Match making on the beat of garba

 

Sanjana 

Ravi

Pov - Ravi

It's first day of navratri. Navaratri is my favorite time of the year.I'm so excited to celebrate navaratri and to play garba. As usual I'm gonna keep fast this navratri too. I had woken up at 6 am.

I got ready and went to temple. After praying and aarti, I decided to sit on the bench kept in the front yard of temple. The atmosphere there was so calming and filled with natural positive energy. I sat there in peace for half an hour. 

After a while, I saw a girl wearing yellow kurti entering temple with so much happiness in her eyes, every movement with another level of enthusiasm. She prayed for a while and then she started distributing prasad to other people.while she was distributing prasad, she met kids playing there.Her interaction with kids were so adorable, the way she was talking with kids ,reflected her innocence. Speaking about that, she did give prasad to me also, and I wanted to ask her name, talk with her but I was transfixed by her very presence. And she swiftly went away. When she was gone, as if awakened from a dream, I was unoriented. When reality hit me, I tried to look for her but in vain. 

When I reached college, it was still early and none of my friends had yet arrived. So I sat in the parking area itself waiting for them. While sitting there I was again lost in memories of morning. When I was lost in my own world, someone punched me in the back. As I turned back fully prepared to punch that someone in the face, I found my friend Tarun with annoyed expression .Apparently Tarun had called me for 3 to 4 times but it wasn't working, so he found this way to get my attention.The moment he got my attention, he half yelled at me, why the hell you're lost early in the morning. I was as annoyed as him a second before, but now I was again thinking about her. Tarun snapped his fingers in front of my face. And I replied, " I wasn't lost anywhere, I was thinking about someone. " Tarun's eyes glinted with mischievousness. And he fired hundreds of questions at me." Who? Where? When? Why didn't you tell us? " As if Tarun wasn't enough, Ved and Maanav arrived there. Tarun filled them in about this. And now three pairs of capricious eyes were staring at me. I accepted defeat and told them about it. Now their faces had goofy smile, which kinda scared me off. They even started calling her bhabhi, already. 

So my friends' first suggestion was going to temple and wait for her , next day. Which was pretty good plan, as I go there everyday. 

That day,I wasn't able to focus on anything else. My heart was captivated by her innocence, her adorable interaction with kids. 

The next day, I woke up , got ready putting in more efforts to look perfect. I arrived at temple, I prayed, as usual. I was lil to eager to meet her. And now it's time to wait for her. I was sitting there for an hour, but there was no sign of her. I motivated myself, may be she could be a bit late. Another hour passed and my enthusiasm to meet her was crumbled. 

Defeated by fate, I went to college and I was last one to arrive in my group. Judging from my expressions, guys got the situation. Nonetheless, their hopes were still high, they encouraged me, may be I could meet her tomorrow. May be she couldn't arrive in time, because something came up. That felt fair enough, and I decided not to give up yet. 

It's third day of navratri and I've again arrived at temple. I had already done puja . Again I was waiting for her. Just like yesterday, there was no sign of her arrival. Yesterday's encouragements were long gone. My day passed as usual. 

4th , 5th and 6th day of navratri also went by. Everyday my day started with me going to temple, praying, waiting for her and then college and garba at night. It wasn't that I had given up, but by then my hopes weren't as high. 

On 7th day, my morning went by same, college was fine too. But that night Tarun insisted to go to nearest garba ground instead of my society. I wasn't that excited for that. I love simple garba, so I rather like playing garba in my society than a garba ground where people play all those fancy dodhiya steps. But I wouldn't let my friends down, and it was for only one day. So I agreed. But garba at garba ground starts late. So we attended aarti at my society. Then we left for ground. 

When we reached there, it was already crowded. We sat there for a while and then we joined the crowd to play garba. I wasn't really fan of this type of arrangement but singers singing garba live and vibes were fantastic. We were so immersed in playing garba and at that time someone collided into me. I turned back . And there she is. The one I was desperately searching for. I immediately apologized to her for that lil accident. She noded her head to tell that it's okay. But her expressions were pained. And I couldn't bare to see her in pain. In no time her friends were by her side, they helped her to get away from crowd and made her sit. I brought water for her. She was in pain and not paying attention to anything, so she grabbed water bottle and chugged half of the water in one go. But her friends were wary of my presence. So, I introduced myself, " I'm Ravi. I mean no harm. She collided into me,and she was in pain, so I was just trying to help. "Her friends were still skeptical. But they were more concerned about her, so they just let me be and diverted their focus on her. She told her friends that may be she had sprained her ankle and couldn't play garba anymore. She would like to sit there until they're ready to go back home. Her friends suggested leaving right then , but she didn't want her friends to miss out because of her. She somehow convinced her friends to go and play garba again. But one of them apparently her best friend stayed with her and I was still there. As others left, I suggested her to consult a doctor . But she wasn't gonna trust a stranger just like her friends. Still she thanked me for bringing water. At that time, apparently her best friend's favorite garba started. So she made her go and join her other friends. But before leaving her best friend had shot daggers with her eyes at me. I raised my hands in surrender, and told her, " I promise I mean no harm. "She was lil uneasy to leave her friend with me but may be my promise made her believe in me a lil and she left. 

