The Beats of My Heart - Chapter Four

I went home, Payal going to hers, and I immediately went upstairs. I was putting my stuff away when Amma passed by. She turned back and came in and told me to go down to eat. I told her that I had already eaten, and she left.

I looked at the time. Whoa! 10 o'clock already? Wow! We were gone for a long time! Normally when we're late I get nervous about what Amma or Babuji would say but today, I just didn't care.

My phone rang and it was Payal.

"Hey Khushi, what are you doing?"

I didn't say anything, wondering to myself why I all of a sudden didn't care.

"Khushi? Are you there? Hello?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry Payal."

"Khushi what's wrong? Did Dausa or Aunty-ji say something?"

"No, it's not that."

I told Payal about how I didn't really care, and she gasped.

"Are you Khushi or some random twin I've never heard of?"

"Payal!"

"I'm sorry yaar but really? That's a shocker! You're always so... so... I can't explain."

"Thanks yaar," and I rolled my eyes.

"Yaar? Did you just say that? Oh my gosh! I must be dreaming. Hold on.... Ow! Okay I'm not."

I laughed.

"Hey, listen, tomorrow I have to go out with Amma okay? But I'll see you later in the day. Okay? Goodnight!"

She hung up, as well as me.

I laid down and fell asleep immediately. That night my dreams weren't dreams, just those moments playing again: over and over again.

It was morning before I could even realize. It felt so short. I sighed and got ready for the day. Since Payal wouldn't be coming for a while, I decided to get some work done.

It was 2 o'clock when the bell was ringing rapidly. Babuji opened the door and Payal ran in. She ran up to me and grabbed my hand.

"We have to go, NOW!"

She pulled me along with her and said sorry to Babuji, and then we ran off to the studio.

"Payal will you please tell me what's going on?!"

"Hold on!"

She put her bag down and took out a poster that was rolled up in her bag.

"Look at this!"

She unrolled the poster about halfway and I looked at it. It was a poster that was referring to a dance competition that was to be held a week from now. There was a 1.5 lakh prize for the winner.

I looked up at Payal in shock. "Oh my gosh! Payal... I can't...." I shook my head.

"Yes, you can! You're the best dancer I know! But wait, there's more!"

She completely unrolled the poster revealing the best part of it. There right in front of me, was a picture of the ajnabi from yesterday. I couldn't help myself but to gaze at his picture; he looked so handsome, I felt tingles spark within me.

Wait! What? What is going on with me?!

Payal stared at me and laughed. "Kya hua? No motions at all, just staring huh?" She rolled up the poster and I flinched.

"What did you do that for?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were busy staring at it. Or should I say, busy staring at him." She winked at me and I scowled at her before turning away.

"Listen Khushi, I say you join the competition and show the world what you got."

"Um... no Payal I can't."

"Yes, you can! And think about it! Let's say you won-"

"But-"

"Hush, just listen. Let's say you win right, then imagine - you standing on stage, me in the crowd cheering you on and then out of nowhere, the host welcomes in their main guest."

She unrolled the bottom half of the poster exposing the picture of him. I gazed at him and then looked at her.

"No. No way, not happening Payal, are you crazy?! Me... dance in front of him. Nope! No way, no how!"

"Why?"

"Because... just... because."

"Oh... I see." She put her arm around my shoulder. "If you were to dance at the competition, you would see him and when you see him, you'd freeze right there on stage. Then, you'd embarrass yourself. Right?"

I looked at her, just looked.

"Humph! Just staring at me won't do you any good. Look, you're entering and that's final. Besides... I already put your name in."

"You did WHAT?!" I released myself from her and shrieked. "Are you crazy?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't help myself! Besides I'm just messing with you. He's not going to be there! I'm your best friend: you think I wouldn't know if you would dance or not in front of that guy? That's why I asked the guy at the register booth if he was going to be there." Payal walked away towards the window.

This made me curious. "And?"

Payal looked at me with a questioning face. "And what?"

"Oh, you know what! Is he going to be there or not?"

She smiled. "You're that worried about him?" She shook her head and laughed. "Sorry, I just had to. Anyways, no, he's not going to be there; he's just sponsoring the show. All the money that was used to pay for this show was all him. He paid for it entirely. Can you believe that?!"

"Oh my gosh."

"Oh my gosh is right! Now then, shall we practice?"

"I don't know Payal. I-"

"No, I don't want to hear anything. Now then, I've chosen out a song for you. So, ready to dance?"

I looked at her with a confident look. "Let's do this."