Chapter : Kabhi Shaam Dhale

She looked at all the people in front of her waiting to hear her sing. She indicated to one of the musicians behind her to give her the violin. He handed it to her and she walked to the centre of the stage. She placed the violin in the crook of her neck and started playing. The melody was such that everyone was entranced. She lowered the violin and sang...

 

Kabhi shaam dhale toh mere dil mein aa jaana

Kabhi chaand khile toh mere dil mein aa jaana

Kabhi shaam dhale toh mere dil mein aa jaana

Kabhi chaand khile toh mere dil mein aa jaana

Magar aana iss tarah tum

Ke yahaan se phir na jaana

Kabhi shaam dhale toh mere dil mein aa jaana

Kabhi chand khile toh mere dil mein aa jaana

 

When the night dims sometimes come into my heart

When the moon blossoms come into my heart

When the night dims sometimes come into my heart

When the moon blossoms come into my heart

But come in such a way that

From here you will not leave

When the night dims sometimes come into my heart

When the moon blossoms come into my heart

 

She played the violin again entrancing everyone in the melody once more. Her eyes closed, seeing only him...

 

Tu nahin hai magar

Phir bhi tu saath hai

Baat ho koi bhi

Teri hi baat hai

Tu hi mere andar hai

Tu hi mere baahar hai

Jab se tujhko jaana hai

Maine apna maana hai

Magar aana iss tarah tum

Ke yahaan se phir na jaana

Kabhi shaam dhale toh mere dil mein aa jaana

Kabhi chand khile toh mere dil mein aa jaana

Kabhi shaam dhale toh mere dil mein aa jaana

Kabhi chand khile toh mere dil mein aa jaana

 

You are not here yet

Still you are with me

If there is anything said

It’s about you

You are inside me

You are outside of me

Ever since I have known you

I have believed you to be my own

But come in such a way that

From here you will not leave

When the night dims sometimes come into my heart

When the moon blossoms come into my heart

When the night dims sometimes come into my heart

When the moon blossoms come into my heart

 

 

 

The dancers danced around the stage while Khushi was lost in the melody of the song she was playing and the memories of the one she was playing it for...

 

Raat din ki meri

Dilkashi tumse hai

Zindagi ki kasam

Zindagi tumse hai

Tum hi meri aankhein ho

Sooni tanha raahon mein

Chahe jitni doori ho

Tum ho meri baahon mein

Magar aana iss tarah tum

Ke yahaan se phir na jaana

Kabhi shaam dhale

Kabhi chand khile

Kabhi shaam dhale toh mere dil mein aa jaana

Kabhi chand khile toh mere dil mein aa jaana

My night and day

Are beautified by you

I vow upon my life

My life is because of you

You alone are my eyes

On these lonely, empty roads

No matter how much distance there is

You are in my arms

But come in such a way that

From here you will not leave

When the night dims

When the moon blossoms

When the night dims sometimes come into my heart

When the moon blossoms come into my heart

 

 

 

She played the same melody right to the end of the song not putting the violin down. As if it was a chance for her to vent all her anger, her pain, everything. She opened her eyes on the last note all her pain visible in her honey coloured eyes. She took a bow, handed the violin back to its owner and walked off stage. She stormed past the crowd of people praising her and ran straight to her dressing room.

 

She hadn’t seen him in the crowd backstage. Raj Singh Raizada and his family had been invited to attend the charity concert because Mr Raizada was known for his generous contributions by him and his son towards worthy causes. The entire Raizada family had been taken by surprise when Khushi had walked on stage. When she had started playing the violin Arnav immediately went backstage. Hearing her let out her pain was enough for him. He wouldn’t be able to stand seeing the pain in her eyes. It would break him. He ran after her and saw her fall to the floor tears streaming down her face. He quietly locked the door and kneeled next to her wrapping his arms around her. She responded to him and laid her head against his chest and cried.

