Aditi's point of view

"Dance with me."

I got shocked looking at Dhruv infront of me, asking me to dance with him.

Is he asking me or ordering me?

Whatever..it doesn't matter. The main thing is, he wanted to dance with me.

Am I dreaming?

Did he hit his head somewhere?

I was lost in my thoughts, looking at Divya and Raghav dancing together. Raghav was dancing with Divya like he grew up with her. Things will be different if Raghav wasn't committed to his girlfriend. Maybe then he noticed Divya and they are together now, dancing as a couple. Atleast Divya get her love unlike me.

But she moved on from Raghav and have a crush on our chemistry teacher who is behind our English teacher.

Love is complicated.

I was thinking about Dhruv and Raghav when Dhruv approached me and drop the bomb. He was looking at me waiting for my answer and I was looking at him dumbly.

"Don't get me wrong. I am just asking for a favor." He said like it's nothing for him but boy! asked my heart who is ready to come out from my rib cage.

I was looking at him with confusion when asked me for the favor.

"Look at your right." He said and I look at my right. Nisha was walking towards our direction, giving a sultry smile to Dhruv, then I understand why he asking for a favor to dance with him.

I would love to dance with but after that Nisha wouldn't leave me. She dig my grave and burried me alive if dance with him.

"Okay.." I stood up from the chair and smiled looking at him.

His lips curled into a beautiful smile and it was reaching to his eyes.

"Come..." He hold my hand and drag me towards the dance floor. All the time I have dreamy smile on my face thinking, I am going to dance with him. I looked back to Nisha and she was glaring at me while fisting her both hands.

I'll handle her latter. I am not going to leave this opportunity.

As we reached the dance floor a slow romantic English song started playing and I looked at Dhruv with awkwardness. Before that party songs were playing but now DJ played the romentic songs. Girls and boys started  dancing on slow song but Druv and I both stood there uncomfortably.

"May I.." Dhruv break the uncomfortable silence between us and forward his hand for me to hold it.

I gave him a small smile and hold his hand hesitantly. Teachers are busy  in their world and principal didn't come to the party so basically students are free to dance with their love partners and show their love affection and if teachers will intrupted, no one going listen to them.

I feel tingles on my stomach when I feel his hand on my waist. His hand barely touch mine, maybe just a brush but jolt of tingles busting inside my body. I looked at him and he was looking normal like it wasn't affecting him and a normal thing for him to dance with a girl.

But Please have some mercy on me.

I gulped and took a deep breath to avoid the feeling. We both slowly started moving our bodies according to the music and there is always a smile on my face. We both are looking at eachother and talking through our eyes. None of us said anything just keep loking at eachother. He is in my mind but what is going on inside his mind.

Dhruv didn't attend the last year farewell party, so was I. Atul bhiya didn't allowed to go to the party because didn't want to watch after me when he enjoyed his farewell party. I protested but as usual I got a slap from Atul bhiya. But now ehen I think about that, it was good that I didn't attend the last year party because latter I came to know that Dhruv also didn't go and I whot bore in the party alone if I didn't see my handsome neighbor there. That day I waited for him to show up, sitting near my window.

"How was your exams went." He asked me while looking at me.

"Exams were fine but I am not sure about my chemistry exams." I said while relaxing under his arms because silence between us making me uncomfortable.

"I know you will pass the exam." He said.

"Hope so.." I shrugged my both shoulders.

"Can I say something." I said when again silence fell between us. He nodded his head while looking at me. There is a mischievousness in his eyes  and his eyes were shining in happiness.

I wonder why he is so happy and why there is pain in his eyes?

"You look handsome in tux."

He chuckled at my compliment and shake his head in amusement. He is looking most handsome person in the the tux and no one can beat him in looks. Today he is looking breath taking handsome that already many girls can't move their eyes from him.

I don't know what he thinks about me but I wanted to compliment him.

"Thankyou..." He thanked me and still his eyes were shining in amusement and lips curled into a beautiful smile when he was looking at me.

I waited for him to compliment me for my looks but he didn't say anything and keep looking at me while dancing. I felt little hurt but I push the feeling away because I was looking average and he is clearly not interested in me. He has many important work other than compliment me.

Song changed from slow one to  the song which he played that night when he caught me dancing from his room's balcony and I was so embarrassed that I didn't come in front of him from days.

Prisoner..

From 365 days.

Song start with a music and Dhruv's lips curled into a smile.

"May I have the honor to be your imaginary dance partner." I blushed in embarrassment and looked down while smiling when he teased me.

Before I could answer him, he spuns me around and danced.

