SAANCHI
✨

With his quirky smile I recalled that incident which although was embarrassing held a moment which I'll cherish throughout my life. Even today I don't know what that was but it still held my entire life in it. I didn't value it back then but today you ask me...

I could live my entire life in that one moment

Flashback begins...

'102'!!!' Imran said and we were worried.

'Its the intercollegiate fest and we have to win this round. We are having a tie with Hopkins and the only way we go ahead and take the lead is win this!!! Guri yaar!!! Hunn ice cream di ki latt lagi he tenu (Guri buddy!!! Why are you so addicted to ice cream?) Nishchay yelled slapping his forehead.

'Nishu...she is feeling drowsy. I am taking her home said Mehek. And I looked at her with a questionable expression.

'Sambhal le Kudiye!!! Bhatti jal rahi he itthe (Manage it girl!!! She's burning like a furnace!!!) said Mehek and in no time she took a taxi back home. With that two contestants were out from the team of ten.

✨

'Are you mad??? I wouldn't even mind replacing Mehek in the stress interview event tomorrow but this dance !!! I only know two types of dance. One is Bhangra and other is Vaga Vesu (tiger dance) Nishu!!! There is no other way you have to dance with Amisha!!!' I said and Nishchay gulped.

'Only you know the steps!!! You have seen us practice!!!' he argued

'Even Amisha saw you both practice and you know how much she looooooves you!!!' I said earning Nishchay's fiery gaze.

'I am readdddddyyyyyy!!!' we heard a sultry voice and at the door stood Amisha. She was wearing a tight business skirt and a almost to burst out shirt. She was the sexiest girl in our college and almost every boy drooled over her except Nishchay.

Nishchay ran away from her!!! Practically!!!

And that woman was only interested in Nishchay. Reason!!! He was the first boy j her life who never valued her. Ignored her if I could say. But we enjoyed teasing him with her. Specially the way she called him like she was going to get an asthama attack anytime.

Nishhhchayyyyyy!!!!

Anddddddd!!! There we go.

'Bacha le Sannuu!!! (Save me Sannu!!!)' saying he almost hid behind me but like a bee behind a sunflower she was all attracted to him.

'Nisssshchayyyyyy!!! I heard you wanted to ask me for a daaance!!!' she asked in her sultry sexy voice while Nishu literally was doing impossible tries to hide under my scarf. I chuckled.

'Nissshchaayyyyyyy!!!' she called again when Aniketh whispered...

'Damn her voice!!!I'm not Nishchay but I regret why didn't my parents name me Nishchay if this is how she recites that name. Damn I'm hard!!! Fuck I need to find a washroom!!!'

I cringed a 'Ewwww'

'And I need to find a hiding place!!' said Nishchay looking here and there

'Why does she speak like she's in bad need of a asthama pump!!! Or maybe an oxygen mask!!!" said Rohit our classmate

'But man she's hottt!!!' said Vijay.

But like a vampire smells blood and a dog smells bone our Amisha smells her Nishhhchayyyyyy!!!

And within no time she held him by his shoulders and began playing with his shirt buttons saying

'Nishhhhhchayyyy I am readyyyy!!!' she said passing him a wild look while Nishchay gulped nervously and meekly said

'I am not!!!'

'Ohhhh come onnnn...I would love to tanggggle with you!!!' she said biting her lip and Nishchay gulped in his saliva suddenly saying

'Its tango!!! And I already found my dance partner!!!'

I was shocked and before I knew Nishchay held my wrist announcing

'I am dancing with Saanchi!!!'

And I'm dead!!!

✨

I walked out fitting into Gurpreet's red colored melonga dress with hair tied into a high bun, long dangling earrings kissing my shoulder. Walking in these pointed heels felt like walking on a rope.

'How do girls wear all this!!!' muttering to myself I walked infront of Nishchay saying 'I am ready!!! Now tell me what to do!!!' but his mouth opened and closed multiple times. That gaze was exactly the same I experienced years ago when I entered the school for the first time. Since then a lot changed between us.

Nishchay Mehra to Nishu was a long journey. He is my best friend today but that gaze...that blazing gaze made me conscious. Why was he staring at me without even blinking.

'Nishchay!!!' I called out but he didn't reply however when I touched his shoulder he whispered

'You look gorgeous Bella Dama!!!' and I raised my eyebrow asking

'And that means?' he slowly took a step closer making my breath hitch and covered my fingers with his whispering into my left ear...

'Beautiful lady!!!' and I smiled but soon I realised I couldn't dance and I gulped looking at him.

✨

'Can I run away Nishu?' I asked while still raising my chin up from this stupid posture. Heck why am I here I can't even dance.

'Oh come on Sannu...just follow my lead!!!' saying Nishchay began moving. I tried moving two and fro trying to ape a ocho cortado but easy that it looks like...it really wasn't!!! So instead of moving in sync I ended up stepping upon Nishchay's feet only for him to scream in pain. But he controlled himself faking a smile and tried to turn me around but instead my left hand restricted him and he turned around.

'Damn!!! Shouldn't this be the other way around???' I asked noticing how we switched roles.

By now we already could hear chuckles and giggles. But next thing when Nishchay tried to flip me around and tried to lift me up but when I landed I did not realise the position of my knee which ended up landing straight into his crotch and he landed straight of his knees crying and howling in pain causing him loose his balance and to make it worse he let me fall and I landed straight on the floor!!! Like a pumpkin!!! Earning a loud laughter from the college.

Clearly taking the lead Hopkins had won the fest carrying home the prestigious trophy and we being the laughter stock of the season.

