Vancouver

Off in a distance, in a park, musical beats filled the ears of a girl. It was the same place that was a year and a half ago. Everything looked the same. But alas, nothing was the same. The course of events had changed forever.

Nothing ever stays the same.

Not even change.

"I'm sorry' It wasn't meant to be."

Kriya danced her heart out early in the morning, ignoring the passerby and caring least about them. She spread her arms out and bent back, letting the fresh air touch her soft skin. The wind teased her hair. Coming back up, she sprinted in air and back down on her feet, directly throwing herself down on the grass, wet with dawn droplets.

Kriya replayed Rey's voice-over to self. Rey had said, shaking his head and refusing to listen to her. He had said, "I let you go once and it was a mistake. I won't repeat the same mistake once again."

"I knew I'd find you here." A voice disturbed Kriya. She turned off the music without turning to see who it was. Because she knew who it could be. 

Even though knowing her a short time, she could recognize her voice. "Vaibhavi, what are you doing here?" She asked, turning around to face her. "Hasn't someone told you it's bad to creep up on people?"

Vaibhavi laughed, taking Kriya into a quick hug. "Oh dear, I did miss you!" Letting go, she continued, "And oh my! You are just as amazing of a dancer as I remember. A year and nothing has changed."

"Everything has changed. And I've already told you, I will not help you."

"I know' but couldn't hurt a try, could it?" Vaibhavi shrugged.

Kriya smiled. "Coffee?" She gathered her stuff and both took off.

***

Sitting in a flying private jet seat was Sharon. Next to her was Swayam. She had her head resting on his shoulder, awake; while his head was on top of hers, sleeping. She stayed that way in order to not disturb his sleep. She thought to herself.

"It's time; time to fulfill that promise Kriya. It's a year now. You will have to come back."

Swayam murmured, "She will. Now go to sleep. It's still a long way before landing." He nuzzled her closer to him.

She smiled, not even wanting to ponder upon wondering how he knew what she was thinking. She had taught herself by now to not question him; because the answer would be same each time. She resided in him and there was no one who knew her better than him, even in his sleep.

***

"Where is everyone?" Vaibhavi asked as she sat down pulling up a chair to kitchen's half wall while Kriya brewed coffee, bringing her out of her memory.

"Work and sleeping."

Kriya placed Vaibhavi's cup in front of her and left to make toast. She took a sip from the cup. She noticed the ring on a chain around her neck. She commented, "You had another ring before right? Your father's ring? What happened to it?"

Kriya looked down at the changed ring around her and nodded. "Yea. I still have it." She replied.

"And?" she probed.

"And?" Kriya asked back pretending to not know what she was asking.

"Why the change? Who's ring is this?"

"We're getting late. Hurry up." She replied instead, changing the topic and starting to go up the stairs to her room.

"And where are we going?"

"Back to India." She replied mid-way and reaching her room, locked it. Vaibhavi stood there, shocked for a second, wondering what had just happened. "So easily? I had thought it would take a lot for me to convince her to come back to India after everything that happened!"

But then, she shrugged. "Oh what do I care? So long as she's coming back."

***

Upon exiting the airport, Sharon gave a huge grin. It was night time. She was never happier till date. Tomorrow, few hours from now, she would get everything and everyone back in her life. Rey, her best friend. Kriya, her nemesis sister. Swayam, whom she already had. Her complete family.

Swayam dropped her home and left for his to freshen up before meeting for dinner. Sharon suggested he could get ready at her place but Swayam convinced her into letting him go to his place as he hadn't been there for a year. As soon as he left Sharon's house, he speed-dialed a number.

One he hadn't dialed in a long time. When he heard the sleepy murmur, his face brightened. "REY!"

"Hmm?" Rey replied, pulling a pillow over his face while holding the phone with other hand.

"Wake up sleepy-head! It's the most important day and you're sleeping?!!" Swayam freaked out. Swayam rolled his eyes. "Rey, get your ass up! Are you even listening to me?!"

"GRR! Shut up Swayam. I am and FYI, I've already made the arrangements. For God's sake, it's not even morning here. Now let me sleep! I have a long flight to catch."

"And if you're late, don't even bother coming."

"Whatever. Bye!" Rey scratched his head once the phone ended. He asked himself, "Why am I so moody?"

***

Kriya rested her back on the door.

She had said, tears choking her throat. "Rey, mera kya hai? I'm fine just knowing you love me. But for right now, you need to let me go."

"NO. Enough of this hiding. And why hide, anyways? We hid our relationship so that people don't take it the wrong way. But look around. They already are! It needs to come out in the clear now."

Kriya looked around as he spoke. And he was right. She gulped down and stiffly nodded. Rey turned to the camera and so did she.

