9

∞Testimony to the moon∞

Rudransh Singh Chauhan

Those graceful twirls of her white dress, the delicate twists and turns of her wrist, the elegant sway of her arm - each movement was mesmerizing. Little fringes of her hair had escaped from the bun adorned with white and red flowers, adding to her ethereal beauty. The white dress draped perfectly around her body, flowing with her every step to the rhythm of the Indian classical music. She twirled, and twirled, and twirled, until the music came to a halt and she gracefully fell to her knees, concluding the majestic performance.

My eyes were fixed on her form in the middle of the stage, captivated by her presence. The entire auditorium erupted in loud applause, but in that moment, among all these people, her eyes met mine for the first time. Those glass-grey eyes seemed to melt into my black orbs. Those eyes that once looked only for me now don't even want to spare me a glance.

I remember the time vividly - I was a 22-year-old young man who had just stepped into the world of masters at IIM Delhi. Up until then, my life had revolved around business and management concepts, but that year, I encountered the toughest concept of all: understanding her. Falling deeply in love with her. I, who only had an abstract idea of love growing up, experienced it for the first time through her.

She was like a fresh rose from the garden, beautiful and delicate like the morning dew. Her name, Aradhaya Singh Rajvansh, my Dhaya, an integrated course second-year student. Her presence was a revelation, turning my structured world upside down. That boy who thought he knew everything about success and ambition found himself learning a new language - the language of love, with her as the most enchanting and challenging chapter.

After seven years of seeing her only through photos and videos on my screen, I finally saw her in real life. She was as captivating as ever, with the same form that made my heart skip a beat. Those same lustrous eyes seemed to invite me to lose myself in them, to find my world within their depths. Her hair had grown even longer, cascading like dense black clouds. Seeing her for the first time after all this time made me want to fix my eyes on her and never look away. Nothing else mattered except her.

But then I felt the distaste in her tone and saw the hatred in her eyes. It pierced me deeply, and I found myself hating myself rather than being able to handle her hating me. That reaction from her, that palpable disdain, made me realize just how much I had lost and how deeply I had wounded the person I loved. It was a harsh reminder that, despite the years and the distance, the consequences of my actions were still very real, and her pain was still very present.

I wish I could just turn back time and make her mine, but I can't be any less grateful that I got time, a chance to try again and gain her forgiveness. This one time, a chance at living my life once again because without her I might be alive but somewhere I forgot living.

"RUDRA!" I heard Rishi as he shook my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Where are you lost? The waiter is asking if you need more chapatis." His face was a mix of confusion and irritation. I gestured a no to the waiter and chugged a glass of water.

"I need to tell you something," I said, sensing Rishi's curiosity. We were seated at a round table for dinner, and I had been pushing my food around, waiting for a glimpse of her. I overheard her mother talking with Aridhaan, complaining about her tardiness. A habit my love hadn't shed-being late and clumsy.

"You've been eating from that plate for half an hour now. Are you eating the rice grain by grain?" Rishi snickered beside me, making me sulk.

"Dhaya is here." He choked on his lemonade, giving me a flabbergasted look.

"Dhaya!" I glared at him, urging him to keep his voice down. "You mean Aradhaya is here? Like, for real?" Sometimes, I really question my choice of friends. "Yes, my Dhaya is here."

"That's crazy, man! Congrats!" He hugged me, jumping off his chair, and I choked on my breath. "Yeah, but she hates me."

"Oh, that's crazy too!" He clearly got high on lemonade. "I mean, that's not crazy! That sucks, though!" He sat back down, rubbing my shoulder out of either pity or concern. "She's Shravan's cousin."

"Oh, that US return!" He exclaimed, forming an 'O' with his lips.

"Yeah, the US return."

"So, did you both talk?" He downed his lemonade and wiggled his eyebrows at me, eager for details.

"I tried, but she clearly has her reasons to not hear a thing from me. She hates me, Rishi, she really does." The words clogged in my throat as he rubbed my shoulder.

"I can see that." He sighed, gesturing towards the entrance of the hall.

"If looks could burn, you'd be ashes by now." He chuckled, while my eyes fixated on her. She stood there, dressed casually, staring at me as if she wanted to bury me deep. But it's her; she can do all she wants.

"At least she's looking at me. Whether she wants to bury me or burn me alive, all that matters is that she's looking at me." I inhaled deeply, taking in the same air she breathed.

My lips parted as she walked in, moving in my direction. Is she going to talk to me? Will she sit beside me? Will she eat with me? I pushed Rishi from the chair, making space for her in case she wanted to sit beside me. I heard Rishi wincing in pain, and worry etched on her face as she rushed to help him up. She held him by the bicep, and I saw Abhir approaching too. She glared at me! She glared at me! She looked at me.