 

Khushi didn’t realize what she was doing. All she knew was that she felt protected. Protected from the world and everything else. Nothing and no one could touch her here. She felt loved, the love that she had craved for all her life. The love that he had given her. The love that Arnav had given her. She cried and cried until there were no tears left. She pulled away slightly and looked up to see who had come to her rescue. She immediately moved away from him. She created such a distance that they were on opposite ends of the room. “Khushi,” Arnav said softly while slowly walking towards her. Khushi didn’t realise what she was doing but with each step Arnav took towards her she took one step away from him. Eventually she felt herself slam into something hard. The wall. He had trapped her and before she could make a run for it he had both his arms up on either side of her making sure she couldn’t escape. “Ar... Arnav, let me go please,” she pleaded but Arnav didn’t heed her. “What was it you said six months ago when I asked you if you ever loved me. No I’m sure,” he asked rhetorically. Khushi looked at him remembering what she had said to him then, “That’s exactly what I said. And I still stand by it,” she said firmly. “Oh really? I don’t think so,” Arnav said gravely. Khushi looked at him questioningly, “And why would you say that?” she asked. “Because if you didn’t,” he said turning serious, “you wouldn’t have done that on stage.” Khushi almost stopped breathing. “Done what?” she asked looking away. He put an arm around her waist and pulled her towards him. Now she had to look at him. “Played that violin or sung that song. Khushi, we both know what you were going through on that stage. We both know the pain you felt when you were singing. We both know how much pain you were trying to let out on that violin Khushi,” Arnav said accusingly. Khushi looked at him distressed. He looked into her eyes and could see everything she couldn’t say. “Khushi it hurts you just as much as it hurts me that’s why you can’t bear the thought of me being with someone else let alone your sister,” he said, his agony showing in his words. “Don’t Arnav. Please,” she begged him. Arnav couldn’t stop himself. After six months he had finally found a way to get the answers to the questions that had been eating at him for six months. “Why Khushi? Why?” he asked sharply. “I told you then and my reasons are still the same,” she said while freeing her wrist from his grip. She didn’t wait for him to say anything more and ran to the door. She unlocked it and sprinted down the passage not knowing and not caring where she was going.

 

All the Raizada’s had gone backstage with Avani to look for Arnav when they saw Khushi running down the passage towards the exit door. They turned to see where she had come from and saw Arnav walking out of one of the dressing rooms. Anjali hurried towards him questioning him about what had happened while Avani ran after Khushi to find out what had happened that made her run away. Khushi could hear someone calling after her but didn’t care she just kept on running as fast and as far as her legs could take her. “Khushi!” Avani yelled as Khushi had stopped to cross the road but Khushi didn’t want to stop. She didn’t want to look back. She just wanted to get away. She ran across the road and suddenly she heard a loud honking sound then she didn’t hear anything at all. Everything went black.

 

Avani had been calling Khushi since they left the stadium but it seemed like she didn’t want to listen or hear anything. Avani saw her stopping to cross the road but the moment she called her name and ran to the spot Khushi was standing at she ran across the road. She saw the car coming towards Khushi but before a word could escape her lips Khushi was laying on the ground in a pool of blood.

 

Chapter : Saans

They both looked at each other, past memories flooding back but more especially the last time they ever saw each other.

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“Thanks for doing this you guys. You know ever since you two started doing shows together because of your chemistry crowd numbers have doubled. This isn’t even a concert, it’s just one of my dance shows but because word spread you two were performing the tickets are sold out,” Avani said all in one breath. They both laughed and Avani looked at them with a what’s-so-funny expression. “Breathe Avani,” Arnav said, “You’re my best friend. Of course we’d do it for you.” Khushi smiled, “He’s right. We’d do anything for you.” That was the last thing they got to say to her before they were announced on stage and walked on. The music started playing and everyone started screaming. The moment Khushi started singing there was silence...

