Once again thanks to all those who replied and thanks for the comments! Again, this may be my last post bit I think I'll have to write about the Dance after all 😃
okay then, this is it..........
IT BEGINS WITH A DANCE……
They had been going strong for about three hours now but neither one of them would call for a break. Jai knew he was a bit rusty as he hadn't danced in a really long time but he was glad his mother had forced him to take dance classes growing up. He had had the grace of a dancer she said, as he had been a waif-like teenager. Natchiket had had a field day at every practice as he sat on the sidelines but had actually began to respect and appreciate the different dance styles when he saw what went into it. Joined a few classes after a while too!
This was however different as he was dancing with the object of his desire. And boy was she intense! She had not even blinked since they began rehearsing for the show tomorrow. He watched her walking off a cramp now, counting as she went. In cut off sweats and a simple tank top, she looked incredibly fit for a woman with grown up children. That was funny, he realized. He'd never even met them before and she had been with them for quite some time now. He would make a point to find out.
"Ready?" she asked.
He nodded, getting up from the stool next to the Piano and going to take his place.
"Okay, I think the most difficult thing is the lifting," she began, "Maybe we should work on that."
"You think?" he raised a brow, "I think we should start at the beginning. Don't quite have it down pat."
"Well we have the rest of the day," she waved him off.
"Oh no you don't," he said firmly, "You cannot skip the beginning to the end when you haven't perfected the beginning so please, can we start over?"
"No!" she said emphatically.
"Why are you so damned stubborn?"
"Cos you don't listen to me!"
"What, and your opinion is the only one that counts?" he fired back.
"Well… even if it didn't, there's only two of us and a vote would be pointless."
"Then let's get logical. If we perfect the end, are we supposed to stand around while the song plays until it gets to the end before we start dancing?"
She opened her mouth to reply but couldn't think of a suitable come back.
'My point exactly," he said, "Now let's take it from the top."
As he turned to walk a short distance from her, she stuck her tongue out at his back.
He pressed play on the deck that had been provided for them with the guitar strains filling the room before Toni Braxton's deep smoky voice filled the room as she sang Spanish guitar. As that had worked out, to make the routine easier to remember, she was the one showing off, in that she was the one telling the story….he just happened to be there.
She circled him, as the song began. Jai stood still, watching but not moving. The movements told of his being oblivious to the fact that she had her eyes on him and of course, her wishing that he would just look her way, see her, make her his. She was meant to convey loss, despair and a wish to be loved, to be held by the man she most wanted to be with.
Bani on the other hand knew exactly why she had not wanted to rehearse the beginning of the song. This dance was a dance of love… a concept that was not exactly her favorite one right now. It required a lot of touching… a lot of caressing… and it was driving her crazy. As the chorus came on, he held her in his embrace, her back to him, then he turned her around and dipped her over, the tip of her fingers running lightly over the floor as a sort of tease before he pulled her up to himself. He tossed her away from him but just before she spun out of his reach he caught her by the waist, running his hand lightly down her back.
He felt her shiver and then she went stiff. The feeling had immediately gone out of the dance and she became wooden in her movement… almost robotic. Right in the middle of the second verse, he let go off her and stopped the music.
"What did you do that for?" she almost screamed.
"What on earth is wrong with you?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"I said, what the…"
"I heard what you said," she snapped, "And nothing is wrong with me. Now let's get back…"
"We are not getting back to anything until you tell me what the hell just happened."
"What do you mean tell you what just happened?"
"I mean every time we get to a particular part of the routine, you go all ice cold on me. What I want to know is why."
"I don't go ice cold on you," she said defensively.
"Of course you so," he came up to her, "You get stiff Bani, and that is never how you start out. Something always happens along the way. What are you so afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid of anything," she said, turning away from him and walking away to supposedly take a swig from the water bottle.
"Aren't you?" he asked, following right behind her, "You're a runner Bani."
"What?" she whirled to face him.
"You heard me. You're a runner," he repeated, "You run away from everything that you can't handle."
"How dare you?" she said in a soft bewildered voice.
"Look, whatever it is, take time out to work it out," he said, turning and heading for the door, "I'm not slaving away while you're like this."
"Where are you going?" she called.
