Part 4
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Lunch is over and right now I'm heading on over to my last class of the day – Dance. Personally, I don't like dance at all. I just don't see the reason as to why people find the need to move their body in weird patterns and angles over some noise. If it was in my hand, I would have stayed far away from this side of the university; but as always, I don't get what I want. Now the authorities wouldn't dare to do such a thing for if they did I will get out of hand again and cause them their position. I can still remember the principal's livid face when he caught his daughter with me in the boiler room. Even today, I'm unable to figure out whether his face had actually reached that shade of dark red naturally, or if it was a reflection of the red light bulb. As I enter the classroom, look around observing and looking for the best place where I would be able to hide myself from the teacher. The room is huge, with no desks save for the one far in the left corner of the stage. The room itself was circular and had three white steps in running all around the room which helped the audience in getting a good angle of all around the performance. The stage itself was in the middle of the room. After my observation, I went to seat myself at the back of the classroom, at the top of the stair-step. I put down my bag and stretch my legs out and rested my head against the wall. I was about to close my eyes when I noticed the same girl that I had bumped into in the cafeteria was staring at me. When I showed her the finger, she rolled her eyes at me and went to gossip about me to her friends. Feeling happy about myself, I closed my eyes and attempted to sleep when I heard someone yell my name.
'MR. MALIK!!!' the unforgettable voice called out. I instantly opened my eyes and looked at her horrified. I was hoping fervently that she was NOT my teacher again. But just like I always, I don't get what I want. It turns out that Shilpa wasn't lying about her being a teacher. She is actually a dance teacher here at the university. Most importantly, she was my dance teacher. I don't know how I'm going to deal with this torture.
'Okay class. I am Shilpa Malhotra, and I am your dance teacher. This year, you will be learning a variety of dances from all over the world; Tango, Waltz, Kathak, Jazz, Break-dance, Hip-Hop and Ballroom dancing. Now I'm not hundred percent sure as to whether or not you will be able to get to learn all these dances, but I do know that whatever dances you do learn, you will become masters if not pros at it.' Shilpa pauses to smile at everyone. 'Alright, so any questions? Yes?' She points at the student with the hand up.
'I heard that we will be doing a musical. Like, we're joining up with the English class this year to do a play or something like that. Is it true?' asked the student.
'Yes it is. The English, Drama and the Dance department came up with this idea to showcase your talents not only to your peers but to the society as it will give you all an advantage once you decide to move on. You will be recognized and you will already have the experience in performing in front of a large audience.' Answered Shilpa.
'But… we're not here to act. We're here to dance.' Spoke another student.
'True, that's why we're not acting, we're dancing. We dance to move the story forward. To give the actors a little break and it will be an easier transition.' Said Shilpa.
'But how will they know who is who then?' Asked another student.
'Oh, don't worry about that. We'll handle it.' When Shilpa saw that the class became serious, she tried to lighten up the mood. 'Oh come on guys. This is just the beginning of the year. And you all should be glad that you found out about this right now. You have the whole year to practice. If I had told you one or two months before, then you all would have been so horrible and very sloppy on stage. I know it hurts to hear that, but it's true.'
'This is such bull.' I mumbled to myself.
'Do you have something to say Mr. Malik?' Shilpa said to Armaan.
'Huh? Uh.. of course not.' I smiled to her expressionless face.
Ignoring me, Shilpa went on with the class. 'Alright so, why don't I see what you all are good at right now? I want everyone to come in the middle of the stage and for thirty seconds… just dance.' She gave a big smile. Taking a clipboard in hand, Shilpa went to the top step, sat down and started evaluating everyone. There were some people who obviously needed some work to be done. I don't know if they were just nervous or were honestly really bad, but nonetheless it amused me to see them mess up. Then on the other hand, there were people that really knew what they were doing; including that cafeteria witch. I didn't see it before but she had a really well-maintained body and she sure as hell knew how to make it move.
'Alright Mr. Malik. You're next.' She announced attracting all attention towards me.
'Me?' I asked her a rhetorical question. She looked up and straight for a couple of seconds from what she was doing and then looked at me.
'Unless I'm mistaken, you're the only Malik around here. So yes, you Mr. Malik. You're next.' She said sternly.
'You know you need to relax a bit sometimes.' I said to her cheekily as I stood up and descended the stairs.
'And you need to stiffen up a bit. Oh wait; you already do that, don't you?' She replied back making stop in my tracks. There were snickers coming from the students that had witnessed the cafeteria incident. I turned around and glared at her.
'I'm not dancing.' I stated.
