"Saven, my son, I was going crazy without you, wondering how to get this done."
"Teacher, even though I came; would the others in the group like to dance with me?" I don't have any confidence even after coming. There are nine other boys our age who dance. But only one other person and I were the only professional Kandyan dancers. Whatever it is, I can't dance alone.
"Whether they want to dance with you or not, there's nothing I can do. Let's ask those who don't want to dance to leave. You alone will perform at the arts festival. Saven will dance this time. Trust me!" the teacher stroked my head.
"Now tell me, what are we doing this time? Let's do something different!"
"Madam, I've had this idea for a while. How about we do a Bharatanatyam and Kandyan dance fusion?" I asked, scratching my head, feeling unsure.
"Wow! That's a brilliant idea, son! But who will do Bharatanatyam?" the teacher's face fell.
"I'll do it, teacher!" I smiled. After a long time, I felt a thrill in my heart.
"Saven does Bharatanatyam?" teacher's eyes popped out.
"And Kathak too." Madam's mouth was about to drop open.
"What are you waiting for, boys? Let's do it! We'll create the steps today. You have the next period anyway. Let's start when the students come." the teacher tapped the drum, driven by her excitement.
Five minutes after the bell rang, the boys were in the dance room. Methula's mouth dropped open when he saw me. Another nudged the others with his elbow, covered his mouth, and laughed, while one said,
"I think the cock gobbler got lost."
"What did you say?" teacher Rangika pounced like a tigress.
"Ah, no, no, teacher, it's just that a bird came into the class by mistake, that's why."
"Children, don't try to fool me! I've been through your time and come this far. Don't be foolish enough to think I didn't understand what you said! Apologize to Saven right now!" the teacher stood like a post in front of me, staring directly at the one who spoke. Now Methula and the rest were looking at each other, communicating with their eyes, trying to reach a collective decision on whether to apologize to me or not.
"What are you waiting for? Apologize right now!" teacher said more sternly, and the one who made the rude remark said "Sorry" without looking at me, but it wasn't a heartfelt apology, just words.
"Alright, teacher, let's start the work. We're wasting time," I said before the issue dragged on, knowing it was useless to make them understand.
"Good. So, everyone listen! We need to perform for the arts festival. I thought we could do a Bharatanatyam and Kandyan fusion," teacher said, presenting it as her idea. I know why she said that, and I was happy about it.
"But teacher, we don't know how to dance Bharatanatyam!" Methula said, looking at me. But I couldn't decipher the expression on his face.
"You don't have to. Because the main character is Saven. He's the one who will do Bharatanatyam!" What? I am the main character? We didn't talk about that.
"Teacher, we don't like that!" another one shouted.
"Alright. The door is right there," teacher gestured towards the door.
So, the one who shouted went first. Then the others followed him, leaving only Methula behind. When Methula took two steps forward, the teacher's face dropped.
"Teacher, I'll go. Nine people shouldn't miss out on dancing because of me." As I knelt and touched the teacher's feet for blessing, my tears fell on them, and the teacher held my shoulders, lifted me up, and hugged me.
"Forgive me, son!"
"It's okay, teacher!" I let go of Madam and was about to run to find Thursha. He was the only one I could think of at that moment. Because I needed to cry. My hands were shaking. But…
"Saven! Wait there!" When I turned around, Methula said,
"I'll dance with you!" He came and held my shoulder, and I hugged him.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"Saven!!!!" Suddenly, I was pulled by my shoulder.
"Thursha!"
"Dude, you look amazing! Never seen you like this before! You look like you've been brought straight from India! oh my god! Dil tho pagal hai, dil diwana hai!" This guy's got quite a mouth.
"Dannewadh!" I said, putting my hands together. I also know a couple of Hindi lines like that.
"Awesome, awesome! Look, we have to pull these off because your man isn't here."
Thursha handed me a file. "When Shakespeare is forced to be Kumaratunga Munidasa, what's best to eat for dinner, bro?"
