Sangeet Day:

Mitali: Okay, we've been sitting here for over half an hour. Will someone please tell me what's the agenda of this not-so-important meeting?

Adi threw a candy bar at her and she swiftly caught it.

Adi: Now eat that and be quiet.

Mitali: Wha-

Shanu: Mitu, Kavya told us to come here for some reason. She'll be coming in a few minutes okay? Just have patience till then.

Mitali rolled her eyes and munched on the candy bar.

Daksh: Okay, but does anyone have any clue about what this is about?

Anu: Nope.

Ruhaan: I think it has something to do with the sangeet function.

Taps: Wow Ru , you are so intelligent. No wonder I like you, munchkin.

Mitali: Ugh!

Taps: What?

Adi: Tapasya, just ignore her. She hates anything that's even minutely cheesy.

Mitali glared at him and said,

Mitali: Be glad that I am bitting this candy bar and not your head.

Adi: I am glad, trust me.

Daksh: Okay, will someone just tell me what's going on already?

' I think we can.', called a voice from behind. The gang turned around to find Ishaan , his fiance, Tanya  and Trisha. Ananya stiffened a bit as they all approached the gang.

Mitali: Lady Muck, good to see you!

Adi: Mitali!

Trisha: I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch you there. What did you say?

Adi:(hurriedly before Mitali could speak) Uh... nothing. Nothing, Trisha.

Trisha smiled flirtatiously at Adi , while earning a glare from Mitali.

Daksh: So you guys know why we are here for?

Tanya: Uh...yeah. Actually it wasn't Kavya who called Shanu, it was me. I used her phone to call you while she was working.

Shanu: Yeah, I did feel her voice was different.

Tanya: Anyways, it's just that today is sangeet. And we haven't quite prepared anything for the function tonight. So we thought, you know, why don't we just combine all of our performances into one act. It'll be like a big surprise for them. So what do you say?

As she said that, all the eyes turned towards Ananya, who had been constantly looking at Ishaan the whole time. As she felt the gazes on her, she shifted uncomfortably and said,

Anu: Why are you guys looking at me like that? I mean, you guys can do it if you want to. I'm not going to perform anyways so it doesn't really matter to me.

Ishaan looked pityingly at her, a look which she hated.

Shanu: You won't perform?

Anu: No , Shanu. It's not like I'm a very good dancer anyways, right?

Mitali: Yeah, it's okay, Anu. (Eyeing Ishaan) We understand.

Ishaan gulped and looked here and there.

Taps: So do you guys have anything in mind? That you know, we could perform?

Tanya: I was just coming to that. I thought of a skit showing how they met and how they fell in love. You know.....

Mitali: Oh hell no! I'm not performing another skit! Last time we did that, the whole auditorium was burned down.

Tanya shot a questioning look at her.

Anu: We performed a skit in college and during the function, the curtains caught fire and....... basically it was a mess.

Ishaan: Were you alright? Did you get hurt?!

Ananya widened her eyes in anticipation. It was the first time she was hearing him speak to her in three years. Well, not just speak, but be worried about her too. Tanya moved her gaze from Ishaan to Ananya. She was having second doubts about whether Ishaan had really told him everything about his past.

Mitali eyed Daksh, who was gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. She shot him a 'Don't' look. He nodded slightly and said,

Daksh: No. Fortunately,no one was hurt. Although Tapasya did come close to having a panic attack.

Tanya: That's too bad. But if not a skit, then what?

Ruhaan: We could perform a face off. You know, boys vs girls. You guys can be on Kavya's team and we boys would be from Jai's team. What say?

Sahil: I honestly think it's a brilliant idea.

Adi: You know actually it is. Because if this happens, then it's a hundred percent guaranteed that we boys will win.

Mitali: And may I ask the reason for this idiotic hypothesis of yours?

Adi: Oh come on, we have Sahil in our team. And all of St. Marcus is known to his dancing skills.

Sahil grinned widely.

Mitali: Well, we have Queen B in our team. I don't think I would need to elaborate any further.

Saying that,the two girls high-fived each other.

Ruhaan: Since when did you become such good friends?

Mitali:(sarcastically) Since forever. Oh come on, deep down, we both knew that we were going to besties for life when we first met each other.

Adi: That's not how I remember your first encounter to be.

Tapasya giggled and then, putting her arm around Mitali's waist, she said,

Taps: Well it doesn't matter. What matters is that we are going to beat your ass tonight.

