FF~Rhythm & Blues~ IMP NOTE UPDATED -9 - Page 4

2: Mausam Ki Adla Badli Mein

Madhu flipped the card around, feeling the texture with her sensitive fingers.

Hmm expensive card stock; Mr. RK is not exactly foraging for a living.

She perused the lettering;

Rishabh Kundra

Owner and Artistic Director

Jhankaar music and Dance Company

It was followed by a contact number: simple and to the point.

Very unusual for an entertainment company; it either spelt arrogance and self confidence or simply popularity.

Then out of impulse she brought the card up to her nostrils and sniffed---a distinctive, unmistakably male scent, which immediately conjured up an image of a pair of gorgeously seductive brown eyes.

She jumped as if stung and let the card drift to the floor.

What am I thinking?

A hand drifted up to rest on a rapidly fluttering heart.

Nahin, apne aap ko roko (No, control yourself) Madhu... such thoughts are forbidden. Girls such as you don't think that way, at least not before marriage and not for somebody other than your husband!

Madhu glanced at the card as it lay innocently on the floor; let it lie, she had no use for it. This was her home, where she belonged. She turned the lights out and settled down to sleep.

Meanwhile at the Chennai airport:

"Rishabh! It's of no use dude! She won't come! Girls like her are very traditional, her parents would never agree."

"But I thought I saw something in her eyes, a hunger to break out of the mould, to become famous! She has it in her Abhay!"

He waited till the last moment before dejectedly joining the line.

A Bright and early morning at the Mishra household in Chennai:

Like everyday it was greeted with the fragrance of agarbattis and the rhythmic music of bells; dancing bells which Madhu wore on her feet as she practiced her adavus and dance routines. She had done that without interruption ever since she had started learning Bharathnatyam from the tender age of five.

Her aunt Komal, Shreya's mother, frequently advised her to relax, "Itne saalon ke baad nritya tere kan kan mein basta hoga, toh itni kathor practise ki kya zaroorat?" (After so many years, dance must be ingrained into every atom of your being, then why the need for such rigorous practice?)

"No matter chachi, the first and foremost principle of mastering any form of art is practice, practice and good practice, without which the artist will become a langur as my Guruji says and I certainly don't want to, do you?" Madhu laughed.

Komal shook her head, laughing with her. Despite being a very mature and talented artist Madhu at times seemed younger than Shreya who was 2 years her junior, "No baba, then your sasural wale will accuse me of sending a chimpanzee instead of the orangutan that you already are!"

"Oh no chachi! Don't tease me so, I only wish to stay with you as your monkey."

"Haan meri bacchi! You will stay with me, always!"

(Madhu lived with Komal and Sharat Mishra ever since her parents had been killed in a train accident when she had been barely two years old. Sharat (her father's younger brother and his wife Komal had taken over her care and she loved them as her own. They had never differentiated between her and Shreya or their older son Shyam who adored her more than his own younger sister and was very protective of her. He was an officer in the Indian Army and had just been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and they were all very proud of him.)

But somehow this morning found Madhu distracted and unable to concentrate. She felt unusually irritable and listless.

"Bubbly di!"

She turned around briskly to see Shreya standing at the door grinning mischievously, holding something in her hand.

Madhu snapped, "Kya hai? Don't you see I'm busy?"

"Kya hua di? You look all red and flustered jaise aapki koi chori pakdi gayi." Shreya said walking in hiding something behind her back.

Madhu ignored her cousin and began practicing her mudras--she had beautifully expressive hands. Shreya watched fascinated.

"Kuch nahin, I'm just not myself today, didn't sleep well last night."

"Aha! So that's the secret behind the card. Bubbly sister's prince charming! Mr. Rishabh Kundra! Shall I tell brother and Anand?"

Madhu broke her pose and snatched at the card that Shreya was waving over her head. It wouldn't do for her to spread the word. The whole household would be turned upside down. The only reason why she had been able to continue learning classical dance was because of Komal aunty's and Shyam's continued support and only because she had caught the eye of her Guruji as someone who possessed the potential of becoming a major exponent of the art.