"Why did you do that, Rudra?" Rishi complained, standing on his feet.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," I tried to apologize, but she intervened.

"I hope you didn't hurt yourself. It's a habit that nurtures in some people-first they hurt you, then they ask for apologies and reason their actions." I knew the words were directed at me, but I didn't let them affect my resolve to pursue her. Before I could respond, Abhir interrupted.

"Good evening, sleepyhead! I was looking for you," he chirped in his usual tone. Why was he looking for her?

"I was actually sleeping," she spoke softly, her left hand playing with her gold chain bracelet-a habit of hers whenever she was nervous. The bracelet was very dear to her; her father had gifted it to her on her 18th birthday. It was custom-made with moons and stars.

"Oh! Clearly, sleepyhead. I tasted almost everything for you in case you wanted to know what tastes better in today's dinner," Abhir continued, clearly oblivious to her disinterest.

"Oh..." She was clearly not interested in talking with him. Why is my brother doing this? I need to ask Abhir to stay away from my lady.

"The paneer tastes amazing. You should try the coconut curry with rice, and don't forget the stuffed naan and-"

Before my brother could list the entire menu, I intervened. "Rishi! You wanted to meet her, right?" Rishi looked at me wide-eyed, but I gestured for him to just behave while her eyes trailed between me and Rishi.

"Yes, I did!" Rishi caught on, clearing his throat. "Hey Aradhaya! How are you doing? Been a long time."

She gave him a polite nod, her gaze flickering back to me for a brief, intense moment before settling on Rishi. "I am doing good. How are you?"

Rishi smiled awkwardly, clearly feeling the tension. "Yeah, all fine! I'm getting married next month." If this man could, he would announce it to the world that he is getting married.

"Great, congratulations," she replied, her tone clipped. Her fingers still played with the bracelet, a silent testament to her unease.

"Thanks!" Rishi beamed, but the tension was palpable. He glanced at me, then back at Aradhaya. "So, what have you been up to lately?"

"Just the usual," she said, her voice flat. "Work, family, you know how it is."

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken words and lingering emotions. I could see the discomfort in her eyes, and it made my heart ache. She was here, so close, yet felt miles away.

"I'm sure you're doing great things," Rishi offered, trying to fill the void.

She nodded, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Thanks."

I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to say something, anything to bridge the gap between us. But before I could, I heard another voice growing louder, "Aru! Here's your phone!"

Aahana Khurrana, her best friend, walked over to stand beside her. Despite her short stature, her temper was a force to be reckoned with. I had experienced it once before and knew this was going to be another confrontation.

"Hii Aahana," I greeted, trying to keep my tone neutral and my expression stoic.

"Hello Rudransh, and there is nothing nice about meeting you," she retorted sharply. I heard a gasp from beside me.

"Bhai!" Abhir exclaimed. I gave him a warning look, but he stepped forward and faced Aahana.

"You can't talk to my brother like that," he demanded, his protective instincts kicking in.

"Abhir-" I started to intervene.

"No, Bhai! She can't talk like that to you." He tried to stand his ground, but Aahana cut him off.

"Listen, you! I can do whatever I want and talk however I wish. You are no one to teach me anything. Ask your brother to keep his distance from my best friend, or you both can bid goodbyes to your handsome faces." She pointed her finger at us, but my eyes were on Dhaya, who was nervously looking around, clearly wanting to avoid a scene. She pulled Aahana and whispered urgently, "Aahana, control yourself. We can't create a drama here."

Aahana just hushed her, turning back to Abhir. "Did you call me handsome?" Abhir asked, an amused expression spreading across his face as he leaned in closer to her.

"No!" she snapped.

"Yes, you did!"

"No, I didn't!"

"Yes, you did, and now I expect a hot-headed, American-accented lady to own up to her words. Look at us! We brothers practically walked out of a fashion magazine. We are handsome as hell!" Abhir shrugged, turning the situation into a ridiculous debate of yes and no. While I agreed with him, now wasn't the time or place.

"Oh, please! You're too self-absorbed. You and your brother are both idiots. God bless the Chauhan genes." Before the banter could continue, Dhaya pulled Aahana away toward the other side of the dining hall where her family members were seated.

"Behave yourself, Abhir!" I scolded him, pulling him to a corner to knock some sense into him.

"What? Don't teach me how to behave. I was just being a good brother." He shrugged off my grip.

I saw Dhaya walking toward the food counter, which was now mostly deserted since everyone had already eaten. This was my chance. "Rishi, put some sense into his brain," I muttered, rushing in her direction, trying to mask my desperation.

As I approached her, I took a deep breath, feeling my heart race. "Dhaya," I called softly, hoping she would at least give me a moment.

She turned to face me, her expression a mix of surprise and guardedness. "What do you want?" she asked, her tone icy.

