Dream Catcher

The concert was jubilant and brilliant. The people who performed it seemed as if they weren't students but trained artists. Are they truly studying business? This college is a treasure trove of talents.

At the end of the concert, they put up peppy songs. The area soon transformed into a large club. We five, including Vihaan and Tarun, shifted aside, a little far from the large crowd. Riya and Kabir came after a while. After congratulating and thanking them for a great performance Avika pulled me towards the now dance floor. We danced a little when we pulled Trisha and Riya in. Kabir and Tarun joined too but he didn't bother to.

"Come on, join us." I said walking towards him.

"I can't dance." He shouted. In the ear busting music, we have shout even though we were very near.

"You can. Come." I held his hand and dragged him in our circle.

Yeah, he couldn't dance as he said but stood there and clapped according to the beats. After enjoying a lot we decided to hit the fest stalls. They were arranged like stalls in a fair. There were numerous things to see. I can easily lose things so I gave my purse, with my phone in, to Avika and kept a 500 rupee note in my hand.

The night is boisterous. The energy and spirit are high everywhere. But my heart is still beating a little fast than usual. That's solely because of the look I have received when he said I looked pretty. I never felt that I would be so flustered because of a compliment.

We surveyed the stalls, stopping at the delicacies. Although I don't like these stuff I trust the hygiene level of our college, and I ain't stopping myself from having fun.

We pass by the accessories stall. I think my girls controlled their desire to hit the stands very hard because I found it hard too. There were various things but a special thing caught my attention. I saw a dark blue dream-catcher. I don't believe in the legend that dream-catchers could chase away bad dreams but somehow they always attract me. Obviously, they are beautiful. Blue shiny thread wound around in a web pattern and beads, pearls and feathers hanging down. I always wanted one. Suddenly, I found myself standing alone near the stall, my rest of friends went on. I should hurry to have it, there is only 1 left.

"Excuse me, how much does that cost?" I squeezed my way in.

"250 rupees." She replied

"That's expensive!" I replied.

"Fixed-rate!" She replied.

Unexpectedly I had only 200 left as I carried less money in hand. This dress doesn't have a pocket. And for the first time, I blamed myself for wearing this dress. Avika has my purse.

"Avika" I shouted.

"Please reserve it for me, I'll be right back." I said.

"Miss, if someone else desires to buy then I can't help you." She said and began selling to other girls.

"Avika purse!" I rush towards her.

I gave no room for an explanation as I ran to grab the bag and was back to the stall. But it was gone.

"Are you kidding me? It's sold?" I asked.

"Yes, you were late, now go, as there are many people here to buy things here."

I was upset but then ignored. Maybe that dream-catcher didn't have the luck to hang in my room. Yeah yeah, I know that's a case of sour grapes. But, whatever.

I reached my group. I noticed that Vihaan isn't here. I think I haven't seen him for a while. I could have asked his help if he would be around. Sigh.

He joined us out of nowhere.

"Speak of the devil and he has arrived." I said under my breath.

"Did you say something to me?" He asked.

"No. I just said you will live a hundred years. Where were you?" I asked.

"I went shopping around." He showed me a small bag.

"What did you buy?" I asked, curious.

"I'll show you later." He said and walked ahead.

"Hey wait." I rushed behind him.

We all reached a place beautifully decorated.

"We haven't clicked pictures, let's do so." Exclaimed Riya.

We girls got a lot of selfies. The guys were sitting and talking.

"Hey, come on, you all" she called to them.

We had a group selfie then. Then the guys clicked some of ours and now they are clicking theirs. I told Avika to click some single ones of me.

"Go there. The view is nice." She said.

"Go a little behind. Left. Yeah. Right there." She said. And behind her stood Riya and Trisha.

And then somebody bumped into me from behind. I turned to see Vihaan behind me, him facing me. Unexpectedly he was clicking photos and Kabir was guiding him. Perfect couples. Conspiring together. I glanced at his brown eyes, the unfathomable intensity of gaze drew me in.

