Part 1- https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4362463
Part 2 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4368279
PART 3
Kabir stood outside the dance auditorium waiting for the familiar joy to burst in him but his heartbeats remained flat. He walked in to his room and practiced mechanically with his partner. Soon the time came to change into his costume and wait for his time on the stage. There were three performances which were going to take place and his performance had been selected to be the concluding one. His partner, Laxmi, was an amazing dancer who seemed to follow his thoughts rather than his moves. In sharp contrast with Nisha. He often teased her that the judges in the talent contest ,which she and her cousins won, must be blind.
Kabir stilled. He got up quickly and pushed the curtains which separated the audience from the backstage. He saw management guys from LSD in the front row along with the sponsors for whom the event was organised. There were family members in the audience. He waved back to Laxmi's mother who had recognized him. Nisha was not there. Had he really expected her to come just because he had thought of her? He closed the curtains and sat down to continue his relaxation exercises not sure whether he was disappointed or relieved to not find Nisha.
Ten minutes before he was to go on stage, a guy walked up to him. "Sorry to disturb you, Sir", said the guy nervously. "There has been a problem with the participation certificates. Please write down your and your partners full name here". He handed Kabir a pen and paper and went to attend a phone call. As Kabir was writing on the paper, his thoughts ran back to Nisha again. He never knew himself to be like this. Here was a dance performance in front of him and all he could think about was how he had behaved with Nisha today. He had to apologize to her as soon as this was over. Kabir scribbled across the paper and knew that he was wrong. Very wrong. He wanted Nisha to be here with him. As he always wanted wherever he went. He wished he hadn't stopped her from coming. He wished that she could somehow be here, backstage, giving him the angelic smile that made him feel that everything would be alright.
Kabir was startled as a big chocolate landed on the paper on which he had just finished writing. "All the very best, Hubby!". Kabir turned around so fast that he was certain he had crinked his neck. It was Nisha, giving him the very smile he was thinking about a moment ago. Sure that he was imagining things, he extended his hand to pinch her and received the answering whack in return. " Why do you keep doing this, Kabir?", complained Nisha. The admin guy pulled the paper from under the chocolate and verified," Kabir Kumar and Nisha Kumar". Kabir looked at the paper in disbelief and sure enough it was there in his handwriting. He couldn't bring himself to look at Nisha in the eye. " No", he corrected quickly," It's Kabir Kumar and Laxmi Mathur. Sorry". The admin guy left and Nisha said mischievously, " Don't worry, Kabiraa. I have this effect on guys". Kabir smiled as he remembered the time from his LSD interview when he has told her something similar. " I won't bother you anymore. Relax and enjoy your dance as you always do. I'll be in the audience." Nisha waved and left.
Nisha frowned as
she watched Kabir and Laxmi on stage. Difficult as it was to see Kabir so close
to another girl even professionally, it was more difficult to see the effort
Kabir was putting. The best thing about Kabir's dance was that it was
effortless, easy and graceful. Spontaneous and from the heart. Today was a
different story altogether. Though miles ahead of his competition, he was not
up to his personal best. Kabir had not wanted her to come here and her presence
was affecting him. She no longer shared Kabir's happiness when he achieved some
or the other milestone on the dancing front. She felt saddened as the days
brought Kabir closer to his dream. And away from her.
Nisha felt disgusted with herself. Was this what love was turning her into? Selfish and petty? Was her happiness going to be different from her love's? No. That wasn't love. The greatest truth of her life was that she loved Kabir,thought Nisha fiercely. She would keep her promise to him. She would not allow anyone to come inbetween his dreams, lest of all herself. Nisha saw the strain on Kabir's face, the lines of worry on his forehead which weren't there two months ago. Sumit, Viraj , Rupan Taiji and though it was tough to accept the last name, Dadaji too were responsible for this. In the end though, it was all her. Nisha felt Umesh Bhaiya and Sukku pain when their dreams were trampled under Dadaji's feet. The pain which always remained fresh. Was this what she wanted for Kabir? A wife with an emotional baggage. Kabir would become a bird forever trapped in Dadaji's iron cage - the Gangwal shop. Her Dad had escaped with great difficulty and was still paying the price for it. Not her Kabir. She would never, ever allow it to happen to him. Nisha resolved to bring back the old laughing, carefree Kabir. The only way that was possible was for him to be far away from her. So be it, thought Nisha as tears streamed down her face.
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