Vishal entered the academy and found in strangely silentā¦. Well⦠Of course for the past three days he had been coming, he had not been able to hear any songsā¦. But still there was a musical buzz around which he could feel⦠But today he didn't feel it eitherā¦. š¤
Puzzled he went to the glass practice room and found the reason for the strange silence⦠During his visits there only Dipika, Sandhya and that Sam would be thereā¦. But today many of other Sandhya's friends were also there⦠But none were practicing⦠š
When he came to the door he heard one of them sayā¦
Sandhya's Friends: Kisi aur ko bula kyun nahi leti?
He peeped in and saw that even Cynthia, Purvi and Aadhya were thereā¦. He saw Sandhya leaning against the wall, knees bent her hands on her headā¦.
Sandhya: (Not looking up) Maine kaha naa Rinaā¦. Ki koi nahi haiā¦. Sam ek hi tha jo ye dance kar sakta haiā¦. Aise hi koi nahi kar saktaā¦
Dipika: (Who was seated beside Sandhya) Vo David master ka kya jinhone ye dance choreograph kiya tha? Unhe to aasaani se aa jayegi!
Sandhya: Tch⦠Vo bhi do din ke liye shehar se bahar gaye hainā¦. Apne nativeā¦. Aa bhi jayengeā¦. To saath practice karne ke liye time nahi haiā¦. Parson we are all going to the guest house naa!
Dipika nodded disappointed as Sandhya continuedā¦.
Sandhya: Lagta hai us dance ko abandon karna hi hogaā¦. But I really liked it⦠Like the icing on a cake! š
Just as she had finished saying this Vishal called outā¦
Vishal: Dipika!
Instantly everyone looked up⦠Seeing Vishal there none of them were surprised or not surprisedā¦. It seemed like they didn't care the least with his presence⦠They were so upset!š
Dipika: (Getting up and coming over to him) Oh Vishal!
Vishal: (Looking around) Kya hua? Sab itne upset kyun hain?
Dipika: Tch! Upset hone jaisi baat hi haiā¦. Sandhya jo dance karne waali thi⦠Special one⦠Tumne bhi dekha hai naaā¦. Uski partner Sam⦠Uska pair toot gayaā¦. Bathroom me gir gayaā¦. Pata nahi dance hai to bathroom gaya hi kyunā¦. š Isliye vo dance karne nahi aa sakta!
Hearing this Vishal too became a little upset and looked at Sandhya who was really sad about itā¦. He remembered that the dance was really wonderful and they had been progressing well enough in the past three days⦠Switching partners at the last moment and to get him learn the steps in two days was toughā¦. š
And day after tomorrow everyone was leaving to the beach guest house where Neha's marriage was to take placeā¦. It was Ajay's college friend'sā¦.. Ajay sais it was a spacious big bungalow and they could use for how many ever days they wanted!
Vishal: (Consoling) Oh! That's bad⦠Lekin koi aur intezaam shayad ho jayega⦠Someone who knows the dance well enough to learn it fast⦠It shouldn't be a problem!
Dipika: Problem hi hai Vishal⦠Sam ka taang toot gayaā¦. Aur vo master jinhone dance ko choreograph kiya tha vo bhi bahar shehar gaye hain⦠The only other person who knows the dance other than Sandhya is the lady choreographerā¦. Ab two girls can't dance this! Tumne dekha haā¦.
Dipika's voice faltered as she looked at Vishal and exclaimed startling himā¦
Dipika: Of courseā¦. Vishal tum! (At this even the others looked up surprised) Tumne to ye dance dekha hai naaā¦. You should be able to do it!
Vishal: (Shocked) What!?!?! Main?!?! Pagal ho gayi ho? Maine kaise ye dance⦠š²
Dipika: (Pleading) Oh Vishal! You canā¦. Tumne dance dekha hai⦠Tumhe dance karna aata bhi hai⦠Tum try to kar sakte ho naa!
Vishal: Dipika that dance seems tough⦠And I am no professional to do it!