"Perfect!" Shouted Avika. And we broke our stare.

I was... I don't know what.

"Hey, if you wanted our picture together we could have stood to pose, why to plot so much." I said.

"What do you say Vihaan, won't you have a picture with me?" I asked. It took all my courage to ask that. What if he says no?

"Yes, of course." He answered.

"Avika, take a nice one okay?" I said.

I stood beside him. He kept looking at me.

"Camera is there." I said softly.

While being embarrassed he turned towards Avika.

When our photo session ended. It was already 10 p.m.

I didn't want to admit but I felt sleepy. Riya and Trisha retired first to solve a girly problem. It seemed this week Riya will stay in dorms. Tarun drifted off somewhere I don't know. It was only Avika, Kabir me and him.

To give them alone time I asked Vihaan to come along with me to take a walk.

We have been walking in the beautiful dark night, the lights still gleaming in the darkness, the air a little cool. The monsoons have ended. The air still contained moisture. It feels so good. He was quiet like me. Why? I don't know. We didn't talk tonight at all. Why? I don't know.

Something changed today. Why? I don't know. But it feels magical. Sometimes the realists need a fresh air of magic. Everything so ordinary yet so ethereal.

"What are you thinking?" I asked him.

"Trying to guess what are you feeling." He said honestly.

"I? I'm very happy. This night, no this day was the best day. It would be one of the most cherished days of my life. That I can promise." I said.

"What are you staring at?" I asked when he didn't say anything.

"You." He answered.

I was stunned to hear that, so honest? I stopped in my tracks.

"Do you have a fever?" I asked.

He laughed, heartily. My heart skipped a beat. He looked so handsome in his dark jeans and a dark blue untucked shirt. I loved blue shirts and I think this is going to be my favourite.

"Okay, you told me you would show me what you shopped." I said.

"Yeah, but first I have to get my bag." He said.

"Why?"

"I have something to give you." He said.

What does he have to give? Chocolates?

******

Vihaan's P.O.V

I hope she won't hate me after this. I entered the building and saw my bag laying on the ground, picking it up turned to Manya.

"Don't scold me okay?" I said.

"Why what happened?" She asked.

"I have your poetry notebook," I said.

"I should say the poems were lovely."

Her eyes widened.

"Thank God I found it. But how and where did you get it?" She asked.

"Well, you remember that day, when we fought and your books fell over. While I was running behind you, someone called me and said I left this behind."

That day was amazing as we visited my favourite cafe "Cafe Tranquil".

But because of my foolishness, it ended pretty fast.

"Well, it's okay. But you know I love my poems. They are a lot personal." She said.

"I read them after you stayed in my apartment," I said. I understood her better by them. Maybe that's why I like her so so much. I wish I could tell her right now, but I know she isn't ready, I can feel that.

"And I know I did wrong reading these without your permission but I have a gift for you to quell your anger."

I took out the thing in the bag.

It was a blue coloured dream-catcher.

But that wasn't a reaction I thought I would see. I was expecting surprise or happiness, I saw a confused expression.

"I saw this in a stall today. It looked so beautiful, I was captivated by it and thought of you. You don't like it?"

"I love it, I was wishing to buy this very thing, but when I got the money it was already bought. So you were the one to buy this?" She said, now beaming with a smile that warmed my heart.

"That's a total coincidence. Well, I have something else too." I said.

Taking out a pack of chocolate.

"Why are you treating me so well?" She said.

"Um, there's a lot of things actually. You helped in scriptwriting, heard my story, spent time with me and then these poems." I said. I know that it's not the real reason and she is too smart to fool but I don't know what else to say.

"Thank you, so much. And as for the things you mentioned that's utter excuses. I will take these as a late birthday gift. I told you I'm a selfish person." she said and we laughed together.

What a lovely night it is. Will I be this happy in future too? Maybe, if she is walking beside me like this always.