Ruhani saw her watch and geared up for her performance. It was almost time for Talent hunt finale and Amity was lighted richly. A multitude mob was gathered,people weren't recognizable..only various heads bumping into each other,fighting for their own foot on the ground. All of it made Ruhani nervous and excited at the same time. No matter how many times she has been on stage among thousands of people before, Every new chance gave her a new kind of anxiety which she didn't know,she could feel every single time she went on stage. People were already dancing,singing,acting and her perfomance was roped somewhere in between.
For a reason,Ruhani knew she wasn't going to win. It was just a hunch, a gut feeling..she just knew somehow. Various forms of art existed in this world. Listening to someone else playing instruments,or someone singing or someone else dancing was more visually appealing or auditory satisfying for that matter,rather than watching someone act or reciting poetry. It wasn't that Poetry was any inferior form of art among others.No doubt that a certain amount of peopele and a definite type of audience enjoyed poetry and verses but among other forms of art,it didn't stood a chance. Ruhani wasn't sad or upset for that matter. She was aware and was honestly okay with it. At this point,she was just getting ready to give her all and was looking forward to do justice to her lyricism.
Ruhani's name got called up and she took her position among the space. Some people prepatorily hooted for her. It made Ruhani smile and gave her a newfound confidence which she didn't know she had in her. She took a deep breath and started reciting. This time her performance wasn't complex like last time,Truthfully it was completely contrasting. A sweet heartwarming poetry which was wrenching in it's own way. A beautiful thought process potrayed effortlessly through recitation which hid the pain of one sided love,outlining it's concealed beauty.
She was reciting,piercing through audience with her orbs. But Were her eyes searching for Something? Someone? It was wrong and silly to look for that particular someone. Honestly it was completely stupid to even expect her. Only adults present in the audience were Judges. The crowd was packed with overly cheery adult teens and madly in love couples, not to mention adolscent couples. Why would a faculty memeber, A teacher show up? Why would Alina show up? Did she had a reason? And will Ruhani ever be that reason? Ruhani knew she was being stupid. Her dense assumptions came to a stop when she spotted someone. Not who she was hoping for but someone who she wasn't expecting at all. Actually two of them. Arpita and Manshi were holding two huge cardboards with 'KILL IT RUHANI' , 'GO FOR IT RUHI' respectively written on them. They were standing far away from the crowd at an upper floor rather than the usual ground. They were hooting,clapping and cheering. It sent a warm feeling in pit of Ruhani's stomach.It suddenly hit her, how much she missed her best friends these past days. Happy tears welled up in corner of her eyes and with a mixture of emotions,her performance came to an end.
She didn't wait for audience reactions and honestly she didn't cared. As soon as her performance ended...She Ran towards her two friends and wrapped them into a hug. Audience's hooting and cheering blurred somewhere in the background and the host announced another contestant but Ruhani was still way too busy holding her friends pushing them backwards which resulted in all three of them falling with Manshi and Arpita having their Backs hit the ground and Ruhani on top of them.
Arpita chose the most vulgar expressions from her vocabulary to curse Ruhani and all three of them broke into a laughter. This was much needed. Ruhani missed her Best friends, her comfort zone,Her safe space, Her confinement to lighten her heart wherever and whenever she wanted and needed. All three of them walked out of H block and started moving towards Wall street, A Restaurant accomodated in their campus.
"Are you sure about not wanting to wait for Results?"
Arpita asked once they were settled
"Yeah..I ain't going to win anyways" She sighs
"You don't know that Ruhi" Manshi told her almost irritatedly
"I don't know..it's just a gut feeling"
"I'll punch the same gut of yours if you won't stop being annyoing" Arpita said after showing her fist hanging in air
"Leave it and you guys know..It's not about winning for me...Running for awards and Validations never has been. I'm greatful for all the honours that come my way but even if they don't I'm fine with it,untill and unless my art reaches people" Ruhani smiled tiredly
"Ohkay Miss philosphical" Arpita sighed
All three of them ordered Paneer Butter Masala,Dal makhni, Chilli paneer Dry, Butter Naan's and some Soft drinks. No matter how much junk they ate,Real satisfaction used to Bestow upon them when Traditional Indian food entered their Stomach. The reason they became friends in the first place was because their HUMOUR and APPETITE matched. They were meeting after so long and A long lost reunion deserved A long lost Brunch.
They were talking about here and there,catching on stuff..but Ruhani was still very hesitant. Hesitant about bringing up the topic which was lingering on her mind for too long now. She didn't wanted to bring it up cause..Cause honestly Manshi and Arpita were too good for her. Wayy good compared to her past friendships. They always cared for her,stood for her,adviced her,payed for her and what not. She thought she could let go of somethings here and there. Bringing the topic up again would only cause unnecessary grudges and misunderstandings.
