Dancing Dreams - Chapter 1

He opened his eyes in a shriek terror and looked at the ceiling through his tenuous eyes. Right hand was pierced with a needle connected to bottle forcing blood to drench through his veins. His head was paining enough that he could not even move to see what had happened to him. He tried to lift his hand which too was failing to follow his instructions but somehow he bore the suffering and touched his head. The pain in his head was much more than he bore to motion his hand but there was something more painful to happen in his life or I should say something more painful that had already happened in his life.

He wanted to run away from this hospital. Silence was killing him, he wanted to feel the beats of music, to dance on the songs of Michael Jackson but the pain in his head was forcing him to stay in one position like a hibernated reptile.

He rolled his eyes but there was no one in his sight. He was perplexed and impatient to know what had happened to him.

“Anyone there!” he yelled and Shraddha and his mother ran into the room. Shraddha was love of his life whom he found two years back in his school. Shraddha had always been a right hand for him and helped him in every possible way.

“What on earth has happened with me? Why am I here?” he shouted and howled in agony.

“Wait Rohit, I will tell you everything but first please take these medicines.” Shraddha tried to convince him.

Mrs. Gupta, his mother hid her face under the pallu of red cotton saree and left the room. Rohit was more confused now.

“Why don’t you understand Shraddha? I have to go for a dance rehearsal. There is hardly two months left for the competition.” Rohit yelled in pain angrily.

He was a born dancer. His dream had only one thing to count – Dancing. It was his passion and he wanted to make full time career out of it. He was an average student who just passed his high school examinations. Mrs. Gupta used to do embroidery on sarees and suits for living after Mr. Gupta passed away in casualty at construction site where he was working for a multi-national building company as a labour.

“Rohit you can’t go for dance rehearsals” said Shraddha not meeting his eyes.

“How much time will it take?” There was a stipple of hope in his heart and he thought that he would be okay in few days.

“you …” Shraddha scrupled “you can never go for rehearsals.”

Rohit’s face was turning red in anger. He had no idea of what had happened with him and dancing in such condition is not possible. He moved his needle pierced hand and clutched her hand very tightly. She looked up, now meeting his eyes while her eyes could scarcely hold tears and they touched her cheeks. “Why are you crying?” whispered Rohit looking into his eyes and caressing her hand now which he had clutched. He kissed her tears and asked her not to cry.

“Rohit…” She hesitated to speak but she had no choice, sooner or later he had to know the fact “Rohit... your right leg…” her throat choked as she said these words but this was enough for him. He removed the white sheet from his legs and air of despondency surrounded him. His right leg was operated and cut. He had met with an accident two days back when he was returning from his dance class. His cycle got hit by a car and he was thrown on the road where a tractor rolled over his right leg.