After listening “Do not perform”, riddhima kept staring at her phone. She couldn’t believe her ears armaan bluntly said no. Riddhima was still in her statute mode when muskaan came and stood next to her. She observed riddhima for few seconds before shaking her. Muskaan wanted to bring her back to reality and that’s why she shook her. Riddhima came back to reality and looked at muskaan.
Muskaan: why are you behaving like this? Have you seen some ghost or what?
Riddhima (with a sad voice): armaan said not to perform
Muskaan (sighed): I already knew his answer tell me something new.
Riddhima: how did you know his answer?
Muskaan: Well if it would have been within the college, he wouldn’t have said no but people can come from outside also so I knew he wouldn’t agree to it.
Riddhima: Now what?
Muskaan: you want to participate or not?
Riddhima: muskaan what’s going on in your brain?
Muskaan: just chill I will come back in five minutes and until then don’t tell anyone about your decision am I clear?
Riddhima stared at muskaan and muskaan gave a wicked smile in return. Muskaan winked at riddhima and then walked towards the area where teachers were sitting. Riddhima looked up and silently prayed that everything goes fine, as she would not be able to handle the after effects that would follow once armaan would come to know about it.
DEAN OFFICE
Muskaan knocked on the Dean’s office and waited for the permission. After few seconds, the dean said ‘come in’. Muskaan smiled and took a long breath before entering the room. After muskaan entered the room, she glanced here and there in search of dean and then her eyes landed up on the turned chair. Muskaan walked towards the table and waited patiently for few seconds but when the dean did not said a word she herself said.
Muskaan: Sir (she waited for few seconds and then again said in a bit louder voice) Excuse me Sir.
Finally, the Dean heard it and turned his chair. He looked at muskaan with raised eyebrows. Muskaan smiled nervously. The Dean then patiently waited for few more seconds and upon getting no response from muskaan he finally spoke.
Dean: So, what brings you here?
Muskaan (in an uncertain voice): Sir, actually my cousin is feeling shy in participating in the function.
Dean (intervened in between): If your cousin is feeling shy in participating in the function then why are you telling me this? I am sure no one is forcing her to participate in the function.
Mukaan (Whispered): Isi liye toh problem hai force karna chahiye bachon ko participate karne ke liye (that’s why there is a problem, you should force students to participate)
Dean: Did you say something? (Muskaan immediately shook her head in ‘No’) If you have nothing else to say then please get back to your class.
Muskaan: Sir, Uumm sir actually.
Dean (looked at muskaan with full attention): What’s the matter young lady? Speak clearly.
Muskaan (took a deep breath): sir my cousin wants to participate but
Dean: But what? Will you be quick?
Muskaan: Yes sir. Sir she wants to participate but she is feeling scared.
Dean: So what you want me to do?
Muskaan (murmured): aap bolne denge toh boloongi na
Dean: Did you say something?
Muskaan: Oh no sir nothing. Sir actually it will be very grateful of you if you can tell her that she should participate. Sir that way she will have to participate something what she wants to do by keeping aside her fears. She, she has stage fright and that is the reason why she is not performing.
Dean: But I can’t force someone to participate that’s not right.
Muskaan: Sir you can ask her to attend the rehearsals that way she will learn the dance and slowly and steadily we friends will convince her to participate. Your gesture will give her the strength to fulfil her dream of performing on her stage sir. Please sir please help us.
Dean: I see. Well, if only stage fear is stopping her from performing then I will talk with her. Send her to me and I will ask her to attend the rehearsals.
Muskaan (smiled widely): Thank You so much sir.
The Dean nodded his head in agreement without realizing that his one gesture will land others and him in a bad situation. Muskaan happily left the Dean’s room without realizing her one impromptu act will land others and her in a dangerous situation.
CLASSROOM
Muskaan entered the room only to find riddhima on phone. It didn’t take her even a second to guess whom she might be talking to. If she is near her then the only other person whom she can talk to is none other than Armaan Mallik.
Riddhima: Armaan I will leave little late from college.
Armaan: Late but why? You have no extra class.
Riddhima: Vo I told you about the function that will happen after three days
Armaan: Yes, but I told you not to perform then why will you be late?
Riddhima: Muskaan is participating and she will stay back for rehearsals so I thought to wait for her so that we can go home together after she is done with her rehearsals.
Armaan: Fine I will send the car to pick both of you up from college and then the driver will drop both of you at home. Just text me the time that you will get free.
Riddhima: Sure.
After this armaan cuts the call as he had some important work to do. Riddhima turned and saw muskaan was looking at her with a smile. A smile that meant danger.
Muskaan: Finally, are you done with your call? (Riddhima nodded her head in agreement and then she continued) Dean is calling you in his office.
Riddhima: Now what have you done muskaan?
Muskaan: Nothing, just go he is waiting for you.
Riddhima looked at muskaan with uncertainty but then just gave up and walked towards Dean’s office. Her each step towards the Dean office gave her a feeling that something bad is about to happen. She prayed for her well being while walking towards Dean’s Office.