"Taking a break. See you back here in a few," he called over his shoulder, and seconds later, he was gone.
She stood there looking at the door he had just walked out of. What the hell did he mean she was a runner? If anyone faced situations head on it was her! She never backed down from a fight and had taken every punch life head thrown her in her stride. She was no runner, he was the one running away from her. Yeah, that's what it was. He was the one who was afraid. For whatever reason, she didn't care. She only knew she wasn't a runner.
Concluding that thought, she finally turned and followed him out of the piano room. All this dancing had made her hungry.
The kids were having the afternoon out and were at a mall, as disguised as they possibly could be as they knew the paparazzi would hound them like dogs if they got wind they were out in the open but staying indoors since Sunday had taken its toll on the teens who loved the outdoors.
"Think they'll recognize us in these?" Ganga asked, looking directly at Krishna in such a way that made it obvious she was trying too hard to blend in.
"Well if you keep acting like a detective, it's a sure bet," Krishna answered.
"This is so much fun," Anu was dancing with excitement, "I haven't played dress up in a long time!"
"Careful," Atharva said, "No calling attention, remember?"
"Where the hell are those silly friends of ours?" Krishna asked irritably.
They were supposed to meet Anjali and Saahil. Ganga and Krishna had invited them to go to the movies as it was the only place they could think of where they could blend into the crowd and not be hounded by press and people alike.
"There they are!" Ganga almost shouted in excitement.
Atharva grabbed her arm and hissed, "Do you have to give everything away?"
A little subdued, she smiled and whispered, "Sorry."
They headed to the two people whom they had been waiting for, neither one knowing he or she was waiting for the same people.
"Anjali!" Ganga called in a hushed tone and the girl turned, first a curious then knowing look crossing her face as she hadn't recognized her friend behind the huge glasses immediately.
"What's with the get up?" she asked with a teasing smile.
"We're celebrities now, remember?" Ganga said proudly.
"Hello Saahil," Krishna said to the tall and gangly young man who was two seats away from Anjali.
He turned a bright smile on her, "Hello. Almost didn't recognize you in your boyish get up."
She smiled self consciously, "The things we do for our mother."
"I heard," he smiled incredulously, "And saw. Who would have thought?"
"Apparently we all did," Atharva came up behind them, having rallied everyone together and extended his hand, "Nice to see you again."
"Same here," Saahil said in a friendly manner, "So shall we?"
"Oh we shall," Ganga chirped, "Movie starts in fifteen minutes."
"What movie are we seeing again?" Anu asked.
"Chak de India," Krishna said from behind her.
"Oh yes. Really looking forward to it," she said, her eyes searching the crowd for something.
"What are you looking for?" Ganga asked her.
"What?" she turned guiltily, "Nothing!"
Ganga eyed her suspiciously, "Didn't look like nothing."
"It was nothing," Anu said quickly, and turned to head quickly for the entrance, "Will you all hurry? We're going to get crappy seats!"
Ganga frowned again, "We have reserved sitting remember?"
"Why are you after me?!" Anu half snapped, causing everyone to turn and look at her. Nervously, she regained her composure, "I'm sorry. I just got carried away."
Ganga looked at her seriously for a few seconds and then said finally, "It's okay. I just hope he's worth it."
Everyone froze at her words and Anu paled considerably, guilt and alarm written all over her face.
"Wh…why would you say that?"
"Well if that guy over by the Maiden Designs shop who has been trying to get your attention the last few seconds is who you're looking for, I hope he's worth missing Shahrukh Khan."
Anu turned to see it was indeed who she had been waiting for and her face all the way down to her neck colored brightly.
"Look….guys…."
"Don't worry about it," Atharva cut her off, "Go have fun."
"But I want details," Krishna said emphatically.
"Be back before we leave though," Atharva said, ever the protective one.
"Will do. See you guys soon, and thanks for not being mad," Anu was grateful.
They shooed her off and made their way to the theatre again. This time, Saahil pulled Krishna back.
"Interesting bunch you guys are. Are they always like this?"
"Worse," she smiled mischievously, "Looks like I'm not the only one who got bitten by the 'daring' bug."