✨

'I looked for you everywhere and here you are Sannu???' saying Nishchay came and sat next to me. I was sitting on the terrace of our apartment...hiding to be precise from all the embarassment if I could say. Everyone was making fun of us. I was feeling terrible.

'We lost the event only because of us!!! You must have danced with Amisha Nishu!!! I'm....I'm terrible!!!' I said

'And what get molested by that girl??? Saanchi she looks at me like I'm some rack of lamb served on her plate and she would feed me to bones. I mean...she makes me want to even button up my collar buttons. That's the look she passes me and dancing with her??? Gimme a break' he said while I burst out laughing.

'Thank god you smiled...and anyways I am proud of you!!!' he said and I raised an eyebrow asking

'Why? Because I gave you your life's worst performance?'

'No!!! Because although you weren't a dancer you kept trust upon me and joined me on the dance floor. You knew this would turn disastrous but only because I asked you to...you danced. You did a tango where as in real life I don't think you can even do a Bhangra or the tiger dance too!!!' he said making me smile. He bent closer to me and wiped my tears with his index finger and whispered

'So...no matter what the world thinks...It's enough that you didn't leave me alone. You stood by my side!!! Trusted in me and performed with me. Good bad ugly...winning or loosing doesn't matter! What matters is...you care for me!!!' and that night there was a strange twinkle in his eyes which I couldn't read. I didn't know what it was.

Starry night, cold winds of Dhaulpur, just him and me on the terrace while his shimmery eyes looked deep into mine. There was wierd feeling within my stomach. I don't know what happened he bent closer to my face and I leaned more. It meant nothing yet everything.

His hot breath fanned my lips and in no time our breaths mixed. I could notice his gaze on my lips and I don't know what I was anticipating too but before we knew his lips covered mine.

Slightly brushing and feathering strokes with his lips they moved on my lips when I was simply trying to understand what just happened but the next second I freaked out and I moved back standing up at once.

Heck!!! We kissed!!! This man stole my first kiss ever.

Flashback ends...

He may have forgotten that moment which followed the dance but I didn't. I can never! If only could I ever have those lips for myself again...said my brains when in one go I closed my eyes trying to stop the track my mind was visiting. Nishchay is just a friend. Stop it Saanchi.
You have lost so much...you don't want to loose anymore! Do you??? I simply shrugged away my thoughts and saw Nishchay feeding Kyra small morsels of Biryani Mehek prepared. We were currently at Mehek's house discussing the budget and plans. I smiled seeing their bond. They are beautiful.

'Saanchi... Please look at this and confirm if the prizes look good. I mean they aren't too expensive' Mr Kumar said and I smiled saying

'Dont worry uncle...No one cares what the prizes are...all that matters is each one wins and enjoys!!!'

We had finished prepping everything when Kyra came rubbing her eyes saying
'Pa I'm sleepy!!!' and Nishchay cooed her on his lap. We had a lot of things to finish and we only had two days left for Diwali so he asked her to sleep on his lap.

'Nishchay...you can take her to my room!!!' I said and he nodded hesitantly saying

'Its ok Saanchi. She is habituated to my lap!!!' but before he could argue further I pulled Kyra onto my arms saying

'And she is also habituated sleeping in my room. She will be ok!!!' saying I carried her in my arms. I went and took my giant teddy bear along placed both her and the teddy bear on the bed. The minute she felt my Tillu's fur she hugged him tight. Damn she's obsessed with my teddy bear. I chuckled.

She looked so innocent while sleeping. That cute pout, that cute nose, that calmness on her face. I couldn't help but kiss the crown of her head.

My baby!!!

I smiled and covered her with the quilt and placed extra pillows around the bed towering them up only to keep her safe as Kyra rotates like hands of a clock in sleep. The other day I saw her sleeping with Riya Pacchi in afternoon only to find an hour later her butt practically shoved into Pacchi's face. So I slightly closed the door but not completely. Did not switch off all the lights and kept emergency lights on to make sure she isn't scared if in case she wakes up.

Just while I was walking outside the room I heard a commotion.

It was Mehek and Nishchay.

'I am scared Mehek!!!' said Nishchay

'You can't Nishu! You have to tell her. Enough of hiding it. Tomorrow is Choti Diwali (day before Diwali) and you can already see how she is glowing. Your stupid promise is something that is making her glow. The promise which is meaningless. The promise which will break again.' Mehek sounded frustrated.

'I......I think she will forget everything. There are so many events tomorrow! She... she....she will forget!' argued Nishchay

'Nishu...she won't! The girl who kept asking the same question like a parrot for years. Since she started to speak...will she ever stop. She won't Nishchay! You promised to bring her mother to her. You have to do it Nishu. Or else this time Kyra's heart will break terribly!!!' Mehek's voice was changing. I could say she was getting angrier.

'Dead people don't come back Mehek!!!"

'Then why promise? Look Nishu!!! Kayu needs a mother and no matter who it shouldn't matter. She knows Sudeshna only from what you have taught her. For you her mother is Sudeshna but for Kayu...her mother is 'Mumma'. Yes she has seen Sudeshna's picture but she doesn't know the person behind it. She only wants to experience the warmth of motherhood which she tries to get from every woman around her. I can see. She tries to find a glimpse of her mother in every woman around her but she doesn't know how it feels to have one so how will she ever know???' Mehek said and mind you she was so right.

Nishchay must think about Kyra too but that's when Mehek added something which caught my attention.

'Bring Kayu a mother of her own Nishchay.

Marry again!'

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating
🌟🌙
God bless us all
❤️🙏

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