She didn't realised how she zoned out for a moment on the table and both of her friends were literally screaming her name from the counter. She ran immideatly and helped them with grabbing plates and their order. Once they sat down again on the restaurant couches, Arpita nudged her shoulder.
"WHAT IS IT?" Arpita asked
"What?" Ruhani frowned her eyebrows in confusion
"What is there on your mind?" Manshi asked this time
"Nothing" Ruhani answered casually
"We are not blind Ruhani" Arpita held her hand out for Ruhani to hold
Ruhani looked at both the girls,one sitting next to her and the other sitting across the table, and sighed in defeat. "Fine"
She continued. "Do you guys remember how recently my video went viral on social media and -"
She was cut in between "KNOW????" Manshi's eyes widened. "OFc we know about it..whole uni knows about it,we are still your Best friends.. OFc we know"
"Ruhani we literally tease you everyday, mentioning you as 'Bade log' everytime we talk now..what are you even insinuating?" Arpita told her
"Will you two let me speak?"
Ruhani eyed both of them
"CONTINUE" Arpita didn't met her gaze
"As you both know..my social media was deactivated during that time and I came across all the blow up on internet literally a week later"
"Yeah..." Arpita trailed on
"I do realise that strangers or others didn't mentioned any of it cause honestly it's not their Buissness but you two.."
"What about us?" Manshi asked us
"I literally hangout every single moment with you guys..how come any of you didn't mentioned it even once?" Ruhani said watching both of their faces,looking for any sight of anger or embarassment but rather there was Shock as if they weren't agreeing with what they were hearing.
Ruhani continued anyways. "I thought of reaching you guys out when I realised but thought ,it will stir up unnecessary grudges so I didn't brought it up untill now"
Both of them looked at each other. "Ruhani would you like to remnicise at your words again plss" Arpita asked calmly
"I don't understand" Ruhani eyed both of them with confusion
"Did you really just said.. 'you hung out with us every moment'.." Arpita raised her eyebrow
Well Arching an eyebrow only suits on someone else in particular but okay
"Can we not play with words anymore..Will any of you elaborate?" Ruhani asked, her patience and curosity both running out at this moment
"I don't know why you didn't asked us earlier but theek hai..Now listen" Manshi took a breath in
"I don't think you realise cause you clearly don't. We are your friends so we never mentioned it and we never told you cause honestly there was no need unless now when we got to know about your stupid overthinking web which was consuming you for I don't know how long now..So we were the ones who mentioned and shared your video to the official commitees and open mics Insta handles"
"EK min..What?" Ruhani couldn't register what Manshi was saying
"We were the ones who shared your video to our Uni's every single department committee. Suddenly we got in touch with one of very influential MLA's son who was studying in law department. He took an interest in your video and shared it on his story. From that's where your video blew and there was no turning back" Manshi smiled at her
"Not to mention..It was all your hardwork which payed off. We were just a medium. Just want to let you know that We are always here for you. I'm always here for you" Arpita squeezed her arm
Ruhani's eyes were getting somewhat Wattery. She didn't know how to take any and all of it in. Here she was creating her own non existential assumptions and there her friends were Rooting for her from shadows.
She didn't know where to start now. "Why didn't you tell me any of it? Again why didn't you mention any of it?"
"Do you really had any time for us?" Manshi almost whispered passing on a small smile
" I don't underst-"
"It's fine,leave it" Arpita continued waving a hand in air
"NO NO..Just tell me..What do you guys mean?"
They both looked at each other as if seeking each other's approval. One thing Ruhani noticed was,since that incident..Both Manshi and Arpita have become really close considering the fact that Manshi joined them pretty late and Ruhani and Arpita were already a duo. It didn't pained Ruhani,Honestly it was a relief. She was worried about Manshi fitting in but to her surprise it wasn't anything to worry about.
"Will any of you tell me anything?"
"Ruhani how were we supposed to tell you when you weren't even there with us." Arpita said with a reflection of sadness
Ruhani frowned her eyebrows
"Ruhi the whole week you were distant chasing and looking out for.."
Arpita didn't completed and Ruhani took on her cue. Both her friends looked at her and she blinked at them to continue. None of them exchanged any words on it.
"You were wayy too busy engaging with her. The only time you spent with us was when you were stuck with us during classes. As soon as classes ended,either you ran back home or went to meet.." Again Arpita didn't complete
Manshi continued this time. "We never wanted to intervene cause We love you and it's your life. If that's what was making you happy,we didn't wanted to be bummer to that reason of happiness and so we let it be"
Ruhani was speechless at this point. Embarrassment and guilt was rushing over her. All this time it was the other way around. She couldn't open her mouth when she was brought into a group hug by her friends and it somehow made her eyes all tingy.
"You dare cry and I'll give you the most painful slap of your life" Ruhani looked at Arpita and her friend wasn't lying.
Ruhani broke into a sad snort.
"I'm really sorr-"
Her right cheek was met with a SLAP.
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