~ And Suddenly, you know it's time to Start Something new and trust the Magic of Beginnings. ~

~~~~

The next Morning, I woke up in his arms. Just one day, I told myself. It's been just one freakin' day, Nandini Murthy! Just one day since you've met this guy and you're sleeping in his arms? Well, I was stuck. He was holding me with both of his arms and My head was resting on his chest. I looked up at him and he was sleeping peacefully till the Rays of the Sunlight hit his face. I could see him getting uncomfortable and I don't know why, I slightly removed my hand from his hold and placed My scarf on his face and the next minute, he was again lost in his own world of dreams. I Smiled looking at him. This guy was affecting me way too much and I could do Nothing about it.

After around an hour or two, he woke up. Like, Finally! He squeezed his eyes and stretched his hands and while he was doing that, I inched away from him. ThankGod, I said to myself, He didn't see me in that position!

"Well, Well," he began yawning and Checking out the weather, "I know that you were sleeping in my arms. So, Yeah..Stop Assuming!"

Damn! I cursed. "Shall we leave now? Or you need to sleep a little more?" He said as he stood up carrying his bag on his back. I didn't say anything and Followed him. "But what about the Fireflies? I Mean, we didn't find them yet!" I protested while walking beside him. He stopped, looked at me and Sighed. "What!?" I was damn pissed now. "You're not alone in this. It's a partner thing, okay? Sab kuch tumhari marzi se nahi hosakta. And stop making me feel embarrassed by repeating that thing over and over again. So what if I was sleeping in your arms? Tumne bhi toh mujhe dono hatho se pakra hua tha na, Meine kuch bola?" I shot back. I just couldn't hold it inside me anymore. He was looking at me, open mouthed. "Listen you," he said moving closer, "I Said, Just Walk."

"And why do you think that I will Follow your instructions?" I questioned, in a voice laced with anger.

"Fine, As you wish! Ye dekhrahi ho?" He showed me a box. A black box. "Unlike you, I'm very much determined and Focused. Jab aap ghoray bech kar sorahi thien na Madam, Tab meine jakar inhein dhoonda tha So Please, Do as I say." Fireflies! The box contained fireflies. "Oh!" I faked a Smile and Started to walk. After around five minutes he stopped, again. "Actually Wait," He snirked, "Jabse hum miley hain tabse lekar abtak tumney mujhe kitna tang kiya and now how can I Just make you win so easily?" My facial expressions literally changed and I could sense that something very evil was cooking in his head. "30 Sit-ups, Now!" He ordered, crossing his arms. What the hell? "Fine then, I'll just set these fireflies free."

"No, No. Wait!" I requested, "I'll do it." The trip that was supposed to be the most memorable trip of my life was actually turning into a disaster. I was ACTUALLY Doing the Sit-ups and he was counting them. Also, he considered 2 Sit-Ups as 1 saying that I'm not doing it properly. God, Save me! "Good Girl! Now why are you wasting time? Let's leave!" If I could, I would have hit him hard on his face with a Chair. While walking, I realized that my necklace was missing.  Shit! I checked my bag but it wasn't there aswell. "Hey, Listen?" I called him out. "Yeah?" He answered looking at me. "Tumne mera necklace dekha?"
"Tumne Mere Socks dekhe?" He snapped leaving me stunned. Urggg!

~~~~
3 days Later.

3 days were already up and just 4 More days were left. I was kind of getting used to this place, this environment and these people. Alot have actually changed in these two days specially, My bond or should I Say My equation with My 'So called' Partner. We were now on talking terms and by talking I mean, less sarcasm and less taunts. I geared up myself for the third day activity which in my point of view, was the most amazing thing ever. I wore a long Pink Gown and dressed up myself in the most elegant way as possible. The worst Part was that this time Mukti wasn't there with me to guide me. She was basically my stylist. This was probably the first time in my life that her absence was affecting me. Like, Yeah. I sighed.

~~~

The Hotel Was Decorated beautifully and For me, this was the first time. So basically, we were all asked to Dress up ourselves and gather at the Hotel. We had no idea what as going to happen but this idea of dressing up gathering at a place pretty much excited me. Not that I didn't want to work with My Partner. Honestly, I had started to like him a little. I mean, I accepted the fact that he's not the way he is. In the last two days, we actually started to realize that the reason we are not able to gell along well is that we're pretty much the same and as they say, opposites attract, in our case we were alike and like poles always repel. "Never thought I would say this but hey, You're looking Pretty." He whispered into my ear in a husky tone sending sharp shivers down my spine. Why is he affecting me SO Much? This was the only Question I had been asking myself since the day we met and I was still trying to find it's answer. "Thanks." I said in a low voice, with a smile on my face. We headed towards the Stage where everyone had already assembled themselves and the next Minute, we were all given a Paper. "Choose your Partners yourself and get onto the Dance floor for the Paper Dance Contest." This announcement made me nervous. I looked at the sky, to avoid his strong gaze. "So..Will you be My Partner for this Contest?" He Questioned Hesitatingly. I nodded my head in a yes and he smiled a bit. Isn't it weird that two people who just couldn't bear eachother as partners were now given a option to choose a partner of their choice and then also, they were choosing each other. Again. Strange!

