chapter 10

The garba tunes echoed faintly in the background as Aarti stepped out onto her balcony, still in her vibrant chaniya choli, her dupatta loosely draped over her shoulder. The silver bangles on her wrist jingled softly as she leaned against the railing, gazing at the city lights.  "You’re back early," Kabir’s voice called out from his balcony. She turned to see him in a plain kurta-pajama, holding a tray with two steaming cups of chai.  "Garba sessions don’t last forever, Kabir," she teased. "Though tonight was incredible. The energy, the music - it was perfect."  "Perfect, huh?" Kabir grinned, stepping closer to the divider. "And yet, here you are, all alone, looking way too thoughtful for someone who just had the perfect night."  Aarti smiled softly. "Just soaking it all in. It’s been a while since I felt this… light."  Kabir studied her for a moment before holding up the tray. "Well, perfect nights deserve perfect endings. I made chai. Adrak chai, your favorite."  Aarti raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You made chai? Are you feeling okay, Singh?"  Kabir rolled his eyes. "I can cook up a five-course meal, Aarti. Chai is child’s play."  He handed her a cup over the railing, and she accepted it, the warmth seeping into her palms. She took a sip and sighed. "Mmm, not bad. You might just have a future as a chaiwala."  "Very funny," Kabir said, sipping his own tea.  For a moment, they stood in comfortable silence, the city buzzing softly around them.  "So," Kabir began, breaking the quiet, "what makes garba so special for you? Is it just the dancing, or is there more to it?"  Aarti thought for a moment, staring into her cup. "It’s… everything. The rhythm, the community, the way you lose yourself in the music. It’s like all your worries disappear, even if it’s just for a few hours. And," she added with a small laugh, "it’s tradition. My mom would never forgive me if I skipped Navratri."  Kabir smiled. "Sounds like it’s in your blood."  "It is," Aarti said, her voice softening. Kabir nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "I get that. For me, it’s cooking. "Kabir said, laughing. "Though I have to admit, dancing does sound like fun. I haven’t done garba since college, and even then, I was terrible at it."  Aarti’s eyes lit up. "You know, I could teach you. There’s still time before Navratri ends."  "Teach me?" Kabir asked, raising an eyebrow. "You think you can turn this two-left-feet guy into a garba pro?"  "Only one way to find out," Aarti challenged.  "Alright, Mehta," Kabir said, setting his cup down. "Let’s do it."  Next Night – The Garba GroundThe garba pandal was alive with energy, vibrant colors swirling as people moved in synchronized circles to the beats of live dhol. Kabir stood awkwardly at the edge of the dance floor, watching the dancers spin and twirl effortlessly.  "Okay, so here’s the deal," Aarti said, pulling him onto the floor. "Start with the basics. It’s all about rhythm. One-two-three, clap. One-two-three, clap. Got it?"  Kabir tried to mimic her steps, his movements stiff. "This doesn’t look as easy as you made it sound!"  Aarti laughed, grabbing his hands to guide him. "Relax, Kabir! Stop overthinking. Just feel the music."  "Feel the music," Kabir muttered. "Right. Easy for you to say—you’ve been doing this your whole life!"  "Exactly!" Aarti said. "And now you’ve got the best teacher. Trust me."  Slowly but surely, Kabir began to find his footing. His claps grew more confident, his steps less awkward. Aarti danced beside him, encouraging him with playful cheers.  "See? You’re getting it!" she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.  Kabir grinned. "I think I might actually survive this."  "Survive? You’re thriving!" Aarti said, spinning gracefully before nudging him to try the same.  "Okay, don’t push your luck," Kabir said, laughing as he attempted a hesitant spin.  The two of them moved together, their laughter blending with the music. By the end of the night, Kabir’s kurta was slightly disheveled, and Aarti’s bangles jingled with every gesture, but neither seemed to care.  As they walked back to their apartment building, Kabir turned to Aarti. "Alright, I’ll admit it. Garba’s not so bad. In fact… it’s kind of fun."  Aarti smirked. "Told you.  "Thanks for tonight, Kabir."  "Thanks to you. " Kabir said, his voice unusually soft. And they went in their respective flats waiting for another day. . To be continue...