Dipika: Tchā¦. Tumne hi to kaha tha ki dance was fine⦠Aur waise bhi hum thode koi competition me bhaag lene waale hainā¦. It's just for the reception!
Vishal: (Denying flatlyš³) No! Dipikaā¦. Main ye nahi kar sakta⦠Even if I agreed there's no time to practice⦠Do din me Neha ki shaadi hai!
Dipika: Oh ho⦠Tab ke liye abhi waqt hai⦠Dekho⦠Kal Saturday aur phir Sundayā¦. Tumhari bhi office chutti haiā¦. Do din poora practice kar sakte hoā¦. Waise bhi hum parson dopahar ko hi guest house jaa rahe hainā¦. Us din mehndi hai, phir agle din shaam ko sangeet⦠Shaadi ke din shaam ko hi to ye dance karni haiā¦. Iske hisaab se to abhi teen din hain naaā¦.
Vishal: (Rolling his eyes) Dipika! You are ridiculousā¦. Maine nahi karne waala!
Just thenā¦.
Sandhya: (Who had picked up her bag) Girls! Let's leave⦠Main ye dance nahi kar rahi⦠I have no choice⦠Help karne waala koi nahi haiā¦. (Glancing at Vishal) Aur jo hai vo karna nahi chahata⦠We'll concentrate on our other dancesā¦
Aadhya: Lekin Di⦠Aapne hi kaha tha ki aapko ye dance bahut pasand thaā¦. You really loved its choreography too⦠Aapne pehle kabhi aisa dance nahi kiya haiā¦. Pleaseā¦. (Going over to Vishal) Vishal ji⦠Please⦠Di bahut interested thi⦠More than anything she has been talking about this dance onlyā¦. Please maan jayiye naa!
Vishal glanced at Sandhya's upset faceā¦. In so many months he had known her he hadn't seen her so upset or disappointed⦠She was the type to smile and make others smileā¦. Her dictionary never knew the word 'Sadness' or 'Upset'⦠Also he knew dance was her passion and the only thing she loved next to her professionā¦š
Even Cynthia and Purvi came to him and requested him to agree and try it⦠Maybe they could work it out some way, simplifying the steps or soā¦.
Finallyā¦..
Vishal: (Throwing up his hands) FINE! I'll do it!š
At this there was a shout and Dipika happy hugged him kissing himā¦. Vishal kissed her back on her forehead and smiled⦠He looked at Sandhya who thanked him with his smileā¦.š³
Dipika: (Getting into action) Fine! Ab sab girls nikalo⦠This dance is suspense you know right?
Aadhya: (Disappointed) Awwā¦. Dipika Di⦠Not fairā¦. Hum bhi dekhte hain naa!
Dipika: (Stubbornly giving her her bag and pushing her out) No! Reception me dekh lena! Ab sab nikalo!
She stood ordering at the entranceā¦. The others were a little disappointed but happy that Sandhya had got a partner and left the academy bading them byeā¦..š
Remembering something Sandhya hurried to the practice room entrance and in the process dashed against Vishal⦠She was about to fall down when Vishal supported her catching her around her waistā¦.ā¤ļø
His touch⦠The first ever so close one sent some signals inside her as she gazed up at him⦠He slowly supported her on her feet still catching her hand⦠Even though she was standing neither of them left their holds and kept gazing at each otherā¦. āŗļø
Dipika who had seen the other girls off turned around⦠She took a step inside and her foot froze in mid air seeing them both like thisā¦. She raised her eyebrows in surprised and immediately turned around to look outā¦š³
It seemed like ages and still there was no movement behind her in the room⦠She looked behind and saw that they had in fact had come a little more closer than before drowning into each other's eyesā¦. She looked at her watch and hated breaking their intimacyā¦. But stillā¦
Dipika: (Calling out) Bye girlsā¦. Meet you tomorrow!
This was enough to break their hold⦠Then remembering Sandhya hurried to the entrance and saw that everyone had leftā¦..
