The Stage

A leisure Sunday evening it was. The usual crowded streets were getting lonely and most of the traffic was heading towards the Mohsin convention. The convention hall seemed like a jaggery pod coated with butter attracting the ants. Some ants were rushing to meet their celebrity friend, some to explore this new talent and the rest to capture some moments for their next whatsapp status update.

The stage was all adorned with bright lights. Focus lights at the front were seemingly eager to focus on the much awaited singer of the evening. The inverted U shaped dias with a perfect white floor and maroon curtains was the thing everyone were staring at.

At the backstage in a tiny vanity room, she was sitting on the couch in a rather trepidatious state. Her palms pressing onto one another, fingers constantly moving but eyes steadily staring at the floor. She knew if there's any time to be stronger, it is then.

Standing up, she started walking towards the stage. Her legs were staggeringly moving forward though her mind was lagging behind.

From the lobby leading to the main stage, she could hear the loud cheers of the audience as her name was announced. In a moment, all she could hear was her heart thumping aloud than the voices. As she entered the stage, she knew this is the place she has always wanted to reach. The lights dashing onto her face were making it difficult to look forward but easy to hide the audience from her vision.

She held the mic and she knew she reached her destination. Her passion, her efforts, her sacrifices flashed before her eyes as she flipped the lyric book. She raised her eyes to stare at the new magical world for once and to her dismay, she got up to a real world on her bed with red eyes and closed walls.

In a moment she felt amazed, perplexed and gloomy all at once. She knew what she wanted but what she didn't want was the burden of regret. As something determining in her mind, she looked at the watch. It was 3.05 am. She plugged in her earphones as she knew she cannot get back to sleep.

The Heartbreaker

"No not this one, that gold wala !" Meera was busy choosing the right Bangle set to match her beloved lehenga. 
"Heya..yup almost done. Just some facial and hair dos left. Will definitely be there on time tomorrow," informed to her friend.

"Listen..Rahul is also invited. Just saying..." her friend hesitatingly reminded on call.
"........that's...that's great. Umm..I'll call you back later. I'm driving." Meera hung up the call after covering up for an awkward silence.

Vehicles were moving by, but all she could see were the glimpses of her moments with the guy who had the right on her emotions.

Reaching home, she opened the door and on the bed there was lying this mesmerizing pink lehenga with intricate golden thread works. A perfect copy of the beautiful designer Sabyasachi Lehenga she always adored. Something she dreamt of being clicked in for her Instagram stories and live a moment of glam.

"That is it !! I've already moved on from all the nasty shit. I wouldn't waste my emotions on someone who didn't give a damn about my feelings. He treated me as if I was an option to him and that too least preferred," she said to herself wiping her unknown tears swirling in her eyes.

"Anyways he wouldn't show up. He might be busy with his so called motel business. However, seeing him again would be the last thing I'd do on earth." Affirming to herself, Meera went to bed with a heavy heart and an empty stomach.

The wedding eve soon came by. The venue was lit as heaven. The fairy lights on the bushes were flickering in excitement. The Sun seemed like hanging on to see her before dusk. And she walked in...

She walked in a blue chiffon brocade sari gifted by her ex. Looking stunning as ever with mere makeup and glistening eyes. She walked away under the golden chandeliers with stomach full of butterflies and heart full of hope...

Love is helplessness too...

Marry me not

Yet another rush hour and the driver waiting at the gate impatiently confused whether to call again or horn for a 9th time. Just then she hurriedly stepped out of the door with a handbag slipping down her shoulders, a diary and a headset in each of her hands still waiting to get into the bag. She boarded the cab planning a series of explanations to convince the driver. "Sorry Anna. Phone was in silent." A few grams of guilt got off her shoulders.

Plugged in the headset and scrolling through the 165 saved songs which she's been listening since the last 3 years, 'How strange it is that a 9 songs playlist can decide our mood for the day' she thought to herself securing her window seat.

As the song began to play, her eyes rolled onto the window ignoring her co-travellers..first appreciating the dew on the pane, then crossing a little further and watching the traffic..the lights of the vehicles, the expressions of people..the toys selling at the traffic signal..then a little higher into the darkened sky void of the stars. Suddenly a curve on her lips turned flat.

"Meera its high time that you choose a guy for yourself. You can't deny the matches with some lame excuses. All your friends are getting married. Do you think they're mad? Or are you smarter than all of them? Be practical. At your age, I'd already conceived."

With a silence and angerly raging emotions, Meera remembered her mom's reminder about her marriage and helplessness filled her eyes.

'How do I make her understand that I want to be understood. I've already conditioned my dreamy wild soul into a basic society-worthy creature. But how do I ignore the fact that I might have to continue to pretend for a 50 more years and make my every single moment as suffocating as my every compromised dream. Just because I'm an introvert doesn't mean I should give up on hope. I just wish there could be a way where my prince charming get to know me well and accepts me for what I am. Make every effort to make me his and sweep me off my feet...if only I could express this to him.' Meera laughed off at her fairytale fantasies.

The cab entered the office gates dragging the unwilling Meera into the mirror palace. "Sana, there are still 2 slides pending. You better complete and go through it once. And no staggering during the presentation..." Meera stepped out of the cab as a responsible corporate professional busy in a call, clueless about her fantasy filled diary being left behind...!