Free A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman

biomedical engineer,”
    she says, starting to cheer up. “Someday
    I’ll make a leg that’ll listen to your brain
    so you can do every Bharatanatyam pose you can think of.”
    I’m glad my accident at least helped
    Chandra figure out her career path.
    Chandra spears another piece of cake.
    â€œSpeaking of dance poses, how’s it going with dancer boy?
    He sounds interest-ing. And interest-ed.”
    No boy is going to find me
    attractive.
    Least of all someone as gorgeous as Govinda.
    â€œHe’s helping you out
a lot
,” Chandra says.
    I shrug. “He’s helping me out. Yes. Not asking me out.”
    â€œDo you like him better than Jim?” Chandra asks.
    I roll my eyes. “I don’t
like
either of them that way.”
    But her question makes me uncomfortable.
    In my mind, I see Jim and Govinda side by side.
    Govinda standing tall like the dancer he is,
    beautiful, serious, and as deeply in love with dance as I am;
    Jim with his hands in his pockets, a teasing look in his eyes,
    a cheerful glow lighting his face.
    Jim, who’s traveled the world and still finds me special.
    Chandra sings, “Veda’s in love with two men.
    Who’s she going to pick?
    Veda’s in love with two men. With whom will she stick?”
    I ball up a tissue and toss it at her face.

BOLDER
    â€œLook at you walk,”
    Jim says. “Can hardly tell you’re wearing a prosthesis.
    I’m so proud of you.
    How’s the dance coming?”
    â€œI love the spring in my new foot and
    how much flexibility this leg gives my knee.
    But I still can’t do the full-sitting pose easily.”
    I sink as low as I can, knees out sideways,
    legs almost folded in two,
    showing him how hard it is to keep my balance.
    Then I assume the lunge position:
    one leg straight back, toes on the ground,
    the other forward, bent at the knee,
    torso straight.
    â€œCan’t leap into this lunge position the way I’m supposed to.
    Can’t do any exercise involving it without falling.”
    â€œNot yet,” Jim says. “Does the leg pinch? Rub your skin sore?”
    â€œNo, but I tire too easily.”
    â€œVeda, you’ll build up stamina. Faster than you think.”
    Jim shows me squats to strengthen my left leg.
    Exercises to help me work toward the poses I find difficult.
    We spend more time together than usual.
    He looks up at the clock and whistles.
    â€œWe need to stop, kiddo.”
    Jim runs his rough fingers through his hair
    and stares at his poster-filled wall.
    His eyes dim.
    He looks lonely.
    Lost and lonely, like a stray puppy on the street.
    Not the easygoing Jim who jokes with me.
    â€œSomething wrong?” I wish I could help him.
    Wish I could be part of his life outside this room
    as a true friend would be.
    â€œJust feeling a bit blue, kiddo.
    I need to make some big decisions soon.”
    I blabber, “Maybe you need a cup of coffee? And some cake?
    There’s a nice café quite nearby—Java Joy.
    Going there usually cheers up my friend Chandra.”
    â€œGood idea. Maybe I’ll go there later.
    Enjoy that leg until we meet again, okay?”
    He turns to his computer.
    I wasn’t recommending he go there on his own.
    Didn’t he realize I was inviting him to go there
    with me?
    I take a deep breath.
    Jim stops typing
    and looks up, startled,
    as though he’s wondering
    why I’m still standing around.
    â€œAnother question I can help with, kiddo?”
    â€œI was trying—wanted to say—I wish—you—I
    hope that decision thing doesn’t get you down.”
    I flee
    as fast as my new leg will let me.

SYMMETRY
    â€œToday, you’ll be moving your hands
    instead of keeping them at your waist,” Govinda says.
    The class twitters with excitement.
    Govinda beckons to me.
    â€œPlease come up front?
    I need your help.”
    He stands so close behind,
    I can almost feel his long