Ragini placed her fingers on the piano keys and the moment she got the signal from her accompanist, taking a deep breathe she started playing the piano bringing the music alive.

It was Etude Op.10 No.4 (Torrent) by Frédéric Chopin.

This particular piece does not create a pleasant melody to the ones who hears, but it was all about how in the place of stillness you hear a roar of the water. The music does not hold any softness that would make you loose your sense in the melody but rather it displays the hard and agressive side which holds the power to even wake up one with a jerk.

As she pling and plunged the keys with ease, just like the stormy sea, the waves of her emotions were surging unsteadily. The entire concentration of the audience was fixed on the beautiful girl who glowed under the golden lights taking all their breathe away just with the sight of her and the majestic black piano.

Ragini felt her fingers light as a feather as she played the torrential piece in sycn with the piano. It has been quite a while she felt really good to play, maybe it was because she wore a pretty red new gown? or was it because she ate her favourite breakfast? No! The answer was crystal clear-- it was only because she was here, after years back to the place where she had been waiting for ages!

Her piano teacher would treat her like a piece of trash everytime she got the second place, she still remembered the disappointed in her parents eyes held and that was when Ragini decided, to work more harder and harder until she beats the girl so that she could see her parents eyes filled with pride and throw a victory smirk at her piano teacher who looks down at her. The fury fire lit up only from then but much to her unfortune she disappeared, just like a breezy wind after creating a torrent and fire in her soul.

And ever since she heard Swara was willing to enroll her name for the recital, Ragini felt her excitement surging from that very moment. For once she wanted to beat Swara Gagodia and her fair chance was here and no way she could let the chance slip away from her easily.

Ragini specifically chose this torrent because it exhibits the exact emotions she had gone through and felt all these years, Grim rage and restless fierce. Just like how the tossed up ocean waves breaking on a rocky coast, thundering, foaming, crashing and falling without a single point of rest. Soon her play was over and she looked up at the audience and judges who looked still and stunned but Ragini's mind only pondered about the only person's reaction, Swara Gagodia!

"Did you here me?" Ragini thought as she eyed at the people who were now giving a big round of applause. 

~

Swara sat on the chair which was placed at the end of the hallway in the backstage after watching the live performance of Ragini's through the television. She felt she saw a different Ragini on the stage as she played the piano, Swara could see her eyes filled with determination, fire, anger, rawness and loneliness mixed along with the awfully music to any ordinary but a oddly pleasurable piece for a musician.

Ragini came back to backstage and almost everyone appreciate for her performance but what made her surprised was Swara smiling at her and telling, "You did really well!" She didn't expect Swara to appreciate her at all and she won't lie, she felt a great sense of satisfaction hearing it from the one who inspired her. Swara knew they were still not friends but she felt Ragini deserves to be appreciated atleast as her fellow acquisitant. Greeting her a 'thank you' Ragini left to get some air leaving behind Swara who again fell back to abyss staring at the wall blankly not before checking if she has received any notification in her phone.

Swara ran her fingers into her hair in anticipation as her heart and mind were busy battling because of the conflicts and it was eating her up in whole. She hated the fact that non participants were not allowed to the backstage or else she could have called Reema for some strength, moreover Sanskaar still hadn't reached too.

The nervousness has already started to crawl over her mind yet again. Swara once again dialled his number only to be greeted with disappointment since he didn't answer the call nor he replied to any of the messages she sent. She was confused for the fact that Sanskaar still hasn't arrived since they even had a video call conversation when they were about to leave their respective houses, even his grandmother wished her luck and promised to come along with Sanskaar and watch the recital in live with a gift for her.

"Swara Gagodia, you're next." The stage manager announced gaining her attention and she looked up, not knowing what to answer. The man rushed back to the main stage taking her silence as a yes.

Swara walked to the dressing room clutching her score sheets in her hand and looked at herself in the mirror reflection. There was just two choices left upto to her at the moment: To withdraw herself from playing and run away or else go ahead to do the recital alone and slay away the demons that haunts her for years.

The pressure was too much for her that she already felt her temperature heating up that made the sweat trickle down her neck and she felt her legs loosing strength but suddenly someone from behind held her arms and made her sit on the chair nearby.

"Hey you okay? Have this." Ragini quickly handed over the juice bottle she had and made Swara have few sips. Ragini was stunned when she watched Swara trembling infront of the mirror and thankfully she held her on the right time or else the girl would have fell down on the floor unconscious.

Swara had her eyelids pressed down tightly as she tried to focus on her vision which was almost in blur when she was about to fall. And when she opened her eyes, Swara looked at the worrying expression surfacing on Ragini's face.

