Nasty dance

“C’MON GUYS WE WILL GO and roam around the city. It’s boring to stay here and see the same faces again and again,” Lawrence said. He was having a C FAQ (frequently asked questions) book in his hand. He felt like he had almost dissected this book and every concept in it were struck on his mind like glue. Everyone was preparing for Sine&Cos Soft Inc interview on next Wednesday. They knew there would be a heavy competition for this selection process, so they had intensified their study for the last couple of days. Particularly, Gautam who had devoted most of the night time to work out the intricate software programs, though he had still expected himself that he might be ended with a clumsy performance in this interview. “Yeah, I agree. My mind is burning at each time when I try to solve these aptitude questions,” Kamesh said, as showed his finger at the aptitude book (written by RS Aggarwal) which was kept besides to him. “Shall we all go then?” Madhan said, stood up and turned his gaze at Gautam, who was still flipping the pages of the C book to understand the linked list program. He was good until the simple structures and nestled structures programs, once he cross this safe zone and jumped into the data structures, his mind would start spinning dangerously. “What about you man?” Lawrence asked to Gautam, who looked up slowly and didn’t respond. He wanted to continue his damn study despite his friend’s harrowing troubles over him. This was his first interview in Bangalore, and his agitation and temptation was much larger than when he had attended an interview in Chennai. It’s totally a new atmosphere and challenges were peeked out at every corner he walked down. “I think I stay here and continue my study, because I haven’t prepared well yet for the upcoming interview,” Gautam said in a slow mumbling voice, his fingers were twirling. Kamesh and Madhan were piqued by his stubbornness to stay in the room despite their earnest request. Kamesh’s cheeks were flushed to reddish glow as he looked down at Gautam, “Hey mongoose, come we will go. I too haven’t gone through most of the topics. You know, I still don’t know what is that bullshit data structures mean. Let’s go, we will have fun. There were still three more days to cover for the interview. Let’s enjoy the life man,” he said. “Yes, if you come to forum mall, there will be lots of fun waiting for you. Did you ever see blonde girls in the skirts with their white legs were showing and their tops were way below the neck?” Madhan teased him with his flaunting style of communication. Gautam shook his head feebly like a patient who gets discharged from the critical ward. “C’mon then, we will show you everything,” Lawrence had slapped his hand on the sides of his blue jeans, as dust specks flew from this jeans in thick cloud. Though it looked like a new jeans, he hadn’t washed it for a quite long time. Even he didn’t know if it was weeks or months. “But I don’t have the money to spend extravagantly there,” Gautam said, fixed his eyes at him. “Hah, you don’t have to spend a penny man. We will take care of it. You just come with us, that’s all we need. I mean, you enjoy a good time with us,” Lawrence said. “Now, are you coming or not?” Kamesh blared. His monstrous breath was almost plunged at Gautam’s cheeks and made concaves in it. A nerve was stood out on his big forearm as he made a trouncing glance at him. “Yeah, coming,” Gautam said, as slammed shut his book. He had natural obsessive frightness when Kamesh had commanded over him, and he couldn’t deny that fact. No wonder, his stout body and glaring look and heavy arms were always kept Gautam under control to him. They four of them walked down the narrow lane to the bus stop, it was Sunday and the traffic was heavy at evening hours. The gentle dew was clinging in the air that blew across the roads, and the sun was hidden behind the clouds in the west and almost it had done a clean job today. The shops were pacing busy now and footfalls were growing heavier as evening turned out. Every bus crossed to them was crowded and the young people were thronging on the footboards. The whitish and blue bordered buses were displaying the Kannada letters on the top to signify where it was going and coming from. It was not an easy sight to read the name of the stopping since no in the group knew how to read Kannada. “Do anyone know what the hell is written in these buses,” Madhan screamed out in frustration. When he stretched his long neck to read the letters in the long square board, not a single letter was amicable to him, he hated when they hadn’t given preference for English. There was a dull headache was slowly peeking out of his forehead when he ventured to read the names of the stops written in the signboard. “I don’t know. It’s completely jumbled out. I couldn’t even relate a single word man,” Lawrence threw up his hands, sighing. “They should have also written in English, it would have stopped the total confusion the other state people had to undergo here,” Kamesh said, his hands coursed through his bushy hair. “But, the local politicians won’t allow it to happen,” Gautam said in a cautious tone, he was careful that he didn’t raise his