I stood an inch away from Ehaan, eyes rooted on the floor. As his constant, intense, driving deep gazes weren't helping me to glance at him. Soon, I felt a pull on my waist and was dragged towards him. With such a swift moment, my eyes landed on Ehaan's chest, widening in surprise at his sudden move.

"Look up," his voice hoarse, frustration swiping from it. I slowly raised my head. His dark orbs were staring straight into mine. "Why was he staring at you?" An unexpected question was popped at me. I stared at him confused and with a swift moment, I was turned, facing the audience. My eyes widen in horror as I got a glimpse of the principal sitting in the front rows. Her eyes spying everyone's step. I diverted my gaze from her, not wanting to allow myself to feel nervous. Unfortunately, it landed on Rudr and it didn't help in any manner. His eyes were shooting daggers at us for an unknown reason. I stared at him, confused. Again I was repositioned.

I glared at Ehaan, it was annoying as he changed the step every time we danced together. It wasn't helping me to calm as the principal was observing us and he was making it impossible to dance elegantly. "Look into my eyes... dammit!" He cursed slowly as I was intentionally avoiding it. I was nervous to glance at it after yesterday incident. It seemed abnormal to me. The fear, the horror I was feeling on seeing Ehaan on the verge of... I darted my eyes away. I couldn't allow myself with it!

The events in the mall had unknowingly made me realise I was getting attached to Ehaan. It was frightening, I couldn't let it happen. He was dangerous for me, he could break my heart without even attempting. I couldn't allow him inside my personal, sacred space. My chin was roughly pushed and forced to glance straight at him.

"Why was he staring?" He repeated his question once again, slowly bending me to the other side, moving in a clockwise direction. Pulling me back to him a minute later.

"I don't know..." I muttered silently, eyes straight into him. His eyes were dark, glimpsing something beyond his reach. Slowly lifting me up. This was my favourite step. The way his arms had a tight grip on me, our eyes not leaving for a moment and him raising me above pecking on the forehead after each time I landed safely. His eyes glittered in delight, as a smile spread on my lip.

I was above him, my hands on his shoulder for support. Soon enough it reached his cheek, cupping it softly. A small grin played on his lips. I bent my head a little planting a small kiss on his forehead. He closed his eyes as he moved me down. Landing me on the ground, something deep within me thrilled with my act. As well as thoughts crowding my senses. Why was I letting myself lose? He wasn't a good company for me, I knew it. Hadn't I hated bad boys whole my life?

He opened his eyes, those darkness faded away. A source of light glittering in it, his reddish lip raised upward in a smile. And soon we heard applause coming from a single soul present. I turned myself facing the principal, but Ehaan's hand on my waist didn't let me move much further away from him.

"Wonderful!" Exclaimed Mrs Veronica in joy. "I was quite stressed on knowing about Mia Ahluwalia injury," her eyes diverted to Rudr in assurance. "But I agreed with the replacement as you were so sure about the girl." Her eyes wandered back to Ehaan and then me. I pressed my palm in anxiousness. "And I am glad I listened to you, she came out like a hidden treasure our school was gifted with." Her broad smile, lowered some of my anxiety, pulling me to offer a smile in thanks. "Must say! Your choices can never be bad!" She complimented Ehaan, he had his crooked smile as she spoke. At least he could behave in front of the principal, maybe she gave no attention to it. During so many years had adapted to his nature.

"You guys can carry on! I will take the leave." With it, she left us with the remaining hours for practice. Throughout the dancing session Rudr ignored my presence, it was confusing yet I wasn't bothering myself to confront him. Due to it, my mood wasn't glad one and it was noticed by Samaira as she arrived. The news of Mrs Veronica praises reached her ears as well. I was amazed at the intense passion for gossiping our school possessed.

"What's up with you?" She questioned as we were walking towards the cafeteria.

"I don't know... I just wish the competition to end and I can breathe peacefully." Samaira stared at me suspiciously but ended up nodding. Her face screamed she wasn't convinced. I wasn't well aware of why I was having such a sudden shift of mood. It was as if I was exhausted! Maybe I was, a sudden sequence of events was draining my energy.

"I will just come, need to use the washroom." Saying so she rushed into one of the washrooms at the corner in the hallway. I stood there glancing around, debating to walk into the cafeteria alone. Giving up, I made my way inside.

"Hey," I heard a call and turned myself with an uninterested look. I widen my eyes in surprise, Rudr stood before me with a  smile on his face. I was convinced with his rude behaviour, he won't even glance at me. "I apologise for my asshole behaviour. I was caught up with my own thoughts." His eyes indicated he was genuine. I wanted to offer a smile but it seemed difficult, I gave a small nod. I wanted to question him about his loud reaction last time but I held myself.

"Are you mad at me?" He inquired, his eyes pleading. I stood there stunned unable to answer. Was I mad? I shook my head, a hint of a smile returned on his face but it wasn't reaching his eyes. "Why don't you join us?" He suggested, urging with his hazel blue orbs. Those were showing urgency, desperation.

"Sorry..." Came a response from a person next to me. "She isn't fond of companying murders." His eyes were darker than usual, his figure radiating fire. He hadn't cooled down! Anuj stood next to me. His protective arms wrapped around my shoulder. Often when he denied me enjoying with Rudr it annoyed me but after yesterday sequence. I was relieved he did it!

It would be way too quick to judge Rudr. Maybe I wasn't even aware of the reason behind the hate they possess for one another yet I couldn't erase the look of satisfaction covering Rudr spirit on finding Ehaan was on the verge of dying. At that moment it felt so! Hate was a big word! Hatred was worse emotion but rejoicing on seeing someone dying could be a sin, inhuman. I wasn't planning to associate myself with some having such a trait.

