Three years older than her, Mrinal Guru was an expert of music and dance.

When her education of music and dance was near completion, one day, Mrinal Guru felt gloomy. Though having instructed many young girls in his teaching career, this time Mrinal Guru was not at ease. The same was quite obvious in Nrityangana’s eyes. She did like him but she never allowed her feelings for him to be obvious.

Then came the day when Nrityangana had to leave for Mumbai to present her first dance show. Her parents were accompanying her too. Mrinal had also reached the railway station to see them off. His eyes were moist and a glimpse of wetness in Nrityangana’ eyes was visible to him. On one hand, Mrinal Guru was happy that his disciple was going to present her first dance show, on the other hand, he feared lest she should go away forever.

Their destiny had already chalked out their future. Mrinal Guru came back home and got busy in his dance school. It was not easy for him to forget her. Every evening, after the class, he would watch her dance videos for hours, thus refreshing her image in his memory.

After about a week, a phone call informed him that Nrityangana’s dace show was a great success and she had been approached by many film producers. Mrinal did not like it at all, for he knew that one she got lost in the dazzle of the movie world, she would hardly ever remember him.

After that he received only three phone calls from Nrityangana in the ensuing three years. There was nothing much to talk between them, or they were unable to say what they had in their hearts. Mrinal wanted to tell her about his feelings for her but he lacked courage and remained quiet.

Nrityangana was progressing by leaps and bounds. She found herself in an absolutely new world and she had begun to enjoy the glory which had easily followed her.

Then came the unfortunate day: her parents died in a car accident. They were seriously injured and they were rushed to the nearest hospital. Nrityangana summoned the best of the available doctors but they were unable to save them. Nrityangana was completely shattered and lonely after the death of her parents.

When Mrinal read about the accident in a newspaper, he was deeply perturbed and he wanted to rush to Nrityangana to console her. Unfortunately, new students were being admitted to his dance school and it was not possible to leave the assignments. He phoned Nrityangana and comforted her in every possible way.

In the following three months there was no phone call from her. One evening, she phoned him and informed that she was getting married and going to America. Her prospective husband was a doctor in New York.

Everything seemed to have been over for him but he was relieved that she had found a good husband.

After about six months, Nrityangana began to call him regularly, sometimes twice in a week. She had opened a dance school in New York. She never talked about her husband and her married life.

Mrinal was happy that she was doing well there.

After about seven years, one evening, while teaching dance to his disciples, Mrinal felt that his legs felt heavy. He collapsed in a chair and could not stand up for quite some time. After about three hours, he visited his doctor. The doctor advised him to reduce the hours of dancing and he prescribed some medicines.

The inevitable was bound to happen: one evening, while dancing, he collapsed and fell unconscious on to the ground. His students rushed him to the hospital. After a thorough examination, the doctors reached a decision that his body was paralyzed below his waist.

Mrinal was a rich man and he could hire the best medical help, and as a result he was sent back home in a wheel chair. A full time nurse was hired, though there were his students who were ever ready to help him.

One month passed but Mrinal felt that it was impossible for him to pass his rest of life sitting in that wheel chair. He was depressed and one evening he decided to end his life. He was about to open the bottle of poison, when the phone rang.

It was Nrityangana.

“Hello!”

“Hello, Nrityangana, how are you?” said Mrinal, trying to bring life in his voice.

“How could you hide such a big thing from me?” she seemed to be worried and disturbed.

“Congratulations, how is your married life?”

“My marriage was just a contract. My husband married me to make his dying mother happy. After one month of our marriage, we got separated. He has his girlfriend with him. I am independent and I am very happy. My ex-husband says that you can walk again. He is ready to help you, Mrinal,” said she.

“What?” Mrinal said with surprise and obvious delight.

“After the death of my father, I did not want to live in Mumbai so I agreed to marry him to go away to America,” said Nrityangana.

“No, Nrityangana, it is too late now,” said Mrinal.

“Nothing is changed. I wanted to tell you but I was waiting for the proposal from you. Now it is clear. I am reaching there the day after tomorrow. You will be flying to America with me,” Nrityangana’s voice was trembling with joy.

The line got disconnected but Mrinal’s heart was filled with extreme joy. He switched on the video and began to watch Nrityangana dance. He was watching her dance not to keep her memories fresh but to strengthen himself to face her.