Oh! Boy...

He springs out as the sliding glass doors close behind him. The security guard watches as he zooms past him in his bike, smiling and waving. He smiles at the little boy on the road. He looks up and winks at the girl sitting near the window of the bus. He drums his fingers on the petrol tank. He shakes his head in rhythm. He looks in the mirror and ruffles his hair. With the signal on red he accelerates on neutral. He moves his body left and right. Left and right. Gracefully. Still in Red. He smiles. He accelerates. Green. He engages the first gear and lets go of the clutch. Front wheel in the air. Black bike in motion. A few girls stop and watch. A boy on one wheel. Traffic cop watches as he brings it back on the road and speeds ahead.

Wind on his face. A cut here and a cut there. Next signal. Wheels stop. He turns left and smiles at the autorickshaw driver. Turns right and smiles at the businessman in the back of the limousine. He smiles at the guys moving past him mouthing bad words. They point fingers to the signal. He looks and laughs. It had turned green long back. He blasts again.

The apartment watchman opens the gate as he honks. Smiles and honks. Honks and smiles. Side stand not fully engaged. The bike falls. He climbs the stairs. Three steps up and two steps down. Three steps up and two steps down. A terrified grandmother on the stairs. She watches as the boy blows her a kiss and runs up the steps.

The door closes behind him. Shoes fly to one corner and the bag to the other. The tossed shirt misses the bed and the pant lands on the dining table.

In the shower. Soap bar turns into an invisible mike. He breaks into a song. A crow flies off from the tree nearby.

Out in his bedroom. Wet feet slip on the marble floor. Spreads his arms. Stretches his legs. Symphony blares from the player. He pulls out his towel and swings it over his head. Round and round and round. A jig here and a jig there. A born dancer.

Eyes fall on his cell phone. Picks it up. A single message in his inbox.

“YES” she had said.

Kisses the screen. Swings his towel over his head. Round and round and round.

A jig here and a jig there.

He dances stark naked.