FIVE

Hey my beautiful readers! ✨

Chapter's out now - go dive in! 📖

Your votes & comments mean the world to me 🌍💖

So don't forget to shower some love!

~ Happy reading, love you all endlessly 💙🌸 ~

___________________________

I was in deep sleep, completely lost in dreams, wrapped up in the comfort of my blanket and the silence of the early morning. Everything was still, peaceful—until suddenly, I heard Mom’s voice calling out from downstairs.

It wasn’t loud,

but it was enough to pull me out of my sleep.

My brows furrowed, and with a groggy sigh, I sat up on the bed, clearly annoyed. My head was heavy, my eyes half-closed, and irritation bubbled inside me at being disturbed so early. I mumbled under my breath, ready to complain as I rubbed my eyes and reached for my phone to check the time.

But the moment I looked at the screen, my sleep vanished.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

WHAT THE HELLLL?!

I was supposed to wake up early… and now I was late.

Very late.

Panic replaced the irritation in seconds, and I jumped out of bed as if someone had lit a fire beneath me, my heart racing and my mind already spiraling into chaos.

I got ready in a rush, barely giving myself time to think. I threw on the first decent outfit I could find, quickly fixed my hair, and dabbed on a bit of lip balm before practically flying out of my room.

In no time, I was downstairs, heading straight to the dining table. I sat down and began eating breakfast quickly—more like stuffing bites between deep breaths, still half-panicking from the morning chaos. I didn’t even taste much of the food; I was just focused on not being any more late than I already was.

I came outside, slipped into my car, and drove off toward college — already late, and praying I could somehow make up for lost time. But, of course, fate had other plans.

Because just a few minutes into the drive, I found myself stuck.

In traffic.

Heavy, unmoving, soul-draining traffic.

I sighed, thumping my head gently against the headrest.

Great. Just great.

I was already missing my first lecture, and now this glowing red light in front of me seemed to mock my existence.

In frustration, I turned my head to glance out the window, hoping to spot some sign that the light would turn green soon.

That’s when I saw it — a sleek black Mercedes right next to my car.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. But then my eyes went to the passenger seat, where the driver sat — dressed in a formal black suit, his hands on the steering wheel... trembling. His knuckles were pale, his face tense, and he looked like he was holding his breath.

Something about the scene felt off.

Curious, my gaze shifted to the backseat of the car.

There, a man sat, head lowered, fully focused on the iPad in his hand. I couldn’t see his face — just the sharp outline of his jaw, the expensive-looking watch on his wrist, and the commanding stillness of his presence.

But then… as if sensing my stare, he slowly looked up.

And time — as cliché as it sounds — truly stopped.

His eyes met mine.

Calm. Dark. Unreadable.

And yet... arresting.

It was him.

“Veer,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He was looking right at me. No smile, no expression — just that steady, intense gaze that made me feel like the rest of the world had gone blurry.

God.

Why does he have to look so calm... while I’m over here falling apart like some hormonal wreck?

The traffic had cleared long ago, but I was lost in watching him.

The embarrassment rushed over me like a tidal wave. My heart pounded in my chest, and before I could even think, my hands fumbled to turn the key, and I started my car in a flurry of panic.

I didn’t look back.

I couldn’t.

I just drove — fast and clumsy — away from the moment, away from him.

When I finally pulled up in front of my college gate, I rested my head on the steering wheel, trying to catch my breath.

“Oh God, why was I looking at him like that?” I mumbled, wanting to shrink into the seat and vanish.

It was stupid. So stupid.

But beneath all that embarrassment…

Was a ridiculous little smile threatening to escape.

I parked my car and came out of the car and saw my one and only bestfriend

" Aaayuuuu " i said and ran towards her and hugged her tightly.

" Me tera itni der se wait kar rhi thi , itna late kaise hogyi " she said while we are walking towards our classroom.

("I’ve been waiting for you for so long  what took you so long?")

" Traffic aayushi traffic " i said

We stopped outside our classroom and she turned to me, said " pehle tu ja phir me aati hu tere peeche " i frowned. ("You go first, I’ll come right behind you." )

" Nahi nahi pehle tu jaaa, tujhe pta h na english wali ko kitni problem hai mere se " i whispered

("No, no — you go first! You know how much that English professor has a problem with me.")

" Arey yaar tu jaaa " she said

("Oh come on, you go!" )

" Nhi tu jaa " i said. ("No, you go,")

" Nhi tu jaayegi ishu zid mat kar " she said. (No, you’re going, Ishu. Don’t be stubborn,")

" Dekh aayu me zid nhi kar rhi par jayegi tu hi " i said making a pout.

