Not Around The Corner

Dance With Me

“Don't let two men fall in love with you, girls. It's not the sort of thing that ends well.” ~ Ally Carter

Since Gaurav got engaged with Anushka, our parents had been planning their wedding. The main ceremony which was a month later was to take place in Singapore. We were going to have the engagement party this weekend. I was busy planning the party with Anushka all week. The house was big enough to host an engagement ceremony, so we decided to have it there.

The guests were invited. The menu was decided. The DJ was called. The weekend arrived and our house was filled with relatives and guests. I was with Anushka helping her get ready.

She was going to wear a beautiful red and green salwar kameez. It was a dress Gaurav’s parents had gifted her. She looked so radiant. She was thrilled. And I was wearing a purple ghagra choli. We both looked at each other in the mirror and laughed.

“Chic, aren’t we?” she asked.

“Gaurav will fall at your feet,” I said dramatically. She laughed. I couldn’t wait for Akash to see me too. “And Akash will fall at yours,” she replied.

As the beautician was putting the final touches of make-up on Anushka, I ventured outside. The house was filled with a buzz. The women were looking beautiful in their traditional wear and the men were looking handsome in their sherwanis.

The ceremony began and Anushka was brought out. While the ceremony was going on, I searched for Akash. I couldn’t find him anywhere. He had mentioned that he would be late but I was still searching him. Patience wasn’t one of my key strengths. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around excitedly. To my disappointment, it was Jai.

“You don’t have to be that disappointed,” he teased me. “Boyfriend of yours hasn’t arrived yet?” he asked cunningly.

“He will be here soon,” I said haughtily. How did somebody so good looking be so frustrating? He looked great tonight. He was wearing a black sherwani and for once his hair was in place.

He came and stood next to me. He leaned in and whispered in my ear,” You look beautiful tonight.”

I looked at him to check if he was joking. But he was serious.

“What? I can be nice,” he said. I smiled.

“Thank you,” I said.

“For once even you are looking decent enough,” I told him.

“Are we being nice to each other now?” he asked with a grin on his face.

“You tell me,” I said with a wink. He chuckled and I looked at the door once again. I saw a guy in a beige sherwani enter the house. It was Akash. He was looking handsome. I smiled at him and ushered him to where I was standing.

He was looking at me and he was dumbstruck.

“You look beautiful,” he said and gave me a peck on the cheek. In front of all these people, my brain said awkwardly. In front of all these people, my heart leapt with joy. My head and my heart. They could be at such opposite ends.

“Thank you,” I flushed. I looked around to see who all had noticed us and only Jai seemed to be ignoring us. I gave a sigh of relief and turned my attention to the engagement ceremony.

We watched the entire ritual unfold and later the DJ started playing some peppy dance numbers. Gaurav and Anushka were pulled on the dance floor. It was an amazing atmosphere. Everybody was enjoying themselves. Gaurav pulled Akash and me to dance too. All his friends had joined in too. I let go of my inhibitions and danced. Akash was a great dancer. I was having fun with him.