LOVE, LIFE, SECRETS: Answers lie within – CHAPTER 67

CHAPTER 67: Love is in the air

(Three months after Pankhuri’s arrest)

“Good evening everyone, we welcome you all and are delighted for your presence in my lovely sister Priyanka and my handsome brother-in-law Ranveer’s sangeet”

Rudra took the center stage and welcomed all the guests…. This was the indication to start the ceremony…. All the invited guests clapped….

The lights focused on the staircase and all eyes turned towards the couple of the evening…. Priyanka descending down the steps with her arms wound around Ranveer’s…. Their faces lit up with bright smiles and glow of happiness reflecting on them….

The past three months had changed her family a lot…. Two months before when Priyanka had revealed her relation with Ranveer to her family, all she had expected was their scolding and their disapproval…. But little did she know that they would surprise her by accepting it without any arguments…. And when her Shivaay Bhaiya assured her that nothing was important than her happiness she was sure nothing could ever go wrong…. Priyanka felt content, if all that had happened in the past had led her to this day, it was all worth it….

Ranveer looked at her happy face and felt content…. He would do anything in the world to keep up that smile on her face always….

The guests greeted the couple and they took blessings from the elders….

Ranveer and Priyanka took their seat and all others too settled down….

Rudra occupied the stage with Omkara…. And the theme “Love is in the air” for the evening was announced….

Love, a very simple yet a complicated emotion….

Hearing the theme, all people present there were lost in their thoughts and their love….

Rudra: So, here is the basic rule, we have this spotlight, it will randomly stop on someone and then that person has to give a performance for their love.

As soon as Rudra said the words, there were various eye contacts among the people present around….

Anika couldn’t stop herself from looking at Shivaay, and to her surprise he was already looking at her…. Ishana looked at Om who at the same moment looked at her, and they shared a smile…. Ranbir quickly planted a kiss on Prachi’s cheek without getting caught by anyone, while she looked at him shocked…. Mishti was looking around for Abir when she felt two arms circling her waist and she smiled a knowing smile when he stood near her….

Rudra signed the man controlling the spotlight and the light started…. All were looking at the spotlight and it stopped….

Anika looked on surprised as the spotlight landed on her and everyone started applauding and cheering for her…. She so wished that the world disappeared or she could just run away from the place…. She knew she could not deny as Rudra wouldn’t let her be without a performance…. Shivaay was eagerly looking at her…. Somewhere he knew her performance would be for their love and the thought gave his heart a certain kind of happiness…. Anika took a deep breath and started singing….

“Haan aa o…
Main jaan ye vaar doon,
Har jeet bhi haar doon,
Keemat ho koi tujhe beinteha pyaar doon,
Keemat ho koi tujhe beinteha pyaar doon,
Saari hadein maine meri, ab maine tod di,
Dekar mujhe pata awaargi ban gaye,
Haan hasi ban gaye,
Haan nami ban gaye,
Tum mere aasmaan,
Meri zameen ban gaye,
Aa o… aa…

Kya khoob Rab ne kiya,
Bin maange itna diya,
Warna hai milta kahaan,
Hum kaafiron ko Khuda,
Hum kaafiron ko Khuda,
Hasratein ab meri tumse hai jaa mili,
Tum duaa ab meri aakhiri ban gaye,
Haan hasi ban gaye,
Haan nami ban gaye,
Tum mere aasmaan,
Meri zameen ban gaye,
O…
Aa… O…”

As Anika finished her performance, everyone present there complimented her…. Throughout her performance Shivaay could not blink his eyes and was lost in her….
The spotlight now stopped on Om and Ishana looked at him, somewhere hoping if he performed for her…. Riddhima’s absence in the function made Ishana sure that something had happened between Om and her….

Om smiled thinking something and then started singing….

“Mmmm..
Bin puche mera naam aur pata,
Rasmon ko rakh ke pare,
Char kadam bas chaar kadam,
Chal do naa saath mere,
Bin kuch kahe, bin kuch sune,
Haathon mein haath liye,
Chaar kadam bas chaar kadam,
Chal do na saath mere,
Hey… Bin kuch kahe, bin kuch sune,
Haathon mein haath liye,
Chaar kadam bas chaar kadam,
Chal do na saath mere,
Raahon mein tum ko,
Jo dhoop sataye,
Chaaon bicha denge hum,
Andhere daraye,
Toh jaa kar falak pe,
Chand saja denge hum,
Chhaye udaasi latife suna kar,
Tujh ko hansa denge hum,
Haste hasate,
Yunhi gungunaate,
Chal denge chaar kadam..
Yea ye.. na na nana.. la ra la.. ra..”

Once Om finished and everyone started clapping, Ishana was brought out of her dreamland and she smiled to herself….

Next the spotlight stopped on Abir…. He thought something and whispered something in Mishti’s ears…. She looked at him surprised and agreed to his thoughts…. All looked at them curiously waiting for what they were up to….

