On the dance floor oh kudhiye

Recovering from a close wedding in the family. Grand, opulent, nevertheless lots of fun. Felt better equipped to handle it since my sister, Shonali, was in town. Actually the time I actively miss her the most is at these social gatherings. Its like it was always the two of us side by side at these places. We were like born as a pair (almost). And when she is not there I feel lost. With her by my side, we were sure to get all the right attention. By sheer association.

Ok back to the wedding. Open on to the sangeet. To the dance floor. The stage is set and the dance begins. The frantic coordination, hours of practice sessions (some more fun than the sangeet itself) boil down to the 15 min parody with me participating in one of the seven songs and sharing the stage with 6 other people, thus really having a 1/49th part (so much for the math). Amongst the seven of us in this particular song is Shona as well and this is the first time we have shared stage space.(Not counting her brief role in her own sangeet) So a Kodak moment all in all.

After this practiced version one finds the dance floor empty. At this point I am a little surprised . Like this is a really hip and happening sangeet I am talking about. As proof let me just mention that one of the pre- wedding parties was gate crashed by none other than Rahul Gandhi (see I told you ). Its a different matter that post his arrival he was more the cause for celebration than the couple themselves. But whatever.

Anyway so I do what everyone else is doing. With a busy step I go and look around for people to play host to. I said I am family (almost). God bless aunt poo, not only does she provide me with the opportunity but also keeps me sufficiently entertained . I proceed to other people , do some hellos and closely avoid some others. And start wondering what the whole point of the exercise is.

I feel the need to destroy the peace and quiet on the dance floor. And at this same moment I see people from all over joining me in the movement. Actually I am no longer certain I started the movement. But all in all a whole bunch of us find ourselves on the dance floor. -family, friends and strangers alike dancing to the music , singing above the music and losing ourselves some.

On the dance floor I dance with everybody and their uncle and its quite fun. We dance in full form on Kajrare Re Kajrara Re with each one in their own space pretending to be Aishwarya Rai, on Right Here Right Now, On Pathshalla complete with hand brushing and side butt movement . I remember hearing a strange 40 year old voice requesting "Do Glassi" and me wondering how did she even know.

A friends group on the side does practically classical dance movements with expressions et all. Oh and then there is this guy, my parents would gladly have me marry, who, I think , is happiest dancing with the groom ;)

A bunch of people form a human chain and dance towards another human chain. I join them briefly. I get people to the dance floor. Then I go off the dance floor and people get me back. Its somewhere quid pro quo.

Soon its really late in the night (actually its early in the morn) but we are all still in full form, actually this is the point when we (and now I use we not for the small close group but for everyone on the dance floor- see my spirits are improving) are in max form , but the DJ is tired (he does do this everyday - to him its a job and no matter how much he enjoys it it comes with the baggage of work) and from some loud Punjabi no. he switches to Tujhe dekh dekh jeena. You heard me . He switches just like that. And suddenly I feel single. Very single. For the first time it really hits me how single I am. I feel even more single as there is no one I even think about. (So this happens to be a real white space. Marketers are you listening?)

I see people doting over their partners. I see people exchanging glances from across the dance floor. I see people ignoring their partners. And I even see people uncomfortable with their partners.

The puppets who are a part of the decor observe me brimming with enthusiasm, starting chains, abandoning chains, feeling elated, feeling single and at some point even getting bored. All on the dance floor.

And now having exposed the sangeet, the wedding and myself I for a moment wish this blog was truly anonymous. But, only for a moment. :)