tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61913396533895078242024-02-06T20:42:52.311-08:00The Dancing FeetA kathak dancer in real life, Shinjini has been writing as a personal passion. She now brings a short fictional series: The Dancing Feet...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-77184907776723428812016-11-21T02:22:00.004-08:002016-11-21T02:28:36.696-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Get Stage Go!</b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone was running everywhere. Props in hand, costumes on shoulders, and boxes of jewellery clutched under the arm, the dance academy was preparing for a performance that had to be staged next week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was Ridha’s first show under Guru ji’s choreography. As it is she had stage fear, and on top of that, the pressure of Guru ji’s composition had made her a bundle of nerves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ridha went over her steps again and again until she started to forget them due to over-practicing. All the other dancers could read the tension on her face. And she could read resentment on theirs, because Guru ji had given her the lead spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Being on that wooden platform, illuminated with bright yellow light, wa a temptation Ridha could never resist. But the dark expanse in front of the stage felt like an evil void that was waiting to suck her in. The million eyes staring towards her at once flattered the dancer, and scared her of criticism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next week was her ultimate test. Ridha hoped for the best, and prepared for the worst.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-75501103664570393552016-11-20T23:16:00.002-08:002016-11-20T23:47:10.585-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Spark of Spirituality </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_FzF77yN4qZa6WwHjcvNAzfWtEId8BjGLgm-DvzwJXr6qdCX88d_dE8yzw4Z5BZGzdAbyR-3rI8L9XfU1jN3KthyVvJ9wHsb8oq3dMmNBzcVWmEo9w-duEzjvzNOF2bqUqCAJZk3V42s/s1600/10648392_131145823925538_5810042006041413522_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_FzF77yN4qZa6WwHjcvNAzfWtEId8BjGLgm-DvzwJXr6qdCX88d_dE8yzw4Z5BZGzdAbyR-3rI8L9XfU1jN3KthyVvJ9wHsb8oq3dMmNBzcVWmEo9w-duEzjvzNOF2bqUqCAJZk3V42s/s320/10648392_131145823925538_5810042006041413522_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Diwali was over, but it had left a deep impression on Ridha. One may think how difficult is it to dance in front of a clay idol adorned with flowers. However, Ridha knew that she had to search for faith in the deep recesses of her heart to be able to dance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Guru ji called out her name in his deep voice. “Ridha, did you feel scared when you danced alone in front of the Goddess?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Was it so visible? Damn, I need to do something about my expressions. I mess it up every time I have a chance to impress Guru ji”, a tiny voice screamed inside her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Being nervous is normal because dancing for others is easy. But when you perform for a higher being, you lose your worldly motivations. Factors such as appreciation, fame, admiration, become meaningless. The only thing that drives you is complete love and surrender for that higher being."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">“You speak of spirituality, Guru ji” She whispered. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The gleam in his eyes said he had fanned a spark inside her. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-49643969225242951942016-11-02T05:18:00.000-07:002016-11-20T23:45:49.977-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"> PART- 10</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDies47zS_Um4NJKMEOwNy1R_biV7IhfO9rj-34Zi2HTguWpaf9jeMXDlAeJETbr2oCyVt4Ur0EsSFc4K4GZ-JJehYojY5VrIRzb7PH4I0hH8uHJEy_WYOGAhal-RM0vx4-Rb9mgOjTErJ/s1600/14600948_640638229431649_5541373771964751117_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDies47zS_Um4NJKMEOwNy1R_biV7IhfO9rj-34Zi2HTguWpaf9jeMXDlAeJETbr2oCyVt4Ur0EsSFc4K4GZ-JJehYojY5VrIRzb7PH4I0hH8uHJEy_WYOGAhal-RM0vx4-Rb9mgOjTErJ/s320/14600948_640638229431649_5541373771964751117_n.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Lakshmi Pooja night. Traditionally on this day, one offers all that is precious to them to the Goddess. And she returns it back in multitude. Any other year she would be celebrating with her family, but today she was at her Dance Centre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Guru ji had kept a special class. “But why on Diwali!” She thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Hey Ridha! Come and place your <i class="">ghughroos</i> in the <i>Pooja</i>. It is about to start.” Her friend called out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Pooja? I thought we were going to have a class!” She was perplexed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">”As dancers, the most precious thing we have is our <i class="">Ghunghroo</i>, and our art. Surrender it to the Goddess and she shall bless you with abundance”. Saying that, Guru ji called the senior most student closer to the Goddess, and drew the curtain shut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a solitary moment, guarded from the eyes of fellow dancers and even Guru ji. The student did a small dance sequence full of reverence and faith as an offering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As students lined up in a queue, Ridha nervously waited for her turn.