SHE- But, I have never danced before!
ME – Liar! Everyone would have! At least in their kindergarten days, you know during the annual day functions! Or At least in the bathroom!
SHE – But that’s different!
ME – So, I am right!
SHE – Right about what?
ME – About you dancing in the bathroom! That’s weird you know! Because, I only sing!
Laughs exchanged…
ME – Anyway! Imagine that this is going to be your last night before you die!
SHE – Who is going to kill me? You?
ME – I can! (Pause) I mean, I have the ability to!
SHE – Ah! Do you?
ME – Yes! I can choke you to death! Or may be stab you with the butter knife!
SHE – Butter knife is blunt! It can’t kill me!
ME – Ah! I don’t believe your word! Let me give a try!
I looked at the butter knife, picked it up and tried stabbing her!
A moment of Laughter….
SHE – See… I told you! Butter knives can’t kill me! (Laughs)
ME – Okay! Forget butter knife! But there could be earthquake, the pub roof might collapse! Some female might try using her deodorant! Since the deodorant is inflammable, the candle in the corner table might explode! The pub might catch fire! We might get roasted like chicken!
She cringes….
ME – Okay! That’s horrible death! Let’s imagine something that is less horrible! Oh! What if you swallow the chicken bone and choke to death!
SHE – Both of us know that it’s never going to happen! I don’t eat chicken!
Silence!
ME – Or a potato! If you swallow it whole, even a potato can choke you to death! (Pause) Or maybe you step out of the pub; some drunk female runs you over on her scooter!
SHE – This is disappointing, I thought you would save me!
She puts up a sad face! Laughs exchanged..
ME – Anyways! My point is! Think that you are going to die this night! And that you will never be able to dance after this! So it’s now or never!
SHE – If it’s going to be my last night before I die, I have better things to do! I have a long bucket list!
ME – How long!
SHE – 53 items!
ME – 53? What weird wishes do you have in there? Things like Jumping into the volcano!
Silence..
SHE – Now I have 54th entry in the list!
ME – What? You want to jump into the volcano! Seriously?
SHE – No! I would want to stand on the top of the volcanic mountain, stare down at the lava and photograph it!
ME – Or you might as well swallow the potato and choke to death!
Laughs exchanged…
ME – But seriously… why don’t you dance! Look around! So many people on the floor, dancing!
SHE – Yeah! But I can’t dance! I don’t know to dance!
ME – Come on! You just need to move your feet or may be sway a little! No one’s expecting you to do dance like Hrithik!
SHE – Yeah! But moving the feet or swaying the body, for that I need to feel the rhythm! I am bad at rhythms!
ME – Okay! Look at it this way! We have been sitting here, sipping onto our drinks for so long! Among that dancing lot, there are bad dancers as well as good ones! Do you remember any of their faces?
She thinks for a while and nods a no.
ME – There you go! You had better things to do than nit-picking! Same case with others! Those who are dancing are too busy with their dance! Those who are not dancing are either waiting to hit the floor or might be way too nervous! Just like you!
A moment of silence…
ME – Look! The bottom line is, this is not some stage program and the spotlight is not on you! Everyone has better things to do than watch you dance! So hold my hands and join me in the dance
She appears hesitant…
ME – Okay! Let’s try this! I shall go there, dancing alone for a minute or two! Like real bad dance! Ugly and weird! That way you might get inspired!
SHE – Inspired to do what? Dance badly?
ME – Dance decently! Or may be badly! Look I have already told you, no one’s going to remember your face! Give me a moment!
I got up and slowly joined the dancing crowd. I began to move my feet, then the torso and after a few seconds, the head!
The DJ moved onto the next track! I closed my eyes and began to shake my hands and legs wildly! The track continued for a minute or two and when the DJ changed the track, I opened my eyes to walk up to her and drag her into the dance.
And when I opened my eyes, I found myself in the middle of the crowd who had stopped dancing and were staring at me! Ugly stares!
I quickly walked up to her.
ME – I think we need to leave! People are laughing at me!
SHE – Come on! It’s okay!
ME – I danced real bad, didn’t I?
SHE – Yep!
ME – How bad?
SHE – Bad enough to inspire me!
And she dragged me into the dance floor. She started moving her feet, the torso and then the head!
-CHAN
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