voice amidst the people. He didn’t want to ruin the cordial relationship going in between the two neighborhood states. “Hmm, you have got a valid point man. I agree that everyone wants to honor their native language, there was no harm in it, but still they should consider the problems faced by other people, isn’t?” Lawrence said in a sagely voice. Madhan sniggered as chewed his lower lip, “At least be happy that we can go anywhere by identifying the bus numbers, though we have to disturb someone to know the bus numbers exactly,” he said. “Buddies no more talking, 201A bus is coming so let’s get into it,” Kamesh beckoned his big hand at them to shut their mouths. The bus crawled towards the bus stop where they stood and stopped with a big jerk; it was completely packed and hardly had any space inside. It was not an easy task to get inside, let alone having a seat and getting some breathing air from the window. They four of them huddled inside the bus. Everyone was bruising each other as they crammed and gasped without air circulation, though it was cool outside still the passengers shirts were clung to their bodies with enormous sweat. People were chatting all about their work and the stupid things the neighborhood people had done, and they actually wanted to claim themselves as mighty persons in front of everyone. But it would always exist in their imaginary perception, won’t you think so? “Who is gonna take tickets man?” Kamesh said, fished his finger into his shirt packet and came with an empty hand. “Who else? Madhan is the only able person can do this,” Lawrence said, gripping his hand on the thick iron bar, which was running across the ceiling of the bus. Madhan lowered his head with nonchalance; he didn’t want to take tickets now, because already he had spent more than three thousand rupees generously this month for taking tickets for them (particularly for going interviews back and forth). His fund in the bank account was thinning like skinless bones now, he was aware that his father had declined him of giving more than five thousand from next month onwards. His hands should be thrift from now onwards, otherwise he had no choice but turn as a mendicant. “Anyone is going to take tickets or what?” the conductor sneered at them, his hand was hovering past their faces thrice as of now. He was sweating out hard at the moment, though the cold breeze was sweeping across the streets. His face was dripping out the salty water. Gautam stood quietly with guilty heart, as his hand often passed over his shirt packet and dropped down suddenly, because he never had more than forty rupees in it. He was sure it was not going to help him to take the tickets, so he had to tighten his ass. “Give four tickets,” Madhan said, handing him a fresh hundred rupee note. The conductor had punched holes on the tickets and gave it to him sullenly. “This is the last time you are receiving an allowance from my side. From next month onwards someone has to take responsibility,” Madhan busted out, as he nodded at Gautam, who stood breathless and closed his eyes. Kamesh and Lawri didn’t worry about his jouncing comments because they had heard him many times saying this and it had least bothered them. The bus had trodden past all types of huge commercial shops and software companies and had sped towards the forum mall through the Koramangala. It was impossible for them to know the stop where to get down, since all the side windows of the bus was covered with advertisements, and some hoardings. If you want to get down somewhere, you have to mentally calculate the timing it had taken so far, or should carefully count how many bus stops it had been halted on the way or you have to identify by the area smell. Do you think it was funny? Then, you should try at least once. Finally they had got down at Forum Mall stop, opposite to Robert Bosch, which was a German based software company. Everywhere you go in the city, you will find at least a single software company lurking behind you. That’s for sure. The city had bred so many companies like that. That was the achievement of the modern people who were swarming in this place like bees. Kamesh pulled in a huge breath as he looked up at the big mall which had welcomed them royally. His eyes were glittered immediately, as he entered inside. His friends were followed him like his minions. Gautam was somewhat felt nervous and agitated, because it was a new place and he didn’t know how to behave himself. The roaring music was coming surreptitiously and fell on his ears. Bang. He was jostled up and his nerves were standing out on his back of the neck to dance, though he wasn’t a big dancer or anything. The young girls and boys were conducting a fearless competition to dance on the ground floor, as people from the top floors peeking down at them and clapping in a rigorous style. The whole place was something good and fascinating. It made people to forget their week long worries and seeded a new hope and happiness in their festering souls. That was good and indeed people are looking for such atmosphere to forget their egos and live every moment in a cheerful spirit. Gautam was able to witness it himself. In fact, he had a big concern