Dancing Dolls by Sheetal Pahadi (best ereader for manga .TXT) 📕

She woke up sharp at 5:00 am. Slowly opening her eyes, she smiled to herself and thought about the ‘pleasure’ she was going to have today. In fact, it should be said ‘the true happiness of her life’ rather than just ‘pleasure’.

Realising that she had already wasted her 10 minutes on visualizing her dream, soon going to become her reality, she jumped out of her bed in a hurry, but still smiling, quite excited.

She then went inside the bathroom to freshen up. While brushing, she was playing the music in her mind and also shaking and waving her body rhythmically, trying to fit in the most beautiful steps in the music.

This really made her late. So now, she seriously got worried and in a haste came out of the bathroom, completely fresh, fragrant and fluorescent, emitting all the positive energy the morning had imbibed in her that day.

She wanted to look extremely gorgeous today. But she didn’t want to make-up much- as it would give her an odd look, not acceptable on normal days.

So, she just combed her hair which she thought was quite stylish as well as suited her the most- the one because of which he had complimented her for the first time.

She sprayed a mild cologne all over her torso. She had picked the best dancing outfit for practice she had- peach coloured.

And then, she went out on the way to that place by her bike,

with all the visualizations of her dream still in her mind.

At about 7:35 am, 25 minutes before the class timing, she reached the class – her love, life and career – the ‘NRitya Shakti Studio’ [NRS Studio- Nritya Shakti means the power of dance] – a renowned, reputed dance class run by the young couple – Samar and Sonya – the true dancing inspiration for the youth like them.

She looked up – observed carefully every letter printed on the big Name Plate at the top of the high building of the NRS Studio. While looking at that name NRS, she felt proud to be of this institute, but more than that, she was ‘thankful to this institute’ for giving her the love of her life – both ‘him’ and her dance.

She let out a deep breath. She closed her eyes and prayed to God to keep everything proper today.

She slowly started walking up the stairs of the institute and entered it. She passed through the Reception Counter, waving hands to everyone she saw and gifting smiles to everybody. She was really excited, but nervous too. “What if something goes wrong? No, no, nothing wrong will happen.” She convinced herself to stop these negative thoughts.

At the end of the reception hall, she turned to the corridor towards the left and walked till the last. There came the room – the ‘Advanced Batch Studio’ – her class. She pushed open the door slowly with her heart upbeat. Everything seemed still, except the soft breeze blowing her hair, her heart pounding fast and her eyes searching for him. She was feeling like a princess.

She then realized, he would definitely not be here this particular moment because she had come very early.

But suddenly, her heartbeat went fast again. Faster and faster, accelerating like anything.

“Hey Alifa! Come fast! Here!”, said the most beautiful and lovable voice, ubiquitous in all her body, mind and soul, predominant in every dream of hers.

Alifa:          Hi! You came so early today?

Neil:           Yeah! You know na, how much important this is for me?

Alifa:          Yeah, I….

Neil:           (interrupting) By the way, you look different today. What’s so special, huh?

Alifa:          (Hiding away her blush) No, nothing.

Neil:          Whatever it is, you look good. (smiles at her)

Alifa:          (shocked a bit) (after a pause) (smiled back)

                   Thanks, I am……..

Neil:           (Again interrupting) By the way, are you ready? It’s ballroom, so it’s gonna be a bit tricky.

Alifa:          Yeah, I know, but I am ready.

Neil:           Yeah, you are a Ballerina, beautiful! It would be a bit more easy for you.

After all,

Tu club ki Shakira, hum galli ke Michael

Main desi kya jaanu, international rhythm……

Alifa:          Ahh! Hahaha……..

Neil: Hahaha…..

But still, I think you should be careful about your feet positions coz Ballet has restricted feet. But in ballroom, you have to………

Alifa: (Interrupting) Yeah! Yeah! I got it Neil.

                   Relax. Just chill.

I know how important this is for you. It is important for me too. Trust me, we are gonna make it happen, ferociously, deadly and stage-breakingly.

