The weekend passed so quickly and it's already Monday. I hate Mondays. Kitni stupid baat hai ye. Monday to Friday 5 din aur Friday to Monday bass 2 din? Not fair!

But college me bahot maza aata hai unlike school. Mera itna awesome group banaa hai ke jaane ke liye bore bhi nahi hota. Actually, I love going to college. Na not college, I love meeting my friends there.

I look at myself in the mirror trying to clip my hair in a nice updo but it doesn't work. Gah whatever.. I just tie them up in a high ponytail. I'm ready to go. I pack two lunch boxes and leave for college.

I and Pari enter the college together. I notice everyone giving me glances and gossiping whenever I walk past them. Not all glances are good though, some are kind and encouraging and some filled with anger and scorn.

I guess it's because of me getting selected. I try to avoid them and get to class. Everyone except Viraj is here. I'm about to ask Rudra about him but Galaa Faadu enters the class.

How will I bear this torture without Viraj by my side. Viraj calls him a Fattaa hua Speaker. I laugh thinking about that name.

Where is this dumbass? Bimaar hai kya? Baap re jyada toh nahi bimaar hai..

Shut up Aslesha. Confirm pata bhi nahi kuch and dimaag dauda rahi hai.

Just then from the corner of my eye I see Viraj standing by the door. He hides back for a while and I look at him curiously.

Kya kar raha hai ye?

When Galaa faadu turns around towards the board to write something he quickly sneaks in and swiftly sits beside me as there is snickering in the whole class.

He lets out a sigh of relief as I shake my head. "SILENCE!" Galaa faadu screams and continues writing on the board.

Viraj yawns and puts his head down on his arms on the bench and closes his eyes.

"Psst psst" I poke him lightly and he opens one eye.

"Kya hai?"

"Why are you sleeping?" I ask.

"Raat Ko mujhe neend nahi aati" he says simply like that's supposed to explain everything.

He didn't say kal neend nahi aayi ya aise kuch. 'Raat ko neend nahi aati' matlab it's a general thing. Lekin kyu? Mujhe toh kabhi bhi kahi bhi neend aa jaati hai. Sleeping is my favourite thing in the world next to eating. But why can't Viraj sleep at night? Does he have insomnia?

I look closely at his sleeping figure and sure enough there is tiredness enveloping his eyes. Why didn't I notice this before? His blue eyes are so attractive ke unke aage peeche kuch dikhta nahi.

"I can't sleep with you gawking at me like that" he says his eyes still closed and I quickly look ahead.

Damn damn damn. Why do I have to always embarrass myself like that.

Viraj sighs and sits straight after 5 minutes and the lectures are too boring today and it's like waiting for years for the lunch break.

Finally when the lunch break starts it gets over too quickly. It's the usual. Laughing and chatting and eating and laughing some more.

When the day is over and everyone is leaving class, Viraj suddenly holds my arm from behind and I turn to look at him.

"Vo chudail tumhe pareshaan kare toh do laafe chadhaa dena. Actually 4 maarna kyu ki mai uspe haath nahi uthaa sakta toh mere hisse ka bhi" he says smirking a bit. I know he's talking about Trisha.

"Aur fir expel ho ke ghar baith jaati hu" I smile sarcastically. "Vo mai sambhal lunga. Lekin vo pareshaan..

"Ha baba. Nahi karegi vo pareshaan. Sab ke liye alag timing hai waise bhi. Mine is 6.30 to 7. Uske group ki practice mujhse pehle hoti hai so I get the studio all to myself" I say and he nods.

"Ab jaau?" I ask looking at his hand which is still holding mine and he lets go. I wave him goodbye and go to the library.

The days pass like that and it's already Wednesday today. Parso competition hai and thankfully humare hi college me hai. But instead of the hall, it'll be in the stadium. Stage vagera sab tayyar ho raha hai. I've heard ke hazaaro log honge. I'm nervous. But I'm excited too.

I go to the dance studio but like the last 2 days it's not empty today. I see Trisha and her group still practicing.

Mai jaldi aa gayi kya?

I enter just when they are done with their practice. I sit on the edge waiting for them to clear out. Each and everyone gives me scornful glances.

Trisha is the last one to leave and she literally kicks me while going out.

"Hey!" I snap at her.

"Ooops galti se per lag gaya" she says smirking.

"Oh really? Tumhari problem kya hai ha? Will you stop acting like a bitch 24/7?" I ask folding my hands and glaring at her.

"Tumhe bass ye sympathy ke wajah se select kiya gaya hai. Tum stupid puraane gaano pe naachti ho jo buddhe judges ko achhe lagte hai. I mean udhar tak hi hai Kathak. Koi scope hi nahi hai. Ta thai tak bla bla bla" she says.