(Listen Aayu, I’m not being stubborn  but you’re the one who’s going)

" Me nhi jaaungi " she spat cutely

("I’m not going!")

" Nhii tuu hi jay----" ( "Nooo, you’re the one who’s going—!")

" Ye sab kya ho rha hai yha par " ( "What’s going on here?" )

We both hear a voice and look at door , standing our English mam Mr.s raina with a chalk in her hand .

" Kya koi mujhe btayega ye kya ho rha tha yha par " she said

( "Will someone please tell me what was going on here?" )

" W-who mam actually hum late hogye the to maine ayushi ko bola ki pehle ye jaaye class me phir me aati hu " i said and my eyes are stuck on floor.

( " Ma’am, actually we were running late, so I told Ayushi to go to class first, and then I’d come after her." )

" Mam maine bhi inko same cheez hi boli " aayu said dramatically.

("Ma’am, I told her the exact same thing too.")

" Hogya aap dono ka , to aap dono ek sath ab andar aajaye " teacher said and we both nodded and enter in class.

("Are you both done now? Then come inside together.")

The students started laughing loudly but stopped when Mrs raina turn towards them and shouted

SHUTUPPPPPP EVERYONE....

We take our seats and sat and teacher also start her lecture.

" Dekha Teri wajah se pad gyi na daant " i whispered to aayushi

("See? We got scolded because of you!")

" ISHA STAND UP " i hear mam voice

Shit oh god

Isha chup nhi reh skti thi kya

Ab khadi hoja besharmo ki tarah kyu bethi hai

I stood up and said " mam wo actually me usse kuch doubt puch rhi thi "

("Ma’am, actually I was just asking her a doubt.")

" Kya wo teacher hai " she asked.

{"Is she a teacher?" }

" N-no mam "

" Toh "

{"So"}

" Sorry mam " i said

" Huh okay sit down and take it as a last warning ''

I nodded and sat down.

After taking all the lectures, Aayu and I walked out of the class, both of us tired but somehow still chatting nonstop. Ayushi was glued to her phone as usual, scrolling through something and nodding to herself.

Suddenly—

"Hey bhagwan" She shouted in horror

{"Ohhh god"}

"Kya hua " i stopped walking and look at her

{" What happened"}

" AREYYYYYYY SUNNNNNNN "

{"HEYYY LISTENNNN"}

" HAAAAN " I said noticing her furrowed brows.

{"Yes"}

"Kal competition haiii!" she said, panic clearly in her voice.

{"The competition is tomorrow}

"KYAAAAAAA?! Nahi yaar, maine date check ki thi, wo to Monday ko tha na!"

{"WHATTT?! No way, I had checked the date—it was supposed to be on Monday!"}

"Nahi tu galat check kar gayi thi... ye dekh," she said and handed me her phone.

{"Nope, you checked it wrong... look at this"}

I snatched it from her hand and checked.

"OH GOD! Ab main ek raat mein dance ki practice kaise karungi?!" I said, panic rising in my voice.

{"OH GOD! How am I supposed to practice the whole dance in just one night?!"}

I tried hard not to cry, but my eyes were already burning.

"Shhh, chup ho ja. Ro mat. Aur ye mat bhool ki tu ek dancer hai... woh bhi kamal ki!" Aayu scolded me with fake anger.

{"Shhh, stop it. Don’t cry. And don’t forget you’re a dancer… and a damn good one!}

"Par Aayu, mujhe nahi lagta main kar paungi..." I whispered.

{"But Aayu, I don’t think I can do it.."}

But she didn’t let me finish.

"Par-war kuch nahi sunna mujhe! Meri Ishu sab kuch kar sakti hai, samjhi!" she interrupted.

{"No buts, I don’t want to hear anything! My Ishu can do anything, got it?" }

And just like that, her words became my strength.

After talking for a few more minutes and soaking in Aayu’s warmth and words, we both headed to our respective homes. The moment I entered mine, a strange weight settled in my chest. Fear, nervousness… and somewhere, a small hope trying to peek through.

I climbed the stairs slowly, my feet heavier than usual. Each step echoed the question in my mind—Can I really do this?

As I entered my room, I didn’t switch on the lights. The moonlight streaming through the window lit up the familiar corners. I stood there for a few seconds, eyes shut, gathering the strength to face the night ahead.

