Chapter 25: Dance and Glances
"Gotcha! Gotcha!" Nayan shouted, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Aarav immediately let go of Kiyan's hand, as if it were a burning coal. His face turned slightly red. "Yaar, you people! I'm leaving from here!"
Kareena laughed. "Hey wait wait! We were just pulling your leg! Come on now, prepare for the dance, because only one day is left for our performance!"
Aarav exhaled. "Fine."
Kareena commanded, "Come on now, everyone stand in your positions."
Aarav and Kiyan stood facing each other. Kareena and Nayan also stood face-to-face. Kareena's eyes kept shifting between Nayan and Aarav's gaze toward Kiyan, filled with a smiling curiosity.
Kareena held Nayan's hand, and Kiyan held Aarav's. With the touch, Kiyan's eyes glowed faintly—a soft golden light that only Aarav could see. Both Kiyan and Nayan lifted their respective partners in their arms, raising them up in the air. Kareena and Aarav spread their arms upward in the air, full of confidence and trust.
Kiyan and Nayan started spinning Kareena and Aarav around in a rhythmic, powerful circle. Then, slowly, Nayan began to lower Kareena. Kareena placed one leg in the air and one on the ground—a beautiful, balanced pose. Aarav did exactly the same—one leg in the air, one on the ground. Kareena's eyes were locked in Nayan's, and Kiyan's eyes were locked in Aarav's.
Then they slowly descended. Kareena moved away from Nayan, but Kiyan and Aarav were still lost in each other's eyes. Nayan gestured toward Kareena, and both of them watched Kiyan and Aarav, smiling. Kiyan still had his hand on Aarav's waist, and both were immersed in each other's eyes, as if the entire world around them had blurred.
Kareena clapped and said, "Yes! This is exactly the chemistry we need in our dance!"
Aarav suddenly moved away from Kiyan and started avoiding his gaze. Kiyan also coughed slightly, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
Aarav said, "Friends, the dance is done. We should leave now."
Nayan grabbed Aarav's hand and said, "Hey, why are you both so shy? As if you've fallen in love with each other, and we've caught you red-handed!"
Aarav quickly said, "No, nothing like that! I was just..."
Kareena interrupted, "Leave it, Nayan is crazy. Don't pay attention to his words. If you're saying so, then fine, we'll do it later. Anyway, there's no time now. The next time we dance will be directly at the annual function. Okay, friends? So let's go now."
Nayan said, "Kareena, go home safely. One minute, here's your bag, take it. And go carefully." Nayan looked into Kareena's eyes and said, "Take care of yourself."
Kareena smiled.
Aarav joked, "Oh really, we're also here! Tell us to take care too!"
Nayan said, "Yes-yes, you also take care, go safely, understand? I was saying that because you all are crazy, might drive fast and something could happen, that's why I said it."
Everyone laughed.
Aarav said, "Alright then, I'm leaving." Kareena and Aarav started to leave. Then Aarav said, "Kiyan, will you come with me?"
Kiyan smiled and nodded. Nayan gestured with his eyes toward Kareena to look at Aarav. Both Kareena and Nayan started smiling.
Nayan said, "Okay. I'll come downstairs to drop you all."
Everyone came downstairs. Everyone said, "Bye, Aunty!"
Nayan's mother said, "Take care of yourselves, go safely."
Everyone said, "Okay, Aunty!"
Nayan said, "Bye, Kareena, go safely."
Kareena said, "Bye!" and started her scooter and left for her home.
Nayan put his hand on Aarav's shoulder and said, "Take care of yourself. And drive slowly, otherwise Kiyan might fall from behind while you're driving lost in your own world."
Aarav laughed, "Okay, you're so worried about Kiyan?"
Nayan said, "Oh brother, you're the one who's taken the responsibility of worrying about everyone, aren't you?" And he laughed.
Aarav said, "Alright, we're leaving." Kiyan sat behind Aarav, and Aarav started his bike and left. Nayan kept smiling, watching them, and then went inside his house.
While riding the bike, Aarav said to Kiyan, "Kiyan, I need to ask you something."
Kiyan said, "Yes, ask."
Aarav stopped the bike at one side and got off. In front of them was a small park with some benches. Both sat down at a table nearby.
Aarav said, "Do you... know about the Chameleon King?"
"Chameleon King..."
Hearing the name, Kiyan suddenly stood up with a jolt. The color drained from his face in an instant. His golden eyes, which had been calm until now, suddenly filled with a wild, terrified glow, as if some ancient and fearsome ghost had suddenly awakened. He placed his hands on the table, as if losing his balance. A strange electricity ran through the air.
He looked toward Aarav, and this time there was no love or shyness in his gaze. There was a deep, black fear. A fear that seemed centuries old.