It was amusing how one quality of someone could pull me away! Rudr eyes were turning darker, the storm within was urging to explode. He diverted his eyes towards me, a smile radiating from his lips. That darkness concealed as if caged from displaying out. What was it? Why were these humans so hard to read? I never had a tough time reading people, learning about their personalities but Rudr and Ehaan were making it difficult.

I wasn't able to pinpoint what their actual character was. So much was hidden behind! "She could be given the right to choose." He spoked, his eyes lingering from Anuj to his hand on my shoulder.

Unfortunately, I gain the attention. It was difficult for me to deny as I often felt it would hurt the other person. I smiled at Rudr, his orbs radiating emotion unable to process. "I need to..." before I could complete my statement, I was pulled by Samaira towards the opposite direction.

"Ruhi! I was searching you in entire corridors..." she was so absorbed in her world that she didn't even notice anyone standing next to me. Dragging me towards the corner of the cafeteria. I was glad about her interruption yet annoyed with her pushing me towards the corner in such a rush.

"What is it!" I asked pissed while messaging my wrist that she had griped so harshly in excitement. Her whole blabbering came to an end as we reached the corner, and were facing one another. A pink shade appeared on her face indicating the excitement was due to Varun. Her orbs lowering in shyness, I stared at her suspiciously. Moving from one direction to another, her actions were scaring me out.

"Don't tell me... he proposed you?" My eyes widened in surprise, she raised her head with an appalled face.

"No! No!" her head shaking vigorously. "He asked me on...." That shyness displayed back.

"Date?" I interrogated and she offered a small shake of her head. "Oh my!" I pulled her in a hug. I was so happy for her. The person she ever held feeling for had reciprocated it. She deserved it! As she never lost hope when he constantly ignored her existence. "When?" I inquired pulling away.

"On next Sunday," her smile broadening yet shyness wasn't leaving her.

"Would he express his feeling?" I inquired, she shrugged her shoulder. Yet we knew of them holding feelings for each other but they hadn't confessed. Whatever they had was something raw and natural. It wasn't scripted and in real life, proposals weren't meant to happen.

"I am so happy for you..." with it, I pulled her in a hug again.

____

Hours had flown away and the day of the competition had arrived. The familiar anxiousness was making its place in my stomach as I stood backstage. The host was announcing our dance performance, my palms were turning to sweat. Damn! Though I loved dancing yet it triggered me to perform in front of such a huge crowd. And the notion of its being competition was troubling me more.

I felt a touch on my knuckles and soon it reached for my hand. I raised my head to glance at the person, his dark orbs were fixed on the stage before us. Though the pad of his thumb was moving in a circular motion around my knuckles. I closed my eyes, calming my nerves. Breathing in the fresh air. Soon his grip on my hand tighten as I heard the loud welcoming applause from the crowd.

The constant cheers of Ehaan name followed by our school were echoing in the entire auditorium. He pulled me towards the stage as the curtain was closed, we positioned ourselves. As I was damn nervous, I couldn't return the smile offered by Rudr. I had started conversing normally with Rudr but my comfort level was well forgotten, I couldn't any longer press myself to trust him. Though initially, I was developing a bond with him, I was convinced that I would continue the contact after the competition as well.

Soon, Ehaan coughing gesture grabbed my attention from Rudr. He was facing me, our initial position. The faint audience cheers were increasing indicating the curtain around us was raising. Ehaan's dark orbs were planted on mine. "Just look into my eyes and forgot the world around you." With that command, the music played in the background. Those were the exact words, he uttered each time we ended on the dance floor. Maybe not uttering it directly but his action spoked it out. He wanted me to forget the world when we would dance together. 

Our body moved in rhythmic positions, knowing well again he had varied the dance steps yet I wasn't tensed rather relaxed. Maybe my heart trusted the boy with dark brown orbs. My eyes fixed on him, the innocent, kind one staring at the rude, arrogant one. We were so apart yet at that moment felt so connected. We were dancing on an unknown rhythm as if we never needed the logical part of our brain to work, our unconscious part was moving us. Making us enjoy the moment.

Dancing was that for me! Apart from the annual day, I never practised any steps before the performance. I believed the planning and authorising steps did spoil the raw happiness, fulfilment offered by the unplanned ones. Dancing was meant to enjoy not to worry about whether the toes were pointed or hands were straight. With him, I enjoyed it. Maybe for that reason, people enjoyed our dance as we were enjoying every moment of it.

His eyes glitter like stars in the dark, lonely sky. His reddish lip spread wide in a smile, his broad, wide hands resting on the back of my head. A smile spread wide on my lips as the song reached the end, we had accomplished it together. He leaned towards me, his heavy breathing fanning on my forehead, my eyes closing on its mere proximity. His warm lips brushed on my soft skin, "thanks for showing me a different version of myself." He muttered, I jerked open my eyes in confusion. Eyes staring straight into him, searching for reasons behind his words.

His dark orbs looking at someone in distance. Those orbs darkening in response, I could hear loud cheers slowly declined maybe the curtain was descending. The grip on my waist loosened, I stared at him with utter amazement. What was the reason behind his certain change of mood? After the dance, he would mask back his emotion but something in me appealed the case wasn't the same. And soon he rushed out of the stage, giving least importance to people congratulating him. I stood there startled, slowly moving from my position. 

___

Their relationship is something I would describe as 'mythical.' It seems too real to be true. Maybe a sense of that notion will be plastered in both of the characters minds which you will witness in the coming future. 

TIP: IF YOU R IN STRESS SITUATION TRY DANCING AS A WAY TO COPE UP WITH YOUR WORRY. DANCE CAN BE A HUGE STRESS-RELIEF STRATEGY AT TIMES. SHARING FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.