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-25126018821009692572016-10-17T00:23:00.000-07:002016-10-17T00:24:28.475-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP_fgfltY8qEsV_pGIKakpuk_St_QPL9I_FzQVDgKqH0D-7ZniIrHDut1kcGp8fAjUZZfvKWwtMJrINFTjiJkGqFHEHtteBcu-AEF7SYeIopNkS6K1RLGeQK8MJpnyGewzcqokECdp4Sx/s1600/12494868_10153862063584800_1203698913478932707_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP_fgfltY8qEsV_pGIKakpuk_St_QPL9I_FzQVDgKqH0D-7ZniIrHDut1kcGp8fAjUZZfvKWwtMJrINFTjiJkGqFHEHtteBcu-AEF7SYeIopNkS6K1RLGeQK8MJpnyGewzcqokECdp4Sx/s320/12494868_10153862063584800_1203698913478932707_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">PART-9</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ridha felt like her friend’s words had taken her through a process of initiation. She felt like she had found a road to the next level in her quest as a dancer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She had earlier thought of herself as a decently accomplished dancer, being able to garner appreciation from the audiences. Even though onstage she felt a tinge of unease, the audience had called her effortless. <i>Riyaaz </i>helped her understand the journey that lay between that unease and the effortlessness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This journey was personal, and the struggle bigger than performing on stage. You didn’t have the layers of makeup to hide under, or expensive fabrics to cover yourself with. You didn’t have dramatic lighting to take your mind away, or the soulful music to enhance your movements.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was just you and the bare rhythm; the <i>Laya</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Laya</i>- an aloof lover, in a room full of people who knows the effect he has on you. The more you want to understand him, the further he feels out of your grasp. He makes you aware of his presence, and yet doesn’t let you court him.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-36635970372970602452016-10-08T03:00:00.001-07:002016-10-08T03:02:00.992-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><b style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">PART-8</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw64qmgwc3cfB2w_MfkHy7Xx_rvZpgLwzxLqzZxxeVUqpK_6QhlRguYp8yXadbk11vse459BQjVqQSpzNCLTvX9wZBkAo-QiiGPID-iJiBvs1HMrtShI82WHanoiKxRtKKzlmcMCgUs0jp/s1600/14292510_10206849984239684_5106135579573198501_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw64qmgwc3cfB2w_MfkHy7Xx_rvZpgLwzxLqzZxxeVUqpK_6QhlRguYp8yXadbk11vse459BQjVqQSpzNCLTvX9wZBkAo-QiiGPID-iJiBvs1HMrtShI82WHanoiKxRtKKzlmcMCgUs0jp/s1600/14292510_10206849984239684_5106135579573198501_n.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">TWENTY minutes, which felt like an eternity have passed and Ridha’s new friend is in no mood to slow down the speed of his footwork. She is exhausted now. Her calves and ankles are revolting against this agony being afflicted on them. What was I thinking? Why did I jump into practicing with this maniac? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Forget it, I’II just stop’, she muttered to herself. Just as she was about slow down her footwork, he said “Did you notice? The tap of your feet is already beginning to sound different. If you practice hard enough, you can match it to a musical note”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dancers sing with their feet, their arms, their body. Just like how a guitarist tunes his guitar strings to match the correct note, we tune our feet to produce the right melody from our <i>ghunghroo</i>. The hand gestures, and facial expressions build upon that melody and decorate it like a singer’s <i>taans</i> and <i>alaaps</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">.......He spoke like a worshiper, and Ridha listened like a believer.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-73596544791506495302016-10-01T02:34:00.001-07:002016-10-01T02:56:38.365-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><b style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">PART-7</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW4zJY0TjuvLimjTxAjN5kbWPS-FP03mYQVRfQD_XuhBX8HeV8nV3VCnq6pwCYRi59gfIE0NRpldNG94mhPd8_fjXE0XYAbUXfm3EF56b_Xk0XeDx-F8Eib42eTiHUErAfWrGVWGmr21-/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW4zJY0TjuvLimjTxAjN5kbWPS-FP03mYQVRfQD_XuhBX8HeV8nV3VCnq6pwCYRi59gfIE0NRpldNG94mhPd8_fjXE0XYAbUXfm3EF56b_Xk0XeDx-F8Eib42eTiHUErAfWrGVWGmr21-/s320/11.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">Ridha walked back into the class with her
friend of five minutes. Her friend, who shall help her survive this dance class.
