“Come on Rockstar, you’re on in two
minutes,” Avani said opening the green room door, “They’re waiting for you.” He
looked up from the picture he was holding, “Coming,” he said putting the
picture down and picking up his guitar. He walked together with Avani until
they got to the entrance. They both could hear everyone chanting. He turned to Avani who gave him a quick hug
and sent him off. He walked to the centre of the stage and stood in front of
the microphone. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the music started
and he sang...
Ishq bhi kiya re maula
Dard bhi diya re
maula
Oo...ooo...ooo
Ishq bhi kiya re maula
Dard bhi diya re maula
Yun toh khush raha magar
Kuch reh gaya baaki
Faqr bhi kiya re maula
Ilm bhi liya re maula
Zindagi jiya magar
Kuch reh gaya baaki
Tu nahi dikha re maula
Sab nahi bika re maula
Aur jahan rukha wahan pe
Jaam hai khaali
Dum taram taram taram ta
Oo...ooo...ooo
Ishq bhi kiya re maula
Dard bhi diya re maula
Yun toh khush raha magar
Kuch reh gaya baaki
Faqr bhi kiya re maula
Ilm bhi liya re maula
Zindagi jiya magar
Kuch reh gaya baaki
Tu nahi dikha re maula
Sab nahi bika re maula
Aur jahan rukha wahan pe
Jaam hai khaali
Dum taram taram taram ta
Lord I have
loved
Lord I have
given pain
Ooo...ooo...ooo...
Lord I have loved
Lord I have loved
Lord I have
given pain
Though I
remained happy
Something still
remains
Lord I felt
pride
Lord I gained
knowledge
I have lived
but
Something still
remains
I couldn’t see
you Lord
Everything
wasn’t sold Lord
And wherever I
stopped
The glass was
empty
Dum taram taram
taram ta
He opened his eyes and saw the crowd swaying to the melody. They all saw
the song as just a song but for him it was more...
Chaha
ki kami mein tu hai
Aankh ki nami mein tu hai
Aas mein tu pyaas mein tu
Aankh ki nami mein tu hai
Aas mein tu pyaas mein tu
Saaz
mein tu
Bewaja
hasi mein tu hai
Jo dhike ussi mein tu hai
Ashq mein tu rashq mein tu
Jaan mein tu
Jo dhike ussi mein tu hai
Ashq mein tu rashq mein tu
Jaan mein tu
You
are in my want for love
You
are in the moisture in these eyes
You
are in desire, you are in thirst
You
are in every harmony
You
are in reasonless laughter
You
are in whatever I see
You
are in tears, you are in jealousy
You
are in life
Images flashed across his mind, she was all he could see...
Ishq
bhi kiya re maula
Dard bhi diya re maula
Yun toh khush raha magar
Kuch reh gaya baaki
Faqr bhi kiya re maula
Ilm bhi liya re maula
Zindagi jiya magar
Kuch reh gaya baaki
Tu nahi dikha re maula
Sab nahi bika re maula
Aur jahan rukha wahan pe
Jaam hai kaali
Dum taram taram taram ta
Dard bhi diya re maula
Yun toh khush raha magar
Kuch reh gaya baaki
Faqr bhi kiya re maula
Ilm bhi liya re maula
Zindagi jiya magar
Kuch reh gaya baaki
Tu nahi dikha re maula
Sab nahi bika re maula
Aur jahan rukha wahan pe
Jaam hai kaali
Dum taram taram taram ta
Lord I have
loved
Lord I have
given pain
Though I
remained happy
Something still
remains
Lord I felt
pride
Lord I gained
knowledge
I have lived
but
Something still
remains
I couldn’t see
you Lord
Everything
wasn’t sold Lord
And wherever I
stopped
The glass was empty
Dum taram taram
taram ta
He was strumming on the guitar,
remembering every moment, every minute, every day he spent with her...
Zeest
ki sacchayiyon se
Rooh ki gehraiyon se
Raat ki tanhaiyon se
Tu guzar zara
Dum taram taram taram ta
Rooh ki gehraiyon se
Raat ki tanhaiyon se
Tu guzar zara
Dum taram taram taram ta
Zeest
ki sacchayiyon se
Rooh ki gehraiyon se
Raat ki tanhaiyon se
Tu guzar zara
Dum taram taram taram ta
Rooh ki gehraiyon se
Raat ki tanhaiyon se
Tu guzar zara
Dum taram taram taram ta
You past through the
truth of life
Through the depth of the
soul
Through the loneliness of
the night
You pass
Dum taram taram taram ta
You past through the
truth of life
Through the depth of the
soul
Through the loneliness of
the night
You pass
Dum taram taram taram ta
He strummed the last note of the song and opened his eyes to the thousands
of fans standing in front of him cheering and shouting for more. The concert
producers had only asked him to close the performance and he didn’t have it in
him to perform one more song otherwise he would have never refused fans. “Thank
you Mumbai and good night,” he said into the mic before walking off stage with
his guitar. He did everything but stroll to his green room. He could hear the
chants of the audience even though he was walking away from them. It was as if it was never going to stop until
he finally reached his dressing room and shut himself in.
