A Night To Remember

There was an uncanny wave of excitement in her gait which her friends didn’t find too surprising. The surroundings around her left her in astonishment, streams of banners and balloons covered the lush greenery of Madh Island while chirpy music; Bollywood songs to be precise, echoed in her ears. She automatically started swaying to the tune, the exhilaration within her beating the sudden surge of adrenaline through her veins. Her hair danced frivolously in the relaxing breeze as curls dancing with each other; tangling within each other. Yet today that least bothered her, for she felt like a carefree bird. Impervious to the occasional cool gushes of the wind, her eyes hidden behind her bronze colored sunglasses searched for her best friend, the one she couldn't live a day without.

“Ashi!” Her best friend screamed into her ears, making her startle in shock. Turning on her heel, she got engulfed in a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around her best friend, letting the warmth take over.

“I can’t believe we’ve completed a year!” Ayesha shrieked in joy to which she shook her head with a lingering smile on her face.

“You think I can? It seems like yesterday--”

“When we met. And it’s been--”

“A year. I know!” Ashi sighed, completing her sentence just how her best friend had seconds ago.

Breaking their hug, Ashi clutched her hands as both friends twirled around happily.

“This looks...beyond magnificent!” Ashi praised, appalled. The massive ground seemed no less than a playground to her; her favorite place back then that still held precious memories. This playground had no swings nor slides echoing with boisterous chuckles of children. Instead, on the far end of the ground was a sheltered area, spreading the aroma of freshly cooked food and delicacies. On the other end was a two storeyed wooden lodge with ten rooms facing her. The crew had planned a night stay here, reminding her of the memories from Mount Abu.  Right in front of her was a red carpet leading up to a small stage. One corner of the stage had their show’s first montage, with Naina Agarwal dreamily gazing at the ever so charismatic Sameer Maheshwari, while the other montage on the opposite corner of the stage reflected their eternal friendship. Their gang of eight crazy people; each different from the rest yet similar in a unique way. A smile flashed across her face as Ashi gazed at their happy faces, drifting to a rigmarole of memories when Ayesha snapped her fingers in front of her face, bringing her out of her reverie.

“Earth to Ashi?” She giggled unabashedly as she received a smack on her arm from her best friend. Ayesha continued to show no void of incestuousness as Ashi tilted her head in bewilderment.

Before she could hit her any further for her constant teasing, Ayesha raised her eyebrows towards someone who had just entered and had been spending the last half a minute or so admiring the banners while taking in the surroundings with utmost fascination. A white shirt donned his striking physique while white denim jeans matched with sneakers of the same color. An army green jacket stretched as he flexed his muscles while a bottle-green printed bandanna partly covered his tousled hair. Black shades and she felt her breath hitch. She shivered; not from the weather but from the sight in front of her. Her hands found unwanted company once again, as fingers battled for never ending victory. Walking towards her was the Sameer Maheshwari of her life, Randeep Rai.

As if by destiny, the heavy beats of Bollywood were surreptitiously replaced with the soft tunes that she so often hummed. Kumar Sanu’s melodious filled her ears as her smile widened to a grin. The innocence, the simplicity, the serenity, the purity. Everything that made Sameer and Naina special hit Ashi with a wave of emotions. Despite his cockiness, she still imagined herself as Naina Agarwal, the Grade 11 head girl, with two pigtails and a prim turquoise pinafore.

“You look…” His husky voice made her clear her throat as she observed him scrutinizing her; not censoriously but rather with a lingering curve of lips. To say he was dazzled would have been an understatement. Surprise was something he could relate to more, for he had never seen her like this. He had always noticed her hair loose, but never had he grunted at her half exposed neck while her hair stayed onto one side. He had admired her natural beauty, but never had observed the tinge of scarlet on her lips, making him imagine how she’d look with swollen ones. He had often seen her in dresses and jeans, but never in shorts. Denim shorts teamed with a mustard yellow full-sleeved top that crossed and loosely draped over her chest. Ashi’s steps faltered in nervousness while Randeep continued to explore her through his eyes; for now.

“I look?” Her serene voice brought him back to her hazel brown orbs. He had long forgotten his sunglasses, for they were an obstruction to the natural beauty standing in front of him.

“Gorgeous.” He whispered, after rummaging his brain for a praiseworthy yet decent word. Not that he was lying, he just didn’t want to seem hideous in her eyes.

