KRISHA

He nods intently as if he was feeling the same. No matter how much we are against each other we would do anything for our fans. It's a situation, a crisis, ugly because I had to do this with him, yet so satisfying because of our loving audience!

ON THE STAGE:

We both gather backstage leaving everyone shocked yet smiling. Richie quickly announces our names and we march forward with heavy hearts and focused brains. Kritika on the other side, hugs Karan and cups my face gently to do better. But we are in our professional zone and we hardly respond to anyone for the last moment that is now. His entry for the stage is supposed to be from the other side and mine from the other end of the stage. We take positions as we hear the hall echo with fan chants.

The song starts playing with heavenly instrumentals infused with a romantic environment. We enter slowly with a fast change of expression. The switch-on is real! We reach each other at the center of the stage as the spotlights follow us. The chants come to a halt and fans get immersed in the chemistry we pull in. It's a contemporary form of dancing. We look into each other's eyes passionately and he starts to sing the first verse—

He says, "I spend my day and sunsets with you. I live in you and I live more when I see you. My heart stops without you, you are fuel for my heartbeat." I follow him on every step as effortlessly as him. When the chorus comes in, he lifts me, singing, "My love is alive because of you." We set each other apart and dance our parts.

Rekindling, we gain momentum, we hold each other's necks and sing to each other, "In our life, we have no remorse, not shame. I start and end with you!" He lifts me again with power and affection, and our facial expressions do the right thing, driving us into the second chorus, "My love is alive because of you." Getting apart, we again come close to the final verse, "All the upsetting memories are vanished now. I got you as the rising sun and all my darknesses are faded!" He gracefully flips on my back without putting his weight on me and I lightly stand up and run into his arms for a passionate hug. He squeezes my head gently in his tight-gripped arms as I submit myself to him.

The final chorus rings in as he lifts me by my waist, all high, up towards the ceiling, and brings me back down with a proper dancing force. He leans his face on my abdomen, passionately touching it with his palm, and twirls me for another perfect lift for the crescendo. The electric guitar plays aggressively and wildly while we are at the end. He goes in for a final twirl by carrying me in his arms and the performance ends.

Putting me down, we snap out of the performance atmosphere and look at the dumbfounded faces before us. The audience is in amazement and happiness at the same time. Realizing we were standing too close to each other, we kept our distance and bowed to all. I glance at our team the other way, and their jaws are dropped to the floor. Kritika seems dazed but claps happily too.

I see the event host coming toward us. He pats both our shoulders and brings us close in his arms.

"You both are announced as the winners for the, 'The couple with the best chemistry' award tonight." He says.

"But the award ceremony is yet to begin," Karan expresses.

"Look at the public, y'all are clear winners!" What else to say?!" He exclaims in joy.

We both take a glimpse of the entire hall and see what power we both hold. People's alarmed faces say it all. Even though,  nothing changes in our hateful gazes at each other. Our event team can't believe this, but at the same time, it's understandable to them as we are the best and most popular onscreen couple with fiery chemistry. Why does our chemistry come out so powerful even if we detest each other to the core? Hey, heart, it's so difficult to understand this situation! Please ease my life a bit!

KARAN

AT THE INSTITUTE

In my room, everything seemed quiet as I was still wondering who ruined Krisha's dress. It wasn't me! I have done many things in the past to bring her down, but to bring down a woman's dignity; I would never do that, no matter how big of an enemy she is! I had told Namrata while returning to the institute to search for this issue. She might arrive with the information any time soon. Meanwhile, I check the TV where our performance is currently being broadcast and I sense something fishy.

Namrata clicks open the room's door;

"You won't believe it!" She said, whacking her files on the side table.

"I might be having a clue about who was behind all this." I pointed at the TV.

"Whoa! These people have no shame. How can they? I got to know this secretly, uh..it was hard, and I'm mad now!" She shakes her head. I grit my teeth and clench my fist until my flesh turns white. "I'll not let you go away with it. It's strange how some people can use our enmity for their benefit!" I say.

"Call them, right now!" I told Namrata, my voice sounding hoarse and full of outrage. 

Concerned about me, she says, "But they are your seniors. It would be a problem for you!"

"I was wrongly blamed because of them, and here you want me to respect them and be silent just because they are my seniors?!" I yelled at her so that she jerked. "First of all, Namrata, I'll never let anyone tell me what I should do, and second, if I decide on something I will never back off, then whoever it may be! Don't you understand that?!" My voice got louder with each damn word because of this I managed to gather the whole staff and actors outside my room. I see Krisha was here too. For the first time, I saw concern in her eyes, because she even knew somewhere in her heart that I wouldn't do anything this profane!

"What's the matter now, Karan?" Erica and Paul, our main bosses, inquired of me.

"You will know, just wait and watch," I say to them. "Can't you hear I told you to bring them here?!" I again roared at Namrata, to which she nodded by default and began running on her tippy toes. "Make sure you drag them here, and not just bring them!" I told her.

"Who are you talking about?" Kritika comforted me, asking, fear in her dazzling eyes. I never uttered a word and continued to look at Krisha giving her a stare, making her perplexed. But I think she got what I meant by observing the boiling wrath and surged blood on my face.

Yamini and Nakul, our seniors from the editing team, arrived as they were summoned. Their dreadful faces made this whole situation pretty obvious to understand the crime that they had committed. Being mean to all of us every single time, what's more to be expected from them?! They have always been Krisha and my antis, our haters. They hate us both when we are together and have been in favor of Kritika and my pairing instead.

I step towards them with slow footsteps as they both look at me with guilty eyes.

"You know what you have done, right?" I ask.

"What?!.... Now you have the guts to question us this way?! Are we tolerating him at this level now, Paul and Erica?" Nakul says, giving a push at my chest, mocking me.

Within a second when he turns his face back to look at me, I place a tight punch on his jaw, plopping him on the floor. Everyone covered their mouths with their hands in astonishment.

"Get up!" I hold him by his collar, "How did you even think of ruining me this way?" Another punch was given by me on his face. Yamini tries to stop me, I point my finger at her and tell her to stay away, and she instantaneously rears off seeing me this way.

"How dare you ruin a woman's reputation and dignity? And that to this woman who has done immense hard work for this institute! Learn to respect an artist's work regardless of what you feel! " I point at Krisha. She is quivering from this as I observe her, and can't believe her eyes and ears.

"You ruined my dress?! But…Why?" Krisha steps in.

"They are our haters, isn't this enough of a reason for you?!"

"I never knew about this!" Her words trembled.

"Then you were sleeping, maybe!" I say, throwing another punch at him, a strong one, which makes his blood ooze out.

There were startled faces all around me, mostly saying, Why did I speak in favor of Krisha? Instead, their questionable faces should be shocked by Yamini and Nakul's wrongdoings. I strode out and behind me, there was a commotion. Their voices could be heard faintly even from down here. Possibly pestering Krisha now, asking what it is that's between us! They will gang upon her for answers, but I'll not give a damn, because I know my heart still hates her, even if I will not ever desire anyone hurting her this way!

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