She was swaying slightly to the music in her seat without even realizing it, her shoulders moving subtly with the beat.
“Ready?” she asked.
I blinked.
“Ready for what?” I asked.
She tilted her head toward the dance floor.
I didn’t know how to salsa, but I knew she had been taking lessons over the past few months. That was exactly why I had chosen this club in the first place. I wanted her to have fun. I wanted her to smile. I wanted to see that carefree laugh that had slowly become one of my favourite sounds.
So far, the plan had been working perfectly.
Until she asked me to dance.
“Umm… Jiya,” I fumbled, clearing my throat and feeling very aware of the fact that everyone around us seemed to know exactly what they were doing. “You go ahead. I’m not good at dancing.”
“What are you talking about?” she said immediately. “I saw you bust some moves at the wedding.” She smiled teasingly. “You’re a quick learner.”
I shook my head.
The idea of making a fool of myself on the dance floor while everyone else moved with practiced ease did not sound appealing.
But Jiya didn’t seem remotely convinced.
She leaned forward slightly and held her hand out toward me.
“I’ll teach you,” she said.
There was a playful determination in her voice that made it very clear she was not taking no for an answer.
Knowing I couldn’t get out of it, I took her hand and stood up.
Her fingers were warm in mine as she pulled me toward the dance floor.
I licked my lips nervously.
The music felt louder out here, the rhythm pulsing through the crowd.
I didn’t want to make a fool of myself.And I definitely didn’t want to make a fool of her.
But pretty soon, something surprising happened.
I started having a great time.
Jiya was a good teacher.
She laughed softly whenever I stepped in the wrong direction, guiding my hands and correcting my steps without making me feel embarrassed. The music changed from one song to the next, and couples around us rotated partners. We exchanged partners while the songs changed, and I ended up learning new moves from each of them.
The rhythm started to make sense.
My feet moved more naturally.
And every time I ended up back in front of Jiya again, her smile made the entire experience feel worth it.
Before I knew it, the night had flown by.
The final song of the evening began.