“Saathiya..
Saathiya..
Pagle se dil ne,
Yeh kya kiya,
Chun liya..
Chun liya..
Tujh ko deewane ne,
Chun liya,
Dil toh uda uda re,
Aasmaan mein badalon ke sang,
Yeh toh machal machal ke,
Ga raha hai sun nahi si dhun,
Badmash dil toh thag hai bada… (Badmash dil toh thag hai bada)
Badmash dil yeh tujh se juda… (Badmash dil yeh tujh se juda)
Badmash dil meri sune na zid pe ada… (Badmash dil meri sune na zid pe ada…)
Badmash dil toh thag hai bada… (Badmash dil toh thag hai bada)
Badmash dil yeh tujh se juda… (Badmash dil yeh tujh se juda)
Badmash dil meri sune na zid pe ada… (Badmash dil meri sune na zid pe ada…)”

All were mesmerized by the graceful performance that clearly reflected their love for each other…. Mishti and Abir were reminded of their first dance performance together when they were in college and performed on the same song…. Reliving those wonderful days brought content smiles on their faces….

Seeing Abir-Mishti’s dance, Ranbir too hoped to dance with Prachi and his wish was granted soon as the spotlight fell on him…. He asked Prachi if she would dance with him and she agreed immediately…. There were no chances that she would let go of this moment….

“Ankhiyan de kol reh jaane de,
Kehna hai jo keh jaane de,

Tere khayalon mein beete yeh raatein,
Dil mera maange ek hi dua,
Tu samne ho aur karun main baatein,
Lamha rahe yoon thehra hua,

Pehle toh kabhi yun mujhko na aisa kuch hua,
Deewani lehron ko jaise saahil mila…

O… Ek ladki ko dekha toh aisa laga,
Ek ladki ko dekha toh aisa laga,

O mere sohneya ve,
Chhad sari galiyan main,
Naal tere tur chaleya main,
Le chal mujhko duniya se tu door,

Chori chori jad tenu takkeya main,
Khud ko sambhal na sakeya main,
Chadh gaya sajna tera yeh fitoor…

Langh jaani ve,
Marjaani raat,
Kehni jo thi,
Keh de woh baat,

Langh jaani ve,
Marjaani raat,
Kehni jo thi,
Keh de woh baat,

Ho… Ek ladki ko dekha toh aisa laga,
Ek ladki ko dekha toh aisa laga,
Ek ladki ko dekha toh aisa laga….”

Prachi smiled at Ranbir as they finished the performance together…. Shivaay and Anika smiled seeing the two of them together…. They were happy that the two of them had found their love….

All cheered loudly now that the spotlight had stopped on Rudra himself…. Soumya looked on eagerly to know what the always Mr. Cool, Rudra Singh Oberoi had in mind to express love….

“Shayad kabhi na kahe sakoon main tum ko,
Kahe bina samajh lo tum shayad,
Shayad mere khayal mein tum ik din,
Milo mujhe kahi pe ghum shayad,

Jo tum na ho… rahenge hum nahin,
Jo tum na ho… rahenge hum nahin,
Na chahiye kuch tum se zyada tum se kam nahin,

Jo tum na ho… toh hum bhi hum nahi,
Jo tum na ho… toh hum bhi hum nahi,
Na chahiye kuch tum se zyada tum se kam nahin,

Aankhon ko khaab dena,
Khud hi sawaal karke,
Khud hi jawaab dena teri taraf se,
Bin kaam kaam karna,
Jaana kahi ho chaahe,
Har baar hi guzarna teri taraf se,

Ye koshishein toh hongi kam nahin,
Ye koshishein toh hongi kam nahin,
Na chahiye kuch tum se zyada tum se kam nahin,

Jo tum na ho… rahenge hum nahin,
Jo tum na ho… toh hum bhi hum nahin,
Na chahiye kuch tum se zyada tum se kam nahin,

Jo tum na ho…
Jo tum na ho…
Jo tum na ho…”

Soumya looked at Rudra smiling as he finished his performance…. She never knew that the carefree and always joking Rudra had this side to his personality….

Now the spotlight stopped on Ranveer and everyone started cheering…. There was no need to tell him, he was going to perform with his Priyanka….

“Hmm…

Pal ek pal mein hi tham sa gaya,
Tu haath mein haath jo de gaya,
Chalun main jahaan jaye tu,
Daayein main tere, baayein tu,
Hoon rut main, hawayein tu,
Saathiya…

Hansu main jab gaye tu,
Roun main murjhaaye tu,
Bheegun main barsaaye tu,
Saathiya…

Saaya mera hai teri shakal,
Haal hai aisa kuch aaj kal,
Subah main hoon tu dhoop hai,
Main aaina hoon tu roop hai,
Yeh tera saath khoob hai,
Humsafar…

Tu ishq ke saare rang de gaya,
Phir kheench ke apne sang le gaya,
Kahin pe kho jaaye chal,
Jahaan ruk jaaye pal,
Kabhi naa phir aaye kal,
Saathiya…

