The musicians in the room started playing their instruments as the dancers lined up, looking at the musicians. Nalani walked into the room, holding the file in her hands. The musicians were testing their instruments for the upcoming performance.

"How are you girls feeling?" Nalani asked, crossing her arms. There were six teenage girls whom she had been teaching for four months now. The girl nodded their heads.

"Excited but nervous," Pratyusha said. Her American accent was rolling off as she spoke. "Yeah, I have never performed before anyone," Kate announced.

Nalani smiled. "Everything will be alright. It's your day, and no one will spoil it for you." Nalani patted their arms. "If you get nervous, just believe in yourself and think there's no one watching."

"Will it help with the anxiety?" Leela asked. Nalani nodded her head. "Yes, keep your focus on your movements and expressions. Believe that there's no one sitting before you. Even if you cannot ignore them― Think of them as yourself. Think of yourself dancing before a mirror."

The girls nodded their heads. "Thank you, Ma'am." Nalani smiled before handing them the file. 

"It will give you an idea of when your performance is scheduled. I must be there at the main stage while you girls practice." 

Nalani walked out of the practice room and approached the central area. She tightened her coat and kept her arms crossed. She needs to get her trench coat. Accidentally,  she forgot to bring it, and now it's cold.

"Ma'am." Someone called. Nalani turned around to see a management team member. "Yes?"

"There's someone at the waiting hall asking for you." Nalani's brows frowned in confusion. As she knows, no one was going to meet her. "Did they mention their name?" 

"Uh―Huh. . . I was in a hurry and forgot to ask him the name." The girl looked at her wristwatch. "He had been waiting for an hour." 

"An hour? You are informing me now?" 

"I apologize, ma'am. You were in a meeting, and Mrs Sheetal asked me not to disturb you." Nalani gave a nod. 

"It's okay and thank you." 

"Sure, ma'am." The girl left, and Nalani made a turn to the other side to where the waiting hall was. Today's event was sponsored and managed by the Indian Association living in Canada. Different communities were participating. Nalani was the headmaster of the Columbia Dancing Club.

It had been four months since she moved to British Columbia. She had rented out an apartment with the help of the community. The community hall where she had been taking classes is a ten-minute walk from her apartment. 

She smiled and greeted the people on her way. Her phone rang when she was ten meters away from the waiting hall. She answered it, and it took her another minute as she spoke on the phone.

"We will get them. Don't worry; the photographer has my number and email ID." Nalani entered the waiting hall as soon as the call ended. Her gaze went to the people waiting in there.

She didn't know who asked for her. She searched for someone to find her, but none did. She was about to leave when her gaze went to the frame sitting in the back with her head down. Her brows frowned in confusion as she made her way towards the person. 

She couldn't pinpoint as others were sitting before him, blocking his view from her. As she neared him, she found Hridyanshu. She was stunned seeing him. She took a few steps, standing right before him. She's happy to see him in person. She had been missing him for a while.

Smiling, she tapped on his shoulder. Startled― I looked up to see Nalani. A yawn left his mouth before he could say something. Nalani took the empty seat beside him. "Hey. . ."

"Hi?" It came out as a question. Nalani took her time watching his face. His hair's a mess. There are dark circles underneath his eyes. The top two buttons of his dress shirt were undone, and his jacket was lying beside him. 

"When did you come?" she asked. Hridyanshu looked at his wristwatch. "It took an hour to come here. An hour of wait." 

"Why haven't you called me?" Hridyanshu gave an awkward smile. "Well― I don't have your new number, and I'm not on social media." Nalani hummed, nodding her head.

"What are you doing here? Was there any business meeting?" she asked, trying to understand why he was there. She knew he was busy and had to attend business meetings. She got updates on him through Vidha and Vedant.

"Hmm― I'm here to ask you for our fourth date." Nalani blinked her eyes in surprise. She was taken aback. "Fourth date?"

Hridyanshu nodded. "Yeah, we have gone on our three dates and haven't had our fourth date yet. I want to take you out this time."

"Wow, we already went on our fourth date." Hridyanshu's brows frowned in confusion. "When?"

"Our fourth date was the night you took me to watch the aeroplanes take off." Hridyanshu shook his head. "Well, I don't consider it as our fourth date."