Ashi’s eyes yelped uncannily as she slid her gaze from him to her hands, her face flushing with color.

Randeep automatically extended his hand towards her, “Care for a dance?”

Her cold, uncertain hand slipped into his warm, confident one as he clutched it in assurance and tugged her towards him. In a split of a second, she found herself dangerously close to him with his head hovering over hers. Her other hand instinctively reached out to his broad shoulder while his arm coiled around her waist. As they swayed to the tunes of ‘Yeh Un Dino Ki Baat Hai”, Ashi found herself lost in his eyes while Randeep felt a longing to hold her in his arms forever. He twirled her around, their eyes still fixated on each other as she found solace. Stretching out his arm, he pulled her towards her so that her back crashed into his chest. Ashi shuddered at the heat he radiated while Randeep trembled at the sensation her touch brought. Her hair flew in his face while his breath fanned her neck, alerting goosebumps. She closed her eyes as her mind constantly sent red signals to her heart. Everyone was here, and the proximity between them was too close. She would lose control, she knew, if he stayed like this for another minute.

As if Ayesha had sensed the urgency, she evaded the moment with her abrupt applauds, much to the chagrin of both Ashi and Randeep. Raghav and Sanjay cleared their throats to save their best friend from much embarrassment while Kristina and Ayesha huddled with Ashi with smiles plastered onto their faces. Everyone had been rooted to the spot, with Shashi Mittal and her husband; the producers and writers of the show noticing the changes in scrutiny. Scrupulously hiding away a smile, they congratulated them with hugs in return for sheepish grins, specifically by two people.

“Must’ve been rehearsing for probable upcoming sequences, right?” Their Shashi Ma’am suggested teasingly.

Ashi’s cheeks flushed in crimson, unable to respond. Little because she was too shy. Mainly because she was afraid to admit. Scared to face adverse consequences. Terrified to experience heartbreak. Naina had been through it all once, but Ashi wasn’t that strong, nor did she have the tenacity to withstand the emotional pain, she knew.

“How lucky are we to have such diligent people working with us, Sumeet.” She turned to her husband who tried his best to hide his mischievous smile.

“Definitely.” He responded succinctly, resting his hand on Randeep’s shoulder. He looked away, letting out a hesitant chuckle. Were his emotions so evident? Could she see them too?

“Okay, enough of teasing. How about a game of tug of war?” Rishina chirped, as two souls sighed in relief.

In the past two hours, they’d created one of the most amusing memories. Amidst chatters and usual banters, a little teasing and a lot of fun, the team had done it all. After innumerable selfies, dancing in craziness, and hogging on the junkiest of food, Ashi sat down on the nearest chair inside, giving her feet the much needed rest. Obliterating the exhaustion, the surge of adrenaline surged through her once again as she saw him dancing away at a distance. Exhaling shortly, her lips parted as she gazed at Randeep in admiration. Once his team had won the everlasting game of tug of war, he had left no stone unturned in teasing her and her team. Maybe he failed to realize that she had deliberately let the rope loose, just so that she could see the million dollar smile on his face. Her lips had curved in apprehension, as she tried her best to pull up a face in complaint and defeat, all in vain. Ayesha had noticed the terse signs of victory on Ashi’s face before she masked annoyance, little to her knowledge. Now that her brain replayed the rigmarole of memories, she couldn’t help chortle a little. At his antics. At his suave attitude. At the imagination of a probable future together.

Looking away, she reconsidered her last thought. This hadn’t been the first time, she’d dreamt something as bizarre as this. But she knew this wasn’t her last time either, not by a long shot. Her dreams had escalated rather rapidly, and her thoughts often went berserk. It was him, after all. The pursing of lips, the shuffling of hair, the most innocent apology in the most tempting manner, the flexing of hands while cracking of knuckles, the occasional glimpses of his muscles, the husky tone that left her restless; wanting for more, the giggles, the teasing, the winks. She wasn’t sure whether this was love, but whatever it was, Ashi loved every moment of it, every sensation it brought.

Everyone hustled inside, extremely famished yet with happy smiles on their faces. Her noisy thoughts were intervened by euphonic sounds by her second family as she flashed a grin in contentment. Kristina waved at her as Ashi joined them, hearing all sorts of antics as the boys enjoyed the attention and topic of discussion.

