The girl I met at the Dance Class

It's been two years since I hit the dance floor and I love to dance at any time. I always shy away from practicing myself, of course, I dance while doing daily chores and, in the bathroom, that's another thing, I can't tell you how many times I almost got slipped while doing so.   

I found a decent dance class two kilometers away from my room and I cycle every day crossing the bustling street signals and I kind of liked it, riding on my cycle and observing people while I commute, a perfect routine after spending the whole day before a digital screen like a sloth, I couldn’t ask for more. 

My batch is scheduled 6-7 pm and it’s a mix of adults and teens. I got to tell you about these teenager's moms, they pressurize their kids in dance too, if you let them, they will be even ready to have a progress card for dance, that level of pampering they are up to, poor kids I thought. 

There are three girls in our batch and I didn’t even dare to see their faces, I was just so fixated on burning my calories and when you see your body on that large mirror that dance classes usually have, you could feel my embarrassment. Self-love is a myth guys for that you have to appear fit. 

After a month, slowly I made friends, our dance class is from Mon-Fri and on Fridays after the class we discuss our weekend plans and if you are in Vizag you got to have one else you will be rated as the most miserable person on planet earth, this place is awesome.   

On one Sunday we had to shoot the Advert video for our product launch. We hired a  freelancer and as he wanted some student ambience  I invited him to my own room.

He showed up with all his professional gear that morning and as I was helping him in setting up the light ambience, he introduced his friend, "so this is Meghana and she was here to help me out and to direct the shoot. I was a bit surprised to see her, I knew her from our dance class. 

We exchanged our surprise looks, "hey that's great to see you around", I said, breaking the silence. 

Surprised to see a woman on the work floor? She asked mockingly as she unwrapped the cover around the Tripod. 

I remained silent with a wry look not knowing what to reply. 

Ok chill, I was just kidding. 

I laughed in relief and said please let me know if you need anything I will be around. 

Sure, she replied and delved into work mode. 

Creative work is a hectic part I thought as I saw them rambling around and tinkering with equipment to have the right amount of light for the shot to capture. 

I sneaked into their Make-shift set and gave them the input they needed and she seemed very studious with her work. She walked around with a scribbled pad and jolted down the script and spot improvisation as they proceeded with the shoot. 

By evening it seemed like they were done for the day and I offered them coffee, thanks to my lockdown skills I mastered the coffee making now. 

"How is it", I asked, to see the reaction of my Beta coffee testers. 

Hmm… Impressed and tasted like much needed she replied. 

I patted myself for that compliment and shrugged, you see I am a Lockdown MasterChef these days I said proudly. 

"cheers to Lockdown chef", she laughed agreeing. 

"see you tomorrow in dance class", I said as she packed and left. 

The very next day is Women's Day, they have planned a little celebration in our dance class and the whole class is filled with women, parents of kids from 5-6 batch. 

I watched the celebrations standing in the corner. Meghana popped in a regular practice outfit, seems like she hasn't seen the celebration notification text in our WhatsApp group. She left hurriedly so maybe she forgot to lock her Scooty I thought. 

She disappeared for a while and I watched the musical chair event like you are forced to watch a web series that you disliked in the pilot episode itself. 

I involved myself in serving the drinks and cake arranged for the evening. I navigated carefully away from the kids who were up for the extra chunk of cake, I couldn't resist myself being an adult, poor little souls how could they, I thought. 

As I steered beside the door Meghana appeared in ethnic wear and with the Jumka pierced into her ears and she was so stunning that I spilled the coke on the kid standing beside me. 

She laughed unabashedly and the kid started to cry, his cry snapped me out and I quickly took him to the washroom to clean his shirt and gave him chocolate to stop his cry. You need a special Masterclass on how to manage the kids. 

I walked to her and said you are amazing in this dress. 

I can't hear you, it's so loud in here she said. 

You look like an angel in this dress I shouted. 

Perhaps because of a change in look, she dismissed shiftily. 

I don’t know but you look amazing in this outfit, honestly, you just seemed like the girl I imagined from my short stories; I said a bit nervously not knowing how she would take that. 

That's so nice of you, but it's so boring for a woman to carry this heavy dress you know. 

Hmm, but one thing I know for sure, that heaviness you are referring to is contagious, it just got heavy in my heart too, I flirted. 

She smiled with a blush. 

The other day you are in this work-woman outfit and now you are in an ethnic, god you are so heavy to handle, you have no idea woman. 

Okay, that's enough for today it’s making me feel light in this dress too because I am flying. 

"After all, you are Meghana, the sky's the limit", I joked. 

She smiled, I smiled.