There was nothing left to be done. She looked up at the darkened ceiling and thought back to where it was she had come from.
She was at festival, the first for her. She had only just reached her fourteenth birthday and her mother had deemed it ok for her young daughter to spread her wings and test her skills that she had learned.
Her mother was a well-known and well connected woman. Ansuya had no idea why this was so. She had lived a privileged life. She had been surrounded by the finest silks since she was a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. She had learned everything from the best teachers. Her math tutor was a strong man with a quick mind who could twist and tilt numbers to make them do as he desired like a magician. Her music teacher was a beautiful woman who could possess the very souls of those who listened to her sing or play the sitar. She had taught her that music was praise to the Gods from the very depths of the soul of the person making the music. Ansuya had taken this lesson to heart, and after long hours of trial and practice she too found that her music was sought after, even with her being so young.
Her hair and dress were made up in the finest fabrics and most intricate designs imaginable. Her hair was always something she had been proud of. Even her beautiful mother had remarked how thick and long it was. The jet-black strands seemed to obey those who dressed it for her. When she wore it up it was always done so with gold netting, or pearl bands.
Her face had been as angelic as the lovely Radha. And her body had always moved with the fluidity of water. Her mother had cultivated that skill in her the most and now here at this wonderful bright, loud, exciting, festival she was given full reign to showcase her skills in all things.
She danced for what seemed like hours in a grand dance hall off the main street of the festival. She soon garnering the attention and adoration of the small crowds that would gather inside the building only to dissipate and be replaced by another. Her silk sari moved around her as her bodice was free of fabric and her lovely muscles shifted and flexed gently with the music that played nearby. She was as hypnotic as a King cobra, and as fluid as the very ocean, gliding from dance step to dance step.
She had been so young, so naive. Later that night her mother brought a man to see her. The man was middle aged but well groomed. He wore expensive garb for their part of the country. He smelled of rich cologne and wore a very fine watch at his waist coat. She didn’t understand exactly what her mother had wanted from her.
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He bowed deeply to her. “May you dance for me?” He asked. He hadn’t asked in Hindi.
Ansuya recognized the language and responded easily, “How shall I dance for you?” The question confused her and she looked at her mother.
“It’s all right Ansuya. It is a great honor for you. Dance. Dance as you have done this day, the way you love to. The Gods will watch as well.”
This statement confused her even more. But just then a chord of music struck and her body moved almost of its own volition. Questions spun through her head. Who was this man? Why was she dancing for a single person? Why was her mother looking at her in such a way, stern but proud, and yet somehow warningly all at once.
She let the music take her as she had done earlier that day. This music was faster, more passionate. Her body moved and shook in ways that she had only indulged in a few times. She had watched other women that her mother and her had visited often. She had watched their hips shake, as their feet made the sari that wrapped around them add their own rhythm to the passionate percussion of the drums. She moved in similar fashions now.
After a time the music finally ceased and Ansuya smiled at her small two person audience. Her mother smiled radiantly as her pride for her daughter shown through and the gentleman smiled as well and gently clapped his hands together.
Ansuya watched as her mother led the gentleman away. Suddenly two soft arms wrapped around her bodice. She turned in the sudden grip and returned the hug of her friend and music player, Haina, “I have never seen you move like that before! I would not have believed it if I was not sitting here watching you. You moved as a water made Goddess this night!”
Ansuya did not respond at first except to blush fiercely. “I only dance to please the Gods and show my devotion to them.” She finally responded proudly.
“You did that this night, my sundar ladki.
Ansuya started to reply but was interrupted by her mother returning. “You did very well Ansuya. I am so proud of you. The gentleman has offered to come back tomorrow.” She lovingly stroked her daughter’s hair. “You do yourself and I justice in the eyes of the Gods.” She kissed her on the forehead, “Now go bathe yourself, my sundar ladki. You have earned a reward this night. When you are ready, we shall go and enjoy the festival.”
She had no idea what it was she had done to earn such praise from the two women she loved more than all the world. She was so happy that she had made her mother so proud and she was eager to see the sights and explore the sounds of the festival that had only been heard by her throughout the day through thick walls.