Chapter 25 - "Time Passed, I Died"

Heya my people! I'm here, a bit late, I know. I'm sorry. Hectic schedules are back so there will be delays in the updates. 

But anyways, I have the present back for you guys! Excited? I am! Scroll down! 

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Six years had passed. I wasn't over it yet. Time had passed. I grew up. People around me differed. Circumstances altered. And most importantly, I changed. I did. 

I wasn't a very interactive or chirpy person before these years but now I was. I changed myself because I felt that was the only way I could hide my pain. I kept loving him but he didn't. Rhea had been blaming herself for this, but I didn't, for I knew, he was always the same. Betrayer. Backstabber.

I started taking everything easy, letting things go in flow and not really caring for any damn thing. Because doing that gave me nothing. Instead, I got rewarded with a betrayal. 

Rhea and Ali stood by my side all this time. I didn't know where DD was. But I really missed him.. I missed us. The super 5! 

Everything changed including me, but one thing was still there. As it was.  My love for him. Eve after whatever he did. I loved him and I knew I'd always do. Neela Maa had been warning me to forget him and that was suspicious. May be she wants me to get married to someone else. That doesn't matter. I had been lying to her that I have forgotten any Neil who existed. 

Now, I took a step ahead to move on. With all the courage and determination, I had decided to do things I loved and keep aside my past. I thought it'd be tough, but it wasn't much. I just had to keep Neil out of my head and heart. Though that wasn't possible, I tried. It happened. Whenever his thoughts weren't with me, I was able to focus on whatever I did. That was easier! 

After I completed my graduation, I decided to join a a live singing competition. I wanted to do it and I loved it. I had been listening to music. I felt it's the best way to describe your emotions.  Maa told me I was good at it. There was no harm in trying. I got the call for the audition yesterday, and in all these  years, I felt genuinely happy and successful for the first time. 

"The next contestant is Avni Pareikh!" The voice of the host startled me as I glanced up at the screen in front of me. The red light flickered, indicating that the stage was empty. I walked out of the backstage, my heart thumping. I was excited but nervousness took over, as I saw my hands  fidgeting. Gulping, I got hold of the mic. 

Pehchaante hi nahi ab log tanha mujhe

Meri nigaahon mein bhi hein dhundte woh tujhe

I started, confidence building up as the words tumbled down my mouth, unknowingly taking me to him again. 

Hum thay dhundte jisey woh kami ban gaye

Tum mere ishq ki sar zameen ban gaye

Haan hasi ban gaye

Haan nami ban gaye

Tum mere aasmaan meri zameen ban gaye

I finished, not able to sing anymore as I didn't want to make this day worse by thinking of him. I stopped, giving a wide smile to the judges in front of me.

I didn't know what that expression on their faces meant until I heard the loud claps from the audience. 

"Hi beautiful! What's your name?" The female judge asked, adjusting her mic. 

"Avni. Avni Pareikh." I stuttered. "How old are you Avni?" Another one questioned. 

"I just turned 23 some days ago." I gave the widest possible smile.

"Young talent my Lord!" She chirped making me hope. "You were fabulous girl! Your melody, rhythm, flow, everything was so smooth! I enjoyed listening to you." She continued as I bowed down, mumbling a thank you. 

"I wish I could've listened a bit more from you!" The male judge spoke, taking my breathe away. I wasn't so used to of the praises. I smiled as the hall clapped. "You were perfect. In every way!" He spoke, clapping himself. "Thank you." I said, not able to see my dream almost coming true. 

The third judge spoke for the first time, "I just want to say, You are nation's next star!" I almost had my tears flowing as I kept on thanking him. "I'm sure I'll see you holding your award in the next few years! You were mind blowing!" 

"That's huge Sir! Thank you so much." I spoke, rubbing my thumb across my cheek. 

"Welcome abode." The host whispered and I couldn't help but bow down again. 

"You may sit with the contestants here for the rest of the show, Avni. Good Luck!" The host chirped as I ran off to the seats where the contestants sat. 

"You sang so well! Am touched." The girl beside me whispered. "Ah thank you." I spoke and turned back to look at the stage. 

"I'm Mitali. One among the selected contestants." She introduced, forwarding her hand. 

"Hi Mitali. Nice to meet you. I am Avni, by the way." I shook hands with her, smiling. 

"Yeah. I heard." "I'm motivated you know! You are truly a star Avni!" She spoke, tucking a hair strand behind her ear. I smiled as she asked again, "Since when are you singing?" 

"I just came here trying. Never worked much on singing. I hope this turns out to be passionate for me." I replied, completely focused at her. We did not concentrate on what was happening behind the camera and who was called until the stage lights turned on. 

I shifted my focus back to the stage. The music played and my heart raced. I didn't know, but there was something that flickered my heart. Every second hammered my brain. There was something unusual. Something. Or may be everything? My thoughts sounded foreign.

Licking my lower lip, I shut my eyes tight until the voice that I heard took my breath away. My eyes opened, my mouth gasped. Clutching onto the chair in front of me, I got myself in place. A lone tear cascaded down my eye. 

Memories resurfaced. Heart thumped. Eyes cried. Lips dried. Mind stopped. Breathing labored. And I, I almost died. Once more. I died. 

"Forget me" was the only phrase that I could hear. 

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Expected it to be this early? Though I wanted you guys to wait a bit more, I couldn't contain my own excitement. Lol! 

Well, this is something different? Isn't it? Any guesses as to what's coming? Would love to hear. 

Shower your love.