 

Saans mein teri saans mili to

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

Saans mein teri saans mili to

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

Rooh ne chhoo li jism ki khushboo,

Tu jo paas aayi

Tu jo paas aayi

Tu jo paas aayi

Saans mein teri saans mili to

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

 

When your breath mixed with mine

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

When your breath mixed with mine

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

The soul touched the body’s fragrance

When you came close

When you came close

When you came close

When your breath mixed with mine

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

 

They sang together standing on opposite ends of the stage.  They moved closer, standing in front of each other...

 

Kab tak hosh sambhale koi,

Hosh ude to ud jaane do

Dil kab seedhi raah chala hai

Raah mude to mud jaane do

Tere khayal mein doob ke aksar

Achchi lage tanhaai

Saans mein teri saans mili to

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

 

How long can one remain in control

If your senses let go then let it go

When has the heart gone on a straight path

If the path turns let it turn

When I’m often drowned in your thoughts

Loneliness feels good

When your breath mixed with mine

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

 

 

They looked into each other’s eyes. Lost. Unaware of the thousands of people watching them...

 

Raat teri baahon mein kate to,

Subha badi halki lagti hai

Aankh mein rehne lage ho kya tum,

Kyon chhalki chhalki lagti hai

Mujhko phir se chhoo ke bolo

Meri kasam kya khaayi

 

When the night is spent in your arms

Morning seems very light

Have you started living in my eyes

Why does it keep spilling

Touch me again and say

Have you taken my oath

 

 

Arnav took her hand in his, linking their fingers...

 

Saans mein teri saans mili to

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

Mujhe saans aayi

Rooh ne chhoo li jism ki khushboo,

Tu jo paas aayi, mujhe saans aayi

Tu jo paas aayi , mujhe saans aayi

Tu jo paas aayi, mujhe saans aayi

Tu jo paas aayi

 

When your breath mixed with mine

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

I was able to breathe

The soul touched the body’s fragrance

When you came close, I was able to breathe

When you came close, I was able to breathe

When you came close, I was able to breathe

When you came close

 

They sang the last verse without breaking their eye lock and once Arnav sang the last note they turned towards the audience , still holding hands, and took a bow. Khushi spoke, “We’d like to thank everyone for coming here tonight to support Avani and her dance troupe and we sincerely hope you have enjoyed the show.” She looked towards Arnav who was now speaking, “Could you please welcome back the Mastana Dance Troupe back on stage for the last time tonight.” With that the crowd screamed and cheered and welcomed them back while the two singers went backstage to their dressing rooms.

 

Fifteen minutes after the show had ended Arnav was still sitting in his dressing room, lost thinking about their performance, when Khushi barged in shutting the door behind her locking it to make sure no one else came in. Arnav stood up in surprise and started walking towards her when she put her hand out in front of him asking him to stop. “Khushi, what happened? Why are you ...” he trailed off. “I’m going to talk and you’re going to listen. You’re not going to interrupt me and you’re not going to question anything I say,” Arnav was totally taken by surprise at what Khushi had said because it didn’t sound like her but nonetheless he agreed. She turned away from him unable to look him in the eyes, “It’s over Arnav. Whatever we had between us is over. I thought I could handle being in a relationship and this whole idea of love but it turns out I couldn’t. I’m not made for this and anyway I’m a superstar. I’m at the height of my career Arnav and the last thing I need is a distraction. It was nice while it lasted” Arnav couldn’t believe what he was hearing. All this time, everything she did, everything she said. She was playing with me? Despite being a rock star Arnav was never a playboy. His father had always taught him to respect women and he did. He never used them. She unlocked the door and was halfway out when he asked, “Did you ever love me?” he noticed her hesitancy to answer the question. “No. I never loved you,” Khushi said firmly. With that she closed the door behind her and walked out of Arnav’s life forever.