She settled down on a worn out yoga mat facing him. She had never seen anyone
practice. Perform, yes. Practice, never. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">Her thoughts were broken by the sound of
his <i>ghunghroo</i>. Instead of slowly
picking up pace, he began full throttle.
She was shocked, terrified rather. The rushing beats being produced by
his feet created a chaotic noise at first, but soon formed a pattern. Almost as
if someone was chanting a <i>mantra</i> with
a great urgency. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">With the rising tempo, Ridha felt a
palpable energy within her too. She didn’t know of this approach to dance at
all. She had always interpreted it as something graceful, and delicate. And here
was a man, who looked as if he was preparing for war with his eyes tightly
shut, and possessed by some inner calling.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">Feeling the adrenaline rush through her,
Ridha jumped to her feet. Without thinking, she breaks into a footwork
struggling to match up to his accelerating speed. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-14467407539041607362016-09-24T02:44:00.000-07:002016-10-01T03:00:30.786-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;"><b> </b></span><b style="font-size: xx-large;">PART-6</b></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">With the class over, Ridha couldn’t decide why she was happy. Was it because she learnt something new, or because this ordeal was over? But when did dancing become a task. She shoved away all the thoughts, hoping to tackle them with fresh energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">She picked up her cloth bag, put her ghunghroo in it, and was ready to leave. She wiped her forehead with the corner of her dupatta but ended up smudging her black bindi. It now formed a tick mark across her forehead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">‘Hey! You are very graceful when you dance. I could help you with some of the steps in the next class.’ A young guy with an athletic build and curly hair springing out in all directions, said to her. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">He wore a light kurta that was drenched in sweat, and half a dozen discolored threads on his wrist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">He was probably the first person who had spoken to Ridha on a warm note. She thanked him profusely, and decided to come early for the next class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">‘Aren’t you leaving?’ She asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">No, I stay back after everyone leaves to do some riyaaz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">May I just sit and watch?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-44260668470136279282016-09-17T05:38:00.002-07:002016-10-01T03:01:06.025-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUhu8XxorV6jGmy7NbrQF0_dXYTEVSQUDaeHC4QbT0gqrmn5pX4kayZ0OYo5lxRtcwuVbk7hXLV7Of3OgoXqCzOgqT0IwPq4WGjpYeXaXTEhTPabMivyUT9bck_R9l1p72YeB9KSC4U3M/s1600/Shinjini+fb+post+1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUhu8XxorV6jGmy7NbrQF0_dXYTEVSQUDaeHC4QbT0gqrmn5pX4kayZ0OYo5lxRtcwuVbk7hXLV7Of3OgoXqCzOgqT0IwPq4WGjpYeXaXTEhTPabMivyUT9bck_R9l1p72YeB9KSC4U3M/s1600/Shinjini+fb+post+1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1qQn3-0e3jSkKNomgub6gUk8X31TfARnNPTDyAXUpNVuC5IsStyM0zMUrqlgAcAnxmOpg0tQoz_rERO_JC9aUmg6dpCnUsTNbhW1HnpaLvwEDbxjRTJmdNBdNY0hHXU64M5EPoSSkqEA/s1600/374270_4700880314994_1092162521_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1qQn3-0e3jSkKNomgub6gUk8X31TfARnNPTDyAXUpNVuC5IsStyM0zMUrqlgAcAnxmOpg0tQoz_rERO_JC9aUmg6dpCnUsTNbhW1HnpaLvwEDbxjRTJmdNBdNY0hHXU64M5EPoSSkqEA/s200/374270_4700880314994_1092162521_n.jpg" width="132" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b> </b></span><b style="font-size: xx-large;">PART-5</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">Ridha’s first class with the young
celebrity dancer had begun on an extremely adventurous note. She silently
prayed to god for the next one hour to pass off without an episode.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-large;">Shielded behind rows of students, she could
finally let go of the anxiety, and focus on the music. She was copying the
steps that the other students knew by heart. With each passing move she felt at
peace with the world, in love with the rhythm, and rested in her mind. It was
the only refuge that she had known as a child. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-large;">Moving to the music, Ridha wasn’t aware
that her eyes were shut, and she had been doing steps that were totally
different from the rest of the class. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-large;">“Is Guruji’s choreography not good enough
for you?” , “Or it is too tough?”, “You thought this would be easy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-large;">“No.. I don’t even..”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-large;">“Let it be, all
of you. She can do what she likes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-large;">Confusion would
be an understatement. Ridha just can’t understand her enigmatic Guru or what
goes on in his mind. Just when she felt he thinks nothing of her, he intervened
on her behalf.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-large;">But, did he?
