'Meeting you was like listening to a song for the first time and knowing it would be my favourite.'
                                                      -Pinterest

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Song(s):
Aankhon mein teri (Hindi)
Starlight (By Taylor Swift) (English)

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So, let's rewind a little.

I was seated alone at our reserved table, quite bored, as my friends were late as usual. I swear I was the only punctual one in our friend circle and yet the only time I was late and they were on time was at my sister's engagement. But no matter what, we always have been a tight-knit group. Out of all of my friends, Dhruv is probably the one I've known for the longest, as we were literally together ever since our diaper days, with him being my maternal cousin. We became friends with the others during middle school and all of us have been inseparable ever since. And I guess it's because we've all known each other since we were kids, we are all comfortable with each other's families especially mine as we usually hung out at our house. And as much as they joke around about how they're only friends with me because my parents are rich, I know that it's complete bullshit. We were not always rich. My father struggled a lot when I was a kid with stock market crashes and regression. I remember when one time my parents couldn't afford to send me on a class trip and I started crying about it in school in front of my friends, and then they too decided to not go, but we all ended up going as Dhruv's parents paid for my expenses too. But just the fact that they decided to not go if I didn't still gets me emotional to this day.

As I was busy texting them and getting the tea about Kashish and Sona, he entered. It may sound a bit too much like some late 90's Bollywood Romance Drama but when I say the world stopped for a moment, I'm not kidding. My heartbeat sped up and I could not tear my eyes away from him as he walked towards a table which I recognized was the one where most of the A-listers were seated. I immediately sent a couple of messages to our group chat and when I was done and looked up to find where the person who stole my breath was, I found him already making his way towards the dance floor.

When I say I can't be trusted with Dandiya sticks, I'm spitting facts. So, during most of these Navratri parties, I stick to Garba, but as I watch him twirling those deadly sticks so effortlessly, my inner main character self walks toward the table filled with Dandiya sticks and picks one that matches his. After taking a deep breath I join the ongoing circle and within 2 minutes I get the hint of the routine and start to coordinate with my partner, accidentally hitting him a couple of times and apologizing. By the looks of it, it will take me a good 10 minutes to be partnered with him so I just hope I get enough practice to not hit him in the face. That would be a terrible first impression.

As I guessed, it's been approx 10 minutes and I can see him dancing with the girl on my left and just the thought that I would be next had my palms sweating and I lost my focus a couple of times, narrowly missing my partner's eye. And then that moment was finally here. I twirl and move a little towards the left while the outer male circle does the same, moving a little towards their left, and my eyes meet his'. The world stood still as I continued looking him in the eye, dancing becoming the last thing on my mind. Now I realize how Om felt when he first saw Shanti, how Ram and Leela felt the first time they saw each other, how Kundan felt when he first saw Zoya and 'Aankhon mein teri' starts playing in the back of my head. And the fact that all those love stories I mentioned were doomed from the beginning should've been enough for me to stay away from him, but as Selena Gomez so greatly said, 'The heart wants what it wants'. And I understand 'Love at first sight' is all bullshit but something just kept me drawing towards him. It was not love, I was sure, but it was definitely more than attraction. While I was so lost in my world I never noticed the Dandiya stick coming towards me.

When I stated that hitting someone with a Dandiya stick was never a great first impression, I should've mentioned how being so lost that you get hit by one isn't a great first impression too. I immediately clutched the left side of my face and a small shriek left my mouth. I immediately backed out of the dance circle while people eyed me with concern. I was now standing towards the outer ring of the circle, still clutching tightly onto my face when suddenly I felt a hand moving my hand away from my face and I'm faced with a handsome face with concerned eyes. I could see him apologizing profusely and blowing on my face while I just sat there still stunned.

"I'm so sorry!! I didn't realize you were not ready," He apologized while still blowing on my face and I looked around to find that no one was dancing anymore even though the music was still playing, instead, a small circle was formed around us and I was the center of attention. Oh, to be the center of attention at a party filled with celebrities.

"Here let me help you," he offered while holding my hand and guiding me towards the nearby table. I was perfectly fine and my eye was not even hurting anymore but will I give up this rare opportunity of being helped by a handsome stranger? I'm not an idiot.

"Ow! Ow!" I faked a wince and started blinking weirdly, more like winking weirdly.

"Oh my god, are you okay? Shall I take you to the hospital?" I almost felt guilty when I saw his genuinely concerned expression, almost.

"No, no need to go to any hospital. I just need someone to blow my eyes and I will be fine," I replied and peeked at him from under my eyelashes to see him in great confusion.

"Okay, I would go and get someone," he said and stood up to go bring someone.

"Ow! Ow! It hurts!! Quick! Blow!" I held his hands before he could leave and started fake moaning in pain. And not to brag or anything but either I was a great actress or this man was a complete idiot because it worked and he sat on the chair opposite to me and started blowing on my face.

So, for the next 10 minutes, we just sat there with him blowing my eyes and me staring at his handsome face and taking in his godly features.

"Are you okay now?" He asks and I just nod. "Once again, I'm so sorry for hitting you."

'It's all good. It was not your fault, I was just busy with my thoughts. If anything this is completely my fault,' was what I wanted to say, but then a genius yet childish idea started brewing in my brain.

"Well, you should've been careful. Now, my cheek and eye are hurting and you've effortlessly ruined my day. You know, I was so excited for this party and had so many expectations about the fun I would have and now here I am."