"Does the world only know to give one title to the girl when something like this happens? Did any of you even for a second think that maybe I loved her? That maybe she wasn't at fault at all? You all have a sick mind! And these photo's? Just because she's the contestant and I'm the judge, she's the bad one? I love her! I love Kriya Ghai. And not since the competition started. But since as long as I can remember! If you do not know about anyone, you have no right to comment. I have loved her for more than five years and I will continue to love her. She did not get any extra attention because she's my girlfriend. If she wanted unfair advantage, she wouldn't have wanted to hide our relationship. This girl'" He looked at her, and held her hand.

"She suffered for four years all because of me. All because I let... And never did she once complain to me. Even today, she cares about my reputation more than her's. Even today, she wants to walk away. Why? So that no one questions my professionalism. How can one raise a finger at a girl with such naive thoughts?! This show doesn't run on my decisions. It's a team work. The audience is just as much responsible for bringing her this far as we, the judges are."

"Rey'" Kriya spoke, her voice scratchy, in an attempt to calm him down.

Rey whispered, shaking his head and refusing to listen to her. "I let you go once and it was a mistake. I won't repeat the same mistake once again."

He entwined his fingers with hers. "Let the world know about our relationship. I don't care. And even if you do not win the competition, I don't care. Because I know you're the best dancer. Better than me. And if they do not see it, then it's their loss." He looked at the crowd. "If she does win, then it'll be because she deserved it. Not because she's special to me."

Kriya blinked the flash back away as she heard the knock on the door. From the other side, Vaibhavi called out. "Kriya? How long will it take? I have a few quick things to do."

Kriya looked at the trophy that was placed in he glass cabinet. The winning trophy. She yelled out, "Be right there!" Her things were already packed. She walked over to the trophy. The one thing that was still unpacked. She ran her hands over the golden piece and felt the moment when she was announced the winner. The moment of bliss when she could run into Rey's waiting arms and not be judged by anyone. No secrets. No misunderstandings. No distance.

She pressed her fingers once again to the ring around her finger. It's time. She placed the trophy in her hand-bag and rushed to change.

***

Next day, Sharon eagerly awaited for the night to come, for that would be when she would get to meet Kriya and Rey! She cribbed to Swayam yet again. "Why aren't they here yet??"

Swayam chuckled. "Sharon, relax. It's only been 15 minutes till the reunion party began! They'll be here."

"AH! Time needs to go by fast."

No' Swayam thought. With each passing second, he was getting more nervous. "Come, let's go in for some time. It's getting chilly outside." Swayam guided her in. As they walked, a hand tapped Swayam's shoulder while another hand tapped Sharon's. Both turned around and instantly grinned.

"Kriya!" Sharon exclaimed while Swayam exclaimed, "Rey!" Sharon took Kriya in a hug and Rey gave Swayam a brotherly hug.

"On time, for once." Swayam commented in his ear. As they parted, Rey chuckled. He looked to his side. By now, Sharon and Kriya had parted as well. Swayam went around Sharon to hug Kriya and Sharon moved to take Rey in a hug.

She let out a relief. "AHH! So good to see you both again!"

Kriya and Rey passed a glance, and smiled, contently. Everyone else soon surrounded the four. And the night began.

A reporter, out of no-where came up to them. "Sharon and Swayam, tell us about your trip?"

Swayam's hands were around Sharon's waist. He replied, looking at her. "It was very memorable. You can ask more questions at the conference tomorrow. Please, excuse us." He took Sharon away from the crowd. The reported moved over the Rey and Kriya. "Reyansh and Kriya, tells us, how did you spend the last year? Right after the competition, both of you just disappeared. Everyone's eager to know."

Reyansh smiled at the reporter, even though from the inside, he disliked her for asking him personal questions. "Just here and there. Nothing as special." he lied to her. The crowd finally managed to push the reporter away. He let out a deep relief. Kriya laughed at him. She put her hands around his neck.

"Oh Rey, you still hate her?"

Rey gave her dagger-eye treatment. "How can you not? She invaded my house to just get photo's of what I do at my place!"

Kriya shook her head in amusement. "That's her job, sweetheart."

"And this sweetheart of yours wants to put that ring around your finger, not your neck. Someone can snatch it, you know?"

"Oh, no one's touching it, alright." She replied holding the ring on her necklace protectively in her palm fist.

"Oh really?" He smirked and leaned in. Before he could kiss her neck, just by the ring, she slapped him and took a step back. "Rey, behave! We're in public."

"So you're saying I can do it in private?" He smirked, threw her own statement back at her. Her mouth went wide-open, along with her eyes.

