"Wow, Rupa! This place is buzzing with people! I thought you had said that only our former classmates are invited," quizzed Vrinda, looking around with a puzzled frown etched into her resplendent features. Sucheta had helped her style her hair and apply the kohl and the bright red lipstick from M.A.C that she loved to wear ever since her adolescence, and added to her ethereal charm.
Vivaan had guided her with identification of her former batchmates and explaining the bond that they had shared in the past by using their photos from their college times. A few of them had video-called over the past two weeks after Rupa had informed them that Vrinda had accepted the invite to attend her wedding.
"The nosy neighbors could not resist barging inside the ceremony uninvited. Few of our classmates who are residing abroad could not make it due to pandemic restrictions so could not even push them out citing the fifty member limit," complained Rupa, rolling her eyes, much to her mother's chagrin.
"Glad to see you again, sweetheart! Hope you are doing well," said Deepa, Rupa's mother, placing an affectionate hand over her shoulder to which Vrinda merely nodded wordlessly.
Deepa threw a barely concealed bitter glare in Vivaan's direction and just offered a curt and cold nod to him merely as a sign of courtesy. Vivaan, although taken aback by her stoic behavior towards him, joined his hands together in a formal namaste and greeted her wholeheartedly.
Deepa excused herself and moved to the rest of the guests, allowing the youngsters to enjoy the joyous occasion to their heart's content.
"Is it true that my sweet dancing doll is dancing today?" questioned Rohit, draping his arm around her shoulder affectionately, as he referred to the mini-Sangeet they had scheduled before the wedding.
"You don't have to do it, Vrinda. I mean, you have barely recuperated," pointed Rupa, concernedly, alternating between Vivaan and Vrinda in the hope that they would ease her worries.
"She is doing this out of her own accord, Rupa. She rigorously practiced for the past two weeks to be able to perform today and if she is able to accomplish that, which I am sure she will, it will only boost her self-esteem much better than our words would," explained Vivaan, displaying a reassuring smile to Rupa who nodded in acceptance.
"So, save the best for the last then? I'll go tell the Sudeep that Vrinda will be performing," remarked Rohit, beaming at Vrinda before setting out to turn his words in reality.
"Not just me. Vivaan will be playing tabla as well. Like the good old times, isn't it?"
_______________________________________________________________________
Thak!
Nothing could ever prepare her for the powerful burst of myriads of emotions through her every time she heard him play the tabla. It was awe inspiring to realize that her body was so accustomed to dancing to his music that her limbs yearned to move to the rhythm produced by him.
The overwhelming sense of oneness that gliding and matching to his beats brought was simply unmatched by anything she had experienced in the few months she had memory of. She did not know if it was muscle memory or the sublime subconsciousness at play when her graceful gestures matched him beat by beat, despite the struggle by her only partially recuperated lower limbs.
Chandan Sa Badan, Chanchal Chitvan
Dheere Se Tere Muskana
Mujhe Dosh Na Dena Jagwaalo
Mujhe Dosh Na Dena Jagwaalo
Ho Jaye Agar Dil Deewana
She wondered if the age-old melody was tailor made for the man seated across her, reverentially playing his tabla. His golden complexion and musky natural scent, reminiscent of the soothing sandalwood, tantalized her from their first meet and made him the subject of her dreams.
The way he stole sharp, fleeting glances of her and allowed a graceful smile to dance upon his lips, expressing his earnest amour and ardor for her, was it even a surprise that he had captured her heart, not once but twice?
She knew that the world, both her own comprised of her late parents and the outside world would frown upon her as she parted with her heart which chose the same man partly responsible for her despicable fate against her parents' wishes, and yet she wondered if she would be able to convince her heart to find its way back to her.
As their eyes met in an ardently frenzy embrace, she could feel warm vermilion hue splay across the apples of her cheeks and her lips danced their way towards her ears - recreating the snap that she had lovingly transformed into her tablet's wallpaper.
Resounding round of applause broke out in the audience as she completed her dance with an exuberant dip. Goosebumps blanketed her entire form as the sense of accomplishment and confidence rushed through throbbing blood vessels.
A proud and joyous grin stretched itself upon her lips as she scanned over the audience, consisting mostly of her past friends, who had rose to their feet to give a standing ovation whilst cheering heartily for her. The adrenaline rush, the overwhelming warmth and the ecstatic thrill was possibly irreplaceable by anything else, and she was glad that she had chosen to perform on the stage.
"You go girl!"
"That's my girl!"
"You totally rocked it!"
Her thankful eyes traveled to the man who had been her anchor in the journey of relearning her passion which had drowned in the oblivion. Another emotion, inexplicable in any manner overpowered her when she took in the unparalleled pride etched into his features as he clapped for her with a reflection of her smile playing on his lips.
She descended the stage, closely followed by Vivaan, as the presenter Sudeep took over and uttered a few words in her praise. His cautious arms surrounded her whilst keeping a distance from her, knowing that she was still not very capable of descending the stairs, and the lines from her book resurfaced in her uncharacteristically relaxed mind.
Why did I search for your hands elsewhere, when I was supposed to know that they would be holding me from falling into the vortex of darkness and guiding me safely?
"Look, still carrying that charade. I knew he was acting when he refused to accept her love two years back. Smita was right. Thirst for money runs in the blood or else why is he back after all these years, enamoring her once again? Such an obnoxious liar! Poor Vrinda darling!"
And Vrinda realized that the calm state of her mind was just the calm before the storm.
__________________________________________________
Will Vivaan take a stand for Vrinda this time or will he repeat his sin? Please VOTE and COMMENT!
Translation:
chandan-saa badan chanchal chitvan
Your sandalwood-sculpted body, your playful glances,
dhiire se teraa yeh muskaanaa
and your gentle smile
mujhe dosh na denaa jagvaalo
Citizens of the world, do not blame me
ho jaauu.n agar mai.n diivaanaa
if I fall madly in love with you
YOU ARE READING
Forever Yours, Vrinda
Romance"I don't love her in the way she does," said Vivaan, causing Vrinda's hopeful smile to fade into a heartbroken frown. She stood amidst two warring families, hoping for support from childhood best friend who had won her heart, only to be spurned awa...