She remembered her bold move with Saahil. She had told Atharva that she wanted to invite him out, and ever the protective brother since Bani was not around to do the talking, he had decided he would only agree to a chaperoned outing. She had had to call him at work to invite him out….boldest thing she had ever done. To her surprise, he didn't act like she had done anything outrageous. He seemed happy even, that she had called him.
For a twenty-six year old, he didn't in the least bit seem to feel out of place amongst them teenagers. Matter of fact he felt right at home. He was dresses casually in a simple Abercrombe and Fitch shirt, jeans and sneakers. He looked simply stylish. She knew that WGI spared no expense when it came to the wardrobe of their employees.
She looked at Atharva and smiled. She had a kind of unspoken connection to him and having lived with him all her life, she knew he thought Saahil was an okay guy.
They entered the hall and made their way to their seats. About ten minutes later, the lights dimmed and the blank screen came alive………
"I'm worried Ranveer," Rano said, pacing the top of WGI building which had sort of become their secret rendezvous as everywhere else was a danger of exposure waiting to happen.
"I think you have nothing to worry about…."
"Nothing?!" she whirled on him, "I have not been able to give this people an answer and all I keep telling them is we'll get through this. Unless you have one tucked away in your coat, I'm fresh out of miracles here."
He smiled. It was the first time he had seen her as anything but cool as a cucumber or hot as a burning coal. He noticed her distracted way of walking and talking to herself was something she and her sister Bani shared. He'd seen Bani do it either when she was angrily trying to make a point, or just worried something would not go well with a client. It was uncanny how much they all resembled and mimicked each other. He had met Pia and she whined the exact same way Rano did when she wanted him to do something for her. Well, he wished he could give her a solution but he would only sound like a fool as he didn't know a stitch about the intricacies of what she was talking about.
"I'm fresh out too," he said, "But I bet if you would just calm down…"
"Don't tell me to calm down!" she almost snapped at him, then at the look he gave her she quickly calmed down, "I didn't mean to yell."
Well, Ranveer thought in his mind, he just might have found the way to keep her from walking all over him. Jai Mama had used it a lot on him and Anu growing up. They called it 'The Look'. He was crazy about this woman and it was important that He had some way to put his foot down, rather than letting her get away with everything all the time.
"It's alright," he said finally, coming to take her by the shoulders, "Look, as far as I know, you're Rano Dixit. One of the youngest yet most revered lawyers in legal circles. I have heard you go from zero to a hundred without batting an eyelid, you make witnesses wish they had told the truth initially, how can you doubt your ability to solve this?"
Her frown did not let up, "This one seems impossible."
"You once said that about the Will Mr. D'Souza left only last week. Yet you were able to prove he was sane when he made the will and thereby made the will irrevocable."
She smiled now, "I did, didn't I?"
"See?" he said, "I think you have…."
The smile was wiped off her face with lightening speed and he was more than confused by it. What on earth just happened? However as he stared at her, he recognized that look very well. She was about to have a light bulb moment. He had only ever seen it with Bani and he added that to the list of things they did alike.
Without a word, she dashed to her briefcase and pulled out a file and began to flip excitedly, muttering to herself. Ranveer let her alone.
"Please please please don't be there," she chanted as she searched through the files, "Come on come on come on."
He just folded his arms and watched her. It was fast becoming his favorite past time. She was running her fingers up and down pages and flipping them, a look of desperate anticipation on her face as she searched.
"Yes… yes… aha…aha….yes!" she threw the papers up in the air and began to do a funny little dance where she hopped from one foot to the other with her hands in the air in a sign of triumph.
In total surprise which was not at all what he had been expecting from her, Ranveer watched her in bemused amusement. She looked outrageous, but cute in whatever the hell name of dance she was doing was. She even seemed to have forgotten he was there with her.
"Mind telling me what that dance means?" he asked softly.
She seemed to snap out of it, but rather than blush as he expected her to, she flew into his arms and planted a big wet kiss on his lips! Needless to say, he was shocked.
She pulled away finally, and said between pants, "Do you know… what a good luck charm you have turned out to be?"
"Nope, but I can certainly feel it," he smiled goofily, brushing the hair that the wind whipped across her face away, "May I…"
"Don't ask," she placed a finger across his lips, "All I want you to know is that you have just saved an entire family and dynasty from ruination."
