Chapter 19- The Day It All Began

Amrita was getting her makeup done. Another 1 hour 30 minutes before her performance. She is feeling more nervous than usual because even though she has performed multiple times, this would be the first time Shivanesh is going to watch her perform. She was not sure why but this time she feels like she wants to show a more charming side to Shivanesh, a side he has not seen. She is really hoping that she does not embarrass hrsel in front of Shivanesh. Regardless of her multiple experience on stage, today, knowing the fact that Shivanesh will in the crowd of audience watching her perform, it was making her feel more excited and nervous.

About 20 minutes before her performance, she texted Shivanesh to ask again if he was coming. She was excited because she will be seeing him again after so long and she was always curious about how he looks and how much he has grown. After a while she heard her phone chiming.

Shivanesh:

I am here. Waiting for you to come out.

Amrita:

What colour attire are you wearing? So that I can recognize you,

Shivanesh:

You will know when you see. Wait for it.

Amrita:

Shiva. Will you be able to recognize beneath all the makeup and accessories?

.

Shivanesh:

I can bet that I will recognize you no matter how you look. Trust me.

Amrita put away her phone as they were doing their last preparation in the group. Slowly the time for them to perform came. Amrita and her teammates were all prepared and set to perform. The moment they heard the organizer announcing their names, they started to walk out of their waiting area and towards the centre of the temple which was the stage for the day.

Shivanesh was smiling at Amrita’s text when he heard the organizers announcing thenames of the dancers for the day and heard a familiar name. He looked up and saw the group of dancers and recognized his princess looking like a goddess in blue saree looking for something. He smiled to himself when he realized he recognized her at first sight.

While walking towards the stage, Amrita was looking around for a familiar face. Just when she was about to give up as she was reaching the stage, she saw a good looking guy wearing a blue jippa on the left side of the temple smiling at her. Her heart skipped a beat recognizing the boy in front of her.

“He is really here,” Amrita thought, smiling to herself. She caught him mouthing “Good luck” to her. Amrita felt a sense happiness and excitement emerging from inside of her.

The music started and the group of dancers started their performance. There were 7 girls performing at the stage with perfect synchronization. Even with the other girls on stage, Shivanesh only could see Amrita’s movements. He always knows that her beauty id a beauty of a goddess but being in her saree, jewelry and makeup, he felt as though she was truly a goddess from heaven dancing in front of him. Shivanesh could not stop smiling watching Amrita making different expressions and movements to convey the story of the song to the audience. He could really feel the emotions he had for her growing and conquering his heart. It was as though they were the only one there.

“She is definitely the most beautiful dancer I have ever met in my whole life. What I would do to have her to feel the love I feel for her?” Shivanesh thought to himself watching the graceful Amrita. He could feel his heart going crazy every time she turn to face him in her dance routine. He was grateful he decide to come today because he could not imagine what he was missing all tis while and he is sure that he would regret if he did not come to watch her performance. He felt as though he was such a fool for not watching her performance before this.

Amrita was feeling extremely nervous. So much was going on in her head that she was trying so hard to concentrate on the dance routine. Everytime he sees Shivanesh, she controlled herself from smiling. She saw how bright and wide Shivanesh was smiling. She was really loving the fact that he was there, tching her perform. She has a total of 3 songs to perform in groups and one solo performance. It has only been 2 songs and Amrita was already feeling breathless because of the nervousness she was feeling at that moment feeling the lasers sent by a certain someone through his eyes. She felt like as though her performance today was meant solely for one person.

Amrita was resting at the waiting area after her 3 performance and for her turn of solo performance when she got a text from Shivanesh.

Shivanesh:

Are you done for the day? Why do I not see you?

Amrita:

After this I will be performing my solo performance. Wait for it okay? Does the other performance not interesting enough for you?

Shivanesh:

No. I only see you. You are the most beautiful dancer I have ever seen I am missing the sight of you already.

Amrita could not stop a squeal that escaped her mouth the moment she read Shivanesh’s text. She was about to send her reply wen one of her groupmates alerted that it was her turn soon and she needs to prepare.

Shivnesh heard the organizer mentioning Amrita’s name and explaining about the dance she would be performing. Shivanesh got his phone ready to record her performance so he could keep watching his goddess eve when she is not around.

