My worried thoughts about finding a partner came to an end when I found Nanna smoking at the pan shop at the end of our street.

Seeing me, he quickly hid the cigarette away and said "What are you doing here so early?"

Ignoring him, I yelled "Venkat uncle! Give me a gold flake, classic"

"Chinna, no!" He said, looking at my dad as if asking permission.

I threw a ten rupee note on the kopiko chocolates box and repeated "Goldflake, classic"

"Anju, I am only having one today" Nanna explained calmly "I swear I didn't smoke for months now"

When I threw a glare at Venkat uncle, he quickly gave me one. I lit my cigarette with the lighter hanging from one end of the tiny ceiling of the shop.

Taking a drag, I said coolly "Interesting. May be I should do this often. It is----"

"Fine!" Nanna grumbled, throwing his cigarette on the ground and stamped it with his shoe "You can stop now"

I repeated his action and gestured to the poster of cigarettes "Do you see what's written there?"

He looked at it before averting his eyes quickly.

I scowled at him "What's written?"

He looked nervous but said slowly "Cigarette smoking is injurious to health"

"Isn't that warning enough?" I said, glaring at him "Are you a little kid who has to be told the same thing over and over again?"

"I'm sorry" he mumbled, taking my elbow to lead me home.

"I will be leaving to US in a couple of months" I reminded him angrily.

"I know"

"God forbid something happens to you, what will happen to Amma?"

"I don't smoke as many as I used to" he defended, looking guilty.

"If you get sick, Amma will have to take care of you with no one to help her because I will be continents away"

"I know. I am sorry Anju. I promise I won't do it again"

"If you break your promise another time, I swear I'm not talking to you again" I said seriously.

We disappeared into the house where I told Amma what happened and she lectured him for another fifteen minutes.

Our new threats will last a couple of months before he goes at it again.

I spent the rest of the day working on my laptop and ignoring my dad.

"What will you do now?" Neha said, looking sullen; the next day.

"I don't know" I replied, equally depressed.

The competition is exactly a week away and I haven't received a single call til now. May be I should give up my search and ask Anand if he's willing to partner.

Watching Shaan strut towards our table in the mess made me straighten up and nudge Neha to attention.

"I'm not here for you" she croaked out, standing up.

"I didn't say you are!" he said recklessly.

"Why are you here?" I grumbled in exasperation leaning back..

He took the empty seat beside me "Saw your request on the notice board"

I perked up from my lazy crouch "You know someone?"

He looked offended "Yeah. Me"

"You can dance?" Neha screamed in surprise before I can ask the same.

"Yes" he answered impassively.

"Why did you never participate then?" I asked suspiciously.

He shrugged imperviously "Never interested, I guess"

"Why now?"

Again, that aloof shrug "Because you need me"

"Overconfident much?" I said, raising my eyebrows at his suave attitude.

"Why I never did, is none of your business. Do you want me to help or not?" he said with indignation.

"Fine. But I need to see you dance with my own eyes"

"You will. Mech dept, room no. 201, 4 PM"

He left without another word; not even hearing me reply.

"How cool is he!"

"What's wrong with him!"

Both Neha and I spoke simultaneously.

Her words made me scowl "He's being a douchebag"

She rolled her eyes "What he is, is your saviour"

"I don't know if he's speaking the truth"

"He never speaks anything but" Neha grumbled, looking chagrined.

I smirked "Is it?"

Doesn't she always say he likes her when he clears says otherwise?

"I'm going to ignore that. Thanks to you, I have uninterrupted access to watching him dance for a week" she said looking cheerful.

"Who said you are welcome to our rehearsals?"

"I am your best friend" she said imperturbably "Of course I'll be there"

"Will Anila let you?"

"Queen B is not bothering me these days, thanks to you"

"Aren't I your hero?" I said smugly.

She laughed.

When I arrived alone few hours later, he'd already set up laptop and speakers in the empty room.

"Where's your sidekick?" He asked, not glancing at me.

"She's not my sidekick" I replied, feeling guarded "Why do you care where she is anyway?"

He shrugged dispassionately "Just thought she wouldn't miss the chance of seeing me sweaty and dancing"

I chuckled remembering Neha's argument with Sunitha "Her team leader didn't let her"

"Let's see how true your words are" I said, connecting my mobile to his speakers

He rolled his eyes but let me put MJ's 'thriller' and I watched him dance for a minute before stopping the song.