Neil:           Ummm, yeah! I know you will! You are extremely good. I am the one who needs practice.

(Taps his head at back and clutches his hair.)

Alifa:          (Smilingly) Yeah, you really need to.

Hey! It’s 7:55.. ‘Sam-son’s might just be reaching here any moment. Let’s get the room arranged and start the music system.

Neil and Alifa started putting off the curtains, dusting the sitting cubes a bit and throwing the props from the floor to sideways.

They started the music system as well.

They were completely ready for today’s class. They didn’t want to waste a single minute today. It was their life.

They were waiting for the so-called ‘Samsons’ – Samar and Sonya, to reach the classroom.

After a few minutes, Samar and Sonya arrived at the Advanced Batch Studio where Neil and Alifa were already waiting for them. A group of other students followed the ‘Sam-sons’. Neil and Alifa , excitedly, stood up as soon as they reached there. Samar and Sonya took to the centre of the room and they asked all the students to sit down on the floor.

Sonya started.

“As you all know, 2-3 weeks later we are going to perform in our life’s biggest ever test. The Qualifier Round for the ‘International Dancers’ Quest’. I think this round is a lot more important and difficult than the actual competition there at Las Vegas. Coz, there more than just winning the competition, learning, experiencing and exploring dance would be our aim. But here, from now on till 3 weeks, our only aim is to win. We have no other option but to win. Winning would take us to every dancer’s dream land- The International Dancers’ Quest land. Losing would shatter all our dreams. You have no right to dream of the Quest, if you can’t make yourself capable enough to snatch away the Winner’s Trophy of the Qualifier’s Round.

We don’t know whether they’ll take the runner ups of this round to Vegas or not. We don’t know how many of the troupes like us would be going there, yet. Only on the Qualifiers day would we be able to know about the criteria of selection. We are in no position to take any risk.”

Samar-

“Thus, we have only one thing left to do- to do the best, to be the best! Only that would take us there. And I know all of my students, nahh, my Dance Legends of the so reputed NRS Studio, the Nritya Shakti Studio, have that potential to touch the sky. Do you have?”

All-                       Yes!

Sam&Son-          Do our Dance Legends of N----R----S have that potential?

All-                       Yes SamSon! We have it.

Sonya-                So let’s buck up. And we are good to go for the Vegas.

Samar-                 Are we ready?

Okay, so let me make everything clear to you all. Let me tell you what all we have planned for the Qualifier.

We’ll have to go for four performances in total. First, is definitely a group performance. So, the best students of the Beginner and Intermediate Batch and all the Advanced Batch Students will be in it.

The ones from Beginner and Intermediate are already here with us- we have already selected them.

Sonya-        Second performance would be Female Duet and we are going for ‘Folk’. There’s a special information for y’all.

You might remember Jasleen, who was there with us in the Beginner’s Batch and you all know that she is extremely good in Folk/Indian styles.

Well, last week, she enrolled with us again but was not coming coz she was out to attend a wedding. She’s here in the town back and she would be joining us today.

Just then three girls enter in the room.

Neil (to Alifa) – OMG! Jazzlin!

Alifa- Who? (With a puzzled look)

Neil- I mean Jasleen. Everybody calls her Jazzlin, she’s so popular. OMG, she’s coming here?

Oh, my happiness has no limits Alifa!

Alifa- Why? What……….?

Sonya- (interrupting)(to Neil and Alifa) Silence please both of you!

Sonya-        Oh, yay, she is here. Guys, welcome Jasleen, ah sorry, I mean Jazzlin and her friends. Her friends will be assisting us in organizing everything.

All-    Yay! Hi Jazzlin! Welcome!

(All clap for her.)

Alifa-          (Whispering into Neil’s ears)

You were saying that you are happy that she’s here. Why’s that?

(Sonya started speaking again and Alifa & Neil listen to her.)

Sonya-        The third performance would be a Male Duet. We have our