"Reyansh Singhania! Watch it." She threatened him. He kissed her cheek and then whispered in her ear. "I'm gonna go get that idiot best friend of mine so I can do what I want to do."

Kriya watched him leave him a smile on her face. Yes, the ring around her neck was none other than her engagement ring. That night, before the winner was announced, Rey had proposed to her, right there on the middle of the stage, not caring about the world. But to avoid speculations, she never let Rey put it around her. It remained around her neck ever since, though how she was tempted every day to wear it on her finger instead.

Since that night, Rey was with Kriya, as he said he would be; true on his promise to not let her go again. At the airport, Kriya wasn't the only one to leave for Vancouver. He was too. He wouldn't listen a word of her's and forced her to walk in the plane. Ever since till the date, they lived in Vancouver.

***

Rey slapped Swayam's head. "Nikamme, fattuu! Just propose to her, damn it!"

"Selfish kahin ke!" He spat back. "Of course you want me to. Since Kriya won't wear the ring till Sharon does."

"Duh! What makes you think I care about your nervousness?" Rey replied bluntly, playing smart.

"I'm not nervous!" Swayam objected.

"The AC's on and you're sweating."

"It's just a reaction."

Rey rolled his eyes, "Sure it is."

"It IS!"

"There's Sharon!" He pointed and pushed him towards her. He crashed into her, unbalancing her. Both of them balanced each other. Swayam looked back to glare at Rey. "Are you okay?" Sharon asked. He nodded.

"Dance?" He asked.

"Sure." She replied, putting her hand in his. Rey walked over to the DJ and asked him to play a soft beat. Then he went over to get Kriya for a dance. Sharon's eyes spoke t him. Till when will we only dance? Is dance the only bond between us? Swayam, looking intensely at her, got the courage he lacked.

At the end, both the guys twirled their partners in and around and knelt down on their knee at the same time. Sharon was surprised, not knowing what Swayam was doing, while Rey and Kriya knew. Regardless, Kriya too was surprised as she only knew about Swayam proposing Sharon, and thus wondered what Rey was doing.

Swayam spoke to Sharon, holding her hand and looking intensely into her eyes while pulling out a ring from his pocket with other hand. "Sharon Raiprakash, the diva' you bring out the best in me. I can say lots of things but I'll sum it up. You're the best dance partner I've had and I ever will have. No word can express what I want to say more than these three words. I love you. Will you marry me?"

Sharon was completely flustered. As he had began saying her name, she knew what was on the way. Her sixth sense told her. Her hands were getting a bit sweaty, but Swayam held it firm in his hold. Sharon pressed her lips lights tightly together to push her tears back and nodded. "Yes, yes and yes!"

He got up instantly, put the ring on her finger, pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her a thank-you. It gave Sharon another shock, which she happily responded back to.

"Ahem-ahem! There's someone else on his knees!" Rey called the attention over to him. Kriya stopped awing and looked down at him, forgetting he was there. Sharon and Swayam pulled apart, still arm in arms and looked at the two as well.

Rey began, "Now that my idiot friend has finally proposed, I can finally ask. Again. Can I have my fiance back? I've waited a year to put that ring around your finger. Actually, make that six years. Yes, we had many up's and down. But as one says, 'Ye ishq nahin hai aasan.' Our Junoon for dance brought us closer. Will Ramaira give me the chance to keep this Deewangi going? Will you allow me to see your face every morning?"

Kriya laughed. She commented, "Like you don't already!"

"Don't laugh!" He scolded her. "I'm not done."

Kriya pressed her lips shut and put a finger over them, to indicate they were sealed now. "Now, before I was rudely interrupted, will you give me the chance to call you mine's?"

She let a moment pass to ensure he was done with all he had to say. "I'm already yours, Rey." she replied then. She knelt down on her knees, to bring herself at eye level. She took the necklace out, freed the ring, and handed it to him. He held his hand out, she placed hers in his and he slipped the ring on her finger. He kissed the ring on her finger then.

Sharon told Swayam, "Everything's finally sorted now."

Swayam shook his head. All four of them went into a group hug.

The four clinked glasses together. "Cheers to a new beginning." Rey cheered.

(-The End-)

Author's Note:

It's a wrap! You all should know how much I don't like ending things... which is probably why I didn't publish this even though I'd saved it as a draft since like December. (Forgive me. I've got issues.) I'm cringing at what I had written back then... but I don't want to take up another week to fix this so i'll just post this as it is. Maybe in the future I'll come back to it. 

THANK YOU so much each and every one of you for voting, reading, commenting, loving this, and mostly tolerating me. Maybe i'll see you on some other book of mines (: 

Stay blessed!

-Araina <3