Rishina once again cleared her throat as the shouts lessened to few murmurs, “Enough of child games...how about we play something meant for adults?” Her smirk intensified with the hoots and cheers in affirmation. Randeep, with one arm around Sanjay’s shoulder while the other around Raghav, beamed in joy while his orbs searched for hers. She had surreptitiously disappeared amidst music and dancing, which seemed very uncanny to him. She was usually the life of party and yet today she seemed slightly aloof. Something was bothering her, he knew. And he hoped it turned out to match his thoughts.

It hadn’t taken him long to experience the jitters he usually laughed at in movies, but it took a lot longer for him to accept his feelings. Without her, he was like the autumn leaves, defiantly swaying in accordance to the rough breeze. With her, Randeep found purpose to live. She was his peace, his newfound solitude, the reason behind his optimism. Naina might’ve admired Sameer, but Randeep admired Ashi, for her natural beauty, her unwavering tenacity, and her carefree nature.

“Randeep!” Raghav jerked, bringing him out of his favorite reverie as he raised his eyebrows towards Rishina. Randeep’s eyes widened as Rishina put forth bottles of beer; something he didn’t mind but she did. His gaze swiftly turned towards her just in time to see her face fall in horror or disappointment, he couldn’t tell. Her smile lessened as she met his gaze. Tersely forcing the smile back on her face she looked at him, but it wasn’t hard for Randeep to look through her.

“A bottoms up challenge, what’s say?” Cheers echoed as contenders stepped up to the stage.

“Randeep! C’mon!” Some encouraged, referring him as the king of a challenge as such.

“Nah…” He began when Rishina interrupted, “Scared of your girlfriend?” She seemed a little giddy as Randeep chortled in negative.

“Don’t tell me you aren’t up for this, Randeep. This is you. Unless you want to act according to your…” She left her sentence incomplete as a hand condescendingly rested on his shoulder, “Or are you giving her the right to authoritatively change you.”

Something pricked within him as anger flinched.

Ashi had been impervious to all the cheering and hooting until she heard screams of his name. Her eyes shot up to the person jumping boisterously on stage, with a bottle of beer in his hand. Something pierced through her heart as Ashi gulped, restlessness churning in the pit of her stomach. Her heart ached to reprimand yet her mind contradicted. Who was she in his life anyway? Just a friend, a mere co-star he worked with. She didn’t have any right over him, did she?

With each gulp he took, she felt her heart slowly succumb to death. He had downed three bottles already and was nowhere done. It pained to see him like this and Ashi couldn’t take it anymore. The suffocation soon took over and she dashed outside, her breath heavy. Closing her eyes, she tried to calm herself down yet failed to reduce her rapid heartbeat. Ashi unknowingly walked towards the stage that held their show banners; the montages that reflected happiness. Why was it so painful? Why did she want to claim a right on him? Why did her heart burn in jealousy each time some girl turned her eyes towards him? A few minutes had passed yet it felt like hours to her.

“Ashi?” She heard the husky voice she had been longing to hear. Turning on her heel, she saw him with his hands tucked in his pant pockets.

“Are you..okay?” He expressed incestuously as she looked at him with an incredulous expression.

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”

“Look, Ashi…” He began when she cut him off, “Why, Randeep? Why is it so important to you? Don’t you know I don’t like it?” Her tone softened to a commiserating one yet had an adverse effect on him. Something snapped and he fired, “So am I supposed to act according to your expectations?”

Her gaze shot to his as she shook her head in defence, about to say something when he intervened, “This is my life, Ashi. And I get to choose what I want to do. So stop trying to dominate me.”

His curt response made her heart ache but she continued, “You think I’m dominating you?” Her question was rhetorical, yet she wanted an answer. After everything they’d been through how could he think of her as a…

“You think I’m dominating you?” She repeated, her voice louder, stronger than before.

“What else are you doing?” His tone matched hers, leaving her shocked. Her steps faltered automatically as he instinctively took two steps towards her.

“Ordering me to adapt to your preferences, staying with you all the time, what else is this, Ashi?”

Her vision blurred for a second before she bit back tears that threatened to pool in her eyes, as he continued, “Who are you to me anyways, Ashi?”

Something died within her as she felt herself dissolve into shreds. This wasn’t the Randeep she knew. He was barbaric, and she wasn’t sure whether this was the effects of alcohol or the bitter truth.

“Answer me!” He probed, eyes boring into hers. She felt isolated in his captivity yet wanted to admit it to him, to confess in front of everyone.