that he couldn’t able to dance like the young people did in the small stage. Gautam had watched a slim and rosy girl curiously. Her dance movements were fresh and stimulating. She looked taller and close to his height, had a round silky face, her eyes were clean and pristine like fresh morning dew, had a long and shiny legs, and up thrusting breasts. She wore a maroon T-shirt and black tight jeans, and flexing her legs like a gymnast in a splendid style. For a second, he thought she was a professional dancer to swing her legs like that. She had actually performed a solo dance for the chammak challo song. Huge and thunderous claps hit the roof of the building when she had finished her dancing. The crowd was almost filled with ecstasy when they had witnessed such an upheaving performance there. People were gathered in masses, and clicking photos of her, someone had really tried to click a selfie with her. “Wow, she had done a brilliant performance man, did you look at her swing of the waist. That was really awesome, you know,” Lawrence said. “Someone would be very lucky to have her. Her full lips and shining face is great to watch,” Kamesh said, prodding his hand over Madhan’s skull. “You are impossible man. I told you about her dance performance, but you are talking bullshit,” Lawrence said in a snappy and jeering tone. “Hey, c’mon, but what are you going to do with her dance. At the end you wanted to know if there is a chance to fuck her or not,” Kamesh said in an aggressive voice, as slapped his both palms. He sometimes speaks too frankly and couldn’t recognize that he was in the common place. That shows he would become so aggressive when it comes to argue something (very trivial?). “Kami, you better shut your filthy mouth. People are watching us,” Madhan silenced him. His hand gripped his fat wrist tightly. Kamesh withdrew his hand from his grip, and started looking at the girl again. On the other hand, Gautam was already blushing and feeling shy to look at her. He stood behind his friends and looked at her in between their shoulder gap. “C’mon, is there anyone wants to dance with this gorgeous girl, it’s your good chance to have a partner like this for you to dance here now,” the campaigner announced in the mike. He was looking slim and handsome, and he was rocking through his flamboyant English. The girl was blushed initially after hearing his enchanting speech on attracting audience to dance with her. It was really a proud moment for her, and there was no doubt about it. But still she had that professional spirit to find her partner now. She had seemed to be little tired now, as drops of sweat clinging on her black and thick eye brows. She drew her floral white kerchief from her jeans packet and gently dabbed over her face, as looked into the crowd. She looked simple and quite, and she didn’t wish to behave arrogantly due to her success. “Is there no one in this crowd to dance with such a beautiful girl? Oh goodness, c’mon boys don’t miss this golden opportunity to clasp your hands with such a dreaming queen,” the campaigner had given all praise to her, making her plunge into a stream of blushing. She ran her thin and soft hand over her strands of jet black hair which had fallen in front of her face and flicked it splendidly behind her left ear. There was an abundance of girlishness in that soft flick. She didn’t aware of it, but Gautam had noticed her every movements very closely and he was almost exhilarated by her spotless beauty. “Reshmi, it seems to be you have to select your partner from this group, I think they are feeling shy to ask for your hand,” the campaigner said, as looked into her face. It’s not that people were feeling shy to ask for her hand to dance, in fact, everyone was bursting with happiness to take her to home or park or beach. People were felt afraid because they couldn’t match their feet movements with her impeccable dancing performance. That was the major worry with everyone who stood there watching about her dance and adoring her beauty. Even the married men had ogled with her stunning performance, early on. It’s damn true that she was so beautiful. “Okay, I will choose one,” Reshmi said, she first looked up at the crowd standing in the top floors leaning on the rails. Everyone had waved their hands as smiled at her. She returned their smiles with her fully gorgeous lips. After all, they had fully enjoyed her dance show for the last twenty minutes or so, they had deserved her cheery smile back. But until now she hadn’t called or pointed her finger at anyone to dance with her. A mob of youngsters from behind her had shouted saying “we wanted to dance with you.” It looked like they had just come now. They were stylish and had spectra of different hair styles and tattoos in their arms to claim they were modern boys. Some of them wore baggy trousers and armless t-shirts to draw the girl’s attention. Reshmi had brought her head low and looked at them, she laughed upon seeing at them, not because they were looked like crooked boys, just because they were chanting her name in an awkwardly and mocking manner. Her anticipation to find her match was growing rapidly, as she kept scanning the crowd through her