'Excuse me?' She asked me incredulous of the fact I dared to disobey her in front of the whole class.
'What? You can't hear me now or has all that shouting gotten to your head?' I said to see her tighten her jaw and flare up. 'I'm. Not Dancing.' I enunciated every word just like she had earlier this morning.
Shilpa slammed the clipboard down on the step and marched her way towards me. When she was standing right in front of me, she asked, 'And why not?'
Thinking up of an excuse, I said, 'Cause I can't dance without music.' To which she just smirked looking down at the floor.
Looking back up at me, she replied, 'You need to music to dance. You just need this.' She pointed at her heart. Honestly, I thought that line was really cheesy. But ehh, what did I know. 'But still, if you want music, then music you shall get. Either way, there is no chance of you leaving here without dancing.' She went on over to her desk, inserted a CD into the boom box and pressed play. The beat of the music instantly filled up and echoed around the room. 'Well Mr. Malik. Begin.' Shilpa said in a challenging tone. Instead of obeying her, I just looked at her glaring.
She walked up to me and in my ear whispered, 'Fine then. Let me show you how it's really done.' When I looked into her eyes, I saw the same gleam of mischief that I did at lunch.
This is transcendental – She takes my left hand and places it on her right shoulder and my right hand and places it securely on her waist.
On another level – She slowly starts to trail her left hand up my back to the middle of my back.
Boy, you're my lucky star – She pulls us in closer and looks at me firmly in the eye with a faint smile playing on her lips.
I wanna walk on your wave length – She then makes me stretch out my left arm as she trails her hand along it all the way to the tip of my longest finger.
And be there when you vibrate – She trails her way back up to me and turns around.
For you I'll risk it all – She opens up her arms and places her hands in mine and looks at me in the eye.
All – Just as she was about to step away from me,
Kiss me, kiss me – I grab her wrist and pull her towards me.
Infect me with your love and – I turn her around, place her head in my hand and do a dip with her.
Fill me with your poison – I bring her back up as she looks into my eyes with a surprised look.
Take me, ta-ta-take me – I bring her in and do a little salsa move.
Wanna be a victim – I turn her around and bringing her right arm in front of her face.
Ready for abduction – I then pick her up, holding her hands in front.
Boy, you're an alien – I bring her back down after doing a twirl.
Your touch so foreign – I trail my fingers down her back sending her the shivers.
It's supernatural – I twirl her around and bring her back to me.
Extraterrestrial – We slowly move in a circular pattern.
Extraterrestrial – I interlink my fingers with hers and lean back.
Extraterrestrial – When I come back, I let go of her and spin her around.
Boy, you're an alien – I grab her by the hair and pull her down.
Your touch so foreign – I move around in a circle dragging her along with me.
It's supernatural – She was descending closer to the ground as I continued to move in a circular motion.
Extraterrestrial – I gently let her go and she touches the earth coming back to reality.
'So, how was that for my first try, Miss...' I purposely exaggerated, 'Malhotra.' I ended with a smirk.
'Huh?' She mumbled still in a daze. I stepped around her and went back to my former seat with a huge grin plastered on my face.
***
Classes are over and I'm still here in this prison. I honestly don't understand what I did to receive this punishment. Oh well, it's only a matter of two hours every day for the next two weeks. How hard could that be?
When I hear the creaking of the door opening and closing, I turn around to see Shilpa now in a black tank top and grey sweats with her hair tied up in a ponytail. She actually looked… normal.
'Would you like to stop staring at my beautiful face now Mr. Malik and get to work?' She retorted. I looked away and felt my jaw tighten. She always knew how to ruin the mood.
I get up and walk down the steps towards her. 'Hey, look I don't see the point of keeping me here. You're wasting your and my time.' She just looked at me while putting on her fingerless black gloves. 'So, it'll be best if I just skedaddle away from here.' I offered with a smile. I had taken just one step away from her when she grabbed me by the wrist. I was shocked when she turned me around and cornered me up against the wall and pointed her index finger straight at me.
'Hey look, I don't like seeing your hideous face either, but unfortunately I have to. Why? Because I need to burst that egoistic chauvinistic bubble of yours. You, Mr. Malik, really need to start respecting woman, and gain some self-control. Not everyone is interested in looking at your physical mishaps every now and then.' She removed her finger away from me and walked back to her desk. 'Technically, I can't give you detention. But I can make you stay back to practice.'
'Practice?' I asked her confused.
'Practice your dance moves. I want to see how good you are… without a partner.' She threw me the remote to the boom box as she went to go sit at her former spot of evaluation.
