THE NEIGHBOURHOOD ROMANCE

Chapter 13

Chapter – 13

            The show was to be held in a famous auditorium of Kolkata, Kala Mandir. Pakhi was dressed in a saree for the opening scene of the drama. The theme had a Bengali background that required the traditional attire. Pakhi’s heart was doing a somersault when he peeped from the curtains to see the crowd. She can’t believe that the big auditorium was house full. Her dramas were famous but she hadn’t imagined that this time the audience would include the big names of the Indian Drama Society. “So ready to burn the stage?” a familiar voice whispered in her ears. She turned to see Aryan standing beside her in a Sherwani. The opening scene showed a mandap of Durga Puja which is the main essence of Kolkata, and that’s where the hero-heroine will meet. “Pakhi cheer up. It’s raining outside, a perfect atmosphere for the drama.” Rain? Pakhi smiled. It was raining that night when he had written the meeting part of the story. Was this man always right? It was indeed a perfect atmosphere for the drama. “5 minutes to go! Take your positions.” Ira gestured at them. No backing out now. It was show time. Pakhi took a long breathe and wished luck to Aryan and the others. Aryan kissed her on the cheek and said, “Remember, focus only on me.” 

            The drama was approaching the climax where the Hero was to be shot by a gangster and would declare his love for the heroine.  He noticed that right from the beginning Pakhi didn’t fumble on any of the lines. She was giving her best and that made Aryan’s heart skip a beat. Every day he was seeing this little bird in a new light. She was the kind of girl who should be loved not flirted with. But was he the right person to show her that world of unconditional love. “Aryan! You are next!” Raghav’s voice jerked him back to the present. He sighed and approached the centre stage. The scene played. Pakhi came running on the stage while he was lying over his own blood after killing the gangster. Aryan had initially thought that he would definitely forget the special lines of the declaration of love. But no, when Pakhi took his head on her lap, he looked into her eyes and each and every word came out of his lips automatically. Pakhi said her dialogue and did what was totally out of the script. She forgot the world as Aryan had asked. She only focused on him and without another thought kissed her with an unbeatable desire. Aryan returned her kiss. Ira and Raghav smiled and forgot to play the romantic music for the passionate ending. Aastha got confused and connected her iPod to the main sound system, and before anyone could interrupt her, instead of playing the romantic tune she played the latest hit song from the movie Aashiqui 2, Milne Hai Mujhse Aayi. Aryan and Pakhi went on kissing. The auditorium echoed with the sound of applause and the curtains dropped. As they broke the kiss, they kept on staring at each other. “Aryan I ---“

“Stop it you two. The curtains will open now for the final bow. So get up!” Sruti took their attention back to reality. All the performers came to the stage. Krishna introduced them one by one, “Last but not the least, Ladies and Gentleman put your hands together for the beautiful writer of Forevermore. Pakhi Sinha Roy.” The audience broke into another round of big applause. Pakhi looked at Aryan and thanked god for letting her experience such a wonderful neighbourhood romance. Krishna sir’s earlier words played in her mind, “One day my child you will be on that stage. And when you will perform, you will understand that those dialogues of yours have a much deeper meaning than what you write.  And when you will utter those dialogues on stage with the same feeling as you write them, my dear that will be the day when you would have fallen in love!” And in that moment she understood that Aryan was the prince she was waiting forever. Only there was a difference Aryan was not the prince charming she had imagined her love would be, but he was better than that, he was the Knight in a Shining Armour who rescued the damsels in distress, just as Aryan had rescued her from this mess. She let lose her guard and realised, she was unconditionally, head-over-heels in love with the devil next door.