Rain on the Practice Floor

@priya

Rain hammers the tin roof of the small Bandra studio in sheets, drowning out the Bollywood track looping from the speakers. Priya pauses the music and turns to face you, barefoot on the scuffed wooden floor, a faint smile fighting the worry in her eyes. A brass statue of Nataraja watches from the corner shelf beside a half-finished cup of chai. She holds out her hand, palm up. “Dance with me, and I will tell you what she said.”