Her chachu had always been against it though, maintaining that girls from good families did not perform on stage, 'Acche ghar ki ladkiyaan school ke baad ghar grahasti sambhalti hain, yahi hamaari sanskriti ki pehchaan hai!' (After schooling girls from good families take care of the home and hearth. It is our culture.)

"Stop it Shree! He was someone who saw me as Shakuntala and wanted to know if I would be willing to join his dance company and I refused! Bas that's all! Don't you dare tell anybody!"

"Aww but di! What an incredible opportunity! Haaye, big city stage, international exposure, name, fame, I can already see your name blazing in neon... Madhu the diva of dance!" Shreya exclaimed spreading out her arms and gazed dreamily into the distance unaware that she was vocalizing Madhu's dreams.

"Not all dreams come true, so stop before chachu comes to know about it!"

"Ab chachu se kya chupane ka iraada hai? Chup chup ke night show jaane ka plan bana rahe ho kya?" (Now what are we planning to hide from chachu? Are we making plans to go to a late night movie?) Komal walked in smiling brightly bearing a string of fresh fragrant mallipoo (Jasmine flowers,) which she lovingly attached to Madhu's luxurious black mane; a daily ritual.

"Aah! Now my Madhu looks like an angel, Anand is very lucky indeed!" She stepped back to admire her niece whose thick black hair contrasted most beautifully with her smooth and glowing complexion and her classically perfect features which she had inherited from her mother.

(Anand Vaidyanathan and his family had been their neighbors for as long as Madhu could remember. Her senior by a few years, he was working as an engineer in a major software company and doing very well. Madhu had always considered him a very close friend and confidant.)

"Why is Anand lucky? Are you hiding something from me Amma?" Madhu said suddenly anxious.

"Bubbly di, Anand and his parents'" Shreya began.

"Shhh! Let me tell her!" Komal said turning to Madhu and grasping her hands, "Anand and his parents are coming over to see you today!"

"But why?"

"Well, for some time we have known that you like each other and Anand is a gem of a boy, he worships the ground you walk on!"

"What are you implying Amma?"

"I'm just saying that Anand is leaving to go to the U.S. soon and his parents want him to settle down before he does, and obviously he said that he wished to marry you and only you and then they brought it to your chachu's attention. He couldn't refuse such a wonderful proposal!"

Madhu witnessed her whole world come crashing down around her; she had been content with her life as is and had never thought of marriage or anything else which would disturb her life's relative equilibrium...but it was not to be so.

"But what about me, did anybody care to ask me about what I want? Yes I do like Anand as a friend but I don't love him and for me that is most important for a happy marriage. Anyway I'm yet to make a name for myself and I've barely begun my journey! Please, please say that it's a joke Amma, a very cruel one but a joke nevertheless!" Madhu said with a desperate plea in her eyes.

"Bubbly my child, I wish it was but it isn't. You know your chachu quite well; once he makes up his mind no one can change it. I tried very hard but he is not willing to listen."

"But I cannot marry Anand! I cannot!" Madhu collapsed onto the floor.

"But di!" Shreya interjected, "Anand is such a nice guy!"

Komal said, "From what I've seen, Anand is a young man with a very steady head on his shoulders. If you speak to him, I'm sure he will understand. He will never force your hand. He loves you way too much to hurt you."

Madhu stared at her Aunt through tear filled eyes, "What do you mean?"

"Yes, I've seen it in his eyes, whenever he looks at you, though he has probably never told you so. He won't refuse you anything."

Madhu smiled wanly, she'd always thought she knew Anand very well. She'd never had any inkling of his feelings towards her. Never had he done anything to make her suspect it. He had always been a ready, caring companion and friend--- her best friend.

tbc

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN2CGXw08dk[/YOUTUBE]

Next: Dreams and Schemes