Hope you enjoy this chapter ❤️

Gauri's POV~

The day I had been desperately waiting for had finally arrived.

The stage lights cast a warm, golden glow as I stepped into position at the center of the stage, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves.

The opening notes of O Re Piya began to play—soft, soulful, weaving their magic through the hall.

I glanced at my group, and we exchanged a fleeting smile—a shared moment of confidence.

As the melody swelled, our bodies moved in perfect synchrony, each gesture flowing like water.

My arms extended gracefully, fingers tracing the air as though painting the emotions of the song.

The fabric of my costume shimmered under the lights, adding an ethereal quality to every twirl and sway.

I could feel the audience’s eyes on us—hundreds of pairs, silent, captivated, hanging onto every step.

The music deepened, and so did our expressions.

I let myself fully immerse in the rhythm, feeling the weight of each note in my chest.

My feet struck the stage with purpose, yet my movements felt light, as if the music itself carried me.

The group danced as one entity, our coordination a testament to the hours of rehearsals and shared passion.

Nange pairo pe angaro

Chalti rahi haaye chalti rahi

Lagta hai ke gairo mein

Palti rahi haaye

Le chal wahan jo Mulk tera hai

Jahil zamana Dushman mera hai

Haaye

O re piya haye

As the song reached its crescendo, we executed a series of intricate spins, and the world around me blurred into streaks of light and sound.

When the final note faded, the audience erupted into applause—the sound crashing over me like a wave.

I stood there, breathing hard but smiling, my gaze scanning the crowd. Their claps, their cheers—it was all worth it.

I searched for someone in the crowd, someone I wished to see. But when I didn’t find that familiar face, I shook off the feeling, smiled at my team, and exited the stage.

"I thought I was going to faint," one of the girls admitted, still catching her breath.

"Yeah, there were so many people this time," another added, eyes wide with nerves.

I smiled, understanding their emotions all too well.

I remembered my college days—how my hands used to tremble after every performance. But now, I only feel pride and happiness.

"Didi, what do you think? Are we going to win this?" Meera asked as we descended the stairs.

I wanted to win—not just for myself but for the orphanage. The prize money was a huge amount, and I could use it for the children’s needs.

"Let’s hope for the best," I said, smiling as I gently caressed her cheek.

We had won many competitions before, but this one was different. It was a massive event.

We waited patiently as other dance performances continued. When the last group finished, my heart started pounding.

I watched as Sunidhi Kapoor walked onto the stage, clad in a stunning dark green saree, exuding elegance and authority.

She began her speech, congratulating all the dancers for their hard work.

Then, her gaze fell upon our group. She smiled at me before speaking again.

"And the winner of this competition is… Eternal Love from Gauri Dance Studio!"

I stood frozen for a few seconds before my team screamed in joy, jumping on me in excitement.

"We did it!" one of them shouted, and I couldn’t hold back my tears.

We walked to the stage, my heart swelling with pride.

As soon as I reached Sunidhi Kapoor, I bent down to touch her feet in respect.

"Congratulations, Gauri," she said, extending the trophy towards me.

"It was a beautiful performance."

I whispered a small thank you and accepted the award, feeling a mix of emotions.

I wasn’t sure why, but for a moment, she looked at me with something beyond admiration—something emotional, almost as if she was surprised… or nostalgic.

Then came the moment we had been waiting for—the prize check of thirty lakh rupees was handed to us.

Photographers clicked endless pictures, capturing our victorious moment.

The second and third-place winners were announced, and once again, we all posed for the final group photos with Sunidhi Kapoor.

Half an hour later, we walked into the changing rooms.

The girls quickly changed out of their costumes, handing me their dresses before rushing off to their hostel.

The outfits were sponsored, so we had to return them.

I braided my hair first, then gathered the dresses and made my way to the designer team’s manager.

"I wanted to return these," I said, showing him the bags. He recognized me immediately.

"Ah, yes. By the way, congratulations," he said, taking the bag and beginning to inspect the dresses.

"Thank you! Also, the costumes were really beautiful," I added sincerely.

His gentle demeanor suddenly changed as he examined one of the outfits.

"I’m afraid you’ll have to pay for this," he said, holding up an Anarkali dress with a torn back and a broken zipper.

I frowned. It wasn’t the one I had worn—mine was a different color from the others. One of the girls must have accidentally torn it.

I looked at him, waiting for him to explain.

"It’s just a small tear," I pointed out.

His lips curled into a bitter smile. "That’s the problem with low-class people—you don’t realize the worth of the dress you were privileged enough to wear, even if it was just once in your life."

My brows knitted together at his words.

"Excuse me? Mind your language! How can you say something so—"

"One lakh, Miss," he interrupted coldly. "You have to pay because it was your team that damaged the dress."

My eyes widened in shock.

"What? One lakh?!"

He nodded firmly.

I snapped. "Have you lost your mind? If I had that kind of money lying around, why would I be here arguing with you?"

"You just won thirty lakh, didn’t you?"

Right. But that money wasn’t just for me.

I had to divide it among ten girls, invest in the orphanage, and use it wisely.

"Look, I understand that it was my team’s mistake, but if you give me the dress, I can get it repaired," I tried to negotiate.

He shook his head. "Sorry, Miss, but—"

"I’ll pay for it."

A deep, masculine voice cut him off.

My heart stopped for a second.

No.

Not him. Please, not him.

I clenched my fists as my stupid heart started racing.

Why do we always end up colliding when our paths are meant to be different?

How was the chapter?

Thanks for reading ❤️