Dance With Me

It was another party and she was again the fish out of water.

Chanchal hated crowds. And parties thanks to her sister. Also the events that happened in last party made her scared as a cat on bricks her tail between her legs.

" Babes you look ravishing so stop fidgeting", Kash whispered from beside her

" I don't know anyone here", she said.

" Rash is busy. She ditched me. On second thought I am going to throw her bags away", sulked Kash.

Chanchal giggled and relaxed.

" That's more like it", said Kash. " Now trust papa and mingle. Some of our art students are here too".

" Mr. Kaul", called a reporter and he waved and went there.

Chanchal smiled. Kash loved limelight. And this was his success party. His play was highly successful and now he was getting offers from the big screen and TV. She was happy for him. Kash stood firmly with her in all the turmoils of her life. She wished only the best for him.

Sumeet was skeptical to send her to another party so soon but Kash was persistent.

" I can take care of her. And if she goes into another depression then God save us all", he argued.

" Very well Mr. Kaul", said Sumeet.

So here she was standing in the middle of a party with no idea what to do with herself and this situation. She tried to get to a quiet corner and remain invisible.

BUT SOMEONE SAW HER.

She was alluring he thought. A wine coloured sleeveless gown. Her hairs in loose waves. Light wine lip gloss, kohled eyes and the graceful way her body moved. All this aroused him.

" Time for our meet cute", he smirked.

As Chanchal was moving she bumped into someone. It startled and disoriented her. She was about to fall when a pair of strong arms held her.

She was the one looking down. So she apologised.

" I. I am so. S.sorry. I d. did notl. look.. ", she was saying.

" Or was it my arms you were seeking all along", said an amused voice.

Chanchal's head shot up. And her eyes met the mischievous blue ones.

" Hello Angel", said Jeet.

Chanchal forgot to breath. She tried to wriggle away from him but his hold on her was firm.

" Let m. me g.go.pplease", she pleaded. " I.. I.. K. kash... "

He put a hand on her lips. She shivered.

" In good time. You've grown up Angel", he whispered. " And you look beautiful ", he let a warm breath on her ear.

" W. What d. do you w.want", she asked.

" Proximity ", he replied completely amused now.

She saw him smirking and got very angry.

HOW DARE HE INSULT ME her mind screamed.

She narrowed her eyes.

" LEAVE", she said firmly. " And I am not at all sorry", she pushed him hard.

He staggered back but did not leave her hand.

" You are right", he said. " It's me who should be sorry and I am. My mate died in his first wedding. I got carried away".

She swallowed.

" My s. Sister f. fired the bullet", she said.

" Rash told me she mistreated you", he said.

" I'll go", she said.

But he didn't leave her hand.

" Dance with me", he said.

"WHAT"?

She looked at him as if he grew another head.

" Dance like me and you moving and swaying to the rhythm of music". He signalled dancing.

She was furious.

" You think I am dumb and I don't know what dancing is", she hissed.

" You were asking", he smiled. " So can we dance"?

" GO TO HELL", she screamed.

" Then I shall take you there with me", he smirked. " To kill the boredom. What do you say"?

She stuck out her tongue, put her hand on her nose and blew air making a funny noise.

Jeet laughed out loud.

" Such a kid", he said.

" I am not a kid", she said. " I am a woman".

He stared at her making her nervous.

" That you are. Now let's dance", he said.

" You scoundrel let me go. Aah you f*cker", she cried as he pressed her hand.

" So you know how to curse", he was really amused.

" Leave me you rascal", she hissed but he continued to pull her to dance floor.

She gave him all the abuses she knew in a couple of minutes of walk to the dance floor. He continued laughing with each one.

A few couples were already dancing. Chanchal pleaded one last time.

" Let me go please Mr. Oberoi. I can't dance", she said.

" Follow my lead", he shrugged off. " It's easy".

" You really are a b*stard"..

She was so angry she was not stammering now.

" Face up, right hand on my shoulder, posture straight", ordered Ranjeet as he pulled her closer a hand on her waist. She could not point out why but in his embrace she calmed down.

To her embarrassment it was a slow number.

Ranjeet moved gracefully. He was a very good dancer but she knew that. She had seen him dancing at the party. Chanchal had two left feet. She missed beats and stepped on his feet several times; mostly by mistake but a couple of times deliberately just to rile him up. He didn't bat an eye.

He smiled looking in her eyes. She was red as a tomato.

" You need not concentrate too much. It's not an exam just a dance", he whispered.

" Sssh I'll miss steps again", she was counting in her mind.

" It's going to rain in the evening", he changed the topic. " Do you like rain"?

She suddenly halted.

" Are you for real now? You are talking weather with me after you forced me to dance", she replied.

" I want us to have a happy memory. Consider it my apology", he said.

She remained quiet. They danced in silence for sometime.

" I am sorry for being so callous. I never knew it was you Angel. Why did you go to Paris? Are you still angry? "

" S.she w.was sso sm..small", the stammering was back. " I felt like d.death. I am so u. Use. useless. I c. couldn't s.save my c.child", she sobbed.

" Heyy..don't cry little one", said Ranjeet. " Come".

He took her to a table and gave her water.

" Rash told me about what you did to yourself. You are not weak little one. Fight the world like you fought me just now", said Jeet.

" I don't know", she looked lost.

" It wasn't your fault", he said.

" So everyone says but y. you don't k.know how it f.feels to l.lose a c. child sir", she replied.

For a second she saw pain flashed in his eyes but it was gone too soon and was replaced by sympathy.

" Did it feel good to talk", he asked.

She just nodded.

Then my gamble was successful he thought.

" Friends ", he gave a hand as an olive branch.

" Okay", she said weakly shaking it.

" YOU", he heard a shrill.

Kash came marching in. But Jeet's bodyguards held him.

" K. kash", said Chanchal.

"F*CKER LEAVE CHICHI", he screamed.

" Between him and my wife you get a good training of abuses", he whispered to her.

" P. Please", she said

" Guards let him come. He is harmless except for a few slaps", Jeet waved a hand.

Kash came to them angrily.

" Kash calm d.down.He a.apologised", said Chanchal.

" I don't trust politicians ", he said vehemently. " No offence", he said like a Diva.

Ranjeet chuckled.

" None taken", he said. " I would have invited you both to my house but Rash doused it with my expensive wine and set it on 🔥. But later I'll give you call", he said to Chanchal. Do come I enjoyed the dance ", he smiled.

The he bent on a knee and kissed her hand and left.

" What is he up to", asked Kash.

" I don't know but please don't tell Sumeet", pleaded Chanchal.

Kash nodded.

" Are you ready to leave", he asked.

" Yes", she replied softly.

As she returned back in car Chanchal thought about the enigmatic Ranjeet Oberoi. Something about him was odd. But she couldn't put her finger on it.

That night she had a dream.

" Dance with me", said the sunshine to the shadow girl.

AND THE GIRL WAS HAPPY...