Chapter 31 #3
As Manisha entered the room, her eyes widened in awe at the sight before her.
A grand stage stood on one end of a spacious hall.
The broad floor was marked for rows and rows of seating.
A theatre in the making. It was still in the midst of renovations but already built and beautiful enough that it took her breath away.
She marvelled at the sheer size of it all.
“Wow, Rohit,” she exclaimed, walking into the centre of the space. “Once again, you’ve outdone yourself.”
“Lie down.” Rohit’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
Without hesitation, Manisha placed her glass of wine on a sturdy box and followed Rohit’s instructions, lying down on the stage as he directed.
He moved behind her and the lights dimmed; the room transformed into a magical scene with twinkling stars all around.
Manisha gasped. “You’ve brought the outdoors inside.” She was impressed by the effort he had put into creating such a mesmerizing ambience. Joining her on the stage, Rohit lay down beside her, their closeness potent in the dimly lit room.
“It’s a theatre, for the community,” he said.
“It’s absolutely stunning,” she replied. “Every little detail is just perfect.”
“Well, if you ever need a place to rehearse your next fight scene, you know where to come,” Rohit said, adding a touch of humour to the enchanting moment.
Manisha playfully punched Rohit on his arm. He moved in closer and nudged her, causing her to giggle. In response, she pushed him away good-naturedly and he leaned in even closer, propping his head up on one arm.
“My mom had big dreams of becoming an actress when she was younger,” Rohit shared, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. “But unfortunately, there weren’t many opportunities for Indian women to pursue those dreams back then.”
Manisha turned to face him, a warm smile on her face. “You’re right. Even now there aren’t many avenues for Indian men and women to chase their dreams in the creative industry.”
“But I’m determined to change that. I want to have an impact here.”
Manisha was touched by Rohit’s commitment. It wasn’t all talk with him—he was a man of his word. “And you’re doing exactly that. You’re making a very positive impact.”
She turned her gaze back to the night sky above. “That’s the kind of person I’ve been searching for to share my life with.” She didn’t know what made her say that. Actually, nothing had compelled her to; she had simply let her guard down.
“I know what you mean,” he said, his voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and hope. “Sometimes, I catch myself reflecting on all the dreams I had when I was younger.”
Manisha grinned, teasing, “When I was little, I wanted to join the circus.”
Rohit’s expression shifted in mock shock. “No way! Me too!”
Suddenly, Rohit shot up and held out his hand to Manisha. “Shall we go now? Run away with the circus?”
“I’m afraid I gave up my clown suit when I was five.”
“Oh, darn it.”
Out of nowhere, Sunil popped into Manisha’s head. She frowned, guilt settling over her as she thought about the precious moment she had just shared with Rohit. She wanted to be sharing it with Sunil. She wanted to be on a date with Sunil.
She surged to her feet. “I should probably get going.”
“Oh, okay,” Rohit said, something like disappointment in his tone. “Here, let me lead you back out.”
She swayed forward, and Rohit grabbed her hand to steady her. “Easy there.”
The wine had made her tipsy. “I’ll call an Uber.”
“Let me drive you. I’ve only had one glass,” he insisted.
“No, no, it’s alright.”
“Manisha, it’s raining outside. Let me take you home. I live like a block away from your parents’ house.”
“Alright, fine,” she relented.
Outside, Rohit opened his umbrella, guiding Manisha to his car as the rain intensified. She moved closer, instinctively wrapping her hand around his bicep for warmth and support.
He fumbled with the fob, trying to unlock the door. “Sorry, it sometimes acts up,” he said, mild frustration in his voice.
Manisha’s gaze softened as the moonlight illuminated his rugged features, his charm more pronounced in the dim glow.
Just as he reached for the door handle, the rain picked up, and without thinking, she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him, seeking solace in his embrace.
For a brief moment, time seemed to slow.
Then the car alarm blared, jolting them back to reality. Rohit quickly silenced it and finally opened the door. Manisha, her heart racing with a mix of emotions, reluctantly let go, slipping into the passenger seat.
The alcohol had loosened her thoughts, and all she could think about was being held by Sunil, craving the comfort of his arms. Not Rohit’s.
They drove in silence. As soon as Rohit dropped her off and the car pulled away, Manisha didn’t even make it to her bedroom. She grabbed her phone and quickly typed an email to Sunil, her fingers trembling with anticipation.
I want to meet you, too. There’s something I need to tell you, though—but I need to sleep on it first.