Sandhya: Oh! Main Cynthia se kehena chahati thi ki Aadhya ko lift deinā¦. Ab to vo taxi ya auto legi⦠I don't feel safe! Maa to dantegiā¦š
Dipika: Sandhya! It's okay⦠Maine Cynthia ko remind kar di hai⦠She'll leave Aadhya at home and then only go home herself!
Sandhya smiled and hugged Dipika thanking herā¦.š¤
Dipika: (Parting from her) Ab chalo⦠Aaj se practice shuru karte hain⦠We have loads to start with!
Saying all three of them went insideā¦. He removed his coat and shoes while Sandhya played the dance VCD for him to watch⦠He loved itā¦. The song and dance was wonderful⦠And in an occasion like a marriage where hearts and souls meet this sounded just the one!
Vishal: (Doubtful) It seems okayā¦. But will it work out?
Dipika: Vishal! Shuru hi nahi ki to kaise pata chalega⦠I'll help you play the videoā¦. Ab chalo⦠Take your positionsā¦.
Vishal looked at Sandhya as she took positionā¦. Then after a little hesitation he too took his position⦠It started well⦠But⦠When he had to come in point of contact with Sandhya his arms failed himā¦.
In one step he didn't catch her and she fell down hardā¦
Sandhya: (Rubbing her back got up) Oie Chilgose! Theek se nahi pakad sakta⦠Dekha... Gira di!
Vishal: (Angryš”) Kise chilgose kaha tumne?!?! Bandariyaā¦. Khud ko theek se position karvati to aisa nahi hotaā¦. Main ab dance nahi karne waala!
Sandhya: Dekho! Dekho! (Going over to him to pick a fight) Galti tumhari thi aur mujh par ilzaam laga raha haiā¦. Tuā¦
Dipika got down from the table rolling her eyes towards heavenā¦. Coming in between them she saidā¦.
Dipika: Tum dono jhagadna band karogeā¦. (To Sandhya) Sandhyaā¦. Abhi seekh to raha hai⦠He'll get a hang of it soonā¦. (Sternly) Vishal! It's just a danceā¦.. Tum aise uske haath chodte rahoge to?!?! Gir gayi naa bechari⦠Uski bhi taang tutvaana hai kya? Come on⦠Let's start again⦠(Murmuring she went back to play the song again) Pata nahi mere hone par itna jhagad rahe ho⦠Kal agar main nahi rahi to kya karoge!
Vishal was just about to catch Sandhya's hand when he heard Dipika's murmurā¦. Stunned he put down his and Sandhya who was to catch his hand for support stumbled forwardā¦. But thank God didn't fall down again!
She looked behind frustrated trying to strangle him but Dipika shook her head hastily and she instead stamped her feet and went to gave a glass of waterā¦.š
Vishal: (Surprised) Tum kal nahi aa rahi?!!?
Dipika: (Pausing the player) Nahiā¦. Tumhare peeche bhaagna mera kaam hai? Waise bhi mujhe kal Neha ko beauty parlor le jaana hai!
Vishal: No way! Agar tum nahi aa rahi to main is (Glancing at Sandhya) bandariya ke saath nahi practice kar sakta!
Dipika: Vishal! I can't be with you alwaysā¦. Also its your decision⦠Neha ki shaadi ko memorable banana chahate ho to practice karo⦠Nahi to mat karoā¦. Your choice!
Vishal gave in irritated at the prospect of rehearsing with Sandhya alone but had no choiceā¦..
Dipika clapped in for another practiceā¦. This time Vishal was careful with the holdsā¦. They practiced late till nightā¦. Only at around eleven did they leaveā¦.
Vishal really was a star dancerā¦. All his postures and movements were perfect beyond what Sandhya had imagined and she was more impressedā¦. He was also a fast learner and hence they could complete practicing nearly three fourths of the song, just in a day!š
And Dipika was really happy that their plan had worked.... Poor Sam.... Fine enjoying at his home had to have a broken leg.... He was forbidden to come to the academy untill they all left for Neha's marriage! What is Vishal found out that he was perfectly okay and everyone had lied about his broken leg! Vishal would definitely break someone's leg this time! š