Eternal Krishna

By Hiya Chatterjee

The auditorium buzzed with excitement. The most anticipated performance of the Annual Programme was about to begin. A dance duet,  based on the eternal love of Radha-Krishna,  was being performed by Aratrika Saha,  once alum of the school,  now the youngest English teacher known for her mastery in Katthak and Laksh Mukherjee,  a fellow classmate and close friend of hers and now an engineering student. The curtains rose as the performance began. Everyone's breath got caught as Aratrika transformed herself into Radha - regal, graceful yet with pure devotion and love for Krishna while Laksh matched her pace with his own. From the front row, Surajit, the choreographer, sighed heavily before muttering to the girl beside him,  " I told you, you could do way better than him. Yet you didn't agree and even helped him. Why, Rai? " 

The girl named Rai Adhikari, Humanities topper and a secret dance prodigy smiled lightly, " Because if I were Krishna,  the chemistry would not be this solid, Dada. I saw the way Lakshda looks at Aratrikadi. It is the way Krishna looks at Radha. " 

"And how does Aratrika look at you? " Surajit countered. 

For a second, Rai's smile faltered. She blinked twice and gave a broken smile, " Like a teacher looks at her student. Like a senior looks at her junior." She paused a while before muttering about needing to drink before her song. 

Surajit shook his head in sympathy as he watched Rai walking away. He knew  how much   Aratrika meant to Rai, how in any assembly Rai's eyes would search for the young teacher. Rai had fallen for her senior yet would not confess. He sighed, knowing that Rai is that kind of girl who would die out of heartbreak but would not say a word for Aratrika's sake. 

The performance ended and the audience burst out into thunderous applause. The two performers bowed and left the stage. 

"You were great as always, Aratrika," Laksh said with his usual charming smile. 

Aratrika smiled politely, " You were good too Laksh." 

Before Laksh could say more, Aratrika's eyes caught the silhouette of her junior and her heart clenched. 

She excused herself and reached Rai," You left before the performance ended." 

Rai jumped slightly at the sudden voice, " Aratrikadi! " She cleared her throat before replying, " Uh,  well, you see I needed some water before my performance. By the way,  you were ethereal on the stage, senior." 

Aratrika stayed silent for a while though there was a faint blush on her face. Finally she asked, " Why did you disagree to be Krishna?  And don't say you can't dance. Everyone knows how well you dance. So why?  Why did you even help Laksh with his steps? " 

Rai froze, clearly not expecting her senior to ask that question. 

"Well," she smiled slightly, " The dance required chemistry which only acting could not have done. You and Lakshda have that. So yeah, I just observed and played the part of the matchmaker. " 

"You,  stupidly, oblivious fool! " Aratrika glared at Rai, " You think you notice everything. You observed the way Laksh looks at me. But topper, what about me,  huh?  You missed the way I LOOK at you! " 

Rai's smile vanished, " What-what d-do you mean,  di?" 

Aratrika took a shaky breath before replying, " It means, junior, that you are not just the observer. You are also seen by me. You are also watched,  wanted..... loved by me. You are just too blind to see that." 

Emotions rolled up in her voice as Aratrika finished her confession and leaned her forehead against Rai's, " Laksh was Ktishna for that show. But Rai, you are MY Krishna. My Eternal Krishna." 

And Rai Adhikari,  the topper whom everyone looked up to,  who observed everybody, finally closed her eyes and relaxed as she let her senior catch her. This time she did not just fall,  she was also caught.

By Hiya Chatterjee