I walked to the centre of the stage, and pressed play. A tune filled with beats started playing instantly. I brought my upper body back and brought my right arm forward and had my right leg a few steps ahead of my left. On the next beat, I brought myself together and stood straight. Then on the next beat, placing my hands behind my head, I spun around once. For over the course of the next twenty-five seconds, I had no control of what my body was doing. It was as if it was brought back to life from a deep slumber. My evaluation time was over but I still kept my body moving, never wanting to stop. I didn't even notice Shilpa during the whole time. My whole entire mind, heart and soul were focused on moving. It was as if I was letting myself free. Free from this prison of a classroom, free from this prison of a school, free from this prison of a life that I was being forced to live. As the haunting memories of the past came to surface, I stumbled. I took in a couple of deep breaths to regain myself. I didn't know that dancing would have made me feel so bitter-sweet about myself.
'Here.' I looked up to see Shilpa offering me a clean white towel, and an ice-cold bottle of water.
'Thanks.' I accepted the offer.
'You're pretty good.' She spoke while I was drinking. 'For an amateur.' I rolled my eyes and smiled while taking in some more sips.
'If you're such a pro, then why don't you show some moves?' I challenged her smirking. She smirked back at me accepting the challenge.
She walked backwards towards the boom box that was resting on the desk, never leaving her eyes or her smile off of me. She opened up a binder, inserted another CD in and pressed play. I moved away from the stage and sat where she did. From this spot you have a really nice view of the performance. You are able to see every single angle and will easily be able to spot any mistakes being made. I recognized the music as soon as it started playing. It is made by the unforgettable A.R. Rehman; a person who sets new standards to the music industry with his every single new creation. The song was Taal Se Taal – The Western Version. A perfect choice of music by Shilpa for showing off her dance moves.
For the beginning of the song, Shilpa starts doing the traditional kathak dance from India. Bringing her fingers together, slightly moving her face, moving her eyes with various expressions, and moving her legs ever so lightly, is very hard and strenuous. But with the grace that Shilpa was executing them, made it seem like it was as easy as cutting a cake. She stops doing the kathak and moves on over to more of a Bollywood style.
Dil Yeh Bechein Ve – She puts her right hand on her heart and having her body face halfway towards the right, she looks back and then the front.
Raste Pe Nain Ve – She now faces her body to the front and making the peace sign with her right hand, she brings them up towards her right eye and then back down. She lifts her feet halfway and then brings them down.
Dil Ye Bechein Ve – She places her left hand straight in front of her, with her palm facing down and by connecting her thumb with her index finger, she extends her right arm and then brings it in the same position as her left.
Raste Pe Nain Ve – She brings her right arm out and takes one step forward with her left leg and then brings her left arm forward and moves one step with her right leg.
Jindari Behaal Hai – She sits down on the ground and looks up at the ceiling with a disappointed look.
Sur Hai Na Taal Hai – She now stands and with her thumb and index finger connected on her left hand makes an upside down arch. She then makes a fist out of her right hand and stamps it on the palm of her left hand that is facing up in front of her. She stomps her right foot on the last beat.
Aaja Savariya – She runs backwards with her hands placed upon her heart.
Aa Aa Aa Aa – With her hands stretched out, she spins around four times and connects them every time she makes a full circle.
Taal Se Taal Milaa – She leans her body back and brings her right arm down in front of her face.
Taal Se Taal Milaa – She then stomps her feet in a kathak move.
Dil Ye Bechein Ve – I look at Shilpa completely mesmerized by her as she repeats the same dance moves.
Raste Pe Nain Ve – Not knowing why, I deliberately move in front of her vision.
Jindari Behaal Hai – Wanting to get a better look at her, I start to descend the stairs never leaving my eyes off of her.
Sur Hai Na Taal Hai – By now, I have reached the stage and am still unable to leave my eyes off of her.
Aaja Savariya – I watch her run back towards the wall of the stage.
Aa Aa Aa Aa – And see her twirling around out of control.
Taal Se Taal Milaa – Not able to stop myself any longer and seeing that Shilpa was about to fall due to the numerous numbers of spins…
Taal Se Taal Milaa – As she turns around, I grab onto her waist with my right hand and hold her right hand with my left. For a few seconds she just stares into my eyes surprised.