Ruhaan: Oh we'll see.

Tapasya rolled her eyes and shrugged.

Tanya: So it's fixed then? Boys Vs Girls?

Mitali: Definitely!

                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The girls were busy practicing for their performances in Mitali and Tapasya's room.

Ananya smiled as she noticed Shanu helping Mitali learn a step. How weird was it, she wondered. A year ago, these people didn't even belong in her life. And now they had become the most important thing to her in this whole world. She smiled at that thought.

She looked at Tanya, who was busy helping Tapasya choose an outfit. No matter how much she tried, she just couldn't bring herself up to hate her. Tanya was just so sweet. Nobody could really hate her. The girl had the sweetest smile and was always ready to help everyone. She just couldn't find a reason to hate her.

She wondered if she should tell Tanya about her and Ishaan, although she had doubts whether Ishaan had already said something about it. After all they were going to spend their lives together. She flinched at the thought. Ishaan getting married to someone other than her was something she had never dreamed of. He was  her first love after all. And as they say, first loves are usually the hardest to forget.

She shook her head. She had to forget about him. He was goddamn engaged! No, this was wrong. She had to let her past go if she wanted to move on.

As in cue, her phone buzzed. She checked the notifications to find a message from an unknown number. It read,

' Meet me at the poolside. It's important!'

She narrowed her eyes at the message and read it again. Who could this be, she wondered.

Anyways, she decided to go despite her instincts telling her not to. She excused herself and went out.

The poolside was quite deserted except a few of the hotel staff. She was looking here and there when suddenly, a hand cupped her mouth from behind and dragged her to a deserted corner. Ananya tried to scream but stopped when she saw the person's face.

It was none other than Ishaan Shrivastav.

Anu: What the hell do you think you are doing?!

Ishaan: Ssssh! Dheere!

Anu: Shut the fuck up and tell me what's going on?!

Ishaan: Calm down Ananya! I just wanted to talk to you, that's it.

Anu: That's it?! That's why you cupped my mouth and dragged me here?!

Ishaan: I'm sorry....... it's just if anyone would have seen us talking.....it would be a problem.

Anu: What?! What are you-........wait! Did you text me to come to the poolside?

Ishaan: Yes.

Anu: How the heck did you get my number?

Ishaan: You never changed your number, Anu.

Anu: Don't you DARE call me that! You have no right to call me that!

Ishaan: Okay okay sorry.

Anu: Sorry?! You're SORRY?! You son of a Bitch! Do you even realize what you're saying?! Do you really think a 'Sorry' is gonna make up for what you did to me three years back?!

Ishaan was genuinely scared. He had never seen Ananya this angry in the 10 years that they were together. And cuss words were something Ananya never said to anybody, even in a dream.

Ishaan: Look, I'm not asking you to forgive me. I know I deserve this. But please hear me out.....

Anu: Hear you out?! Are you fucking insane? Why should I?! You broke me three years back! You left me without a word or anything! You asshole!

Ishaan: Ananya please just hear me out. I know I did a wrong thing. But please just let me explain why I did what I did!

Anu: You know what? All I wanna know is why? Why now, Ishaan? Why not 3 years back? I.....(breaking down) lived like a dead person for six months........ just trying to figure out where the heck I went wrong! But then I realized that it wasn't me! It was you! You left me hanging ! And now.........now that I have finally found some closure , you are here again! But this time I'm not letting you in, do you hear that? So you might as well save us both time and fuck off.

Ishaan: Ananya but.....

Anu: I am leaving.

She turned to go, when Ishaan grabbed her by her arm and said,

Ishaan: Anu, please!

Ananya gritted her teeth and then grabbing him by his shoulder , kicked him in his shins. Ishaan rolled in the ground , yelping in pain.

Anu: I told you never to call me that!

Saying that, she walked past him and was about to go inside, when he yelled from behind,

Ishaan: I still Love you , Ananya!

Ananya froze in her place, not ready to face it yet.

This wasn't happening!

             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guys, I know I know this chapter was kinda boring but I've got to build the plot for the big dhamaka coming up! So bear with me!

I absolutely loved writing Ananya's P.O.V for this chapter. Especially the kicking in the shins part!😂😂😂

As usual, vote and comment on this chapter!

And also do tell me which songs do you want your favorite characters to perform in the sangeet?

I'm taking recommendations so you guys can leave a comment below and tell me the names of the songs!

Love you loads,
Bosedisha