Freshening up mechanically, I opened my cupboard and pulled out my ghoongroos. My fingers trembled slightly as I tied them around my ankles, the soft chime they produced making something stir in me.

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection—eyes tired, heart thudding, but there was still something... something alive.

I took a deep breath.

“Ek raat... bas ek raat,” I whispered to myself. One night. That’s all I have.

And then i start music with full voice and start dancing on GHAR MORE PARDESIYAN "

रघुवर तेरी राह निहारें रघुवर तेरी राह निहारें

रघुवर तेरी राह निहारें रघुवर तेरी राह निहारें

सातों जनम से सिया

घर मोरे परदेसिया

आओ पधारो पिया

घर मोरे परदेसिया

आओ पधारो पिया...

I was so lost in dancing that i didn't even know that my feet were hurting.

ना तो मैया की लोरी

ना ही फागुन की होरी

मोहे कुछ दूसरा ना भाये रे

जबसे नैना ये जाके इक धनुर्धर से लागे

तबसे बिरहा मोहे सताए रे हाँ

ना तो मैया की लोरी

ना ही फागुन की होरी

मोहे कुछ दूसरा ना भाये रे

जबसे नैना ये जाके इक धनुर्धर से लागे

तबसे बिरहा मोहे सताए रे

But I didn't care about pain at all My Focus is on dance

दुविधा मेरी सब जग जाने

दुविधा मेरी सब जग जाने

जाने ना निरमोहिया

घर मोरे परदेसिया

आओ पधारो पिया

घर मोर परदेसिया

आओ पधारो पिया

I take the last round and stop....

" Breathes , breathes "

" Come on isha take a Long breathe you did very well.

BUZZZ BUZZZ...

I come to my senses hearing the ringing sound.

I smile seeing the caller id and pick up the call

" Hello " i said

" Kaisi chal rhi hai practice" she asked. ("How’s the practice going?" )

" Abhi practice chal rhi hai , tune disturb kar diya " i said and chuckle.

( "I’m practicing right now — you just disturbed me!" )

" Acha to tu kal aa rhi hai naaa , bhaii principal bol rha tha chief guest koi khaas insaan hai to me bhot excited huu " she said excitement fill in her voice.

("Okay, so you’re coming tomorrow, right? Bro, the principal was saying the chief guest is someone really special......I’m super excited!" )

I smile at her excitement

" Huh okay chal ab mjhe practice karne de " i said.

("Huh, okay fine — now let me practice!" )

" Okay Byyy " she said

" Byyy " i said and cut the call and again start practicing.

After practice, I have my dinner with everyone and then again i do practice and lay on bed and start using my phone , suddenly an idea clicks in my mind.

I couldn’t help myself—I grabbed my phone and began searching for his ID, scrolling through every possible combination of his name I could think of. My fingers moved quickly, eyes scanning the screen with quiet hope.

But nothing.

No account, no profile, not even a faint trace.

With a disappointed sigh, I tossed my phone aside and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling for a moment. A soft pout formed on my lips, the tiniest bit of sadness settling in my chest.

And before I knew it, with that unspoken restlessness still lingering inside me, I slowly drifted off to sleep.

And finally, after everything—after the chatter, the chaos, the classes, the teasing, the laughter, and the small battles I fought without even realizing—I was done.

My body felt heavy, like I was carrying the weight of the entire day in my bones. I pulled the blanket up to my chin, the softness of it instantly soothing, like a silent promise of comfort. My pillow felt cool against my cheek, and I curled into it like a child retreating into a cocoon.

The room was quiet now.

The only sounds were the faint rustle of the curtains swaying with the breeze and the steady hum of the ceiling fan above. Even my thoughts, which had been bouncing around in my head all day, had started to slow down—like guests at a party slowly making their way to the door.

I let out a slow, deep sigh,

I closed my eyes.

And I let go—of the day, of the weight, of the noise.

My breathing evened out, my limbs relaxed, and my heart finally stopped racing. Somewhere between one breath

and the next… I slipped into stillness.

And just like that, without even realizing it…

I fell asleep.

Not in some grand, poetic way.

Just quietly. Softly. Completely.

The world faded around me, the stars outside twinkled unseen, and I surrendered to the night.

I slept.

Deeply. Peacefully.

___________________________

That's it for today's chapter! ✨

And don't forget to like & vote this chapter 💖🥹

Don't forget to drop a comment and let me know, how you like the chapter

Byee loveees!! 💕

Stay safe & keep reading! 📚🌸