Sisters at Dance Class

Perhaps because Nisha and I have always been so close and so affectionate towards each other, I have always been intrigued by relationships between sisters. At dance class, we do have the odd pair of sisters joining class. These aren’t as common as I would imagine. Often, one sister (usually the elder one) joins class, and the younger one simply could not be bothered. A bit like Nisha and me, I suppose, except that I persevered.

At the moment, one of the pairs of sisters at class shares a warm, fierce relationship. The elder one, Shruti, joined us a few years ago, while Shweta has been with us for a year or two. Both of them are absolutely adorable.

Yesterday, I asked Shweta to demonstrate an adavu. When children dance well, I am unstinting in my praise, and Shweta really did the step very sweetly and very neatly. As I praised her, Shweta glowed and instinctively turned to her sister. The look they shared was heart-warming – pride, love, victory … All of that was there in that smile they exchanged.

Later on, I asked the elder girl Shruti to show something, and though she did it well, there were corrections, which I told her about. For me, the story was over.

Some time later, Shweta said their father was waiting downstairs, so she left while Shruti continued to dance. About twenty minutes later, Shweta came back up. Class was over, and Shruti was ready to leave.

But Shweta had something to say, and did not yet have my full attention. I was talking to a couple of others and then turned to her. She was bursting with impatience and, as I realised later, the need for justice.

“Miss, Shruti got an injection yesterday,” she blurted out. “And so she has pain, and so maybe she cannot sit in aramandi nicely.” She waited for it to sink in. She left the rest unsaid, but I knew she was telling me not to hold it against Shruti that she did not perform perfectly.

Shruti was standing at the door, a mixture of embarrassment and love on her face. I smiled at Shweta and thanked her as gravely as the situation demanded.

Sisters who look out for each other are absolutely the best!