"Why are you always smiling at me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with curiosity and a hint of frustration.
He chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Because," he said, taking a step closer, "you're the only thing worth...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I had never felt nervous when dancing at school functions. The stage had always been my comfort zone. But here... here, it was different. My hands felt cold, my heart pounded louder than the music that hadn't even started yet. Why?
Shristi saw right through me. She smiled knowingly and said, "It's because everything here is new. The place, the people... Back in school, you were comfortable. That's why."
Her words settled something inside me. I took a deep breath. Yes... that made sense.
Then, the moment arrived. I stepped onto the stage. The crowd blurred into nothingness. I didn't see them. I didn't want to. Instead, I closed my eyes and thought of Maa, my brother, my Dad. Their faces, their presence-they were my audience tonight.
The first note of "Woh Kisna Hai" played. And just like that, I wasn't on stage anymore. I was Radha, lost in the divine rhythm, surrendering to the music. Every movement, every twirl, every expression-I felt it, lived it. The song flowed through me like a river meeting the ocean, effortless and boundless.
Then, silence. The music stopped. The moment shattered.
And then-thunderous applause.
I blinked, breathless. Hands clapping, voices cheering, an energy so overwhelming that for a second, I felt weightless. Had I really just done that?
I stepped off the stage, my heart still racing. And before I could process anything, Shristi ran to me. "OH. MY. GOD. Aaina!" she practically screamed. "I NEVER knew you could dance like that! You were OUTSTANDING!"
She hugged me so tight I almost lost my breath again. I grinned, flashing my teeth. "Thank you!"
She pulled back, eyes still wide in awe. "Do you have any idea what you've done? You're going to be the crush of so many people here! I mean, I'M a girl, and I couldn't take my eyes off you. Imagine what's happening with the boys right now!"
I laughed, warmth spreading through me. The nervousness? Gone. All that was left was exhilaration.
We started walking, her hand gripping mine as if anchoring me to reality. I adjusted my dupatta, feeling it slipping off to one side. "Careful," I murmured.
"Ohh!" She quickly helped fix it, then continued with the same excitement bubbling in her voice. "I told Arjun to click SO many pictures of you, and Shaurya to record a video! Let's go to them!"
I nodded, but my eyes were already searching... Priyanka. She was late. Was she here? Had she missed it?
I scanned the crowd, hoping, wishing-please tell me she saw it.
Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced through the noise- "Aaina!"
I turned around in an instant, my heart skipping a beat. My eyes locked onto Priyanka, and the moment I saw her, a wide, uncontrollable smile spread across my face. She rushed toward me, her excitement practically radiating off her.