“My everything! You mean the world to me, Randeep!” She screamed at the top of her lungs, a tear escaping her right eye.

“You mean everything to me.” Her voice softened to a soft whisper, barely audible to herself. Her heartbeat resonated as she trembled.

“But I’m glad you clarified everything. Because what I thought to be between us never existed. It was just me. Because I mean nothing to you.” She confessed amidst stifled sniffs.

She had turned to leave; leave him and the future she had dreamt of. He could feel the burn in his heart as the distance between them increased. However, she halted in her tracks, turned on her heel and pointed her index finger at him, “You think I had been dominating you?” She chortled hysterically before adding, “I was just protecting you, Randeep. From all of this. Forget me, anyone would so-called dominate you in such a state. Because what’s the point of an addiction like this that intoxicates you so much that you no longer have control over yourself.”

He felt a stab in his heart as she left, leaving him empty. The anger was still evident on his face however, the pain obliterated every other emotion within him.

An hour had passed in misery as he recalled his actions. What had he been thinking when he blamed Ashi? It wasn’t him, it was the alcohol talking. But the damage had been done. And all he could do was regret. The sun had set and his life had been blanketed with darkness too. She had chosen to ignore him completely after that, hiding tears every time he noticed. He deserved the cold treatment, for hurting such a beautiful soul like hers. He had distanced himself from everyone too. Just silence and solitude engulfed him as he cursed himself. How much he wished he could rewind and change his actions, each time resulting with intensified helplessness. While everyone had retired to their rooms for the night, Randeep still roamed around the empty grounds, with his hands in his pockets and a grim expression on his face.

When he had first met Ashi on the sets of their show, he admitted he was slightly mesmerized. She wasn’t skinny as the other girls, but her slight chubbiness set her apart from all the other girls. Surprisingly, she had worn no makeup yet the radiance refused to diminish. It was her first time and yet she had a difference level of confidence mixed with a tinge of anxiety.

People said Sameer Maheshwari was complicated to decode, but he felt Naina Agarwal had a lot more layers than him. She was the girl who was willing to sacrifice her dreams for her family. She was the courageous girl who had dared to fall in love with a boy she had been prohibited from. She wasn’t just caring, but intelligent and diligent too. And with her natural beauty she had charmed Sameer Maheshwari, just like Ashi had to him. Ashi was mature yet carefree, hard working yet humorous, nonchalant yet enthusiastic. She was the one who made his mornings better with her pep talks and the one who made his evenings memorable with her interesting conversations. The reason behind his husky tone, the one who gave him confidence when he needed it.

And he had hurt her. Brutally, painfully hurt her.

All because of his stupidity. Because of his male ego that failed to realize her unconditional love for him. It wasn’t her dominance. It was her care that he so egotistically ignored. Randeep lifted his head in determination as he promised himself to seek her forgiveness. Because he could lose himself in her but couldn’t afford to lose her.

Curbing, he climbed steps to her room as his fingers hesitated on the door knob. Deciding to not sound intrusive, he politely knocked thrice on the door, his ears longing to hear her melodious voice.

“Please go away.” She ordered which turned out to be a plea.

“Please don’t shut me out, Ashi. I know what I did was simply atrocious, but this isn’t me. You know that. I need you.” He begged as her heart crumpled.

“Why are you here, Randeep?” He heard from inside as his eyes widened in horror. How had she identified his presence?

“I think I deserve a punishment for what I’ve done today.” He confessed guiltily, waiting for her to open the door.

“Who am I to punish you?” She fired curtly however in a whisper.

“My everything. You mean the world to me.” He spoke with utmost genuinity. The door opened as two souls heaved a sigh. She looked pale and he looked lifeless. Yet the immediate glow on their faces at seeing each other was incomparable. Blissful.

“Wasn’t I a dominant in your life?” She sniffed as she stepped out towards him, the moonlight reflecting the pain he had inflicted upon her through her swollen eyes.

“You still are.” Anger replaced remorose on her face as he defended himself, “The only one who controls my life. Because you give my life purpose, Ashi.”

She looked away as he held her shoulders, “I’m so sorry.”

She relented as her shoulders relaxed and a lone tear slipped from her eye, “It’s okay.”

“No it isn’t. I have no right to hurt you.” He accused himself ostentatiously, asking her for a punishment.

