Take One I was transfixed Fully focused on the TV screen There was pin-drop silence which was amazing for a room crammed so full of people that there was barely space to move And the winner is Eeeeeeeeekkkkk I squeezed the arm of my bestie Priyanka A little too hard apparently Ouch Sorry Pri I said I’m just so nervous It’s taking Shhh said Auntie Brinda from the other end of the forever sofa I was about to answer back but Raman Sood the TV show host spoke before I could Chintu Congratulations Chintu you’re through to the finals The room erupted There was screaming shouting jumping cheering He’s actually done it He’s done it I yelled leaping off the sofa Oh wow Chintu had won The slum kid who defied the odds to win five heats of Dance Starz the biggest TV talent
show in India had bagged a place in the final STARLET RIVALS Everyone was buzzing and talking over each other I told you he would do it proclaimed Daadi my grandma She looked so proud you’d be forgiven for thinking that Chintu was her own grandson Ma you always say that no matter who wins my dad shot back I grabbed a corner of Priyanka’s T-shirt tugging her towards the door Let’s go to my room I whispered edging past Auntie Poonam who had started waving her arms around in an impression of Chintu’s winning dance What are we gonna do when the show’s over Priyanka asked as she planted herself on my bed She Lifted my new eyeshadow palette off my dresser and got to work on my eyelids She was great at makeup while I was terrible and she always insisted on giving me a makeover when she came to visit I love Dance Starz so much Chintu was just amazing I mean how is he so flexible Those back flips Priyanka wasn’t the only one who had been swept up in the talent show’s craze Even though this was the first season it seemed that there wasn’t a single family in India that wasn’t glued to their screens on Friday nights I had seen every episode Sometimes when I was in
my room alone I would pretend I was on the show I’d do the whole routine imagining someone was introducing me and then I’d dance and fantasize that the crowd was going wild for my performance TAKE ONE Priyanka continued to sweep the shimmery green eyeshadow across my lids taking a step back to check her work You know you should have entered Bela she said You could have been on your way to fame and riches I opened my eyes wide Keep them shut she scolded Are you crazy I asked Me Enter Dance Starz I mean yes I’m classically trained but these TV shows want that modern stunt kind of dancing I can’t even do a single back flip Priyanka laughed It’s a dance show not a circus She snapped the Little box of shimmer shut You’re a great dancer Bela I don’t know anyone as good as you I smiled She always championed me even though I was nowhere near as good as she thought I was Priyanka was the definition of BFF I walked over to the dressing table mirror to admire my new look Mmmm smells soooo good stated Priyanka closing her eyes and taking a deep whiff of the smell of freshly