Closed, iced
never feel safe,
I'm tongue tied,
never let out my rage,
trying to breaking this cage but
Where would I go?

My back was facing him and he was holding me from my both hands firmly. We both move our bodies according to the beats. As a song progressed we both twist and turn our bodies. At the corner of my eyes, I noticed, everyone stopped dancing and seeing our dance.

I'm stuck, living a life of bad luck giving me nothing
Doors shut, alone in my head
I'm out of control.

He stretched both our hands and pull me towards him. I fell on his atms and his face was blank. There is no emotions on his face when he was dancing with me. It was like he caged in his own mind and his body is moving automatically.

I don't feel any warmth like before. His touch is cold like an ice. It feels like he is seeing a nightmare with his open eyes and don't know how to come out from it.

He  bent me down and hold me by my waist before I could fall. I hold him by his neck for support. His grip on my waist becomes tight and he was looking at me with rage and anger.

I wanted to wake up him from his nightmare but don't know how to do it. I whimpered in pain when he dig his nails in my arms and look at me with blood shot red eyes. But I choose to keep mum, and bear the pain which he was giving.

Everything he gives me, I want to take it. No matter if it pain or pleasure.

Song end and we both stood in silence  looking at eachother. Everyone was clapping on our performance but we both blocked them. My eyes were holding the emotions but his eyes were blank. His eyes were glistening with unshaded teras and I can clearly see pain in them. His jaw is clenched and hands are fisted, turns his knuckles white.

What is bothering him so much. He was alright before we dancing then what happened to him suddenly?

"Dhruv.." I whispered his name  try to pull him from his nightmare.

He didn't say anything and walked out from there holding so much pain inside him.

******

I thought only I was the one who was in pain, my parents don't love me which makes my life miserable but atleast I let out my pain through my tears but I don't know what Dhruv is going through. I have friends to talk with but he has no one to talk. He didn't let anyone close to him so someone can share his pain.

Today I can feel his pain through his touch, like he was tortured by demons caged, inside his body.

But why he is like this?

Today I feel, my pain is nothing infront of his pain. I looked down to my hands. My wrist has the red finger prints and I can clearly see his nails marks.

Why God created us when he already written pain in our faith? Why he wants to torture us when we do nothing wrong.

Cold wind touched my face and my hair was blowing in the wind and I looked at the horizon in darkness. I was standing in balcony of party hall and thinking about Dhruv.

"Hii..." Someone said beside me.

I turn to thhe voice and there is a beautiful girl was standing in red anarkali suit. Her chocolaty brown eyes are holding the innocence and her smike making her out of this world. She was looking like an angel from heaven.

Red color really suits her.

I know her. We both are in same standard but in a different section but I don't know her name. We often pass smile when we crossed the corridor of school but except that, nothing.

"Hii..." I gave her a smile.

"I like your dance performance with our senior." She said in her soft and smooth angelic voice while I was keep looking at her.

"Thankyou. I am sorry but I don't know your name." I looked at her apologetically. I feel horrible asking this question to her.

"Oh! I am sorry. I didn't introduced myself." She chukeled softly and shake her head amusingly.

"My name is Preeti..Preeti Agarwal."
She introduced herself.

"Aditi Tripathi.." I also introduced myself. Wewe both laughed and shake our heads in amusement.

"It's weird that we studied at same school, even in same class but we doesn't know each other's name." She said between her laugh.

"Yeah..it's pretty weired." I agreed to her. We both faced the balcony and stood there in silence.

"We both saw each other in hall way every day but never meet officially." I said looking at her.

"I believe there is always a time for everyone to meet a person to other." She said looking at me and a beautiful smile was playing on her face. I agreed to her and nodded my head as yes.

"Do you belive that, you meet your love, your other half at very young age?" I asked while thinking about Dhruv. She turn to me and grin like she found something.

Sometimes I feel he is just not my love. I feel a very strong connection between us like we are connecting to the strong bond and I know he is my other half. He is not just my love, he is my other half.

"You like him."

"Huh!" I looked at her dumbly when she asked me suddenly.

"You like Dhruv." She again asked me with a grin on her face.

I looked down when she wasked me again.

"Is it that obvious?" I aksed while tucking a loose starnd behind my ear.

"I am not sure about him but you surely in love with him and I know one day he also realize your love for him." She said.

"He never love me back." I said with a little disappointment and looked at her. Today I saw anger in his eyes. I don't know what makes him anger but I didn't saw blankness in his eyes. Every time when I looked at him they were fill with unknown emotions when he looked at me but today anger take place.

"It is too early to say anything." She said.

I know it is too early tk say anything  but I can see the future. He will never know about my feelings because I won't confess him and he never going to love me back if he know about my feelings.