Now, as I was with her, I gathered all my courage and finally asked her name. She stared at me as if deciding to tell or not. Scrutinizing me for a long moment and then told " I'm Sanjana. "

And I was so happy, that I wanted to dance it off. But I kept myself in check. 

I asked her " Is it still paining a lot? "

"Not as bad. " She replied. 

" If you want I can take you to doctor ? " I asked. 

" That's not necessary . " She answered firmly. 

" Okay. Wait for a min. " I told and left. 

Until then I had received so many texts and calls from my friends, I briefed everything to them. Meanwhile I found stall for water, but this time I was there to get some ice. I wrapped ice in my handkerchief. And went back to her. She was surprised to see me back. She had probably thought I left for good. 

" Here you go. " I told her , handing her ice. 

Her eyes softened a lil, at my thoughtfulness. 

She started applying ice over her sprained ankle. 

Meanwhile she was looking at crowd playing garba with sparkling eyes. 

"You must love playing garba. " I stated as a matter of fact. 

" Why would you think so? " She asked. 

"Because the way your eyes were sparkling, when you were looking at people playing garba. " I replied. 

She was a bit timid but she told, " I don't really know steps of dodhiya. It was my mistake earlier. I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

" That's fine. " I replied. 

After few minutes I asked her, " If you like simple garba , I would love to invite you to play garba at my society, I mean only if you're comfortable. "

She was silent for a moment, then asked, " Address? "

I couldn't believe that she said yes. 

I gave her my adress and my phone number, in case if she couldn't locate exactly where to go. 

Till then her friends were back, ready to go home. They left with her.

I went back to my friends. They were more happy than me. We played garba for another 2 hours. Then we left for home, too. 

It was already late and I was tired but I wasn't able to sleep. I was so excited for the next day. I kept thinking about it until my eyelids were drooping and I slept off. 

The next day, it felt like every minute, every second was passing so slowly, as if testing my patience.But finally it was evening and preparation for aarti and garba started, I was taking part in every thing with lil more enthusiasm today. Only thought that I would meet her in few hours had lifted my spirits up in such a way that taunts of neighbor aunties wouldn't annoy me. 

Clock ticked 9 and aarti started, she had not arrived yet.Garba also started, within 10 minutes. I was getting lil impatient . But soon enough, I was lost in playing garba.I didn't realize when she had joined me in circle but as garba stopped for a break, she was there when I turned back. I was so happy I couldn't exactly describe how I felt. Her arrival proved if nothing else but the fact that she trusted me. Which wasn't bad start, even if she doesn't like me yet. As it was break, I brought water for her and her friends, we sat down to rest for a bit. Of course, her lil army was with her.And I feel happy that her friends are so protective for her.Even though I had met her few days back and I don't even really know her , but her innocence had made me feel protective for her already.

 I didn't really get to talk with her. But she was around and that was enough.At the end of the garba, I asked her if she would be there next day. She noded a lil. I suggested to drop them off, but her father was going to pick up her and her friends. I kept them company until her father arrived to pick them up. 

Next day went by normal for everyone except for me, it was torture. Waiting for her when I had only met her once wasn't this painful, as it's now. It felt like somehow I was caught up in time dilation. Each and every moment was passing by very slowly. 

May be I was so miserable waiting for her, that God sent her early today. She arrived even before the aarti started. Her friends didn't accompany her today. She approached me with hesitation. And suddenly I was feeling nervous too. We were standing there awkwardly.

 After gaining lil composure, I asked her " Your friends didn't accompany you today? " 

" Yeah, I asked them to go to garba ground as they love that atmosphere more than here. " She replied . 

Here she goes, she's really very understanding. 

"Why don't you go to garba ground, I mean you were very good with those steps of dodhiya unlike me? " She asked all curious. 

" I simply love being around people I know, moreover I have a theory, when we play those fancy steps it's more like having fun, but when we play garba here it feels like we're really worshipping Ambamata. So I prefer playing garba here. " I was looking at her face while answering and this answer was totally unexpected, as she was surprised. 

" May be that's right." She agreed. 

Till then it was time for Aarti. After aarti we played garba. It was as if when she's around time flew by. Soon it was time for her to leave. 

A thought struck to my mind like a lightning, it's a last day of navratri, she would not be here tomorrow. If I want to ask her out, it has to be now. I don't even have her number, that I could contact her. All these thoughts made me realize this is my last chance to ask her out, because who knows when would we meet again if I leave this situation on my fate.

We were waiting for her father to pick her up. 

Mustering up all the courage I had, I asked her, "I really like you. Would you like to go on a cofee date with me? "

She was blown off by my sudden question. She composed herself quickly and answered , "I don't think so. "

My face fell, thoughts and possibilities I didn't allow my brain to think of, came true. 

But she continued, " We are gujjus, if you wanna take me on a 'Chai and thepla date' I'm totally up for that. " She had a mischievous grin on display when I looked at her. 

My face lit up with delight, this girl sure had ways to make me fall more and more for her. 

We didn't say anything further, we were just quietly absorbing the moment of happiness. 

Navratri is my favorite time of the year.