Episode 5: The Clash of Hearts

Ali ka office ka atmosphere abhi bhi heavy tha. Smiksha ke chale jaane ke baad woh apni kursi par baitha tha, magar uska dimaag bilkul wahan nahi tha. Conference room ki silence ushe aur bhi disturb kar rahi thi. Usne apna pen table par rakha aur khidki ki taraf dekhte hue bas ek chehra yaad aaya—Smiksha ka. Uski aankhen, uski confident chal, aur us waqt ki uski baatein jab woh thodi arrogance ke saath meeting chhod kar gayi thi.

"Mujhe nahi lagta ki tumhare pass time hai bhi..."

Woh sentence Ali ke dimag mein echo ban kar baar-baar ghoom raha tha.

Ali apna forehead press karta hai. Why is she affecting me this much? Woh apne feelings ko samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha, magar uske andar ek ajeeb si restlessness thi. Jaise usse lag raha ho ki woh us ladki ko khone nahi de sakta… aur yeh feeling usne kabhi kisi ke liye mehsoos nahi ki thi.

Smiksha’s Turmoil

Dusri taraf Smiksha apne empire ke secret music studio mein khadi thi. Large glass room, soundproof walls, aur beech mein ek grand piano. Uske saamne microphone tha, magar uske dil mein dard aur confusion bhar gaya tha.

Woh keys press karti hai aur ek soft melody bajti hai. Lekin har sur ke sath usse apne parents ki awaaz yaad aati hai jo usne airport washroom mein suni thi. "Uski shaadi fix kar dete hain…"

Uske aansu uske galle pe roll karte hain, magar woh jaldi unhe wipe kar deti hai. Main weak nahi ban sakti. Main Twinkle hoon. Main woh hoon jise duniya poojti hai. Mujhe sabko prove karna hai.

Phir uske dimag mein woh violin wala stranger flash hota hai, aur uske turant baad Ali ka chehra. Dono ke beech usse ek ajeeb connection lagta hai—ek rishta jo na samajh mein aata hai, na ignore hota hai.

Riya’s Insecurity

Riya abhi bhi Ali ke office mein thi. Usne casually Ali ka laptop khol diya, thinking ki woh bas koi deal files dekhegi. Lekin screen pe ek confidential folder open tha jisme ek naam likha tha—Twinkle (Confidential Artist Profile).

Riya curiosity mein click karti hai aur shock ho jaati hai. File mein pictures aur recordings the jo Smiksha ke stage rehearsals se related the.

"Wait… yeh ladki… Smiksha? Yeh Twinkle hai?" Riya ke dimaag mein jealousy ka tufan aa gaya.

Usne hamesha Ali ko pasand kiya tha, lekin ab use lag raha tha ki Ali ka interest kahin aur shift ho raha hai. Usne apne nails bite kiye aur decide kiya—agar Smiksha Ali ke kareeb aayi toh woh usse tod degi.

The Evening Show

Shaam ke 7 baje, Mumbai ka ek luxurious auditorium glitter kar raha tha. Entrance par limousines aa rahi thi, media ke cameras flash kar rahe the, aur red carpet bichha hua tha.

Smiksha, jise duniya Twinkle ke naam se jaanti thi, backstage khadi thi. Usne apni mask-like glamorous makeup aur designer gown pehna tha. Lekin uska dil fast beat kar raha tha.

Dora uske paas aayi, “Ma’am, aaj hall mein special guests hain. Dragon Corporation ke board members… including Mr. Ali Burnwal.”

Smiksha ka dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya. Usne khud ko calm karne ki koshish ki. Why does it matter? Woh bas ek business rival hai… nothing more.

Lights dim hui, crowd cheer karne laga. Announcement hua:

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… the voice that rules millions of hearts… the one and only, Twinkle!"

Stage par jaate hi, jaise hi spotlight us par pada, auditorium mein silence chha gayi. Smiksha ne mic uthaya, aur ek soulful song start kiya. Uski awaaz mein aaj dard bhi tha aur power bhi. Crowd mesmerized ho gaya.

Aur Ali… front row mein baitha, shocked reh gaya.

Usne apni seat tight pakad li. She… she is Twinkle? Uske liye world thoda ruk gaya. Woh ladki jise woh din mein ek arrogant heiress samajh raha tha, raat ko duniya ki sabse powerful, most secret singer nikli.

Ali ki aankhen us se hatt nahi rahi thi. Uske har sur ke saath woh aur bhi khinchta chala ja raha tha.

After the Show

Backstage crowd full tha—media, organizers, aur security. Smiksha apna heavy gown adjust karte hue dressing room ki taraf ja rahi thi. Dora uske saath thi.

Tabhi ek strong voice piche se aayi:

"Miss Smiksha… ya phir, should I say… Twinkle?"

Smiksha ne palat kar dekha. Ali khada tha, uski aankhen intense aur questions se bhari hui.

Smiksha ek second ke liye freeze ho gayi, lekin phir apni usual calm tone mein boli,

“Mr. Burnwal, I don’t think meri personal life ka aapke business se koi lena dena hai.”

Ali uske kareeb aaya, “You hid this from everyone… but why? Tumne mujhe bataya kyu nahi?”

Smiksha thoda sarcastic hansi, “Aur tum mere kaun ho? Family? Dost? Mujhe apni identity har kisi ko explain karni ki zarurat nahi hai.”

Ali uski baaton se aur frustrated ho gaya. “Tumhe lagta hai yeh bas ek secret hai? Tum samajhti ho tumne mujhe confuse nahi kiya? Din mein tum ek alag insaan ho, raat ko alag… aur dono versions… dono mujhe…”

Woh ruk gaya. Usne sentence complete nahi kiya.

Smiksha ne uski aankhon mein dekha, aur uske dil mein ek ajeeb flutter hua. Woh kuch bolna chahti thi, par uske pehle hi Riya aa gayi.

“Ali!” Riya ne possessive tone mein uska haath pakad liya. “Tum yahan kyun ho? I was waiting for you.”

Smiksha ne woh scene dekha aur apne chehre par ek cold mask laga liya. “Mr. Burnwal, I guess aap busy hain. Good night.”

Aur yeh keh kar woh chal di.

Ali bas uske peeche dekhte reh gaya, uske dil mein ek hi baat chal rahi thi—

I can’t let her walk away… not like this.

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