Ek maange agar sau khwaab doon,
Tu rahe khush, main aabad hoon,
Tu sab se juda juda sa hai,
Tu apni tarah tarah sa hai,
Mujhe lagta nahi hai tu dusra,
Pal ek pal mein hi tham sa gaya,
Tu haath mein haath jo de gaya,
Chalun main jahaan jaaye tu,
Daayein main tere, baayein tu,
Hoon rut main, hawayein tu,
Saathiya…

Hansu main jab gaye tu,
Roun main murjhaaye tu,
Bheegun main barsaaye tu,
Saathiya… ho… mm…
mmm…”

As Priyanka and Ranveer finished their performance…. The Oberoi family felt happy, they were sure that Ranveer would always keep their daughter happy and that her smile would never leave her face…. Abir felt happy that his best friend had finally got the happiness he deserved….

All looked on curious and excited as the spotlight now fell on Shivaay…. Arjun looked at his friend with expectant eyes; he knew Shivaay would definitely think about his words…. Hope had risen in Anika’s heart, she wished if Shivaay performed for her….

“Teri aankhon ki gehrayi mein,
Sama gaye hai hazaro ghum,
Jo inme mila hai sukoon mujhe,
Kahi nahi hai khuda kasam,

Teri nigahon ne jaana mujhko,
Naseeb mera dikha diya,
Har ek manzil se meri mujhko,
Bas ek lamhe ne mila diya,

Ho maine ishq ki har gali ko saja diya,
Tere naam se,
Maine khud ko bhula diya,
Bhula diya….

Ho maine ishq ki har gali ko saja diya,
Tere naam se,
Maine khud ko bhula diya,
Bhula diya….

Hmm…
Saansein na chale,
Tere bina aisa lage,
Jaise ki saara jahaan tham gaya,

Shaamein na dhale,
Tere bina subah na ho,
Aise ki mausam tu hi ban gaya,

Teri panahon ne mujhko toh,
In ehsaaso mein duba diya,
Teri ibadaton ne mujhko,
Sajdo ke kaabil bana diya,

Ho maine ishq ki har gali ko saja diya,
Tere naam se,
Maine khud ko bhula diya,
Bhula diya….

Ho maine ishq ki har gali ko saja diya,
Tere naam se,
Maine khud ko bhula diya,
Bhula diya….”

Throughout the performance Shivaay and Anika only looked at each other…. The outer world neither mattered, nor did it exist….

The spotlight next stopped on Ishana and Om looked at her…. Abir too looked on curious to know if what he had been observing from the past few months was right or not…. Abir had doubts that his friend is in love; today her performance would confirm it….

“Ha…

Dil charkhe ki ik tu dori,
Dil charkhe ki ik tu dori,
Sufi iska rang haaye,
Ismein jo tera khwaab piroya,
Ismein jo tera khwaab piroya,

Neendein bani patang,
Dil bharta nahi,
Aankhein rajjti nahi,
Dil bharta nahi,
Aankhein rajjti nahi,
Chaahe kitna bhi dekhti jaun,
Waqt jaaye main rok na paaun,

Tu thodi der aur thehar ja sohneya,
Tu thodi der aur thehar ja,
Tu thodi der aur thehar ja zaalima,
Tu thodi der aur thehar ja,
Ha…

Haaye din tere bin ab jee na paaye,
Din tere bin ab jee na paaye,
Saans na leti raat,
Ishq kare tere honthon se,
Ishq kare mere honthon se,
Bas ik teri baat,

Teri doori na sahun,
Door khud se rahun,
Teri doori na sahun,
Door khud se rahun,
Tere pehlu mein hi reh jaun,
Tu hi samjhan jo main chaahun,

Tu thodi der aur thehar ja sohneya,
Tu thodi der aur thehar ja,
Tu thodi der aur thehar ja zaalima,
Tu thodi der aur thehar ja…”

Om was awestruck by her performance…. He had never known that Ishana was such a wonderful dancer…. The entire place echoed with claps as Ishana completed her dance…. Abir and Ranveer knew that Ishana loved dancing but had never known that she was such an excellent dancer…. Abir now had his doubts confirmed, Ishana really loved Om a lot….
The evening ended on a happy note as all guests took their leave….

Anika looked at Shivaay once before sitting into the car, he was talking to Arjun, and she just smiled and sat inside….

Ishana smiled and waved at Om before sitting in Abir’s car…. Om too smiled and waved at her….

The evening had definitely made the four of them realize their love and that no matter what happened, they could not keep it hidden for a long time now….

*****

Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well.
Here is the next chapter of the story, do share your views on the same.

There were so many things happening in the story, so I thought to give a break to all the couples, and have some romance in the story, because after this a lot is going to happen, and they need to gear up for many twists and turns.

Next chapter will reveal an important part of Mishbir’s past, so get ready my dear readers.

Keep reading and smiling!!!
Take care and stay safe!!!