I do a little salsa move with her and then I let go of her and we both face the front. With our legs criss-crossed, we bring our hands right above us and then bring them down like a rainbow. With our hands shaped as a flower in front of us and our legs still crossed, we shrug our shoulders. We then bring both our arms towards the left and Shilpa spins towards the right while I spin towards the left. We both walk to the center of the stage, and with her right hand mirroring mine, we both walk in a circle, looking into each other's eyes. For the last ten seconds of the fast beats, Shilpa starts spinning around me in a circular motion very fast. With the speed that she was moving at, she looked like a blur. I took one step forward to catch her just in case she fell, but she didn't. On the end note, Shilpa stood straight, facing forward, with her hands placed firmly together up above her head. She didn't look she needed help in any way. After taking a couple of deep breaths to calm herself, she brings her hands down and slowly lifts her eyes to look up at me.
With a smile that slowly creeps upon her lips she said, 'Couldn't resist yourself huh?'
Embarrassed, I avert my eyes away from her. 'No… I… I thought you were about t-to fall.'
'Shilpa Malhotra never falls.' She said to me in a stern voice. For some reason, there was a hint of pain in her voice. It was as if she was saying to convince herself rather than me. She looked away from me and went to her desk. There, she started fidgeting around with the papers while I was left standing.
I looked at the clock on the wall and saw that only an hour had passed by. Not wanting to stay here for another second, I walked on over to Shilpa. I walked slowly as I didn't want to startle since she had her back facing towards me. Once I was right behind her, I raised my hand to touch her shoulder and was inches away from doing so, when I thought better of it. I brought my hand down and instead cleared my throat. She did get startled and jumped a little. She instantly turned around and gave me her usual glare.
'What is it?' She asked me in her usual strict voice.
'Can I leave?' I asked her.
'Has it been two hours?' She asked me rhetorically. I just looked down on the ground. She stepped away from me and moved to a corner of the stage and started doing some stretches. Not having anything to do, I start to head towards my spot on the step when she stops me. 'Do some stretches.' I just turn around and look at her. Expecting to see her glaring at me again, I instead found her sitting on the ground with her left leg stretched out in front of her and right leg crossed, and she's stretching her body forward by pulling her left foot back with her hands. She had her face facing down so I couldn't tell what her expressions were but from the tone of voice that she used I can tell that she was serious. So obeying like a good little boy, I go back to the stage and take off my shoes and shirt. Wearing only my black vest, jeans and white socks, I sit down and start doing some stretches.
While I was doing some stretches, I swear I saw Shilpa stealing glances towards me. Did she really feel the need to admire from a far like a thief or was it just my hallucination? Is she attracted to me the same way as I am or am I just making myself feel that way because of my sentiments towards her? Whatever it is, it's getting way too out of hand now. It's making my head foggy and making me do irrational things. I mean, I danced with her. I danced with my teacher!! That is just wrong on so many levels. Not to mention she's older than me and chews me out when I make even the slightest of the wrong moves. If the authorities here found out that I got the hots for the dance teacher, then not only would I be expelled but Shilpa would lose her job as well. No matter how much I might despise her, there's no way that I would want her to lose something that is so precious to her. I can tell that she loves this job so much. The way she dances so passionately, the way she just puts all her heart and soul into the moves that she creates is just simply divine.
I was interrupted of my thoughts about her when I heard a knock on the door. Shilpa beckoned the person standing outside to come in. Entered the girl that I had bumped into in the cafeteria. She looked at me briefly and then rolling her eyes at me once again, headed straight towards Shilpa who was now standing up.
'Ma'am sorry for bothering you, but if you don't mind then could I practice here after school?' Asked the girl sweetly, obviously trying to butter up towards Shilpa.
'Of course. For how long?' I can't believe Shilpa actually accepted her offer! I mean she knew that I am in here with her after school every day. Wait why is that bothering me so much? Shouldn't I be happy that I have something else to take my mind off on now?
'Umm… an hour or two should be fine.' Answered the girl.
'Alright, then. Just let me know in class when you want to practice and I'll let you in.' Shilpa answered.
'Thank you so much Ma'am. Have a good day. Bye!' The girl said enthusiastically. With my left knee up and my left arm resting on it, I looked at the girl leave. As soon as the door closed I chuckled.
'What's so funny?' Shilpa asked me in her usual strict voice that was reserved solely for me.
'You know she's trying to butter up to you.' I warned her.
'And do you know that you're falling for me faster than an inflated balloon?' She said shocking me out of my wits. I just sat there, looking at her dumbfounded with my mouth hanging open. 'Get up and leave. Time's up.' She ordered going to her desk, grabbing her stuff and leaving the room, while I still sat there wondering when and how she found out about me.
Cricket
Kumkum Bhagya
Tum Se Tum Tak
Sampoorna
Jhanak
9