💗Chavi💗

I was still trying to shake off the shock of the earlier encounter as Janvi and I walked towards our class. My mind was racing, replaying every second of it—the way he had looked at me, the intensity in his eyes. I hadn’t been able to focus during any of the lectures after that. My books lay open in front of me, but my mind was elsewhere, completely lost in thoughts of him. Every glance he threw my way throughout the day stirred something inside me that I couldn’t explain, something I couldn’t control.

"Chavi, come on! Let's go." Janvi tugged at my arm, pulling me back to reality. I blinked and looked at her, realizing we had finished our classes for the day. I hadn’t absorbed a single word from any of them. "Sorry," I mumbled, clutching my bag tighter as we made our way toward the canteen.

As we walked, the sound of chattering students around us barely registered. I was still caught in a web of thoughts. Just when I thought I could finally take a deep breath, we approached the notice board area, and there was a crowd gathered around it. "What’s going on there?" I asked absentmindedly, hoping for anything to distract me. "Let’s find out!" Janvi, being her usual curious self, immediately dove into the crowd, pulling me along with her.

We squeezed through the crowd, which mostly consisted of our classmates, and Janvi’s eyes sparkled as she read the notice on the board. "Oh my God, Chavi! Look! It’s the fresher’s welcome party! It’s in three days!"

I barely had time to process the announcement before Janvi started jumping up and down, her excitement bubbling over. Her energy was contagious, even if I couldn’t fully share in her enthusiasm. She didn’t seem to care who was around her, openly celebrating the news. I chuckled softly at her, then gently took her hand to pull her away from the crowd.

"Janvi, calm down! We’ll talk about it over lunch, okay?" I said, trying to contain her excitement as we made our way to the canteen.

Once inside, I ordered my usual—a sandwich and a cold coffee—while Janvi picked up her favorite juice. We sat at our table, and for a moment, I felt a sense of normalcy return. But even as we settled into the familiar rhythm of our conversation, the image of him lingered in my mind.

"Chavi, we need to get our dresses for the party," Janvi said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "We only have three days! What are we going to wear?"

I took a sip of my coffee, trying to stay present in the moment. "The theme is desi core...... so I was thinking of getting a black saree. Simple, elegant… nothing too flashy."

Janvi grinned at me. "I knew it! You and your timeless style. I’m going for something bold—maybe a green saree with a backless blouse. What do you think?"

I smiled, happy to see her so excited. "That would look amazing on you, Jaanu."

We continued chatting about the party and the dresses, with Janvi throwing in one idea after another. She was practically buzzing with anticipation. But then, out of nowhere, she leaned in with a conspiratorial smile.

"Chavi, you know what? I want to be part of the dance! They’re organizing one for the party, and I think I should join. I'll do a couple dance."

I raised an eyebrow at her, intrigued. "You want to dance? That’s a great idea. But… don’t you need a partner?"

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, then her eyes lit up. "Sharad! I can ask Sharad. He loves dancing, he told me yesterday while we chatted on insta and he’s such a good partner."

"You texted him yesterday!?" I asked confused.

"No, he found my account so he texted. And we talked for a while." She replied

"Do you think he’ll agree?" I asked, a little surprised by how quickly she had made her decision.

"Only one way to find out!" she said, standing up from the table. "Come on, let’s go ask him."

I followed her back to class, curious to see how this would play out. When we walked in, we spotted Sharad sitting at his usual bench, flipping through his notes. Janvi wasted no time and went straight up to him.

"Sharad!" she called, her voice full of energy. "I need a favor. Will you be my dance partner for the fresher’s party?"

Sharad looked up at her, a smile spreading across his face. "Of course! I’d love to."

I was a little taken aback by how quickly he agreed. There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his voice, as if he had been waiting for her to ask all along. Janvi beamed with happiness, and I couldn’t help but smile at her excitement.

"Great! We need to give our names to the organizers. Let’s go—there’s still time before the next lecture."

She grabbed both mine and Sharad’s hands, pulling us along with her back to the notice area. The names of the in-charges were listed clearly on the board: Agastya Malhotra, Ishan Roy, Divya Tripathi, and Akansha. They were our seniors, and as Janvi read the names, I noticed her face tense slightly at the mention of Agastya bhaiya. Something about that name irked her, but she pushed it aside, her determination to join the dance overriding her feelings.

"I’ll just call the number on the notice," Janvi said, pulling out her phone. "It’s Akansha didi’s number." She made the call, and decided to meet Akansha after our classes to sign up for the dance. Then, just as casually as she had suggested dancing with Sharad, she turned to me with a hopeful look.