"No fair," he said with no trace of disappointment, "It was my idea. Surely I should know what it is?"
She shook her head like a child saying a naughty 'no' to an adult, "Not a chance. I will only tell you when this is over in two days."
That was fine by him. For now, he just wanted to kiss her some more. Her worrying a few minutes ago had ruined the alone time he wanted with her, but now, she was freely, totally and willingly giving in to him.
They had both calmed down enough to get back to rehearsals and Bani had managed to keep from going frigid on him at his touch. He knew it wasn't that he repulsed her, but it was that damned armor of hers. Well he wasn't going to let her keep fighting as truly it was getting to him now. He perceived she was so much more underneath all that weight she carried and he couldn't wait to strip her of all that metal. He wanted to cut all of that away as soon as possible.
They were back to doing the second verse of the song and she seemed to be getting into the dance more and more. She had even cracked a joke or two to lighten the air each time things got tense. At least she was learning to let herself go. Her voice snapped him out of his reverie.
"Well what do we do after the second dip?"
He paused to process what she had said, "I could tell you, but I'd rather show you."
She gave him a suspicious look, "I'm good with you telling me."
"You're doing it again," he said, his face getting serious.
"Look, I don't know what you want from me, but by now I think you should know what you see is what you get."
"Is it?" he asked, the look on his face challenging her.
"Darned right it is," she bit back.
"Prove it," he dared her, his eyes not shifting from her face, drawing her to take the challenge.
"I'll bite," she said finally.
He took her by the hand and pulled her to the other side of the room where the floor length mirrors were and made her stand and look at refection.
She smirked, "This is the best you can do?"
He smiled, "I want you to see yourself as you are. This… is what I'm going to do."
He got behind her and her eyes widened instinctively and she was about to step away but he held her still.
"Close your eyes," he said in her ear, but making sure he held her gaze in the mirror.
She was resisting but he willed her to do it with his eyes. Slowly, her eyes fluttered close as she held her breath in anticipation of what he was about to do. He smiled at that. Ever so slowly, his hands began to encircle her waist and she jumped, as a gasp escaped her.
"Eyes closed," he repeated.
She swallowed hard, her eyes squeezed shut now at the feel of his hands on her. Her fists were clenched by her side in an effort to bring her senses under control. Slowly, his hands turned upwards, running up the sides of her waist, lifting her hands from her sides as they went.
Her breathing was now erratic and for some reason, he knew she knew he was watching her in the mirror.
He continued upwards until he was lifting her hands up above her head, his hands slowly making their way up her arms, firing up her skin as they went. He watched her. Her face was beginning to glow….beginning to come alive.
He ran his fingers over hers and instinctively, they turned and matted with his. He smiled, for she didn't realize she had acted on instinct rather than thought. She had wanted to, not made herself hold on to him. Her breathing had slowed as she was no longer waging war against herself. She was coming to a place of submission. He pulled her hands back and draped them round his neck lovingly as a deep sigh escaped her.
Almost there.
His hands nose dived back to her waist in such a fluid motion a deep moan rumbled in her throat. His right hand turned further south. He lowered his head to her neckline and blew softly on her skin. She trembled in his arms. Now that was what he called a reaction. Her legs were not glued together as they had been at the start of all of this and he easily snaked his hand to curve around her right thigh, gently pulling back.
Without resistance, she followed his movement, her leg going with the pull of his hand until he had her leg curved around his right leg which was pushed out behind him to anchor them both. Slowly it became difficult to keep from toppling forward and her hands secured themselves firmly behind his neck to keep her balance.
Her body was on fire! Every hair, every pore was dancing in response to the stimuli that was his nearness. She could not explain what was going on but she knew she loved the feel of it. It had been so long since she had let go like this, to feel with reckless abandon, to let emotions rage without fear… this was freedom!
"Open your eyes," he whispered gently, his eyes on her.
Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and slowly focused on the mirror. What she saw stunned her. Even in her obscure position, it stunned her. She didn't know this woman staring back at her…..didn't recognize her. She looked wild, wanton, powerful even… she had passion, desire, and this…. this could not be her! Could it? Then her eyes focused on his in the mirror. He was not laughing at her. His gaze was as intense as hers, for whatever it was she was feeling, whatever this feeling was, he was feeling it too.
