"What? He blocked you?!" she reconfirmed the nth time now in between the respite she got from laughing and breathing.
"Yes",I said, with a pained look."And the worst part is that he has not unblocked me even after I apologised. I told him that I felt humiliated and insulted that I was blocked and being treated like a rogue."
I could decipher her intelligent observation as, "O Samima! He he he he.. How...he he did you manange to become such a loser...he he!?Girls generally block guys!He he he.."
"I don't know. I am supporting the 'HeForShe' initiative I think.",I replied and joined in the infectious display of mirth at my expense.
Well, at least I could laugh at myself instead of being puffy eyed. Thank God for that.
After completing her joyride,Ghazala said,"Look, Samima, that poor guy panicked when you unearthed all those facts about him which he had so diligently fabricated.He did not expect a bumble bee like you to take the effort and run a search on him.It was definitely naive on his part to lie.It did not dawn on him that today you can trace out everything from bachpan to jawani from the web.We leave so many traces around without knowing.Do not get me wrong Sami, but it was okay on his part in wanting not to reveal about himself."
I listened patiently waiting for my turn."I did not have a problem with the 'not revealing' part but with the lying part. I gave straight answers to straight questions."
"You are a fool.",sighed Ghazala."Now what do you plan to do?"
"I want to get myself back on his contact list and get over these days of ignominy!I liked him.We can at least remain friends.",I exclaimed.
"Sami, I didn't ask you about the next stupid wish that you have. Both of you are mature individuals and not some school or college going teenagers. You both can decide whether you want to be in touch or not. What I want to tell you is that YOU need to get over THIS state.You need to go out and meet people.This is not the end gal! Why don't you join some activity where you will meet real people? You mentioned once that you liked dancing. Join the new dance school that has opened near my office."
"Well, guys or no guys, that IS indeed a great idea.Err, but I will need you to sponsor.",I added sheepishly.
"I am ready to pay for these 'laxative'ical dance classes to get the crap out of your head".Gazala started laughing once again at her poor joke. I joined in. I was feeling lighter already.
The next weekend, I joined the classes near Gazala's office.It was a small dance studio with separate timings for Salsa,Hip hop,Belly dancing and many other exotic dance forms. I wanted to learn Kathak but it did not work out as the place was pretty far and commuting to and fro after job was impossible.So Salsa it was. I entered the studio for my first class.My dance instructor introduced me to Sohail. I remembered Ghazala. A guy on the first day! I hoped that this was not something she was staging for me.
Sohail and I started our dance classes. I could not have wished for a worst dance partner in my life.He was the average looking yet attractive guy. He was almost 6 ft tall with hair which formed a tuft on his forehead like Devanand. He worked at a good position in a reputed IT firm .Well, he was the picture of the perfect eligible bachelor till that image was shattered by his shoddy performance on the dance floor and his attitude.
He had two left feet and kept on blaming me for our poor performance.This continued even on the second day. Losing patience, I asked him to wait for me at the end of our class. We were both tired. So I suggested that we go to the coffee shop next door.While waiting for the coffee, we spoke about ourselves. I was careful and parted with only the skeletal details.
With the aroma of the coffee rejuvenating me,I started my actual mission. "Sohail, don't get me wrong. Are you like this with your team members in office?"
"What do you mean?",he asked taken aback by the sudden out of context question.
"Well, do you put the blame of your failures on your team members", I asked. Hmm,that did not come out right, I realized.He was utterly shocked.I took advantage of his stunned silence and continued."See, the fact is that you cannot dance. Instead of accepting that and trying to work on it together as a team with me,you just spoil our collaboration by putting the blame squarely on my shoulder.You know, anybody can dance. You don't have to be a pro or something. Just listen to the music and lose yourself to the beat. Don't concentrate on the fact that you are not able to do it."
"Wow! I did not expect that! Least of all from you.We are practically strangers.", he exclaimed.
"We stopped being strangers since the moment we were introduced and paired up with each other.I have joined these classes to unwind and get over the emotional turmoil that I am in. Least of all to get into another one because of you."
"I am sorry.", he continued."My intention was not to be harsh. What happened?"
"Nope. You were rude. You go first. Come clean.", I said feeling gleeful that I controlled spilling my heart out to, yes, a 'stranger'.
"I had a very bad break up last month. My girlfriend of 10 years dumped me for some rich guy and went abroad.She ended it. Just like that. I tortured my room-mate,Asif, with my sob story and my sour mood. I am performing below par at office as well.Last week was Asif's birthday.I forgot to buy him a birthday gift. I felt bad for not remembering his birthday and told him that I was sorry and that he could ask for whatever he wants as a birthday gift.That bugger had it all planned. He knew that I would forget. He handed me the enrolment receipt for this dance class and said,"Please start from next week.I want you to go and get over this.There is more to life than that bitch who did not even deserve you.Make new friends.There, that will be my birthday gift.".I wanted to break all his teeth then and there. I could not as it was his birthday and I was on the wrong side.So you see, I am not exactly into this because I enjoy this and want to lose myself in some bullshit rhythm.I was told that I will meet some pretty and understanding girls out here and not some demanding troll like you."With the last sentence he burst out laughing.
Seeing him laugh I felt great for being a troll.The unprecedented openness and aggressiveness from a total stranger made him baulk and reveal his vulnerable side.I know how it feels to release the bottled up pressure. I joined in the laughter,making faces feigning hurt feelings.
"Well, these classes were my friend Ghazala's idea. She calls it the 'laxative'ical dance classes." and I continued my story.
After a month, Sohail and I were ready with our first public performance. He was a fast learner. We were excited. There is nothing for YOU to get excited. Nothing has happened between us. I am still the troll for him and I call him Shrek.
Note: All pictures courtesy Google image
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