A moment close to my heart!!

I love dancing.It was sometime in 2002 when i finally joined Kathak classes.I was very happy,spending hours tapping on the rythem and todas. Wah! What Days!Many people came to learn from jaipur gharana.Our class was a mixture of 3 years to 45 years olds.

It was after two three days of my class when i realized a petite little girl getting distracted..the reason.. she kept looking back at me while doing todas. This ritual went on for days and finally i broke the traditon. I said "hello" as she entered the classroom, my hello was never returned. Again, next day i did the same thing but this little almost mute baby of about seven years of age at that time never responded. She just practiced her ritual...looking back at me while dancing, that too without a word!! Now all this looking back bussiness was getting too much, about two months have passed practising a nonverebal hide and seek game. I even thought if the child has some kind of problem (given to my psycho background..:)). Finally i decided to meet her parents next day, not that i wanted to complain but that i really really wanted to know about my so called "mute admirer" as she was known among my friends. So, the next day came. I was prepared to talk with her parents when they come to pick her up after class. Class went on, ritual repeated, smiles exchanged and finally class was over. We all packed our belongings and started going downstairs. I with my friends and that sweetie with..???.. wait..where was she? i never saw her descendiing! i ran ... i ran till the gate in apprehension that i must have lost the chance. But there! there she was ...that little figure standing alone,hands tightly clasped together and eyes on road. She was waiting for her parents. Hmm.. peace at once! We also waited while passing our time gossiping about boys, university and movies. 15 minutes passed...no sign of her parents...20 minutes passed..no sign again,my eyes kept wandering in her direction and in my heart or stomach i'm not sure which, i had a feeling she wasn't alright..anyways.. an hour passed.... no sign. I began worrying and couldn't stop myself going down till the gate and ask her what happened, not even sure she would respond or not. Her eyes were fixed on road when i came and asked " hi, whats ur name? Can i stand here with you and wait? ( what the hell, i should have began with saying something else to comfort her..but see how i'm.. straight on point).. long silence.. It felt like an hour must have passed as i waited for an answer but she didn't say a single word. She just looked at me intently..i don't know for how long, i didn't know what was on her mind...and then slowly held my hand.Her hold got tighter and tighter and i realised she was very scared. No words were needed, no verbal communication happpened, it was just me and her standing on the pavement holding hands. I felt her tension ease away whiule i tried to make some conversation.I' m Eknoor, i study in 1 st class, i live in sector 21..she said those words ! She spoke to me..i was elated .. i don't know when time passed away and her parents came and she ran as fast as she could to hug them.I was standing where i was , not wanting to meet her parents anymore but we introduced each other anyways. While leaving she waved back at me..i waved back and suddenly this usually silent creature asked me if i'm going to be there for class t'morrow and i said yes.Yes! it was ! i suddenly realised that it was my frist date with trust! For the frist time in twenty odd years i had never known what Trust is! This little girl who just went by had tought me something i was never capapble of understanding. I would not like to give a definition out of my experience but only what i learned. I learned that trust always come with a risk and life is adventurous. Also that actions speak more about your behaviour not the words. Finally, i learned that i have to learn trusting people. I don't know if she learned anything or she remembers me but I will always miss Eknoor wherever she is now. For me our friendship will always fill my heart and everytime i remember Kathak..i remember my mute friend.