“Goodnight, Dad,” I said, the word feeling natural for the first time.
I sat alone in the kitchen, the silence ringing in my ears. I looked at the diary, then at my phone. A part of me wanted to call Saurav and tell him everything about the dance, about Abhiraj, about the diary.
But I thought of my sister’s face and my father’s threats. I picked up the book and clutched it to my chest.
I was surrounded by men with secrets, and now, I was the biggest keeper of them all.
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Chapter 34
KAVYA
The next morning, I arrived at the studio with a heavy heart. The conversation with Mr. Chauhan was still playing in my head like a movie on repeat. Knowing that Abhiraj and Saurav were once best friends made every step feel like I was walking on hot coals. It hurt just to enter his house, to be in his studio, and to dance with him.
I didn't have a problem with Abhiraj Sisodiya himself; he was a good person and had been nothing but a kind friend to me. But I had a major problem with what Saurav would think when he finally found out the truth.
Pushing those thoughts away, I tried to focus. When the music started, I felt incredibly uncomfortable. Every time Abhiraj reached out to guide my posture or help with a transition, I pulled back as if he were my enemy. My movements were stiff, and my footwork lacked the usual crisp, rhythmic sound of Kathak.
I actually stopped to wonder what the heck I was doing. I was the one who needed the money, not Abhiraj. Despite his busy schedule, he was giving me two hours of his time, and I was behaving like a brat which I definitely wasn't.
"Kavya, you’re overthinking again," Abhiraj said, stopping the music in irritation. "You look like you're dancing with a ghost, not a partner."
"I'm just tired," I lied, keeping my eyes on the floor.
"Let’s try the lift again. Just trust the rhythm," he commanded.
We tried to coordinate a sequence where I had to spin into his arms, but my dupatta got tangled in his watch. We both stumbled, tripped over our own feet, and landed in a messy heap on the floor.
For a second, there was total silence. Then, Abhiraj started to chuckle. It wasn't his usual cold smirk; it was a genuine, boyish laugh. I looked at my tangled dupatta and my messy hair, and suddenly, the tension snapped. I started laughing too.
"So much for professional grace," I gasped, trying to untangle myself.
"I think the floor liked that performance more than the judges would," he joked, helping me to my feet.
The ice was finally broken. For the next two hours, the rehearsal felt different. We made mistakes and poked fun at each other’s styles. For a brief moment, I forgot about the secrets and even my husband.
Around noon, we took a break and sat on the floor for lunch. Abhiraj had ordered his chef to make sandwiches and insisted I eat with him, so I agreed.
"You're actually not that bad for a businessman," I teased, taking a huge, hungry bite of the delicious sandwich.
"And you're not as scary as you look when you're doing those fast spins," he replied with a smile.
We talked about small things—music, food, and the weather, avoiding the names that usually haunted us. It was a rare moment of peace in the middle of my chaotic life.
But reality returned the second I checked my watch. I packed my bags quickly and headed to the hospital. When I entered Kirti's room, she was sitting up, reading a book. She looked so fragile against the white pillows.
"Kavya!" she chirped, her eyes brightening the moment she saw me.
I sat beside her and took her hand. "How is my little baby today?"
"I'm okay. But I missed you," she whispered, leaning her head on my shoulder. "Did you practice? Is your partner nice?"
She didn't know my partner was Abhiraj Sisodiya. I wasn't sure why I hadn't told her, but it felt right to keep it that way for now.
“He’s nice,” I said, thinking of the laughter in the studio and the sandwich we shared. "He’s a good dancer, Kiki. We’re working hard."
"I want to see you win," she said, her voice full of hope. "I want to see you shine on that big stage."