"Just shut up Trisha. Why the hell are you so jealous. Aur Kathak ke scope ke baare me tum bolo hi mat. Your pea sized brain won't understand it" I snap at her.

"Prove it na then. I challenge you, koi typical Bollywood number pe Kathak kar ke dikhaao toh maanu" she smirks and I feel like punching her throat.

"Fine! Challenge accepted. Now just get out you're wasting my rehearsal time" I say and she storms away.

Oh frack frack! Ye kya?

Mai kaise koi Bollywood dhinchak number pe Kathak kar sakti hu. I've never done it before. Semi classical. I can't do it.

But no! I'm not gonna back down now. How dare she say things like that about Kathak. Bitch. Mand buddhi.

Ab 2 din me puri nayi routine banani padegi. Josh me hosh kho di mai pagal ki tarah. But I'll show her. Kathak kya hota hai vo vo parso dekhegi.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

The competition is in less than 24 hours, I think as I brush my teeth and get ready for bed.

College was hectic today and I went to the studio and met Trupti tai for some ideas and did rehearsals for 3 hours straight. She said I was perfect.

Hopefully I was because kal perfect se thoda bhi kam nahi chalega.

The Dance Mohotsav will start at 5 for the solo dances and I'm number 9 so my performance will be around 6. I gave papa the pass for the event. He is on cloud nine. I'm damn excited, too.

Kal mai jeeti toh.. oh my god. My life will change. Papa kitne khush honge.

All this nervousness and excitement is making it hard for me to sleep. Hell, why can't I go to sleep? Ek bajjne wale hai aur I want all my energy tomorrow. Ugh.

I toss and turn a few more times, try to read a novel but I still can't sleep. My mind is too occupied with the thoughts of tomorrow.

This is insane. I can't believe I'm doing this. Viraj ne aakhir mujhse dance karwa hi liya. Pagal kahi ka.

My thoughts are broken when my phone starts vibrating. Raat ke 2 baje kon phone kar raha hai?

I look at the screen and the name 'Dummy' flashes before me.

WHAT! Viraj mujhe raat ke 2 baje call kar raha hai? Kyu?

Kuch hua toh nahi usse? Tabiyet kharab ya kuch. Shit. I quickly pick up the phone.

"Hello Viraj are you okay? I say sitting up on the bed.

He laughs on the other line. "Hello Aashi. Ofcourse I'm fine. Tum kitnaaaaa care karti ho meri" he slurs on the other.

He is drunk!

I can hear chattering and loud thumping music in the background. Definitely drunk.

"Viraj you're drunk. You just drunk dialled me" I say plopping back on the bed, sighing in relief that he's okay.

"You remember the rave party I told you about? Hum sab waha aaye hai. I'm really missing you. Tum bhi aao na. Ye hai baaki asli party. I'll take you sometime. Here you can dance anyhow without people taking videos and stuff" he says slowly and I smile a little, my mind still registering the 'I am really missing you' line

"Tum mere hisse ka enjoy kar lo aur naach bhi lo. Hum fir kabhi jaayenge. And I hope you're not driving after this. Cab book kar lena" I tell him and he chuckles.

"Kitna care Aashi? Nobody cares for me so much. You care so much. Soooooo much" he says and I smile.

He is so drunk. Pagal kahi ka.

"Yes I do care for you" I tell him.

Somebody yells something in the background.

"Kya hai.... Mai mere dancing queen se baat kar raha hu yaar... Nikal yaha se...." Viraj screams and I get a really warm feeling in my chest as I press my face in the pillow to hide my smile.

I don't know if it's because he called me a dancing queen or because he called me 'his' dancing queen.

The chattering and thumping of the music gets lower and then completely fades away. Maybe he went to sit somewhere else. To talk to me?

"Hello Aashi you still there?" He asks. "Yes" my voice comes out a little breathy. There is a moment of silence.

"Kal sab change hoga. You'll become famous. Mujhe bhul toh nahi jaaogi. Actually nahi. Mai bhulne wali chiz thodi hu" he says and I know he must be smirking. I scoff.

"Please. I'm gonna be really famous now. Gonna get new friends and all. Tumhare jaise stupid logo ke saath nahi rahungi" I say in a bitchy tone and he laughs. A carefree laugh.. but then he suddenly stops.

"Right. Mere jaise ladke ke saath nahi rehna chahiye tumhe" he says seriously and I frown.

"You're drunk" I say again not knowing how to reply.

"Tumne sahi nahi kiya Aslesha. You promised you won't tell anybody" he says.

What is he talking about?

"Kya bol rahe ho tum?" I ask.

