Ae dil hai mushkil

Tere bina guzara....Ae dil hai mushkil

Crowds are roaring a single name which echoes throughout the backstage "rudra" "rudra" "rudra" . There are still 10 minutes left for his first live performance after the pandemic. His dad has given him the usual lecture "do well warna.. " and rudra pulled back into all those nightmares of his father beating him before each performance to force him to perform and threatening to do worse if he didnt perform well.

Preesha spots a shaking rudra balled up in a corner in his green room as she goes to check on him if he is ready.

"Concert se pehle mai itna nervous ho Jata tha ke mai bas bhai se lipat Jata tha aur unhe chodta hi nahi tha"

"Toh kya aaj ye sab mete saath karne ka iraada hai"

She holds back a sigh at the memory of a conversation from happier times. Atleast they weren't fighting this bad. She steels herself and slowly makes her way towards him and before he has a chance to realise what is happening places herself in his lap wrapping herself around him.

He resists trying to push her away but she holds him firmly.

"Bhai nahi hai par mai hun" she says softly holding onto a struggling rudra. A silent sob escapes his lips. Trying to not let the vulnerability show he spouts the first thing that comes to his mind to divert the topic.

"Preesha please, abhi mei concert ke baare mei bohot stressed hun. Aur tumhe dekhke mujhe sirf gussa aa raha hai. Mai Saransh ke liye abhi ladai karne ke mood mei nahi hun. Please akela chod do mujhe" saying this he moves her away from his lap and starts walking away.

"Akela chodne ke liye nahi pakda tha...." preesha scowls at him as she charges behind him and pins him to the wall.

"Mr rudraksh khurana! Agar apko yaad nahi hai to yaad diladu hum pati patni hai, aur humare beech Saransh ke alawa bhi bohot saree batein hai karne ke liye"

"Acha, jaise kya?" He mocks with a sad smirk.

"Jaise....." she composes her anger knowing he needed her and brings back her mischievous self.

Pulling both his hands onto her waist she puts one hand of hers on his chest and another on his cheek.

"Jaise ki my husband is very nervous right now and I need to make him feel better"

"Aur wo aap kaise karenge miss.preesha srinivasan" his reply clearly dripping with sarcasm

"Mrs. Preesha Rudraksh Khurana" she says, her lips are inching towards his when the call is announced.

"Rudraksh they are ready for you"

He moves away from her picks up his guitar and begins to leave but preesha catches hold of his hand pulling him back before her.

Tip toeing on her toes and holding his face in her hands she plants a quick peck on his lips.

"All the best hubby" she whispers in his ears before pushing a still very shocked rudraksh out of the room.

------

Tu safar mera
Hai tu hi meri manzil

His eyes are at the beginning of the crowd searching for her. Somehow he knows shed be right there.

Tere bina guzara
Ae dil hai mushkil

"This was not the song he was supposed to sing" balraj says out loud confused from behind preesha. As her eyes meets rudras eyes.

Tu mera khuda
Tu hi duaa mein shaamil
Tere bina guzara
Ae dil hai mushkil

A silent tear drops from his eyes as they make eye contact at last. His song trying to convey what he couldnt.

Mujhe aazmaati hai teri kami
Meri har kami ko hai tu laazmi

The moment he found her on the terrace flashes before his eyes and he realizes with even more fervour he couldnt survive without her.

The moment when she left the room left him comes to the forefront and he almost choked.

Junoon hai mera
Banoon main tere qaabil
Tere bina guzaara
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Walking into the crowd he pulls her onto the stage handing his guitar to his second.

Yeh rooh bhi meri
Yeh jism bhi mera
Utna mera nahi
Jitna hua tera

He keeps staring into her eyes as he completes the song.

Tune diya hai jo
Woh dard hi sahi
Tujhse mila hai toh
Inaam hai mera

She keeps staring back unable to look away.

Mera aasmaan dhoondhe teri zameen
Meri har kami ko hai tu laazmi

He takes her hands into his and begins to swirl her around.

Tere bina guzara
Ae dil hai mushkil

Holding her waist in one hand he dips her while simultaneously planting a kiss on her forehead and whispering in her ear finishing their own private song.

"Tere bina guzara
Ae dil hai mushkil"