dark eyes and finally stopped at Gautam, who was lingering in between his friends and his eyes weren’t met her. In fact, he was looking down. It created some emotional conflict in her mind, and she suddenly threw her index finger at him and said, “I will dance with this boy.” “Hurrah, let’s give a big clap for this lucky lad,” the campaigner was magically weaving his speech now. People were started clapping and anxiously waited for her partner to show up right now. Kamesh thought she had pointed at someone in the back, but he was still not sure that she had called Gautam. “Call that boy, yes you…” the campaigner, pointed his finger at Kamesh, who had turned at his back and looked curiously to know who the luckiest fellow was. Madhan knew he was calling at Gautam, so he gently prodded on his shoulder and asked him to go and enjoy the show. He had pitied himself for not getting a chance to clasp with her fingers, though he was sure of giving a ridiculous show in front of a huge crowd. But still he wanted his friend to enjoy this opportunity, he didn’t have such a hackneyed intolerance and ego to curse at him, that way he was far better than Kamesh. Gautam scratched his back of the head and ran his hand over his chest as he lingered behind his friends. He had never expected such an offer would be given to him on seeing her for the first time, it was nothing less than a wildest dream he had always pined for. But all he wondered was, would he really have the courage to handle this right now? That was his biggest question now. There was no doubt that his appearance was never close to her glorious figure with his tall and lean posture and rough features. What was the thought process in her head when she had called him out for a dance with her? It was a million dollar question for him at the moment. Am I looking stupid and so ignoble or what? Am I a ridiculous fool among the whole crowd? These were the thoughts kept buzzing over his head as he slowly stepped into the stage. Lawrence had seen he was fumbling to get into the stage, so he had hurled his hand over his shoulder and pushed him forward. Gautam had jerked for a second as nodded back at his friend, who was smiling back idiotically. The campaigner had shook a hand with him at last and asked the crowd once again to give big applause for this lad for having the courage to dance with this worldly beauty. Unexpectedly, there was a gentle and soft blush escaped through Reshmi’s eyes. She looked at Gautam, who was stood there nervous and looked down on the stage all the time. He didn’t have that real sportiveness to share a space with her. All he worried was how ugly am I going to look next to her, when people watch my stupid and ungainly dance. “Hello,” Reshmi greeted at him for the first time. Gautam knew that she had spoken to him, but his perturbed facial reaction said, that he was no match to her to accept her greetings now. He had meant it as he threw an abashed grin at her. “Oh, champ what’s your name?” the campaigner asked him. “Gautam,” his friends had crooned from behind. “Thanks guys, for your uplifting spirit on your friend and for us,” the campaigner said and turned at Reshmi, “So guys let’s begin your dance show. The crowd is waiting for this moment. C’mon let’s hit the music.” The music from Chennai express had started roaring now, Reshmi was slow at the beginning but once the music had picked up the momentum, she had enthralled the show with her thin and spinning legs. There was nothing to comment on this. Everyone’s eyes were merely ogled upon seeing her stunning and captivating movements in the air. All had wondered from where to where her legs and arms were going on. It was just like a magic show. On the other hand Gautam was looked like a small kid in front of her experienced and well-choreographed performance. He was literally shaking his legs and arms without any resemblance to the rhythm or words of the song. All he wanted now was, just to escape from there without showing his face again to her. He knew he was giving an utter flop show that no one dared to forgive him. He wondered if a fifth grade student would have performed far better than him in front of a dazzling girl like that. But all the while he had seen her performance through his one eye and exhilarated about her each move, and that was the only pardonable thing he was doing right now. At least he would run her show in his mind after going home, and let this memory soak him in entranced state for next couple of months while dealing with raucous people in the city. There was nothing more admirable thing happened in him than he was sweating profusely at the moment for shaking his legs in clamorous jolt. That was his highest prize he had earned so far here. As people had given a thunderous applause, the dance show had ended in a good and amicable note. “That was a fabulous performance once again, thank you Resh,” the complainer said, and placed his hand over Gautam’s shoulder, “this lad had tried something good to go in line with her. Great effort man. Thanks for joining us.” With that warm note the show got ended. He didn’t show his face to her again. In fact, that was good for him to keep his manliness intact. *