Part 24 (2/2)

”Such as my life. What I want to accomplish,”

Govinda explains. ”My parents are engineers.

They want me to take over their engineering firm.

They don't understand how much I love teaching dance.

How little I care about making money.”

”My ma was that way,” I say. ”Focused on me being an engineer.

Until my accident, we fought a lot.

Don't know how it would have gone if I hadn't lost my leg.”

”I know how it would have gone.

You'd have forced your ma to come around.

You have no trouble fighting for what you love.

I'm not a fighter like you are, Veda, but I'm hoping some of your spirit will rub off on me.”

So Govinda does admire me.

Thath thai thaam, dith thai thaam.

I kick, sink down into full-mandi, lunge, and leap up.

And land in the standing position.

”Yes! Yes! Yes!” Govinda punches the air.

I stand with both feet flat and sure on the floor, prepared to try some more, but Govinda says, ”Maybe we should end with that today?

You know we've started working on a dance drama about the Buddha's life and I'm playing the lead?

Akka wanted to start rehearsing earlier today.”

”Can I come watch?” I ask.

”I don't dare say no to my demon.” Govinda's tone is affectionate.

And half teasing.

His demon?

This is the first time Govinda's ever called me ”his.”

My heart skips.

But maybe I'm making too much out of what Govinda said.

Maybe a nickname means no more to Govinda than it did to Jim.

A NEW CENTER.

Govinda and I walk toward the open-air stage beneath the banyan tree where the cast is a.s.sembled.

Dhanam akka arrives.

She says a small problem has come up.

There's a role vacant in the play.

A student-Renuka-is moving away.

”Tough role,” someone comments.

”Wasn't Renuka playing the old, sick woman Buddha sees who's onstage for three whole minutes?”

Laughter ripples through the rest of the cast.

I say, ”Please may I have that part?”

Everyone's gaze s.h.i.+fts to me.

On Govinda's face, I catch a look of admiration.

I say, ”If I keel over, it'll only add a touch of realism.”

”You may have that part, Veda.

And the part of Gautami,” Dhanam akka adds.

Govinda looks puzzled. ”Gautami?”

”We'll add a short scene to the play,”

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