Forever yours

The Challenge

Kumud teacher counterargued, "par baaki sab toh ladkiyan hai. Tum sabke beech kya karoge?"

"Madam, school ki taraf competition mein ek ya dou jodiyan jayengi jo sabhi sections mein compete kar sake. Aur iss baar hum kuch alag kar rahe hai, teams mein participate karke. Toh dance mein bhi kuch alag kar sakte hai na. Aur fir rules mein yeh kahi nahi likha hai ki har team se sirf ladki hi participate karegi. Toh jab hum baaki sab kuch jodiyon mein kar rahe hai toh dance kyon nahi? Aur waise bhi, abhi toh hum hissa le rahe hai, competition ke liye school ko represent karne ke layak hai ya nahi, yeh toh aap teachers hi decide karenge".
Sameer might not be book smart but he was definitely street smart and always argued with such logic that most of the times, he could convince the opposite person without any opposition.

Even a strict teacher like Kumud madam was befuddled for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, Sameer requested further, "please ma'am, hume ek chance toh dijiye".

Finally, taking a deep breath, Kumud teacher relented but instructed strictly. "Theek hai...tum dono ko ek mauka milega. Par main jaise ladkiyon ki practice karvaungi, waise hi hoga. Tumhare liye kuch bhi alag se nahi hoga Sameer. Tumhe dance mein apne aap ko kaise fit karna hai, yeh tum log taiyy karoge. Aur agar hamare school ke standard ke hisaab se nahi hua ya kisi bhi niyam ka ullanghan hua, toh tumhari jodi dance pratiyogita se barkhaast kar di jayegi".

Naina was elated as well as a bit anxious as the chance came with challenge. Sameer was only elated coz he understood only the initial part of the instruction that they were given the opportunity to prove themselves to be able to offer something different.

When they were heading out, Kamya intercepted them and twirling a strand of hair from her pigtails around her fingers, remarked sarcastically. "Aaj tak toh nahi dekha ladke ladkiyon ko saath mein dance karte hue. Yeh na sirf filmon mein achcha lagta hai. Asli mein agar saath stage pe jaoge, toh log sade tamatar aur jute fekenge. Aur Sameer, agar tumhe jodi banani hi thi, toh mere saath bana lete, kam se kam stage par achche toh dikhte. Tumhari bhi kismat na...kahan yeh hoor mil rahi thi par tumhe iss behenji ke saath judna tha...huhhhh".

Sameer was furious and though he didn't like to insult girls, she had stretched his patience a bit too much by ill-mouthing Naina on his face. He wouldn't have reacted if she had mocked only him. But he didn't have to worry, coz as shy and apprehensive Naina might be about the dancing in jodi idea, she didn't take crap when her match with Sameer was questioned, not even when it had been her one-sided love.

She stepped forward in her face and replied self-assuredly, "mujhe pataa hai ki tu takreeban 10 saal se Kathak kar rahi hai. Main maanti hoon ki tu maahir bhi hai. Par tu hamesha apni jeet ke liye compete karti hai. Aur main..." she looked at Sameer and corrected "hum...hum na school ki jeet ke liye dance karenge".

Kamiya shrugged and started to walk away when Naina hollered, "Kamiya..." and she walked two steps towards her.... "all the best! Woh English mein kya kehte hai..." she pretended to think for a fraction of a second... "haan...may the best dancer win!"

Kamiya walked away fuming while Naina looked on. When she was out of earshot, Sameer moved up close behind her and praised... "wah Naina...abhi thodi der pehle toh tum participate karne se bhi mana kar rahi thi aur ab Kamiya ko challenge de diya!" He raised his eyebrows and bobbed his head in awe.

The gravity of the situation suddenly sank in. "Challenge toh de diya Sameer. Par ab hum karenge kya? Woh trained Karahak dancer hai aur main...mujhe toh filmy gaanon ke alawa koi dance nahi aata".

Sameer grinned at her rapidly changing emotions, she was a furious battle-ready warrior in a minute and in the next, a panicky simple girl. "Tum chinta mat karo. Jaise ab tak sab saath mein kiya hai, yeh bhi kar lenge". He then checked his watch. "Filhaal ghar chale, shaam ko tumhe doctor ke paas bhi jaana hai".