"This is you Bani. The real you," he said softly, "Stop hiding her away."
She looked confused, giving her head tiny shakes in confusion.
He gave her a small smile in the mirror, like he understood her confusion and then straightened up again. She just kept staring at her reflection in the mirror, trying to understand what she had just been forced to see. Was that truly her? She couldn't remember ever being that way…she absolutely did not remember any of that. But if she wasn't like that, then where did all that fire, that passion come from? What had he done to her?
"Ready?"
His voice snapped her out of it, "What?"
He motioned to the radio, asking silently if he could play it.
She was disconcerted for a few seconds, but finally shook her head in a yes. She began to walk towards him, looking over her shoulder as though wishing she could see someone else in it to explain that what she had seen was an apparition.
Jai turned away from her bewildered looks at the mirror and smiled to himself.
One step closer, he thought.
They had gone back to it again and though she had held back at first, reminding her of what she could feel had loosened her up a bit. She was more open to his touch and not so uptight about whatever he suggested they do, no matter how outrageous. It was the lifting as she had said earlier that was the contention now.
"Well maybe if we didn't spin around so fast it would be easier for us to keep pace," she suggested.
"Spinning is not the problem," he shook his head as he looked up at her from the floor where he was lying down.
'So, what is?' she shifted her weight from one leg to the other as she stood akimbo.
He imagined she had used that stance to intimidate quite a few people but didn't say anything, "Maybe we could put you back down slowly as opposed to you hitting the ground and pirouetting away from me. The latter doesn't tally with the wordings of the song."
She paused to think, "That could work. Up you go."
"What?" he asked with a frown of protest, "I'm tired."
"No you're not," she threw over her shoulder, "Now get up."
He pushed himself up and got to his feet and muttered, "Bossy."
"I heard that," she said, her back to him.
He rolled his eyes.
"Saw that too."
He glanced up to see her watching him with a mischievous smile. His answering smile was immediate.
"Okay, here we go."
It got to the part where the music swelled ………
I'd be your song your song your song(back up)
I'd be your song….(Toni sang)
He had her above his head where she balanced like a bird in flight and he spun her round and round then on the repeat of the couplet he began to lower her slowly, slowly so that the length of her body ran along the length of his, inadvertently heating up her face as she saw the look in his eyes as she came level with them.
It was as though the music had faded and all she could see were those eyes…wonderful grey eyes that had turned dark and smoky with….what? Desire? What? She continued to stare but couldn't look away…something in his eyes wouldn't let her. She was literally numb right there in his arms, powerless to pull out of the embrace that was the result of their closeness.
They were knocked out of the moment by the surreal sound of the next song on the deck. She jumped violently, and then released herself from his embrace so fast she almost fell. He grabbed her hand to keep her from falling but in her bid to get away, pulled back sharply. His iron grip on her hand pulled both of them forward and his misstep had them both falling forward, with him landing on top of her. Needless to say, the wind was knocked out of her.
He quickly shifted his weight by rolling to the side to allow her breathe, looking down at her angrily.
"What the hell was that?" he asked in a heated but hushed tone.
She was breathing heavy, "You tell…me. And get off me!" she tried to push him away.
"You could have knocked yourself out."
"Not if you didn't have two left feet," she shot back.
He was quiet, watching her with a disapproving frown, "Take that back."
She glared, "No way."
She tried shoving him of her and away, but he wouldn't budge as he had her effectively trapped underneath him with his leg thrown across hers and both her tiny hands captured in his right hand.
"You are not going anywhere until you take it back," he said calmly.
She gave up struggling to glare at him again, "Then you have a long wait coming big foot."
He saw she wasn't going to let up and then made a decision. He got off her and just when she thought she was free, her pulled her to her feet and before she could react, hefted her over his shoulder, caveman style.
"Wha… what the hell are you doing?!" she was thrown off guard, disoriented by the fact that she was half-hanging down his back. She began to wriggle, "Put me down right this minute!"
"Take it back," he said over his shoulder.
