Destined To Be

Chapter 21

Ankita's P.O.V.

After the small celebration we had backstage post Ayaan's rocking performance, the judge, Mr. Prakash was left for a while to make the difficult decision. Eliminate one person from each group. I knew for sure that Ayaan wasn't getting disqualified from the reaction he received from the audience and his overall performance but it would be sad at the same time to see four contestants leaving Manali. I guess that's why no one likes rules. Princy stepped on the stage with a card in his hand with the names moving forward in the competition. "May I request all contestants to come onto the stage please?" he said. I looked at Ayaan who was standing besides me and whispered, "Good luck." He nodded and went onto the stage. Each person stood with the group colour they were initial assigned to. "Before calling out names, I just want to congratulate everyone and let them know that they are all winners," he spoke, "But rules are rules and of the sixteen of you, four has to go home." Opening the envelope, he took out the card and said, "As I call your names, please come forward." I crossed my fingers and prayed in my mind, "Please God, let Ayaan go forward." He began calling names from groups green, red and yellow. I looked at three persons from each group smiling and rejoicing while one person cried or were disappointed. "Team blue! Ranjit, Neha..." he began to announce and my heart raced with suspense. "Ayaan!" he said. There were celebration at the back of me with the chorus singers jumping and screaming with joy. I smiled and sighed. Opening my closed eyes, I calmed my heartbeat and looked at Ayaan smiling on the stage. I applauded him. "We are extremely sorry for those who didn't make it to the next round and wish you all the best in your life. And for those who have been selected, can we hear some applause for them!" Princy said. I clapped for everyone but especially for Ayaan. "Good night everyone!" Princy said and everyone began leaving from the stage. Ayaan turned and looked at me. Slowly coming to me, he was stopped with Pihu coming in between and hugging him.

My eyes fell on Preeti as she smiled at Ayaan. I went to her and rested my hand on her shoulder. "Are you ok?" I asked. "Are you kidding? I'm awesome! I am so happy for everyone," she said. "But Kiran," I said. She dropped her shoulders and looked at me. "Kiran is going home, not me! I'm sad for her but happy for everyone else," she said looking at Ayaan. "Come here," I said and hugged her. Breaking the hug, she wiped the tears from her eyes and smile. "Hi!" Ayaan said from behind me. "Hey, congratulations!" she said and stood between both of us. She hugged him and he looked at me. "I'm very happy for you," she said breaking the hug. "Thank you," he said. "Preeti, Princy is calling you," Pihu said. Holding his hand, she said with a smile, "I'll see you in a while." He nodded and looked at her walking away. Turning to me, he said, "Aren't you going to congratulate me?" I stretched my hand out and said, "Congrats." He looked at my hand and then shook it saying, "Thanks." I looked at him as he held my hand. "Thanks for the prayer also," he said. "What prayer?" I asked. "The one you were asking for with your fingers crossed while I was on stage," he said and took a step closer to me. I pulled my hand out of his and said, "That wasn't only for you. It was for everyone." I turned around to walk away when he held my hand back and twisted it behind me. "Ouch!" I said in pain. Whispering into my ear, he said, "You can't even lie. I knew that the prayer was for my selection." I blushed knowing that it was indeed that. "Can you let go of my hand now?" I asked. "Of course I can," he said and released my hand. I turned to him, holding my wrist while my face turned red looking at him. My heart throbbed in my ribcage and my senses went haywire. Looking at my hand, he asked, "Is it paining?" I shook my head from side to side. "Let me see," he said and took back my hand gently. Holding my wrist, he slowly caressed it, sending shivers down my spine. I stared at him. "I'm sorry," he said raising my hand to his lips. Slowly, he planted a sweet kiss on my wrist and looked at me with a smile. 

My hormones were going crazy and I couldn't help but to fall in love with this guy all over again. "Ani," I heard and pulled my hand away from Ayaan at once. Turning to Rohan nervously, I smiled and said, "Hi!" He walked closer to me and asked resting his hand on my shoulder, "Are you alright?" I nodded frantically and lowered my eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes, let's go," I said and held his hand. I pulled him away from Ayaan and began walking away. However, I couldn't help but to looked back at a smirking Ayaan in the same spot. I carried Rohan to Ayaan's practice spot and we sat down together. "Can I ask you something?" he asked. "Yeah," I said. "Why are your cheeks so red?" he asked. I looked at him speechless and touched my cheeks. "Red! No, they're not..." I said looking away. "Ani, I can see your cheeks, you can't, they are red!" he argued. I couldn't compete with that. "Ayaan is making you blush," he said. I shot my head to him and looked at him with wide eyes. He smiled and rest his hand on my head. "I knew you couldn't hide it from me," he said. I smiled and bent my head. "Do you like him?" he asked. "Yes," I admitted. He came closer to me and held my hand. "Tell me all about how this happened," he said. I looked at him and held his hand which was on mine. "I know that we don't hide anything from each other but I have to confess that I have been carrying a secret in my heart for the past year," I said. He frowned and listened to me. "I met Ayaan a year ago at his birthday party and fell in love that instant," I said and looked at him waiting for his reaction. He showed no expression though. Shaking him, I said, "Ro, did you hear what I just said?" Nodding, he said, "Yeah, I heard. You loved him for a whole year now." I frowned and looked at him. "Are you angry with me for not letting you know?" I asked. "Of course I am! You fell in love with someone at first sight and hid it from me!" he said. I dropped my shoulders and pouted. "At that time I didn't know that I would meet him again. I thought that it was was our first and last meeting," I said. 