~~~~

The lights turned off and the Spotlight turned on. I looked at him nervously as to what to do next. However, he too looked nervous. He placed the Paper on the floor and we Stood on it. After around 5 Minutes, the song started to Play and he gently took my hand into his and Said, "Don't Worry." I smiled and extended my other hand and held his shoulder. He held me by my waist and inched me a little closer so that I don't move away from the Paper.

Heart Beats Fast,
Colors and Promises,
How to be Brave?
How can I love when I'm Afraid, to fall.
But Watching you Stand Alone, All of my doubts suddenly goes away somehow..

We looked into each other's eye and it seemed like it has been forever since we've known eachother. My heart was thumping faster and I was very sure that the same was going on with him too. Together, we danced to the music, our feet in perfect sync to the beating of our heart. We were so lost in eachother that we didn't even realize when the third round begin.

One Step Closer..
I have died Everyday waiting for you..
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand More..

As the Song Progressed, I felt relaxed and allowed a small smile to form on my lips. His eyes were deep and irresistible. He turned elegantly, his body in tune with the slow music. Wait..Am I falling for a guy I hardly know?

Time Stands Still..
Beauty in all She is..
I will be brave..
I will not let anything take away, What's Standing infront of me..
Every Breath,
Every hour has come to this..

The warmth between us grew more powerful by the Second. My heartbeat was growing steadily along with it. It was just perfect; Everything from our breathing to how our feet moved stayed in sync. If, by the end of this dance, my breath is taken away, I would certainly know the exact reason why.

One Step Closer..
I have died everyday waiting for you,
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand Years.. I'll Love you for a thousand More.

He guided me across the Dance floor as if we were in a dream. He kept his eyes on me Yet, he exactly knew where to take me. Every Moment, Every angle seemed to be planned in advance. Nothing felt forced, I literally thought I was floating.

And all Along I believed that I will find you, time has brought Your heart to me..
I have loved you for a Thousand Years,
I'll Love you for a Thousand More..

He went right, I went Right. He sped up, I sped up. We became one, with the dance, with the Song and With Eachother. We continued like that until we had to seperate. The Song Ended and the Audiences' applause filled our ears. I couldn't help but Smile at him. In that One hour, My Life changed. It really did. I looked away but I knew that he was still looking at me. Maybe he was still wondering what just happened.

~~~~

That Night, I kept thinking about him. Just one Dance, Just one freakin dance changed the whole scenario! This feeling..it was involuntary. I just couldn't control it. Everytime he was around me, I behaved like some other person.

The Next Day (Fifth day)

I went out of my room to get some fresh air. I was walking in the coridoor absentmindedly when suddenly, I bumped into someone and who else that Someone could be? It was him. "Hey!" He called me out excitedly. I raised an eyebrow confusingly and said smiling a little, "Hello, All Good?" He smiled back, "Yeah. Going for a Walk?" I nodded my head in a yes. "Great!," He said joufully, "Even I was going for a walk. Let's go together?"

"But..Weren't you going to your room? I mean, we were walking in opposite direction that is why we bumped into each other. Isn't it?"  I asked, leaving him blank. It felt good to see him flustered. "Vo mein.." He thought of an excuse but before he could make one, I broke his sentence imitating him, "Vo Mein..Kya?" He understood what I was trying to do so he just raised his eyebrow at me and said, "Very Smart but don't forget who's smarter." Yeah..Well.

We went for a walk in the Garden of the Resort. It was very awkward for us to even think about our first Meet and how we hated each other. And Now, We were walking together in a garden. Things Change!
"Stop Fantasizing!" He said looking towards the sky. "Excuse-Me? What?" I questioned, open mouthed. "Yeah I mean, Tum sochrahi hona ke it's strange that we hated each other and now we're together here. And I'm sure abtak to tumhe mujpar serious crush bhi hochuka hoga and you must be thinking humara koi filmy moment hoga and Just like Movies, we will have a happily ever after, Haina?" What the hell? I just couldn't believe he just said that like seriously. "Oh, Hello!? Sochna bhi mat, okay? You & Me? Never!" I said pointing my finger towards him. And the next minute, we bursted out laughing. We had actually started to understand each other. It seemed as if he could read my mind and I could read his. After walking for an hour, we had our lunch together and left for our room as we had to meet for the next task in the night so it was necessary for us to get some sleep and freshen up ourselves.