Well this plan could advance in two ways. Either he will conclude that it was totally my fault and call me out and get me thrown out for making false accusations, which would make tomorrow's entertainment news headlines. 'Trespasser at Andani's annual Navratri Night Bash, makes derogatory accusations towards Mr.X. Gets dragged out of the party by five security guards.' And then there will be pictures of me, with my face badly blurred, being thrown out. And then they would do a background check on me and find out that I was Raghuvir Goswami's daughter and Nilay Goswami's sister. My father's reputation would be ruined and he would be photographed by paps as he bails me out, as obviously I would be in jail for 'trespassing'. And the board at Infox would decide that my actions and relationship with the company have adversely affected the company's reputation and then my brother would've to step down from his position and eventually he would be out of the company. And my sister's engagement will be canceled. And my law career would be ruined and we will all be on the streets.

Well, maybe I'm exaggerating. But maybe I am not. Just kidding, I'm definitely exaggerating, or maybe I'm not.

And the second way this could progress is I will manage to successfully guilt trip him and then he will be forced to cater to all my problems and would fall for me after seeing how amazing I am. And then he will ask me out and I will play hard to get, but eventually agree after about 15-20 grand tries. And then we would start dating and after a couple of years he would take me on a vacation and propose to me on a beach during dinner with fireworks spelling, 'Marry me?' And my answer would be a yes. And then we would get married with a small cozy wedding with only our close friends and family involved at a small resort in Rajasthan and then we will have two cute babies. A boy and a girl or two girls. We would go on family vacations and they would be in the courthouse supporting me as I fight for the right people, and we will celebrate all our wins by baking a cake and watching 'Legally blonde'. Then they would both grow up and marry someone they truly love and then we would've cute grandkids who would always come to us when their parents are too tough on them. And then we would spend our old age in a small cozy house in Shimla or Rameshwaram and then eventually die in each other's arms.

Yeah, judge me all you want, but what do you expect from a child who grew up watching 90's and early 00's Bollywood and rom-com movies. I am a hopeless romantic and I proudly state that. Some would say that I've unrealistic expectations about love or something but then if it doesn't fulfill all your silly expectations is it even love?

So, getting back to the story, I gaze at his face intently to try and get a hint at which road from the crossroads gets chosen.

"I'm genuinely sorry. Is there any way I could help you?" His expression made me feel a little guilty about my plan and I almost spilled to him that I was in fact not in any kind of pain. Almost.

"Well, you could bring me some ice," I jeered in the meanest voice I probably could, but when you are face to face with a person who you're pretty sure was sculpted to perfection, you're bound to falter. And therefore what I wanted to come out as aggressive just seemed too monotone.

He excuses himself to go get me some ice and while he's doing that I send a snap of a picture I took of him sneakily when he was partnered with someone else during the dandiya to the girls. And as I wait for their responses, I see him walking towards me with an ice pack in his hand. How he managed to get an ice pack is beyond me.

"Here. Let me help you," he offered and held the ice pack against my left cheek and eye.

"Thanks."

And then there was silence. Awkward silence. As we sat there with him holding the ice pack and me fiddling with the ring on my finger, something I would do whenever I was lying or felt guilty.

"So-"

"I-"

We both started at the same time and then there was an awkward second before we both burst into giggles. Giggles.

"You continue first."

"I'm truly sorry. I overreacted. You obviously had no intention of hitting me, and it was partially my fault too, but I ended up blaming it all on you and I feel incredibly sorry." It was a genuine apology but not for blaming him, but for tricking him. I must say I should certainly consider changing career paths and try acting.

"No, it's not your fault. I should be the one apologizing. I'm once again so sorry for hitting you", he apologizes and I offer him a tiny smile.

"So, I never got your name?"

"It's Shikha."

"So, what do you do Shikha? Modeling? Rookie Actor?"

"Oh, no no. I don't have the talent for that. I'm a law student. I'm in my final year, so I will become a lawyer next year. And then I will have to intern under a senior advocate or a law firm and then pass the bar examination to become an advocate."

"Wow, you seem extremely passionate about law. When did you decide you want to become a lawyer?"

"I decided that very early. When I was in the fifth or sixth grade probably. One of my mother's friends was an advocate and then I went to one of her court cases, and I was so mesmerized by the way she was defending her client and how knowledgeable she was. That day I decided that I want to fight for the innocent and victims too. I have never faltered since then."

"Wow. I'm pretty sure your future clients will be glad they have you as their lawyer."

We talked for a few more minutes, mostly about me, when he received a phone call. He excused himself and went outside of the party maybe because of all the noise or maybe he didn't want me to overhear his conversation. He came back a couple of minutes later and by the looks of it he may have to leave soon,

"Hey! That was my boss. I have to leave. By the way, how's your cheek and eye now? Are they still hurting?"

I unconsciously touch the left side of my face and reply, "Nah. It's fine now."

He gives me an apologetic smile and turns around to leave, but then suddenly turns around and points a finger at me.

"Oh and the next time you want to flirt with someone or lie, clutch the correct side of your face. I hit you on the right and it wasn't even a hit, just a brush. It was nice meeting you, and I will see you soon. Oh, and the 'hit' was completely intentional." He winks and walks away as I stand still in my place, still processing his words.

That Bastard.

Author's note:

Hey lovelies!! How have you all been? Happy Valentines day!!

Navratri is an Indian, 9-day long festival (Nav - 9, Ratri - night), that usually happens during the late september or the early october. This festival celebrates the victory of good over evil and Goddess Durga is worshipped during these nine days.

Dandiya and Garba are two of the types of dances that originated in Gujarat (a state in India) and are most popular during Navratri. There are Dandiya and garba events organised throughout India during this 9-day long festival.

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