"Did you skip your meals or something? You would have landed up in the hospital by now if I hadn't come." Ragini scowled at Swara for being so irresponsible regarding her health though she wasn't sure if actually ate or not but her silence irritated her.

"Sanskaar has come?" She mustered some courage to ask the question, hoping the answer would turn out positive but much to her dismay Ragini shook her head in no.

Memories of her recent happenings flooded infront of her eyes. From the time Sanskaar proposed her to be his accompanist till the morning conversation where Sanskaar filled her with so much hope and positivity. The journey was filled with so many trails, challenges and fears which she didn't want to pass just because of the thought that she had to revisit those painful things again but eventually did and now trying to overcome her fears. But one thing was for sure, Swara could never ever regret choosing to play the piano again. With Sanskaar on her side, even the impossible felt possible and difficulties became better. He held her arms when she was triggered, gave his shoulder when she cried, kept silent when she threw tantrums and gave his time just for her inspite of his busy jobs and heavy responsibilities.

They both went through so much spending enough time for practices, tears, and sweat not to withdraw like this, they didn't come this far just to come here and leave. Swara knew Sanskaar was not a sort of a person who would shrug away things inspite of giving his words to her and she knew what he would have wanted if there's any circumstances he could not play too

"Swara?" Ragini called out since she saw her lost in deep voice and by then the stage manager stopped her from asking Swara anything further.

"Miss! You got to hurry up if you are participating. I was just notified about your partner's absence." The stage manager came hurriedly towards Swara so that she could reach the main stage on time when the her name's been called.

"You don't need me to shine for you are already the sun (star) Swara, you just needed a little time to reflect on yourself and I'm so glad you worked over it."

She jerked out from her thoughts. Now she very well know what she has to be done. 

~

Ragini stood by the live telecast room in the backstage as she watched Swara enter the main stage but she found no expressions reflecting on her face, neither sorrow nor joy. Her skin was paler in the virtual than she saw her in real. When Swara asked her about Sanskaar she saw her getting lost in her own musings with a confused face but as time kept nearing by Ragini could no more read her expressions, it turned out deeper and darker just like the mysterious sea. Ragini had not seen her last performance as she had viral fever at the time and when she returned back, the rumours of how Swara broke down in the middle of the recital was widespread and it truly shocked her. When she inquired more about the reason, it was unknown. Now that she had come back, Ragini was pretty excited to see her play after all she was a worthy competitor.

Pin drop silence was maintained after the welcome applause from the spectators. Swara greeted everyone with a bow and not before fixing her gaze to that place where Reema now stands, alone. In the past it would be her Aisha maa who would always be accompanied by Reema. Reema knew Swara would look at the place in particular, in remembrance of the past. Swara's lips curved up a little when she saw Reema look at her with a smile and showed both her fists to cheer her up.

Jay almost dashed into the auditorium gaining few glares but he least cared and all his attention was drawn into his best friend who was now sitting infront of the piano. He was not willing to miss even a small piece of piano music that was about to be played by Swara, after all this was his dream! To see his best friend overcome all her fears and lead a happiest life she deserves instead of battling with her inner devils every day to survive. He thanked his stars for making it on time and rushed to Reema's side.

A concealed passion took over Swara as she marched towards the grand piano that stood all mighty and enchanting, glowing under the golden dimly lit stage. Swara sat on the edge of the piano stool, closed her eyes and left out a heavy sigh as she placed her fingers on the ivory keys only to feel their cold and smooth touch like marble.

With a count of three, Swara pressed the keys making a pleasing sound to everyone's ears and attracting their attention. As she played the fast paced piece, her body moved and her hair waved accordingly to the notes she played. Swara's fingers moved in fast directions that even her doe eyes couldn't comprehend. The keys would click to the beat whenever she pressed them down with her fingers, creating heaven's music that would soothe her soul.

It was Moonlight Sonata- Opus 27 No.2 by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Moonlight Sonata works much in the way like, in the first movement, the broken minor chords played with the right hand countered with the octaves played with the left evoke a lulling sadness. It creates a melancholic mood that sweeps over you before the melody begins in earnest, with a murmuring, almost desperate ache. There's this sense of relief but also anticipation about what will happen next after the heavy rain.

