yun hi tu mere saath rehna

Chapter Forty Four

“No, absolutely not!” Vidhi exclaimed as she read over Krish's plans for the academy. They hadn't had a chance to meet before due to her busy schedule and had finally met up to talk after a couple days of Krish reaching out to her for help.

Which he desperately needed, she was now realizing. His plans for the academy were categorically incorrect. They just would not do. Teaching the likes of hip hop and salsa at an Indian classical dance academy? Absolutely not. She would never let it happen for as long as she was alive.

And she told Krish as such. “This is an academy for students of Indian classical dance forms like kathak and bharatnatyam. Not some random dance class where you just teach whatever takes your fancy. There is legacy here. A reputation that has been earned over more than a generation. Yes, we are struggling to make ends meet, but that doesn't mean we need to resort to such measures.”

“That's very elitist and puritanical,” Krish scoffed. “You think that only classical dance forms deserve respect? Other dance forms are also art. They require just as much effort and training. Why can they not be taught at the academy? I never suggested we stop teaching classical dance. Just that other dance forms should also be taught.”

“I don't think I need lectures in classism from a man who is wearing shoes more expensive than what I make in a whole year,” Vidhi snorted. 

“And I don't need to listen to someone who is so rigid and unaccepting of change,” Krish fired back. “Also, just for your information, yeh shoes sirf hazaar rupaye ke hain. Inhe customize maine khud kiya hai cause that's how I like them. So, please, stop judging a book by its cover and grow up!”

“I grow up?” Vidhi cried. “No! You grow up! Understand the importance of our own culture before being mesmerized by others. Wahaan log Indian cheezein apna rahe hain lekin Indians yahaan baithe goron se impress ho rahe hain.”

“West mein log woh cheezein try kar rahe hain jo unke liye nayi hai. Toh agar Indians bhi nayi cheezein try kar rahe hain toh tumhe itni problem kyun hai?” Krish questioned. “I thought you were a modern woman of today. Lekin tum toh…”

“Main toh kya, haan? Aisa zaroori hai kya modern sirf apne culture aur traditions ko bhool ke hi bann sakte hain? Tum kehna kya chaahte ho? Just because I want to promote Indian Classical Dance over your western ones, I'm not modern? How small-minded!” Vidhi exclaimed.

Before Krish could retort, their argument was interrupted by a new voice. “Time out!” A man shouted, coming to stand in between them. “Jabse dekh raha hoon, tum dono toh rukne ka naam hi nahi le rahe!”

“Toh tumhe itni problem kyun hai, bhai? Kaun ho tum?” Krish asked.

“Abhi toh tumne khud hi bata diya,” the man grinned. “Bhai!”

“What?” Krish questioned, confused.

“What I mean is… I'm Vidhaan. Vidhi ka bhai, aur iss academy ka Admin Head,” the man, Vidhaan, introduced himself.

“Hi,” Krish replied, offering Vidhaan a hand. “I'm Krish.”

“He's Abhira's brother,” Vidhi supplied helpfully. Krish grinned at the introduction, not bothering to correct her misconception. It made him extremely happy that she thought he was Abhira's brother, not brother-in-law. 

“Pleasure to meet you,” Vidhaan smiled. “And I'm sorry about her,” he said, pointing to his sister. “Isse control karna thoda mushkil hai. Humne toh paagal khaane phone kiya tha ki woh log isse le jaaye but woh bhi isse dekhke darr gaye, toh humein hi jhelna pad raha hai.”

A laugh burst out of Krish at his words, while Vidhi whacked his arm, affronted. “Shut up! Zyaada bakwaas mat kar. Jaa aur apna kaam kar.”

“Wohi toh kar nahi paa raha!” Vidhaan complained. “Tum dono ki argument ki wajah se! So, tell me… Problem kya hai?”