"Kuch nahi, kal show hai.. you should go to sleep" he says flatly.

Isse kya hua? I don't wanna hang up yet. I wanna talk to him more.

"Um.. tum drive mat karna. Be safe" I say sighing a little.

"Ok then.. bye Aslesha" he says.

I suddenly get a sinking feeling in my stomach by the way he says it.

"Why does it seem like you're saying goodbye" I ask my heart rate picking up.

"Because I'm hanging up paglu" he says with a chuckle. But it seems fake.

"Just give your best tomorrow. I know you will win the competition and our college will reach the top spot" he says.

"I hope so. Sambhal ke ghar jaana. Nighty night" I say softly.

"Night" he says and hangs up.

I look at the screen for a few minutes wondering how our conversation took such a drastic turn.

Viraj hai vo, upar se drunk Viraj. He was just being weird. Tension ki koi baat nahi hai. With that thought, I go to sleep.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

"You'll be okay Aashi. I'm not allowed inside warna mai aati na" Paro says rubbing my shoulders. Oh god, mujhe sab akele karna hai.

"Make up artists rahenge andar. Tu tension mat le. Calm down. Now take this bag and get in" she says pushing me inside the building. "All the best Jaaneman. Stage ko aag laga dena" she shouts behind me making me chuckle.

Meri Paro.

When I go inside, various rooms are allotted to different colleges. Our college dancers have to assemble in the dance room of our college. Great.

I see Trisha and her troop already present in the room. They are all set to go up onstage with the costumes and makeup all done.

The group is doing a lyrical hip hop dance. The duet dance performers will be doing salsa and me.. Kathak.

The group performances have already started so I decide to get my make up and hair done before I change.

The beautician does my make up and it takes more than an hour to finish it. The group dance performances are done by then. I go to change my clothes. 1 more hour is remaining for my turn to come. This time I'm not last but I'm part of the 1st ten performances.

I wear my white dress which has a beautiful contrasting red border to it and look at myself in the mirror. The beautician tied my hair in a beautiful bun and I can hardly recognise myself in this make over. Wow.

Trisha comes inside the studio when I'm alone. Iska performance toh kab ka ho gaya. Ab ye yaha kyu aayi hai? Kuch bhul gayi hogi ya whatever.

I ignore her gaze and start shuffling in my bag to find my earings. When I turn back she is right behind me and she spills the cup of hot chocolate on my dress.

What the fuck!

"Ooops! Sorry" she says widening her eyes and putting her hands on her mouth but I can see the wickedness in her eyes.

I look down at my white dress which is splattered with hot chocolate right in the middle.

"Um ab tum aise dress me kaise perform karogi?" She says suppressing her smile as my hands clench into fists.

She just flips her hair and walks out as I stand there rooted in the spot seething with anger, on the verge of crying. I'm too shocked to say or do anything.

I rush to the washroom and try to wash it off. I know this stain will not come off. Never come off.

Tears slowly stream down my face as I rub my dress vigorously trying to wipe off the stain. I know my make is ruined by now. Everything is ruined.

Mere saath hi aise kyu hota hai? Bass part hi toh le rahi thi competition me. Mera naseeb mujhe utna bhi nahi karne dega kya.

I go outside but nobody is present on this floor. Sab neeche hai and I remember the teacher telling us ke dresses and props are all our responsibility. Complain karne me aur time jaayega. I need to do something. And fast.

I start getting anxious as I rush back to the studio room and dial Pari's number.

Pick up pick up pick up...

But she doesn't. I call her again and again and again and again. No answer.

I slide down the wall and start crying again. I make a decision to dance and I receive so much hate. Mai kuch galat thodi kar rahi hu. Fir kyu ho raha hai ye mere saath?

Pari mere ghar se naya dress laati jaldi se but ab sirf 45 minutes bache hai. Papa ko bhi call nahi kar sakti, he will be so dissapointed in me. Mai unhe kabhi khush nahi kar paaungi.

Ab kon meri help karega?

Viraj.

Of course Viraj will help me.

I wipe away my tears furiously and call him. The phone goes on ringing but he is not answering.

Viraj please please. Help me. Bass phone uthaa do ek baar please.

Just when I'm about to hang up.. he picks up the call.

"Viraj" I breath out his name as a sob escapes my lips.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

I am so so sorry for the late update. Humare ghar Ganpati ji aaye hai and I'm really busy nowadays. I hope you guys understand. And dedicating this chapter to Harshitalover .. I'm sorry darling that I couldn't update early. Next 2 chapters me you'll get to know about Viraj's past and the updates will be a little slow.. but fir bhi I'll try to update as soon as possible. Bass aaj ke liye itna hi. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all those who celebrate it. And ily :)