The tricycle stopped in front of a white-story building. The lights from the building easily brightened the streets. Different people kept on flowing in and out like it was a market square. The number of cars that were parked outside was more than expected. If one would take a quick headcount, the cars would be up to forty-five.
She paid the driver and came out of the tricycle. The competition started an hour ago. If not for that bike man, that delayed her, she would have been on the stage performing with the rest of the girls.
"Whoa... Priyanka...whoa," she snapped out of her thoughts, hitting her head slightly. Time never waits for anyone. How on Earth did that silly bike man take all her time!?
The muscular guy who stood at the door was the bouncer. He knew Priyanka very well and gifted her some rupees four days ago.
"Namaste," she greeted, with her hands clapped in front of her. He won't be happy if she ignores him. "Has the competition started?"
"Yes. Why are you late today?" the bouncer asked, opening the other blue door with a board that says, 'Out Of Bound For Customers.'
"I had an accident on my way here," Priyanka answered. She went inside the building. There were a variety of different colour doors. The hall where the competition was taking place was upstairs. She entered the door by her right which was downstairs.
Everyone looked at her as a stranger. Most of their facial expressions were anger. This was the first time she had come late to an event. So why were they so angry?
The other group of girls were happy that she came late since they were on the opposite team. Priyanka has always been a threat to the competition. Even the men preferred to hang around her than them. It made the girls jealous. They hated her for taking what was theirs.
"Sorry girls, I had an accident on my way here and my dress got sta…" They did not eve allow her to finish her explanation.
"Don't lie to us, Priyanka. The jacket you are wearing belongs to a rich man," a fat girl, who stood next to the curtain cut her off. Her dress was tight enough to divide her body into different parts. She was a hater of Priyanka, the beautiful dancer who stole all the attention.
She did not bother to explain herself to the girl. Priyanka walked to another group of girls who were sitting on the floor in frustration. They were angry at her, she could tell from a single glance.
"It's all because of you, we lost in the competition this year!" The tallest girl among them stood up and yelled at her angrily. Priyanka was the dance leader. Most of the steps were taught by her and their teacher. She knew that her presence was very important to the group
"Tanu, I am very sorry for coming late. Please give me a chance, I promise to fix this." She pleaded, putting her hand on her chest.
"I hope she does," the fat girl chimed in again. The other girls in the room laughed. Priyanka was furious. The girl pissed her off over and over with those silly talks. She dropped her bag down and veered toward her with a speed that shocked everyone.
The fat girl fell to the floor with great force. She fought so hard to get Priyanka off her body but it seemed she was stuck to her like a fly following a dead body. The pain was unbearable. She had no choice but to plead with her, "Please get off me, I can't breathe properly!"
Yet there was no response from Priyanka, and neither did she move. The door opened and a woman in her mid-twenties walked into the room; the noise from the changing room caught her attention. She had to come and check on the girls. "Priyanka? Will you come here at once?"
Priyanka released the girl quickly and got up from her body. The dance teacher's voice made her heart skip. Fights were not allowed in the dancing house. This could lead to her being suspended or even expelled. She adjusted her sari and dusted the jacket. It reminded her that the owner was the cause of her problem.
Too afraid to look her teacher in the eyes, she walked with her head bowed, to where she stood.
"For the second time, you disgraced me today," the teacher said, bitterly. Her bold eyes were red with anger. She was disappointed by the acts Priyanka portrayed today. If not for her knowing her as a good girl, she would not have hesitated to kick her out of the dancing house, forever.
"Please, forgive me, Miss Srita!" She knelt in front of the teacher and pleaded. "I had an accident on my way that's why I got here late."
"If you took off early from home, you would have reached here on time, with or without getting involved in an accident," the fat girl slammed her foot.
It seemed the lesson was not well taught.
Priyanka gritted her teeth. If not for her teacher, she would have taught her how to keep a mouth shut. "Please give me a second chance, teacher."
The teacher looked away. It was the first time her favourite student asked for a favour. But there was nothing she could do. The last group was already performing. The judges would frown at any partiality. "Go home, the competition is over."
Priyanka watched her teacher leave the room like a toddler whose voice and movements were restricted. Her group left without accepting her apology. Their feelings were justified. They lost four hundred rupees because of her.
She picked her bag from the floor while the others mocked and laughed, there was no need to waste energy on them. The bike owner was the reason for her failure; she was not going to forgive him for this, never!