He leaned against the door breathing heavily and sunk down to the floor
holding his guitar. He was so lost he didn’t even realize that there were
runaway tears. Only he knew what that song meant to him. Only he knew what that
song meant. Only he knew who he sang it for. Only he knew what it took to get
himself to sing that song. Those lyrics was everything he felt. How could
someone capture his heart to the extent that all it craved was them. All it
wanted was them. Surely after so long it would stop but then why? Why does he
want to see her all the time? Touch her? Feel her in his arms? Why damn it? The
continuous knocking on the door brought him out of his trance. He stood up,
straightened his jacket, put his guitar on the stand in the corner of the room
and opened the door. Avani walked in closing the door behind her, “You okay?”
she asked concern clearly visible on her face. “I’ll live,” he replied flatly.
“How much longer are you going to keep doing this? You’re hurting inside and I
know it. Every time you do something like this your wounds are only getting
deeper. You’re not even trying to heal,” she said distressed. “What am I going
to get by healing? Someone else will just come along and do the same thing.
Then what?” he asked in anger. “I...I don’t know but you need to let it go.
It’s better for you that way. it’s better for everyone that way,” she said
hesitantly. She couldn’t believe her best friend was standing in front her with
tears in his eyes. She could bear anything but that. He was like a brother to
her, she couldn’t see him like that. She wiped away his tears and wrapped her
arms around him. He gave in to her, the loneliness was too much for him. He
needed someone and right now she was there for him. She always was and always
would be.
“Can I get a hug too?” asked a sweet voice standing at the door. They broke
the hug and turned towards the lady and man walking in. She smiled at them as
if she hadn’t seen them for years. “Di!” he exclaimed engulfing her in his
arms. “I wish she gave me that much love,” Arjun said in mock jealousy. They
all laughed. He shook his brother-in-law’s hand and asked them to sit while he
closed the door. “What’s happened to him?” he could hear Anjali asking Avani.
“Nothing’s happened to him,” he answered for Avani giving her a death stare.
Anjali stood up and walked to him taking his hand in hers, “You’re lying to me.
We both watched your performance tonight. We could see the rockstar there. ASR
was there but you... you were hiding. Arnav was hiding in that song. If you
think I don’t know anything then think again Arnav. Avani told me. Did you
really expect to suffer like this? All by yourself?” she asked him. Tears were
forming in his eyes and took all he had to hold them back. This wasn’t the time
or place to do this. “Let’s go home.”
She sat watching the concert and waited for the closing act but the moment
he came on stage she regretted waiting to see it. She felt something stab at
her heart. ASR was there on stage but the Arnav that had always accompanied him
wasn’t. She could see it in his eyes. The music started playing and she was
entranced by the melody when she heard his voice. Her trance broke and she
heard every word he sang. She felt her heart shatter with every word he sang.
Tears were streaming down her face and by the end of the song she had had
enough. She knew the damage she had done when she had made her decision. The
fact that it would damage him this much she could have never imagined. She ran
to her room and threw herself on her bed crying her heart out. She couldn’t get
the sound of the pain in his voice out of her head. Whatever she had done had
hurt her as much as it hurt him but she had hoped that after all this time he
would have forgotten about her. Her eyes
were red and burning but the tears didn’t stop. It was as if all the tears she
had held back for the past six months couldn’t hold back any longer and just
poured out. She had her face buried in her hands and was sobbing when her
bedroom door flew open banging against the wall. “Suck it up cry baby and come
downstairs. They’ve been calling you for the past five minutes,” Maya shouted
at her before turning around and stomping off in her five inch heels. She did
exactly what Maya said and sucked it up. She went to the bathroom washed her
face and headed downstairs.
“Well, well, well. Didn’t it take superstar Miss KKG long enough? Just
because you’re famous the world doesn’t revolve you and time doesn’t stop for
you either,” her mother yelled. “Sheela is right. We don’t have all day to wait
for you. They are waiting for your sister and you being the eldest need to be
present,” Yug said making his disapproval clear. “I don’t even understand why
you’re getting her married. She’s India’s best and most wanted supermodel so
why would you want to change her status by getting her married,” Khushi
retorted. “Because this relationship will prove to be beneficial for both of
us. Me and him of course. Now get moving. I don’t want to be late,” Maya
snapped at Khushi. “I’ll get my stuff and meet you at the car,” Khushi said
before turning to go back upstairs to her room.
Half an hour later the car had stopped and Khushi opened her eyes. She
didn’t want to see or hear anything on the way so she shut everyone and
everything out. She didn’t take notice of anything and just walked behind her
parents and sister. They had stopped on the porch straightening up and rang the
doorbell. A very what seemed to be high class lady answered the door and
welcomed them in speaking to Khushi’s parents as if she had known them for
ages. Khushi walked in behind Maya who sauntered in as if she owned the house
already. They were seated and served tea and snacks when Sheela asked, “So
where is the young man?” Just then a group of people walked in through the
door. “There he is,” she said pointing to the group of people. As the group
dispersed and a couple went upstairs the other two were in the middle of a
conversation. Khushi didn’t know why but she had a strange feeling. One that
wasn’t good.
“Arnav,” the lady called and immediately Khushi sprung up like a rocket. He
turned around at his mother’s call and Khushi just about stopped breathing. He
walked towards her but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Khushi standing
behind his mother. They both looked at each other, past memories flooding back
but more especially the last time they ever saw each other.