"But you could have told me!" he said. I gave him a sad face and said, "Sorry." He shook his head and folded his arms, turning forward. "Rohan!" I said in a sad voice. He didn't budge. I sighed and asked, "So, you have made up your mind to not speak to me?" "Yes," he said. "Ok then," I said and got up. I pretended to be leaving so that he stops me but it didn't go as planned. He sat in the same position. I stood behind him and said loudly, "I am going." "Go," he said. I frowned. "I am really going!" I said louder. "Good for me. I will get peace," he said. I clenched my fists and stomped my feet on the ground. "Fine! Sulk!" I said angrily and walked a few steps but stopped. Slowly, I reversed back to where I was and looked at his back. What can I do to convince him? I looked around and got an idea. I smirked and bent down. Taking up a handful of snow, I made a snowball and threw it on his head. He turned back at me surprised. Looking at me more angered, I joked, "Did this cool you down or you need more?" I giggled. "You just wait and watch!" he said and got up. I ran around the bench with him following me. I poke my tongue out at him and teased him. After a while, he caught hold of my hand and we both panted to catch our breath. Sitting back on the bench, I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head on his chest pleading, "Please please please forgive me." He sighed and hugged me. "Last time," he said. I smiled. We sat like that for a while until he asked, "Are you sure that you want to date Ayaan?" I frowned. "I am not going to date him. He doesn't like me. And besides, Preeti will feel so bad if I do," I said. "Why would she?" he asked. Parting from him, I said, "Preeti is starting to fall in love with him." He looked at me with his face turning pale. "What?" he asked. I nodded. "And does Ayaan know this?" he asked. "He does," I said, "She's in a bad state." "That's so sad," he said. "I am not going to date Ayaan. I can't do this to Preeti," I said. "And what about your feelings?" he asked. "I have held onto them without anyone knowing for a year. They will remain the same," I said.

"Don't do this to yourself," he said. I smiled and said, "Come on! It's just an attraction. With time, it will end." "Ani..." he started but I covered his mouth and said, "It's getting very late. You should go back to the hotel. I'll meet you tomorrow." "Don't you have to be here?" he asked. "No, we will get a day off tomorrow," I said. "Ok then. I'll see you," he said and hugged me. He left me there and I looked at him walking out of the camp. I sighed and looked at the stage. "Tea?" someone asked behind me. I turned back and saw Ayaan with two cups of tea. Taking one, I said, "Thanks." He came and sat next to me. "Why are you all alone?" he asked. "I wasn't alone. Rohan just left," I said. I sipped the tea and perhaps this was the best thing to end the coldness of winter in my body. "You made this?" I asked. He nodded. "Nice," I said. He sipped his tea. "Rohan and you...how long have you known each other?" he asked. "Around fifteen years," I said. "Whoa! Long time," he said. I nodded saying, "He's my best friend." "And this friendship never turned into love?" he asked making me choke on the tea. I coughed and he quickly began patting my back. "Look up!" he said. I raised my head and as he patted my back, I coughed. "Are you ok?" he asked. I nodded and cleared my throat. "The next time you are going to ask such a question, give me a disclaimer please," I said. "Sorry," he said. "No, Rohan and I are only best friends. He's soon going to be engaged to someone else," I said. He smiled. "And you don't have a boyfriend?" he asked. I looked at him with a smile. "I don't have time for a relationship. My studies are everything to me right now," I said. "But still, there might be someone who you like," he said. "Yep, there is," I said. "Who is he?" he asked immediately. I looked at him surprised. His frowning face then turned into embarrassment. I smiled and said, "It's very late. Goodnight." I stood up and was walking away. I turned back and saw him sitting on the bench looking at his cup of tea. I shook my head and went back to my room.

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Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed that update! And your quote is, "Sometimes silence says everything." There sometimes isn't a need to always be verbal. Silence is a beautiful conversation as well. What a line! Tell me if I should use it in the book. Until we meet again, take care! Bye!