Annual Fest और वो Dance

College ka annual fest — "Utsav।" तीन दिन। Cultural events, competitions, stalls, और — couple dance competition। Rohan — introvert, coder, socially awkward। कभी dance floor पर गया नहीं। Neha — dance society president। हर event में perform करती। Graceful, confident, और itni talented कि लोग सिर्फ़ उसे देखने आते। कैसे मिले? Organizing committee। "Tumhe lighting ka kaam diya hai," Neha ne kaha. "Stage ke lights program karne hain." "Main coder hoon, electrician nahi." "Arduino se hoga. Coding hi hai. Chalo, rehearsal room mein set up karo." Rehearsal room mein — Neha dance practice कर रही थी। Classical. Kathak। मैं lights code कर रहा था, पर आँखें — screen pe कम, उस पर ज़्यादा। "Dekh kya rahe ho? Lights synchronize karo music ke saath," उसने बिना मुड़े कहा। Caught. तीन दिन — rehearsals। Lights perfect हुईं। पर हर rehearsal में बातें भी बढ़ीं। "Tumhe dance kyun pasand hai?" मैंने एक दिन पूछा। "Kyunki dance mein jhooth nahi bol sakte. Body language — sabse honest language hai." "Toh meri body language kya keh rahi hai?" उसने मुड़कर देखा। मुस्कुराई। "Keh rahi hai ki tum abhi nervous ho. Aur... kuch kehna chahte ho par him mat nahi hai." Sach tha. Fest ka last day — couple dance competition announce hua. "Koi partner hai?" Neha ne pucha — casually। "Nahi." "Toh mere saath?" "Main dance nahi jaanta." "Tum lights jaante ho. Main dance jaanti hoon. Saath mein kuch naya banega." Stage par gaye. Lights — meri coding. Dance — uski choreography। Jab spot light mujh par pada — main freeze ho gaya. Neha ne haath pakda. Fuskusaayi — "Mujhe dekho. Bas mujhe. Baaki sab blur kar do." Aur maine kiya. Sach mein kiya. Duniya blur ho gayi — bus woh thi, main tha, aur music. Competition jeete? Nahi. Third place. Par us raat — fest ke baad — empty auditorium mein — Neha ne kaha: "Tumhe pata hai third place kyun aaya?" "Kyunki mera dance bekar tha?" "Nahi — kyunki judges bhi dekh rahe the ki tum dance nahi, mujhe dekh rahe the. Too obvious tha." "Sorry." "Sorry mat bolo. Wahi toh sabse achha part tha." Aur empty auditorium mein — bina music ke — ek aur dance hua. Sirf do logon ka. Slow. Awkward. Perfect.