"Chicken curry and lozenges!" I said, and he laughed. Deciding to talk to Thursha that day was the best decision I ever made.
Teacher had to teach Methula Bharatanatyam specially. But he's a good dancer. He quickly picked up the steps. The ones who left didn't come back, but now they had started to catch up with me and Methula and make up stories.
One evening, during practices,
"Ah... after Ayush left, it seems the rest of the gangi is having a hookup!"
"What the hell did you say?" Methula jumped up, but I put my arm around his waist to stop him from going forward, but he punched the wall to vent his anger.
"Forgive me, bro, you're getting talked about because of me!" I didn't know what else to say to Methula.
"Don't think about it, bro. Let's do a beautiful performance and shut their mouths. And I'm the one who should say sorry to you. I left you alone. I talked. Because my heart was hurt, I wanted to hurt you too!" Methula said, looking at the ground, and I patted his back and said,
"It's ok." Now, as we discussed, we have to give a super performance today.
Madam wanted to remove the wrong perception among these children and normalize it by doing a small bromance performance with Bharatanatyam, completely removing the Kandyan part. Principal Sir watched the rehearsal and said it was good, which erased the little fear we had. We danced to a Kannada song written by Sri Purandaradasa for Lord Shiva called Chandrachuda.
While dancing, I forget the whole world. I dance for myself. Whether people are watching or not doesn't matter to me today. I think if a dancer enjoys their dance wholeheartedly, the audience also enjoys it wholeheartedly.
Today was the same. I enjoyed my dance wholeheartedly. How long has it been since I danced on a stage? The last time I danced, he was right in front of me, looking at my eyes with such affection. I closed my eyes and imagined the way he looked at me and danced just for him.
When the song ended, the whole school stood up and applauded. I even heard a whistle from somewhere. When I looked to see who it was, it was Thursha from the back! When I looked at him and smiled, he gave me a thumbs up.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"Saven, come eat!" Thursha popped his head over the short wall as soon as the interval bell rang, just like always.
"Coming!!!" I shouted, grabbing my lunch.
"Where are you going?" Methula asked, and he must have known. Because for the past few days, I've been eating in the English Medium class.
"To 11-E class"
"Eat with me!" Methula opened his lunch.
"You eat. The others won't come to eat with you when I'm there."
"It doesn't matter if they don't eat. Let's eat!" What do I say now? I don't want to eat with Methula. Really! I'm happy that he started talking to me again. But the heartbreak he caused me won't be repaired for a long time. Thursha is different. Thursha tried to get close to me whenever I needed a friend. He gave me a new purpose. He helped me find myself again. I respect him a lot.
"Let's eat tomorrow, bro. I told Thursha I'd come." I took my lunch and went to 11-E, and that class wasn't like ours; everyone welcomed me without showing any difference.
"Saven, marvelous performance, bro!" Sandaru patted my back.
"Unbelievable!" another one shouted.
"Come, come eat! Let's eat and then dance!" Deshan snatched my rice, and I laughed.
"Ah, eat this." Thursha mixed a ball of rice and put it in my mouth.
"We're hungry too, bro!" Deshan seemed jealous!
"Are you jealous? Wait!" Thursha asked, feeding him a mouthful of rice too.
"Who cares baby? I think I wanna marry you!" Thursha and his friends are all the same.
"Oh, don't you marry me. I have a man." What? A man? Thursha?
"A man?" I shouted. A question I shouldn't ask. It's none of my business.
"Ah, yes, yes. Don't you know?" Sandaru asked, and Thursha's face turned as red as a rose apple.
"Not just anyone, Saven, he's dating the Royal College's Deputy Head Prefect."
"Seriously? Thursha?"
"Hee hee hee, this effort is not to be a Royal though." Thursha showed his teeth and grinned foolishly. I'm so happy! That's why Thursha can understand me completely! He's just like me…
To be continued….