"The hell I will," she hissed and began to pummel his back, "I said put me down!"
"Fine, have it your way."
Rather than put her down, he headed for the doors that led to the pool area from the piano room.
"Where are you taking me?" a hint of alarm had crept into her voice, "Jai… Jai! Put me down!"
He wasn't answering anymore. When he attempted to go through the door, she grabbed unto the sides and refused to let go.
"You will put me down right this minute," she warned, "I am a grown woman with…"
He reached up and soundly swatted her derriere and she reared up in total shock at the realization of what he had just done! In complete outrage she began to struggle violently, scratching at his back and cursing him at the same time. Point was, she let go off the door jamb and he carried her through, as though she were paper weight.
"You stupid, stupid man! How dare you do that to me?! I'm going to kill you, you…"
"This ought to cool you down," he said, and just plain unceremoniously tossed her into the swimming pool.
She gave off a terrified shriek before she disappeared beneath the surface of the water, making a truly terrific splash. He stood there, dusting his hand slowly, waiting for her to resurface. And when she did, she was stark, raving mad! Livid better explained the look on her face.
"Feeling better?" he asked, a smug smile playing on his lips.
"You're going to pay for this," she hissed, swiping at the water cascading down her hair in anger.
"I'm sure," he said offhandedly, "I'll be inside."
So saying, he turned on his heels and walked back into the house, closing the door behind him. He found he was smiling a lot these days when it came to this woman. He however had no doubt she was going to get him… woman like her didn't make empty promises. Well, at least she would be thinking of him a lot for the next few hours.
"That was ballzy," Harun said, a look of admiration written all over his face.
Pia was laughing so hard she couldn't speak, "Oh, my sister is going to kill him!"
"I agree," Tanish said, a happy smile on his face, "You really hit the jackpot on this one Pia. The ratings are going to go through the roof!"
"I'm just glad she doesn't get to see the edited version, or I'll be the one she kills!"
"True that," Harun said, watching as Bani bobbed in the water, her eyes flashing as the camera had zoomed in on her face.
"I think the dance will be worth watching," Tanish said.
"If that scene in front of the mirror was anything to go by, you bet yours," Harun said, a knowing look on his face.
Pia slapped his head, "That's my sister we're talking about."
"So?" he said, rubbing the back of his head, mischief gleaming in his eyes, "Doesn't stop her being a woman. And that Pia, was your sister being a woman."
Pia watched as Bani pulled herself out of the pool and began to squeeze as much water as she could out of her clothes, a deadly calm on her face.
"Oh boy," she said, shaking her head in wonder, "She's not going to do it now."
"Do what?" Tanish asked.
"She's going to strike when he least expects it," she smiled, as she knew that look on Bani's face like the back of her hand, and her sister could be patient when it came to stuff like that.
"Now this I gotta see." Tanish said, leaning back in his seat, twiddling his thumbs in anticipation.
"Me too," Harun said.
"I want to be here for the editing," Pia said to Harun, "I've got to rush off now, I'm picking Veer from school today."
"How is the little chap?" Tanish asked as she grabbed her bag.
"Oh he's wonderful," she smiled, "A pain too."
"My regards to your husband," Tanish called as she breezed out of the editing room.
He turned back to the screens, one on the now sufficiently dry Bani to Jai who was perched on one of the high back chairs in the kitchen that overlooked the living room. There really could have been no better couple than these two. Pia has really been a good luck charm to his company since she had joined. She brought such energy to the work place that she challenged everyone to be on top of their game at all times. She had been his right hand in so many ways, so much so that even he admitted he was a little in love with her. It never blossomed, as Varun had come out of nowhere and stolen her out from right under him. He'd never forgiven himself for letting her just walk away, but what could he do? He was ten years too late.
Harun sent a discreet look his way and then looked away. He knew the boss was very, very fond of Pia…maybe in love with her, but the woman was too in love with her husband to even notice. Well, good for her.
OKAY GUYS…………..REALLY WISHED I COULD GET TO THE DANCE BUT ALAS, IT WAS NOT TO BE.WELL, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK IF THERE IS A NEXT WEEK.
CIAO!!!!
Avatar and Signatures Shop
4