"Preeti..." we both turn to the voice when someone called Preeti.

A man in, his mid 50 was standing at the entrance of the party halk and waving his hand towards our direction.

"Sorry..I have to go. My papa come to pick me." Preeti said while looking at me apologetically.

"It's okay. It was nice to meet you." I said and gave her a small smile.

"Hey...why don't you come in my sister's wedding next week." She said with excitement.

"If you invite me. I will surely come to your sister's wedding. " I nodded my head while chuckling softly. Her sister Shivani, passed out from this school and was one of the brightest student. I was so young when I saw her and now she is getting married.

"Okay, I will send you the invitation card and you have to come with your family." After saying this she bid her goodbye and walked towards her father who was waiting for her patiently at the entrance of the party hall. I looked at her until she exit the hall and then again faced to balcony.

I dirst time talked to Preeti but I feel like I know her from long time. She is a beautiful girl with beautiful heart. I never tell anyone about my love towards Dhruv but she understands my love for him without saying anything.

I hope what she said for Dhruv become true. I will pray for her that she get what she wants. Her life partner loves her and treat her as princess like she is.

"Aditi.." I turn when I heard Divya called me.

She was panting and lookibg tired because of non stop dancing with Raghav.

"Let's go..we are leaving for the house. Dhruv bhiya is waiting for us." She said while drinking the water.

I nodded my head and we both leave towards the parking where my angry neighbor was waiting for us.

******

When we reached the parking lot, I halted on my place when I saw Dhruv. He was already inside the car on the driving seat, ready to go. His elbow was rested on the car's window and knuckles were on his lips. He was holding the steering wheel in one hand and looking lost in his thoughts.

"Aditi come fast. I am tired. "

Dhruv's attention broke when Divya called me and he turns to me. Unlike last time, his eyes showing emotions and he was looking at me with softness. He was looking at me with guilt and apologetically. He again turn his attention in front and I looked down when I feel hurt because of his ignorance.

I don't know what I did to make him angry.

I sit at the back seat of the car and Dhruv start the car. Whole drive was silent and calm. Divya was sleeping on the passenger seat. She was really tired that she dozed off as soon as Dhruv start the car.

****

"You guys come. We were waiting for you." Dhruv's parents stood up when they saw us entering inside the livingroom. We all sit on couch in the livingroom because we all are tired.

Dhruv removed his tux jacket and loosened his tie. He opened his uper three buttons, showing his bare chest and making my cheeks red. He rolled up his both sleeves and leaned back to the couch while sighing.

I was looking at him like hawk when he undressed himself.

Cantrol Aditi...

I averted my gaze feom him to calm my mind. He was creating a havoc insode me and he was unaware of it.

"Did you guys enjoyed?" Anuradha aunty asked us.

"Mummy I dance a lot with that idiot Raghav and now I am hell tried." Divya said in her tired voice while leaning back to the couch.

"Then who told you to dance for long?" Gautam uncle asked her while running fingers in her hair.

"I have a bet with that idiot and I so wanted to see his looser face." Divya said while closing her eyes.

"So did you win." Anuradha aunty asked her.

"That idiot cheat and win the bet." Divya said while scratching her nose. We all laughed looking at Divya's expressions but Dhruv keep silent. Nit at once he spare his glance to me.

"Go sleep dear. You looking tired." Gautam uncle said while caressing her head fatherly which I never in my life.

"Yes, I am going to sleep now." Divya got up from her chair and went to her room.

Dhruv got up from the couch and walked towards the stairs. My eyes were glued to him. It's already late at night  but I don't know why I want him to stay little longer. I want to see him little more. His mood is still off and I wanted the reason behind it so I can chanfmge his mood and again he feels himself. Right now he is looking cut off from the world and I wanted to bring him back to this world, to me.

Suddenly he stops in his track and looked at me with his emotions fill eyes like he was calling for me. His eyes were holding so much power and locked my eyes with him in such way like he was daring me to move my eyes from him. His deep doze calling me to him and directly looking into my soul.

I don't  if I misunderstood this but I want to be with him.

"Aditi dear you also take some rest." Our gaze broke when Gautam uncle said to me.

Dhruv turn and again started climbing the stairs. This time he didn't look back and went upstairs. Anuradha aunty and Gautam uncle also went to their rooms.

I also got up from the couch and instead of going towards Divya's room I followed Dhruv.

........................................................................

I hope you like tge chapter.

I was missing Preeti so much so thought to write something about her when she was young as both Preeti and Aditi are from the same city.

I hope you like Preeti's part in chapter.

I will update the next chapter soon. I already started working on it.

Thankyou.