Navratri and sweet proposals (AEN)

October 19, 2015

It happened.

He did not see it coming, that this girl would shake his world. Shake it harder than those Indian barefoot complicated steps. She was dancing among the crowd, just as another Indian girl in that Navratri night. 

But she was not Indian. Not at all. 

And, as she hugged an African fellow, he realized, she can't possibly be an Indian. Indian girls don't show much her emotions, it is part of their culture not to display affection in public. Latin American girls are possibly the closest opposite to this. They cry, laugh, hug, kiss, dance, cry more, laugh again... There is something about Latin American people in general: due to his international experience, he had confirmed that regardless of gender, these peculiar beings were always the most easy going, extroverted, and loud specimen of humanity. The fact that he came from Eastern Europe made it even more obvious. 

Anyways, going back to latino girl, she kept dancing. She was doing great: no shoes, long skirt, lovely hair, cute steps.

-Who are you looking at? Agustin asked him. 

But Aleks didn't say anything. He just stared. Agustin looked in the direction he was looking at. 

-Are you checking out that blonde? 

-No. The brunette, in pink skirt. 

-The one that just fell down?!

This was my second Navratri night. What's Navratri? It is a Gujarati festival in India, where people dance nine days in a role to praise the nine forms of Shakri/Devi. Sounds very poetic; however, now it is also an excuse to hang out with friends until late night, show more skin than it is usually well seen by society, and all in all have an amazing night, even in week days. For me? Well... I took it as an opportunity to learn more about Indian culture and to dance, even teach some steps! Nothing classy, just the full version of Macarena, which, for instance, I don't even like! Whatever, in Asia, even that mechanical dance has become an exotic treat for me! 

And well... as usual, it happened: I fell down in the middle of the circle... 

Despite of her terribly fall, she was laughing herself out. I couldn't help it, I had to go and meet her. This seemed as the perfect excuse. I confess that I am usually a very reserved person and quite clumsy with girls, but India had given me some unexpected confidence. When most people look at you and think that you are handsome, just because you are different, you start to believe that it is true after some time. I am positive that when I am back to my hometown people wont even notice me among the crowd; but in India, getting lost among the population is practically impossible for someone like me. 

And he was almost there, extending his hand, when his way was blocked by an Indian who helped his mistress in need. She stood up, laughing, fixing her outfit. That was the moment when things would collapse for both expats... 

I naturally felt quite stupid, falling down as an idiot, while trying to make a fancy step. That is the problem when one gets clothes borrowed, they don't quite fit as expected. Being an expat, I didn't have proper traditional Navratri outfits, so I asked my friends for some clothes. In this specific case, the skirt was too long and consequently I finally ended up stepping on it, rest is old story. These things always happen to me! I guess I have to accept that I am a little cartoon character: small, funny, hilarious, and dramatic. But I was not feeling miserable at all, shit happens, all the time. Why feel bad about it?

Story of my life, I never get to impress a girl. Now, shall I just turn around and go back to my dancing circle, or...?

-Are you ok?

-Hmm... Yes. 

Where did he come from? Is he really talking to me?

Great! I talked to her... Now what should I say? Perhaps just...

-I'm Aleksander. 

-Lucia. Nice to meet you. 

Awkward moment, silence. 

-Have you been here for a long time? He finally said. 

-Well... enough to get all the typical Indian ups and downs. Three months. 

-Me too! How calm I had never seen you before?

-I was trapped in this sort of small village, working in a project. Although it was truly inspiring.

-Sounds more interesting than my story... 

-Are you opening some market in Europe for some Indian company?

-How do you know that?

-I told you I had been here enough time... Most of my friends are doing these kind of jobs, or helping an NGO. 

-No, how do you know that I am from Europe?

-Let's just say that I have a gift!

And she laugh. He smiled, it had been quite a long time since he had not heard a laughter like hers, loud, contagious, and sincere. 

I like this girl. 

-So, Aleksander, I think that we are in the way of dancers... 

-Oh, right! I didn't notice, sorry. 

-Wait, don't move out it, dance with me. 

-I am not a great dancer. 

-Me neither. 

-I saw you dancing, you were great, even while you fell. 

-Ha ha ha, very funny.

-It's true! 

-Ok, then I will teach you. 

-Really?

-Yeah, why not?

-Well, but only if you let me get you a Thumbs Up afterwards.

-Oh, proposing already? 

-But it is a sweet proposal, isn't it?

Well... I was not that bad at flirting after all. Ok, I will confess, this trick was thought by my Indian neighbor, although I had never tried it before. 

-Do you say this to all girls you meet?

Maybe it wont work after all...

-No, this is actually the first time. Don't look at me like that! This is really the first time!

-Ok, Thumbs Up it is! She said as she made herself a thumbs up sign with both hands. 

Awesome, it worked! 

He also thumbs up his fingers, just before he got hit by an Indian dancer. 

-Are you ok? ha ha ha! Maybe the proposal is not that sweet after all! Come, dance, we can start with Macarena. 

And both expats danced until their legs allowed them to. Well, I am sure they could have danced more, but as every hour passed by, their need to go out and talk grew a little more. 

-Ready for Thumbs up?

She just thumbs up her fingers, and smiled in the cutest way he had ever seen. 

And that was the end of life as both of them knew it.