"Chavi, you should join too! You love dancing."

I shook my head quickly. "No, no… I can’t. I’m not good with crowds, Janvi. You know that."

"Come on," she pleaded. "It’ll be fun! You don’t even have to dance with anyone if you don’t want to."

"I’d rather not… I’ll just watch," I said softly, hoping she’d let it go. Janvi pouted but didn’t push me any further. We finished the rest of our class, and when the day finally ended, the three of us made our way to the auditorium to meet Akansha didi and sign Janvi and Sharad up for the dance.

As we entered the auditorium, Janvi immediately spotted Agastya sitting on the stage, talking to another boy. She clenched her jaw slightly but kept walking, heading straight toward Akansha, who was sitting at a table with a list in front of her.

"Hi, Akansha didi !" Janvi said brightly. "I’d like to sign up for the couple’s dance, and this is my partner, Sharad."

Akansha smiled and wrote down their names, but I could feel someone's eyes on me again. My heart skipped a beat, and I hesitantly turned my head, only to find him staring at me once more from across the room. This was the third time today that our eyes had met, and every time it happened, it felt unintentional, yet unavoidable. I quickly looked away, my stomach twisting in nervousness. Janvi finished giving their details, and we left the auditorium, but the weight of his gaze lingered on me long after we walked out. I could feel my palms getting sweaty, and my heart was still racing as we returned to class for the final lecture of the day.

The rest of the day felt like a blur. I was barely aware of what was being taught; all I could think about was the way he had looked at me, the way it made me feel—nervous, excited, confused. What was happening to me?

When college finally ended, Janvi dragged me out for some shopping. We headed to the usual stores, and I found myself picking out a black saree with a full sleeve but backless blouse, just as I had planned. Janvi, of course, chose a vibrant green saree with a bold design. We tried them on, twirling in front of the mirror, and for a moment, I let myself enjoy the excitement of it all. But even then, thoughts of him crept back into my mind.

That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. His eyes, his presence—it was all-consuming. I tossed and turned, trying to shake the feeling, but sleep didn’t come easily. When I finally drifted off, I found myself in a dream with my mother. She was singing to me, just like she used to when I was a little girl.

"Chandaniya chup Jana re

Chan bhar ko luk Jana re

Nindiya ankho mei aye

Bitiya meri so jaye....."

I ran toward her, desperate to hold her, but just as I was about to reach her, she disappeared into golden shimmers. I woke up abruptly, my heart aching from the loss in my dream and I could feel my eyes moist. The room was quiet, and the early morning light was starting to filter in through the window. I didn’t feel sleepy anymore, so I got up, did my morning routine, and made myself breakfast.

When Janvi and I arrived at college, she and Sharad had rehearsal for the dance, and she insisted on taking me along with them to the auditorium. I didn’t mind—it was better than being alone with my thoughts.

I sat in a corner, scrolling through my phone as Janvi instructed Sharad on the dance steps. They were practicing to a soft, romantic song, and as I watched them dance, the memories of my dream refreshed where I was dancing with him. Heat rushed to my cheeks and I focused back on my phone.

.................................................……

Skip to the day of the program.

The day had finally arrived, and my nerves were all over the place, but I wasn’t quite sure why. Maybe it was the thought of being surrounded by so many people or the idea of stepping out of my comfort zone. Or maybe it was the lingering memory of him. It had been three days since that string of unexpected encounters, but they played on repeat in my mind. Despite all of Janvi’s excitement, my thoughts were consumed by something else or maybe someone else. But today, I had to push all of that aside and focus on the freshers’ welcome party.

"Chavi!" Janvi’s voice echoed from the hallway, snapping me out of my thoughts. She was already dressed, of course, looking radiant in her green saree. "Are you ready? We’re running late!"

I sighed, looking at the black saree draped on the bed in front of me. My blouse—backless, as I had reluctantly agreed—lay neatly folded next to it. I had chosen this outfit because it was simple, not too extravagant, just the way I liked it. But now, as I stared at it, I began to feel the weight of the day ahead.

"Yeah, almost," I called back, hurriedly getting dressed. Thank God it was a ready to wear saree or else I might have messed up. I have wore saree only one time before this, on my farewell and that too was a ready to wear saree. The black saree flowed smoothly, and I tied the strings of the blouse, my fingers trembling slightly from the anticipation. I kept my makeup minimal—just some kajal and a soft pink lip color. I didn’t want to stand out. That was Janvi’s department.