~~~~

Later that Night, we assembled ourselves at the Main hall and as there were just 2 nights left for the trip to end, It felt bad. I mean, first I didn't want to come here and then when I came, I didn't want to Stay and now that the time to leave this place is near, I just don't want to go back. We had to leave on the Seventh Day Morning and thinking about it, made me sad. "Hey!" I knew it was him. A smile automatically formed on my face and I waved him a hello. "So, aj ka kia scene hai?" He asked breathlessly. "Are you fine? Itna bhaag kar kyu arahay ho?" I questioned curiously. "Wo I wokeup late and phir jaldi se tayar hokar bhagta hua aya, mujhe dar tha ke kahin Partners change na kardein wo log." He spoke absentmindedly. He didn't realize what he said and by the time he did, it was too late to cover it up by making an excuse so he just bit his lower lip in confusion. "Chill. Ye lo." I said, handing him a box. "Thank you par iski kia zaroorat thi?" Like really now? He actually thought I'm giving him a present? "Sorry to burst your bubble but Ye meine nahi, unlogo ne dya hai. Open it and see it yourself." It was a lantern. We just had to write a wish on it and let it go. It was just beautiful. I moved away from him as I didn't want anyone to know what I was wishing for and So did he. After writing the wishes, we stood next to each other, smiled and Said, "Let it go." Our lanterns went up to the sky and we had this hope in our heart that our wish will reach up and will be fulfilled.
"

Kia Maanga tumne?" I asked curiously to which he replied, "Mein kyo bataun? Tum batao tumne kia maanga?" I looked away and said, "Mein bhi nahi bataonge."

Little did they know, two lanterns went up the sky with the Same wish written on it by two different people; I wish I Could Turn back the Clock. I'd find you sooner and loved you longer.

~~~~

LAST NIGHT.

And Finally, The last Night of Our trip was here. Mukti & Mom's words echoed in My Head, This trip will be the best trip of your life.
Yes mom, It IS the best trip of my life and not just the best, it has to be the life changing trip for me. We were all camping today and everyone was enjoying to the fullest. He was sitting next to me, Quiet and confused. "So, It was nice meeting you." I finally spoke, breaking the ice. He smiled. It wasn't a happy smile though, "It was nice meeting you too but I suppose, every good thing comes to an end, eventually."
Yeah. I sighed. If only we would have met somewhere else, at some other time and maybe in some other way, things would have been so much different and Maybe, Just Maybe, we could have made it through. We sat there, near the fire for around 2 hours and soon everybody left and it was now just the two of us sitting there. "Waise, I just wanted to ask you something," He began nervously. "Go ahead?" His facial expressions clearly told me that he was about to ask something very weird. "Nai I mean, hum seven days sath rahe, we fought, we argued, we smiled, we became friends, we talked and shared some good memories with eachother to kahin tumhey mujhse Pyaar to nahi hogaya?" He asked looking into my eye. I was numb. I didn't imagine him asking such a Question. "Say na?" He demanded an answer. "What if I ask you the same Question? I mean, Pyar to tumhe bhi hosakta haina, pehle tum batao?" I said, composing myself. "Hey, that's not fair. Pehle maine pucha tha na." He protested. "Fine, let's just answer together, okay?" He nodded his head in a yes. We took a deep breath, looked into each other's eye and Said, "No."

Who knew both of them crossed their fingers while saying that?

~~~~

~ Why does it take a minute to say hello but forever to Say a GoodBye? ~

****xxx****

3000 Words 😨 woah! Okay, I hope you guys like it. I tried my best! Please do leave in your comments and let me know your reviews. :)

Love,

Saba. :)