"That's enough" I said, looking serious.

"Do I meet your expectations?" he asked sarcastically.

He did. But that's not why I made him stop "Why didn't you perform before?"

"Told you. I wasn't interested"

"Then why now?"

"If you don't want my help, please leave. I don't have to answer your questions"

"Look, I'm only trying to understand. You have been trained, clearly. What I don't get is why you don't--------"

"I was self conscious. I haven't danced in front of others for years now" he intervened, looking pissed.

I wanted to argue over that statement. Instead, I said "Why now then?"

"Because if I don't do it now, I'll probably never do it. Besides, I like you and I really want to help"

I wanted to ask him what he meant by that but I let it go thinking his answer doesn't matter.

He waited for me to respond with an aggravated look and I finally said "We only have a week"

A look of relief passed through his face and he said "What's your plan?"

We spent the next one hour discussing ideas and writing down songs; until Neha made an appearance.

"Why are you so obsessed with MJ anyway?" he said irately when I repeated for the millionth time that we should dance to at least one MJ song.

"He was her first crush" Neha replied quietly,

He raised his eyebrows in surprise "You have crushes?"

"I am a real person too" I said sarcastically, throwing a glare at my best friend for her loose tongue.

"You never follow a concept in your gig, do you?" he said, a frown marring his brooding face.

"We are not in a reality show, hun. We don't need to have a sob story when the only thing the audience expect is some entertainment"

Again, he raised his eyebrows and I fumed internally.

He suggested some more ideas until we came to a decision that we will be performing a tribute to Michael Jackson.

"It has to end with beat it" I wondered aloud, thinking of all the songs I need to add.

"Why beat it?"

"Because I never danced to it before and in my mind, I always thought this will be my final song before leaving college"

"I will prepare the medley tonight" he said, nodding at my statement.

"I will collect MJ stills and make a presentation"

"Why?"

"When we win the competition, we will be performing it on stage on annual day. Having a background with collages of Michael while we dance to his popular beats seems like the perfect homage"

"Interesting. You are already sure we will win" He smirked, looking complacent.

"Of course we will" I said arrogantly "Don't you think so Neha?"

Breaking her fond stare from Shaan, she glanced at me "Of course you will"

"We will also need a red jacket if we are performing 'Beat it'"

"I will be on it" Neha interfered enthusiastically.

"How did you get away from Sunitha?" I enquired curiously.

"I told her that I got a message from you that you fainted" she said sheepishly.

I chuckled "How can I message if I fainted?"

She giggled "Thank god she didn't pick that up"

"You need to work on your lying skills, babe"

"Look who's talking. You always get caught when you lie" she said sardonically.

"Meet you tomorrow. Same time" Shaan got up, unplugged his portable speakers, laptop and shoved them into his bag.

We followed him out couple of minutes later when I found Vamsi pacing furiously by the Mech department building.

"What are you doing here?" I asked casually.

He looked relieved seeing me "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I heard you fainted"

His serious statement is followed by Neha's giggle "I am sorry"

"What happened?"

"She lied" I said, rolling my eyes "She wanted to meet my dance partner but Sunitha didn't let her leave the lab so she lied"

"Who's your partner?"

"Shaan"

"He dances?"

"Yep"

"Is he good?"

"So good. Friendly warning: you should be worried"

He chuckled "I'll keep that in mind"

The three of us walked together in silence when Vamsi said "Are you not going to ask?"

"What?"

"About how good Nisha is?"

"Should I?"

"I thought you'd be curious"

"I am not!"

"Anju..."

"Just because we made up doesn't mean I have to know everything that concerns your girlfriend"

He sighed heavily "Okay"

We parted with Neha at the parking lot and Vamsi dropped me home where I spent the next couple of hours making a presentation.

The next week is a routine of classes in the mornings, project work in the afternoons and dance rehearsals in the evenings.

Shaan prepared a killer medley of 7 minutes 25 seconds adding most popular MJ songs but mostly focusing on three.

'The way you make me feel', 'They don't care about us' and 'Beat it'

I absolutely loved how he mixed the choruses of different songs in the background when 'Beat it' is highlighted in the end.

Neha is present almost every day with her laptop though I don't know why because all she ever does is stare at Shaan with blind devotion and love.

The day before the competition we performed the whole act in front of her and judging by the way she clapped with such enthusiasm, we did fine.