DEAN OFFICE
Riddhima knocked on his door and waited for the permission. As soon as she got the permission, she stepped inside the room. Riddhima knew what would happen but still refrained herself from anticipating anything. She went near the table and stood their silently until the Dean looked at her.
Dean: We have a charity function coming up. I hope you are aware of it (Riddhima nodded her head in agreement). Very well then, I have heard you are a very good dancer so, I hope you are thinking to perform. Infact why think? You should perform.
Riddhima (she stammered while speaking): Sir vo vo actually I cant perform sir.
Dean: Why? Any specific reason.
Riddhima (in mind): Hain vo mr possessive hai na kacha kha jayega mujhe or apko bhi (Yes that mr possessive will eat both you and me raw).
Dean (When doesn’t gets an answer): I guess the usual stage fright am I right?
Riddhima (in mind): I should agree to this reason only it will save me. [Riddhima nods her head].
Dean: Then you must surely perform (riddhima looked at the dean with shocked expressions]. No worries if you will make mistakes atleast stage fright will reduce to some extent. Also, if not now then when will you fight your fears? College life never returns.
Riddhima: But sir
Dean: No ifs and buts now you may go.
A dejected riddhima leaves the Dean Room and straight away goes to muskaan. She hits muskaan for landing her in trouble. But, after a lot of explanation muskaan convinces riddhima not to inform anyone at home about her participation. It will forever be a secret between the two. Riddhima was hesitant at first but then she will get to do what she always wanted to do so she agreed to it.
Riddhima had already told armaan that she would be waiting for muskaan to finish with her rehearsals so they didn’t had to think of a lie. It was also a relief that due to some business meeting armaan and his friends Abhimanyu and rahul had to travel so they were not in town to keep an eye on them. Riddhima and muskaan termed this as their luck/destiny.
Finally, the day arrived the function was today. Riddhima was getting ready for the show and muskaan had gone out to take fresh air. Muskaan got ready first so she went out to check the preparation and all. Ever since they joined college, riddhima never participated or attended any functions even fresher’s day so, not to make riddhima feel bad even she used to skip those functions. Now, not only she was attending her first college function she would also be performing along with riddhima. She was feeling on top of the world. She was excited for their first performance.
MAKE-UP ROOM
Here in the makeup room riddhima was getting the same strange feeling that she was getting on the day armaan returned back. This was not a good sign according to riddhima. Even though the AC was on, she was sweating. The feeling that something was not right was continuously running in her mind. The anxiety was increasing with each passing seconds. Riddhima closed her eyes and started taking deep breaths to control her anxiety.
Riddhima (murmured): May be I am performing for the first time in college this anxiety or nervousness whatever it is, is because of that. I should not link it to something else. Concentrate riddhima you are going to do what you wished to do, do not spoil it by distracting yourself.
Muskaan (after entering Green Room): Riddhima get ready fast the function is about to start.
Riddhima: Yes muski but
Muskaan: But what? What happened riddhima
Riddhima: Muski something is not right.
Muskaan: what is not right? What happened riddhima? Is everything ok?
Riddhima: I don’t know muski but I get this strange feeling that something bad is going to happen. I feel as if (muskaan stopped her).
Muskaan: Don’t think much and don’t stress yourself too much nothing bad will happen. Just get ready and I will come to call you when our turn will come to go on stage ok.
Riddhima nodded her head in agreement and muskaan smiled seeing her. Muskaan left the green room and started walking towards the stage. While she was walking, she heard some noises and out of curiosity, she walked towards that direction. When she reached there, she looked towards that direction from where the noise was coming. Her eyes popped out as if she saw some ghost. She was in a state of shock. She could not move from there, her world came to a standstill when she saw the person standing in front of her. The person was non other than Armaan Mallik. After muskaan saw him, one person crossed her mind and that was Riddhima.
Muskaan’s trance broke when a teacher shook her and told her that since theirs was an opening act all the participants should now come to backstage. Muskaan didn’t know what to do now? At last moment they couldn’t replace riddhima but if she performed then hell would break lose. Muskaan thought ‘How did we miss this information that Armaan Mallik was also invited. I should have checked the notice board. Now what should I do’.
Before muskaan could think, further, she saw riddhima and others were already walking towards her. She tried telling riddhima about armaan but due to priya, nandini, siya and Shreya she failed to tell her about armaan. They all walked towards the backstage. Muskaan started pacing in the backstage and riddhima who was observing her walked towards her and stared at her. Muskaan felt someone staring her so she looked up and found riddhima standing there. This time she didn’t waste time, before anyone could interrupt she spoke in one go.
Muskaan: Armaan is one of the guest in the function.
Riddhima stopped breathing and looked at muskaan as if she saw some ghost. She felt dizzy after hearing this. This had to be a dream she wished.
Coming up: Riddhima’s Performance, Muskaan tries to stop armaan from seeing riddhima, will armaan be able to see riddhima?