Strings of Love
The dim ambient lights and the pounding rhythm of the drums filled the crowded Bangalore pub. On stage, the rock band Aagney was bringing their live performance to a grand finish. The crowd cheered frantically as the song ended. The bassist and lead guitarist bumped fists and walked off toward the backstage area.
Sitting at a table in the corner, I watched it all unfold. My name is Nivedita, a journalist working for Daily Vibes magazine. But throughout the show, my eyes were glued to the lead singer, Aditya. With his leather jacket, messy hair, and intense stage presence, he was in a league of his own.
I had secured permission to interview the band tonight. Taking a deep breath, I walked toward the backstage V.I.P. room and knocked on the door. Nikhil, the drummer, pulled it open.
"Hey Nivi! How was the show? Guys, meet Nivedita—the journalist I was talking about."
Inside the room were Varun, the bassist, and Arjun, the guitarist. In the far corner sat Aditya, staring intensely at his phone with a serious expression.
"Hello everyone, I'm Nivedita. Just a quick interview—I won't take up too much of your time," I said with a warm smile.
We gathered around a small table. But as soon as I pulled out my voice recorder, Aditya’s expression darkened.
"A recording?" Aditya snapped, his voice sharp. "We never agreed to a recorded interview, and Nikhil didn't even mention this to us."
"It helps me write everything down accurately," I stammered, taken aback. "I just assumed Nikhil had briefed you."
I quickly shifted the conversation to ease the tension, asking the other members about their musical journey. Hours passed, and the mood turned friendly. Finally, it was time to address the brooding lead singer.
I intended to ask him about his songwriting process, but before my brain could stop my tongue, a completely different question popped out of my mouth:
"Aditya... would you like to go out on a date with me?"
The room went dead silent. A second later, the rest of the band burst into roaring laughter. Embarrassment rushed over me, and I hid my face in my hands.
Suddenly, someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me up. It was Aditya. He led me out of the room, closed the door behind us, and gently pressed me against the hallway wall.
"I-I'm so sorry, I don't know why I asked that..." I stammered.
Before I could finish, he leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. The world seemed to stop moving for a brief moment.
He pulled back slowly and whispered near my ear, "I noticed you the second I got on stage tonight. I just didn't expect someone so pretty to say something so wonderfully reckless."
A sudden soft applause broke the moment. We turned around to see Nikhil, Varun, and Arjun leaning against the doorway, grinning like Cheshire cats.
"Take it outside, lovers!" Nikhil teased.
That night, Aditya and I stayed up talking for hours—about music, life, and the strange mysteries of the universe.
Two Months Later
"Aditya... I'm pregnant."
We had been officially dating for a month and a half, and I was breaking major news to him.
Aditya, who was taking a sip of his coffee, choked and spat it all over the table. He stared at me, wide-eyed. Then, a massive grin broke across his face. He jumped up, scooped me into his arms, and spun me around in the air.
"I'm happier than you can imagine, Nivi," he whispered, kissing my forehead. "We're going to do this together."
Nine Months Later
It was a scorching summer afternoon. While resting near the shallow end of the swimming pool, my water suddenly broke, followed by a sharp, intense contraction. I clutched my stomach and gasped in pain.
Aditya rushed over, helped me out of the pool, and practically flew down the highway to the emergency room. During the four hours of grueling labor, I squeezed his hand so hard that I nearly dislocated his fingers.
By the end of it, our baby girl was born—with dark hair and beautiful hazel eyes. We named her Ananya.
Months flew by. Between sleepless nights and learning the ropes of parenthood, we finally found our groove. Somewhere along the way, Aditya proposed, and we got married.
And today, we received another surprise—Ananya is going to be a big sister! We certainly didn't plan it this quickly, but life has its own wild rhythm, and we are ready for the next adventure.
--- THE END ---