“Love not only gives us the right to happiness but the right to pain too.” She lifted her gaze to match his as she continued, “And this isn’t the first time you’ve hurt me.”

“What?! When else have I…” He shrieked in defence as she hushed him.

Taking a deep breath she stuttered and shook her head in denial.

“These are the times when alcohol is proven to be helpful maybe.” He suggested as she shot her gaze up to him.

“ My feelings aren’t so weak that I depend on intoxication. And I don’t want to regret anything.” Her retort made him smile in pride as she held a breath.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve hurt me. You’ve hurt me every time we’ve fought, on the littlest of things. You’ve hurt me with each lie you made, no matter how irrelevant it may have been. You’ve hurt me each time you flirted with other girls, each time you pulled them in an embrace.” She looked up at him to see a smirk on his face as her cheeks flustered.

“You’ve hurt me each time you’ve been hesitant about confessing your feelings.” His eyes widened as the smirk plastered onto her face.

“You’ve hurt me each time you thought you didn’t deserve me. You’ve hurt me whenever you thought I…”

“I?” He repeated, urging her to finish. His orbs spoke of desire yet sincerity which gave her the courage to confess.

“That I didn’t love you.”

Unable to control himself, he engulfed her into a tight embrace as his hands wrapped around her neck, breathing in the soothing smell of her hair. Her head tilted and she rested it on his shoulder and closed her eyes in happiness, her arms wrapped around his waist. The tempting smell of his cologne filled her nostrils as she inwardly sighed in pleasure.

“That was probably the most unique confession I’ve ever come across.”

She punched him lightly as he laughed, “How many have you come across?”

“Only in movies.” He defended as he pulled back, hold on his hand still lingering. “Ooh, jealous much?”

“You wouldn’t want me flirting with other guys.” She smirked making his tighten his grip on her.

“What’s this?” Her brows furrowed at the sight of names; specifically his female co-stars scattered all over his white tee. He pursed his lips as he revealed, “My reward for gulping three bottles of beer.”

“What?” She asked in utter confusion and disappointment.

“Um...you know, as the most charismatic and attractive guy…” He admitted sheepishly as Ashi put her hands on her hips and tilted her head in annoyance.

“I tried to stop them but--”

“Oh you didn’t even try an ounce, Randeep. Who are you fooling?” Her stern gaze on him intensified as he looked away.

“I was mad, okay? My male ego got the worst of me, and the effects of alcohol just put me in a daze. My heart knew I was wrong for shouting at you, but my mind wouldn’t accept defeat. I had this...this urge to put you down. To show you what I was capable of. The fact that I wasn’t controlled by anyone.”

He waited for her reaction for about a minute only to receive silence. However, this silence wasn’t bothering him, it was rather soothing.

He felt her hands wrap around his as she clutched them in assurance, “Thank you.”

“What?” He asked, bewildered at her calmness.

“Thank you for sharing this with me. It means a lot to me. It means you trust me.” She smiled genuinely.

“More than myself.” He promised, snaking his arm around her waist, jerking her close. She lifted her gaze to find him hovering over her, his orbs darker than usual as they traveled from hers to her lips. She shivered under his touch yet felt in pure bliss.

“I’m so sorry.” He apologized again as she shook her head.

“Not you. But the other girls will surely be.” She smirked as she reached into her bag. Clutching his hands once again, she made her way up. Tracing each vein, each daunting muscle, she felt him tighten as his trembling breath fanned her face. Reaching up to his broad shoulders, she slowly caressed before taking a step back. Fishing a pen, she smiled victoriously before lightly crossing all the names that had dared to imprint on his tee. He drew in a sharp breath at the close proximity as his arms found their way back onto her waist, pulling her close.

“Close your eyes.” She whispered to which he happily obeyed. He felt her trace a shape that resembled a heart in which he felt her name being drawn. He felt tickled as his breath stuck in his throat, not being able to believe the reality. Everything seemed so surreal with her in his arms. Tiptoeing up to him, she lightly pecked his cheek, leaving him startled. The light stubble on his face tickled her lips, erupting a series of desires that made her groan. His eyes shot open at seeing her this close as a smile made its way onto his face.

“You’re stuck with me, no matter how much you hate it.” She scoffed lovingly before hiding her face in his chest.

“I don’t regret it, not even the slightest bit.” He beamed, cocooning her in his embrace.

“Do you want to stay outside or should we go inside and…”

“Shut up!” She giggled, feeling complete with him.