapter that was haunting us both.