Swara could not help but pounder upon the past as played her mother's favourite piano piece. When her mother was diagnosed with a disease she didn't know about as she was a child, afterall how can a seven year old kid understand the cruelty of the world? The little kid only thought it would vanish away if she starts taking her piano lessons seriously and make her mother happy who loved piano so much. There were days when Swara had to forcefully play piano only because she wanted to see her mother smile despite the envious she felt seeing the kids of her age happily enjoying their time while she was stuck with unlimited co curriculum and life skill classes that were perfectly scheduled for every day after school hours. Aisha started becoming harsher and harsher with Swara whenever she made mistakes. Everything was about the piano, to play it perfectly as it was intended. Swara hardly got to meet her friends, sometimes barely slept, it was all to become a musician.

Her lips curved up slightly at the middle as the musical piece became softer, just like how the sense of relief would wash over you when you see the first ray of sunshine seep through the clouds, lightning up the darker sky, making it light and bright and you walk out of the home to get some fresh air and letting your body sunkissed to feel the warmth after the cold night. It reminds you that even during the uncertain moments in life, it's going to be all right in the end.

The Second movement of Moonlight Sonata is the least demanded, it is the most beautiful one. One can experience positivity and a sense of fulfilment after hearing this. This movement sets itself apart from the others, in a special since it is positive, playful and joyful but yet subdued. Lovely light melodies allow the piece to flow along nicely. The spectators and the judge panel was totally impressed with how Swara balanced the piece beautifully.

Apart from all the bitter sequences, Swara cannot forget how her mother would take her in her arms after hurting her with a eyes full of remorse and would apply medicines before singing a melodious lubby and tuck her into the bed. She vaguely reminiscence the moments she spent with her mother because when she started gaining awareness her maa was already checking in and out of the hospital. But as far as she remembered her maa was a beautiful woman with a serene face, glowing eyes, loving smile and a tender heart. Aisha did love Swara too much that her little daughter was her only world, she only wanted to see Swara successful but it went too far-- far enough that it snatched away her childhood in hopes that atleast Swara would have a career.

Slowly the piece became faster and faster that intensified the atmosphere, many were shocked to see the girl take up the such a speed tempo and because of the difficulty of the song, it was rarely been played. Her fingers seem to just effortlessly glide across the keys mesmerizing everyone present.

The tempo being presto agitato in the third movement gives you a sense that death is just hours away and it is devastating just like how the raging storm suddenly hits the coast with so much power that has the potential to flip the world upside down. And the music achingly devastating that it hits right at your heart and reach home.

One eventually autumn day, Swara uttered words out of nothing but anger but she never knew it would cost her mother's already numbered days. She wished she had never told such words and the guilt has taken in form of demon that started to eat her up alive in forms of nightmares and terrible panic attacks. The household itself was not on the proper state owing to the sudden downfall in business and family issues. Slowly she started isolating from her family, the world and she slipped into the dark web willingly called depression. When the family found out about the matter, Swara was nothing but a lifeless living corpse. Treatments and therapies was implemented and after a lot of struggle, Swara was able to come out to move on for a better future as per the suggestions. But Swara could never forgive herself for the misery she caused for her mother, never!

As the tempo started fastening up more, Swara already had the urge to pull away her fingers out as memories started surfacing that made her to gasp for breathe. A lump formed on her throat and her eyes started burning and blurring up with tears. Swara knew she cannot let her memories overpower the music she worked so hard all these days, she pressed the ivory keys accordingly and really hoped it was sounding right.

"Fight! Fight!" Swara tried to blink away her tears as her fingers kept dancing over the keys accordingly in pattern. Tears stremed down her face but she still continued playing, no way she could leave it midway and waste the hardwork and no way she would leave the demons take over her sense, atleast not before giving a tuff fight even if she wants to withdraw back later so that she does not regret later.

The auditorium was filled with the powerful, softloud music that was created by Swara through the rich piano. Reema had already broke down into silent sobs as she saw her little play and she couldn't help but wonder how difficult it must be to overcome fears and play the piano. Reema and Jay did notice the difference of how Swara's body has turned stiffer and her stubble smile has changed into a thin line. Jay held Reema's shoulders in support and he himself was tensed and hoped everything turns out well for Swara even though he wanted to help his best friend, he was helpless. It was her fight and invading that space would only make things worsen.

Even if Swara was going to leave it in the midway they wouldn't mind, for them Swara has already achieved it just by standing on the stage again and nothing can make them feel prouder the way they felt at the moment.

☆She was powerful
not because she wasn't scared
but because she went on so strongly,
Despite the fear☆

A/N:

Will Swara be able to complete the recital successfully?

Any guesses on why Sanskaar didn't reach the auditorium?

I have zero knowledge of how Piano music works and I soley trusted on Google and my hearing skills. If there's any mistakes feel free to point out so that I can correct it.

Love,
Diya❤️