Chapter 25

Chapter 21 (D)

                    The performance had barely reached its climax when the audience began applauding like crazy. Everybody was having such a wonderful time just watching them all that nobody wanted the night to end at all. Everybody kept chanting the names of the boys like it was the mantra to live. The boys not so humbly accepted all the attention bestowed on them. They whooped and high-fied each other and Vicky almost toppled Amar backwards in his excitement while hugging him. Both Rey and Swayam had a hard time getting them to calm down, take a bow and exit the stage. But even after reaching their changing rooms, the boys continued to ride the high of their success. And nothing could bring them down... well except for Niyati.

                    Niyati was supposed to go onstage along with all the freshers for a quick introduction. She had changed out of her work clothes and had finished getting ready when the sound of the ruckus reached her ears. Hoping it wasn't any other problem demanding her attention, she hurried towards the source of the sound. She was done playing trouble-shooter of the day. So, she was pleasantly surprised to find the noises issuing from the Boys' changing room and not the technical area. As she stepped closer, the sight melted her heart. The boys looked flushed from their dance and were having a moment while in a group hug. They looked happy and contended. Most of all her brother. She could see he was easily the happiest among them all. And seeing him happy made her happy. But years of practice had taught her to mask her feelings, so she stood there simply staring them all.

          Nil was the first to notice her and he immediately went rigid causing Vicky to crash into him. Amar and Bharat followed suit and stopped their tapori dance'. Rey and Swayam noticed her last. Rey could easily make out that she was intentionally ignoring him. Forget about ignoring, she wasn't even looking at him. Her behavior was beginning to piss him off.

"Agar aap logon ki paagalpanti khatm hogayi ho, toh tayyar hone ka kasht karenge?" Niyati asked reproachfully. "As soon as we get off, aap logon ki baari hogi. Don't be late." She left after warning them.

"Teri behen itni sadu kyun hai?", Bharat asked the moment he was sure Niyati was gone.

"Aye!! Meri behen ke baare mein..."

"Haan twayan, hameta itne ghutte mein tyun leti hai woh?", Amar asked.

"Huh?" Nobody could understand Amar's question.

"Arre! Ye bol raha hai hamesha itne ghusse mein kyun rehti hai woh?", Bharat translated.

"Is question ka answer hum Freshers' ke baad dhoonde?", Rey interrupted. "We really don't wanna get late. Pehle hi madam warn kar ke gayi hai."

"Ek kanya kunwari", Nil began.

"Samjha humne use abla naari", Vicky continued.

"Pad rahi hai woh hum sab par bhaari",

"Pata nahin kiski shaamat ki hai baari."

                                                                                *********

"We have just one more performance for you all before we bring this night to its conclusion", Rini said as she regained her position on stage. Nil joined her shortly and stood next to her. "Jis tarah jab andhera badh jaata hai toh hum lights ko increase kar dete hain. Usi tarah humare St. Louis ke freshers ne bhi illiteracy ke andhere ko door bhagane ka pledge liya hai."

"But jis tarah St. Louis ek unique institution hai, toh St. Louis ke students ka pledge lene ka tareeka bhi unique hona chahiye", Nil continued. "St. Louis ke freshers' ne decide kiya hai that they will do everything in their power to combat illiteracy and child labor. We all are proud and thrilled by their initiative. So without further ado, I welcome the 300 new additions to the family of St. Louis. We proudly present the freshers' of Arts, Commerce and Science!" Nil and Rini finished together and got off the stage.

 

                                                                                          ********

While Nil and Rini were talking, the entire stage was left in the dark with just a spotlight falling on Rini and Nil. Over a dozen helpers carried a gigantic set of stairs specially designed for this moment. Once it was kept in place, the new students stepped out, each holding a Chinese lantern and took their position on the stairs. Just as Nil and Rini walked out, the last student entered carrying a lit candle. Slowly one after the other, all he lanterns were lit and released into the sky. It was indeed a mesmerizing sight. Three hundred beautiful lanterns casting a soft golden glow on the night sky. A hush fell over the crowd as everybody was engrossed in embedding the beautiful sight of soaring lanterns into their memory. The college trustees and VIPs were bowled over completely and VP sir couldn't have been more proud of his students.

https://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/asrWtSH4TS4/maxresdefault.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DasrWtSH4TS4&h=720&w=1280&tbnid=PoUSjN_3zXY_iM:&docid=oRLQsKWHJZHwtM&hl=en&ei=-N-8VoKFIpGWuATd5ImwCQ&tbm=isch&ved=0ahUKEwiC4ZmEuPDKAhURC44KHV1yApYQMwiGAShKMEo (image of the lanterns floating in the sky)

 

                                                           

                                                                                          *********

                    After the flight of stairs was removed from the stage and all the students had vacated the stage, Niyati announced from the backstage, "Bringing this night to an end, please give a huge round of applause for The Dance Team of St. Louis. Please welcome Team D3!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4_aJ2Oi558 (you all have to watch it! No excuses!)

 

 

After the performance, only an ignorant fool would doubt or question the immense talent of The Dance Team' of St. Louis. In a span of merely a month, they had churned out exceptional and extraordinary dances that not only mesmerized the audience watching, but also managed to silence their critics, chiefly the college trustees, at the same time. The entire gang had to deal with many obstacles to keep their passion of dancing alive. Sometimes, the decision to cease dancing was imposed forcefully on them. While in other instances, the decision to quit dancing was their own. And since Kria's accident, the decision to not pursue dancing as a career became so firm in the minds of our beloved gang, that nobody even danced for fun anymore.

But not tonight. Standing in front of thousands, adrenaline coursing through their veins and heartbeats cantering away an erratic rhythm, the gang realized this was what they lived for. To see their art brought to life and appreciated by all. They had forgotten what it felt like to be standing up on the stage and be cheered upon. To have all the applause for just yourself and your art. They had forgotten what it felt like to be dancers.

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]