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Here they stood after six months, seeing each other for the first time. “Come here Arnav,” she heard his mother Mrs Raizada say. Khushi sat down as Arnav approached the family.  Arnav sat down next to his mother on the couch. “Sheela, this is my son Arnav Singh Raizada or ASR as everyone like to call him. I proposed him for marriage to your daughter,” she said excitedly. Arnav looked from his mother to Khushi. He had a look in his eyes almost as if he’d been brought back to life. “Yes, we’ve heard much about him. Quite the rock star he is. As I said we have no issues with this proposal and we’ve already spoken to Maya and she’s quite pleased with it actually,” Yug replied. Maya?!  His mother fixed his wedding without telling him? Without asking him? To a supermodel? How could she do that to him? Khushi noticed the shocked look on Arnav’s face at the mention of Maya. “Arnav!” they heard a shout from upstairs. Arnav breathed a sigh of relief, “Coming Di,” he shouted upstairs. He stood up and addressed the people sitting with his mother, “It was nice meeting you. Please excuse me.” With that he jogged to the staircase and took the stairs two at a time and ran to his sister’s room. She was standing outside and looking over to where she had a clear view of the living room. She had called him to save him from doing something disastrous. They heard their mother chat with the Guptas a little while longer before she escorted them out. Just as they left Arnav’s father had returned from the office.

 

Anjali, Arjun, Avani and Arnav had immediately gone downstairs at the sight of Raj Singh Raizada. He noticed the disturbed look on the four faces standing in front of him and the pain in his son’s eyes. “What happened?” he asked apprehensively. Anjali stepped forward and explained what had happened to her father. Raj didn’t seem too surprised by what he heard. He turned to his wife, “Is what she saying true Sadhna?” Sadhna didn’t seem the least bit worried about the situation and simply answered his question with, “Yes, it’s true.” Raj sighed and sat down on the couch closest to him the rest of the family still standing. He rubbed his temple. “Why would you do something like that?” he asked his wife. She rolled her eyes and answered, “Because I should get to pick what kind of daughter-in-law I want and who she is.” Raj stood in front of his wife, “You knew that Arnav loved Khushi and you know he won’t marry anyone besides her and you still proposed he marry Maya, knowing she’s Khushi’s sister?” he asked his wife accusingly. “I don’t want a superstar in my house. I don’t want that worthless no good singer as my daughter-in-law. She doesn’t deserve to marry my son. Her sister on the other hand does. What’s the problem if I prefer a down to earth model rather than a stuck up singer?” she asked matter-of-factly. “MOM!” Arnav’s voice boomed through the mansion, “Don’t you dare say a word against her.” Sadhna Raizada could not believe that after all that girl did to him he’s still defending her. “You are unbelievable Arnav. After all this time you still defend her. She’s an egoistic, back-biting little b*tch that used you to get famous,” she said outraged. “I told you not to say anything about her. And she didn’t use me to get famous. You’re forgetting that before we met each other KKG was ASR’s biggest competition. I am not marrying Maya and that’s it. No discussion,” Arnav stated before storming upstairs with Avani following suit. “Did you see that Raj?” Sadhna asked her husband turning towards him. “What? He didn’t do anything wrong. I stand behind my son and his decision Sadhna and I think Anjali and Arjun do as well,” Raj concluded and headed off to his study with Arjun to discuss business. Sadhna looked at her daughter who just shook her head and walked away.

 

The moment the Gupta’s reached home Khushi ran to the garage, got in her car and sped off. She was doing a performance for charity concert that was to feature a range of different singers. She headed to the stadium, parked her car and bolted for the dressing room. The moment she closed the door she burst out crying. She cried her heart out at the thought of Arnav marrying Maya. There was a knock and the door and Khushi wiped away her tears, “Come in.” The lady at the door breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank god. I thought you weren’t here yet. The first two acts are done and yours is fourth. Get ready and come back stage you’re done,” she said smiling. Khushi nodded and said, “Sure Riya.” She closed the door leaving Khushi alone and Khushi got dressed and curled her hair before heading backstage. She looked for Riya sauntered over towards her. “I’m ready,” she said just as the previous act came off stage. “Perfect timing. Go break a leg,” Riya said before ushering Khushi on stage. She looked at all the people in front of her waiting to hear her sing. She indicated to one of the musicians behind her to give her the violin.