"Hmm." Nalani smiled. "As you are the one asking for the fourth date. I will consider this as the official date. That you are asking me out officially." Nalani teased.

Hridyanshu smiled. "I don't disagree with it. It's the official date, and I hope you don't say no to me." 

"It depends on how you gonna show up at my door."

"Do you want me to show up at your doorstep dressed up?" Nalani placed her hand on her chest and let out a fake gasp. "Are you not going to dress up for our official date?"

"I expect you to be a handsome gentleman. How would I survive the date if you aren't dressed up?" Hridyanshu let out a laugh, and Nalani soon joined. The people surrounding them took a glance or two. 

"I will dress up and be the most handsome gentleman tonight." Nalani hummed. "I have high hopes for you. Hope you don't disappoint me." 

"I will try." Hridyanshu looked around. "So, when will the event start?" Nalani looked around as well. "It will start in an hour and end by five in the evening." 

"Will you be staying for the day?" she asked. "I got a few calls after lunch. I will stay for a while." Nalani nodded her head and stood up. "I have some work and people to meet. Why don't you join me?"

"Is that okay?" Nalani shrugged her shoulder. "Doesn't matter, and I don't want to leave you alone over here." 

"Sure." Hridyanshu got off the seat and picked up his jacket. "So, is this the community event or?"

"This is an Indian Association event, and different Indian communities of different cities are participating. Sort of cultural event. . . To promote Indian art and culture." 

"Today we are the classical performance. Tomorrow, it is art. There will be an exhibit of Indian art by artists from these communities." Hridyanshu hummed in response as he looked at the hallways. 

"You have been teaching the community kids?" 

"Yeah. . . I took their online classes, and Aadya was here for over a year. Later, Aadya returned to India, and we had to continue with online classes. They had a freelance teacher, but they weren't happy with her, as I mentioned about the workshop program. Thankfully, it worked out, and I extended my visa." 

"You didn't have trouble with the visa?"  

"I was sceptical, but everything went well, and I'm not planning to stay here for the long term." 

*

Nalani blew a raspberry as she straightened her hair. Hridyanshu mentioned that he would pick her up at 8:00 pm, and she had an hour to prepare. She had few options, so she pulled out her black dress and stockings. 

She could end the outfit with her favourite black trench coat. She also has her Mary Janes to match the outfit. She used the hair dryer as well for extra smoothness. By the time she got ready and wore her Mary Janes― The calling bell had rang. 

With an excited smile, she rushed to open the door. She looked at the reflection once before opening the door. 

Hridyanshu stood a bit nervously as he rang the bell.  He waited for Nalani to open the door. He smiled as he watched Nalani standing on the other side of the door. She was holding the door open for her. She was checking him out, and he took his time doing the same.

"Wow. . . You truly look like a gentleman," Nalani commented. Hridyanshu raised his brow. "I was born gentleman."  

"Yeah. . . Yeah. . ." 

"You look beautiful," he complimented Nalani. "I got ready for you." 

Hridyanshu's cheeks turned warm. "Happy to hear it."  

"Here," Hridyanshu said, handing her the flowers. "Oh, thank you. They are beautiful." Nalani caressed the tulips. 

Nalani stepped aside and allowed Hridyanshu inside. Hridyanshu walked into the apartment and looked around. "Do you want to have water?"

"Yeah. . ." Nalani took a minute to admire the flowers. Hridyanshu followed her into the open kitchen. "How did you know that tulips are my favourite?"

Hridyanshu scratched the back of his neck. "Hmm, Vidha helped me with it." 

"That's sweet of you. I love tulips. Hold them for me while I will get you water." Hridyanshu took the flowers from her. Nalani got him water and also the empty water bottle. She handed him the glass and filled the water bottle with water. 

"I don't have any vase. Let's use this bottle as a vase." Hridyanshu agreed. Nalani arranged the flowers in the bottle. "Trench coat suits you, and I was planning on wearing my trench coat, too."

"You got a trench coat?"

"Yeah."

"Cool." Hridyanshu placed his hand on the island as he looked at Nalani. She had done her hair, and the red lipstick fixed his gaze on her face. 

"So, how did I show up at your doorstep?" he asked, and Nalani laughed. She looked at him and took a step closer. "You look handsome, and I approve of going on a date with you." 

"I'm flattered." Nalani beamed. "Let me get my coat and purse."

"Sure." 

*

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