A Time to Dance(54)

            our differences.”





ONLY

Temporarily

ABLE





At the Java Joy café, Chandra jabs her spoon at me.

            “How are your private dance lessons going?

            Have you been flirting with your dance-teacher boy?”

            I choke, scorching the roof of my mouth.

            Chandra pats my back until I stop spluttering.

            “Flirt? Me? I’m useless with guys.

            I blurt out idiotic things in front of them.

            Or get angry and push them away.”

            “You and Govinda fought?

            About what?”

            “Govinda insisted everyone has limits

            and even able-bodied dancers get old and inflexible.

            I got mad

            because I’m young and inflexible.”

            Telling Chandra what Govinda said,

            I realize he wasn’t being unreasonable.

            On the TV screen, I see Shastri, whom Ma and Pa said

            was the “baby” of the national cricket team

            when they were young.

            Now he’s an old man sitting in the commentator’s box.


“Call him and apologize,” Chandra advises.

            “It must be hard for you to relearn dance, Veda,

            but it’s not his fault.

            Don’t fight with him. Flirt with him.”

            “He’s too serious to flirt with, Chandra.”

            “Too serious? Who do you think you are? Ms. Frivolity?”

            Chandra lifts another spoonful of froth.

            I watch the bubbles burst like weak excuses.


“But the new leg is good?” Chandra asks. “Jim is helping?”

            I swirl my teacup so fast, chai slops on the table.

            “Chandra, I was so stupid.

            I—I—I went and told Jim that I liked him.”

            Chandra laughs. “Nice try, Veda. I almost believed you.”

            She starts mopping up the spilled chai.

            Her disbelief makes me feel worse.

            “I’m not kidding, Chandra.

            Jim was shocked at first. Then really nice about it.

            So nothing creepy happened.

            I just feel foolish.”


Chandra gapes.

            Finally, she says, “I’m sorry.

            That was crazy but it took guts.

            More guts than most of us have.”

            She hugs me. “It’ll be okay.

            Maybe it’s even a good thing you said it.

            Gets it off your chest.

            Jim was cricket practice; Govinda’s the real match.

            Match. Get it?”

            She looks so pleased with her pun,