The Girl Who Dreams

The Girl Who Dances

**Dedicated to @afeefamanaal for the words of motivation you gave me when I doubted myself. **

It has been few days joining my new school, where everybody seemed to be in their world. Mostly fiddling with their phones or chatting animatedly in groups. Everybody stuck to their circle. It was very different and significant. Today when I saw a big auditorium, I was dumbstruck. Some dance practice was going on the stage. Ms Sabrina was choreographing and instructing the dancers the steps. There wore a small dress and were moving gracefully to the music flow. Extending hands, legs and pivoting with poise.

My feet froze to the ground as I watched their movements in unison. My body also started swaying just a little to the music piece. After some time, they dispersed to the left of the stage, probably for lunch. The music still played. I checked for any human in the closed space. I was making my way towards the stage as I found nobody.

I dumped my bag at stairs and went up to the centre of the stage and faced the absent crowd.

My body began swaying to the steps, as the slow music filled my ears. I enjoyed the ample space in which I was able to move. Dancing had always felt me liberated; it adds a liveliness to my whole being. It illuminated happiness within me. My bedroom was too small for such a dance. But here, I could extend my hands and my toes in great liberty.

I didn't know how much time had passed as the music took over my movements. My eyes caught glimpse of someone standing on the doorway. And I stopped suddenly bewildered. Ms Sabrina was watching me curiously as she leaned on the door. She clapped when I straightened myself.

"I am sorry. I will go," I blurted fearing that she will scold me.

"No please," she replied almost immediately. "It's great what you are doing."

I waited as she came closer. "You are the new girl? You were admitted to this school recently." She asked in her fluid British accent.

I nodded. All I wanted was to turn around and disappear before I could make a fool of myself further. I nervously fidgeted with my fingers as Ms Sabrina stood before me.

"Can you do this step?" she queried, her eyes reminded me of the pale boy. It had the same emerald colour.

She moved with ease, first pushing her leg upwards and then arching her body to touch the other leg, pivoting and getting back. I was uncertain when I saw it. I had never tried such moves. But I couldn't say no to her emerald orbs genuinely curious.

I breathed in and let my body loose. I repeated the moment, ever so silently getting back on feet after pivoting. Whoa! That was new to me.

She grinned broadly, moving forward, she clamped my hand in hers. "You are terrific. When did you learn contemporary?"

"Contemporary?" I raised my brows.

"Yeah. Contemporary dance form. Where did you learn it?" Ms Sabrina asked.

"I.. I haven't." she looked at me as if I had spoken in Hindi!

She showed some other steps for me to repeat. After a few minutes, she seemed excited. "You are good, except for some few technical things, like how you point the toes and the angle of the different arches. You can join the school group or better," she paused leaning her head to one side. "Have you thought about doing this professionally? All you need to do is do an undergrad program, and different avenues will open for you." She said that all the faster for me to grasp what she meant.

I still looked at her unable to respond to her sudden excitement. I was suppressing my thought process just in time to realise that it was impossible. What she suggested was not something I thought of myself before: Shashi Dixit, a dancer. I shrugged. It was not something I had aspired. My parents always fostered me into becoming a doctor or a CA, which was something reputed in India. Thanks to my grades, their hopes of me becoming a doctor or a CA, was getting closer.

Her face turned serious with her little nose wrinkling a bit. "So?"

I shook my head. With that, her expression turned more vigorous. "Miss, I.." I gulped. "I.. I don't want to do that professionally." I managed. Heaven knows I tried to talk with new people, but always found little courage to go on.

She suddenly grabbed my shoulders with a gentle yet assertive way. "Ok. Not a problem. But say at least you will think about it. You have a natural flair, and you are gifted dear."

I nodded. Ms Sabrina told me to accompany her in the evening after school was over. I agreed as secretly I wished to see more dancing.

Later in the evening when I started the subject regarding Miss Sabrina with my mamma. She looked at me with worried lines on her face. She stirred the spinach sabzi in a Kadai and told me to concentrate only on studies. That if my baba knew about it, he would surely throw a ruckus.

I wondered as I stared into the night through the window. I was disappointed. What Miss Sabrina said was imprinted on my memory. What if I could be a dancer, would it be so bad? I knew for sure that Baba would never approve of it. And going against his wishes was not I intended to do.

I wore my new pants and a kurta with a Stole as I accompanied Miss Sabrina in her car speeding towards the unknown destination. She glanced at me sitting in the passenger seat, "Relax Shashi. We will be reaching in another five minutes. I only want you to watch and perhaps experience yourself." I smiled back, replaying in my mind the day I danced in that auditorium. It felt like a breath of fresh air.

The car finally stopped in front of a red brick building — Academy of Dance. I stepped in the premises unsure, uncertain with Miss Sabrina giving me smile of assurance. She introduced me to the dance teacher, Donna; she was a middle aged tall and thin lady with beautiful and long flaming red hair. Her skin was fine with few wrinkles around the edges of her grey eyes.

"Saby, how are you, sweetheart?" She asked while hugging Miss Sabrina heartily. Her kind eyes reflected curiosity. "And you are Shashi." I shook my hands and continued, "I heard a lot about you from Sabrina."

"Yes. Shashi is a gem. Wait until you see her dance," Ms Sabrina smiled warmly. The smile reached her eyes. "Where is my Evie? Has she come yet?"

"Your niece is late again!" she laughed and eyed the door. "Oh speak of the devil, here she is!"

Miss Sabrina started waving to a girl in short pink dress; her hair was the same as Donna, red but short curls. She kissed the girl's cheeks and then her eyes went somebody to her right.

"Daniel Milton! It's been forever since we met," Donna said hugging the boy. 

"Is this the girl you were talking about?" The girl asked Sabrina pointing her finger to me when my gaze went to the boys who stood with her, and it made me gasp a bit. And I looked at him little longer confirming my doubt. I looked at the familiar green eyes.