Amrita prepared herself to perform. She tied the fake peacock tail around her wait as she was doing a dance symbolizing the graceful peacock. She knows that Shivanesh likes peacock and she was glad he was here to watch her performance besides being extremely nervous right now.

“Shivanesh you really know how to make a girl feel nervous. You better like this or I would definitely kill you,” Amrita said as she positioned herself to start dancing.

Shivanesh was surprised when he saw the dance Amrita was performing. He was really astonished to see Amrita mirroring how graceful a peacock is. He is definitely sure he has never seen such a gorgeous peacock in his life and Amrita was definitely showing the world how graceful she can be. Her soft gestures, her facial expressions, her seamless movements, each of it keeps making Shivanesh’s mouth gape bigger.

Amrita tried her very best to avoid any possible eye contact with Shivanesh because she knows he messes with her brains a lot and she really don’t want to screw up the routine. Amrita beautifully ended the performance and walked out of the stage accompanied by claps from the audience. When she reached the door of the waiting area, she saw Shivanesh already waiting for her at the door.

“What are you doing here?” Amrita asked.

“I really want to stay until the end of the night, but no one else catches my eyes like you do and since you are done with your performance for today, I think I shall go home now,” Shivanesh said.

Amrita feel her heartbeat rising after hearing Shivanesh’s comment.

“Are you not here to pray? Did you only come here to watch my performance?” Amrita asked again.

“Bingo. So, when do you leave back to Sarawak?” Shivanesh asked.

“Somewhere next week. Why?” Amrita asked.

“I just thought I could meet you. But I guess you are busy preparing to go back. I will see you the next time then. I will definitely keep this image of the most beautiful peacock till I see you again,” Shivanesh said while moving a strand of hair that fell on Amrita’s face. He then placed his a palm on Amrita’s cheeks and just looked at her for a while like he was engraving Amrita’s image in his brains.

Amrita as lost in Shivanesh’s gaze. She could feel the roughness of his palm yet his touch being soft and tender. His gaze was making her heart beat wild and yet lost as thought she was on drugs.

Shivanesh was so tempted to do more then. Amrita’s eyes on him was so beautiful that he knows he will never get tired off. Such beauty in front of him. He is definitely loving the view in front of him right now. As much as he wants to stay like that longer, he knows he has to stop before he makes a mistake.

“Make sure you keep in touch okay?” Shivanesh tapped lightly on Amrita’s cheek.

Amrita realized that she was lost in Shivanesh gaze when she felt his tap on her cheek. Her heart was definitely all over the place as well as her mind. She wanted so badly to just hug him. “Sure, let’s meet the next time I come back. Thank you for coming tonight, Amrita said. She wastrying to stay away from him but her brains andheart keep telling her to hug him. Without thinking much she hugged Shivanesh waist slowly. “You take care and I would surely keep in touch,” Amrita said again.

Shivanesh stoned when he felt Amrita’s hands around his waist and her leaning into his chest. His heart beat keeps rising and there seem to be no way Shivanesh can slow them down. It took him a few seconds before recollecting his thoughts. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. Being able to have her so close and hugging him like this was a dream to Shivanesh for what seem like centuries. He was just worried that she could hear how fast his heart was beating right now. He hugged her long enough to remember her scent and how it felt to have his goddess in his arms. Shivanesh felt like he was in cluod nine as he was feeling blessed having her here in his arms. 

Amrita could feel her heart beat beating fast when she felt Shivanesh’s arm around her. She hugged him tighter to take in his scent and the comfort she was feeling from the hug. She could also hear Shivanesh’s heart beat beating as fast as hers. After about 1 minute, Amrita let go of the hug ad took a step back.

“Now, you are making me miss you even more,” Shivanesh said looking at Amrita with a smile.

“I am just thankful to have you back. I have missed you a lot,” Amrita said.

“Take a good rest. Text me okay?,” Shivanesh said. He did not know wat drove him to do so but Shivanesh slowly placed his palm on Amrita’s neck and lightly kissing her cheeks before walking away.

Amrita was shocked with the kiss. She was stunned watching Shivanesh back getting further as he walks out of the temple. Amrita slowly placed her palm on her chest where she felt her heart beating wild.

“I really don’t know why I keep feeling like this,” Amrita thought to herself.