When I stepped out of my room, Janvi’s eyes lit up as soon as she saw me. "Oh my God, Chavi! You look stunning! I knew it would suit you."

I blushed slightly, not used to receiving compliments like that. "Thanks, Jaanu. You look gorgeous too." And she did. The sequence green saree complemented her lively personality perfectly, and the intricate detailing made her look like she belonged on a red carpet.

Janvi’s enthusiasm was contagious. She grabbed my arm and started spinning me around. "We’re going to have so much fun tonight! And who knows… you might catch someone’s eye."

I rolled my eyes at her but smiled nonetheless. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ll be happy just making it through the night." I silently prayed to God and thanked him that my father is not in town or else I could not attend the party in daylight forget about attending a evening fresher's party.

"Stop being such a pessimist," Janvi teased. "This is your chance to shine, Chavi! Trust me, you look beautiful, and tonight’s going to be special."

We made our way downstairs and asked the driver to take us to the college. The ride felt longer than usual, but maybe that was just my nerves playing tricks on me. Janvi chatted non-stop about the dance, her excitement for performing with Sharad, and all the fun we were going to have. I nodded along, half-listening, while the rest of my mind wandered.

As we approached the college gates, I could hear the faint sound of music already playing, the chatter of students gathering in the auditorium, and the flicker of lights illuminating the campus. The energy in the air was electric. My stomach did a little flip as we stepped out of the car and walked towards the building.

"Ready?" Janvi asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, let’s go."

Inside, the auditorium was bustling with students, all dressed to impress. Some were laughing, some were nervously checking their appearances, and the air buzzed with anticipation. The decorations were beautiful—twinkling lights and banners welcoming us to the freshers’ party.

Janvi grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd. "Come on, we need to check in for the dance!" She was practically bouncing with excitement, and I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm.

We made our way to the back, where Akansha and the other seniors were busy organizing the participants. Jhanvi spotted Sharad, who was already waiting for her, and the two of them shared a look of excitement before heading toward the stage to prepare for their performance.

"I’ll be back after the dance!" Janvi said, giving me a quick hug before disappearing with Sharad.

Left on my own, I found a quiet spot near the back of the auditorium and sat down, trying to steady my breathing. The crowd was getting louder as more people entered, and I could feel the nervous energy building in the room.

And then, just as I thought I had a moment of peace, I felt his presence again. I didn’t have to look to know he was here. It was like an unspoken connection that I couldn’t escape. My heart sped up, and my palms started to feel clammy. I didn’t dare turn around.

Why was I reacting like this? It was ridiculous. I hadn’t spoken to him, don't know his name, hadn’t even shared more than a few glances, and yet he occupied my mind completely. I needed to calm down. I couldn’t let myself be distracted, not tonight.

Just then, the lights dimmed, and the music changed to a slower, softer tune. I looked up to see Janvi and Sharad taking their positions on stage. Their back was facing us . The song started and they turned to face each other. Just then the spotlight fell on them and WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!! It was not Sharad it was Agastya. Like what the actual FUCKKKK!!!! How did he come on stage and why Sharad is not there ????? I looked at Janvi and shock was an understatement to describe her expression. What was happening??? She stood still at her place . Agastya went to her and kept his hand on her waist and the other held her hand. He leaned in her ear and whispered something which made Janvi's brown to knit together in confusion but it changed to anger when Agastya again said something and started moving to the beats. Janvi said something to which he replied with a smirk and I could see janvi's eyes widen at it. They were dancing effortlessly looking like a perfect couple. But where the hell was Sharad!!!! Janvi’s green saree flowed around her as she moved gracefully, her face glowing under the spotlight. Agastya looked happy somewhat proud, his movements fluid and confident.

The audience hushed as the lyrical part of the song started, and I couldn’t help but feel proud of Janvi. She had always been so confident, so sure of herself, and seeing her shine on stage made me smile. But why this change of partner at the last moment?

The dance was beautiful—romantic and perfectly choreographed. Janvi and Agastya moved together effortlessly, although janvi looked angry but their chemistry was undeniable. The crowd cheered and clapped as they spun and twirled across the stage, and I could feel the pride swelling in my chest for my best friend.

But even as I watched them, my mind wandered again, thinking about him. Would he be watching? Would he even notice me here, sitting quietly in the back? I shook my head, trying to focus on the moment, but it was no use. He was everywhere in my thoughts, whether I wanted him to be or not.