"I want to have my dinner," I said, grabbing a plate and walking behind her. I quickly grasped a glass of water, balancing it precariously.

"Can you please serve me?" I pleaded, my voice earnest.

"No," she snapped, her eyes squinting in irritation.

"But I have my other hand occupied," I reasoned.

"Then get it free. Place the water on the table and serve yourself," she replied in a bland but authoritative tone.

"There is no free table, and moreover, you once told me we should never say no to giving or serving food," I said, stepping closer to her.

"That was for the needy."

"I am also needy," I said, holding out my plate with the most pitiful expression I could muster, hoping for a shred of mercy.

"Too stubborn," she huffed, turning toward the counter, and I followed closely.

"How much appetite do you have?" she asked, her tone imperious.

"A lot," I answered.

"Sure," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

With that, the lady in all her grace served me all the delicacies, piling my plate high enough to feed two people. Despite her fake smile and the little rant she muttered under her breath, I couldn't help but admire her. She served herself a modest portion, and I cherished every moment with her, even in this small interaction.

"Aru, are you not done yet?" Aahana's voice cut through the moment. She had become a real disturbance in just an hour.

"I am just serving food to Mr. Chauhan. He was feeling famished, so I helped him. I hope he will enjoy the meal and waste nothing," Aradhaya replied, her tone laced with sarcasm. Aahana snickered and shot me a deadly look.

"Of course, I don't waste food," I said confidently.

"Good luck with your meal. Aridhaan bhai is waiting for you. Give me my plate," Aahana said, taking Aradhaya's plate and giving me a side-eye before dragging her away.

I looked at the loaded plate and gulped, feeling a mix of fear and determination. I couldn't waste it, especially not after she served me.

Returning to my table, I found Rishi and Abhir deep in conversation. "Are you for real?" Rishi gasped, staring at my plate.

"Don't put an evil eye on my food!" I glared at him, but they both chuckled.

"You don't need an evil eye; you're gonna fall sick eating all that anyway," Abhir added.

"She served this. Even if it's poison, it's going to be the nectar of immortality for me," I declared, diving into the loaded plate. It might not have looked appetizing, but she had served it for me. That's all that mattered.

After savoring the taste of that food, I could barely walk on my own. My stomach was about to explode; it must have covered one of my abs. I was walking along with Rishi late at night to settle the food and make my body aware of the sudden attack of food on it when I heard sweet voices from the poolside. We walked closer, and I saw her sitting near the pool with Aahana. The moon in the sky was casting its reflection in the water, and my moon, my Aradhaya, gazed at the mirrored surface while also looking up at the moon.

The pool area was serene, illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight. The cool breeze carried the fragrance of blooming jasmine, adding to the tranquility of the night. Aahana was talking animatedly, her hands moving as she spoke, but my eyes were fixed on Aradhaya. She looked ethereal, her features softened by the gentle light, and the reflection of the moon seemed to dance in her glass-grey eyes.

"Do you still like him?" Aahana asked, her tone filled with genuine curiosity. My heart clenched as I heard Aahana's question, her words hanging in the air like an unspoken truth. Her reaction was almost palpable, her movements freezing in the water, and I couldn't help but hold my breath, waiting for her response.

Rishi nudged me gently, concern evident in his eyes. "You sure you wanna listen to them talking?" he whispered, his voice laced with worry.

"I don't want to eavesdrop, but they're talking about me. I just want to know," I murmured back, my gaze fixed on her and Aahana. Standing beside Rishi, a mix of anxiety and determination coursed through me.

"I don't know why you are asking such absurd questions," she said, keeping her gaze fixed on the sky.

"I saw the way he looks at you, Aru, and it looks like..." Aahana's voice trailed off, filled with concern and curiosity.

"Like he is planning to hurt me again." she cut her off, her tone sharp and defensive.

"You know that's not what I was going to say. I'm not going to force you, but I really want you to be happy," Aahana's gentle response only intensified my feelings, stirring up a storm of emotions within me.

"And I am happy. I do not want to talk about random people, Aahana. We have this beautiful night to acknowledge. Let's not waste it," her words cut through the night air, sharp and defensive, and I felt a pang of regret wash over me.

As their conversation continued, I couldn't shake the longing that gripped my heart. The peaceful night seemed to contrast sharply with the turmoil raging inside me, and I watched as her and Aahana retreated to their rooms, a sense of relief mingling with the ache of longing.

Turning to Rishi, who regarded me with a mix of sympathy and encouragement, I felt a surge of determination rise within me. "You're not giving up, are you?" Rishi asked, his voice filled with understanding.

"Never," I declared, my tone resolute. Despite the challenges ahead, I was determined to do whatever it took to win my Dhaya back.

⋆✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ⋆🌿✦🌺✦🌿⋆*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧⋆

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Have a beautiful day!