However she had to leave on receiving a call from Sunitha about Anila messing up something.

"Queen B still giving her nightmares?" He asked, picking up a water bottle and napkin.

"I think so"

"Why does she take it?"

"She doesn't"

He looked like he didn't believe me and I repeated "She doesn't. She gives back as good as she gets"

He laughed "Her? No way?"

"You don't know her"

Shaan is always brooding and stoic that I always wondered what Neha sees in him. But watching him laugh now made me understand why someone beautiful like her is stuck with this guy for almost 2 years. He is so freaking handsome when he's not being mysterious and aloof.

"And you do?"

"Of course. She's my best friend"

He smiled "She's your only girlfriend, isn't it?" To my nod, he added "Why?"

"I don't know" I answered with a shrug "Initially, she followed me around like a lost kitten and somehow in the process, we got close"

"I can relate to the lost kitten part"

"Don't let that fool you. She's a tigress"

He laughed "Please!"

"No, really" I said, feeling an undeniable urge to support my friend "Suppose I am fighting with someone. She'd be that one person to jump in my defense without a second thought. She wouldn't think if there's one person or twenty against me"

"I don't see her as the fighting type" he commented dully.

"She is but her strategies are different for different battles" I said, looking at him.

He said nothing making me add "Can I ask you something?"

"Why don't I like your best friend?" he guessed, looking aloof. Again.

"Yeah"

"We don't have to like everyone we meet"

"That doesn't answer my question"

"I don't have to answer anything" he said, getting up to leave.

"Wait"

I don't know what possessed me that moment because it's none of my business but I couldn't stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth as I said to his retreating back "She is stupid. She is crazy"

"She is annoying" I added fervently, thinking of all the times she got on my nerves "But she is totally worth it!"

He didn't say a word. Just walked out of the room without a second glance.

We performed the next day and based on the whistles and claps we got in the auditorium we did really good. Initially Shaan was nervous about performing in front of others but he turned into a giant ball of energy once music started.

"Damn! That was awesome" Neha commented excitedly when we got down the stage.

"Thanks babe"

She reached out to hug me but I took a step back saying "I am sweating, hun"

"Who cares. I'm so thrilled watching you dance" She said, throwing her arms around me.

"Tell me this. Who did you watch more? Me or Shaan?" I whispered in a teasing tone when she pulled back.

Ignoring me, she said instead "You two have great chemistry, I'm so jealous"

I laughed.

"That was good" Vamsi interfered, looking at me with a smile.

"Thanks" I said awkwardly.

"You were right. Both of you gave one hell of a performance"

"All the best to you" I said, nodding at Neha that I'm ready to go.

"You are leaving?" He asked in a surprised tone.

I nodded "Yeah"

"You are not going to watch me?" The sadness in his voice twisted inside me uncomfortably.

"I have to go. I am behind my project deadlines" I lied smoothly.

If he caught me, he didn't say a word.

It's enough that I see Vamsi and Nisha everyday, everywhere. Watching them dance together will be like taking a knife to the heart.

Dancing was our thing.

Both of us participated in competitions and performed on stage together; both at school and college. I don't want to replace those good memories and be haunted by the memory of them together.

"Thank you" I said, offering my hand to Shaan when we came outside.

He shook it "No big deal"

"I mean it. Really"

"Don't have to" he replied mindlessly.

"She never says thank you. Just accept it and say you're welcome" Neha grumbled impatiently.

He looked at her in surprise "Never?"

"Never" she repeated.

"You're welcome then" he said, looking at me.

I smiled "The winner will be announced tomorrow"

"More rehearsals?" he asked dispassionately.

I shrugged.

"There's no way someone else is winning" Neha said furiously, taking my shrug as doubtful about winning "You will be the one performing onstage on Annual day. Period."

An intense look touched Shaan's face as he glanced at me "I see what you meant"

"What he is saying?" she asked when he walked away, leaving us.

"I don't know" I lied, throwing an arm around her.

"You are lying"

"No, hun. Let's go. We have a lot of work"

------

Thank you for reading. Please vote, comment and share.

I've had such a long & productive day that I feel so good, I updated right after I came from work. 

But now, I need food, shower and an action movie so I can feel human again. I'd be on to that, please let me know what you think of this chapter.

Merry Christmas btw. 

- JANAKI