A Dance To Remember

Peeping through the curtain back stage, she looked for him amidst the seated crowd. Her eyes searched for the raven haired boy whom she had grown to love so much. When she couldn't find him, a sigh escaped her lips. He had promised her, he'd be there.

She turned away to find her friend come close to her with a sympathetic smile . No words were exchanged. Her eyes said it all.

"It's time..", she said softly.

Rena nodded in understanding.

Smoothening her elegant white dress down, and stretching her toes within her ballerina shoes, Rena breathed in deeply. She listened to the faint music that had begun. With every beat, her heart quickened. This was the first time , she was going to dance on stage before other people. She was nervous and anxious as well. Why hadn't he come? Fakir..

Shaking away the thoughts of him, she stepped in to the spotlight. The music changed into a soft classic, as she stretched her arms gracefully and began dancing. Her legs moved in sync with the slow melody. The play was of a princess searching for her true love. Rena was the princess in this artistic play. Her dance was to symbolize the despair and deep realizations of the main character.

She rotated on a single leg with elegant ease, mesmerizing the people who were watching. With every beat of the music.. with every key of the piano.. and with every soft breath, she swung from one foot to another, dancing as if there was no tomorrow. Her body lived the life of the princess on the stage while her mind roamed to him.. the only one in her life, Fakir. Why hadn't he come? It was an important night in her life and yet, he wasn't present. She closed her eyes to stop the tears welling up in them.

The song became more lively with a sudden change in notes. Her steps quickened as she leapt into the air, to glide swiftly. This change was to mark the deeper inner realization of the lost princess. True love can't be found. It can only reach you and hold on to you. Rena understood it, for the first time in her life.

She leapt in the air to mark the end of her enchantment and landed elegantly on both her legs. The audience broke out in applause. She smiled despite her inner sorrow. With a twirl on one leg, she bowed gracefully. When she became upright, she searched for him again in the sea of unknown faces. But he was nowhere to be found.

The curtains started descending slowly. Masking her sorrow, she turned away to leave the stage. On her way, her friends and colleagues presented her with bouquets and sincere words of appraisal but she didn't want them. The tears were already flowing down her beautiful face, when she felt someone grasp her hand. That someone placed a single rose in her fingers. Wiping away her tears she looked up to see who it was.

It was Fakir. Rena's heart leapt out to him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He smiled.

She embraced him tightly, not willing to let go. His hair touched her cheek, tickling her slightly.

He pulled back and traced a finger along her face. "You danced beautifully."

She didn't say anything and proceeded to brush her lips against his gently. At that moment, yes, she did feel like a true princess.