Maybe after all, he thought nothing of her. He didn’t care if she could learn
what others were doing. Maybe he saw no potential in her at all. Yes, that is
the cause of this indifference, the tiny voice inside her, said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-large;">She is not any
other student. She is a performer. I can’t restrain her in mechanical steps and
moves, he thought. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-9972016119184608882016-09-17T03:40:00.000-07:002016-10-01T03:08:10.809-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: xx-large;">PART-4</b></h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEaQUuvzdivI9rriDzY7ldFjqp5EUUEmRMvZ4QH6cX46o9Bj-cUfzPLvf_8sXf6PSq2mUaRhBoHZwIciLMwC3B2q_Ev5GGIWGas-oiOyQAfj8Ls5HUACB5O9PtdytdEBcNWSNtQwPIf4F/s1600/14232042_10206789108677833_3409648704500574609_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEaQUuvzdivI9rriDzY7ldFjqp5EUUEmRMvZ4QH6cX46o9Bj-cUfzPLvf_8sXf6PSq2mUaRhBoHZwIciLMwC3B2q_Ev5GGIWGas-oiOyQAfj8Ls5HUACB5O9PtdytdEBcNWSNtQwPIf4F/s320/14232042_10206789108677833_3409648704500574609_o.jpg" width="236" /> </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5.3pt 0cm 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.35pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">Expecting to be rejected by the
celebrity dancer after her ungraceful and non-dancer like fall, Ridha stood
up to see him smirking at her.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5.3pt 0cm 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.35pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">“You know nothing. But I can make you a
performer. You may be my student”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5.3pt 0cm 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.35pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">Excuse me?? Did he really say
that, the little voice screamed inside her. How is it that she is never able to
judge what’ll happen to her next!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5.3pt 0cm 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.35pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">Her ideal artist had uttered the
most arrogant words. In one sentence, he had given Ridha the biggest
joy and at the same time broken her self confidence into bits.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5.3pt 0cm 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.35pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">Recovering from the smack of
words, she turned back and started walking towards the end of the class, while
his eyes followed her till the last step. He withdrew his gaze just
at the moment she turned to face him.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 5.28pt; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">His eyes
gave nothing away.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-82020314191747115252016-09-17T02:30:00.000-07:002016-10-01T03:12:28.469-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: xx-large;">PART - 3</b></h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5H6P821hoYiTDqpPcnmSfc4CxqvIfjobOY0oSTRVdcKQzRfxMVC2b0_EHbmdZla3nEkPWinyiiYhwY2nmL06xUz-lHkn82tadjsXn-ET-YAgsJ_v6XLFizfdDFJEJhfAGT5mfzY1NGik/s1600/12401824_10153720808011885_1696904082582226021_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5H6P821hoYiTDqpPcnmSfc4CxqvIfjobOY0oSTRVdcKQzRfxMVC2b0_EHbmdZla3nEkPWinyiiYhwY2nmL06xUz-lHkn82tadjsXn-ET-YAgsJ_v6XLFizfdDFJEJhfAGT5mfzY1NGik/s320/12401824_10153720808011885_1696904082582226021_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 5.28pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 22pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">How
hard will it be to do a few steps in front her would-be Guru</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">ji,</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">Ridha</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">thought.. But here she couldn’t bring
her eyes to meet his gaze, the same man whom she looked at, transfixed when he
performed. Was it her shyness, or fear? To have her potential as a dancer
be recognized by him would mean bigger than any award for</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">Ridha. But if he refused to accept her
as a student, then, what? </span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">‘5..6..7..8..’
