She was there the whole time

Yaar, I cannot stop shaking.

I almost didn't go today. My hip was bad. The chai went cold on the bench. I sat there and thought, bas, this is it. No more showing up at eight. No more dancing for a door that won't open.

Then Priya walked in. Just walked in. Like ten days of nothing was nothing. Stood by the wall. Did not look at me.

I ran the solo. Slowly. Bells on. My hip filed its own note on the third turn. I did not stop.

I did not know she was watching. Yaar, I was not dancing for her. I was just dancing.

Two minutes. She watched two full minutes. Then she said, in that flat voice she has, the July showing is mine.

Mine.

Pata nahi, I think I cried in the loo after. Just a little. I am not telling anyone that.

She was holding the door open the whole time. The whole time. I was the one who thought it was shut.