She mustered all the courage she had inside her and jerked her body into
movement as the music began. When the familiar melody floated from the Sitar,
she began to ease into the rhythm. The tempo quickly picked up pace, and she
matched it with her graceful spins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: -33.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Ridha<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>took
a poised jump as the climax approached..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 17.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">CRASH!!!!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">She landed with her face hitting the
wooden floor, and a circle of students peering down at her, at the head of
which was the man she wanted to impress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-71748798381980892912016-09-17T02:00:00.000-07:002016-10-01T03:12:57.066-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 4.8pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<h2 style="text-indent: 0px;">
<b style="font-size: xx-large;">PART - 2</b></h2>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XZd1cOnJ409Imy6R3xQNfJq-khlFgew8CD8uq2QwmYZmw4IWLZWoIGLjZtmI2ug0xHu2Uha_Zq1gcY0lyGe7Ye1qQD_oqcPCOhme1m9Z6VOoKV_7NsOehXakjqMcyZlu-C06ZcET_Aev/s1600/565038_10150685129749800_1686359632_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XZd1cOnJ409Imy6R3xQNfJq-khlFgew8CD8uq2QwmYZmw4IWLZWoIGLjZtmI2ug0xHu2Uha_Zq1gcY0lyGe7Ye1qQD_oqcPCOhme1m9Z6VOoKV_7NsOehXakjqMcyZlu-C06ZcET_Aev/s320/565038_10150685129749800_1686359632_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 4.8pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> Looking </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">at her reflection in the mirror, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">Ridha</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> adjusts her red </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">bindi</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">, finally satisfied
with her appearance. After all, she’s going to meet the celebrity dancer today,
who if accepts her will become her Guru</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt; text-indent: -0.38in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt; text-indent: -0.38in;"></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 4.8pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">She has seen him weave magic on stage infinite times,
and each time she wanted to perform </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">along with </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">him. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">Moving </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">to the </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">same </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">rhythm, mirroring his movements, becoming his shadow.
She hoped to alleviate herself in the art as she plunged deeper into the
mysterious appeal of this man.</span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 4.8pt; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 4.8pt; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> ‘</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">Wake up Girl! You’re
late on your first day. Come in fast.’ </span></i></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 4.8pt; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> ‘</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">Sorry Guru </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">ji</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">’</span></i></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 4.8pt; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> ‘</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">I am not your Guru </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">ji</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">, yet.’</span></i></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023229397247226864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191339653389507824.post-68968820811772263742016-09-17T01:30:00.000-07:002016-10-01T03:13:28.387-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">PART - 1</b> </span></h2>
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE2VVykG_svGRIFINtB7_2SqQBKR3mHUgOUq6aioLMV0UWX7y1GsAeLPrAdUblyynpKbZUPruPZLq_DssXA_8NCTQ4QDt6k91GKFScfNFZMo6dOADSRO2PwQp1PG5IJbWNUqyobaYVkCg/s1600/1908420_10153116691899800_7150345798482782839_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE2VVykG_svGRIFINtB7_2SqQBKR3mHUgOUq6aioLMV0UWX7y1GsAeLPrAdUblyynpKbZUPruPZLq_DssXA_8NCTQ4QDt6k91GKFScfNFZMo6dOADSRO2PwQp1PG5IJbWNUqyobaYVkCg/s320/1908420_10153116691899800_7150345798482782839_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Shinjini Kulkarni</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">Deeply </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">kohled</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> eyes, waist length hair loosely put in place with a stick, silver bangles clattering on her right wrist, and a halter neck </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">khadi</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">kurta</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> adorning a naturally slender figure; meet the dusky dancer </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"><i>Ridha</i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">. For the many nameless faces in the audience she was a self confident, strong, outgoing girl who was born to be in the limelight. But only the butterflies in her tummy knew how many times they fluttered before she took the centre stage.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">Ridha</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">did indeed love the stage, but only after she was off it. She longed to perform when she saw another speak authoritatively on the </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">mic</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">, but the moment before her own turn felt like a dark, nebulous cloud, hanging over her courage, her desire, her ambitions, and her strength.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">H</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">er </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 20pt;">relationship with the limelight was one of Love & Hate. But every time this alluring seducer called her onto the wooden path illuminated by yellow spotlights, the enchanted girl answered...</span></span></div>
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